December 24: Two Choices
"Miss Valentine?" Nina asked.
And as she continued to look at Miss Valentine she knew that she was the descendant. With her dark skin, hair, and eyes she so closely resembled the image that flashed through her mind. It was of Cleopatra, waving to a crowd on a hot day in Egypt.
The teacher stared at her, "What are you two doing up at a time like this and how did you get into the school?"
"What are you doing up at a time like this?" retorted Eddie.
"I was just calling my mother," Miss Valentine said, showing them her phone, "It's actually a normal time in Australia right now."
"Why were you calling her?" Nina asked.
"Just…no reason," she crossed her arms, "Shouldn't you two be in bed?"
"Shouldn't you be in bed?" Eddie mimicked her, folding his arms and staring at her.
"I can't sleep," Miss Valentine replied tiredly, "Bad dreams."
"About what?" questioned Nina.
"I think you two ought to get into bed," Miss Valentine snapped impatiently.
"Do your dreams…involve the descendant?" asked Eddie hesitantly.
Miss Valentine did a double take, "I-yes. How did you know?"
Nina took a deep breath, "We might know about these dreams you have."
Nina and Eddie ran to the Sibuna's rooms and woke everyone up, gathering them in the living room.
"Oh my gosh look at the snow," Joy cried, staring out the window, "At this rate, it's going to be snowing all of Christmas Eve!"
"We've got more important things than that," Eddie said, "We know who the descendant is."
Everyone's eyes widened, staring expectantly at their leaders.
"It's…Miss Valentine," Nina announced.
"No way!" Amber gave her a look of disbelief, "It can't be her! I mean come on, our English teacher?"
"It makes sense, actually," Joy pointed out, "The majority of the portrayals of Cleopatra had dark skin."
"I had suspicions that it was Mara," admitted Fabian, "Considering that she's always been so curious about us and is very smart, like Cleopatra."
"And she dressed up like Cleopatra for Halloween," Alfie said.
"It's definitely Miss Valentine," Nina assured them, "She has always had weird dreams about herself being Cleopatra."
"That's not concrete evidence," Patricia protested.
"And her name is Cleo Valentine…which is short for Cleopatra. And her mom and grandmother are named Cleo. And her mother traced their genealogy back to Cleopatra," Eddie added, "She is quite literally the blood descendant of our Cleopatra."
"Wow," Fabian breathed, "It fits perfectly; Cleo Valentine the second, aka Cleopatra VII."
"Okay so the descendant is Miss Valentine," Amber said, "But how did you explain everything to her?"
"It was pretty easy. She's always had troubled feelings about her dreams and I explained to her that we were sent to help her understand them. And that we would give her a potion that would help with the dreams," Nina explained.
"Wow, you actually told a good lie," sneered Patricia.
Nina made a face, "We also told her to meet us in the library at 4 in the afternoon."
"That way we have time to prepare everything," continued Eddie.
"I can't believe that our old drama teacher wants to kill our current English teacher for eternal life," Amber whistled, "So much drama."
"So be prepared to do a lot of work tomorrow, because we're going to be very busy from noon to midnight! Until then…" Nina put her hand over her eye, "Sibuna!"
"Sibuna!"
Jason Winkler sat in the hall of the school, maliciously grinning to himself.
Thanks to the kids, he had figured out when the descendant would be most vulnerable, or ripe for the picking and who exactly the descendant was.
He watched her leave, running her fingers through her nervously and hungrily thought of what she would bring to him.
His original plan was to confront Mr. Sweet about the kids, but now he had a new plan.
And it most definitely involved Miss Valentine, Nina, and Eddie.
This time he was going to gain eternal life, no matter how much blood got on his hands.
He would survive to see his child born, even if he went to hell and back to do so.
Amber Millington groaned, sluggishly pulling the covers back over her face, "I'm trying to sleep," she muttered to the figure that had perturbed her sleep.
Mr. Black Toes yawned, stretching and nudging her face.
"Oh fine," Amber mumbled, standing up and rubbing her kitten.
Fabian was standing over her, looking very pale and extremely worried.
