The Magic Behind Her Eyes

Chapter 20: Against The Thirteen Sharks

The doors opened when Amyra and Gloria jumped right in, sighing in relief. Arthur jumped out of Gloria's arms and sat down in one of the massive cushions lying below.

"There won't be a single time where this won't be stressful!" Amyra whispered, the burns covered so much of her face, her lips could barely move, "when can we get out of these ridiculous costumes?"

"Costumes? This was the perfect disguise and it worked!" Gloria whispered back, looking around the room to make sure no one was listening in.

"Disguise! You were practically seducing the King who was drooling all over you."

Arthur meowed in agreement to which Gloria threw a shoe at his direction, "that's enough nonsense out of the both of you. If we don't find where Reina is-"

Before Gloria could finish, a knock on the door nearly gave them both a heart attack. Gloria gave a slight cough and opened the door, trying to stay in 'character' as much as possible. A man with a long robe stood by the door and gave a bow, "I'm here to take care of our guests, enjoying your stay?"

Gloria grinned and pulled Seven into the room, locking the door shut immediately. She took a wand and chanted a quick spell on herself, the mask on her face disappeared and soon, Amyra's disguise was gone too. They both finally managed to breathe.

"You did a great job at not giving us away," Gloria told him.

"I had no idea you were going to be here! You don't know how scared I was," Seven said, giving Gloria a hug, "why would you come here? I told you it's dangerous. And you even brought Amyra."

"Hey!" Amyra crossed her arms on her chest and raised one of her eyebrows, "you guys need me the most, I'm stronger than all three of you combined."

Arthur hissed, this time, in disagreement.

"Besides, it's Arthur we should've left behind. Why would we need a cat?"

Amyra ignored another hiss from Arthur who would've pounced and destroyed her hair, had it not been a crucial moment for disguise. He made a mental note to himself to do so the moment they all get home. If alive.

"One of my students disappeared, we have no idea where she is," Gloria explained, her voice still quiet.

"I'm sure she will come back at some point?" Seven tried to reassure her, but looking at the panicked look in Gloria's eyes, it made him more uncertain.

"She's not from here, she's...From the Otherworld."

"The human world?" Seven gasped, "Why...How?"

"But she wasn't originally from there. Remember I told you about this girl a few months ago?"

"The orphan? Have you not found her parents?"

"I've no idea where or who they are. But I have a responsibility to take care of her, I promised."

"And did you say she was under the care of a goblin? Where's the goblin now?"

Gloria paused and darted her eyes towards Amyra. They all looked at the little bag on the floor that Gloria brought in with her. Out of it, a little rat appeared, its whiskers protruding from its face and its teeth slightly jagged as it bit into a piece of fabric.

"That's the goblin?" Seven, asked, slightly impressed.

"She was being a nuisance. And I'm pretty sure she messed up Reina's memories."

"You've really outdone yourself this time," he said, shaking his head.

"Our disguise won't stay for very long, we need you to help us get out of here," Gloria begged him with desperate eyes, "the king wants me to stay but we can't."