Chapter 10
It was finally Sunday. Odette still rose with the sun. She got up and made breakfast for Grim and herself. Deuce and Ace had helped put food in the fridge and cupboard since they had stayed over for a few days.
"I can't believe you live like this." Ace exclaimed as he found everything empty.
"Well I've been told Sam's sales snacks and few other things if you want to go get what you want, I'll clean the kitchen so we can have some food." Odette offered.
"Fine." Ace groaned then headed off.
They had also helped Odette clean the dorm. They each cleaned a room they claimed as theirs. "I doubt this will be the last time you'll be spending the night." Odette had pointed out.
"She has a good point." Deuce conceded then began to roll up his sleeves.
After breakfast she wiped down the kitchen, and did a bit of upkeep cleaning of the lounge, the bathroom and her room.
Once she was satisfied she showered and changed into her clean uniform. 'I wish I had something else to wear.' Odette thought with a sigh as she looked over her nearly empty closet. "I hope this is appropriate, nothing else I have seems to be. I wonder if there's a second hand store around here. Crowley is barely paying me for the tasks he doles out." Odette thought as she looked herself over in the mirror.
'Maybe I could style my hair a bit to dress up a bit.' She thought as she made her way to the bathroom to try and find something. Instead of putting her hair up into a ponytail she took her ribbon and used it as a headband and used her fingers to wave her drying hair. "Well it's not too bad; it'll have to do." She said as she accessed her reflection in the mirror.
"I'll see ya later Grim. Stay out of trouble." She called over her shoulder as she left her dorm. The weather was still pleasure so she enjoyed the walk to the Mirror Chamber. She happily leap through the Diasomnia mirror. On the other side Lilia waited for her in his school uniform.
"Ah, you're early Ducky." Lilia smiled as he floated up to her.
"Hi, Lilia. I think it's better to be early than late, and it would be rude to make you wait on me. You weren't were you?" She asked. 'Oh he's also in his school uniform.' She thought.
"Nope, I just got here." He said as he looped his arm through hers and escorted her towards the dorm. "We'll be having tea in the front parlor as is dorm tradition."
"That sounds great, will others be joining us?" She asked as they made their way through the stone archway.
"Why? Do you want it be just the two of us?" Lilia asked floating a bit higher to be over her.
Odette blushed at his accusation. "I-I was just curious so I know what to except." She stuttered.
"Fufufu, an honest answer as always. I made it an open invitation to the dorm but I didn't get much feedback. I know Silver and Sebek will be joining us." Lilia explained.
"Well I'm sure they'll be lovely company." Odette said. 'Silver is always quiet in animal languages. Sebek? Do I have a class with him?' Odette thought as she tried to search her mind for a face to match the name.
They entered the dorm through a pair of large double wooden doors and into a large stone hallway that seemed to stretch on a good distance. The hallway had many windows that had black lattice running over them, between each window were sconces that had candles lit with green flames.
"This way." Lilia guided her into the first room of to the left. The room was large, in the back of the room was two staircases that lead up to a massive winged throne. Before the throne was several different type of chairs gather around tall and short tables. Off to the side near the fire place were two couches and a coffee table.
Two gentlemen stood up from the couch when they had entered the room. Lilia gave her a moment to take it all in before leading her towards the couches. 'Oh this is Sebek.' She thought as they stopped in front of them.
"Odette Thropp, you already know Silver. This is Sebek Zigvolt." Lilia introduced her.
"It's a pleasure to meet you." Odette said with a small curtsy as they gave a small bow.
"I believe we have history class together." Sebek informed her as they made to the couches.
"Oh? I'm sorry I didn't realize." Odette said with a small blush, a bit embarrassed.
"I picked mint tea for today. I was sure what treats Sebek would be making for us." Lilia informed her as he poured her a cup then the others finally himself.
The coffee table in front of them was full of finger sandwiches, scones and cupcakes.
"Oh, you made all these Sebek? They look delicious." Odette complimented as Lilia handed her a small plate with a cucumber sandwich on it.
"I did, any guest of ours will experience nothing but the best. I will not shame Waka-sama." Sebek explained starting at a normal volume then nearly yelling.
'Does he not talk during class? I think I would remember him.' Odette thought as her smile began to flattened.
"Well whatever your reason, thank you but this is my first tea time, well unless you count the unbirthday party the other day." Odette explained.
"You're first one?" Silver asked as he sipped his tea.
"It's not really a thing in my country anymore, too bad this seems like fun." Odette said as she popped the sandwich into her mouth.
"You're world sounds weird." Sebek said earning a glare from Silver and Lilia that Odette didn't notice.
"I could say about this world; it's just different and that's not bad. Different isn't bad." Odette countered with a shrug.
"Well, that's a very diplomatic response." Lilia chuckled at a speechless Sebek.
"You made a lot of food for just the four of us." Odette commented as she sipped her tea.
"Lilia-sa-sempai didn't tell me how many would be joining us but I figured they would be at least 5 of us." Sebek explained.
"5?" Odette questioned.
"I swore Waka-sama would be joining us." Sebek muttered.
"I told him the time but he must have lost track of time again." Lilia added.
