“Keep it down,” Gabriel said hushing them.
“Sorry about that!” Hazel apologized, “Carry on, on what you were doing!”
The entire crew looked at the group for a moment before they continued with their tasks. The two brunettes both sighed in relief before Gabriel turned his attention back to the twins.
“I said it was a possibility.” Gabriel said already knowing the reason for the twins’ outburst, “Calm down you two.”
“But if Chancellor Nevermore was working for Dark, why would he let Hazel stay at The Hideout?” Rachel asked, “Or help Hazel-” the girl stopped herself before she dragged her thumb across her neck, “his own niece?”
“Like Gabriel said guys, it’s just a possibility.” Hazel said before she sighed and folded her arms, “Listen, both of us don’t want it to be true just as much as you two but we can’t rule out any possibilities right now.”
Ace sighed at this before he massaged his temples in hopes to prevent an incoming headache, “Gods, I miss the simpler days.”
“Don’t we all.” Hazel said lightly chuckling before she quietly sighed, “But like it or not this is our life now and all that we can do now is see this through.”
She let out another sigh before she met both the twins’ eyes, “Neither of you has to come with us. If you want to go back to The Hideout neither of us will stop you.”
“I agree with Hazel.” Gabriel added, “The two of you are only here because of us.”
“Are you two crazy?” Rachel asked, “Of course, we aren’t just going to leave you two. We both chose to come with you on our own free will.”
“Rachel’s right on this one guys.” Ace said smiling, “You guys didn’t force us to come, we chose to be here. We’re not going anywhere.”
The two brunettes turned to glance at each other before Hazel quickly rushed over to the twins and hugged them, tears in the corners of her eyes with Gabriel following close behind. Phoenix and Josh watched the exchange with – what looked like – grateful expressions on their faces. The two animals looked at each other before they joined their owners, Phoenix nuzzling against Hazel’s leg and Josh perching on Gabriel’s shoulder. The two brown-haired Monster Hunters smiled at their animal companions before they softly patted their heads.
∞
“The twins did what!?” Matthew exclaimed after Abbey read the letter Carla and Eliza had sent them last night as of late, they were the only ones left in the Mess Hall.
“They supposedly stole Hazel’s Claist and teleported with it along with Josh.” James recapped, “After Hazel and Gabriel left to follow a suspected stalked and/or spy.”
“That doesn’t make it any better Snow” Abbey said as she sighed, “But why would the twins do that? Sure, they’ve known Hazel and Gabriel for almost a third of a year but I’m sure the twins trust them enough as to not steal from them.”
“That is also true.” James admitted, “So why did they steal Hazel’s Claist?”
“And why haven’t they called Luna yet?” Matthew added.
The two younger Monster Hunters groaned before they lightly placed their foreheads on the table opposite each other. Matthew gave a slight chuckle as he shook his head and looked at the two fondly before Eve, Cairo, and Kade slammed the doors open, all three wore panicked expressions, Abbey noticing this asked the three to sit down beside them and to tell them the reason on why they looked so shaken. Eve and the brothers looked around as if looking for someone. The three stayed silent for a few moments before they let out sighs of relief.
“Guys, what is going on?” Abbey asked, anxiety starting to rise.
Eve took one last look around before dropping to a low whisper, “We heard uncle talking to a man with a red bird tattoo.”
James blinked in confusion before he asked, “What’s so wrong about that? From the look on your faces a few minutes ago it almost looked like you saw him talking to-”
He stopped midsentence however when he saw the look in Matthew’s eyes. James furrowed his brow before a small gasp from his Kumppani brought his attention to her.
“Please tell me you’re not saying what I think you’re saying,” Abbey said almost pleadingly.
“Abbey, what are you talking about?” James asked, worry written all over his face now.
“James,” Matthew said quickly gaining the attention of the boy, “Max Dark’s followers all have the red bird tattoo.”
James’ eyes widened at this before he found his courage to speak again, “You-you don’t mean-”
Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
Before the white-haired boy could finish however Kade interrupted, “Mt. Bedgami’s chancellor is working with Max Dark.”
∞
“How much longer until we reach Cloud Mountain?” Eliza asked from the lower deck as she looked up at Kimberly from behind the steering wheel.
“Calm your Kelpies Eliza.” Kimberly said rolling her eyes, “Just like I told you the last forty-eight times!”
Eliza groaned at this before asking, “Can’t we go any faster?”
“Eliza, I swear if you’re going to ask another boneheaded question, I will throw you off this boat myself.” Kimberly threatened.
The two girls glared at each other for a couple of moments before Eliza scoffed and went below deck to find Carla. The girl only spent a few seconds looking for the blonde when she found her in one of the four bedrooms on the ship. As the Abernathy entered her friend’s room, she quickly noticed that the blue-eyed blonde looked deep in thought.
