Chapter 25: The Choices at Hand
No one spoke after our story was told. Only the sound of Griffin's glove scratched through the air as she curled her fingers inward.
"We cannot keep fighting like this," She finally said. Her voice rung against Faragonda's walls, radiating her total frustration and anger. "Those girls must be exterminated. Too much blood has been spilt because of them."
"I couldn't agree more," My mom said, her voice completely still and calm, "Those witches are murders held on a tight leash. If we're going to destroy Cian, they'll need to be taken care of."
"While they are dangerous women, Mrs. Avila, we cannot just kill them out of revenge," Faragonda explained.
"Forgive me, I beg to differ." Dad placed his hand on her shoulder and gently pulled her back.
"Then what do you suppose we do?" He asked, "Those witches murdered not only Aquila's King and Queen, but our dear friends. They've also been torturing my daughter since the discovery of her Light and Dark powers. I believe some form of justice should be delivered."
"I agree," Faragonda assured, "And we will. After all, our top students have officially unlocked their Enchantix. All that remains is some finalized training." She turned towards us and smiled. "You all have come a long way, and now the time has come to polish your skills." She let out a long sigh. "I remember when you were all first year students. Stella blew up the Laboratory her first year." She giggled at the memory. Stella folded her arms and pushed out her lips.
"Don't be like that, Stella. You're not the same fairy you were five years ago."
"I wouldn't go that far," I heard Brandon whisper. Stella sharply elbowed him in the ribs. All of the air in his lungs spilled onto the floor. He wrapped his arms over his chest and began to cough.
"Now, if you all wouldn't mind," Griffin said, irritated by Faragonda's shift in conversation, "I would like to talk to Scarlet's parents." She caught my glance. "Alone."
"As do I," Saladin seconded, "I would like to know how you managed to survive under such circumstances." Mom and Dad looked at one another before turning back to me.
"It's okay," I said, "We'll catch up later." I wrapped my arms around both of them and swiftly left the office. Bloom was the last to leave and quietly closed the door.
"How're you holding up, sweetie?" Flora asked. I shook my head and shrugged.
"I'm a mess. I don't know what to feel first."
"For starters, you should feel proud," Helia suggested, stepping on the other side of Flora. "You got your Enchantix."
"I got…my Enchantix…" I repeated those four words a few times while the Winx girls surrounded me with grins. Then those grins turned into a bunch of hugs and phrases like, "I knew you could do it!" And "I told ya so."
"You are officially the essence of Balance," Nabu announced once the hugging died down. "You've got your light and dark magic in check and you're one hell of a fighter."
"You're the symbol of the Magix Realm," Timmy pointed out, "You did study at all three schools."
"I did, didn't I." I giggled at the thought. "Well, I did have a pretty good teacher." I looked around for that proud, smug expression that Matt usually had when I referred to him as my teacher. But to my surprise, he wasn't around.
"Guys," I cautiously whispered, my growing joy suddenly freezing, "Where's Matt." No one looked at me for a moment. Worry rose to me chest, already thinking the worst. In seeing my concern, Jeremy stepped forward.
"He left."
"What?"
"He left right after we got those witches tied up. They said that you were a full vampire and he got pissed."
"Got pissed? Why?"
"He thought that you were lying to him," Helia explained.
"But I wasn't. And I'm not just a vampire! I'm the Balance! A walking Ying Yang!" I could feel my heart break and my aggravation pouring out of it. "I have to talk to him."
"We'll go with you!" I heard Musa shout out.
"No, you've gotta stay here. If I can't get Matt back…" I vigorously shook my head. "I've gotta do this alone." I created my wind current and swiftly flew to Red Fountain. When I landed in the courtyard, I decided to check his room first. I wasn't surprised when he didn't answer the door. I wouldn't think he was the type to lock himself in his room when he's upset. I checked the practice room, the weight room, the auditorium, everywhere, but I still couldn't find him. I asked other specialists if they'd seen him. They said no. I asked Cordatorta and got the same answer. As I left Red Fountain, I heard the wind spirits whisper something.
"The Lake of Wonders."
Of course! I thought. Quickly, I changed courses and flew to that sacred spot. Flashbacks of our first visit to the lake popped into my head, playing like a romance movie. As I lowered myself to the soft ground, I felt my heart pick up the pace. I hoped that he wasn't too mad. I hoped we could talk this through.
I can now be completely honest.
When I approached the shimmering waters, I saw him. His back was to me and his eyes were staring ahead. It kinda reminded me of when we first met. I'd thought that I'd lost everything and while wandering, I found him. It was one of those moments that distracted me from the pain I felt. And now…with the thought of losing him…
"Hey," I said before taking that first step towards him. He didn't say anything. He didn't even move. "I noticed you weren't with us when we returned to Alfea. Is everything okay?"
"No." I shivered. That single word felt like an ice cube pressed against my back.
"Will you talk about it with me?" I asked. He took a sharp breath, his chest rising slightly and his shoulders pushed back. For a moment, he looked like a true warrior.
"I can't do this anymore," He said. His voice was strong and clear.
"This?" I repeated weakly.
"You. Me. This." I pinched my lips together as I felt my heart break in two. Sorrow filled my chest and tears touched my eyes. I quickly wiped them away and quietly took deep breaths.
"Okay. Will you tell me why?" His lips thinned slightly before shooting a quick glare at me.
"You lied to me."
"I didn't."
"You did!" His booming voice caused birds to flee from the trees and made me take a step back. His blue eyes were colder than ever; pupils thinned with rage and betrayal. "You said that you were half. You said that there was no way that you could be a pure vampire."
"And I believed that."
"So then what happened when that changed?" I lowered my head and brushed my long hair behind my shoulders.
"My Charmix happened." I placed my hand where the pin would've been. "Because I finally accepted my vampire-self, I learned the truth about it." I briefly closed my eyes, knowing that this would be it. "I am a pure vampire. I had a pure fairy sister murdered by Cian and I gained her power. That's why I'm the Balance. I carry both powers of light and dark." Matt didn't respond immediately, but I could tell he wanted questions answered. He kept on pushing his dark hair back or throwing his hands in his pockets. He wouldn't make eye contact with me.
"So that state," he finally said, "That state where you go vampire-shit crazy, that's who you really are?" I furiously shook my head.
"No! That happened because my magic wasn't in balance. It's fine now, really!" I spread my arms out wide. "I unlocked my Enchantix." Matt shook his head.
"It's not yours." That struck me like one of his arrows. "You were born a monster." I shook my head. My emotions rushing around me like a tornado. Everything was spinning out of control.
"I'm not a monster," I whispered, the sadness already wrapped around my throat, "I'm just a girl who doesn't want to lose you because—" He raised a hand to stop me from saying anymore.
"Once a vampire, always a monster. I'm done with you." And he was. He turned on his heels and headed to his bike. I wanted to stop him. I really did. But I was stuck in that spot where he left me. My legs refused to move. Instead, I collapsed to the ground, curled up into a ball, and cried.
[*******]
The sun was setting over Magix and Scarlet hadn't returned to Alfea. Musa kept on biting her thumb nail, hoping that Scarlet and Matt would emerge through those winged gates hand-in-hand. But hours had passed since Scarlet's departure.
"It's okay," Riven whispered, gently rubbing her shoulders, "I'm sure they'll figure this out."
"I hope so," Tecna second, "If they do break up, the whole dynamic of the team will weaken. We can't afford disunity before facing Cian. Scarlet knows that."