"Who is Waka-sama?" Odette asked before Silver and Lilia could stop her.
"Who is Waka-sama?! Who is?! He is the greatest being in any world." Sebek said beginning a tirade. 'How does she not know?' Sebek thought.
'Poor thing stepped right on a land mine.' Lilia thought with a sigh as he watched Odette take in all of Sebek's information. After a few minutes his eyes began to wonder around the room. He could see the moving shadows near the doorway behind the throne. He could also feel a presence from behind him, he listened carefully to the whispers coming from the door they had entered through.
'Here he goes again. She's only been here a week and being a freshman she probably hasn't crossed paths with him. It doesn't help he's not using his given name.' Silver thought as snacked on to a sandwich and handed her another one.
She slightly nodded at him in a thank you. 'I wasn't sure what father was thinking inviting her but she seems to be enjoying herself even with Sebek's tirade.' Silver thought.
"Enough Sebek, she's a guest and doesn't know our customs." Lilia said after a few minutes.
'He's never this lively in class.' Odette thought. "Well your Waka-sama sounds amazing, too bad I didn't get to meet him."
"Maybe next time." Silver said absentmindedly.
"Next time?" Sebek snapped.
"Yes, next time. I've enjoyed this and would gladly accept another invitation. It's nothing as grand as this but I could even host you four at the Ramshackle Dorm. It's starting to really spruce up now that there's someone to take care of it." Odette volunteered.
"What a wonderful idea. Why don't we make it a standing invitation? The first Sunday of every month, switching venues every other month.' Lilia suggested placing his cup and saucer down on the table.
"Fa-Lilia-sempai isn't that a bit,…" Silver began until Odette cut him off.
"That sounds great to me."
Silver and Sebek stared at her in disbelief for a second but she didn't notice.
'I hope I'm not biting off more than I can chew, a month should be plenty of time to prepare.' She thought.
"Wonderful." Lilia grinned at her.
'What a strange human.' Sebek thought raising his eyebrow.
'She certainly is different from the others at this school.' Silver thought as he put his cup down.
"Another round?" Odette asked gesturing towards everyone's empty cups.
"Yes please, but guests don't pour allow me." Lilia beamed.
"I have so much to learn it seems." She half joked.
She stayed for the rest of the afternoon until twilight began to fall outside the windows.
"Let's get you home before it gets too late, there is school tomorrow after all." Lilia said standing and stretching.
"Time seems to slip right by, too bad Waka-sama didn't turn up. Hopefully next time." Odette said getting up as well.
"You don't need to call him that." Silver informed her standing as well.
"Nonsense, more people should do so. He lets everyone be too informal with him." Sebek argued standing too.
"Until next time Odette." Silver smiled as he and Sebek gave her a small bow which she returned with a small curtsy.
"Did you enjoy yourself today?" Lilia asked as he escorted her back to her dorm.
"I did; I got to learn a lot about far, your dorm and this world." Odette answered. "Did you? Do you think the others did? I hope so."
"Very good, yes I did myself and I believe the boys did too." Lilia answered. "Perhaps next time we can learn about your world."
"Perhaps, but I don't know how much you'll believe. It seems so far-fetched, surreal, dismal." Odette confessed.
"I believe what you say. I've come to realize the truth is rarely simple." Lilia chuckled.
Odette just nodded in agreement. They soon arrived back at her dorm.
"Well this is where we part ways for now. Good night Odette." Lilia said releasing her arm but taking her hand and kissing her knuckles.
"Good night." Odette said once he released her hand.
He then disappeared into red sparkles.
That night despite all the excitement from the day Odette couldn't sleep so decided to take a walk. As she left the house as saw a figure by the gate. Whoever he was he was tall, well built and had a large pair of horns on his head.
"Can I help you?" Odette asked as she walked up to the man.
"I was just enjoying the peace and quiet. Do you live here?" He asked tearing his gaze away from the dorm and to her. His neon green eyes seemed to glow in the dark.
"Yes, we moved in at the beginning of the school year. There was no other dorms available for us. I'm Odette and you are?" Odette asked holding her hand out.
"It matters not, you can call me whatever you like." He replied.
'What a strange man, and that's saying something around here.' Odette thought. "Do you have anything against Tsunataro?" She joked hoping it would get him to tell her his real name.
"That is fine. I must take my leave then, good night Odette." He said bowing his head and disappearing into green sparkles.
"Others can disappear like that? Is it a fae thing?" Odette wondered out loud as she watched the sparkles began to fade. 'What dorm does he belong to? He had horns he can't be hard to track down.' She thought with a small yawn. "Maybe I should just go back to bed." She turned back towards the dorm.
It was the first peaceful day Odette had since arriving in Twisted Wonderland. The peace was short lived across campus another group was scheming.
I hoped you enjoyed the end of the Heartslabyul Arc and a glimpse at Odette's previous life. Thanks for reading. I really hope you liked this chapter. It was a joy to write. I've posted two chapters today to make up for the fact I will be traveling for the next few days and probably won't be posting. Since I've started this story I've tried to post daily. I figured this would be a good place to take a break. For Savanaclaw fans I promise you won't have to wait long for your arc.