Chapter 19

Once everyone had cleaned up the group went to the cafeteria where Deuce and Ace were waiting for them.
"Glad to see you're still alive." Ace joked as he sat down at the table and Odette just shrugged.
"You're all idiots for making a deal with that cephalo-punk." Leona sighed shaking his head.
"I'm surprised you didn't make a deal for one of those study guides." Jack shot at him.
"I've made a deal or two and paid for them both dearly. I've learn the best deal with the cephalo-punk is no deal at all." Leona confessed.
"Yeah, a deal with Azul should never be your first, last or any resort." Ruggie said.
"Oh man, I'm starting to think I'm in over my head." Odette groaned leaning forward placing her head in hands.

"Well there's no time like the present, worrying isn't going to get you out of this mess. I suggest you get started." Leona said getting up from the table since he was finished with his breakfast.
"We've got this." Deuce said patting her shoulder.

"Let's get to it." Ace said reaching across the table to do the same.
Odette nodded and got up from the table.

As she got from the table she noticed the Diasomnia table, mostly Silver staring at her with concern. She just gave a small smile and wave. 'I don't need to drag them into this.'
The group handed to the hall of mirrors. "Azul only gave us three bottles and there's five of us of I think we should split up." Odette said pulling out the bottles.
"I would prefer to stay here on dry land." Grim volunteered.
"I think it would be best if I stay here too." Jack said.
"Alright, Deuce, Ace you're with me then." Odette said as she began to take off her jacket and unbutton her blouse.
"Whoa! What are you doing!" Deuce exclaimed covering his eyes quickly as did the other two.
"I'm not going swimming in my uniform. I have my swimsuit on under this." Odette explained with a giggle to reveal her black one piece.
"I wish I thought that far ahead." Ace sighed looking down at his uniform.
"Why not just swim in your boxers? It'll definitely be more comfortable." Odette said as she making them blush.
"Well she does have a point." Deuce sighed as he began to strip.
Once they were done they drank part of the potion. "Ugh yuck this stuff tastes awful. It's worse than cold medicine." Odette complain as she made a face.
"You can say that again." Deuce whined.
The three quickly jumped through the mirror and into the Coral Sea.
Jack and Grim sat in front of the mirror to guard it. "Why didn't you go with her? You seem pretty attached to her." Jack said.

"I don't care for open water like that. Sh! Someone's coming." Grim whispered.
"Oh wow look how beautiful it is down here." Odette exclaimed as they swam over colorful coral. 'Now isn't the time for sightseeing. Focus.' Odette scolded herself. They soon arrived at the museum which looked like a glittering golden palace.

"Now to get that photo." Ace said as they started up the path towards the museum.

