"Well, this afternoon has been quite mortifying," Vee muttered to herself, as she and Masha continued heading back to her house. Despite her annoyance, a flicker of elation danced within her, relieved that she no longer had to guard her secret from Masha. Vee had reverted to her own human form before they left the park, not wishing to prolong the risk associated with remaining in Luz's guise.
Despite the comfort her own personal human form brought, a lingering worry still clung to Vee's thoughts, refusing to dissipate. It was a sense of irritation that simmered within her, stemming from the realisation that she had unintentionally divulged her secret for such a pointless reason. She was also a little miffed that her grand plans of a dramatic revelation were not an option any more.
Masha, on the other hand, radiated an entirely different energy. "Are you kidding? This is an incredible day!" Masha exclaimed, her mood noticeably brighter. Her response brimmed with excitement and positivity, contrasting Vee's lingering disquietude. "It's not every day you discover your friend is a shapeshifting monster. I assume I can't tell anyone else about this?"
"Yeah, please don't tell anyone about this," Vee huffed in frustration as they continued their walk back home. Even though there was no one around to overhear them, Vee still felt uneasy discussing such matters in the open. "And just to clarify, I'm a basilisk, not just a monster."
"Alright, it's not every day you discover that your friend is actually a shapeshifting basilisk," Masha corrected themselves, playfully throwing an arm around Vee as they strolled. Vee didn't shrug off the gesture; instead, she welcomed the physical contact, leaning slightly against Masha. After a week without hugs from Camila, surely Vee couldn't be blamed for cherishing these substitute embraces. "So, have you always been in Luz's form, or is this a recent development?"
"I think you've only actually met Luz a few times. I started taking her place before camp," Vee confessed, a note of vulnerability in her voice. "Luz came back only a few months ago, actually."
"Okay, now a lot of your behaviour at camp makes much more sense," Masha nodded, a glimmer of understanding in her eyes. "I always wondered why you didn't really seem to understand what a cell phone was, and why you seemed to despise the rain so much."
"You would too if you were accustomed to boiling rain," Vee muttered quietly, suppressing thoughts of the harsh realities of the Boiling Isles. She couldn't help but ponder how peculiar her actions must have appeared upon her arrival, and whether others had dismissed her missteps as mere idiosyncrasies. "Did you ever have any inkling back at camp? Or did I just completely mess up thinking that you knew?"
"Well, there were a few instances at camp when I could've sworn I witnessed changes in you," Masha chuckled, maintaining her arm around Vee's shoulders. "But honestly, I never suspected a thing."
"Great, now I feel like a complete idiot. Not that I don't appreciate you knowing, but I can't believe I was so stupid to just immediately assume you knew everything," Vee complained, her words laced with a touch of self-deprecating humour. Though she regretted her past actions, she found solace in having someone she could openly confide in.
"Hey, it's all good. If you were going to spill the beans to anyone, I'm probably your best bet," Masha replied with a laugh, finally releasing Vee from the impromptu hug. A mischievous curiosity sparkled in Masha's eyes as they studied Vee. "I'm curious, is this your true form, or do you have some sort of default appearance?" Masha playfully poked Vee's shoulder, as if checking if it was real skin.
"Oh, I look quite different from this," Vee chuckled, curious about Masha's reaction upon seeing her in her scaled form. If anyone else had inquired about her true appearance, Vee would have taken offence, but Masha held a special place in her heart. "Basilisks are closer to reptiles than humans."
"I wish I could see it," Masha sighed, her tone tinged with longing. "Do you have, like, a rooster's head or something?"
"Nah, I'm not exactly sure where that part of human mythology originated. I resemble more of a serpent, I suppose," Vee paused, realising she had photos of herself on her phone. She fumbled for a moment, retrieving her phone and swiftly unlocking it to access her pictures. Some of the pictures were of her in her pure form, but she didn't want to let Masha see that. So she instead quickly swiped past them in search of the nicer pictures when she had transformed away her fangs, she didn't want to scare off Masha by showing her how dangerous her kind could really appear. She had done her best to make sure that even Camila hadn't properly seen her true form. After a few seconds of searching, she found a few suitable images and handed her phone to Masha. "I have a couple of pictures if you're genuinely curious."