"The heart of a creature is usually blinded by love," Helia pointed out, "Even if she knows it logically, her heart will not listen. She'll need some time to heal."
"She'll be alright." Everyone looked over at Jeremy, who'd been silent since Scarlet's departure. "This time she's not alone. Her friends are here." Some of the girls smiled when he said that. Musa kept her eyes glued to the gate. She tried so hard to envision Scarlet and Matt. They had to survive this.
Luna, who was playing with the pixies near the gate, suddenly levitated by the entrance. She could sense her fairy approaching, but something seemed a little off. As she closed her eyes, she tried feeling what her fairy felt. Darkness? Despair? Sadness? No, not quite. This was something Luna never sensed before. Not through Scarlet, anyway.
"What's wrong?" Amore asked, "You don't look very well." Luna shook her head.
"It's Scarlet. She feels…lonely, and lost. But it wasn't like before…" She lifted her head and saw a figure appear through the forest. Her wings perked up as the red dress caught the final light of day.
"Scarlet!
[*******]
I didn't bother to lift my head when Luna called out my name. I couldn't bear facing her and everyone to tell them about Matt and me. I still didn't believe it. Luna flew towards me, one hand on her chest and other over my heart.
"What's going on, Scar?" She whispered, "I'm feeling something strange from you." I tried to laugh, but it turned into a hiccup of a cry. I covered my mouth as more tears began to gather. Luna winced.
"I'm sorry," I said, wiping the tears away, "I think you're just feeling my broken heart."
"Broken heart?" Luna and Amore said in unison. My pixi looked over at the pixi of love with a large sense of confusion.
"There's no way Scarlet would have a broken heart," Luna assured, "He made it perfectly clear that he's—" Amore smacked her hand in front of Luna's mouth.
"I'm so sorry, Scarlet," She said. I took a few deep breaths and added, "Me too."
"Wait, seriously?" Luna asked, "He actually…?"
"Why don't we all meet up with the others," I suggested, "I think we're gonna need to make a few changes to the invasion plan." Luna quietly sat on my shoulder, gently stroking the back of my neck. It gave me a small sense comfort.
Musa was the first to run towards me when I saw the Winx. She wrapped her arms around my neck, almost knocking Luna off in the process. Her eyes quickly scanned my surrounding area before they filled with sorrow.
"How'd it go?" She finally asked. The others began to gather when I shook my head.
"He truly believes that I'm a monster because I'm a vampire," I said, my voice as steady as the wind, "And I don't think he'll want to work with us anymore."
"Ugh! That jerk! Bastard! Asshole!" Stella shouted, raising her fists in the air and continuing to call him names. Brandon tried to calm her down, but she refused to. "No, this guy is thinking with his ego and not with his head." She turned to me. "Did you explain how long it took you to accept everything thrown at you? The Balance? Blanche? Her powers and yours?!"
"I did," I quietly answered, "And he still…doesn't want me."
"Why can't he accept your answer?" Layla asked, arms locked in front of her chest and neatly folded, "There's gotta be some reason that's holding him back." I saw her glance fly to Riven. He awkwardly looked to the side, not wanting to say anything. Musa's brows creased a little as she tugged on his arm.
"Riven, tell us what happened to him." Riven let out a reluctant sigh.
"Matt's from a realm called Moxar. Centuries ago, it was once a Vampire realm where humans were harvested as their food source. It wasn't until the human uprising when Humans finally took over. Since then, they'd been studying all types of Vampire threats that could be a menace to the Realm."
"I remember learning about that from dad," I said, "He told me that those vampires were once human and that their forever thirst for blood drove them mad." Riven nodded.
"At first, it was just a wild vampire hunt. None of those creatures could organize an invasion they were so fucked up. Then, one day, they stopped coming."
"What happened?" Flora asked, leaning closer to Helia and reaching for his hand.
"Some pure vampire stumbled into Moxar and decided to take it back for himself. He managed to domesticate the wild vampires into a classified army and began a war against the Humans."
"How long did the war last?" Tecna inquired.
"For centuries," Riven answered, "And since pure vampires age a lot slower than turned ones, that same vampire led those monsters to murder many." Riven closed his eyes and groaned for a second. Musa gently rubbed his back.
"How was Matt's family involved?" Bloom asked.
"His father became the leader of the resistance group against the vampires. He believed that maybe vampires and humans could live together peacefully if vampires could control their thirst. But he was very realistic. He knew the odds of those monsters ever changing." He quickly tossed his head from side-to-side before looking at me and adding, "No offense." I shrugged. I just wanted him to keep going. "When he had to kill them, he was very thorough and clear on how to take them out. Nothing painful and nothing messy. He was a good man…" He slowly inhaled through his nose before adding, "He was like a father to me."
"Did this happen after your…?" Musa asked, leaving out those two words that Riven didn't want to hear. He nodded.
"My uncle, Matt's dad, thought that it would be a good idea for me to train with him and Matt to give me something to focus my anger on. He taught me and Matt about killing monsters and how maybe there'll come a time when we wouldn't need to fight them anymore. Then one day, while he was on a hunt, something happened."
"Did the hunt go wrong?" I asked.
"I didn't know what went on out there, but when he returned, there was something different about him. He never ate, and he never slept. He kept on telling us that he was planning on a final attack to be rid of these monsters once and for all. Matt and I—especially Matt—believed in his plan and helped him out in any way we could." He closed his eyes for a moment as if reliving the memory. Musa whispered encouraging words, preventing him from falling too deep into his anger. "Matt was so eager to prove to his father how strong he'd become. He was ready to protect his family, particularly his mother."
"Was she aware of your Uncle's change in behavior?" Bloom asked, resting her elbow on her folded arm, carefully analyzing the story.
"I think she was, but Matt and I weren't aware of it at the time. Since his return from that hunt, she'd grown weak and pale. It was as if she was forever ill." He quickly licked his lips and grabbed Musa's hand. "Finally, all was revealed. Matt's dad had turned into a Vampire after that hunt and was helping those monsters. He was using my Aunt as a food source until he finished the job on the day they invaded. Matt was there to see it happen."
After hearing all Riven had said, I lowered my head and shook it. "No wonder he wants honesty. He didn't get it from the people he loved and trusted the most. And then there're those Vampires…" I looked up at Riven. "Thank you for sharing that with us. I think I now understand him much better."
"Just…don't be too mad at him. He'd got good reasons."
"I agree," I second, "I wish I'd known sooner. I wouldn't have encouraged such a relationship if I'd known about it…"
"It's not something he ever likes mentioned." He rubbed his forehead as if remembering the last time the topic came up. I raised my hand to my shoulder and reached for Luna's hand. She wrapped her small fingers around mine.
"Somehow, I feel a little better about our break-up. It answers many questions." I sighed loudly and faced Tecna. "I don't think this lose will affect our plan. We've still got fourteen people to fight, right? If Matt wants out, he should have that option." I looked up at Jeremy.
"Will you be alright taking up the extra work, should he leave?" Jeremy twisted the side of his lip into a smile.
"Of course," he answered.
"Good." I nodded to myself and repeated that one word a few times before adding, "I think I'm gonna go find my parents." I looked at the Specialists. "I'll, uh, see you guys tomorrow." I raised my hand slightly to say bye and headed towards Faragonda's office.
