Shattered Soul

Chapter 14- The Sit-Down

I could not calm down.

We were on the opposite side of the table where the sit-down was being held. Sharks from the Five Families were sitting around us, on the far end sat Don Ira Feinberg, Don of the Leopard Sharks and Pop's friend, and Luca, the dimwitted octopus that summoned us to the meeting. Oscar was sitting on the chair, unable to calm his nerves, Lenny gulped nervously while hoping none of the sharks in the meeting would recognize him and Sykes… well, Sykes was not doing any better than those two. He was breathing very hard and quick; I wouldn't be surprised if he inflated at any minute. Sonia and I were floating next to Lenny and, like always, invisible to the naked eye.

When Oscar leaned to teach for the cup next to him, the Hammerhead Sharks to his left flinched and trembled in fear with their eyes set on him, as if thinking he would slaughter them. Oscar's shyness turned into confidence and he turned to see the Killer Whales to his right, deciding to get a little fun. He looked at his fin as if minding his own business, then threw a growl at the Killer Whales while shaping his fin as a clawed hand. The Whales gasped in fear, and the nearest one fainted out of fear. I could not contain a laugh.

"Oscar, will you stop screwing around?" Sykes growled full of nerves, "this'll never work! We're dead!"

Oscar motioned him to be quiet, I sighed in frustration. This was a BAD idea.

"Hey, since when do you mind getting into trouble? When your Life File was shown to me, I read you were quite the troublemaker," Sonia commented while sitting on my head.

"Hey, for your informa- what's a Life File?" I asked in confusion, not minding what Oscar was saying

"It's a file of your actions, both good and bad, and your life since birth. From Life Files we decide if a deceased goes to Heaven or Hell,"

"Hey, where were you going to take me?"

"… Believe me; you don't want to know,"

However, I could insist no further, because I heard a faint sound and saw Pop enter the room. He didn't look very good…

"Now which of you sardines called his meeting?" Oscar mockingly asked.

Pop heard this, however, and a frown drew on his face. I gulped; Pop was as patient as he could but if he was called Sardine…

"That would be me," he spoke, slamming the door shut. Oscar's confidence turned to shreds when he heard his voice.

"So, this is the Sharkslayer?" Pop swam up to Oscar's chair and took a look at him, not really impressed.

Lenny looked away and pretended to rub his head, when in reality I knew he was trying to hide his face from Pop, fearing he would recognize him.

"I've been looking forward to meeting you," Pop then swam away from Oscar's chair and started to swim towards the other end of the table, "I feel like we're practically family, you know that? Funny, ain't it?"

I noticed a hurt look on his face, "I brought my kids into the world, full of love and care… and you took them out."

As I feared, Pop thought Lenny was dead. That's why he was crushed; he believed he had lost everything. His wife and both his sons; I felt a squirming in my heart.

"You know who am I?" Pop's face changed into a more serious and cold face, "do you know who I am? I'm the Don the boss of the Great White Sharks,"

"Hey, boss, I saved you a seat," Luca spoke and motioned Pop to a seat next to him.

Pop sighed in frustration, "I've been running this reef since before you were born," then he sat down, right between Luca and Don Ira, "and if you thought a guy like me can't get to a guy like you… guess what?"

He motioned a waiter, who placed a silver platter covered in front of him.

"… You thought wrong."

Pop lifted the cover with a grin, and we saw her. Angie was tied and gagged with algae tape, and when she saw us, Oscar in particular, she threw him a look that I read like 'oh, great. It's you.'

Oscar froze in place, but tried to save the situation.

"Pah. Ma, you're the one who's wrong," he grinned, "I barely even know that girl. What's your name, miss?"

Angie threw him a look as if he was crazy. Then I saw a VERY HOT lionfish float next to Pop. Oh, dear, too bad I was dead.

"Pervert," I heard Sonia's comment, but I didn't mind.

"Oh yeah?" even her voice was sensual, "well, I say he's bluffing,"

"Marone, if I wasn't married…" I heard one of the Great Whites whisper to his friend

"How ya doing, pretty lady?" Don Ira smiled at her, but the Lionfish made a face of disgust

"Lola," Oscar frowned, "we meet again,"

"You know, Sharkslayer, there's only one thing I like better than money," her face twisted into a glare, "Revenge,"

Oh, dear… if I could steal a kiss from her, I would right now.

"OW!" Sonia smacked my head, "what was that for?"

"That's for being a pervert,"

The other sharks swooned.