"We don't actually need to be up until noon," Amber unhappily stared at the time on her alarm clock, "What's so urgent that you needed to wake me up?"
Instead of saying anything, Fabian shakily pointed to Nina's bed, which was empty.
She was more alert now, "Fabian, what happened to Nina?"
He shook his head, "I don't know, but Eddie's gone too."
"What if we had an actual Christmas Day party?" Mara asked Mick at the empty breakfast table, because everyone else was supposedly researching for their online class project.
"If there's food then I won't object," he lathered his toast with jam.
"I think that we should organize one, because they deserve it after working so hard!"
"I'm game."
It was simple, really. Mara told Trudy about their plan, and they set to work, baking and sprinkling sugar cookies, gathering together all of the Christmas music, and making other Christmas treats. Trudy was in the kitchen, making more cookie dough and Mick and Mara were at the dining table, frosting the cookies.
"Do you like Joy?" Mara asked cautiously, watching for his expression.
Sighing, he dipped his finger in the frosting, "I guess there's no point in lying to you, is there? Yes Mara, I like Joy. There, I said it!"
She grinned, "I knew it! I so knew it!"
"Oh hush," he warned, "It's not a big deal, really."
"Yes it is! Now you need to proclaim your everlasting love for her…"
He rolled his eyes, "Apparently when I left everyone turned into Amber. But no, it's just a crush! Like a hey, I like you, and we should date, sort of thing."
"Ah Mick," she smiled, "So casual. You need to do something for her!"
"Like what?"
"I don't know, serenade her?"
"Can't sing."
"Read her poetry?"
"Poetry is tacky."
"Ooh, I know! Write her poetry!" Mara cried, "It's perfect!"
"First of all, I do not write," he continued, "And second of all, I do not write!"
"No it'll be perfect, poetry is very sweet, even if it's absolutely terrible?"
"Even if it's absolutely terrible," she assured.
He set down his knife, "I feel really bad for not trusting her. Do you really think that a poem can…convey my feelings?"
"Of course it can! Now go on, I'll finish these up!"
"You're the best," he grinned.
"I know," she pretended to act pompous, "Now run along, before my wisdom of love ceases to exist."
"It existed at one point?"
"Ha ha," she smirked, "Says the guy who…"
"I'm not going to let you finish that sentence," and Mick ran away from the table.
The Sibunas were gathered in the library, each and every one of them looking restless and uneasy. Fabian and Patricia were both pacing.
"Can somebody just get rid of that?" Amber clutched her stomach, referring to the message written on the wall.
The words, that were written in what seemed to be blood, ran along the library's walls, making pinging sounds as they dripped.
Give the descendant to me in the library at 8 pm in return for your Chosen Ones back.
If you do not follow my instructions I will kill your friends.
They all knew it was from Jason, and not a word was spoken between any of them, for fear that if they did they would break down.
Sibuna was completely lost without their leaders.
Hours passed as they sat in silence, waiting for anyone to say something.
At four o'clock Miss Valentine tentatively entered into the building, suspiciously glancing at her worried looked students.
"Where are Nina and Eddie?"
Alfie weakly pointed to the message, and Miss Valentine looked like she was going to vomit.
She held up a finger and accusingly pointed at all of them, "There's more to this than just the dreams, aren't there?"
Finally, Fabian uttered something, "Yes," he said hoarsely, "We're in a lot deeper trouble than they led you to be."
Gulping, she sat down beside the Sibunas, "Tell me."
So Fabian explained to her what they had been going through these past two weeks, and who Jason was and who the Sibunas were. She nodded occasionally, but said nothing.
"I believe you," she announced when he was done, "And I'd like to protect my students. I'm going to let this Jason man take me."
"Wait," Patricia objected, "We need to protect you, we can't just give you up to him!"
"It's the only way, if you want to save your friends."
"This is Nina and Eddie we're talking about," Joy said, "They'll find a way."
"Either way," Miss Valentine huffed her chest, feeling oddly detached and slightly heroic, "I'm going to be here at eight, and you children can't stop me."
