Chapter 22
The blackness swallowed Azul and he transformed into his real form, his octo-mer form, his face, neck and down the center of his body was gray, his limbs were as black as the aura around him. It looked like his real form but he was huge and his eyes were glowing purple. The blackness that swallowed him formed a figure beside him. It was also a octo-mer but the head was a seashell bottle that was broken and it held a trident.
"Looks like we'll have to fight him. Stay here." Jack growled as the guys went to attack Azul.
"But I don't have anything for him to steal." Odette shouted after him. "I guess he isn't giving me much of a choice." She said as the dodged a tentacle.
"You are a cheater, attacking non-fighters." Grim snapped as he noticed her dodging.
"Just pay attention to the target." Jack asked as he grabbed Grim so he wasn't hit.
Azul was too quick and eventually got a hold of Odette grabbing her around her waist.
"Let her go!" Ace shouted as he tried to attack the tentacle wrapped around her but another tentacle pulled him off.
"You just couldn't lose could you?! This is your fault!" Azul snarled as he brought her closer to him and glared at her.
"It's too tight. I feel like I can't breath." Odette thought gasping for air as the tentacle started to wrap around her chest the tip resting at base of her neck. Her vision began to grow dark and she passed out.
In the darkness she could hear a voice. "I've always been bullied. I was so different from all the other merfolks. I was so slow and dumb. They picked on me; they don't want me around."
'Azul?' Odette thought trying to go farther into the darkness.
'I got to the point where I didn't want to be around them. I would rather be alone. I taught myself to use all my limbs. I could write with all them. I learned to use my own ink to write with. I swore I would show all those air headed merfolk.' Azul thought as he attacked everyone in the group.
The battle was starting to turn and not in his favor.
'Am I seeing his memories like with Leona?' Odette wondered as a scene opened up before her. A younger Azul was hiding in a pot when two young eels came up to a large round pot.
"Someone's inside." A young Floyd chuckled.
"It's covered in spells. Did you write all these yourself?" Jade asked.
"Go away or I'll ink you!" Azul threatened.
"I think he's funny." Floyd chuckled as the scene faded away.
'So that's how they met.' Odette thought.
'I studied all the time and perfected my signature spell. I was no longer that silly octo-twerp.' Azul thought as he loosen his grip on Odette as he was defeated.
Odette woke up on the ground just in time to see Azul return to his 'normal' form. Odette got off the ground and ran over and caught him before he hit the ground. "It's okay Azul." Odette whispered as they slowly slide back down to the ground.
"Oh now she moves!" Grim grumbled.
"Odette! You shouldn't be running around like that." Ace lectured as everyone gathered around.
"You're right but I just felt like I needed to give him a hug." Odette muttered as she wrapped her arms around Azul's shoulder.
"You are ridiculous!" Ace sighed shaking his head.
"Let's get him inside to the VIP room." Jade said kneeling down beside Odette and he gently took Azul from her.
The group followed Jade inside to the VIP room. "Odette sit down." Deuce ordered. "Someone should check you on, you passed out."
"I'm fine, really. It's not a big deal." Odette sighed feeling tired and sitting on the couch across from the desk.
Jade laid Azul down gently placing his head in Odette's lap. "I figured this would make you both feel better." Jade whispered then sat on the other end of the couch putting Azul's legs over his lap.
"You are so soft hearted." Leona grumbled as he flopped down on the other couch.
It was just a little while later Azul woke up.
"I think he's coming around." Odette said.
"What happened?" He asked looking around.
"You over blotted." Jade explained patting Azul's legs.
"It was exhausting." Leona grumbled.
"You have no room to talk." Grim remained him giving him some side eye.
"It was the cringiest thing I've ever seen. I'm still not over it." Floyd said from his position on the floor next to the couch.
"Floyd you're not helping." Odette snapped at him.
Azul suddenly blushed realize where he was and tried to sit up.
"You're still in shock and you should rest awhile longer." Jade said making him lay back down.
"I can't blame you for getting so bent out of shape about losing everything you build up for all these years." Ruggie said from his spot next to Leona.
"No more shady business through. It needs to stop." Grim said.
