They have gone a distance and almost approached the securities' stand when Gilmore realized that they won't be able to go through that path because the securities were active and they might be caught in the middle.
He hid himself behind a rock that was close to him and beckoned on her sister who was coming behind him with a low voice.
When she got closer, she wasn't happy seeing what was on board.
"So what do we do, now?" Bella asked with a calm voice as they paused behind the rock to think out a plan on how to manoeuvre the securities.
"We just have to go through the secret path," he responded, nodding in affirmation at the same time.
"But the path is so long, darker and narrow, and following there will lengthen the distance we have to go through before getting to the surface," she said, frowning.
"Bella, my dear; we just have to….
Besides, that's the only option left for us to make a choice from. If not, we will be caught in this and that would be too bad. Or, do you want us to be caught?" He questioned, holding her hands and looking at her in the face in such a way to make her understand.
"Alright then, we have to get going because time is no longer by our side," she responded mildly and faking a smile.
They diverted to the secret path immediately without wasting any time.
Then, their journey to the surface began.
They kept swimming and swimming for a long time. At one point, they had to rest a little before continuing their journey to the surface. They looked out for a suitable place around where they were and laid their body to catch some rest.
Back in the Crums, Sibraa who was sleeping had finally woken from sleep.
He was a little bit relieved of stress though hungry. He made his way to the back of his chambers, gathered the sea veggies and the sea worms he had harvested earlier and quickly garnished them for himself.
When he had eaten, he quickly tidied up everything and left for the empress's abode.
The little light had almost grown deem when he arrived at her abode.
"Long live, your majesty!" He hailed the empress, bowing in respect.
At the sound of Sibraa's voice, Princess Bellina from her chamber, quietly drew closer to the entrance of her chambers immediately just so that she could listen to their conversations and know what was up with their search so far.
At first, the Empress didn't notice his presence because she was lost in thoughts but not until he hailed her the second time.
"Long live….., your majesty!!" he hailed the second time, stressing it to draw her attention back to reality.
It was at this point that she noticed Sibraa's presence.
"Oh, you're here," she said mildly but with a long face.
"How are you doing and how has been the search?" She asked at the same time.
"Any tangible information so far?" she added, interrupting Sibraa who was about to say something.
At this point, a little silence enveloped them.
Sibraa who could not say anything at the moment because he had been interrupted and aside that, he was still trying to assimilate the whole thing to be able to give a reasonable answer, was calm and just gazed at her for a while before he mustered up courage to speak up.
"I am just as you have seen me and concerning the search, no good news yet and that's the most reason I am here" He paused and heaved a sigh and then continued.
"I have been in the search even before you announced a general search and I guess also that after the general search was announced, many went searching but till now, I don't think that we have something to show for our efforts so far," he concluded looking at the empress to know if she was still listening to him.
"We don't need to just make a quick conclusion within us concerning the search so far," The empress cut in, clearing her throat.
"We need to hear from the general public and know how well and how far they went about the search before making a conclusion or deriving another means to tackle the issue" She added, adjusting herself to feel comfortable.
"So that means……."
"That means, you need to call on the attention of every being to assemble at the throne as soon as they hear the sound of the trumpet," she cut in immediately, interrupting Sibraa who was about to say something.
"Make it known to them that any absentee would have a bitter price to pay", she continued, breathing so hard.
"Go right away and do as I have spoken," she concluded with authority in her voice.
"Your wish is my command!" Hailed Sibraa, bowing in respect to her majesty.
He waggled his tail in a way that caused ripples on the settled water and left immediately to deliver the information to the general public.
Princess Bellina in her chambers, was listening to their conversations. She wasn't bothered much about the happenings but her main concern is that they find Mira and get her to the throne so that she won't have to do any chores or stress herself.
When she realized that Sibraa had gone out to do as he was told, she left from the corner she was sitting to the other corner of her chamber to catch some rest.
"They should do whatever they can to find her," she muttered, relaxing her back on a soft support where she usually laid.
°°°°°°
Sibraa went about with the trumpet doing what he knows how to do best.
He made sure that he had caught the attention of every being at that point before giving out the message that he had for them.
He also made sure that he went round the whole district of the community to deliver the message before retiring to the empress's abode.
A while later, every being from all the districts assembled at the throne as was commanded by the empress.
Nobody wanted to pay a bitter price for not being present.
They had gathered to hear what the empress had to say.
The empress who was seated watching them troop in one after the other and some in a group then adjusted herself and began to look around.
She glanced at Sibraa who was at his supposed position, just by the left corner of the throne.
