Chapter 5

Chapter FIVE Mola helped me onto Jade's back and we whooshed gently through the streets of Scallop City with Inkibelle wiggling along behind. We stopped at a café and bought two huge whirls of sea-foam floss, which we ate while gliding past the bright shop fronts. There were so many beautiful things

to look at gorgeous, pearly shells, dazzling necklaces and tiaras, pieces of twirly mermaid furniture, and all kinds of glittering, floaty clothes. 'Ooh!' breathed Mola. 'Aquilla and Scallop City are very different. I suppose Aquilla is more glossy and... polished looking. We have lots of tall, shiny buildings made of sea glass.' I beamed as I finished my last mouthful of sea-foam floss. Everything looked a bit different now that I was seeing it through his eyes. Scallop City definitely wasn't perfect—Aquilla sounded much bigger and fancier—but it was mine. My home.

I know a place that I think you'll really like!' I said, pointing down a street to the left and forgetting, in my excitement, that I had told Mum and Dad we would be home soon. 'Follow me!' Mola directed Jade, and we floated along the street and round a corner until it opened up into a huge park with all kinds of ramps and hoops in it.

'A manta ray park?' gasped Mola excitedly. 'Yes!' I cried. It was busy—full of merpeople whizzing around on pet mantas. They were spinning and skimming, sliding and looping the loop through the hoops. There was one particular merboy who I recognized.

'Finn!' I called, waving. My friend Finn turned round and grinned. He sped over on his manta ray. 'Emerald!' he said. 'I didn't expect to see you here this afternoon. I thought you were having guests.' 'We have got guests,' I replied. 'This is Mola!'

'Hey,' said Mola, his eyes glittering with excitement. 'Do you want to race?' Finn's eyes lit up. 'All right then,' he said. 'Let's go!' I tore off my itchy, lacy collar and then held on tight as Jade sped up and began to spin through the water, heading for the ramps. She flicked and twisted and swooped through the water in a burst of bubbles until I felt quite out of breath.