XIII: Toward the Adriatic

A week had passed, and my sister and I were finally ready for the journey to the Adriatic.

Of course, we needed an excuse for our parents—so we decided to tell them we were going to Corfu for a few days.

The pink dolphin arrived, and she told me to bring the turquoise gemstone with me.

We explained to Sheila our plan—how Corfu was a cover story for our parents, but also a clever way to move unnoticed, just as my sister had suggested.

She agreed and pointed us to a small secluded beach at the northern tip of the island for our rendezvous.

We made our way there.

Sheila was already waiting.

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We both cut our palms, and in moments, we transformed…

One White Shark. One Mako Shark. And one Pink Dolphin.

A bizarre sight.

“This is where it all begins,” we thought.

Sheila warned us that there were many Mediterranean Great Whites in the Adriatic. If we saw anything suspicious, we had to act natural—or even split up, if necessary.

“Sheila, where exactly is the Lady of the Sea?” my sister asked.

“We need to pass through Split first.”

“Is that all?”

“You’ll see. But don’t be afraid.”

“Sheila,” I said, “you’re pink, but you don’t look anything like those Amazon River dolphins.”

“Haha! I was just born this way,” she chuckled. “And I know—I’m one of a kind.”

We swam for hours through the deep.

Surely by now, our parents would be worried.

We’d have to tell them everything eventually… They’d understand.

“We’re here,” Sheila said. “From here on… try not to be afraid.”

The seafloor began to darken. The seaweed grew taller and denser, reaching for us as we passed. We descended deeper and deeper…

Red eyes glowed in the shadows—fish hiding in the dark. Corals flickered faintly with a crimson hue. Their tendrils extended, as if trying to catch us.

We couldn’t even see the surface anymore.

At least we hadn’t run into any Great Whites.

Strange. Too strange.

The scenery remained the same for what felt like forever—until we saw it.

A red trident, glowing like blood in the distance.

As we got closer, its shape became clearer…

A woman holding it. With a white robe. Green hair. Yellow eyes. Purple skin. Pointed ears.

Her presence struck fear into us instantly.

“No… not her!” Sheila gasped, visibly shaken