Something is off about that girl...

"Should we just go," Sophie asked, hoping the answer would be no. Barrel and Spit was by a wide margin the nicest restaurant, the nicest place really, that she had been in for any length of time for so long. Leaving for some vague unease would have been a let down. Not that she would say so. "We can find another place to eat, if you...I don't know, heard she spits in the food or something."

"That would explain the second part of the name," Rebecca added. "Seriously though, if you think that slim girl who looks sixteen and sounds creeped out by you will be too big a problem for the people who literally just killed one of Arakarin's hand-made monsters, I'm fine with finding another place. I'm sure I won't think you were being weird for too long."

"she's a lot older than sixteen," Sagus said quietly. Being the only one who knew the situation gave his voice a tone everyone at the table could hear, though none understood it. How could he let them know what was going on without scaring them? Convey the gravity of it without sending them into a panic and maybe starting another battle?

"Oh, no, you don't think she's using make-up do you," Rebecca said sarcastically, still unimpressed with his vagueness. "The darkest of magics."

"Is it a glamour," Marianne asked. "An illusion she cast on herself?"

"or _him_self," Sophie mumbled with a smirk. "now that would be a neat trick."

Sagus sighed and put his forehead on his fist. This situation could so easily become dangerous, maybe more so than the fight against Sharcha. Knowing that could scare his companions, but wouldn't it also be helpful to know trouble might be coming? He remained still for a moment, then raised his head. "yes, she's using a glamour," he said, quietly but above a whisper.

"...and," Sophie asked after a beat of quiet. "What, is she slightly unattractive and needed to make herself more appealing for a waitress job? It's unfortunate that the owner of this place wouldn't hire someone he doesn't want to see naked, but it's nothing to be that worried about."

"she's not just unattractive, she's a horrible monster," he continued. "girls, our waitress is a sea-temptress in disguise. a siren." None of them could react to this, their attention instead going to the sound of clattering wooden mugs and splashing water as they hit the floor only a few feet away. Their eyes raised, expecting to find a once-beautiful face showing them rage. Instead, they found a deep, all-encompassing terror in her eyes and a mouth unable to form a word more complex than "uh...". Phoebe looked frantically around for anyone else who might have heard what Sagus had said, her fear only slightly decreasing when she found herself safe. But that wasn't the only sound that could have attracted attention.

"Hey, songbird," came a voice from what was probably the kitchen. "What was that noise?"

"...I, uh...I-I just...," Phoebe tried to call back above her heavy breathing. A portly man's face poked out from around the corner, frowning at the sight of the cups on the floor, and began to approach. She turned to her four customers, her fear changing from panic to pleading. "my boss will turn me in if he finds out," she said in a hushed beg. "they'll drag me into the street and kill me! i'm just trying to make a living! please, you can't tell him about me, please!" She looked seconds away from bursting into tears, but then, sirens deal in emotional manipulation. The owner came closer and Phoebe tried to make herself look like she wasn't putting her life in the hands of strangers. If she really was.