Chapter 4

Chapter FOUR I darted upwards, high above the palace gardens, looking out towards Scallop City. The water in the distance was deep blue and hazy, which made it hard to see. But was that a manta ray with someone riding on its back bobbing into the distance? 'Oh no!' I said to Spinner who had swum up beside me. 'It looks like Mola's

taken a manta ray and he's heading for the cliffs! There are dangerous currents there!'

Spinner made worried clicking sounds. 'We have to stop him!' I cried, jumping onto her back, with Inkibelle on my shoulder. 'There's no time to tell Mum and Auster where we're going!' Spinner bobbed her head up and down and swam swiftly away from the palace. I clutched onto her smooth body for dear life, feeling my hair streaming out behind me. Dolphins can swim much faster than merpeople. Inkibelle had to wrap her little tentacles around my arm to stop herself from falling off!

We swam over the palace gates and out into Scallop City, keeping high in the water to avoid the lunchtime crowds around the cafés and restaurants.

I kept my eyes trained on the manta ray in the distance. It was getting closer and closer to the cliffs with every minute that passed. My heart was racing hard as we sped along. A trail of sparkly jewels fell behind—torn off my princess dress in the chase. I hoped against hope that we would reach Mola before he got sucked away into the spooky trench below the cliffs.

'Faster if you can, Spinner!' I yelled through the whooshing, fizzing water. We were getting closer to the cliffs now, leaving the bright, pearly shell buildings of Scallop City far behind and heading towards the darkness. Now I could see that it definitely was Mola up ahead, riding on the back of the manta ray. He was so close to the edge!