Chapter 1
Call for Help
JUNE 17
SOMETHING WAS WRONG. The sea should have been full of fishing boats on a mid-June morning. Instead, they were all docked at the pier or pulled up onto the beach. The small crafts bobbed as waves licked their sides. And where were all the fishermen? Even after the day’s work, they usually hung around the wharf telling their tales. Today, it was completely empty.
Waves smashed against the rock barrier, and a torrent of spray soaked Theo’s T-shirt and shorts. Shivering from the chill, he dipped his bare toes into water that had pooled in a gap in the breakwater. That was as much of his body that he cared to immerse in the Black Sea.
The wind nipped his cheeks as he stared at the abnormal sight a while longer. He’d had a feeling something unusual was going to happen and hoped that meant today was going to be his lucky day. Not just for fishing, although he had caught nothing yet, and he’d been fishing for a couple of hours. Maybe he’d finally—
“Theo, Theo, help!” Nia’s shrill cry shattered his concentration.
Not again. Not THAT! He dropped his fishing pole and jerked his head, looking up and down the beach for his twin sister.
There she was. In the sea.
The waves surged and crashed against the shore. Screeching and flailing her hands, Nia struggled against the onslaught as she hastened away from a creature covered with green algae.
Theo was too far away to see the monster clearly. He raced along the sharp breakwater until he reached the shore. Breathing heavily, he scrambled down the remaining rocks and rushed along the beach toward his sister. He tripped over his feet as his toes dug into the hot sand, but he righted himself before he fell. He called, “I’m coming!” as he scrambled closer.
Where was Pavel? Theo’s best friend should have been watching Nia, protecting her. Unless … Did the monster already devour Pavel?
“Theo!” Nia screamed again, followed by laughter as the monster tackled her.
What?
Theo stopped short, staring at the scene. The algae-covered monster had transformed into a ruddy-complexion, dark-haired boy with seaweed clinging to his head and clothes.
Pavel. It was only his friend. Not a monster.
“It’s all right. Nia’s not in danger. It’s all right.” Theo repeated the words until his heart stopped racing.
“Come on in, Theo. The water’s awesome.” Nia tugged seaweed from her clothes and swatted Pavel, pushing him away. Her dark curls and tanned skin glistened in the sun. She raised her voice against the roar of the waves. “Stop being like a lizard under the sun. Come in for a splash.”
Theo’s relief turned to anger. “I’m not a lizard. And why were you screaming like that? You scared me.”
“Did you think a dragon was kidnapping me?” Nia laughed, but looked around warily.
“It’s not funny.” Theo stormed back to the rocks and retrieved his fishing pole. He might not catch any fish, but the motion of the waves tugging against the line soothed him, so he cast into the turbulent water.
How could Nia even joke about a dragon taking her? Last year, Theo had told her he wished a dragon would seize her, and one had carried her off to Dragon Village. Never again would he use words so carelessly.
Pavel forced his legs through the waves and climbed the breakwater. He plucked seaweed from his hair and the rim of his glasses and threw the plants into the water like an offering. “St. Nicholas, master of the sea, send a fish to my friend.”
“Go away. You’re dripping all over me.” Theo tossed a towel to his friend without looking at him. He stared at his fishing line, willing Pavel to leave.
Pavel wiped the moisture off of his glasses and draped the towel over his shoulder. “Don’t be such a wuss.” With his bare toes, he nudged Theo. “Come have fun. You don’t have to go into the water. We can fish together tomorrow. I’ll bring my newest invention, the Ribotron. I designed it so we can catch fish and crabs.”
“You and your gadgets.” Theo huffed as he waved a dismissive hand behind him. His friend was always creating something new. Few of these inventions worked the way Pavel planned. “You have too many ideas and too much free time. Unlike you, I have to work to support my family. A rod, a hook, bait, and luck are enough for me.”
Pavel stepped in front of Theo. “Why are you so mad all the time?”
Theo looked up, clenching his fists as he did so. Because I want to leave! he shouted in his mind. I want to return and live with my birth father, Zmey, in Dragon Village.
