Morrigan swam out into the water as fast as she could, until she felt her body begin to transform. Then she took a big breath and dove down deep, swimming and swimming until darkness surrounded her. First, her ankles fused together, then her calves and thighs. Her legs felt like one big strong leg that was more powerful and made her swim even faster. When she couldn't hold her breath any longer, she almost panicked. But as she sucked in a mouthful of water, she didn't suffocate like she thought she would, instead she felt the water run through her newly formed gills in her dark, long, luscious locks, giving her the oxygen she needed to survive. She thought her hair must have grown three whole inches.
She was a mermaid. How thrilling! She felt like she was flying and free as a bird. The ocean was so big, like the sky. And not only was she a mermaid, but she was also a sea witch. She was the Sea Witch, there was no match to her. She swam faster and stronger than anything in the ocean, even the dolphins.
She sent her magical voice out through the tides. She sang to every creature within her radius to come to her. With her own magic, she was able to intensify the lure of her mermaid call. Thousands upon thousands of creatures came to her, from the smallest plankton to the largest whales. They were all ready to do her bidding. She would never feel alone again.
She swam for miles and miles, deeper and deeper into the ocean towards the place she sought, where all the Nereid lived. She could feel the source of their power emanating from the depths of the ocean, like a soft hum on her exposed skin. When she finally was able to see the Nereid's gorge aglow below her, she sent out her magic call again.
One by one, mermen and mermaids began to emerge from their caves and caverns. They swam up, crowded around her and all the sea creatures who followed her.
"You're all free," she told them. "I've come to release you from the King and his monster!" She had seen Liri's memories when she siphoned her and knew all about Glaucus and Scylla.
The merfolk, some young, some old, looked to each other, confused. Although Morrigan had been able to see Liri's thoughts before she stole her power, she realized that these Nereid might not even realize they were being lied to.
"Sisters! Brothers! You are free, go swim the ocean, see the Earth, walk on land, do what you want! Or stay here with me. Be my new pals if you want, just know that it's up to you."
A rumbling and bubbling came up from the gorge below. "Who dares empty my home and threaten my children!" King Glaucus bellowed and swam up through the crowd towards Morrigan. As soon as the merfolk were behind him, he did not hesitate. He aimed his trident straight at Morrigan and sent out a bolt of raw energy.
Luckily for Morrigan, she was prepared for the attack. Her ward was enough of a shield for any magic, even the godly kind.
"Witch!" He yelled as his bolt was blocked by her magic.
"Oh, get over it. You know what, you can call me the Sea Queen, it has a much better ring to it, don't you think?" She hummed and lunged at him, full force, and grabbed the amulet around his neck and pulled, but it did not break off into her hand.
"Stupid witch, did you think it would be that easy? There is only one Queen in this ocean." They each struggled under the weight of the other, grabbing and wrestling each other, trying to get the other to submit. The Nereid's were all still, even the Wren's, who desperately wanted to help their King, but Morrigan had spelled them all with their own magic. They could only watch as she fought and scratched in circles with their King. Though only a young teen, Morrigan was just as powerful as Glaucus. He had been made a god, but he was not born a god and she knew she had been born to rule.
She took hold of his amulet again and made a tight fist around it. "Now we'll see who's Queen," she said as her hand began to glow. Glaucus clawed at her chest, trying to grab hold of her own amulet, but she warded that as well. His amulet began to melt in her hand, and leak out in little droplets that sank to the bottom of the sea.
Glaucus himself began to change. He grew legs and his body shrunk to the average size of a human. He gasped and flailed and began to try and swim up to the ocean. Morrigan released him and sighed. "Well, that's not totally what I expected to happen. Now you're just like everyone else up there." She made a gesture behind her and suddenly there were four dolphins helping Glaucus swim up to the surface.
"Release us, please! Have mercy, I can help him," pleaded one of the Wren's. Morrigan looked her up and down. She didn't seem so tough, the only magic she carried was in her song.
"Hey, I told you all you were free, where you go is up to you." At that moment she released her hold on all the Nereids, three of the Wrens swam up to help their fallen king. The others looked at each other, making groups, whispering about what to do.
Before they could decide, a black liquid rose up from beneath them and Scylla, the sea demon, swam up and out of the gorge letting out a huge roar.