It was true, there was nothing they could do that would make her stay. So instead, Miss Valentine and the Sibunas waited in the school until the time was upon them, and nobody discussed what was about to happen.
Grinning, Mick took one last look at his poem, feeling somewhat proud despite his hatred for writing.
Joy, I wrote you a poem. You told me that you thought Fabian wrote you a poem, but it wasn't for you, and I reckoned that you deserved a poem. Sorry if it's terrible, English wasn't my best subject. And sorry it's so long. I tried a rhyming poem but that was a mistake, so here's this instead.
It all started with
Those green frosted cupcakes
Watching the couples
Twirl and twirl
So we just talked
That was when I realized that you were
Just like me
I almost asked you to dance
But things
Got in the way
I'd still dance with you now
I hope you liked that silly kangaroo
That wasn't meant for you
Then we kept talking
And I liked that I could
Be me around you
We were so simply right
But when we got rid of
Old memories
Was when I felt that
Familiar feelings
But with you, it was newer, better
We danced around the fire
And I burned for you
The day we watched balloons
Disappear into the sky
Until we just
Couldn't see them anymore
Made me feel
So light and free
Because you kept smiling
Crinkling those deep brown eyes
That's what you are
Deep
No one can pin you down to
One
Word
Especially not me
So then I decided that pink and gray
Went perfectly together
Did you know that you wore
A pink shirt with a gray scarf that day?
So now I'm just sitting her
Fumbling with my words
Thinking that
I miss you
I'm sorry I said stupid things
Joy
Please never stop being you
Because there's someone who wants you for you
That's me
And even though
I can't stay here
We can still find a way
To do more
Stupid things together
Just promise that you'll be my girl
My Joy
And I'll be
Your Mick
If that's okay with you
-Mick
Folding up neatly, he stuffed it into a pink balloon. Then he filled it up with the helium from the attic and tied a string around it. On the balloon he wrote To Joy, From Mick. Don't let this one float away.
Smiling to himself, he placed it in her room, hoping that she would understand.
Besides, sometimes you had to take a chance for the ones you loved.
Because even though hearts are so easily broken, it's worth it.
At eight o'clock they all slowly walked into the library. The lights were out, and as Amber turned them on she stifled a scream.
Jason was waiting for them, a look of pleasure on his face, gesturing towards something, two people, tied to chairs with bags over their heads. It was easy to tell by their clothes that it was Nina and Eddie, but they weren't struggling or moving at all.
"Come and sit," Jason offered, a wild look in his eyes, "And if you make a move towards your friends I will slice their throats," he held up a knife.
They all piled in, because all they could do was sit and stare.
Miss Valentine was last, and she stood near the back, but Jason saw her.
"The infamous descendant, oh how I have longed for you," he crooned, "Won't you join us?"
She walked up to the front, trembling slightly, but chin held high as she sat by her students.
"Thank you, and now, here are your friends," he yanked off the bags from the heads, revealing Nina and Eddie. They both slowly opened their eyes, wincing whenever they made small movements. There were bruises on Nina's face, and her lip was cut open. Dried blood stained Eddie's shirt, and he had a slash across his forehead.
Fabian wanted to scream or tackle Jason but he knew he couldn't, so he just stared at Nina, too afraid to even mouth her name.
"Here are the noble Paragon and Osirian," Jason laughed, "I caught them while they were sleeping, the precious children."
"Now let them go," Miss Valentine commanded, "I'm here and you can have me."
"Yes," he set down the knife and walked up to her, circling her, "The descendant, at last."
She stared straight ahead, lip trembling, "Release the children."
"So courageous, considering the fact that you've only known your true identity for a few hours," Jason mocked, "And you're so keen to protect these children that you hardly know."
As Jason encircled Miss Valentine like he was a hawk, hunting down its prey, Patricia watched as Eddie slid his foot towards the knife. He carefully balanced the knife on his foot and brought it up to his hands. Then Nina placed her head in his lap, grabbing the knife with her teeth, as Sibuna silently cheered them on. She reached behind his back and dropped the lap into his hands. He cut himself free from the ropes, but held them in place and also cut Nina's ropes.
