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Vampirate—takes his rest. It’s a place as far removed from light as you can find on this planet. Darkness pervades his being here, seeping into his ears and nose and eye sockets as intently asthe water. Just as he likes it. Light can be such a menace. Others cling to the light, fear the dark. He smiles. How they would loathe it here.
    And yet, many creatures prosper in this place. He is watching some of them right now—a school of hagfish. They feast on a chunk of whale meat, helpfully discarded by a predator above. The hagfish barely merit the name “fish.” No sleekshape for them. No glittering scales. They are more like thick worms—ill-formed creatures. All they are good for is feasting on the dead flesh of this world—flesh they don’t even have the ability to kill for themselves. Why, they don’t even have teeth , Sidorio thinks, running his tongue over his own golden fangs.
    But what hagfish lack in aesthetics, they make up forin gumption. They may not have teeth, but they suck flesh from bones at a pace that can make you nauseous to watch. They may look vile, but they are ruthlessly efficient. It’s a combination Sidorio admires.
    Now he watches as a new visitor arrives in these inky depths: a hammerhead shark. On paper, not much prettier than a hagfish, but , thinks Sidorio, personality goes a long way. Sleek and knowing, the shark swims above the hagfish. The scavengers continue feasting until the very last moment. Then they take their leave. No point in messing with a shark.
    Sidorio watches as the creature dives in and takes a bite of the whale flesh. Perhaps it isn’t to her taste. Perhaps she was only proving a point. She leaves the rest of the carcass uneaten andswims on. The hagfish return to their business of sucking and chomping. It is what they know. What they are.
    The shark comes toward Sidorio. He immediately recognizes in her the arrogance of the few creatures who straddle both the dark waters below and the bright waters above. Sidorio reaches out a hand and she swims in, nuzzling it. Then she retreats back a touch, raising herselfin the water. They are eye-to-eye now. Equals. Yes , thinks Sidorio, you’re right. We two are the same. We know both darkness and light. We can make our choices.
    He looks into her eyes and sees that she is in a playful mood. She swims up higher. He follows. It is as if she is calling him. As if, higher in these waters, there may be some sport to be had. Sidorio swimsstrongly in her wake. It is time to leave the dark waters behind him for a time.
    He is in the mood for some sport.

Chapter Nine
Hell Bay
    The waters of Hell Bay looked tranquil in the early-morning sunshine. We must have sailed through the night to get here , thought Connor. Did Flynn never sleep? No wonder he looked so frail.
    In spite of its name, it was a beautiful spot. Glancingaround, Connor felt a deep sense of calm. Suddenly, out of the placid waters sprang a pair of dolphins. Connor watched with delight as they swam along, leaping in and out of the water. There could be few better sights to wake up to than this.
    But as the dolphins swam away, the events of the previous night flooded back. He glanced down and saw Jez, still tossing and turning inhis sleep. On his other side was an empty space. Bart had not joined them on the sleeping deck last night. It’s happening already , thought Connor. We haven’t even left yet, but already Bart’s cutting the ties.
    Looking up, he could see the fishtails asleep on the deck, their chairs brought together and reclined in the center. Bart was lying on a bench, not far from Kally.Seeing this, Connor made a decision. They had to seize the moment.
    “Wake up, Jez!” he whispered, nudging his friend.
    “Whaaat?”
    “Wake up!” Connor hissed once more. “And try not to make too much noise.”
    Jez opened his eyes, blinking in the light. “What time is it?” he asked.
    “It doesn’tmatter,” said Connor urgently. “The fishtails are asleep.