Kingdom of the Deep Read Free Page A

blamed Gray once more. She ground her teeth fiercely until one snapped off with a
tink
.
    The sound echoed off the smooth lava rock walls. It was then she heard a noise—several noises, in fact. They echoed down the slender holes in the wall from the Riptide homewaters. There were shouts of “Alarm!” and “Intruder!” Her cell was so quiet, other than a slow current that kept her alive, that Velenka could hear individual sharkkind tearing this way and that through the water above.
    She moved over to the largest of the holes in her cell to get a look. A small, escaping bubble of gas had created it before the lava was frozen by the water, so it was still very thin, even though it was the biggest. Looking almost straight into the moon, Velenka’s eyes watered. She forced herself to bear the brightness and gradually, they adjusted. Groups of sharks, probably patrols, were rushing back and forth. The yelling increased.
    â€œI wonder what’s got them so spooked?” Velenka whispered in the gloom.
    â€œMe,” said a voice behind her.
    Velenka was so startled she smashed her snout into her little portal of the Big Blue. She whirled and saw—
    Something impossible.
    It was a monstrous eel, or perhaps a sea snake—no, it was just too big to be either of those. Velenka remembered a story she heard when she was a pup. There was one type of rare sharkkind that remained the same as their prehistore cousins through the eons, a living prehistore. They were called frilled sharks and swam the depths of the Deep Blue. That’s what this snaky horror was, a frilled shark.
    It was hideous. Its large head, which was thicker than her midsection, had a mouth filled with wicked, multi-pointed teeth. Its eyes glittered emerald green even in the darkness of her prison. The monster’s body was flatter than a sea snake’s, but because of its size, it was taller than she was except toward the end of its tail, which had a wicked spike.
    Velenka found herself at the back wall of her tiny cell. With the monster so close the whale-rib bars seemed thin and brittle. For the first and only time Velenka wished her prison was sturdier. Much sturdier.
    â€œMy poor girl,” the frilled shark said. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost. But I’m not a ghost, I’m your savior. I am Hokuu.”
    â€œNice to meet you,” Velenka managed. Hokuu laughed, the sound echoing off the lava rock.
    â€œSo, how have you been?” Hokuu asked. Velenka’s eyes, already very large, widened a bit more. She hovered there, mouth open, not knowing what to say. “This place. It isn’t very nice, is it?” he continued.
    â€œNo, it’s not,” she replied.
    â€œBut that’s the way of it for you in this world, and makos in general, don’t you think?” Hokuu asked, his emerald eyes boring into her. “I’ve found that makos are very smart. But other sharkkind, they call it deviousness. Like being smart is a bad thing.”
    Velenka felt as if a trap was closing but nodded. Makos were always distrusted. It was rare for them to be chosen leaders of mixed shivers. And everyone thought they were sneaky. “I agree, of course, but may I ask what you want from me?”
    â€œPolite and smart. Excellent. I heard that about you.” The frilled shark poked his spiked tail through the bars and tapped Velenka between the eyes. The tip was razor sharp and she had no doubt it would go right through her skull if Hokuu wished. “I want you to join me.”
    Velenka’s insides turned to ice, but she didn’t know why. This was an opportunity, a chance to get out of her tiny cell. So why was she afraid? She pushed the feeling aside. “Let’s go,” she told him.
    â€œNot today,” he answered. “It’s better that you stay here where I can find you for now. Don’t worry, I’ll be back. When I do come, be prepared to serve me.