Luckily, Jason was so engaged in Miss Valentine that he didn't see Nina sneak up behind him with a knife. She silently pounced at him, pressing the knife to his neck and Eddie grabbed Miss Valentine and flung them away from Jason.
All of Sibuna was standing up now.
But Jason just laughed, "You think you've overpowered me?"
Nina gritted her teeth and dug the knife deeper into his skin, "What are you talking about?"
"While they slept, I injected a transmitter that will release a serum into the rest of your friends. If you try to do anything to me I will say the voice command and they will drop dead. So they will slowly and painfully die unless you let me go."
A sense of defeat fell over Nina's body and she relaxed her grip on the knife, causing Jason to quickly turn around and snatch it from her. He then proceeded to hold the knife against her throat.
"Run," Nina whispered to everyone.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you," he tsked, "If any of you runs Miss Martin here will pay the price."
Miss Valentine held up her hands, "I surrender, take me and let the children go."
"Sit down," he commanded, and she obeyed him, slipping into the chair near him.
Fabian couldn't take it any longer, he stepped forward and yelled, "Let go of her!"
"Careful, or I'll slit her throat," warned Jason and Fabian felt his stomach sink, was this really going to be the end of Nina?
Eddie joined Fabian, "You let go of her this instant or I swear I'll-"
"Call down the wrath of the Gods?" jeered Jason, "You don't have the power, boy. And don't forget, if I kill her than you die too."
Nina and Eddie shared a look, the kind that could only be interpreted through facial expressions and because of their connection.
"Kill me," Nina pleaded, "Kill me and spare my friends."
Grinning evilly, Jason let go of Nina and handed her the knife, "I'll let you choose, Miss Martin. You have to choices. Kill me, and all of your friends will die," he spread out his arms, "But you, your precious Osirian, and the descendant will live."
Nina stared at her friends, knowing that she couldn't ever choose that, and she held back tears, knowing what the next option was.
"But," Jason continued, "Kill yourself and your friends will be saved. Your Osirian will die and the descendant's death is inevitable but you'll die knowing that you saved your friends."
Was she going to sacrifice hers, Eddie's, and Miss Valentine's lives for the protection of her friends? She was told to protect the descendant, but these people were more important to her.
She had spent the last few weeks being protected by others.
It was her turn to protect them.
Nina raised the knife.
"WAIT!" Fabian cried, taking a step towards Nina, "Let me do it instead."
Nina wanted to scream at him, it was not his decision to make.
Jason considered this, "I should get rid of the Chosen Ones, but this is so tempting. Such a noble sacrifice, for young love," he grabbed the knife from Nina, who tried to hold onto it but Jason's strength was greater. He handed it to Fabian, "Make the choice, boy."
He knew what this meant, but Fabian was going to do it anyways because he couldn't let Nina do this. Fabian knew that she was mentally screaming at him, but it didn't matter, because this was going to save her.
One last act of bravery, he thought, Saving Nina will be the last thing I ever do.
He positioned the so that it was just above his heart. His fingers trembled but he was determined to his this, it was time for him to be Nina's protector. He wanted Nina's face to be the last thing he saw, so he looked at her beautiful face and mouthed one last I love you.
A tear fell down her cheek and she mouthed those three words back. Their eyes locked for the last time, and Fabian wished that they could have had longer. He wanted to grow up with her, share a life, and grow older with her. But those plans dissolved as he prepared to plunge the knife into his heart. The only thought he wanted to have as he died was that Nina was so beautiful and he as the luckiest person alive to have her.
So he steadied his grip and Nina held back a sob, closing her eyes because she could not watch this.
"Stop!" Patricia begged, voice wobbly, "What happens next, Mr. Winkler? You will gain immortality and this will be the price that you paid, to live forever with guilt. So while your family ages, you will remain young and healthy. They will die and you will be left completely alone, unable to scrub the blood off of your hands. Is it worth it, to live forever if it will make you into this?"
Jason stared at her, wiping a bead of sweat off of his brow.
