Chapter Text
||During the three days of blackness||
Farah POV
The marrow of the bones, the very stone, glass, wood. All of it trembled.
Deep within the belly of the academy. For a moment, it was if the mortar and concrete, the steel beams and wires. All of it. Shaking.
An ancient sign of magic, one thought lost. Even the wards that kept Saul and I contained, seemed to shiver and dissipate for one brief second. Though both of us knew it was futile to hope that the barrier would fall, and we would be free to escape. Free to try and protect the students we had so utterly failed.
“What was that?”
Saul whose eyes were sunken into his skull, whose cheeks were hollowed. He wiped at his brow, trying to get rid of what I could only imagine was the sensation of sweat, but it was mostly dust that came away. Neither of us slept for very long, the barrier prevented it.
One of the first things we or rather I had attempted, was to figure out what kind of magic the barrier consisted of what words Rosalind might have infused into it. Some of them, were easy enough to decipher. Words like trap, ensnare, preserve, disable. None of them pleasant. Alas, it explained why neither Saul nor I felt the need to eat, we knew based off the past few weeks that sleeping, not even a reprieve at any rate; was only allowed so that we would not die to a lack of it. Suppose Rosalind forgot the words needed to keep fairies in stasis conscious and sleep-free. Or maybe, this was her way of keeping us trapped, making sure I was too weak to muster up my magic, dormant as it had gone. Maybe she wanted me to see how weak she had made Saul and I, though the magic she used would never come close to the bond that tethered our hearts.
We waited again, for another sign of magic. One that would clue us into what was happening above on the surface. Where students like Bloom, Flora, Musa, Aisha… and so many more, so many I had failed to protect. To keep out of Rosalind’s clutches.
I knew I hadn’t answered Saul’s question, at any other time my answer would have been immediate, or he would have searched through the mental alcove of my mind; looking for the information I was withholding. Information that I wasn’t bothered to share, but knew he needed in order to maintain some kind of control.
The ground shuddered once more, this time the light – a magically enchanted one, flickered dangerously close to being extinguished. The space, the air between us becoming hot and slick with dread. Another shrill feeling of death, destruction, chaos… all of the things that we fairies fought so tirelessly to keep in balance.
A keen sense of loss, probed at the very edges of my magic, before it became a stabbing sensation of grief, horror… Saul clapped a hand over his mouth, his lips cracked, and he retched. Nothing would come of it; the barrier saw to that. Didn’t need us being covered in filth.
“Someone, no… someone’s… have died.”
Another nauseating wave of negative emotions seemed to hurdle through me. Shutting my eyes and lowering myself against the soft silken traces of the barrier keeping me here. Preventing me from doing my job as headmistress, as the true guardian of the school.
Rosalind, for all of her pretending to care, for all of her wanting for peace and stability, had been scaringly efficient in locking trouble staff away. Though I knew on some level that Daphne was not amongst those of us currently being masqueraded as. Bloom’s older sister, who surpassed even Rosalind in power, knowledge and age was not one to be trifled with. I wondered, where she was now. Was she still guiding her younger sister?
Cracking one eye open, my vision focused in on the other statis chamber just out of sight. There we could see the limp pawing attempts of Luna’s specialist; he’d gone mad three weeks into our forced imprisonment. Not helped especially by Luna’s silence. He spent the days, pawing at the barrier, shrieking, and from what I could gather… sobbing at Luna’s inaction. I found it almost amusing, to know that things had gone so downhill for even Luna to be trapped inside of Rosalind’s web of lies.
“We should have killed her when we had the chance.” Saul hissed.
“And what good would that have given us. Until now, Rosalind has kept the realm safe.”
“Safe? Don’t lie Farah. We both know this… whole act was her way of making sure all the pieces were in place. So that when Bloom arrived, she could take over and do away with anyone who got in her way.”
“That may be so, but I doubt Bloom is as oblivious as we all like to think. Being raised in the human world. It gives her an advantage. She thinks in ways that Rosalind doesn’t. I’m sure, once she realises what is afoot. If she hasn’t been told by Daphne. That she will do something to resolve this situation and free us.”
