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I glided the magic algae scraper over the front glass of Gumdrop’s tank, watching the algae disappear from the inside glass. “You wouldn’t believe everything that’s been going on, buddy.” I sighed, finishing the cleaning before pressing a finger to the glass.

He swam up to my hand, pressing his little face close like he was listening as intently as I needed him to.

“Pandora’s stronger now. So much stronger than when we started at this academy. But she’s pushing herself so hard. She wants to tear the cult apart with her own two hands, and the thing is, she could . She’s strong enough to do it.”

He blinked up at me, his frilly gills twitching as he listened to me.

I leaned back on my elbows, watching Gumdrop as he slowly swayed in the water. “I get it. I do. Dark Veil needs to be destroyed, but I just hate that she has to be the one to do it. The fact that the world’s famous seer has told her she must make a sacrifice and that the sacrifice is…” I swallowed hard, glancing at my tablet. “Then, it turns out that Fester’s a part of the cult. I knew something was weird about him, but I didn’t think it was that .” My jaw clenched as I scrolled back through the group chat, but a new message came through from Hunter.

Hunter Darkmore

Fester’s our spy now, but I’d still keep your distance. He grew up around it so it was all he knew. After his parents sacrificed themselves, he’s been alone. He doesn’t want to be in the cult, and we’re giving him an out.

“Now he’s our ally? I don’t believe that for a second,” I told Gumdrop. “Not after Mom. Not after Charlotte.” My grip tightened on the tablet, my knuckles turning white. “Dark Veil is so corrupted, and so are the cultists. That kind of darkness doesn’t just... go away. ”

Gumdrop gave a slow, deliberate nod, as if he understood every damn word.

I huffed out a tired laugh. “At least someone gets it.”

Turning back to the tank, I discarded the tablet and grabbed my net. “Alright, buddy. Time to get you into the little one while I clean the mess you’ve made. It’s worse than usual.”

He was well-behaved, slipping into the small tank without a fuss. I had just started siphoning out the water when Bram strolled in, rubbing his eyes.

“Need a hand?”

I blinked at him but nodded. “If you want to, yeah. Sure.”

Bram grabbed the bucket, setting it on the floor beside me. “Gumdrop still being the most spoiled axolotl in existence?”

“Of course.” I grinned as Gumdrop tilted his head at Bram as if waiting for something.

As if on cue, Bram grabbed the jar on the nightstand and fished out an earthworm for him before putting it back. “Here.” He dropped it into the little tank, and Gumdrop perked up instantly, snatching it in a flash.

Unfortunately, Comet saw it too.

The calico launched from the bed, paws outstretched for the tank.

“Fates!” I grabbed the small tank at the same time Bram snatched the cat mid-air, stopping her from pouncing onto Gumdrop for the worm.

Comet yowled, squirming in his grip, tail lashing.

Gumdrop, thoroughly offended, flicked his tail and turned his back on her as he ate his earthworm.

“Well, that settles it.” Bram chuckled, holding Comet at arm’s length as she wriggled.

“Yep,” I agreed, setting his tank safely out of reach. “Gumdrop officially hates her.”

“Comet, that was not acceptable,” he scolded her.

She meowed, unrepentant, as Bram plopped onto the bed, holding her in his arms.

“I’ll stay on Comet duty as you finish cleaning,” Bram stated.

“Thanks. Much appreciated.” As I resumed cleaning, my mind wandered back to Fester. “I hate that Fester was around Pandora, and I hate that we didn’t see it sooner.”

Bram was quiet for a second. Then he sighed. “Yeah. Me too. Thankfully, he’s apparently on our side now.”

“I suppose so, but I don’t trust it without proof.”

“Smart,” he agreed.

We worked in silence after that, the only sounds being the soft gurgle of water and Comet’s purring as Bram scratched her head, distracting her from Gumdrop.

Gumdrop watched on from his small tank, gills twitching, like he was coming up with a way to murder the cat.