Masha's eyes widened as she quickly zoomed in on the photo, a mischievous smirk spreading across her face as she comprehended what she was looking at. "I didn't think you were going to show me your nudes," Masha laughed, playfully poking at the image on Vee's phone.
"Masha! I've got scales!" Vee squeaked, her blush intensifying, attempting to retrieve her phone from Masha's grasp. However, Masha held the phone just out of Vee's reach, their slight height difference working against her. Vee blushed deeply as Masha swiped to the next picture. She hadn't considered how her cleaned up basilisk form might appear to others; Luz and Camila had more pressing concerns when they first saw her basilisk self and never had commented on it since. "Basilisks don't really have a need for clothing. Our scales naturally regulate our body temperature, so clothes aren't a thing for us. Let's not make this any weirder than it already is, okay?"
"It's not weird, besides you're super cute," Masha leaned over and returned Vee's phone with a smirk, causing Vee's blush to deepen. "What do you say we head back to your place so you can show me in person?"
Vee's blush intensified more than she thought possible as she tried to stammer out a response, but Masha quickly burst into laughter, letting Vee relax and understand that it was just a joke. "I don't think my heart can handle any more excitement like that, Masha," Vee grumbled, though she appreciated that Masha had returned to their playful banter. It seemed that discovering Vee's shapeshifting abilities had turned Masha into a flirtation machine, and Vee welcomed it. It almost made things feel normal again. Almost.
"I'm just teasing you, cutie," Masha laughed, maintaining her arm around Vee's shoulder, keeping them in close contact. "You know I don't mean to make you uncomfortable."
"I know," Vee huffed, playfully giving Masha a shove.
"What? It's not like I've ever encountered a basilisk around here," Masha playfully shoved Vee back. "So, are there a bunch of basilisks in town that I don't know about? Or did Luz hire you so she could escape from camp? How does that work?"
"Um, actually, I'm the only basilisk around here," Vee's response came out in a hushed tone, memories of her reasons for coming to the human world resurfacing in her mind, demanding her attention. She quickly shook her head to push aside the intrusive memories. "I'm from the Boiling Isles, and it wasn't a safe place for me. I escaped here. I took on Luz's form to avoid being caught, but I didn't know she was Camila's daughter. It led to a series of events, including a long car ride, and I ended up at camp instead of Luz. It was definitely an improvement from the Boiling Isles, even though we jokingly referred to it as prison."
"The Boiling Isles? Is that like some hidden island in the Bermuda Triangle or something?" Masha's voice was filled with curiosity, reflecting their intense interest in the mystical and supernatural. Vee wasn't surprised by Masha's fascination. "If it is, you've got to get me an invitation."
"The Isles exist in another realm, and trust me, you don't want to go there. Besides, there's no way for you to even get there at the moment," Vee frowned, recalling that Camila and Luz were still there. "I hope Camila and Luz make it back safely."
"Oh, I was wondering where they were. I had a feeling your 'holiday' story wasn't entirely true," Masha's voice softened, their concern evident. "Did they just leave you behind when they went there? Was it really just a vacation?"
"It wasn't a holiday. In fact, I don't even know if they're okay," Vee sighed, her gaze fixed on the ground as she avoided looking at Masha. Images of Camila and Luz in the perilous Boiling Isles flooded her mind, and she couldn't help but imagine the countless dangers they might be facing, both intentional and accidental. Vee was acutely aware of how treacherous the isles could be, and she suspected there was a sombre reason for their prolonged absence.