When I'd knocked on the door, no one answered. With Luna, we searched around the school. I was thinking of places mom and dad would want to see. The training arena for mom and the library for dad, I thought. But when I checked both rooms, they were empty. I thought once again about their whereabouts and suddenly had a different idea. I quickly ran to my room.
The main door was open.
"Of course they'd wanna see where I lived," I whispered to Luna, "They're parents, after all." I quietly entered and headed to my shared room. When I appeared, mom and dad smiled proudly at me.
"You've done so well for yourself," Mom said, "Given the circumstances."
"You broadened your learning," Dad pointed out, picking up one of my Black Magic books from Griffin.
"I had to," I admitted, "That's what I was trained to do."
"I couldn't be prouder," Dad reiterated.
"Scarlet," Mom began, placing her hands on my shoulders, "Your father and I were wondering if we could spend the day with you tomorrow. I know you're busy with school work and such, but we feel we've got a lot of things to discuss."
"Of course," I replied, "We should consider Aquila's future, if we succeed in rescuing it…" My mind quickly shot to Matt's story. I suddenly felt like I was no different than those vampires taking back their Realm.
"Yes," Mom said, rolling her head from side to side, "we should talk about that. But your Dad and I were thinking more of spending time with our daughter." I felt my cheeks briefly fluster.
"Oh! I'm sorry. Duh, we haven't seen each other since the banquet. There's so much I wanna tell you."
"And we can't wait to hear them all," Dad said, "Faragonda has been kind enough to offer housing for your mom and me. I hope you don't mind us crashing your school."
"Not at all. As long as you're not staying here." I gestured towards my room.
"There wouldn't be room for them, even if you wanted it," Faragonda mentioned, "But we have some spare faculty rooms. You'll have enough space to do your work with the other Winx."
"I can't wait to hear about that," mom said. She raised her head high. "My daughter is part of the Company of Light. How spectacular!"
"I didn't think I'd get that far myself," I admitted, "But I'll get into the details tomorrow. For now, I think I could use some Winx time." Mom and dad gave me a quick hug before leaving my room. I overhead Faragonda talking to someone as she and my parents left. I figured it was the Winx.
With such a bond, they must've known how I felt.
Bloom was the first to poke her head in. "How're you feeling?" she asked.
"Like I need to wallow," I answered honestly. One by one the girls entered the room.
"Wallow?" Tecna repeated, "I've never heard of such a word."
"I've heard of it back on Earth," Bloom replied, "It's the time to mourn the end of your relationship with someone." She looked at me as if wondering if that's what I meant. I gave her a confirming nod.
"Then I suggest we do this the good old-fashioned Winx way," Stella said, pulling out her cell phone and dialing a number as she spoke. "Yes, I'd like to place an order for delivery… To Alfea College…"
"Make sure to get ice cream, Stel," Bloom mentioned, "It's a key factor to wallowing." Stella nodded and shooed Bloom away.
"Can we start with one large pizza—half veggies, half meat, all extra cheese," Stella ordered. Tecna shook her head.
"We can't eat all that. It's just impossible."
"So we'll have leftover pizza in the morning," Musa suggested, "It's pretty good."
"Hey, why don't we watch a movie while we wait for the food?" Layla suggested, "We can watch some fighting action movie to take your mind off things—"
"—Or we can watch sappy romance movies to get you back in the game!" Stella clicked off her phone. "Even though Matt's gone, there's still someone else you can snag." I didn't understand what Stella was referring to. She rolled her eyes. "If I recall, you had a boyfriend back at Inter-Realms?"
"You mean Jeremy?" I asked.
"Yes, yes I do." Her eyes sparkled for a moment when she said, "I do". Then she shook her head and added, "Sometimes, the quickest cure is to get back on the horse."
"I don't entirely agree," Flora replied while taking a seat next to me. She took my hand into hers. "If you want to just fool around and have fun with guys, that's one thing. But if you're looking for another boyfriend to have a relationship with, you should wait until you're over Matt." Her hazel eyes looked back at everyone. "I know I wouldn't be over Helia that quickly if we were to end. And you and Matt were getting very close."
"I think I'm with Flora on that," Layla seconded, "Although Nabu and I aren't going anywhere, I would probably just drop guys all together for a while. Sometimes focusing on other things helps."
"Except when those other things are worse," Bloom pointed out. She put on a perfect smile. "Either way, you've got us. And we're gonna help you through this." She placed her hand in the center. One by one, the girls placed their hand on top of hers.
I looked over at each of my friends. They have been nothing but wonderful people. I felt honored and lucky to have them as my best friends. I never thought I'd have such faith and trust in them. Or anyone since Inter-Realms. After only a few months, we'd been through a lot together, and there was still more to go. I placed my hand in the center with everyone else.
"Silly boy problems," I said, a slight laugh passing through my lips, "This shouldn't be as hard as facing Cian, right? Not if you guys are around."
"No matter what kind of problems," Musa reiterated, "and if there're no problems, we'll be around."
"That's right!" Layla replied, "You can't get rid of us now." She drew back her hand and wrapped her arm around Musa and Tecna. We all followed her and formed a big hug circle. With our heads pressed together, I felt the ties of our bond grow tighter, more secure. I'd been through so much on my own. Getting over a broken heart with the Winx won't be that bad.
[******* ]
No matter how hard he tried, Matt couldn't finish his book. Too much was on his mind. When he joined Riven's team in the first place, he didn't expect any of this to happen. After all, this was the first year he was to face the enemy head on. He remembered when the Trix attacked his first year. His team was stationed at Red Fountain to try and keep it from falling. Of course when that failed, he and all of Red Fountain stationed themselves at Alfea. He remembered when the Winx had defeated those three witches. He thought it was all over. Then Darkar happened. As usual, he was stationed to just protect the school, and to keep an eye out for the Trix. Of course, he never spotted them, but they still managed to take the Codex away. Then he remained at school hoping that Riven's team made it back alright. Then Valtor happened when for the third year in a row he was left at school to protect it like everyone else.
Matt wanted to switch groups after that. He thought that Riven's team was getting special attention because of their relationship with the Winx Club. He didn't want to falsely win a fairy's heart just to make it on the best team. But when he asked Saladin to switch for Riven's sake, Saladin didn't hesitate. This was supposed to be the year when he could act on the offensive team. But now, he wasn't sure if he wants to anymore. The whole Scarlet thing was a total accident. Hell, he didn't even want to pursue anything with her.
But there wasn't a fairy like her. She was strong and a skilled fighter. Every time they practiced together he learned something new. Her love of swords and combat moves made her even more appealing to him. He rubbed his eyes, pressing them hard to block out her smiling face. When that didn't work, he smacked his head into the tree. Still didn't work. Eventually, Matt hopped down from the tree branch and began to walk around the campus. If he stayed with the team, he'd see Scarlet, and she's the last person he wanted to see. He remembered those words she said at the Lake yesterday. They struck him hard. He wanted to believe her. But she's a vampire. In the end, they're just going to kill everyone.
"Hey, Matt!" Matt turned his head to the side. Sky and Brandon had their swords drawn in their hand. The tips of the blades were pointed to the ground. Sky signaled for Matt to join. "Come practice with us," he said, "It won't be long before we face the big bad Cian himself." Matt shook his head.
"I'm good." He paused for a minutes before adding, "Actually, I was thinking of taking myself off the mission."
"What?" Brandon asked, completely surprised, "Why? Because of Scarlet?" Matt felt his blood boil at the sound of her name.
