Chapter 17
The next morning right after breakfast Odette ran into Jack. "You ready for this?" Jack asked.
"You're going to skip class?" Odette asked shocked.
"I think Crowley will excuse this one since he asked for him. I think we should watch him all day just out the few classes you have with him." Jack explained.
"You have a good point." Odette said. "Okay but only for today."
They watched him knock it out of the park during potions class. Making a perfect potion before anyone else finished theirs. "Wow he's good." Odette whispered.
He nailed animal linguistics class. "His cat is flawless." Jack said.
During lunch they took a break after seeing him he decide to eat a healthy salad instead of the pasta of the day.
"Man, I'm exhausted." Ace whined as he sat down across from the group.
"You can say that again." Deuce said.
"They had working before breakfast this morning." Grim cried.
"That's what you get." Jack said.
"I agree with Jack." Odette added.
"Ah there you are." Jade said as he walked up behind them with Floyd. "How did you enjoy the morning shift?"
"That's one the best shifts to get." Floyd chuckled. "Oh look it's Shrimpy."
"I wish you wouldn't call me that." Odette sighed.
"I don't believe we've been formally introduced. I'm Jade Leech and this is my twin Floyd. It's a pleasure to meet you." Jade said holding his hand out and Odette shook it.
"Odette Thropp." Odette replied flatly.
"Like nicetist makes up for what you've done to these guys." Jack growled.
"Oh so prickly like a sea urchin." Floyd joked.
"I'm a wolf." Jack snapped.
"If you don't like how your friends are being treated then why don't you ask Azul to release them from it. He is a very generous guy." Jade said his smile never fading.
"Please do it!" Grim shouted jumping up.
"Please guys." Ace asked giving his best puppy dog eyes.
"We've learned our lesson." Deuce cried.
"Azul loves to make deals, he'll probably make one with you." Floyd chuckled.
"I guess we can go talk to him." Odette shrugged trying to act nonchalant.
"What?!" Jack exclaimed.
"Wonderful, come by after 9. We'll have tea waiting for you." Jade said with his growing a tiny bit. He gave a small bow again then left.
"See ya later, Shrimpy." Floyd said giving a wave and following his twin out.
"Odette you're so soft hearted." Jack sighed shaking his head. "I can't let you go by yourself."
"I didn't know you were a softie." Deuce joked.
"I'm not. I just don't like someone taking advance of other's suffering." Jack informed him. "I think Azul is going to try and talk her into a terrible deal like you three."
"I'm just going to talk to him." Odette said trying to reassure him.
Later that night the duo went to the Mostro Lounge to their surprise it was still busy.
"You're early. Azul is still busy with another guest so you'll have to wait just a bit longer." Jade said as he waltzed up to the group in his dorm uniform. The Octavinelle dorm uniform was very dapper. Jade worn black dress shoes, a black double breasted suit with a purple dress shirt with a lighter purple bow and a gray scarf hung around his lapels. "It's a one drink minimum." He continued.
"Of course it is." Jack muttered
'He certainly knows how to wear a suit.' Odette thought.
"Shrimpy and her friend are here. Hi sea urchin." Floyd grinned sliding up next to his twin.
"Don't call me that." Jack growled.
"Deuce please take your new customers orders." Jade said as Deuce walked by.
"Take it yourself, as you can see we're kinda busy and you two haven't helped all night." Deuce snapped at him.
"You're getting kinda mouthy." Floyd grumbled glaring at Deuce who began to pant as Floyd began to squeeze him.
"Please stop." Odette grasped.
"We're not impressed by your acts of cruelty. It's just sicken us." Jack growled as Floyd let Deuce go.
"If you don't like how we treat our staff you could always help them." Floyd growled.
"Alright if you allow it." Odette said taking off her jacket and rolling up her sleeves shocking all around her. "I'm not above hard work."
"Beats just sitting here." Jack said shrugging off his jacket as well.
"Just run drinks from the counter to the table, each table is number to make it easier." Jade said his smile growing a tiny bit.
Soon the group was running drinks to tables and time passed quickly.
"My, you're quiet good. Maybe you should work here." Azul said giving a little clap once it had died down.
"If you pay me decently I don't see why not." Odette asked as she put her jacket back on.
"I think this is a decision for another time, we're here to talk to you about a deal."Jack said cutting Azul off.
"So I've heard. Jade, Floyd will you please bring tea to the VIP room." Azul said turning and heading towards the room.
The group followed him into a fancy office room. A large desk sat in front of a vault, the walls were lined with heavy book except around the bottom that look out into the large ocean-scape that surrounded the dorm. Two couches were also in the room. One in front of the desk and one off to the side of it.
"What would you like to make a deal about?" Azul asked as he sat behind his desk.