"Hey, I'm sure they'll come back," Masha tried to reassure her, but Vee was barely registering the world around her. The journey back home felt agonisingly slow, with Vee struggling to put one foot in front of the other, her thoughts consumed by the fear that they might never return to her. Masha maintained a comforting touch, guiding Vee home with care. "You can't convince me that those two wouldn't overcome any obstacle to come back to you. I've met your mum a few times, and that mama bear is not someone I would want to tussle with."
"Luz mentioned the power of someone called the Collector," Vee finally replied, her tone still far from optimistic. However, Masha's presence provided a grounding effect, even though Vee felt emotionally drained by the topic. "She said the Collector might possess god-tier magic. Luz and Camila went there to help everyone, but I couldn't join them. I can't return to that realm. So they went to save it while I stayed here, too anxious to even watch television because I'm consumed by worry over their well-being."
"It's completely understandable to be worried about them," Masha reassured Vee, their voice filled with empathy.
"I don't even know if they'll bother to return..." Vee's voice trailed off, her attention suddenly drawn to a peculiar scent in the air—a faint trace of magic.
"Vee?" Masha's voice was filled with concern, curious about the sudden shift in Vee's demeanour.
Vee waved off Masha's worry and sniffed the air a few more times, letting her natural forked tongue appear so she could properly taste the air. "There's a hint of magic," she murmured to herself, before realising that Masha was staring at her intently. "Sorry about that, I haven't encountered much magic in the past week, and there seems to be a strong source nearby."
"Do you think we should investigate?" Masha's excitement was barely contained, eager to witness actual magic. Vee couldn't help but find Masha's enthusiasm endearing, their smile lighting up their face. "I'm totally up for seeing some magic!"
"It could be dangerous," Vee hesitated, unsure if she was in the right state of mind to go chasing after magical sources. Personally, Vee didn't like magic at the best of times and actually trying to seek it out wasn't high on her list of things to do. However, seeing Masha's infectious excitement, Vee's blush subsided, and she relented. "Alright, let's give it a shot."
Progress was not immediate, and there were a few awkward minutes of Vee trying to taste the air, trying to determine the direction of the magic. During this time, Masha struggled to suppress their laughter at the sight of their friend walking in circles and flicking her tongue in the air. No matter how magical the explanation, it remained amusing. Vee was not entirely pleased with Masha's reaction, but a quick glare from Vee made them stop. Eventually, Vee caught a trace of the magic and was able to discern the direction, signalling for Masha to follow. She felt more than a little anxious to let Masha see her forked tongue as she tried to taste the air, but the concerns about the magic made her push past it.
"Is it common to encounter magic around here?" Masha inquired as they walked along the footpath, pausing occasionally for Vee to confirm the correct direction by sniffing the air.
"Not really. There are some faint traces in the Hexas Hold'em cards, but nothing like this." Vee started to feel uneasy as the scent of magic grew stronger the closer they got to her home. At least the stronger scent meant that she could shift back her tongue to a more human one and rely on her muted human senses. "This is an unusual amount of magic, perhaps not at the level of a portal, but definitely something significant."
"A portal?" Masha's voice brimmed with curiosity at the idea.
"It was how I got here, but it's no longer present," Vee responded quietly as they finally arrived at her home. The traces of magic were stronger than before, but Vee was relieved to see that it wasn't leading to the Noceda residence. Unfortunately, a few more steps revealed the true direction, and Vee was far from pleased about it.
"Great," Vee muttered bitterly, bypassing her home and heading straight for a familiar trail that led into the forest.
"What's wrong?" Masha asked, tilting their head to get a glimpse down the trail ahead. "You seem annoyed."
"It's nothing," Vee sighed, dreading the return to the cabin. The last time she had been there to clean up, it had only served as a painful reminder of her loneliness. However, she couldn't abandon their magical search now. "This is the path that leads back to the portal that brought me here. I guess you'll get to see where it was, at least."
"Awesome!" Masha's excitement was evident, although it was tempered by Vee's troubled demeanour.
