Sepron the Sea Serpent (4 page)

S
EPRON AT
L
AST!

T
OM SCANNED THE HORIZON FOR SIGNS OF
Sepron, but saw only tranquil seas. By now the sun must have risen over the hills. But the sea mist had grown thicker still — the shore was blotted out. And everything was eerily quiet.

Elenna broke the silence. “I think the leak is getting worse. I can’t bail fast enough.”

“But there’s nowhere to land the boat!” Tom said. “What can we do?”

“Quick!” Elenna shouted, ripping the bottom of her tunic. “Give me some cloth.”

Tom ripped off his sleeve and handed it to Elenna.

“Hold the boat steady, Tom,” she said. “I’ve got to plug the hole from underneath.” With that, she jumped overboard into the frigid sea and disappeared under the surface. Tom tried to bail the water, but it was coming in too quickly.

I hope this works,
thought Tom as he watched the water rise over his ankles. He felt panic seize him as water begin to fill the bottom of the hull. Just when he thought they were doomed, the water slowed, and then stopped almost entirely. He heard Elenna gasp as she came to the surface.

“You did it,” Tom exclaimed as he helped pull Elenna back into the boat.

“It will help,” she said, “but it won’t completely stop the flow. And it won’t hold for long.” Tom continued to bail out the water with his shield as Elenna tried to warm up. She was shivering and her lips were blue with cold.

“Here,” Tom said, handing her his coat.

As the boat bobbed gently on the sea, the mist
began to thicken. It wrapped around them like a cold, wet blanket. Soon, they couldn’t see farther than a few feet away. An eerie silence descended upon them.

“We’d better start rowing again,” Tom said.

“But we don’t know which way to go,” Elenna said, shivering. She was right. Sepron could be anywhere — he hadn’t shown up on the map since the day before.

Elenna leaned over the edge of the boat, trying to peer through the fog. Just then the boat rocked wildly, almost sending her overboard.

She jumped back to her seat. “What was that?” she asked, her voice shaking with fear.

Tom summoned all his courage and looked down into the water.

“There’s something there!” he exclaimed. “Something huge.”

Sure enough, a vast dark shadow was gliding underneath the boat. Then he froze at the sound of
loud splashing. Something had broken through the surface of the water on the other side. Huge drops of seawater rained down on him and Elenna.

Tom knew what he was going to see. Bracing himself, he grabbed for his sword and shield, and glanced over his shoulder. Elenna screamed.

Rearing out of the sea was the huge head of the sea monster. At last Tom was face-to-face with Sepron!

The serpent’s eyes flashed with an icy glare of anger. Shimmering scales, the color of the sea, covered his head and neck. Barnacles and seaweed clung to him, and the water foamed around him where he broke the surface.

“Look at that,” Tom said, pointing. “The lock is the same as Ferno the Fire Dragon’s.”

The beast’s collar was locked with a huge padlock, and the broken golden chain trailed from it.
Roaring, Sepron lashed his head to and fro in agitation. Then he plunged back under the waves.

The surface of the sea rolled as he vanished, and the boat rocked dangerously. Tom peered down into the sea. He narrowed his eyes as an idea grew inside him. Sepron was down there, somewhere. But the serpent couldn’t hide forever. Tom knew what he had to do. He had to follow him.

They rowed around the rocks and then out into the open water, following in his wake. Elenna put all her effort into rowing. Tom could feel the cold fist of fear in the pit of his stomach. He could see that Elenna was scared, too.

“I’m going in.” he said. “If I can hold my breath for long enough, I should be able to unlock the collar with the key Aduro gave me and break the spell.” He pulled it out from under his shirt and held it up.

Elenna gave him an anxious look, but didn’t try to stop him. “Be careful,” she said quietly.

“Don’t worry, I will.”

“There must be something I can do to help,” Elenna said.

“Here,” Tom replied, handing Elenna his sword. “In case something happens.”

Tom slipped off his boots and tucked the key away safely, before climbing over the side of the boat. Time almost stood still as he took a huge gulp of air. Then he dove into the icy water.

S
EPRON’S
K
INGDOM

T
OM STRUCK OUT ENERGETICALLY, DIVING
deeper into the sea. He was swimming in an eerie world, where everything seemed to move more slowly. As he swam down, the water became darker and colder. Silver bubbles of air streamed away from his mouth, rising to the surface.

As he plunged deeper, the only sound was the rushing in his ears. Fear gripped him as he faced the dark depths. He would never be able to hold his breath long enough. He turned around and swam back to the surface, gasping for air.

He forced himself to be calm. He couldn’t turn
back now. This was his quest. No one else could help the fishermen and free the Kingdom of Avantia from the threat of Sepron. Tom had to succeed. He plunged back down, diving deeper still with strong, sure strokes.

Tom saw a flash of shimmering scales in the murky waters below—he knew he must be close. He continued to dive down until he spotted a reef of coral near the seabed. Lying among the coral was Sepron.