But then, he didn’t know if Zmey wanted him. His father hadn’t returned to get Theo, and it had been almost a year. On top of that, Theo had lost his connection to his birth mother, Zunitza, the queen of the Samodivi, the woodland nymphs. Zunitza had died before he’d ever had a chance to meet her, but her spirit had guided him on his mission. Now, since his return to Selo, her voice was silent. A sob choked Theo’s throat. He needed them so badly, but didn’t know if they wanted him back.
But how could he tell his best friend that? And how could Theo even think about leaving? He couldn’t desert his adoptive mother and Nia. He was responsible for them and had to make sure they were protected and safe. His family and Pavel were still the dearest people in the world to him. He couldn’t tell them he wished to go. Besides, apparently, he couldn’t depend on his friend to protect Nia. Not that it was Pavel’s obligation. But Pavel was like a brother to him, a part of the family already.
Instead, Theo said, “You told me you’d make sure nothing happened to Nia.”
“Nothing has. Come on, Theo. Lighten up. Have some fun.”
Theo shook his head. “You shouldn’t have let her go into the water. My mom didn’t want us to come to the beach at all. Did you forget about the red tide that’s been invading other places? You promised Mom—and me—that you’d stay on the sand.”
“You worry too much for nothing.”
“We have to be careful. I don’t want Nia—or you—to get sick.”
“I promise you. There’s nothing in the water. I checked before I let her go in. Only this green stuff floating around.” He snatched a remaining piece of seaweed from his swimsuit and flicked it at Theo. “Besides, I don’t think it’s—”
“Hey, guys, stop bickering and come on in.” Nia tiptoed around the sharp rocks. When she reached the boys, she grabbed Theo’s hand and tugged him up onto his feet, making him drop his fishing pole.
“Leave me alone. I don’t want to swim. Not today. Not here.”
Nia let his hand go. “I thought you weren’t afraid of the water anymore.”
“I’m not.” Even though he had learned how to swim the previous summer, the thought of swimming in the Black Sea made him queasy. It was the place his adoptive father had disappeared while fishing; a storm arose and swallowed him on the night Theo and Nia were born.
“Then why—”
“You know he doesn’t like to swim,” Pavel said.
“Actually, I like it now. I really do.” Theo bent and picked up his fishing pole. “You two go have fun. I promised Mom fresh fish. If I don’t catch any, we’ll have to buy horse mackerel from the fish market.”
If they have any. Maybe the men had all been out to sea earlier than normal. An approaching storm could have forced them to return early.
“All right.” Pavel sighed. “But first I wanted to tell you about the red—”
“Come on, geek boy.” Nia laughed as she grabbed Pavel’s hand and pulled him back down the rocks and into the bluish-green water. Theo knew they’d forget about him while they became engrossed with their games.
Theo was torn about leaving for another reason. If he lived with Zmey in Dragon Village, would his family and friends in Selo forget he ever existed? He’d probably become part of the legends the old folks told.
“Okay, princess.” Pavel twisted his body and waved to Theo. “I’ll tell you later.”
Despite his apprehension, Theo smiled. He was glad to see Nia and Pavel getting along. A year ago, everything was different. Back then, they’d hurled “geek boy” and “princess” at each other as insults. Nia’s traumatic experience of being captured by a dragon had changed her, changed them all.
His sister no longer acted like a princess. Well, not as much anyway. She still had her moments. Mom said it was a part of growing up, since they were both only a week away from their thirteenth birthday. Even so, Nia willingly helped Mom around the house and had volunteered at an animal shelter.
Pavel had changed, too. Now, he was more willing to set aside his staunch scientific beliefs and accept that strange and magical incidents were possible. And Theo himself was different, and continued to change, in more ways than one. Those who knew what happened last year called him a hero. He still didn’t feel like one. He couldn’t even—
The tip of his fishing pole dipped. Theo jumped up and jerked the rod, trying to snag the fish. The rod pulled left and right as he struggled to wind in the spool. Slowly, he brought in his catch. To his disappointment, only a pile of green algae hung on the hook.
Luck’s not on my side today. I guess I’ll have to go to the fish market after all.
The sun had almost reached the top of the sky. Theo folded the line, tucked his gear into his backpack, and started down the breakwater. Wings fluttered above his head. He looked back. A cormorant landed in the water and thrust its head under the waves. When it emerged, it held in its long, hooked beak a wiggling fish, struggling for its life.