"Remember when you were somebody who was good? What happened to the Jason Winkler that wanted to help me find Joy? What happened to the Jason Winkler that was our favorite teacher? What happened to the Jason Winkler that put the student's lives first? Where is the Jason Winkler that was a good man and where is he now? I know that you are the man who killed those three people, but if you do this now then you become Rufus. Don't become that nightmare, because doing this has consequences you can't even begin to imagine," and at the last word tears began to fall down her cheeks and her words came out hoarse, "Please, Mr. Winkler. Don't do this."
A single tear cascaded down his cheek, as he nodded understandingly. Somehow, the words of a young girl had changed his mind. He recalled the upset Patricia from a year ago, sulking in her pajamas as she pleaded with him to save Joy. He saw that girl again, but this time her plea was for something that he could control.
Jason took the knife from Fabian and said, his voice almost sounding like the man they had once know, "It seems as if you have many protectors, Miss Martin."
And with that Nina ran into Fabian's arms, crying and hugging him, while the rest of Sibuna hugged them. The traumatic experience had brought tears to everyone's eyes, and they all were desparately clinging to each other.
The next step was to protect Miss Valentine, and their ritual began.
The mask and cup were hidden in the library, so those were taken out. Nina put the mask on her forehead and handed the cup to Miss Valentine.
Joy placed a hand on Fabian's shoulder, because she knew that he hated seeing Nina put the mask on. It reminded him of last year, when Senkhara had controlled her.
Eddie made a small incision on her arm, "Sorry if that hurt, but it's necessary."
Nina stood over the cup and tears of gold leaked from the mask and into the cup.
Alfie took out the lotus petals and crumpled them into the potion.
Then the seven gathered in a circle, holding hands and chanting this as Miss Valentine drank from the cup.
Be Safe O Descendant
I will sacrifice
The blood of the descendant is a sky that cannot be possessed
And with these words
I seal the Descendant's safety, until they may pass into the afterlife
As they said these words, it seemed as if energy flowed throughout Miss Valentine, and her eyelids grew heavy. A golden light swirled around her, and she dropped to the floor. It was less dramatic than anticipated, but they all knew that she was protected. Then Nina and Eddie walked to her, crouching beside her and whispering something in her ear, and it seemed as if their eyes shone brighter than usual.
"Forget this," Eddie commanded as she slept, "Forget you dreams, descendant and move on."
Eddie picked her up and carried her out to the school, where he laid her on her bed and then came back.
From then on the rest of the night passed by in a blur, as if it was merely a dream. Jason disabled the serum and Nina and Eddie said an incantation, that would make his disease kill him tomorrow. Now you need to say your goodbyes, they said, This is your last gift. Because you won't go to jail or face trials, our mercy has spared you and you may find death more peacefully this way. The way they said it was very strange, as if they were almost being controlled by something, like a God or Goddess. Jason quickly exited, thanking Nina and Eddie as he hurried out the door.
"It's Christmas," Nina said as she looked at her phone, laughing weakly, "Merry Christmas everyone."
"Merry Christmas," they chanted back and departed, leaving behind the insane events that had happened there.
They all slipped into bed, exhausted from everything. Children in nearby houses dreamt of Santa leaving presents, Miss Valentine dreamt of a strange occurrence in the library, but it was forgotten when she awoke, and the Sibunas dreamt of blissful nothingness.
Ahh wow okay there it is sorry this is super short, but I was busy and it was Christmas Eve. BUT NONE OF YOU GUESSED THE DESCENDANT, TELL ME, WERE YOU SURPRISED? But yes, this person was going to be the descendant from day one! And this fic isn't over yet! One more chapter because they still need to have their Christmas party! Might do an epilogue...what do you guys think? Also, I am so overwhelmed by the amount of reviews and I'd like to thank each and every one of you for reviewing, and special thanks to those of you who reviewed more than once! This fic wouldn't be here without you! Let's get 5 reviews until next chapter! So goodnight my fellow Sibunas, and I hope that you're all dreaming of sugarplum fairies.