"This is her fight. She should be the one to take him down. It's got nothing to do with me." Matt could see frustration build in Brandon's chest.
"C'mon, Matt, we need you. We expanded, remember? There's a reason for that."
"We need you on this mission," Sky assured, "Forget about the girls. We work well together." He briefly held his chin in his hand as he added, "Plus, Riven's never behaved so well."
"You've gotta give Musa some of that credit," Brandon replied, gently punching Sky in the arm, "That girl always was careful around Riven. Being firm and honest, yet showing her affection towards him. What else could a guy ask for?" Matt quietly chuckled to himself. All he wanted was honesty. Apparently that was too much to ask for. Sky noticed Matt's silence and cleared his throat.
"Please don't leave. At least talk to the others first. We need six specialists to complete the mission."
"That guy's here from Inter-Realms," Matt said, his voice bitter in mentioning him at all.
"He's not a Red Fountain student," Sky replied, "No matter how good he is or how well he knows the enemy, he doesn't know how we do things. We're the top team for a reason."
"What about Nabu? He's not a Red Fountain student."
"Yeah, but he's a wizard," Brandon replied, "And we could use the magical boost."
"Aren't you learning spells from him?" Matt reluctantly nodded. It was only to even the battlefield with Scarlet when they fought. Now he wasn't sure why he should keep learning anymore. "We're definitely gonna need your help, then." Matt nodded, then he shrugged his shoulders and silently walked away. He heard Sky and Brandon speak to one another—probably about him—but he didn't try to focus on their conversation. He needed some time to think.
[*******]
I can't remember the last time I felt this bad in the morning. All we did was eat, drink, and talk. Man, did we talk. No matter what movie was playing, we were sharing every thought that crossed our mind. Stella kept on insisting that I focus on Jeremy. Apparently it's bad luck for the bride if one of her best friends doesn't bring a date. I told her that if I could get over Matt that quickly, I would. But I agreed with Flora. I needed to be over Matt before getting that close to someone again.
When I met mom and dad at the school entrance, mom felt my forehead.
"Clearly you went overboard last night," she said with overdramatic disappointment, "How can we take you out to lunch when you're full of greasy food and sugar?" She sniffed the air briefly before adding, "Is that alcohol I faintly smell?!" I opened my mouth to ask her how she knew, but then I zipped it shut. Mom was always good at reading people. Dad too. That's probably one of the many reasons they're still together. They keep outsmarting one another.
"We didn't go crazy on that," I assured, "It was Stella's idea. Just a buzz to get me feeling good again."
"And?" She asked, raising a perfect brow with curiosity.
"I'm not hungover, if that's what you're asking." She nodded in relief.
Dad cracked his knuckles and began to stretch. "Seems to me like I'm gonna have to kill this guy. Alright, who did it? Which idiot of a specialist broke your heart?" I couldn't help but smile, even though the topic was raw.
"He's not the idiot dad. I am." He rolled his eyes and we boarded the bus to Downtown.
"I can't believe that. You're too smart and clever to be an idiot. Plus, you're very strong, and probably can kick his sorry ass in a fight." Mom shot him a glare.
"She's still in school, Damian," she warned, "Use a different word."
"Mom," I groaned, "I'm gonna be facing an evil Vampire-lord whose sole purpose is to have my powers in a few weeks, maybe a few days. That depends on training. But I think I can handle a few swear words from dad."
"Until you become a full-fledge warrior fairy, you must abide by our rules."
"You just missed being my mom, haven't you?" She wrapped her arm around me and kissed the top of my head.
"Always."
[*******]
Matt swiftly left the classroom the minute it ended. After not paying attention for two hours, he thought that it would be best to switch teams. Nabu had no problems teaching him spells. It shouldn't be that hard to teach the new guy.
He figured that his wizard friend would be in the library studying spells and began his search there. To his surprise, he wasn't. Maybe he's in the tech lab with Timmy, he wondered as he headed in a different direction. Still no luck. Matt approached a row of buttons and pressed a few. Timmy usually tapped into Red Fountain's surveillance from here. Maybe he could find Nabu this way. But after hitting some buttons that he didn't recognize, he gave up.
Something crackled outside. Matt leaned over the beeping machines and looked through the window. It faced the center quad where three familiar figures stood. There was a faint blue line that appeared for a moment before the crackling reached Matt's ear again. One of the specialists raised their arms in the air for joy while the other clapped. The caster of the blue light bowed dramatically. Quickly, Matt left the Tech room and headed down to the quad.
"I thought that was you," He said when he got closer to the three. Nabu stretched his fingers before performing the spell a third time.
"Well who else at Red Fountain has the skills I do?" he asked with a smile. Matt shrugged and kept his eyes glued to blue light that flickered. Helia closely examined the spell before shaking his head.
"That won't do. Stormy has lightning abilities. She'd be able to control any electricity we through at her."
"Damn it." He threw his head back and took a loud breath. "This is a lot harder than I thought."
"What're you doing?" Matt asked. He couldn't help but wonder.
"We're thinking of some spells we could use to help fight against the Trix and Cian," Timmy answered, "Maybe if we use an element no one on either side has, maybe we'll have an advantage."
"That won't do," Matt replied, not thinking about what he was saying. "To learn new spells on top of the training we're already doing will fry us."
"You have a point," Helia second, "But then what can we do?" Matt shrugged his shoulders again.
"I dunno. Think about what we're learning here. Already that's something the fairies and witches don't have." Timmy gasped with an idea.
"That's it!" He shouted. Swiftly, his fingers flew across the keyboard. "We should upgrade ourselves to have our own Enchantix."
"Uh, come again?" Nabu asked.
"Matt's right. Just by going with the Winx Club, we're giving them the upper hand with our weapon and hand-to-hand combat skills. Instead of learning something new all together, we should think of ways to improve what we have." He finished writing and turned to Helia. "For example, you're laser string gloves could have and additional electric charge when wrapped around someone. And Matt, we can give your arrows elemental powers to add additional damage to anyone you hit."
"Timmy, that's brilliant!" Helia said while brushing his long hair behind him, "We'd be helping the girls immensely with such an ability."
"You think?" Timmy chuckled to himself, "I hope Tecna will be pleased."
"I think they'll all be happy with this," Nabu second, "Of course, I'll need some help transforming your weapons." He looked over at Matt and tilted his head. "You're the only one with Wizard training."
"Actually," Matt began, taking his eyes away from Nabu and them, "I was thinking of removing myself from the mission."
"What?!" Timmy and Nabu shouted. Helia didn't say anything, and it bothered Matt.
"I thought about it, and I think it would be better for everybody if I removed myself from the picture. You'll have a better chance of defeating Cian that way."
"No, we'll have a better chance if you stay," Nabu stated. Anger slowly rising in his voice. "Is this about Scarlet?" Matt opened his mouth to deny it, but Helia's voice beat his to the answer.
"Of course it's about her," he said with a sigh. "My guess is that she wasn't completely honest with you, and therefore, you're through with her and want nothing to do with her." His dark eyes caught Matt's, oddly enough freezing him in his place.
"You're seriously leaving because of Scarlet being afraid of herself?" Nabu asked in disgust. Matt's own anger began to bubble.
"She should've told me the minute she heard."
"So that what?" Nabu shouted, "So that you could've left her then?" Helia rose to his feet and rested a hand on Nabu's shoulder.