Tom froze and almost took a huge gulp of water. Sepron’s head and the collar with the padlock were closest to him. The sea serpent’s body stretched away into the darkness.

As Tom swam closer, the huge head swung around. The Beast’s jaws gaped open, revealing vicious rows of teeth. Sepron surged up through the water, heading straight for Tom. Tom turned back. Arms and legs pumping, he
swam up to the surface. The last of his air bubbled away. His lungs were hurting as he fought not to breathe in any water.

He glanced back, engulfed by the fear that Sepron’s mighty jaws would clamp down on his legs. The sea monster followed closely behind Tom, snapping his jaws open and shut. It was as if the serpent was taunting him.

A moment later, Tom’s head and shoulders broke the surface. He treaded water, desperately gulping in air. Looking around for the boat, he couldn’t see anything through the thick fog.

Tom kept treading water, calling out for his friend.
Where was Elenna?
Then, he heard a faint cry.

“Tom! Are you all right?” Elenna called out.

Tom looked all around, and then he saw it, a glint of silver not too far away. He swam toward the sparkling light. It was Elenna, holding Tom’s sword.

“Yes,” Tom panted. He felt exhausted. But he
knew he had to go back. He dragged his limbs through the water over to Elenna and the boat. Could he really dive down there again? “I have to!” he muttered to himself as he swam.

“Did you free Sepron?” Elenna asked, pulling him into the boat. Tom shook his head and tried to ignore the bitter stab of disappointment as he admitted that he’d failed.

“Found him, but —” Tom was still gasping for air. “Couldn’t get close enough. Got to try again.”

“Don’t take in too much air,” Elenna advised. “And try to move slowly so you don’t waste it.”

He rested until he had caught his breath. Then he took a last gulp of air and plunged beneath the surface.

This time he found the reef quickly. Sepron was lying there again, his coils wrapped loosely around a spire of coral.

Cautiously, Tom swam closer, keeping behind a rock wall until he could approach Sepron from
behind. He slid through the water, desperate not to alert the serpent of his presence. At last he could grasp the glowing collar in one hand.

Right away, Sepron knew Tom was there. He lashed his head back and forth, trying to shake him off. Tom clung on and worked his way around until he was under Sepron’s jutting jaws. He grabbed the padlock that lay against the serpent’s thick, rough scales.

As quickly as he could, Tom took Wizard Aduro’s key from his pocket. He tried to thrust it into the hole in the padlock. But the hole was encrusted with barnacles. Numb with horror, Tom realized the key was useless until he could clear the keyhole.

Just then, Sepron’s head heaved upward. Tom lost his grip on the padlock and rolled over helplessly in the surging water. One of the serpent’s coils knocked Tom from behind, and he felt the air go out of him. He had to surface or he would drown!

T
HE
L
AST
C
HANCE

S
EPRON’S NECK CURVED AROUND.
H
IS HUNGRY
jaws reached for Tom. With failing strength, Tom kicked out, driving himself back to the surface. His chest was bursting for more air.

As he surfaced, he spotted the glint of sunlight from the sword Elenna held. Shaking wet hair out of his eyes, he gulped lungfuls of air.

“Tom!” Elenna cried. “Is everything all right?”

“No. The keyhole is blocked by barnacles.” Tom’s voice was hoarse. He swam up to the boat and grabbed the side. “There’s no way to get the collar off.”

Elenna’s eyes widened in horror. “What are we going to do?” Then, before Tom could reply, she exclaimed, “I know!” She fished in her pocket until she brought out Calum’s knife.

Tom brightened at the sight of the intricate knife. Its pearl handle seemed to glow.

“I’ll give it a try,” he said.

Elenna handed him the blade. Then Tom plunged down into the sea again. A massive shadow fell over him, and he realized that Sepron was waiting for him.

The serpent’s neck arched over Tom. Sepron’s sharp teeth closed inches from Tom’s foot as he swam deeper. Tom knew he couldn’t outswim the Beast. He had to unfasten the collar!

His heart thumping, Tom knew he had to act now. His air wouldn’t last long, and if he tried to resurface, Sepron would snap him up.
This is my last chance!
he thought.

He turned in the water and drove himself toward Sepron’s body. As the huge jaws gaped open, Tom swam underneath and grabbed the padlock. Sepron’s scaly head lashed to and fro. Tom jabbed the knife into the keyhole, scraping at the barnacles. It was hard work, but at last he had cleared the hole.

By now he needed air again. His arms and legs were heavy with exhaustion and his wet clothes were dragging him down.

Summoning all his strength, he shoved the key into the lock and turned it.
This has to work!
he told himself.

The lock sprang open. Instantly, Sepron stopped thrashing about. He tossed his head, and the collar came off, floating down to the sea floor. For so long now, Sepron had been under the evil spell of Malvel. But not anymore. With fierce determination, he tore the golden chain apart with his teeth.

Tom watched in wonder as the collar sank and the golden glow faded into the depths of the sea.

He couldn’t believe it. Sepron was free at last!