"There's not much to see," Vee explained as they followed the slightly overgrown path, grateful that it was a short trail. "The house's door used to be the gateway to the portal, but now it's just an entrance to a rundown house."
"Hey, a secret house in the woods would still be cool to see," Masha smirked. "Especially if it has some horror vibes, if you know what I mean." Vee really wished Masha would stop winking at her.
"If you say so," Vee replied, not as enthusiastic about horror movies as Masha. They often found them either boring or uncomfortable, as they reminded Vee of their past experiences. Shaking off those thoughts, they focused on the present. The two of them finally stepped into the clearing, and Vee was relieved to see that the cabin was still in good condition. The rain from last week didn't seem to have had much effect on it. However, Vee knew they would have to take steps to winterize the house soon. Many of the repairs done by Luz and her friends were temporary, and without proper protection, the structure would likely deteriorate during heavy snowfall.
"Here's the amazingly run-down house. I told you it wasn't much," Vee muttered sarcastically.
"It's pretty metal," Masha nodded. "I wish I had known about this place earlier. It would've been a great hangout for the crew."
"I'd like to keep the rest of Cabin Seven away from here," Vee sighed. "I'm already taking a risk by letting you know. I have to be careful." They cautiously walked around the clearing, but the scent of magic had faded completely, leaving no trace. "Well, I can't detect anything now, so it seems we won't see much today."
"Oh well, I didn't really expect to witness any actual magic," Masha pretended to pout before smirking at Vee. "Unless you're up for showing me some transformations?"
Vee nervously bit her lip. In the past, she had been somewhat reckless with her transformations, but that was when Luz and Camila were around to protect her and handle any difficult questions. Now, being alone, the risk of discovery was much higher. "I'm not sure that would be a good idea."
"Come on, it's pretty remote here. No one's going to see you," Masha insisted, stepping closer and placing a hand on Vee's shoulder. "It's just me. You're safe."
"Listen, I understand that it might seem like fun to you," Vee huffed, brushing off Masha's hand. "But for me, this is a serious matter. I don't need anyone else trying to trap me or throw me in a cage again."
"Again?" Masha's eyebrows furrowed, expressing concern. "Vee, what happened?"
"Well, remember when I mentioned Jacob setting up traps in the forest," Vee began awkwardly before her eyes widened as she realised something important. "I mean when Luz told you about Jacob setting up traps in the forest a while back."
"I'm guessing that was you, girl?" Masha laughed. "We were all worried about what had you so skittish around us that day."
"Yeah, Luz came back the previous evening, and I was still using her form," Vee admitted with a blush. "Luz met you for the first time the next day."
"That was Luz the next day?" Masha asked curiously, but then her smile vanished. "Wait, don't try to change the subject. What did you mean when you said Jacob was setting up traps? It wasn't just a few mouse traps, was it?"
"No, he had video surveillance and caught me transforming," Vee said, looking away from Masha, not wanting them to see her vulnerability. "It was terrible. He actually caught me in a snare trap but I managed to escape. Of course then I ended up walking straight into a trap at the Society anyway. He had recordings ready to be put online, and that wasn't even the worst part."
Vee kept her back to Masha, arms crossed in front of her, struggling to find the words to explain what had happened. She had always found it difficult to discuss that evening, even with Camila.
Masha sighed and stepped closer, pulling Vee into a comforting hug. They settled down on the steps of the abandoned house's porch. "It's okay, Vee. You don't have to continue if you don't want to."
"Luz and Camila saved me before anything could happen," Vee whispered to Masha. "But sometimes I can't help but think about what would have occurred if they hadn't arrived in time. He didn't just want to capture videos and post them online; he actually wanted to experiment on me, to determine if I was truly a demon."
"That must have been horrific," Masha said, looking horrified.
"It's not the first time," Vee muttered quietly to herself as thoughts of her cage in the Boiling Isles flashed through her mind. She quickly pushed away the memories.
"What did you say?" Masha was looking at her oddly, clearly Vee hadn't been quiet enough.