"Whether it's wrong or not," he said, "I would insist you stay at least until this fight is over. You were here when it began…"
"And the new guy can be here to finish it." Matt looked over at Nabu, "I'm pretty sure you can train him as easily as you've trained me."
"It takes more than just a body to use spells," Nabu muttered, but Matt didn't want to hear it. He just wanted out.
"Anyway, that's why I'm here. To tell you that I'm leaving the team." He slipped his hands into his pockets and lowered his head. Helia's glare burned into his skin like a scar and Nabu growled at the ground.
"For what it's worth," Timmy said weakly, not wanting to add to the tension already building around him, "We have a better chance of succeeding if you stay. Seriously, our offenses drop if you leave." He turned his computer screen to show Matt the charts.
"Let him go, Timmy," Helia replied. His voice was deep and serious. "It might be better if he wasn't on the team after all." Timmy wanted to protest, but he knew not to disagree with Helia when he was angry, and boy could he feel his anger. They were like thorns, reaching and spreading out to stab Matt. "After all, we need unity to succeed. If Matt's anger towards Scarlet is in the way, we'd lose."
"Of course, Scarlet's feelings don't matter," Nabu said passively, "Because, you know, she's heartbroken and now has to fight with that burden." He folded his arms over his chest. "Seriously."
"I don't need this kind of shit from you guys," Matt spat. He turned around and began to leave.
"That's right, run from your problems," Nabu shouted, "It's not like your friends need help, or anything." Matt stopped for a moment to take in that word. Friends. He shook his head and continued onward.
[*******]
"How fascinating," Mom said when I finished telling her and dad my academic schedule of the past year, "A year ago, we never thought you'd have such a power." She giggled awkwardly. "I guess we were wrong."
The afternoon breeze brushed by us as we sat quietly at the café table. I knew it was the wind spirits trying to tell me something. Without their whispers, I knew what it was.
"There's something I've been wanting to ask you two," I admitted, "It's about the legend of the Balance." Mom and Dad exchanged worried looks before straightening their backs and welcoming my questions with warm smiles.
"Ask away," Dad said.
"For starters, why didn't you guys tell me I was a full blooded vampire?" Mom immediately looked at dad with a sense of relief. Clearly it was his decision and thus had to be the parent to answer.
"Because you weren't. Not anymore, anyway." I waited for him to tell me more, but I feared that that was all I was gonna get from him.
"Is it because of Blanche?" I asked, setting them up to be completely honest with me. Their eyes grew wide in shock, as if that name had triggered a tearing of an old wound.
"How do you know that name?" Dad asked, obviously choosing his words carefully.
"Because she's a part of me. That's why I have her magic, after all." I placed my hand over my heart and felt the light magic tickle beneath my skin. It made me feel as if she was here with me. Daughters and parents reconnecting after months of disaster.
It seemed to me that neither mom nor dad wanted to say anything about her, so I took the initiative to state what I knew. How Cian killed her when we were little and playing hide-and-seek. How she and I were the set-up of the legendary Balance where Blanche had to die and I to survive. How mom and dad blocked my memory for my protection and well-being. How and why Princess Kayla became my closest friend.
"I think the hardest thing for me to accept was that my wind powers weren't originally mine," I admitted to them, "If there was anything I was sure about, it was my powers were mine. When Blanche told me otherwise, I couldn't think straight."
"The curse of being the Balance," Dad said quietly, "You experienced the biggest lose a person can feel—losing your other half. As a result, you're blessed with their magic to be whole again." He sighed and rubbed his temples. Mom wrapped her arm around his shoulders and I reached for his hand.
"Funnily enough, all of this let me learn more about myself, and what I might've been like if Blanche was still alive." I closed my eyes and remembered that book Griffin showed me about light and dark magic. Magic that belonged to the sun and the moon, and that what makes it good or bad isn't what type it was, but how it was used. "Did either of you know that I have the power of the night?"
"No," Dad admitted, "I didn't think you had a specific power." His grip on my hand tightened. "Forgive me, I thought your dark powers were just vampire magic." I allowed myself to laugh lightly.
"Me too. I didn't think anyone could hate themselves that much." I glanced down at my wrist, noticing Matt's bracelet. It pained my heart to remember those kind words he gave me. Even Musa and Layla suggested last night to take it off. But I couldn't. He called me perfect. That made me feel so special. And even though I'm not perfect to him, at least I am to my friends.
And in the long run, I think that's more important.
"But with every passing day, I grow to like myself more and more. And when I think about how I might've not been a fairy before Blanche's death, there might've been a possibility that I could've been trained for good. Like maybe as a witch. And together, Blanche and I could've been the Balance."
"If only that could've been the case," dad reiterated, "At least we'd still have our family together."
"We do have our family together," I assured, "Blanche and I are just one person now." A sudden giggle escaped through my lips. "Of course, if you meet Luna, she'd remind you so much of Blanche."
"Luna?" Mom asked.
"Yeah. My pixi."
"You got yourself a pixi?"
"I am a fairy after all. She's the pixi of legends. Very appropriate considering that I'm a walking myth."
"How'd you find her?" Mom asked.
"She actually found me," I answered, "and it happened way at the beginning of the year…"
[*******]
"There you are." Matt's mind slowly woke up and his eyes fluttered opened to a quite upset Riven. He had his arms crossed over his chest, a stance Matt felt like he'd been seeing too much of.
"What's up?" he asked, rubbing his eyes harshly to help him wake up.
"What's this shit I'm hearing about you quitting?"
"That 'shit' you're hearing is the truth. I'm done with this mission. I'm gonna tell Saladin in a bit."
"Like hell you were!" Riven grabbed Matt by the collar and brought him to his feet.
"Hey!" he shouted, "What your problem?"
"My problem?" Riven repeated, his eyes growing wide for a moment. "I'm not the one bailing out on everyone because of some girl."
"She's not just some girl," Matt corrected.
"You're right. She's your ex."
"She's a monster." Riven didn't respond. "You were right the whole time, and I didn't listen. I was blinded by her skills and charm. I got distracted from why I even joined your team in the first place." He lowered his head. "I'm sorry, Riven."
"It wasn't long ago that I would've been relieved to hear you say that; to finally realize the situation at hand and to cut her off before anything else happened." He faced west. The sun began to fall towards the horizon. It hadn't hit the line yet, but the warmth glow was diming, ever so slightly. "But now…"
"Don't tell me you're on her side," Matt hissed.
"I'm not. It's just…" He sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. "She didn't understand why you suddenly dislike her so much. I explained to her why. I told her everything." Matt's jaw tightened.
"That wasn't for you to tell her," he said through his teeth.
"How else will she move on if she doesn't know why you broke up with her? Now she—and you—can focus on the battle at hand." Matt breathed heavily.
"I'm not staying with the mission."
"Yes you are," Riven corrected.
"What makes you so sure that I'll stay?"
"Because if we defeat Cian, we'd be defeating the closest thing to a Vampire Lord that we can get. You'd be killing one of the rulers of those blood-sucking demons that turned your father, killed your mother, and destroyed your realm." He didn't respond, which was a relief to Riven. "I know he wasn't the vampire, but stopping one is better than letting it go, right? Imagine all of the other realms you'd be saving." Matt continued to be silent. He never thought of it that way. He just wanted a piece of the bigger fight and to be a better fighter. Then it was to help Scarelt redeem what she lost.
"Sometimes we're too similar," Riven admitted after a few minutes passed. "Why can't we just learn from one another rather than repeating the same mistakes over and over again?"
