CHAPTER 1

Sixteen-year-old Coralie leaned over the balcony and called down to her brother, Nepta. "Why do you need a boat?"

Nepta continued nailing, and when he finished, he looked up. "Because I have a yen to visit the earth world." He paused and smiled up at her. "Would you come with me?"

Coralie tossed back her black seaweed hair and shrugged. "I might, if only to avenge my father's death." She glowered and then muttered, "If only I could see them again, I'd get even!"

Nepta spoke bitterly. "I know how you feel, but Josh and Katie didn't kill our father." He was never really certain how his father, Bragh, had died, but he knew it couldn't have been Josh because Josh had returned to his own world.

"What do you think I should name this boat?" He thought for a moment. "How about Otriana?"

"Definitely not!" Coralie grimaced. "The sea spirit, Otriana, would be jealous."

Nepta retorted, "No she wouldn't. She'd be flattered. All right, what do you suggest?"

"Miffy! I really loved that little dog." Coralie laughed.

Nepta nodded. "Miffy II it will be, as the first Miffy died here."

Nepta, who wasn't a skilled boatman, had been learning from one of the ferrymen. Nepta visited his boating friend to tell him about his boat and what he planned to do.

"Nepta, this is a silly idea of yours. We're right out in the middle of the ocean, no land for miles. How do you expect to find the people you knew?"

"I've thought about that. Katie returned to earth via the volcano. So if I navigate there and then surface, I hope I'll be somewhere near where they live."

The ferryman shrugged. "It seems you're set on this. Have a word with Wizen before you go on this mad journey."

Nepta had considered talking to Wizen and nodded. "I intend to."

* * *

Wizen was in his garden arranging shells along his footpath. He straightened up when he heard Nepta call his name.

He slapped Nepta on the shoulder. "Nepta, my boy. Glad to see you. Come inside and have a chat. I haven't seen you for so long."

Wizen looked at this strong young man with such vivid blue eyes and tears flowed from his own. He regarded Nepta as a son.

"Yes, I'm sorry, Wizen. I've been building a boat, and I've come for some advice."

"That sounds ominous." Wizen poured two glasses of juice made from his special green seaweed. "It's made from my special green seaweed." He smacked his lips. "Very tasty!" Then he laughed. "Humans can't drink it. It makes them forget everything."

Nepta grinned. "It could come in handy because I intend to surface and—"

Wizen spluttered. "You're going up there?" He pointed above his head. "Don't be stupid. It's a more dangerous world than this one." He swallowed a mouthful of wine. "Nepta, if you're hoping to find Josh and Katie, it'll be a fruitless search. Don't do it, my boy."

"I want to see them badly, and I came to you for some advice."

Wizen sighed. "It seems you've decided. How can I help?"

"Firstly, I need a map, in particular the area near the volcano. Secondly, I need some take-out food to supplement my diet of earth food. And any other advice you think I may need." He finished his drink.

Wizen swam over to the corner. "This is a pirate's chest. It was full of treasure. It belonged to an ancient enemy of mine, a cruel and merciless sea rover. I destroyed his ship! There's a map in here somewhere." He rummaged around and produced a yellow, torn piece of parchment. "No, I don't think this will help. It's too old." He murmured some words and the parchment became white. The tears in the paper disappeared.

"Now let's see. You need the area of land surrounding the volcano." The map slowly began to show land mass, compass directions, gulf streams, and shipping lanes. Wizen studied it and then nodded. "Keep it moist, otherwise the map will fade. Look, here's the country I imagine Josh and Katie to live in. You'll have a lot of questions to ask before and if you find them."

He looked at Nepta. "Do you have any magic left?"

Nepta shook his head. "No, only to transform one living being into another, but I'm taking Coralie with me. She learned much more magic than I ever did."

Wizen was shocked. "No, Nepta, don't take Coralie! She's vindictive. I'm sorry I have to ask, but can you trust her?"

Nepta grinned. "We've had our fights, but she's never done me any harm. Although she did say she wanted to avenge our father's death."

"Josh and Katie didn't kill your father. Miffy started it, and the sea snakes completed the job." He described how he and Katie had found Bragh and Jilly after the sea snakes had killed him.

Nepta closed his eyes. "Well, I'm glad it wasn't Josh or Katie. I never thought they could have done it."

Nepta and Wizen had a long chat. Wizen gave Nepta a bottle of sea wine and a ring.

"This ring will help you whenever danger threatens. Only put it on your finger when you need it." Wizen paused. "There is a story about this ring." He turned the plain silver ring around in his fingers. "I can't remember clearly ... something about asking it to help you."

Wizen laughed. He placed it in a little bag on a chain and hung it around Nepta's neck. He foraged in the chest again and produced a pair of trousers, a shirt, and a cloak.

"You'll need these when you reach the surface. There are also some coins here to help you buy anything. Tap them with the ring, and they'll change into the local currency. Take care, and good luck!" Wizen hugged him.

* * *

Coralie listened carefully to everything Nepta had to say. She draped the cloak around her shoulders and laughed. "I'd say very much out of fashion, but I can change that."

Nepta tried on the shirt and trousers. They were rather large on his slim body, but Coralie eased his mind. "I can adjust them when I see what people are wearing."

They carefully packed the boat and said good-bye to their mother, Meerlyn, who tearfully watched them leave. "Come safely back to me," she cried softly.

* * *

There was no problem steering the boat to the volcano. It was quiet, so with her magic spells, Coralie guided the boat to the surface.

When they surfaced, the sea was calm. The sun was shining. Otriana, the water spirit, wished them a safe journey. "Your friends live near a town called Lumenvale. Farewell and good luck!"

Nepta steered the boat towards the jetty. All was quiet. No one was about.

CHAPTER 2

Coralie said, "Nepta, that ring Wizen gave you—what does it do?"

Nepta replied, "I'm not sure. He told me to only to wear it if I was in danger. Why?"

Coralie said, "Give it to me, Nepta."

He passed the ring to her and she slipped it on her finger. There was an immediate flash—and before them stood a pirate captain.

"Where is the blackguard? Show yourself, you snivelling curmudgeon!" he roared. Spotting Nepta, he lunged at him with his cutlass.

Nepta dived into the sea, shaking with fright.

The pirate turned to face Coralie. He sheathed his cutlass and fingered his black beard. He wore a tricorne hat over a red bandanna, and his black hair was loosely tied back. His coat was dark blue with several silver buttons missing. His trousers were black, and he wore sea boots.

"Hmmm, you don't appear to need my help," he barked. Sweeping off his hat, he bowed to Coralie. "Cap'n Bartelemy, at your service."

Coralie laughed. She bowed in return. "I'm Coralie from the sea...