"Don't worry, everything turned out fine in the end," Vee told Masha, feeling a smirk form involuntarily. "Camila got to demonstrate the true power of the 'chancla.'"
"You're switching to Spanish again," Masha pointed out.
Vee rolled her eyes. "Camila smacked him with her flip flops a few times and threw him into the cage instead of me."
"Well, good job Camila?" Masha said, trying to sound supportive. "So, is everything okay now?"
"Yeah," Vee frowned slightly. "Except for the fact that he's still scouring Gravesfield for any sign of a demon, and I no longer have Luz or Camila around to vouch for me. All it takes is one slip-up, and he'll realise that Camila is missing and that I technically don't exist."
"Hey, you know I'd take him on without hesitation!" Masha nudged Vee.
"I know you would," Vee replied, her tone serious. "But I have to take this seriously. I don't want to mess things up and ruin things for Camila and Luz when they come back... if they come back."
"Hey, let's not dwell on that," Masha said gently, giving Vee a tighter hug to reassure her before letting go and standing up. "How about we go back to your place and have some hot chocolate piled high with marshmallows? I know you used to love that when you were Luz at camp."
"I may have eaten the entire bag of marshmallows this morning," Vee admitted, following Masha's lead. "But a hot chocolate or seven does sound like a good idea."
"It's a plan," Masha laughed and nodded, signalling for them to head back.
Vee was about to follow but paused as she caught a whiff of a powerful magical scent. She turned, scanning the area, but couldn't detect any visible signs of magic. "Actually, we might want to stay here a little longer."
"What's up?" Masha was already by Vee's side.
"There's something growing," Vee pointed out nervously, the unmistakable scent emanating from the abandoned house. It felt like an intensely magical presence was building right in front of her, yet also distant at the same time. She stepped back and moved towards the treeline, grabbing Masha's hand and pulling them along. "I don't know what it is, but we need to hide."
"What is it?" Masha asked, their voice brimming with excitement. Vee couldn't blame them for being thrilled about finally witnessing magic; she knew how much Masha had been captivated by the mythical.
"I don't know, but something is coming," Vee said, pressing herself closer to the tree. She wondered if it was worth transforming into her basilisk form. If she needed to absorb magical energy, it was easier to do so in her human form. With the power growing exponentially, she was concerned that she wouldn't be able to contain it.
The magical energy began to surge, enveloping the area, and even Masha could sense the electrifying presence in the air. The door of the house started to glow, growing brighter by the second until it reached a luminosity that should have been unbearable to look at. Yet, it wasn't a conventional light—it pulsed between darkness and brilliance, teasing Vee's eyes with glimpses of an unseen spectacle. "It's too powerful," Vee muttered to herself, caught between awe and a creeping fear for her life. The magical ley lines on the ground twisted and flexed as the overwhelming power seemed to reshape the very pathways of magic. Then, as abruptly as it began, the brightness subsided, but Vee could still sense the residual magic lingering in the background.
Masha and Vee stood in anticipation, their eyes fixed on the door, their breath held. Vee could feel the trickle of magic seeping from behind the deceptively ordinary doorway. And then, with a hushed sound of a door handle turning, the portal swung open wide. Vee felt a surge of magical energy in the air as the portal materialised before her eyes, revealing an arm extending from within—a small, delicate arm belonging to a child. The child couldn't have been more than eight years old, dressed in what appeared to be pyjamas. Yet, Vee could sense an immense power emanating from them. She glanced down at Masha and motioned for them to remain hidden.
"Hey, are you playing hide and seek?" the child called out, their voice innocent and playful, before their gaze fixed directly on Vee. "Because I have to say, you're nowhere near as good at it as Luz." The child's words sent a shiver down Vee's spine, as she realised that the being before her resembled the creature Luz had described—the one Vee knew she wasn't powerful enough to stop.