"Because we're fucked up," Matt finally said. Furiously, he ran his fingers through his hair. He felt torn and confused. He did not want to deal with Scarlet, but Riven had a really good point. This opportunity to destroy a pure, monstrous vampire was one he wouldn't get again.
"What did she say," he mumbled, "when you told her."
"Scarlet?" Riven asked. Matt nodded. "She said that she understood, and wished she'd known sooner." He chuckled. "She also mentioned that she wouldn't have dated you if she knew about your hatred for vampires." Matt didn't expect that. He thought Scarlet would've tried to talk to him about it; to try and move past the past and to focus on the now. Instead she just accepted it.
That was very like her.
"Alright," Matt said in defeat, "I won't leave the mission." Riven awkwardly outstretched his arms and hugged his cousin. It didn't take him long to let go. "I'm gonna train. Clear my head, and all that."
"I'll talk to the guys." Matt smiled.
"Thanks."
[*******]
"Maybe we should've sent you to Alfea for your training," Mom wondered aloud, "It seems that you've learned a lot more these past few months than you ever did at Inter-Realms."
"Mom, I wouldn't trade my Inter-Realms experience for anything. I made fantastic friends, met a sweet guy, had wicked smart professors; what more could I've asked for?" Mom gave me yet another hug, sighing in relief to have her daughter again.
"I'm just glad you're safe," She reiterated.
"As am I," Dad replied, "But I have to agree with Luna." He cracked his fingers and began to stretch his arms again. "Time to give this Matt guy a piece of my mind. Who does he think he is?! Throwing my daughter aside because of her destiny! I'll show him destiny. I'll show him his fate. It's right—" Mom tugged at his ear, which instantly shut his mouth.
"Boy problems are none of our business, dear," she said calmly, "Besides, Scarlet's a grown woman now. She can handle this break up." I inhaled sharply through my nose. The pain in my chest hadn't fully healed, but it was slightly better than yesterday. Only slightly. "There're plenty of eligible warriors out there for you to date. I'm sure if you really wanted to, you can pick one up at Red Fountain. That place is flowing with strong Specialists." Mom gave me a wink and I smiled back at her.
"I'm not looking for anyone. At least right now. I think I've got too many important things to think about." We were all silent as we continued onwards, walking around every possible street we could find. Eventually, I had to ask, "What's gonna happen to Aquila?" Neither of them answered right away. It was the question none of us wanted to think about. But we needed to, especially if we survived.
"I don't know," Dad finally said. There was a hint of sadness stirring with his voice. "Princess Kayla left Aquila to you." I frantically shook my head.
"Oh no you don't. You're not doing that to me." A weak sly smile appeared on dad's face. "She may have left it to me, but you and I know for a FACT that Aquila cannot be run by just one person." He nodded in agreement. "There's the royal family, to symbolize and represent all that Aquila wishes to be. Then there's the advisor, who's always aware of what's going on in the universe in order to provide objective points of view to any situation facing Aquila. And then there's the Master Warrior, leader of Aquila's armed forces against any enemies that would attack." We wandered into the park and took a seat nearby a large fountain. I remembered being here with the Winx earlier that year, helping Helia with his picture of Flora. I sighed at the memory.
"And we were training you for two of those positions," mom remembered, "Maybe you can easily do three." Dad shook his head.
"That's not what Aquila's about. It's about finding unity and balance in order for all of us to live peacefully together." He hummed in thought for a minute before adding, "It wouldn't be wise to suddenly burden one person with the three components."
"I'm willing to do two of them," I said with confidence, "I've been prepared for that my whole life."
"Your father and I can train whomever for whichever position," Mom suggested, "But how are we going to find someone to pick up the slack?" Mom asked,
"That's something we can't answer now," Dad answered with a careless smile, "We don't know who'll make it and who won't." I shivered at the thought. Mom smacked the back of her hand against Dad's chest. She gave him a stern look before softening it for me.
"Maybe you'll meet another Specialist who'll want to take the Master position." I pinched my lips tightly together. I really doubted that I'd find someone that quickly. Plus, Matt was the only guy who I really trained with. He'd be my first pick if I needed to.
"That would be nice," I decided to say.
[*******]
Matt was gushing sweat when he decided to take a break. His arms ached and throbbed after doing one hundred pull-ups. He grabbed his bottle of water and broke the seal. After a few heaping gulps, he tossed the empty thing in the recycling bin. No one else was in the weight room, and Matt liked it that way. Nothing made his workout easier than silence. He pressed his hands against the wall and gently pushed. The aching muscles sighed as Matt performed a variety of exercises. He wondered if he would be able to do another work out round for the lower half of his body before the day was over. It was possible.
The door silently slid open. Matt quietly groaned to the new addition, but said nothing. Unless granted permission from a professor, no public room was restricted to any student. He continued on with his stretching until the person stood in front of him. When his eyes met the newcomer, he stood up straight and took a very large and deep breath.
"We need to talk," Jeremy said.
"About what?" Matt asked.
"About Scarlet." Matt shifted his weight to the balls of his feet and turned away from him.
"I've got nothing else to say." He headed towards a treadmill and began to adjust it to his personal settings.
"Then at least answer my question," Jeremy insisted, "I promise I won't take long." Matt pinched the bridge of his nose. He did not want to deal with this.
"Fine. What is it?" He asked.
"I'm going to ask Scarlet out. Will you be alright with that?" The air in Matt's lungs froze for a moment. Was he seriously asking now? Not long after Matt had decided to stay with the team.
"Why're you asking me?" he asked bitterly, "You were with her before." Jeremy shook his head.
"It's different now. Very different."
"Right," Matt said, his cousin's sarcasm slipping into his throat, "Clearly the chemistry between you two is completely different." Jeremy didn't say anything, but Matt noticed his muscles tensing. He raised a brow, curious about the button he'd just pressed. Jeremy closed his eyes for a moment.
"That doesn't concern you," he said calmly.
"You sure about that?" Matt asked. He didn't like Jeremy's presences. He wanted him gone. "I was there when she first arrived here!" A flash of Scarlet appeared in his mind. Her black hair short, matching the night sky, and her silver dress blowing in the breeze. The first time he ever saw her. He remembered their conversation about not wanting to go return to the party. The Winx were looking for her. Before she even accepted it, they'd welcomed her. And yet she didn't want their help.
"She didn't want anyone to get involved with her fight. It took her so long to accept those fairies' trust and our assistance. But she did. And when she finally did, we became a unit. A force team." Different memories flooded his mind all of a sudden. Scarlet's scowl when they met a second time. The look in her grey eyes when she was ready to attack. That proud grin she wore whenever she bested him in a fight. That giddy smile when she saw the new swords on display downtown. Matt smacked his head, trying to stop the flow.
She lied. She's a monster.
"Thank you," Jeremy replied, stepping closer to Matt as he continued, "for being there for her. She needed all the help and comfort she could get." He stopped walking. Matt's stench was strong from the constant workout. "But you let her go. And now she's hurt because the man she had feelings for left her at her strongest moment." Matt wanted to look away, but there was something in Jeremy's eyes that kept him in place. "She died, Matt. That's something a fairy goes through when they gain their Enchantix. Did you know that?" Finally he tore his eyes away. Of course he knew. But she's a vampire. She told him that she didn't have one.
"She's still alive, right?" Matt said plainly, "She has her Enchantix. She's got everything she needs. So…whatever. Good for her." Jeremy glared at Matt for another second before silently walking away.
