Dear readers,
The release date for The Sea Witch’s Debt is coming near (March 7th!). This is the prequel to The Stone Mermaid and is set about a thousand years prior to the events of the sequel. This is Ursula’s story and she is a morally grey character, to put it lightly. As promised, here is a sneak peek:
Someone burst into her throne room, forcing her to pause her thoughts. A guard quickly bowed before her—this was an unwelcome interruption, marking the second within a mere five minutes.
“What is the matter now?” Ursula snarled, making her displeasure clear in her voice.
The guard casts an anxious glance from side to side, searching in the dark corners of the large throne room for any hidden creatures. Lowering his voice to a hushed tone, as if he feared voicing it aloud, he said, “My empress, it appears to be one of your ‘clients’.”
“I was not expecting anyone today. What do they want?” she asked, abruptly.
In the past, her guards would announce the names of the visitors, only to have her punish them for doing so. Ursula had no interest in knowing the names of the sea creatures she dealt with, not even the barest details. Behind her back, they were starting to be known as her victims.
The sea witch was not ignorant of what her servants said about her in secret; she was fully aware. Ursula even liked that they were afraid of her. She much preferred that the creatures serving her remained terrified of her and her powers.
The more they feared her, the sooner they understood not to expect mercy from her.
The guard spoke again. “The merman says his payment is due tomorrow, but he came early to request an extension.”
“He expects leniency from me? Does he take me for a fool?” Ursula scoffed. “Where is he now?”
“He is just outside the room, waiting for your answer.”
“Send him in,” Ursula said icily. The guard involuntarily shuddered at her tone.
Ursula watched as the old merman swam into her throne room, his eyes a vivid green and a face full of wisdom and kindness. He looked better than the last time she had seen him, when he came pleading for her to save his daughter’s life. The merman had appeared half-dead back then.
The sea witch addressed him haughtily. “Have you come to make my payment?”
“No… I cannot give what you ask of me,” the old merman replied, his voice frail.
“You knew the price when you made the deal,” Ursula said. “Do you remember our terms?”
“Yes, I remember,” he said, with sadness in his voice. “A life for a life.”
“Your memory is not at fault, at least,” Ursula said with a cruel smile. “Where then is my payment?”
Have I enticed you with this sneak peek? 👀Need to know what else what is in the Prequel?
– First prophecy
– Victor’s father, General Vladimir
– Ursula’s twisted family history
– Rise of the Siren Queen (evil!)
– The siren sisters’ parents/How Onyx, Scarlet and Amber came under Ursula’s care
– What happened to the Sirens?
– Rivalry between kingdoms of Kingsbourne and Rivershelm (origins)
– Kraken! 🐙
– First glimpse of Victor and Ariana as babies!
If you like to pre-order The Sea Witch’s Debt, here is the link: https://books2read.com/swd
I will write to you again closer to release day. Take care until then!
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