Help from the OtherSide

32. Room for Five, please

"Yes yes. I understand. We'll be out of your hair soon." Deccan agreed his end of the deal.

After the sun beating down our backs, the cool and dark atmosphere of Hellga's house felt welcoming. She and Deccan disappeared into the inner furnace room where we had the discussion about her identity. Oblivious to his plan, rest of us sat near the entrance. But Hex couldn't keep his hands to himself as he went about snooping around the old wooden cabinets and drawers. Amelia and Dora rested on the steps of the entrance while Grant sat on the haystack Deccan was on earlier. Liam sprawled out on the creaky floor gazing at the roof of the house.

Hex picked the obsidian dagger kept on the table and sniffed the blue liquid remains of the underwater creature dried on one side of the blade. He then held the dagger downwards pointing at the table and began carving on it. 

"I don't think you should do that." I said. He was really going to get us in trouble.
He briefly glanced at me and went back to what he was doing. Grant heard me and turned to see what Hex was doing.

"Listen to her man. Don't get us more problems." He scowled.

"Or else?" He wore a mischievous smile and lifted the dagger at us. 
Even if he doesn't mean to harm us, from a third persons perspective it will be portrayed as an attempt to murder.

"Keep it down you clown." Liam sat up straight and scampered away from him.

Hex took a step towards us and we pressed our backs on the wall behind. Dora and Amelia had left their place to saunter near the trees of the unkempt lawn.

"Why are you like this?"

Deccan stood by the doorway to the living room. He crossed his arms and wore a look of disapproval. 
"I leave you alone for a minute and you try to decapitate someone?" 

"I wasn't going to do anything." Hex fiddled awkwardly with the dagger before putting it back on the counter. 

"Come." Deccan glared at Hex and motioned us to follow. Grant left to call others while Liam and I followed Deccan with Hex trailing behind us.

Hellga stood in the corner facing a table furiously murmuring something.
Once everyone gathered behind us Deccan announced, "These, my dear friends are fresh clothes, just for you." 

Heaps of long dark robes lay in a pile on the couch. "Specially tailored by our dear host, these will fit you regardless of your clothing size." He grinned.

"Ye owe me boy." Hellga muttered still turning her back on us.

"But can we have a bath before wearing them? I won't feel fresh if I simply wore new clothes." Amelia said judging the pile.

"Yeah. That's your choice." He moved to separate the robes.

"I've never been so happy." Liam hugged Deccan and pulled Grant in.

"Save me some hugs after I bathe. By the way, where do we have bath? Amelia asked.

"Hmm. By the river I suppose. The water demon's dead so you could do it there. Unless her sisters are waiting." Deccan pondered.

"Then that's a risk we'll have to take." Liam said determined.

It took about three hours, for everyone to get ready. Our strategy involved, one person to go to the river with the dagger and their selected robe, strip, bathe while staying close to land at the same time keep an eye out for any creature. If we came across another one of those, Deccan instructed us to scream, and hearing the call, others would come by the river.