Mirror Soul

Chapter Twenty Seven: Out in the Open

The group entered the Lively manner drained, bruised, bloody, and covered in garabge. They were greeted by a stream of spanish. “What the hell happened?” Nix asked while sprinting down the stairs to meet them.

“Nix, inside voices, please.” Ravel said weakly, being carried on Fordnay’s back.

“Master Nix.” The butler said quietly. “Madam Ravel used too much of her sole today, a feat to which she is not accustomed!” Nix looked from Ravel to the others in surprise. “You told them about your mystic?”

“Well, to be fair,” Clover said as she flopped down on the couch. “She didn’t have much of a choice.” Nix pinched his nose and stepped back. “You all look and smell awful.”

“After we left Vertex we hit up a cologne store.” Bruce lied, falling next to Clover on the couch. “Gotta say, not the best selection.”

“Don’t lie to me, rookie! Now isn’t the time for jokes.”

“Where’s Mr. Safen and Layva?” Kai asked, noticing their absence.

 “We saw that Vertex had exploded on the news, so Rolist, Layva, and Beangula packed up and rushed to get you all.”

“But how did they know we were at Vertex?” Ravel questioned as Fordnay sat her down in a chair. “It was supposed to be covert!” 

“Layva must have ratted us out.” Bruce proposed.

“That Snitch.” Clover muttered from the couch.

“Laylay always worries too much.” Ravel commented.

“Clearly not enough!” The door flew open before Layva entered the manner, Rolist and Beangula following her in. The dark haired girl quickly walked over to her friend, kneeling to examine her.

“Where's your chair? Why are you bleeding?” Ravel grabbed her friend’s hands and gave them a reassuring squeeze. “Laylay, calm down, my chair was crushed when the building started to collapse.”

“What!” 

“No no, it’s fine. I used my mystic to avoid most of everything.” Ravel added, trying to sooth the girl’s temper.

“You what!” Layva shouted, louder this time, her nostrils flaring.

“Yeah, I don’t think that helped Rave.” Bruce said. 
“Quiet, Kopierce!” Layva snapped. 
“Oh great, we’re back to the last name.” The boy said under his breath.
“That is enough!” Beangula yelled. “We have more important things to discuss than this! Now explain what happened tonight and don’t skip the details!” The group took the next few minutes taking turns explaining the night's events. They spoke of Duchess' appearance, Clover blowing up the nightclub, their rescue at the hands… feet of Ravel, and the arrival of the rest of Majesty’s court. Layva, Nix, and the adults listened in silence, their faces bleak.

“And… is that everything we need to know?” Rolist asked. Kai raised his hand. 
“Me and Bruce also totally oneshotted a mystic user!” He tried to lighten the mood. “I won a game of poker!” Ravel added, still slouching in her living room chair. “I got sexually assaulted… and normally assaulted.” Clover finished.

“So you say the Court’s mystics were agrokinesis, for Count, duplications that self-destruct, for Duchess, sole absorption, for Marquis, and you didn’t find out Baron's powers?” Beangula sorted their information.
“No, but he did have an unbolt.” Ravel pointed out. 
“Of course.” Rolist concluded out loud. “That explains how they have gone so undetected, they’ve been traveling through Limbotory.”

Kai raised his hand again. “You don't have to keep doing that to speak, son.” Mr. Safen informed him. “Sorry, force of habit. How come traveling through the Limbo place is so surprising? Wouldn’t a different dimension, with no cameras or people, be the, literally, ideal way for them to get around?”