"Oh! I'm in love," one of them sighed

"Your sharkslayin' days are over, and there ain't nothing you can do about it," Pop sneered

However, a chuckle caught everyone's attention. All the Sharks in the room turned towards Oscar, who was chuckling sarcastically; after a while it turned into a loud laughter attack. I was confused; what was so funny about this? "

"You know, I'm starting to think he's going out of his mind," I commented to Sonia

"Don't be so prejudicial. He's got a plan in that empty head of his,"

"What plan? They're doomed."

"Just see…. And you will get the shock of your life,"

"You got nothing. Nothing!" Oscar's declaration called my attention, "Sebastian, take her out."

Lenny sped up towards Pop, looking at Angie and… ATE HER? My eyes almost popped out of my skull, I could not believe it! My vegetarian brother had eaten Angie! I never thought I would see this…. However, I noticed he was in great pain; I realized he hadn't really eaten Angie; he was keeping her in his mouth. I didn't bother to see what Oscar was doing, I swam closer to Lenny. He gave me a quick glance while trying to keep Angie inside his mouth.

"He wants to ask how you stand having a living fish in your mouth," Sonia spoke up

"Len, it's not that bad," I tried to calm him down, "just don't open your mouth and stiffen your belly, after that try not to touch her with your tongue and everything will be fine,"

Lenny glanced at me quickly again.

"He thinks 'easy for you to say, you were always a cold blooded killer and you have no problem. And Angie's taste is horrible'," Sonia translated again

"OSCAR!" Sykes and Lenny simultaneously whispered through teeth at Oscar

"What?" Oscar asked in annoyance, while turning from Pop. I noticed he was floating in front of Pop's face, what had I missed now?

Then it happened.

Lenny threw out.

Angie came out, and so did various things. I didn't bother to see what things they were, I was worried about Lenny.

"THE HORROR! THE HORROR!" he cried, until he coughed up a beach ball and started to furiously wipe his tongue.

Oscar dashed towards Angie to make sure she was okay, "Ang, are you ok?"

"No, I'm not okay!" Angie replied in anger, "he ATE me!"

"I couldn't take it! The taste was killing me!" Lenny cried out

"Lenny?" Pop spoke in surprise and confusion

Both Lenny and I froze; it was over. Pop recognized his voice, he was in great trouble.

"Is that you?" Pop swam up to Lenny while my brother turned to face him, defeated, "you're alive?"

Pop then hugged Lenny, relief notable in his face.

"I thought I lost you," he swam back a bit, slightly confused and angry to why his son was dressed like a dolphin, "what are you wearing, huh? What is that?"

Lenny looked down and took off his scarf, revealing his gills; then he took the sponge from his belt and wiped the paint off his face. Finally, he took off the leather band around his snout. The whole room exploded in gasps of shock and surprise. Pop just floated there, staring at Lenny in astonishment.

"Boss, its Lenny!" Luca cried out, "He was wearing a disguise so we wouldn't recognize him, but now he's not wearing a disguise, so we do recognize him,"

I smacked my head with my fin; Luca had to speak precisely in that moment to point out the obvious?

"Hi, Pop," Lenny spoke up in shame

"Are you kidding me?" just as I thought, Pop was angry, "are you kidding me? are you out of your mind? Do you have any idea how this looks?"

Lenny didn't say anything, Pop glanced at Oscar in shock.

"What are you doing with him? He took out your flesh and blood, Frankie!" he spoke in a VERY angry tone

Upon hearing my name, Lenny tried to say something, "but, Pop, listen…"

"But nothing!" Pop angrily yet softly poked at Lenny with his fin, "you never take sides against the family! Never!

"Hey. Don. Lino. Sir. It's not his fault," Oscar tried to help Lenny, "This is between you and me,"

"What did I ever do to you?" Pop spoke with pain notable in his eyes, "you took Frankie away and you turned Lenny into a dolphin!"

Pop's face then changed from hurt to hate.

"I'm gonna get you!"

Oscar just darted out of the way when Pop furiously snapped his teeth at him and a 'cat-chases-mouse' chase started..

"Oscar, look out!" Angie cried

"Oscar, swim!" Lenny opened the door, "swim for your life!"

Oscar quickly swam through the door with Pop chasing after him with the fury of a demon. After they left, we turned to see the other Sharks, who were still there. Lenny laughed nervously

"Well, gentlemen… in behalf of my dad… meeting adjourned!" then he darted out of the room, Angie and Sykes grabbed onto his dorsal fin. I went after him, Sonia grabbing my dorsal fin.

We were in SERIOUS trouble.