I guess you’re the lucky fisherman today, not me.
The bird lifted its head, gulping as it swallowed the fish whole. Waterlogged from its fishing expedition, the cormorant flew onto the rock Theo had been sitting on. Facing the sun, the bird spread its wings and shook them, releasing a flurry of water. The warm sunlight reflected on its feathers as the bird stood still, giving the pitch-black wings a smooth, goldish-blue shimmer. With its dark plumage drying, it looked like a sparkling cross. The fishermen in the village told stories about how this symbolized nobility and sacrifice.
Maybe that’s a sign for me. I just hope it doesn’t mean more troubles.
A dazzling gleam and a splash in the sea on the other side of the breakwater caught his eye. Lost in thought, he hadn’t seen the bird disappear. It had a voracious appetite, so maybe it was fishing again.
A second splash produced a rainbow of spray that scattered in the air and sparkled like pearls. Several droplets, carried on the wind, touched his face.
Theo looked through his backpack and found his phone. If he was lucky, he’d be able to get a video of the bird. He wished he’d thought of that earlier.
He gazed down the beach. Nia and Pavel were lost in their fun, splashing in the water. They wouldn’t notice he was gone. He scrambled down the other side of the rocks and followed the black shape moving under the waves. He’d never been on this side of the beach before. The shore was rockier, and he stepped around jagged rocks as he made his way along.
Another splash sounded behind a boulder at the head of a second breakwater, and a fountain sprayed into the air. Theo breathed in the smell of salt and drying seaweed. He hurried to the rocks, slipping on the wet, green-patched stones, but kept his balance. At the top, he looked down. Two seagulls squawked as they quarreled over small snails. But that’s not what intrigued him. The receding tide had exposed a rocky cavity in the middle of the barrier. A carved stone arch about half his height marked the entrance. The path inside sloped toward a tunnel.
I wonder what’s down there.
He wanted to explore it, but not alone. He’d promised his mother to be sensible and think twice before heading off on any more adventures. She’d been overprotective all his life, because she’d lost her husband. After everything that happened the previous summer, she became more frantic whenever they were gone too long. With a sigh, he turned to leave.
A splash and a glow within the cavity piqued his curiosity.
I’ll look quickly. After that, I’ll go back.
He removed a flashlight from his backpack and left the bag and fishing pole on the rocks. To avoid hitting his head on the arch, he hunched over as he lowered himself into the tunnel. Stepping stones descended into the darkness like a staircase. At the cave’s entrance, salt water and algae had pooled into niches carved into the stone over time.
He flashed the light into the dark hollow. “Is there anybody down here?”
Here ... here, the echo answered.
Another splash came from deeper within the cave. Theo ventured inside.
“Theo ... Theo ... help!”
“Nia?” He twisted around to look up the tunnel.
A fragment of blue sky peered through the opening, but no one was there. His sister hadn’t followed him. The sound came from farther away, deep inside the cave. It was impossible that Nia had entered before him. Someone else was in trouble. Someone who knew him. He stepped forward, but then drew his foot back.
I should get Pavel.
“Theo.” His name echoed around the cave.
His breaths increased, and he bit his bottom lip. He shuffled forward a step, then stopped.
What should I do? I can’t help by myself. I don’t have my pow—
“THEO! Can you hear me? HELP!”
Despite the chilling urgency of the cry, that voice was familiar. Melodic. Enchanting. For a moment, Theo went back in time to another underwater cave in Dragon Village he’d been in last year. That experience had been terrifying, too, but in a different way. Even so, he’d made a friend, one who showed him the beauty and wonders of the sea, and the joy of swimming. Could it be her? How did she manage to come here, to Selo, before the portal between her world and his had opened?
He made up his mind. His friend was in trouble. She’d saved his life—more than once. He had to find her and help. Now. Without Pavel. Without Nia. He couldn’t put either of them in danger again.
He followed a rushing stream deeper into the cave. The farther he went, the mustier, earthier the cave smelled. His flashlight uncovered glimpses of broken shells and lichen-covered boulders, but no living beings. A strange azure light glowed in the distance. That must be where she was. He crept along the slippery rocks, pressing his free hand against the damp wall to keep his balance.
