Brilliant Haze

Chapter Two

Stella laughed at the idea of Harold and Edgar putting on their own disguise. Cecilia, on the other hand, wanted to laugh but held back so the boys wouldn't feel bad about themselves.

"I'm sorry!" Stella said as she finished laughing. "I didn't mean to laugh, but Mom and I were able to recognize you guys right away."

"So," Cecilia said. "What's with the disguise anyways?"

Harold explained to the mother-daughter duo about infiltrating the local bank. The disguise is needed because the Harpy already knows what he and Edgar look like.

"If it's a disguise you want," Stella smiled. "Mom and I can make you guys look like completely different people. We are girls who know how to use makeup, you know!"

Edgar shakes his head. "I just went along with whatever Harold said."

"Makeup is one thing, but a whole new disguise is another." Harold said.

Stella gives him a grin. "Wanna find out?"

"...Sure… Just don't make us look like women, okay?"

Stella and Cecilia look at each other with a mischievous smile.

Harold frowns. "I don't like where this is going."

Edgar looks confused. "What do you mean? They'll just make us look different, right?"

With that said, Stella proceeds to work on Harold's face while Cecilia works on Edgar's face.

During the entire process, the boys were clueless about the whole process. Powder was used. A tap with a soft material. Some type of pen or pencil was used to draw eyebrows. Stella seemed to have a good time while applying makeup to Harold's face.

After the makeup is done, Harold and Edgar look at themselves in the mirror and their faces just drop. The looks on their faces are completely different from their original face.

Harold now looks like a pale-faced feminine boy with dark black hair. His outfit also changed into a black business suit with a white collared shirt underneath, with dress pants, and dress shoes.

Edgar, on the other hand, looks like a tough-looking gangster. His face now looks like a forty year old man. His outfit changed into a cyan-colored sleeveless shirt and blue jeans jacket. He complained that the blue jeans and white sneakers were uncomfortable, but Cecilia said it was to make him look more tough.

Stella smiles to herself. "See? You guys look like totally different people!"

"Yeah," Harold said as he looked at himself in the mirror. "You're right, Lily! Wow! You did an amazing job."

"I know!"

"How long do you have to wear these?" Edgar asked as he adjusted himself into his new outfit.

"Until we find the Harpy and I don't know how long that would take." Harold answered.

"So," Cecilia said. "What's the cover story?"

"Oh, yeah! I almost forgot about that," Harold said and thought to himself for a moment. "Since I'm dressed like this, I'll say I'm an investment banker and want to open an account with them." He looks at Edgar. "And you Edgar will be a street gangster wanting to open an account to keep your money from being stolen by your enemies."

"Oh!" Stella said. "And your names can be Varold Hernon and Edward Edger!"

Harold and Edgar frown while Stella happily smiles as if she just accomplished something really bad. Cecilia silently sighs and shakes her head very slowly.

With their new disguise, Harold and Edgar leave the girls' room to look for the local bank. It was easy to find since the receptionist at the inn was glad to give the boys directions. Harold decided it was better that Stella and Cecilia are not to be seen with the boys since the enemies already know their faces.

The direction to the bank was easy enough to follow. From the inn, they are to go south towards town square, and from there go east until the bank can be seen. It will be obvious since the bank is the building with the most security guards. And by most, there are about ten men in uniform patrolling the area. Edgar notices the guards are wearing some kinds of jewelry on their right wrist.

"I didn't know security guards could have a sense of fashion." Edgar said.

"Are you talking about the bracelets or the rings on them?" Harold asked and then shook his head. "Those aren't for fashion. They're wearing Sura which they can transform into any type of weapon."

Edgar takes a closer look at the men's equipped jewelry. "How can you tell?"

"I know because Lily has a Sura on her."

"Wow! There are more guards here than usual!" an old man said as he walked past the boys.

Harold and Edgar wait for the old man to pass them and watch as he goes inside the bank.

"More guards than usual?" Harold said. "That tells me we're in the right place."

"Must be!" Edgar agreed.

The boys proceed to go inside the bank. At the front door, they count the number of guards. Harold whispered to Edgar telling him that he counted twelve guards.

Once inside, there are only seven guards total. The old man from before is the only one in line. Harold takes the second spot while Edgar takes the last spot.

It took about five minutes before the old man was finished with his business and left the bank. Now it is Harold's turn. He walks to the receptionist and asks to open an account. A few moments later, a woman in her late twenties shows up. Her height is slightly shorter than Harold by an inch. Brown eyes, black hair, white unbuttoned collared shirt, black skirt, and black heels. She leads Harold into her office.

"Hi," said the woman with a smile. "I'm Blandine and I'll be helping you with your account. And you are?"

Harold smiles back. "I'm Varold Hernon."

Blandine makes a face. "That's a weird and strange name. I take it you're not around here?"

"That is correct. I have been looking for someplace to keep my money safe from the authorities if you know what I mean."

Blandine leans forward and up close to Harold's face. "Then you have come to the right place." She licks his nose with her ice-cold tongue.