Free Underworlds #3: Revenge of the Scorpion King by Tony Abbott Page B

of the dune.
    “Into the river!” Jon shouted.
    We tumbled, rolled, ran, and fell down the dunes all the way to the riverbank. But the serpent had our scent and was hot on our heels. Really hot.
    WHOOM! The riverbed exploded, showering us with wet sand. WHOOM! The reeds on the bank burst into flame.
    Clutching the lyre’s holster to my chest, I dived into the river just as — WHOOM! — a fist of green flame roared over our heads.
    I swam underwater and kept myself submerged until I felt the water cool off downstream. I was about to pop up for air when I felt a sudden force on my back, keeping me down. I kicked and thrashed, trying to free myself, but the pressure was too strong.
    I glimpsed Dana, Sydney, and Jon swimming toward me, but whatever was on my back forced me deeper under the surface. My lungs burned. My chest felt like bursting. Finally, I couldn’t hold my breath anymore.
    My lips opened in a rush of bubbles, and the space in front of my eyes went black.

A N INSTANT LATER , I SHOT UP OUT OF THE WATER, gasping for air. There was a splash next to me.
    “I’ll get the others,” a voice growled.
    “What — who —” I sputtered.
    “Shhh! The serpent will hear you!”
    Before I could see who was talking, there was another splash and I was alone.
    I sucked in mouthfuls of air over and over. I shook my head and blinked my eyes. I saw … what did I see? I was surrounded by a cluster of tall reeds somewhere downriver from the serpent.
    Splash! Jon, Dana, and Sydney exploded up next to me, gasping and gurgling.
    Jon coughed. “What is going on —”
    “Shhh!” the voice growled again. “The serpent will give up if he doesn’t hear us.”
    Standing there was a creature with the head of a lion. Water was dripping from his mane as he held up a paw.
    Dana raised her silver glove warily. “Who exactly are you?”
    “Just the guy who saved your lives,” the lion-headed creature whispered. “Hush.”
    The roars of the serpent gradually faded. A long minute later, we heard the distant boom of the gate. The lion-headed creature relaxed. “They’re back in the city. We’re safe.”
    His voice wasn’t as deep as the warriors we’d seen before, and his mane was short, not fully grown. I guessed maybe he was a boy.
    “You know, you’re pretty lucky you ran into me,” he said. “Most strangers aren’t dealt with kindly. And by that, I mean kkkkk!” He ran his finger under his furry chin. “Allow me to introduce myself. I am Panu, chief guard of the Eighth Gate of the Babylonian Underworld.”
    We stared at him for what seemed like an hour before Sydney finally spoke. “Okay. Panu. Well, thanks. For saving us, I mean.”
    “Wait. According to legend, aren’t there only seven gates in the Babylonian Underworld?” asked Dana, tapping her book.
    Her notes were good .
    The lion-boy snorted. “It’s an unofficial position. But I will be a guard one day. And as a future guard of our city, may I ask what you are doing here?”
    We went quiet again.
    “How do we know you won’t turn us in?” I asked. “I mean, we know it’s pretty much a crime to mess around in an Underworld when we … haven’t been invited.”
    Panu wrinkled his snout into what I guessed was a smile. “Only when you want to leave. There are rules against leaving.”
    I didn’t like how that sounded, either, but once again it was Sydney who broke the ice. “We’re here because of Loki,” she said.
    Panu narrowed his large lion eyes. “The silver man? I saw him enter the city.”
    “He’s evil,” I said.
    “There’s plenty of evil here, believe me,” said Panu.
    “Loki is a Norse god,” Dana put in. “And he’s here to recruit the Babylonian monsters for his war against a bigger god. He plans to use our world as a stepping-stone.”
    “He’ll destroy it to smithereens,” said Jon.
    Panu frowned. “I knew I didn’t like the look of him. He’ll want the fire monsters. They’re famous in the Underworlds. You’ve