"She doesn't have everything," he said when he reached the doorway, "But she will soon." He left Matt with those words, his footsteps echoing down the hallway.
How could that punk talk to him like that? Making Scarlet some saint when she's a lying vampire. Another memory popped behind his eyes. Her dead body, surrounded in a rich, scarlet color, with an icicle through her chest. That's how his Scarlet died. And she should've stayed that way. It would've been better for the both of them.
Matt walked up to a punching bag and pounded his fists into it. One after the other, punching away Scarlet's face.
[*******]
"Those swords you created were…amazing," Mom said when we got off the bus, "When I held your silver one, it was bursting with magic."
"That's and Inter-Realms lesson for ya: creating your own weapon."
"Seems like the Specialists here have a similar concept in choosing a main weapon," Dad pointed out, "Seriously, there might be one that'll fill in the Master spot perfectly." I rolled my eyes.
"In all honesty, dad, I'd rather find a new princess or prince than that." He nor mom looked surprised, "I was trained to be an advisor and the Master Warrior, not a symbol for the people." I heard my name ring across the courtyard with those six familiar voices. I looked over towards the location of the sound and waved at them. "Thanks for the hang out," I said, hugging my parents.
"Our pleasure," mom said.
"May we have more soon," dad added.
"Don't worry," I assured as I began to walk towards the Winx, "We'll certainly have time for more hang outs." I gave them a final wave before running towards my friends.
"How was the day with your parents?" Bloom asked.
"It was necessary," I answered with a smile, "There was so much that they didn't know, like Luna and Blanche and all of my education."
"It's not often that a student studies at all three schools," Flora pointed out, "And in addition, you've been a great teacher." She smiled proudly at herself. "I feel like I can master potions and dark spells pretty well now, thanks to you."
"Don't get me started on gratitude," I replied with a laugh, "What've you been up to?"
"Enchantix prep-training," Tecna responded, "It's true that we can't transform into our other fairy forms. We've tried."
"Have you seen your Enchantix, yet?" Stella asked. I shook my head. "Every fairy should see her own power once she gained it." She waved her arm from the skies to the ground, and a large golden mirror appeared in front of me. "Check it out for yourself." I nodded and transformed myself.
My transforming process felt different than my usual fairy form. It felt like I was back in the night sky; the full moon shining behind me. The wind and colored ribbons wrapped around my body once more, forming a different outfit than my usual skirt and tube-top. When I had finished, I smacked my hand over my mouth.
I was beautiful! A silver dress hung loosely on my torso. A light blue and pink ribbon wrapped around my body, twisting between my breasts, and swirling down my hip. The end of it was cut at an angle, and the blue and pink ribbons were tied in a small, perfect bow. At my feet, silver metal twirled around the top and wrapped around my ankle. Similar to my first fairy form, a dark blue ribbon wound tightly up my leg, stopping below the knee. I spun around and posed, stretching my arms in their silver, glittery gloves. It reached to just below my shoulder.
And those wings!
It looked like a huge bow; round, silver ovals made the loops, and sharp, dark blue, bat-like wings created the loose ends. It was truly the essence of what I was: half light and half dark magic.
"Wow," I breathed, taking a step closer into the mirror. My eyes were the color of my gloves, and I caught faint streaks of scarlet in my hair. I whispered that one word over and over again as I moved and twirled. The girls smiled at one another.
"I can't believe it," I finally said, my fingers reaching out to the image in the mirror, "I never thought I could have such a form."
"We could say, 'We told you so'," Layla mentioned as she walked behind me. She placed her hand on my shoulders and pressed her cheek against mine. "But your reaction is better than that! Our little Balance is a full-fledged fairy now."
"Well, almost," Tecna corrected, "We still have to take those classes, pass the exams, and defeat Cian on top of it all." Stella did her usual groan, but kept her thoughts to herself. By now, we all knew what she would say.
In the distance, I heard the sound of a motorcycle. I looked towards the entrance and saw a Specialist enter through Alfea's pink gates. My stomach churned as I looked away. It was probably for someone else. After all who was gonna come to visit me? I returned my focus to my reflection in the mirror. As beautiful as I looked, I saw the pain in my own eyes. It didn't help. I closed them and made my Enchantix vanish. When I opened them, I was back in my scarlet dress. But the sad look was still stirring.
In the mirror, I saw the motorcycle stop close to the gate. When the guy removed his helmet, I couldn't recognize him immediately. His hair had gotten longer since Inter-Realms, but I recognized him after he took a few steps towards me. I turned my body slightly to confirm it was him. When I met his eyes, his cheeks slightly flustered and he waved.
"Well look at that," Stella cooed as she made her mirror vanish, "Someone came to visit a certain single available Winx." Layla elbowed her in the arm and started to push everyone away. I turned back to them and hissed for them to not leave.
"We won't be far," Musa said with a wink, "You know us, we're super nosy." I smiled and thanked her. I didn't want them far, and I certainly didn't want to be left alone. That's the worst thing a person can do with a broken heart. At least, for me, anyway.
"Checking yourself out?" Jeremy said once I was within earshot.
"I hadn't seen what my Enchantix looked like," I replied, "I never thought I'd see one."
"I remember back at school how hard you'd train to make up for that. This was the year all warrior fairies were to unlock their Enchantix."
"Headmistress Isabella thought like Faragonda, I think. She believed that if I trained myself to the fullest, I'd have the strength and power of a full-fledged fairy, even if I couldn't fully transform as one."
"And yet here you are." He slightly raised his arms, as if preparing to give me hug. "A fully grown and trained warrior fairy, ready to face her toughest battle yet."
"It's no longer just my fight," I admitted, "It's all of ours now." Jeremy lowered his arms and quickly scratched the back of his head.
"I'm happy to fight this battle with you," he said, his rich brown eyes avoiding mine. Something seemed familiar about his behavior. "Two Inter-Realm students fighting to avenge the death of their colleagues, teachers, dearest friends…" He stopped there for a minute, as if collecting his thoughts before telling me what was on his mind. "I thought I'd lost everything. Imagine my reaction when I saw you again." I felt my heart beat quicken slightly. I remembered. I was there. However, I didn't let it show in my face, but I had a hunch as to where he was going with this.
"I know we're not the people we were when we were at Inter-Realms not long ago," he continued, "but my feelings for you…haven't changed." A ping of guilt struck me like a drop of water. It wasn't painful or bad, just a little bit awkward and uncomfortable. Such is life. "It makes sense that you moved on. I do not blame you for your previous relationship and I don't feel upset if you still have strong feelings towards him." He took another breath and steadily held my gaze. "But even still, I want you. I want you by my side. I want us to have the relationship that we couldn't have; the one that Cian murdered." He then lowered himself on one knee, bowing like a soldier to his superior. "I thought about you every day. You gave me the strength to escape and seek help; to train and to face Cian for what he'd done." He then looked up at me and placed on his charming smile. My heart flipped. "And nothing would make me happier than finishing him off…with you."
I didn't move. I didn't think. I didn't breathe. It felt like a chest of old emotions suddenly opened and spilled all over me. And for a moment, I thought my heart had healed. How easily I could've accepted Jeremy's offer and try to forget about Matt that way. But I knew that wouldn't be fair, especially to him.
