First couple of paragraphs in Chapter 1, Dark Dawn, Book 5
Black shadows loomed in a sea of darkness. Wind blew the heavy tree branches outside as leaves swung in the breeze. Bits of light shone in from the street lamp and a tiny speck danced around Dad’s model boat sitting on the mantel of the fireplace. The clock in the McCartney’s living room ticked back and forth. Tick, Tock, Tickety, Tock … Tick, Tock, Tickety, Tock. Kyle tossed and turned in his bunk bed. Beads of sweat rolled off his brow. His blonde hair was matted in thick chunks across the top of his head. His bed shirt was soaking wet. He fought with his blankets in his sleep. “Mom! Mom!” he shouted from some distant land. “Save me! I can’t keep my head above the water!” he cried. “Mom, don’t let go!” he pleaded.
But for all his tossing and turning, little Kyle didn’t wake from his dream. Water poured in all around him. It filled his room to the ceiling and spilled out the edges of his bedroom door. The water gurgled and churned as Kyle gasped for breath. He went under. An Irish Sea Sprite, named Maeve, swam in from the darkest corner and took Kyle by the hand. Her blue hair floated around her. Her sea green eyes locked on Kyle.
“Kyle, please try to remember. You have Meridian blood flowing thru your veins. You are always welcome even in the stormiest of seas,” she spoke though her lips did not move. She calmed his frightening thoughts and worst fears. Kyle’s clenched fists relaxed and he let go of the crumpled sheets. Maeve’s gentle words soothed Kyle’s tired mind.
“The Aqua Defenders need you. You are the one hope to end the war. R~e~m~e~m~b~e~r…” her voice trailed off and Kyle was back in Aquatica.
King Neptune was bidding farewell to the Aqua Defenders sitting around the Circle of Trust. “May the tides be with you on your journey home,” his deep voice echoed.
Maeve sat reading a bit of parchment as a Ray Rider stood by her side. Delphina, the oracle, wrapped her arm around Kyle, leaned over and whispered ever so slightly in his ear. “You must know that your compass is invaluable. For it will point you in a direction to the nearest Meridian and even assist you with finding Aquatica on your own, should you ever need to,” Delphina’s golden eyes flickered in the shadows. “And lastly, your belt will fight valiantly - should you need protection … wear it always.”
With a whoosh, Kyle found himself in his bed. He opened his eyes and looked around and fell back into his pillow. He reached down and touched the buckle of his electric eel belt. Its green eyes shimmered in the darkness. He smiled. Wear it always … also meant wearing it to bed. He was safe. He rolled over and grabbed his trusty bear, Capt’n Black Bear and went back to sleep.