Chapter 2

Chapter TWO Inkibelle swished around my bedroom, squiggling her little octopus arms as I rummaged in the toy chest for my backpack. When I found it I stuffed my pair of binoculars and the book about sea sprites into it, along with a packet of sea biscuits—

according to the book, sea sprites love sea biscuits! Then Inkibelle and I swam out of the palace and into the royal gardens, hoping that we wouldn't bump into anyone on the way.

I couldn't see Delphina anywhere when I got outside. 'She's late!' I said to Inkibelle. I gazed around at all the beautiful sea plants in the garden and the rows of brightly coloured anemones shining like jewels among the rocks, when suddenly I saw something move.

'Pssst!' came Delphina's voice from inside a huge frond of seaweed. 'Emerald!' I turned to see two eyes staring at me from among the waving leaves. I couldn't help laughing. 'No one must see us!' hissed Delphina. Then, quick as a flash, she shot out of the seaweed and swam away from the palace gardens, trailing strips of slimy seaweed behind her. I followed as we turned our backs on the palace and headed north, out into the deep open sea.

'Ooh it's getting a bit chilly,' said Delphina after we had been swimming for an hour or more. 'My tail is getting tired!' I said. We had left the clear aqua waters of Scallop City behind and everything seemed darker here. The ocean was a deep sapphire blue and below us on the rippling sand, hundreds of silver starfish glowed with their own magical light. Ghost-like jellyfish floated gently through the water, trailing shiny strings that glinted in the faint sunshine from up above. I shivered. Do you think we're heading in the right direction?' asked Delphina. 'I think so,' I replied, opening the

book and checking the map once again. I put my binoculars to my eyes and squinted through them.