“To think, Andreas was clued in. That he didn’t tell us.” Saul’s shoulders rose and fell with anger.
“He’s never… been the same since Marina. A man who has… lost his love, will do anything if someone promises with tainted words that their love can be brought back. Wouldn’t you do the same?”
“I would have slit my own throat and ripped my own heart out before ever succumbing to the betrayal of our bond. Andreas knows this. Knows that he should have found a way to die then live without Marina.”
Saul’s voice, bitter with resentment at the betrayal of one of his closest friends. Made me sigh longingly for another way. I had long since moved on from the pain of Andreas’ secrets. Long since moved past having to coax Sky out from under the bed, every single time a storm raged outside his bedroom. Moved past the life I could have lived; the live Saul and I were owed. Wishful thinking was going to get us nowhere.
Bloom POV
“You’re sure that this tragedy was completely caused by the Harvey siblings?”
“Yes.”
How many times does someone have to say the word ‘yes’ for people to listen? I was sick and tired of being asked the same questions, by the same people, following the same person. The unfamiliar specialist and their mind fairy – a living lie detector if there ever was such a thing. Furrowed their brows. I picked up the glass of now lukewarm water – lukewarm because it did have ice but after being accused of killing Terra and Sam. I had practically boiled the contents.
“And you didn’t have anything else you wanted to add?”
“What else can I say? I’ve told you exactly what happened. Musa and Riven are innocent in all of this. If you need to cast blame. Do so on Flora and Helia. Or better yet, Sam and Terra.”
“Do not disrespect the names of those who died.”
“I will do whatever I damn well pleased. Especially because it looked like Sam was going to kill all of us. Doing whatever he was with Musa’s magic.”
Both of my would-be interrogators looked at each other. The specialist placed the pen he had been writing with down, shutting the folder and pushing back from the chair he sat on. They would no doubt leave, converse, come up with another plan and then come in here just to piss me off.
“I think for now, that’ll be all.”
“Can I go?”
“Not until we’ve finished collecting statements from the other witnesses.”
“One of whom is unconscious. The other is comatose.” I wanted to rip my hair out.
“Yes, but when she wakes. We will also be getting a statement from her. This is… frustrating but we must follow protocol.”
With that, the two of them left, specialist in front of fairy – which I thought was a little strange, seeing as specialists were meant to have the back of their fairy. Taking a sip of water, I placed the glass back down, lowering my head towards the cool metal of the desk and forcing myself to sit on my hands. My hands which were covered in the leftovers of turning two people – who I barely knew, into nothing but a pile of ash. Some part of me knew I was supposed to feel guilty, having ended two lives so easily with my magic. Yet another part of me – the less kind version of Bloom. Was so sick of being seen as the confused fairy. It had felt… almost liberating to know that despite my difficulties to summon it in class or to use it on command. That I still had it within me to protect the people I cared about. Course, I’m sure this situation could be helped out if the Dragon chose to speak up. Wasn’t I supposed to be respected because of status as the keeper? Couldn’t people just take me for my word and not question me? Lord, I wanted to destroy something.
The door swung open, I lifted my head and saw it was the two again. The specialist now behind the fairy who was holding an ornate box.
“You’ll be free to go, once you put these on.”
These being the same fucking cuffs that Andreas wore to keep his magic asleep.
“Absolutely not.” I crossed my arms.
With everything that had happened in the past few hours, with the dangers of idiots like Sam being able to fuck around with bonds and harming Musa. There was no way in hell I’d be wearing shackles. The look on my face must have told them how resolute I was in sticking to my guns and keeping my access to the flame inside me free.
“It’s these… for the duration of the investigation. Or a stasis cell.”
Seriously? So either I put on cuffs that made me mortal or I stood in a fucking circle for god knows how long waiting till the investigation was over. Part of me wanted to give in, wanted to just wear the cuffs and be allowed to go wash my hands, to shower, to see Sky and find out the verdict of the trial he was supposedly now free from. I shook my head as they placed the case in front of me. The metal, which I could now examine was a gun-metal Gray. Its magical signature was sinister, barely able to spy the different loops and links I knew were part of the archaic system of runes that made up protection, statis and other confiding magics. One of my mother’s tomes, or rather an ancestor’s tome given to me by Daphne had warmed me about the danger of the cuffs. Particularly that if the keeper were cuffed and unable to access the flame; that the magical tether of the dragon would be weakened and everyone else would have to suffer for it.