Vee relinquished her hiding spot, stepping out from behind the treeline and confronting the scene head-on. "You're the Collector, aren't you?" Vee's tone was unintentionally harsh, driven by her concern for Luz and Camila's well-being and a surge of worry about what the Collector might have done to them. "What have you done to Luz and Camila?"
"We were playing a game, but Belos was a big meanie until they got rid of him," the Collector responded matter-of-factly, displaying a level of indifference to her anger. Instead, he seemed almost gleeful.
"Tell me the truth!" Vee growled, her determination pushing her forward with as much confidence as she could muster. Fear and anger fought for control as she stared down at the child, her emotions on the brink. "Did you harm them?"
"I didn't hurt them," the Collector countered, crossing his arms and attempting a pout. Vee tried her best to ignore the sheer adorableness of it.
"Prove it," Vee hissed, her emotions boiling as she struggled to suppress her more animalistic instincts. Taking a stance between the Collector and the doorway, she aimed to appear as intimidating as possible, hoping to compel him to comply with her demands. "Bring them back!"
"They don't need to, we're already back," a familiar voice came from behind her. Vee spun around, her eyes widening in disbelief as she saw Luz stepping through the doorway, wearing an amused smile as she approached Vee. Before Vee could react, Luz pulled her into a quick hug, then released her and turned her attention to the Collector. "Thanks for reopening the portal for us."
"No problem!" the Collector cheerfully replied, though his focus seemed to be on the leaves scattered on the ground, absentmindedly nudging one with his foot. "Hey, a bunch of your leaves are brown. I thought you said your trees were green."
"Is it safe to be around him?" Vee whispered to Luz. She couldn't help but feel anxious, her nerves on edge as she kept her gaze fixed on the Collector's smaller form.
"Yeah, he's fine," Luz reassured her, though a slight furrow appeared on her forehead as if a new thought had just struck her. "...for the most part. Just don't take him up on any offers to admire the moon. He tends to forget that most mortals require air."
"Good to know," Vee muttered with a weak smile, her discomfort growing even stronger than before. Vee jumped back as a purple snake appeared from out of Luz's hair, sniffing the air around them, and Vee could taste a lot of magic emanating from what was clearly a palisman.
"Oh, my palisman hatched. Say hello to Stringbean," Luz told her with a smile, pulling the palisman out of her hair and holding them out for Vee to see. Of course Stringbean instantly took the chance to fly into the air and float straight up to Vee's face, getting entirely too close for her comfort. "She's a bit curious with new people, but I'm sure she will like you."
Luz didn't give Vee any time to respond before stepping past her to go give the Collector a quick fist bump.
As Vee's mind whirled, struggling to process the return of Luz and the presence of the Collector, not to mention the fact that Luz had somehow hatched a palisman; she was distracted by a flicker of movement danced at the corner of her eye. Swiftly turning her head, her heart skipped a beat as her gaze locked with Camila stepping through the shimmering portal. Camila's eyes widened, mirroring the torrent of relief and joy that surged through Vee's veins.
Driven by an irresistible impulse, Vee lunged forward, engulfing Camila in an embrace of desperate longing. In her excitement, she felt her basilisk form begin to reveal itself through her human form, yet in that moment Vee did not care about her appearance. Having Camila back was all that truly mattered to Vee. Camila, taken aback, returned the embrace, caught off guard by the immediate onslaught of a basilisk's insistent grip. By that point Vee had nearly dropped her human form, too busy basking at the attention that Camila was giving her to notice the fact that she barely even had legs. Vee did manage to catch her transformation as it was dropping, a shock of fear hitting her as she realised that her real basilisk form had nearly been revealed. It was a struggle to mentally drag together the meagre dregs of magic together, but she managed to use the leftover magic to stop her form from dropping completely.
"It's okay, Vee. Sorry we didn't return sooner," Breathless and finally breaking the embrace, Camila spoke in a voice filled with gentle remorse, her hand tenderly ruffling Vee's hair. Vee allowed her to withdraw, though an ache persisted within her, clinging to Camila's shirt sleeve as if fearing her departure once more. She was also feeling exhausted from the magical usage, and a deep seated hunger for magic that was difficult to ignore.
