A/N: Hello my darlings! This is the second-last chapter!
This is a pretty important one. Obviously.
Please remember to review my dears!
…
Chapter 9
Love & Loyalty
Selena smiled as she sat on a fallen tree trunk. "You're a fast learner."
Babette raised a brow, "Well I have motivation. Which reminds me…"
"Yes?"
"I need you to teach me more. What you've taught me isn't enough!"
The older woman smoothed out the creases in her skirt. "Really? It sounds quite impressive, if I do say so myself."
Babette glowered at her, "Have you seen how powerful the King is? I need to make sure I don't lose against him. If I do…" she shuddered, "I don't even want to think about what he would do to me."
Selena's gave softened, "Alright. There is one thing I can teach you."
"What? I'll take anything."
As if on cue, a villager's voice rang out. "I've finally found you, thief!"
The woman in question whirled around, facing the human man. Fear flashing in her eyes, she said, "Babette…now would be as good a time as any. Strangle his soul!"
"Wh-What?"
"Go over to him, put your hand in his chest, grab his soul and strangle it!" Selena's eyes widened as the villager approached. Looks like I'll have to do it myself. Taking a deep breath she stormed towards the human.
Babette could only stare in shock as the older woman's hand disappeared inside the villager's chest. Seconds later she pulled it out, holding onto what appeared to be a circle of grey mist. Selena clenched her hand around it until her knuckles went white. The villager fell to the ground…dead.
Releasing her hand, Selena let the mist disappear before turning back to Babette. Seeing the horror in the brunette's eyes, she raised a brow. "Is something wrong?"
The younger woman clenched her fists in rage. "Of course there's something wrong! You…You just killed an innocent!"
"I was protecting myself."
Babette stepped back, "Well if you expect me to do that then you're wrong."
"But didn't you want to learn more magic?"
"Yes, but I won't…I won't strangle someone's spirit!"
Selena pursed her lips, the frustration clear in her eyes. "It's your fiancé, isn't it?"
The younger woman gave her a quizzical look. "Pardon?"
"You're fiancé, Lumiere. He's the reason you're not going through with what you want."
Babette sighed, "Yes. He loves me, and…"
"You can stop there."
The brunette narrowed her eyes, "I don't appreciate the way you're talking to me. I thought you were supposed to teach me, not attack the people I love!"
Selena rolled her eyes, "I'm not attacking anyone. I'm simply trying to get you to unlock your full potential."
Babette shook her head. "Well, I'm not going to stand here while you fail to help me."
The older woman growled, her lip curling into a snarl. She waved a hand dismissively, "Go back to your precious fiancé then. Come back when you've opened your eyes."
OOO
Babette stormed into the castle, shoving past anyone in her way and ignoring all questions. It didn't matter if the King had been looking for her. He could drop dead for all she cared.
"There you are!"
Babette whirled around, a smile gracing her features. Lumiere ran up, embracing her. She buried her head into the crook of his neck, "You were looking for me?"
He pulled back to look her in the eyes. "Of course I was. Where were you? You've been gone for hours."
Babette's grasp tightened around his shoulders nervously. "I…I was out learning magic."
Lumiere tensed, "What?"
"Because I needed to learn how to protect myself." A sudden angry fire in her eyes, she hissed, "Because I need to make sure that no one ever betrays me ever again."
The tall man flinched, the guilt clear on his face. Grasping her hands, he looked into her eyes. "Babette, I promise that from now on, I will never let the King control my actions again. I was foolish to ever let him have so much power over me."
"So you will never again kill an innocent simply because the King commands it?"
"I promise. I am not loyal to him," he laced their fingers together, caressing her engagement ring, "I am loyal to you."
Cogsworth raced towards them, grabbing Lumiere's shoulder. "Lumiere, the King requests your presence in the front gardens immediately."
Babette squeezed her fiancé's hand. Of course he had to obey simple orders such as that. It would be ridiculous to tell him not to. He was still a servant of the King, after all.
Lumiere gave an apologetic smile, kissed her hand, and then disappeared out of the castle doors. Cogsworth turned to the brunette woman opposite him, crossing his arms. "Now…where have you been?"
"It was visiting a friend in the village. May I ask what the King wants with my fiancé?"
Cogsworth cleared his throat and rung his hands together anxiously. "I…I have no idea…"
"You're lying."
"Wh-What? Of…Of course I'm not!"
Babette sighed in exasperation, "Either you tell me what's going on or I'll find out myself Cogsworth." Not receiving a response, the brunette shoved him aside and walked out of the castle doors.
Once outside, she quickly spied King Adam. Not wanting to be seen, Babette crouched behind a rose bush, peeking over the top to see what was happening. She watched as the King stood there for a few moments, until suddenly a woman dressed in rags was thrown to the ground before him.
The King bent down and grabbed a roll of bread that had landed at his feet. He glowered down at the woman, "You attempted to steal from me!" he roared.
Sitting up slowly, the woman's voice shook with fear. "P-Please, I…"
The King struck her on the side of the face, "Silence!" He looked behind the woman, "Lumiere! Dispose of her."
Babette watched in horror as Lumiere walked up behind the woman, then swiftly tipped her head back and held a knife to her throat. His face emotionless, he sliced the knife across her neck, ending her life.
Dropping the body, the sorcerer raised his eyes to meet those of the King. "You are welcome, my King."
Tears welled in Babette's eyes, her hands shaking. Surely…surely she was seeing things? Surely that couldn't have been real? The hybrid remained crouched as the King passed her and walked back into the castle.
Lumiere quickly attempted to follow suit, before she stood and stopped him at the door. Tears streamed down her face, "How could you?"
Panic spread across her fiancé's face, "Babette, please, let me explain…"
"There is nothing to explain!" She pushed past him and walked towards the woman's body. Standing beside it, she screamed. "I saw you do this! I saw you end this innocent life without a second thought!"
"Babette…"
"No. I've listened to you enough. Now it's time for you to listen." She approached him slowly, "You…You said you weren't loyal to the King."
Lumiere reached for her hand, "I…"
She stepped back. She looked torn between unspeakable fury and devastating heartbreak. "DON'T YOU DARE TOUCH ME"
The tall man stepped closer, "Please…"
Babette felt the now familiar tingling in her fingers. Magic. "I told you…to get AWAY!" On the final word she thrust out her hand, sending Lumiere flying back.
He landed near the castle doors with a grunt. Standing, he kept his gaze locked on the woman before him. "My darling…"
Babette held up her hands, disappearing in swirls of dark navy blue smoke.
OOO
Selena sighed as she watched the young blonde wizard before her try and teleport for the fifth time. She rolled her eyes, "For goodness sake, were you listening to anything I said?"
A silky, almost seductive female voice came from behind the blonde man. "Yes…she deserves much better than you."
Selena raised a brow as Babette came into view, standing tall and regal. The blonde wizard retreated in fear, "W-Well she's m-my tutor."
Babette raised a brow, her tone chillingly calm. "Is she now? Well I can fix that." Without a second of hesitation she plunged her hand into the young wizard's chest. Something almost like mist floated into her hand, and she gave a menacing smirk. "Oh, so that's what a soul feels like."
Grasping it, she reefed her hand from the young wizard's chest. Impassively she slowly tightened her grip around the soul in her hand…
The blonde wizard slumped to the ground.
Selena blinked, "What changed your mind?"
Wiping her hand on her dress, Babette answered. "Let's just say I opened my eyes." Stepping over the dead body in front of her, the hybrid smiled, her eyes darkening with rage. "Now…show me how to get my vengeance."