Odette stopped when she saw a two large shadows out of the corner of her eye. "Wait guys!" She said as she started to look around.
Deuce and Ace stopped but then the shadows appeared behind them.
"Well look who it is." Floyd whispered to them making them jump around from them. Jade and Floyd were over twelve feet long and were now grayish is color and had eel like bodies.
"Why do you look like that?" Deuce asked his eyes wide in shock.
"This is our true form of course. You took a potion to be down here and we take a potion to live up there." Jade explained.
"Well I hope it tasted better than the one we had to take." Ace retorted.
"You're here to cause trouble aren't you?" Odette sighed.
"Bingo Shrimpy." Floyd grinned.
"We're not leaving until we get that photo." Deuce shouted as he pulled out his pen and attacked the twins but it missed.
"How did you miss?! Let me handle this!" Ace exclaimed attacking next but missing too.
"I've never seen you both miss, something is up." Odette said.
"Shrimpy got it. This is my signature spell, Bind the Heart. It's deflects my enemy's attacks." Floyd said with his toothy smile.
"You've basically spelled it out for them." Jade sighed looking annoyed for a second.
"I vote we retreat." Odette said pulling Deuce and Ace away from the eels.
"Sounds good to me." They said and took off. Odette looked over her shoulder as she swan away surprised to see the twins weren't chasing them. 'Odd but maybe they don't think it's worth the effort.' Odette thought as she swan to caught up to the guys.
Soon they surfaced at the mirror scaring Jack and Grim for a second. "Did you get it?" Grim asked as Odette got out of the mirror.
"No, we were ambushed by the Leech twins." Odette explained as she began to dry off.
"Is that why you're out of breath? Did they chase you?" Jack asked as he helped the guys.
"No we were just trying to get away from those eels as quickly as we could." Deuce explained.
"So it was a trap. That explains Azul's drop by. He was seeing if we took his bait." Jack said as they got dressed.
"He stopped by?" Ace asked buttoning his shirt.
"Yeah but he didn't say anything besides 'good morning'." Grim grumbled.
"I think we need to think of a new plan." Odette sighed wringing out her hair.
"And a shower. We'll see ya later." Deuce said leaving the hall of mirror his shoes squeaking from the water in them.
"How stupid can you be? Challenging sea creatures in the ocean. I thought you guys were smarter than that." Leona sighed when they returned to the dorm.
"You're the one who said to get the ball rolling!" Grim snapped.
"I didn't think you would go off half cocked. You have a brain use it. I'm starting to think you beat us by sheer dumb luck." Leona said.
"You did basically swim right into the shark's mouth. Did you not know about their true form? They're mer-folk, well eel-folk." Ruggie said sitting on the edge of Leona's bed.
"How many times do I need to say this? I don't have those things in my world! It didn't occur to me." Odette snapped glaring at the ground.
"You need to gather more intel." Leona explained getting off his bed.
"Unless you want to end up someone's lunch." Ruggie said making Odette shiver.
"That's not a pleasure thought. Those teeth look sharp." Odette muttered has she rubbed her forehead to try and stop the headache forming. "So this has been his plan all along to get in my way. I knew it seemed too easy."
"I agree." Jack said nodding.
"Duh." Leona said rolling his eyes at them.
"The Leech brothers are his top men. It's rumor they'll run interference so some contracts can't be met. They're probably the reason Azul trapped so many people this year in his study guide trap." Ruggie informed them.
"Azul's signature spell is called 'Let's Make a Deal', and if you break the deal you have to obey his every word to a T." Leona explained making her shiver again.
'I don't like the thought of that.' Odette thought.'What have I gotten us into?'
"Rumor is he can even use other's signature spell if it's been use in a contract." Ruggie said as the entire group looked towards Leona.
"I don't know if that's true. I never put up my magic and I would never put up my signature spell I do have some pride." Leona said.
'Maybe a bit too much.' Odette thought. "Well if you were in our shoes what would you do?" She asked trying to butter Leona up.
"I would find a way to destroy the contract." Leona said with a shrug.
"But Azul says they're indestructible." Grim whined.
"And you believed that? Man you guys can be so gullible. How do you know he isn't lying?" Ruggie asked.
"He's right, all magic has it's limits and has a loop. You just have to find it and exploit it." Leona explained.
"That sounds like playing dirty." Jack said crossing his arms over his chest.
"Like he's playing clean. I suggest you find out more about those contracts." Leona said then left the room with Ruggie on his heels.
"You're being awfully nice Leona. What are you up to?" Ruggie whispered as they walked down the hall.
"Azul has a weakness, he has too. Those idiots in there can find it for me and I don't have to do a thing." Leona chuckled.
Across the campus in the Mostro Lounge the Leech brothers let themselves into the VIP room. "So what information do you have for me today?" Azul asked not looking up from his books.
"It seems Ms. Thropp is staying in the Savanaclaw dorm and haven't gone back to the ramshackle dorm for anything yet." Jade informed him.
"And yes it seems the rumors are true than." Azul said.
"Do you think Leona will do anything to act against us?" Jade asked.
"No, he's lazy but smart. It would be best to let that sleeping lion lie. Just keep up the surveillance." Azul ordered them.
"Yes Azul." They said in unison and left.

Day 1 of the bet and I'm already at part 4. Jeez, I didn't realize how much set up this Arc takes. I tried to work Diasomnia into this chapter too. I figure a small something is better than nothing. Thanks for reading. I hope you enjoyed this chapter.