"Why were you gone for so long?" The words escaped Vee's lips, tinged with unintended accusation, a raw emotion surfacing that she wasn't able to suppress. "It's been almost two weeks since you left."
"We didn't mean to take so long," Luz interjected, breaking the tension with a sheepish shrug, seeking to explain their prolonged absence. "Crafting interdimensional portals isn't as effortless as one might hope. Honestly, without the Collector, I'm uncertain how we would have found our way back." Luz held her hand out for a high five to the Collector, who eagerly returned it.
"Thank you as well," Camila chimed in, her smile radiating warmth as she directed it toward the Collector. "The Isles were a captivating place, but being here feels like home."
The Collector nonchalantly shrugged, exuding an air of confidence. "It was a snap," he boasted before his gaze turned to Vee, his eyes narrowing in a peculiar manner, as if analysing her. He tilted his head slightly, curiosity etched across his face. "Your magic seems kind of low, are you broken?"
"No I'm not broken," Vee stole a quick glance at Luz, seeking answers, but received only a perplexed shrug in response. Stringbean was now hovering around Luz, but also gestured that she didn't know what the Collector wanted either. Gathering her courage, she hesitantly admitted, "Basilisks consume magic when they transform, and also don't have a way of making their own. I haven't been as cautious this past week in conserving my magical energy, so I'm a bit empty at the moment."
"That doesn't seem like much fun," The collector complained with a frown, "You should fix that."
"I would if I could," Vee muttered under her breath, feeling more than a little belittled by them. She briefly contemplated sucking in some of the excess magic that was emanating from the Collector, but even the idea was fundamentally unpleasant for her to even think about. So she just let the waste magic pass by her, trying her best to ignore how hungry she was for the magic that was floating in front of her face.
"Well make sure you do. Not having magic is boring. Anyway, I'm gonna go play with King!" The Collector beamed at Vee before slipping past her and striding toward the still-active portal. "If you ever find yourself on the other side, I'd love to play hide and seek. With your transforming abilities, it would be so much more fun. You could be anyone!" He paused, flicking his fingers with a flourish, a sharp scent of magic filling the air as the spellwork wrapped itself around the doorway. "Just tap the door, and it'll grant access to any of you five." And with that, he vanished through the portal, which promptly closed behind him.
"Wow," Vee murmured to herself, the remnants of magic hanging in the air still leaving her slightly overwhelmed. With the Collector gone she tried to subtly breathe in some of the directionless magic in the air, but wasn't able to get much before it fully dissipated. However it was enough to pull back on her human form and lock it in place. "I don't think I've ever encountered someone with that level of power."
"You should have seen my titan form," Luz chuckled, but then her expression shifted. "Wait, did he say five of us? Even if he included Stringbean, that's one too many."
"Um," Vee's gaze darted toward the spot where Masha had been hiding, only now realising that she had completely forgotten about their presence. She briefly contemplated keeping it a secret, unwilling to expose her earlier blunder with her secret identity. However before she had even opened her mouth, the decision was taken away from her.
"Hey, Luz, Camila! I'm guessing they were talking about me," Masha suddenly called out, emerging from their hiding spot.
"Masha?" Camila's voice held surprise as she recognized the teenager, and there was no small amount of concern in her voice. "What did you see?"
"I know this looks like magic, but we were..." Luz's voice trailed off, her mind racing to concoct a believable cover story. "We were... performing a play?"
"They already know," Vee interjected, cutting off Luz's poor attempt at deception. "I kind of messed up and told Masha all about it this morning."
"Vee showed me her nudes," Masha stated matter-of-factly, stepping closer and draping their arm around Vee's shoulders. "She looked super cute in them."
"Titan damn you, Masha." Vee muttered as she rubbed the bridge of her nose.