“Carla.” The girl called out her name but sighed when her friend didn’t seem to have noticed her.
The green-eyed girl took a deep breath before she lightly tapped the girl on the shoulder, “Carla.”
This seemed to have done the trick cause as soon as Eliza called to get her attention the blonde’s eyes widened a bit before she turned to the other girl, blushing a bit.
“Oh, E-eliza, what a surprise!” Carla said trying to regain her composure, “I didn’t hear you come in.”
Carla gave a nervous chuckle before falling silent, “Did I zone out again?”
“A little.” Eliza said shrugging before she saw Carla look down at her hand sadly, “You okay, Carl?”
Carla only sighed as Eliza sat beside her on the bed, “I feel like it’s getting worse.”
Eliza sighed before she gently enveloped the girl in a warm embrace, “Calm down Carla, that isn’t going to happen.”
Carla quietly chuckled before she rested her head on Eliza’s shoulder, “Thanks, Eli.”
The two stayed in that position for a few minutes before they heard Kimberly call them.
“Something wrong Kimberly?” Carla asked as she and Eliza came back to the upper deck.
“It’s lunchtime,” Kimberly said as the two girls reached her.
Kimberly furrowed her brows at the look Eliza was giving her before Carla gently patted her shoulder as if to say “back off.” Eliza sighed before she folded her arms and asked where the food was.
“In the kitchen.” Kimberly said before she turned to Carla, “Can you please keep El occupied until we reach Warcester?”
“I’ll try.” Carla said before the two of them turned to leave, “We’ll bring you something to eat later.”
“Thanks,” Kimberly said before the other two girls disappeared down below.
As the two walked to the kitchen before a small noise caught their attention, the two looked at each other before they started to pinpoint where the noise was coming from.
“Where is it coming from?” Eliza thought aloud before she turned to the blonde beside her, “Carla?”
“Be quiet.” Carla said shushing her as she closed her eyes, “I’m trying to listen.”
Eliza immediately stayed silent after that sentence, the hallway, became dead silent for a few minutes with only the small noise making any sound before Carla opened her eyes. The blonde girl grabbed Eliza’s hand before she led her to the bathroom and quickly ran to the mirror – which looked frosted.
“What in the world?” Eliza muttered before they heard a small voice, “Carla? Eliza?”
The two glanced at each other before Eliza’s eyes widened a bit, “Mirror Way.”
The green-eyed girl hurriedly fished out a small pot of ink and a paintbrush, she smiled at Carla before she dipped the brush into the ink, and painted the crest with the two swords, bow, and dagger. Carla gave her a doubtful and confused look before the ink on the mirror glowed a brilliant green and faded in, quickly being replaced by Matthew’s face looking frazzled.
“Matthew is everything okay?’ Carla asked worriedly, quickly forgetting to ask her Kumppani how she did this, “What happened?”
“Nevermore just turned traitor.” Matthew said in a quiet but panicked voice, “You need to find your sister and parents quickly.”
Both the girls’ eyes widened in horror at the mention of their chancellor turning traitor before Eliza regained her posture and took a deep breath before she spoke again, “Understood sir, I’ll do everything I can to bring back the rest of the Abernathy family as fast as possible.”
“You better Eliza.” Matthew said gravely, “Because, at this point, I think the Abernathys are our only shot left at reclaiming The Hideout.”
“The other hunters are they okay?” Carla asked worried for her friends and comrades.
“Yes, they’re all fine for now.” Matthew said, “We thought it’d be best if we kept them in the dark for now.” The older man took a deep breath before he spoke again, “As much as it pains me to speak ill of our comrades, we can’t rule out the possibility that they might be working for Dark as well.”
Carla took a deep breath of relief at this before speaking again, “As long as they’re all safe.”
“’We’?” Eliza asked curiously, “Who else knows about this?”
“For now, only Abbey, Cairo, Eve, James, Kade, and I,” Matthew said, “and now the two of you.”
Eliza took another deep breath before they heard Kimberly call them. After bidding Matthew goodbye and undoing the spell, the two grabbed three of the food containers in the kitchen from across the hallway before they went back to the upper deck.
“What did you see Kim?” Eliza asked as they reached her.
Kimberly only smiled at them before she nodded to the distance. Eliza furrowed her brow before she saw a village just a few hours ahead, she gave a small smile however when she read the enormous sign at its harbor, “Welcome to Warcester.”
“I see the Syren!” Kimberly exclaimed.
“Kimberly dock as soon as you can,” Eliza said smiling still as Carla handed the girl her food.