Bang. Splash.
A chunk of rock from the ceiling exploded against a boulder in the frothy river, hurtling a spray of cold water toward him. Chilled and momentarily blinded, he stepped onto something sharp. Pain pierced his bare feet, and he slipped, falling onto his knees. His flashlight banged against the rocks, flickered, and went dim.
“No, not now, not now!” he screamed.
Now, now the unmerciful cave threw back at him.
Theo shook the flashlight. It emitted a weak light, enough for him to avoid stepping onto any more broken shells. He reached a junction. The angry river flowed down another tunnel. What he wanted was straight ahead. In a few more steps, he reached the back of the cave where the blue glow and voice beckoned him.
The place held only a large conch lying by a still pool. A stream of light radiated from the water onto the shell. Theo kneeled by the pool’s edge, peering into the clearest water he’d ever seen. His reflection stared back at him. His red hair tussled, a frantic look in his pale-blue eyes, and his mouth wide open.
Who called me here and how?
“Theo …” The voice had faded to a whisper.
“Where—” His gaze rested on the conch again. The light was coming from the shell, not from the pool.
He picked up the conch, cradling it in his palms. Brown carved symbols spiraled along the pearly surface, reaching to the shell’s golden peak, which shone like Poseidon’s spear. He’d seen those marks before, an ancient, mystical language written on pieces of parchment. Riddles. Nature’s clues. Friends had translated the inscriptions for him. He’d needed the clues when he’d been in Dragon Village.
“Theo, please help …” The words slipped from the conch.
He opened his eyes wide. When he was little, his mother told stories about how Rusalki, mermaids, used shells like sea phones. All he’d ever heard before was the roar of the sea. The voice must be his friend. Using both hands, he held the conch to his face.
“Ruslana?” he said.
Instead of waves, a pleading female voice moaned, “Theo, can you hear me? We need your help. Zmeykovo and Selo are in grave danger. Come back, Theo ...”
“Danger!” Zmeykovo was the name his friends called Dragon Village.
He stepped back to lean against the damp stone wall but slipped on the slimy stones. The shell flew out of his hands and slammed into the pool, and the water engulfed it in seconds. The glow from the shell extinguished, leaving Theo with only the fading light from his flashlight.
I have to get the conch back. Find out what’s going on.
He kneeled by the pool and reached into the water with both hands. Slippery red algae tangled in his fingers, stinging them. He pulled out his aching hands.
“What is that?”
The water had been clear moments ago.
The tip of the conch poked its golden peak out of the water. Theo grabbed for it, but two red tentacles twisted around the shell, hugging it. Two more slimy tentacles wrapped around Theo’s arms, digging into his skin and binding him like a metal rope, creating a white line that ran down his arms.
Rage clawed at Theo’s skin, demanding release. It pulsed stronger, stranger than any emotion he’d ever experienced. The fury within him took form, emitting orange-red sparks that crackled and smoked. Their sulfuric odor tainted the air and gagged him, filling his mouth and nostrils. He grabbed a handful of the offending sparks and squeezed. Their prickly jabs oozed a fiery ichor in his fist.
He returned his attention to the creature holding him captive. “LET. ME. GO!”
The veins in his arms swelled, pain tightened his chest, and he emitted a loud hiss.
The creature jerked its tentacles away from Theo and slithered back into the water, but the other two held the shell with an unyielding grip. The creature pulled away and disappeared into the now-murky reddish water, carrying the shell into the depths.
Theo shook. What just happened?
His anger subsided, and his breathing calmed. Afraid he’d turned into a monster like the one in the water, he stretched out his arms in front of him, examined his hands and chest, and touched his face with his slimy, trembling palms.
I seem to be normal.
What was that creature? It most definitely wasn’t a result of red tide. It was no eco-accident. Despite the danger, Theo had to bring Pavel here to show him. His friend was one person who would know what those creatures were. Not only was Dragon Village in danger, the Rusalka had said Selo, their home, was, too. Theo needed his friend’s help to save both places he loved.
With that terrifying thought, Theo sprinted out of the cave, not caring that broken shells cut into the soles of his feet.