"I would like to set those 200 students free." Odette answered as she sat down in front of him.
"All 200?!" Jack exclaimed. "I thought it was just the three idiots."
"A straight shooter I see." He chuckled. "They're not working under detress. They singed a contract it was quickly there in black and white what was going to happen to them."
"You like to make deals, so let's make one." Odette said shocking Jack.
"You have no magical powers to barter, your singing voice is nothing remarkable, you're have no royal bloodline. You're just a run of the mill human."
"Hey!" Jack snapped but Odette just shrugged.
"Most of that is true but yet here we sit." Odette said motioning around them.
The tweels then entered with the tea tray. Jade sat in on the table in between the desk and the couch. Then joined Floyd to stand behind Azul.
"You're very brave or very foolish. To make this deal worth while you'll need considerable collateral, luckily for you there is something you have that is of interest of me, your dorm." Azul explained as he leaded forward and rested his chin on his intertwined hands.
Before Odette could reply Grim bargained in. "Do it you! The dish water here is killer on my fur." He whined.
"Please remove him." Azul said turning towards Floyd.
"Gladly." He said as he threw Grim out then shutting the door again.
"He does get a say since he does live there but it's ultimately up to you." Azul said a golden contract appearing his his right hand.
"Think carefully about this." Jack warned.
"What are your terms?" Odette asked looking up from the contract to Azul's blue eyes.
"I want you a photograph from the Atlantica Memorial Museum in the Coral Sea. It'll been hanging right in the entrance. It's under the famous guests section. It'll be the photo of Prince Riele's class. A simple task." Azul explained.
"Why?" Jack asked.
'I swear I just saw Jade looked shock for a seconds.' Odette thought as her eyes jumped between the trio in front of front.
"Why not, it's just part of the challenge." Azul answered.
"What if it was just the three idiots?" Odette asked pursing her lips to the side.
"It would be the same deal." Azul answered without missing a beat.
"One small problem, we can't breath underwater." Odette pointed out.
Azul put the contract on the table then reached into his pocket and took out two medium fancy potion bottles. There were fancy because they were shaped like seashells. "These will allow you to breath underwater for a few hours." Azul explained.
"How long will we have to get you this photo?" Odette asked.
"Three days, you have until the sunset on the third day. If you win I'll set the 200 people free and if you lose I get your dorm and you'll work here for us at the Mostro Lounge." Azul said pulling out a pen. "So do we have a deal?" He asked.
"It's a deal." Odette said taking the pen and signing her part of the contract. Odette A Thropp
"See you in three days then, Jade, Floyd see our guests home." Azul said with a smile turning back over his shoulder as he rolled up the contract.
"This place looks very homey, you've done a nice job with it." Jade said they the group entered the hallway and Floyd began to wonder around the house.
"Thank you, you didn't need come inside." Odette said raising an eyebrow.
"You see we did, this place is up for collateral which means you can't be in here." Jade smiled.
"We come to make sure you leave. You have ten minutes to pack." Jade explained.
"Where are we going to live for the next three days?" Odette snapped.
"Well we could let you rent a home here or a spare room in the Octavinelle dorm for 100 thaumarks." Jade said his smile growing a bit sinister.
"I don't have that kind of money." She snarled.
"Too bad Shrimpy. A sleep over would be fun." Floyd said wandering back up to his brother.
"What does he even want with this property?" She asked getting angrier with each setnence.
"It's a great location for a second Mostro lounge." Jade informed her.
"Ugh! That's ridiculous." She snapped turning on her heel and stomping upstairs.
"Oh Shrimpy is mad. I like it." Floyd grinned.
Once she was finished they left and outside the gate waiting was Deuce, Ace, Grim and Jack. "Thank god you're alive still." Deuce said as they walked up.
"But homeless now." Odette muttered shrugging off Grim who had come up to her.
"Jack told us what happened as you left with the scary brothers then we went to Riddle. We can put you up until the ordeal is over but it'll be a 4 man freshman room." Ace explained.
"So 5 people and a cat in a 4 person room? There's no empty rooms?" Jack asked.
"No we haven't had anyone drop out." Deuce explained shaking his head.
"Come to the Savanaclaw dorm then." Jack said shocking everyone. "I feel bad. I went to help you and did nothing. Leona can't say anything since he owes you for the whole Spell Drive Tournament thing."
"Aw you are a softie Jack." Ace teased.
"Let me think about it will you? I also need sometime to calm down before I deal with that lazy second prince. I can't be angry and pleading at the same time." Odette said as she handed Grim to Jack.
"Okay, but it's getting late you shouldn't be out too late." Jack reminded her as she walked off.
Thanks for reading. I hope you like this chapter. Other straight forward chapter. I promise the next chapter will have a surprise Diasomnia guest. So please stick around to see who it will be.