Not Quite a Mermaid Read Online Free

Sasha didn’t move. Her mouth opened and shut. Her green eyes were wide with terror. The snake reared up in front of her and opened its mouth.
    Electra couldn’t bear it any longer. ‘No!’ she shrieked. She looked around desperately for a weapon but the only thing she had was her mermaid bag. It would have to do! She hoisted it up to bash the snake with. It wasvery heavy.
The burnt cake bits!
Electra realized.
    She had an idea. Opening her bag, she grabbed one of the burnt pieces of cake. She threw it as hard as she could at the mother snake.
    The cake bounced off the snake’s back. The snake swung round.
    Electra threw another piece of cake. This time the snake instinctively opened her jaws. She snapped the cake up and bit hard.

    â€˜She’s eating it!’ Splash exclaimed.
    Electra chucked another piece of cake. The snake gobbled it up so fast she didn’t even seem to taste it.
    â€˜I think she likes it!’ Splash said.
    Electra began to throw all the remaining pieces out of the bag. They fell through the water like stones. Both snakes chased the pieces through the water, snapping them up in quick bites.
    â€˜Quick!’ Electra said to Splash. ‘Let’s escape while they’re busy eating.’
    They plunged over the snakes’ heads and raced to the entrance.
    â€˜Come on!’ Sam cried.
    Electra glanced over her shoulder. The snakes’ skinny bodies were full of lumps now, where the cake they had gobbled up had stuck. The mother snake hesitated by the last piece of cake and then looked round at the lump in its tummy. She swayed suddenly and shut her eyes. The baby snake flopped to the ground.
    â€˜They don’t look very well!’ said Splash.
    The snakes’ scales began to turn a greenish colour and their tummies bulged even more. The mother snakeopened her mouth and gave a weak hiss. Her tummy rumbled like a volcano.
    A grin caught at the corner of Electra’s mouth. She reached in her bag. There was just one piece of cake left. She threw it towards the mother snake. ‘Here, Snaky, have some cake!’ The snake looked at the cake in horror and then turned and raced out of the cave. The baby followed her.
    â€˜They’ve gone!’ Sasha exclaimed.

    â€˜Hooray!’ Sam shouted.
    They all hugged each other then Electra swam to the patch of anemones where the sea mouse was hiding. All she could see was its little nose and twitching whiskers. She held out her hands and spoke softly. ‘Are you coming with us, little sea mouse? If you do, you’ll never have to worry about sea snakes again!’
    The sea mouse didn’t hesitate. It shot out into her hands and squeaked loudly. Electra kissed its furry head. ‘Come on, let’s take you home,’ she said.

Chapter Six
    Electra and the others swam quickly out of the hole Electra had made in the barrier. They filled it in just in case the snakes decided to come back and then raced back home to the twins’ cave.
    â€˜Phew!’ Sam said as they dived inthrough the curtain and realized that the cave was empty. ‘Dad and Gran aren’t back yet!’
    â€˜Luckily,’ Electra said, looking around at the mess. The painting and decorating things they had used were still out, the floor was covered with glitter, the banner was dripping paint on to the rug, and the streamers had half fallen down. And then there was the kitchen…
    What was Ronan going to say when he saw all the mess?
    â€˜I think we’d better clean up,’ she said hastily.
    But just then, the shell curtain tinkled behind them.
    â€˜We’re back!’ Ronan called, swimming into the cave with Gran. ‘Have you been good and…’ He broke off and stared in shock at the cave. ‘What’s happened here?’ he gasped.
    Electra’s heart sank. Oh, no, now they were in trouble!
    â€˜Look at the mess!’ Ronan exclaimed angrily. ‘What’s been going