“Please, just cooperate Miss Peters.”
“Once again. I refuse. To both. Come up with something else.”
“Just who do you think you are?” The specialist asked.
“I don’t know. Maybe the fucking…”
The Dragon rumbled inside me. Right, I was supposed to be keeping it a secret… even though the secret was supposedly out. I clamped my mouth shut and both clenched and unclenched my fists.
“It’s alright.”
A fourth voice, gravelly and tired spoke. It came from a man whose back was hunched over; a bulbous looking cane seemed to support him as he stepped into the room. His eyebrows furrowed and I dared him to try anything with me. His lips which were set in a frown, softened. As if he recognised something but could not quite place it.
“General Saladin.” Both Specialist and Fairy straightened their postures and stepped a respective distance away.
“At ease. At ease. There’s no need for all the pomp and ceremony.”
“Who are you?”
“An old family friend. Shame what happened to your parents. It’s been a long-awaited pleasure.”
He gestured at the vacant seats. I nodded. He hobbled over, leaning his cane against the edge of the table. Sitting with a grunt of pain. Then, he looked at the box and waved it away, a look of haughty annoyance.
“Get that blasted torture device out of here. Have you no respect for the law of Domino?”
This was new. Both specialist and fairy grabbed the box and seemed to disappear back to wherever they had come from. General Saladin cleared his throat. His eyes resting on me.
“I apologise, the new generation. All of them, dunderheads. Could not tell you how many times I’ve had to correct behaviour. They like most, have forgotten the status afforded to the keeper of the flame.”
“How do you know my parents?”
“I used to work alongside them. I never thought I’d see the day you would return to our realm. Your parents would be proud of you.”
“Would they?”
I wasn’t sure if I could trust this General. What if he was like every other authority figure I had spoken to since killing Terra and Sam? What if this was just a show, a way to weaken my resolve and leave me with no options.
He pushed himself up against the table that separated us, only looking away for just a second. He then whispered.
“Things are not as they should be. I am here to help. But you must tell me what you know about the new… headmistress. I need to find out where Farah and Silva have gone.”
Musa POV
||Present Day||
“You mentioned someone being expelled, but you never told me who.”
I spooned another mouthful of cereal into my mouth, chewing and waiting for Riven to answer. We’d come back from lunch, had a nap, reacquainted ourselves with each other and how I was sitting here, in our mini kitchenette area eating chocolate-peanut puffed cereal.
“Didn’t think it mattered.” Riven shrugged.
He was leaning up against the counter by the sink, another milkshake in hand.
“Well, tell me anyway. From what you’ve said. Terra and Sam died. Kate is in a coma. There’s surely no one else whose gotten into trouble, right?”
“That depends. But I guess if I don’t tell you. Someone else will. You know Nabu right?”
“He… is… was Aisha’s specialist.”
“Yeah, well. He apparently snuck back onto campus. Has been hiding and stealing weapons and technology since. Only got caught because he nicked something belonging to Tecna. Aisha doesn’t know. No one wants to tell her. She hasn’t seen him… since well.”
He doesn’t have to voice it for me to know he’s speaking about the fracturing of their relationship. Thought it stung deeply to know that Nabu could just walk away from Aisha despite promising to be by her side.
“Where is Aisha now?”
“Probably swimming, with her new man. I don’t mind Grey. Not a bad sparring partner. But a bit… irresponsible with his strides and blows. Too many tells. He replaced Sky… after all the shit last year with Diaspro and Stella.”
He said their names bitterly. I knew that Riven was unlikely to ever move on from the pain cause and dealt by the Solarian heiress and whatever the hell Diaspro was supposed to be to Sky… a replacement fiancé was how Timmy described it, well this was of course before anyone knew about Bloom being alive and well.
“What actually happened with Diaspro, the trial ended whilst I was asleep right?”