She then glanced at the princess's position but then, it was vacant.
Coincidentally, princess Bellina quietly drew closer to the entrance of her chamber to listen to what they had to say, too.
She looked at the crowd who had gathered in honor of her call, heaved a sigh of relief and cleared her throat.
She started to address them warmly unlike her.
"Haven heard from my informant concerning the search and haven learned that there's no good news yet, I would like you all not to give up but to continue the search. I believe that we're almost getting to the end of the tunnel so, there's no need to quit the game," she paused, looked at her audience to know if really they were following.
"Now, you all should go back and continue the search. Let's see what the moon goddess has in store for us." She concluded and dismissed the gathering.
She requested for the squad to see her immediately.
There was a great noise as the crowd dispersed to their various districts.
On the other hand, Princess Bellina, who was really expecting so much, left her position for her soft support, disappointed.
When the crowd had finally dispersed, the squad answered their call.
"Your majesty! You sent for us," said their outspoken head on their behalf while others were watching by his sides.
"Now, you all should listen keenly," said the empress with a cold tone. She paused and looked around to make sure that no being was watching.
Then she whispered, "You all should start an in-abode search. Go to their abodes one after another, unannounced. Search every nook and cranny thoroughly. That way, we will be sure that no being has a hand in the disappearance of any of these fellows.
Be smart, fast and carry out the job professionally." She concluded, feeling fulfilled.
"Now, go!" She added and directed them with her hands in such a way that signified that their meeting was over.
"Long live, your majesty!!" Hailed the squad and they swam out immediately to carry out her orders.
°°°°°°
At the surface was Gilmore and his sister. They had just arrived but were amazed how Mira was nowhere to be found.
"My gosh!" Screamed Bellina under her nose.
Mira at this point came out from the other end because she saw them coming.
"Bella!" She called out calmly.
It was at this point that the two turned to the direction of which her voice came.
"Why that end?" Asked Bella, pointing in the same direction.
"That's my new hideout," she said amidst smiles.
"Ok…that's by the way," Gilmore cut in immediately.
"Now, Mira, we have to go. You're coming with us to the Crums. The matter at hand has skyrocketed so we need to play smart and outsmart them.
When we get there, we'll get you back to the prison through the prison top and then we will report to the empress that we have found you.
That way, there will be no suspicion and we will be safe,"
He paused a little and exhaled heavily.
"Off, we go," he concluded, looking at the maidens affirmatively.
"Exactly! We have to get going outrightly," responded Bella in consonant with what his brother said.
They all left immediately for Crums.
On their way, Bella missed track and swam into a nearby hole covered with sea veggies and slimy substance.
They were all left in confusion on what to do just to get her out of the hole.
It was really an unfortunate experience as they were not conversant with the secret path.
Alas! The moon goddess intervened and they succeeded in dragging her out of the hole.
Her skin was covered with mild bruises and injuries because of the slippery nature of the hole.
That very accident made Mira feel so guilty for dragging her into such a mess.
But they hadn't any option left than to continue their journey.
°°°°°°
There they were in Crums, having no knowledge of the in-abode search just like other half humans.
They secretly headed to their abode without wasting time.
The squad on the other hand, were already searching chambers after chambers regardless of whoever the being was.
It was Gilmore's turn. His chamber was the next to be searched.
At the point they entered to carry out their search was when Mira and her friends were about to sneak in.
It was Bella who noticed the unusual state of their surroundings that saved them from being caught.
"Hey…guess some beings are in our chambers," whispered Bella in a low tone.
"It's better we wait here while one of us goes to check if everywhere is safe before we continue," she added, breathing fast.
"That's true because I sense a kind of danger in our chamber," he said in line with Bella's opinion, looking at them.
"You all should wait behind while I go and fix things up," he concluded and left in a hurry for his chamber.
When he got there, he met the squad who were already rounding up their search in his chamber.
Fear gripped him as he quietly watched them tidy up their search.
When they were ok with their search, they left in a hurry through the path that Mira and Bella were hiding themselves.
Mira saw them coming but she was fast enough to readjust herself just so that they wouldn't see them.
The sea veggies that were dangling around that area after she readjusted herself caught the attention of one of the members of the squad.
"Seems like something is fishy here," he said, looking around that area.
At this point, others were alerted but all of a sudden, everywhere became calm and there was nothing to prove their suspicion.
After they browsed through that area with their eyes and waited to see if any being was hiding there but could not find a proof, they proceeded to search other chambers that had not been searched.
When everywhere became free, Gilmore then came around and secretly helped them to their abode.