"If people didn't try to benefit from other's hard work we wouldn't be in this position." Jack said crossing his arms over his chest. "You worked hard on those study guides, even Crowley was impressed by them. You should be proud of them." He said.
"Your condolences don't make me feel any better." Azul muttered rubbing his eyes.
"Ah are you going back to being crybaby?" Floyd teased.
"You signed an NDA about that!" Azul snapped at him making Jade give a small chuckle.
"Well you seem to be feeling better so now time is good as any. Here's the photo you asked for." Odette said pulling the photo out of her jacket pocket and handing it to him. "I've completed my end of the deal so you lose and I get the Ramshackle dorm back." She said with a sly grin as everyone gathered around.
"Why this photo?" Leona asked.
"Oh I remember this day. It was our school field trip to the museum." Floyd said taking the photo from Azul. "Jade and I are right there." He said pointing at two little eels.
"You look mischievous even back then." Odette commented.
"And right there in the corner is baby Azul." Floyd said pointing to a small round octopus child.
"No!" Azul shouted leaning forward to grab the photo but Floyd handle it out of his reach.
"Let me see." Odette said holding out her hand.
"Sure." Floyd said giving it to her as Azul covered his blushing face and groaned.
"Aww, you look so cute." Odette said giving the photo back to Azul.
"You're no fun." Floyd said.
"I had the perfect plan. I've destroyed all the other copies of this photo." Azul explained as he stared at the photo.
"Everyone has parts of their past they don't like but you can't erase your past no matter how hard you try." Odette shrugged.
"She's right, you're past makes you who you are." Deuce spoke up. "I think none of us should never speak of this again."
"Whoa you're passionate but this all of a sudden." Jack chimed it.
"That Azul did look a lot more yummy then this one." Floyd whined.
"Shut up!" Azul groaned covering his face again.
"Azul you are a law biding citizen aren't you? Stealing from a museum is pretty low." Jack reminded him.
"We'll help you take it back." Odette volunteered.
"Speak for yourself!" Grim chimed in.
"Can I at least edit the photo first?" Azul asked looking up at Odette.
"Nope, it has to go back as is." Odette told him rolling her eyes.
"Original records are important." Jade reminded him.
"Alright a field trip sounds like fun!" Floyd shouted as he laid his head on Azul's legs.
"Well I think it's time we finally go home." Odette sighed once Azul sat up to get Floyd and Jade off of him.
"That's the best thing I've heard all night." Grim cheered.
"We'll walk you home, come on Ace." Deuce said getting up.
"Finally a good night's sleep." Leona yawned as everyone left the VIP room.
Odette and Grim made their way up the dorm's walk away yellow and green lights began to float around them and Malleus appeared.
"I see you've won against Ashengrotto." He playfully smirked. "I would have enjoyed being a fly on the wall to see him lose his cool."
"Believe me, no you didn't want to be there. I think this has been my worse day here but thank you, it was you who helped me figure it out." Odette told him.
"I wasn't trying to be cryptic." Malleus said. "I was just telling you about gargoyles."
"It still helped. So thanks." Odette said smiling at him.
"I'm glad that this quiet place will remain that." Malleus smiled then disappear again.
Off in the distant Odette could hear Silver and Sebek argue about trying to find someone again.
'Is Tsunataro, Waka-sama? The Diasomnia dorm leader? I'll have to ask him next time.' Odette thought as she headed inside.
As Odette unpacked the mirror to glow. "What's going on?" She asked staying where she was.
"Can you hear me?" A voice called out as a figure with mouse ears appeared. As sudden as it started it stopped.
"What was that?" Odette whispered. 'Can expose to overblot effect others? Am I going crazy?' Odette wondered as she rubbed her forehead.
That night while Odette slept Grim woke up and ate another black stone that he had found in the VIP lounge. "So yummy." He yawned then went back to bed.
Thanks for reading and sticking around. I hope enjoyed it. I tried not to let my favoritism for this dorm leak through too much. I did try to expand the Diasomnia section again. There's still one more chapter for this Arc and I promise in the next chapter our favorites will have more involvement. But there is still a little bit of Octavinelle love too. So double edge sword? lol
I also can't believe I've made it this far and have this many chapters. Thanks again for sticking around. I guess this might be more of a slow burn then medium.