Hewett’s eyes remain as dark as squid ink. “I’m sorry, Miss Dakkar.”

“Prefect,” I correct him, though it’s hard to come across as serious when I’m wheezing hysterically.

Hewett frowns. “I wish we had more time. We spent almost a year slowly orienting your brother. He was being trained to lead, to take over where your parents left off. As much promise as he showed, the pressure nearly destroyed him. Now, I’m afraid I have to ask even more of you. I wish—”

He’s interrupted by a ding from his tablet computer. I’ve never heard it make any sound before, and despite the cheerful noise, I can tell from Hewett’s expression it isn’t good news.

“They’ve found us,” he announces.

Gem’s hands gravitate to his sidearms. “Is it the thing I saw on your screen before? What was that?”

“No time,” Hewett says. “Alert the crew. We’re under attack!”

They literally erupt from the sea.

I have time to yell “Incoming!” before scuba divers rocket to the surface on our starboard side, all on kickboard-size DPVs—diver propulsion vehicles—moving at twelve knots or more, faster than any I’ve ever seen. I register eight hostiles, some carrying strange silvery weapons that look like harpoon guns, others brandishing…Wait, are those grenade launchers?

Two fist-size metal canisters plunk onto our gangway and roll hissing and steaming across the deck.

“Flash-bangs!” Gem yells.

I shut my eyes and cover my ears, but the explosions still leave my head ringing. For a moment, I can only stagger in a daze through plumes of blue smoke. By the time my crewmates and I have recovered from our confusion, our enemies have fastened grappling hooks to the starboard rail, discarded their DPVs and oxygen tanks, and begun climbing over our gunwale like they’ve been practicing this assault for months.

Eloise and Cooper are the first to return fire. They spray our attackers with their M4A1s, but it’s like they’re shooting wax bullets. The rounds make smoking white impact points against our enemies’ wetsuits, making them flinch but causing no visible damage.

Two hostiles fire their silver weapons. Miniature harpoons impale Eloise’s shoulder and Cooper’s leg. White arcs of electricity blossom from the projectiles, and both Sharks crumple.

I scream in rage. My friends closest to starboard, most still unarmed, charge the intruders. It’s a desperate move, but a melee with armed opponents is better than getting shot down one by one, and we seem to have numbers on our side. I want to join them—I want to take apart these attackers with my bare hands for the destruction of my school, for Dev—but Gem holds me back.

“Fire if you see an opening.” He hands me a Leyden gun. “But stay behind me, please.” I bristle at his demeaning orders but obey as he yells to his remaining housemates. “Dru, Kiya!”

He tosses them each a gun from his gold-level case like he’s Militia Santa Claus. “Point and shoot!”