Chapter 20
The next morning breakfast Odette told Ace and Deuce their next plan.
"So you think the contracts can be physical broken?" Deuce whispered.
"Yeah I think it's our next best option." Odette explained.
"How are we going to get to it? None of them are going to let us get near it." Jack pointed out.
"At least the Leech brothers will be in their normal form on land." Ace sighed.
"If most of Octavinelle are some sort of sea creature I wonder what Azul is." Grim muttered mostly.
"Leona calls him Cephalo-punk. So he's probably some sort of cephaloponda." Odette reasoned. "So he might be a squid or octopus."
"So an octo-mermen? So he would have extra limbs. That sounds terrifying underwater." Deuce said.
"More reason to face them on land." Odette said.
"Let's focus. How do we get to the safe?" Jack said gently thumping the table.
"The Mostro Lounge is empty all day until after class. So I think lunch time would be the best opportunity." Ace explained.
"Alright let's meet back up during lunch break in the hall of mirrors." Odette said as she got up from the table.
A few hours later the group had managed to sneak themselves into the VIP room. "It looks like it take a key and a code." Odette informed them.
"Of course it does. Anyone good at picking locks?" Deuce sighed.
"This isn't a time for jokes." Grim snapped at him.
"Sh! Someone's coming we need to hide." Jack harshly whispered.
"Where?" Deuce asked looking around.
"Under the desk!" Ace said as they all dove under the desk just in time.
Azul walked in whistling a tune. He opened the vault, took out the pile of contracts then sat on top of the desk and began counting out his victories.
Ace went to make a comment but Odette quickly covered his mouth with her hand and held a finger up to her lips.
There was a knock on the door and Jade's voice could be heard. "Azul, I need your help with something real quick."
"Alright be right there." He answered. He quickly put the contracts back and left the room.
"Look he left one out." Grim grinned then reached for it. He then yelped as the contract shocked him and everyone else in the room causing them all to hit the ground.
'Not good, not good.' Odette thought as she curled up from the pain.
The door opened back up and the trio walked walked back into the room all chuckling a bit.
'And it got worse.' She thought."You knew the whole time we were here didn't you?" Odette shot at them as she still convulsed.
"Your tails were sticking out." Azul smirked at them. "The contracts are rigged with a trap to shock and paralyze anyone who touches it besides me and you walk right into the trap."
"You guys look so funny like that. Almost like fish out of water but it's cute how you keep trying." Floyd teased as he squatted down next to them.
"Don't tease them so much Floyd. They're doing their best." Jade lightly chuckled.
"I think this merits punishment, don't you think so?" Azul smirked raising an eyebrow.
'How could it get worse!" Odette thought as she struggled harder against the spell.
"Oh yes they're can't go on without punishment." Jade agreed.
"I want to squeeze every single last one." Floyd grinned as he tried to reach out for Odette but she slapped his hand away.
"Do not touch me!" Odette snarled at him.
"That spell should have lasted a bit longer than that." Azul grumbled.
"You tell them Odette." Grim shouted as his spell worn off to.
Another battle broke out but Floyd was able to deflect all their attacks.
"Guys it's no use." Odette sighed asshe stood out of the way.
"I won't just give up! Cauldron!" Deuce shouted but Floyd deflected that attack too right into the vault.
"You fool! Be careful!" Azul snapped at him.
"Jeez calm down it's fine." Floyd retorted crossing his arms.
"I've told you before to be careful with that spell." Azul snapped.
Odette signaled for the guys to leave as the two were arguing.
"Azul, Floyd." Jade said gently making them stop.
"What?!" They snapped and turned towards him.
"I believe they're getting away." Jade said pointing towards the open door.
"Go after them!" Azul ordered.
"Nah, you ruined my mood and I don't want to do anything but take a nap now." Floyd said as he left the room.
"Well that was all for nothing." Ace sighed once they were back in the hall of mirrors.
"Yeah we didn't find out anything important." Deuce said.
"And we've wasted one the three days." Jack echoed.
"Maybe, maybe not. I need to think and for that I need quiet. I'll come back to Savanaclaw in a little bit please don't worry." Odette said as she left.
Out of habit she ended back up at the Ramshackle dorm. "Sevens, I've really screwed up." Odette sighed as she sat on the fence and began to rub her eyes with her fingertips. "I just have one day left."
