Hello all.
Its really no secret that I suck at updating.
Forgiveth me, please.
Disclaimer: I don't own Winx Club blah blah blah. No copyright infringement intended
Chapter 10
Helia waited for her to correct him, to say "That's not my name"-anything to disprove this vision before him. He took in her black clothes, and her hair pulled into a tight pony tail.
Recognition flashed in her green eyes.
It couldn't be.
It simply couldn't be. She was supposed to be dead.
But here she stood, chest heaving up and down, up and down.
Is this really her?
"Helia?"
Her voice… barely a whisper, but it was all he needed. He strode toward her, heart thumping in his ears, ready to hold her, to never let her go.
But she stepped back, away from him.
He stopped mid-stride. A wave of sickness took over, making his stomach twist violently. What's happening? Why did she- why the hell would she-
He couldn't think.
He couldn't breathe.
Staring at her was the only thing he was capable of doing.
And she stared right back, not saying anything. Not a damn word.
Helia was certain that they would have stood like that for all eternity were it not for a knock at the door. Helia watched as she turned slowly away from him. She inhaled sharply, exhaled, and then opened the door wide to reveal a woman on the other side. Helia barely noticed her; he kept his gaze fixed on this would-be Flora.
"Scarlett,-" the woman began.
Scarlett? Why is she calling her that? Unless she is Scarlett. But that would mean she the leader of this rebellion.
It's not her, Helia rationalized. It's just someone that looks an awful lot like her. She probably didn't even say his name, only a word that sounded like it. It was his mind playing games with him. She probably only stared back because he stared at her. That's why she stepped back. This Scarlett woman was not Flora. How can she be when Flora is dead, he reminded himself.
"And who do we have here? Scar, why didn't you tell me you had such handsome company? I so wouldn't have bothered you." Helia shifted his gaze toward the speaker. She was tall and slim, with red hair falling to her shoulders, eyeing Helia suggestively.
"Oh, for Heaven's sake, Meg, he's a new recruit. One of Jaryn's." This Scarlett sounded unnervingly like Flora.
"Well, lucky for us," she purred, and took a step toward Helia. He, in turn, took a step backward.
"Meg. Get to work."
That voice, goddammit.
Meg sighed mournfully, and turned to leave. She stopped at the door, turned toward Helia, threw him a seductive smile. The Scarlett woman turned toward her and said "Good bye, Meg!", then quickly shoved her out, her protests muffled by the slam of the door.
The Scarlett woman turned toward Helia again, all composed and calm.
"Listen," she started, looking him straight in the eye. "I don't know how you found me, but you can't tell anyone that you know me. More specifically, how you know me. As far as anyone is concerned this is our first meeting."
It's her. It's really, really her.
But then why was she behaving this way? Why was she saying all these things? Why isn't she wrapped up in his arms?
"No," Helia said firmly. "No. You're dead. You died! Fargonda said you died!"
"Helia, I know this is strange, but difficult as it is, you must accept it," she said without the slightest hint of emotion. If anything, there were traces of disdain in her voice.
How the hell is she so calm?
His emotions were in overdrive. Here she was, alive, and telling him he has to accept it. Accept what, exactly? He felt as if he walked into some parallel universe where Flora was alive, and apparently the leader of a rebellion.
She walked toward him, and his insides twisted again. Maybe she would throw her arms around him after all, maybe she didn't mean the things she said. Maybe he was losing his mind…
She came closer and closer toward him, and then walked past him without a second glance. She went to the desk behind him and picked up some communication device Helia had never seen before.
"Send Jaryn to my office, please. Now." Her tone was sharp and direct, completely unlike the Flora he knew. He'd had enough of this parallel Flora. It was time to put a stop to it.
He took a small step toward her, "Flora-"
"That is not my name!" Her head snapped toward him, her eyes lit with something Helia couldn't recognize. "Not anymore. My name is Scarlett now. Remember that. I am not the girl you knew anymore. Consider her well and dead."
The finality in her voice shook Helia. He was truly at a loss…a painful, blinding loss.
Before Helia could think of something to say, the door flew opened and Jaryn sashayed in, all smiles.
"What's up, Scar?" he asked, unaware of the tension in the room. "What do you make of our new soldier?"
She ignored his questions and simply said, "Show him around, teach him the ropes. Tomorrow we'll see where he fits." Helia noted how she spoke as if there he was really a stranger to her. As she ushered them out, she said, "He's your responsibility, Jaryn. Make sure he's useful."
So, how was that? Good, bad? Let me know.
'Til the next chapter :)