Category: Winx Club

Rating: M

Couples: Faragonda/Baltor, Winx/respective-Specialist, Griffin/Codatorta

Warnings: AU, hints of torture, Character Death, maybe (but not likely) lemon

Chapter: 11

Copyright: © characters and places by Iginio; © Plot and OC by me

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She yelped in surprise when hands pulled her from the path. A strong body pressed her against the tree, while a hand clamped down over her mouth.

"Why are you here?" His voice dripped with venom. His eyes were cold as ice while they regarded her.

She pried his hand off of her face. "To talk."

"What is there to talk?" he stepped back, giving her room again.

"A lot." Faragonda crossed her arms in front of her chest, looking every bit the headmistress she once was. "You were always easy to understand, Baltor, but this last act – releasing me like this – makes that I do not understand you at all anymore. So, why? Why did you do this?"

"Why should you care? Is it not enough I did?" He started to walk away, only to sense her following him. "Leave."

"No, not until you tell me why. Why are you so eager to see me gone?"

He did not answer, merely quickening his step.

"Baltor, answer me!" She blocked his path. "What happened here during this year that I missed? What changed you so?"

Again he did not answer, merely pushing her aside. Yet he froze when she spoke again.

"I was death, Baltor. I died and yet I stand here. I know I was not saved by conventional means. And the only unconventional means around me all this time was your Dragonfire. What happened, Baltor, that you would save my life only to release me?"

He spun around, locking eyes with her.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

"What is taking her so long?" Griffin rested her hand on her chest, where there was a painful emptiness. "Why does Alfea not re-bond?"

Saladin too felt that pain. It was the pain of loss. After her death, the pain that had warned them of it had subsided, but it had not gone completely. As long as Alfea did not re-bond it would remain. "I cannot tell for certain, but Faragonda was Headmistress of Alfea for a long time, since before even I was born. A bond grows stronger with time. It would have felt devastating to Alfea to lose it."

"I realize that, but mourning for a month? She does not even react when we contact her, Saladin. What if she died with Faragonda?"

"Schools do not die while their building stands, Griffin. Alfea needs time and so we shall give it to her." Saladin said, breaking off any discussion before it could even start. "Codatorta goes missing quite often lately."

The witch blinked a few times, trying to catch how her partner came from a mourning school to a missing teacher. "I don't understand."

"Let me revise my comment then; Codatorta visits Cloudtower quite often lately." A small and weak twinkle of amusement appeared in the older man's eye as he watched his younger colleague.

"So? What do I care your teacher has a fancy for my school?" A faint blush belied the haughtiness she displayed.

"Your school? Griffin, I am old, but not THAT old. I have not forgotten what it feels like to be desired and to desire in return. Codatorta has taken a fancy for you, not the cold walls that make your school." He smiled. "Yet, although he visits often, he rarely smiles these days."

Merely her eyebrow rose at that.

"Alright, even rarer than usual. What happens in your school, Griffin? Why is Codatorta suffering silently? Even the students begin to notice something is wrong with him."

"It is nothing…" Griffin turned away.

"Nothing does not make my only teacher depressed, does not make you feel guilty." Saladin gently, but firmly turned her again. "You always trusted Faragonda with everything, Griffin, so why don't you trust me now? What is happening between the two of you?"

"He desires me…" Griffin fell silent.

"And that is a problem, because…?" The wizard prompted.

"I feel guilty. My best friend is death, her body being Dragon knows where and I am being courted and enjoying it!"

"Oh Griffin…" Saladin sighed. "This friend is Faragonda. She last of all would judge a love, you know this. Death will not have changed that. Why not enjoy what is being thrown at your feet? If I know Codatorta – and believe me, I do – him courting you will be nothing short of epic."

"But…"

"Griffin, do not make me pull rank on you!"

She blinked again. "You can't do that, we're both Head-teachers!"

"I am your senior! I have almost 2 centuries on my name, and you barely two decades. Go to Codatorta, Griffin, accept him. I will not have both of you in the same state Alfea is in. Go!"

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

His lips where hot on hers and his desire burned in his every touch. She had expected much, but not this, not this burning desire. His hands had her firmly pressed against his body, using enough force to leave bruises. When she gasped his tongue demanded and received entrance.

What was happening to them? Where had this fire come from? Why did she allow this? She was supposed to blast him, curse him and not let him! What madness was this?