"Are you sure I can wait in your common room while you change?" Palladium asked for the fifth time in fifteen minutes.
Samara laughed at how nervous he sounded.
"No one is there right now and you can wait in the living room while I change in my room."
"Sounds like a decent plan." Palladium finally agreed.
They walked up the stairs, trying to ignore all the stared they got.
"Is it every going to feel normal for everyone?" Samara sighed frustrated.
Palladium took her hand and squeezed. "I honestly don't care, they only ones who have to feel normal is us."
Samara smiled. They reached the dorm.
"I won't be long…" Samara said as they walked in.
They stopped as they saw someone crying on the couch.
"Layla!" Samara said surprised.
She quickly walked towards her friend and sat down next to her.
"What's wrong?" Samara asked.
Palladium walked towards them but kept a distance.
"It's…it's horrible Samara." Layla hiccuped. "Andros….Andros is in great danger!"
"What danger?" Palladium asked with a frown.
"Some evil wizard came through the Omega Dimension…he cursed all the mermaids, made them into monsters…"
"But that's impossible…" Palladium whispered. "The Omega Dimension…is supposed to be …"
"Well he managed to break out!" Layla shouted. "And now my home is falling apart."
"Do you know who this wizard is?" Samara asked gently while rubbing Layla's back.
"I saw him once while I was trying to help my people escape…he said his name was Valtor." Layla said.
Samara looked at Palladium and saw something in his eyes.
"Listen Layla, you stay here with Samara, get something to eat and have a good nights rest." Palladium said kindly. "You've been through a lot."
Layla wanted to protest but Palladium cut her off.
"I will go to Headmistress Faragonda right away and inform her of the situation on Andros." "Perhaps we can do something to help."
Layla nodded. The elf looked at his girlfriend and Samara gave him a firm nod. He then left.
"Oh Layla I am so sorry that you had to go through all this." Samara said. "Why didn't you ask for help, we tried to reach you several times during summer."
"I didn't want to drag you all into this mess."
Samara walked to the kitchen and prepared some sandwiches and grabbed a bottle of orange juice.
"I'm afraid we don't have a lot left in our kitchen." She said as she handed Layla the plate.
Layla didn't respond but began eating slowly.
"I was just home for a week when it happened…" "It was such a big explosion of dark magic, the mermaid soldiers went to defend Andros right away but…he used his dark magic to give them some kind of mark…it turned them into horrible monsters."
Layla began to sob loudly and all Samara could do was hug her.
"Let's get you to bed." Samara said. "Even is you can't sleep, some rest will do you good."
Layla nodded slowly. "Where are the others?" "I arrived and no one was here."
"I'm sorry about that, today is Cupid's Day, everyone is out with their boyfriends."
"Oh…" Layla muttered as they stood up. Suddenly she looked at Samara with a shocked expression. "Oh no I ruined your day with professor Palladium!"
Samara smiled. "Don't worry about that, this is far more important." "We'll have more time together later." "Now come on, let's get you into bed."
Samara guided Layla to their room and helped her get ready for bed.
"What if the others come home?" Layla asked.
"Don't worry about that, I'll stay up and inform them when they get back."
Layla hugged Samara tightly. "Thanks…"
Samara closed the door gently and made herself comfortable on the couch. This evening had turned out way different than she thought it would.
….
"Are you sure she said the name Valtor?" Faragonda asked.
"Yes Headmistress, I am sure." Palladium said.
The old woman was staring out of the window of her office, her back towards the professor.
"But how can he have escaped?" She asked more to herself than to him. "He has been imprisoned there for nearly eightteen years…"
Palladium waited but it seems the conversation was not resuming.
"Madame what should I…?"
Faragonda turned around. "Sorry professor I was lost in thought."
She sat down behind her desk.
"Please gather the rest of the staff for an emergency meeting."
Palladium nodded and walked out of the office straight away. Faragonda sighed deeply before holding out her hand. The faces of Saladin and Griffin appeared in front of her.
"You called Faragonda?" Saladin asked.
"Yes, I'm afraid I have terrible news…"