The air began to fill with green and yellow lights.
"Fireflies?" She wondered out loud until a figure appeared before her.
"Oh Tsunataro, it you." Odette said giving him a weak smile.
"Tsunataro?" He asked giving them a confused look.
"You did say call you whatever, I thought it was so ridiculous you would tell me your real name." Odette sighed.
"I did say that. Did you get a few new students, it's been very rowdy here the last few nights." Malleus said.
'Of course it has been. I hope they haven't damaged anything.' Odette thought as she glared up at the dorm.
"No, I stupidly put up the dorm as collateral in a bet with Azul to free the 200 students he has working for him." Odette explained.
"I hope it goes in your favor I would hate to see this place get a make over. It's fine the way it is. The gargoyles here are one of a kind. Did you know gargoyles protect their house in more one way than one. They were original designed to help protect against water damage. Quiet devising aren't they?" he explained with a small smile on his face.
"I didn't know that." She replied.
"I know lots about gargoyles, call it a hobby. Good luck to you." Malleus said then disappeared leaving behind only the yellow and green sparkles.
"Thanks." Odette remarked as she heard foot steps.
Soon Silver and Sebek in their dorm uniforms came running up.
"Have you seen Waka-sama?" Sebek asked stopping and turning towards her.
Odette just shook her head.
"Sebek just nodded and ran off.
"Are you okay? You've looked upset lately." Silver asked.
"I'm alright. Please don't concern yourself." Odette lied painting a smile on her face.
"Hurry up Silver!" Sebek called over his shoulder.
Silver looked like he wanted to say something but just gave her a small bow then left.
"I better go before they send a search party for me." Odette sighed as she hopped off the fence and made her back to Savanaclaw.
Once she arrived back at the Savanaclaw dorm they were greeted by Ruggie who took them straight to Leona's room. 'I don't think I like where this is going.' Odette thought.
"You'll be cleaning his room tonight. Change the sheets, make the bed, dust and wide everything down." Ruggie ordered them listing them off on his fingers.
'Oh that's all.' Odette thought letting go of the breath she had been holding. "Fine." She muttered as they got to work.
"He just leave jewelry laying around. And his wallet!" Grim exclaimed picking up the wallet.
Ruggie smacked him on the back of the head. "Don't even think about it. Leona will skin you alive. You turn you to sand." Ruggie snapped putting the wallet back on the desk.
"Who am I turning to dust?" Leona yawned as he walked into the room.
"No one, what have I told you about leaving your wallet around?" Ruggie snapped at him.
"Okay mom!" Leona snapped back.
"One of you needs to be the responsible one." Odette muttered as she finished the bed.
"You really should lock it away if it's so important." Ruggie continued.
"That's it!" Odette shouted as everything fell into place in her mind.
"What's it?" Leona grumbled.
"The contracts have value, that's why they're in the safe. If they were indestructible they wouldn't be in the safe." Odette quickly explained.
"Oh I get it! You're brilliant." Grim exclaimed hugging her.
"That's why he freaked out when Floyd hit the safe." She continued.
"Well let's go get them then." Grim said.
"What about the Leech brothers? They will just get in your way again." Ruggie pointed out.
"Not if we divide and concur. We'll already split up before this time each team will a job." Odette said quickly as she looked at Leona.
"No way I'm getting involved this is not my battle." Leona said crossing his arms. "Neither way by sunset tomorrow you're out of here."
"Oh really? I think I know a way to make you change your mind. Grim come here." She said pulling him close.
Later that night once everyone had finally gotten to sleep Leona laid on his bed and stared up at his ceiling. "I can tell you're still up. Nervous?" Leona asked.
"A bit." She sighed.
"During my,... freak out I thought I heard you." Leona confessed.
"Maybe you did. I thought I could hear you too." She whispered back.
They both eventually got a bit of sleep. Despite the few hours of sleep Odette had another dream. The sea witch had ahold of the red haired mermaid and was bargaining with the sea king himself. 'She just wanted everything from the start.' She thought as the dream faded away.
Thanks for reading. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I wanted expand on the Diasomnia roles in this chapter. I original wanted to expand the Malleus conversation but it seemed forced. I hope the Silver section didn't seem like that. I know it wasn't much but it is something.