A.N. Okay, I'm reeeeealy sorry that I haven't been able to update for like months. I had exams and other stuff holding me down so I couldn't do anything. I have posted both chapter 6 and chapter 7 so make sure you read both! Please, please PLEASE review! J

Chapter 6

Melanie was delighted about her new position in the community of sharks. She had only been here a few days and was already in the top group of sharks, working with Don Lino.

In just a few minutes, she would be attending her first meeting with Lino, Luca, Giuseppe and Lorenzo, as well as other important sharks, killer whales and swordfish.

As she swam in through the entry of the meeting room, she felt slightly nervous.

The meeting room was large with a huge table big enough for about twenty sharks. There were probably a lot of sit-downs held in this room as there were two tough-looking killer whales guarding the entrance.

Melanie looked at the clock. Thankfully, she was on time. She looked over at the table and saw that there were already a few sharks sitting there, waiting. Giuseppe and Lorenzo sat next to each other on one side, talking silently. They were the only sharks in the room that Melanie recognised. Giuseppe saw her and waved, signalling for her to come and sit next to them: "Hey Melanie! Over here!"

Feeling rather relieved, Melanie sat down in an empty seat next to them. "Hey guys! It's such a relief to see you here!"

Lorenzo smiled. "Aah, don't worry. You'll get to know everyone in no time at all!"

"There's still a few minutes till everyone arrives so we can just relax for a while" said Giuseppe.

Melanie looked around at the sharks sitting at the table. Don Lino had still not arrived and neither had Luca. There was a whole group of killer whales sitting together, making jokes and laughing, there were a couple of swordfish arguing with a mako shark over who was the better species and there were two bull sharks, sharing a plate of grilled flounder. Their table manners were disgusting. Melanie decided that if she ever had children, she would make sure that they never develop such revolting table manners.

Melanie also noticed that she was the only female shark sitting here at this table. All the others were males. Looking around the room again, Melanie saw a shark who she had not noticed before. He was a rather elderly, respectable-looking Great White shark and there was nothing unusual about him at first. Then, Melanie noticed that he looked very sad and depressed. He didn't talk to anyone or smile, he just sat there, sighing and waiting patiently.

Presently, Luca swam through the door and rushed to a seat which had been allocated for him. He then put one of his tentacles on a big chair next to him. "I'm savin' this seat for the boss!" he announced for everyone to hear.

"Yeah, yeah…" muttered one of the bull sharks through a mouthful of flounder, "the boss always sits there you stupid moron. Stop stating the obvious!"

Luca kept his tentacle on the seat anyway and started talking to Melanie. "How do ya feel about your first meeting?" he asked in an excited voice. "I don't know…" said Melanie "A little nervous I guess"

At last, Don Lino swam into the meeting room followed by another shark. To Melanie's horror, she saw that it was Don Fienberg. He sat down next to Don Lino and gave Melanie a filthy look that made her want to sink through the floor.

The meeting began. Don Lino looked around at the sharks sitting at the table. "I would like to begin this meeting by introducing our new member, Melanie."

Everyone clapped and cheered, smiling at her. Don Lino gave her an approving nod but Fienberg and a couple of his thugs glared at her.

Melanie noticed that the elderly Great White shark didn't really clap, but she saw a faint smile pass over his face for one or two seconds.

Suddenly, Fienberg rose from his seat.

"Boss, we can't have a female shark in this group, it's preposterous!" he yelled, pointing at Melanie.

"Fienberg, sit down at once!" snapped Don Lino. However, Finberg ignored him and continued to pick on Melanie. "Look at her! So young...so pretty..." he was now circling her and once again, Melanie had that horrible uncomfortable feeling. "She should be working in the kitchen with the other female sharks!" he yelled at Don Lino who was now bearing his teeth in fury. He then turned his attention back to Melanie. "Marry me sweetheart..." he breathed in her face.

Melanie was furious. This horrible old shark was bullying her, trying to make her look shallow and inferior. No. She would not let him get away with this. As the old shark leaned closer to her, she lunged forward, opening her jaws as wide as she could and sank her sharp teeth into his snout.

Fienberg roared in pain and jumped backwards, dazed. He then shook his head and charged at her.

Don Lino had seen enough of this. He was not going to let this creep ruin everything. Before Fienberg could hit Melanie, he swam forward and bit him, tearing the thick hide. Blood flowed from the wound,

Fienberg gnashed his rotten teeth and lunged at Lino again and again, but the mob boss was too quick for him and Fienberg kept missing.

Melanie watched in horror as the two sharks fought. She tried yelling "Stop! Stop!" but realised that it was no use.

Suddenly, Fienberg hooked his teeth into one of Lino's pectoral fins. The sea had now started to turn red with blood.

The mob boss winced in pain but managed to pin Fienberg to the wall. Lino looked at Fienberg with a cold expression.

"This is MY ship and I make the decisions around here!" Don Lino yelled at Fienberg. "And if you ain't gonna follow my orders, I'll rip ya to pieces, got it!"

He moved back to his seat next to Luca. "Now get outta here! You and your thugs!"

Fienberg swam sluggishly out through the door, followed by his two thugs, muttering curses under his breath.

It was now evening. Melanie was in the hospital area of the shipwreck, helping the nurse sharks to take care of Don Lino's pectoral fin. He had won the fight but Fienberg had left his pectoral fin in shreds. Melanie sighed. "I'm sorry about what happened today at the meeting" she said.

"It's not your fault" said Lino. "Fienberg needed to learn his lesson"

After the nurse sharks had finished cleaning the wound and bandaging it, the mob boss thanked them and started and swimming towards his office. Melanie followed him.

"I really am sorry sir" she said. "I shouldn't have bitten him and provoked him"

"He would have hurt you anyway" Lino replied. "I've gotta say though, you were very brave to bite him like that. Not many sharks have the guts to stand up against him"

"Oh, thank you sir" said Melanie, feeling herself blush.

Don Lino nodded "Yes, the other sharks have all been talking about you. They admire you a lot"

Melanie had another question which had been on her mind for a while.

"Who was that elderly shark who sat near you at the meeting this afternoon?" she asked.

"Oh, that was Richard" said Lino. "He's been living here for ages. He's a really good shark. He helps me and Luca organise everything, very intelligent he is"

"How come he seems so sad all the time?" asked Melanie, remembering the sad expression on the poor shark's face.

"Well, he's had a really tough past" replied Lino. "Ya see, back when he was young, he was married and his wife was about to have a baby. They were really happy about that but before the baby was born; Richard's wife was taken away by the humans on a boat, in a huge glass tank. He never saw her again"

"My god, that's so sad..." said Melanie.

He nodded. "They say that the humans took her to an aquarium, and that's where she had her baby"

"I grew up in an aquarium..." said Melanie.

"What's it like, living up there?" asked Lino.

"Well...it's a very easy life. Humans do everything for you. They feed you so you don't have to chase after your food like you do in the ocean; they clean your tank, human children come right up to you just to look at you..."

"Sounds very interesting... Do you miss your life back there?"

Melanie sighed. "I don't know. It was much easier up there but it gets kinda...boring I guess. I mean, I've only been down here for a few weeks and I've already experienced more than I could possibly experience in a lifetime at the aquarium"

"Well, I'm glad you like it here" said Lino. "You'd better get some sleep now"

"Goodnight sir"

"Goodnight"