"I missed you," I said quietly, "but I did fall in love with Matt during my time in Magix. Unlike us, he and I had time to build a relationship." I saw that my words were hurting him. That charming smirk slowly lessened into an understanding smile, his corner of his lips slightly moving into his cheeks. "When we had started dating, it was easier to move forward because I thought I'd lost you forever. And like you've said, we hadn't had a chance to start." It was my turn to think before speaking. What was it that I was trying to say? Even I didn't know. I closed my eyes for a second to collect my thoughts.
"I now know that Matt will never return to me, and he'll never accept me as anything ever again, no matter how much I care about him. However, that doesn't mean my feelings for you have disappeared. They've always been locked in a special place in my heart." He didn't show any reaction when I mentioned that. Instead he continued to listen, as if really trying to understand my position. "It's just that…my feelings for Matt are deep and…I wouldn't want to be with anyone if I'm still feeling that way about someone else." Jeremy rose to his feet. His eyes still glued onto me. "I'm sorry, Jeremy. I don't think I could pick up where we left off without feeling strongly towards Matt. It would be unfair to you completely."
"That's for me to decide," he said clearly. In one swift motion, he swept me into his arms. One hand cupped the back of my head and the other tightly wrapped around my waist. The familiar smell of his scent filled my nose like a faint memory. "I don't know why he'd give you up like that, and he's an asshole for making you feel this way. But I understand your feelings. Still, I want our relationship to start. I know it'll take time to get over him, and to move forward, but even so, I want us to happen. We deserve to experience our relationship."
Without thinking, I wrapped my arms around him. He'd certainly been training while I hadn't seen him. His muscles were a bit larger than I remembered. But he himself hadn't changed. When he was number one at Inter-Realms, and everyone wanted him, he'd play his part to please them. I can't recall him ever dating anyone at school until me. I asked him once why he suddenly wanted to date someone at our school. He said that he finally found someone he liked, and she was someone that everyone respected. I just couldn't believe that even now, after all this time, that statement still stood.
"It's not fair," I mumbled. He gently pulled away and kissed my forehead.
"I disagree." He whispered. The roughness of his voice was carried by the warmth of his breath. Carefully it brushed by me. "I'm more than willing to start anew, even if you still have strong feelings towards Matt." That name hurt, and I think Jeremy noticed. "You still have feelings for me. That's plenty for me to work with." He reached for my face and softly held it in his hands. His thumbs brushed over my cheeks a few times before he brought his head towards mine.
His lips were soft and as warm as I remembered them to be. Tenderly he held and kissed me. Suddenly, Alfea slipped away, and I felt like I was back at Inter-Realms. This felt like our very first kiss last year. It was spring, and the trees had just blossomed with pink and white flowers. The wind Spirits brought in a warm breeze to keep my shoulders warm as Jeremy insisted on showing me his favorite spot at Inter-Realms. His kiss then was the same as this one.
He truly hadn't changed at all.
When he removed his lips from mine, I felt a familiar buzz of joy. It's that fuzzy giddy kind you get after kissing the guy you've been craving. And while Jeremy wasn't what I was craving now, he brought back all of those feelings I had for him. And now, I wanted him.
"Would you really be okay with this?" I asked, "I seriously don't want to make this harder than it already is."
"I'm so okay with it that I'm going to ask you if you'd like to have dinner with me tonight." I accidentally let out a laugh.
"I'd like to, but I just got back from town. Mom and dad wanted some family time, so we spent the day together. I was hoping to look over some school work before training tomorrow." Something suddenly hit the back of my head. I turned around only to catch a glimpse of blonde hair trailing to hide behind one of Alfea's pillars. I rolled my eyes. Stella.
"That's cool," he said, "Then how about the day after tomorrow? That'll give you time to do your work and me mine. And then…" He wrapped his arms once again around my waist and looked at me with a hint desire. "…we can have a romantic evening together. We should have at least one date before fighting Cian."
"I think we can get more than just one date in before our battle against Cian." A corner on Jeremy's mouth lifted into a pleasing grin.
"Good." He kissed me one more time. This time reconnecting his tongue with mine before pulling away again. "Until Thursday." He began to walk backwards towards his bike. "You're making me a proud soldier, Scar!" I pinched my lips together, trying to hide a giggle as I waved good-bye. Jeremy boarded his bike and waved a final wave before driving through the gates.
As quickly as I could, I ran towards the Winx. Musa poked out her head when she heard my footsteps and placed a sly grin on her face.
"Well well well, if it isn't 'I won't take Jeremy as a boyfriend'." I punched her arm lightly.
"We're not a couple. At least, not yet anyway."
"Then what are you doing?" Stella asked, "It totally sounds like you're dating."
"Dating isn't quite the same as being a couple. Jeremy and I need to see if we're still good together."
"Believe me," Tecna replied with utter confidence, "Your compatibility with him is quite high. Perfect for our battle plans."
"I hope so," I said, my voice not sounding that confident, "I'm sure we'll be getting a lot of Riven-like behavior out of Matt." Musa smiled.
"Hey, we can't truly be the Winx Club without a grumpy Riven."
"Yeah, and you beat that grumpiness right out of him," Bloom added. Musa rolled her eyes and sighed.
"He was being an ass. Now, it's his cousin's turn."
"And I don't have the ability to control his anger anymore," I mentioned. The thought saddened me, but I let it go. "I guess we'll all just have to deal with it."
"I'm down with that," Layla said, "As long as we keep this team united, we can deal with anything."
"As long as you're happy with this decision," Flora said, her sweet smile gently blooming. Somehow, I sensed something in her voice that told me otherwise. Maybe she thought that I wasn't ready for this. Although I wanted to ask, I kept my mouth shut. I didn't want to hear it. Instead I took her hand and said,
"I am."
[*******]
Fury understands rage possibly better than anyone else in the Magical Dimension. But this type of fury was dangerous. She watched Cian hunt down some person and carefully ripped them to shreds. He licked his fingers as if the red blood was chocolate, and his grin revealed blood-stained, sharp teeth.
After returning without any Balance, Cian had been out hunting non-stop to control his anger. Fury knew that she and her sisters disappointed him, but she didn't regret it. They were close. They had Scarlet under their control before the others showed up.
Before the others had unlocked their Enchantix.
"He's still at it, isn't he," Darcy said. Her heels clicked against the marble floors as she approached her sister.
"It's been days since he's looked at us. He's very displeased."
"So we lost a couple of hostages and now those brats have their Enchantix. What else is new?" Fury felt her own frustration begin to rumble.
"Seven fairies who are fully powered isn't something to overlook."
"I'm not saying we should overlook anything," Darcy replied, raising her hands slightly to defend herself. "Look, Icy, Stormy, and I have already faced these girls through their fairy stages once. It was inevitable that their Enchantix would appear before we crush them." Darcy's voice and structure was surprisingly calm and relaxed. For a witch who screwed up big time, she seemed very composed.
"Are you implying, then, that it's inevitable that we'll lose?" Fury hissed, her frustration transforming into anger.
"I'm suggesting that you calm the fuck down and follow me." Fury glared at Darcy before taking that first step. Darcy turned around and led Fury to Aquila's archives where Icy and Stormy were staring at a few open books.
"I never pegged you two to be studious in any way," Fury admitted as she glanced over the selection.
"Don't be surprised," Icy insisted, "We were Cloud Tower's best witches, after all. We needed to learn how to cheat somehow." Stormy laughed out loud at the memory.
"What're you looking for?" Fury asked, wanting to get to Darcy's point. Icy placed a confident grin on her face.
"Now that we have our fourth sister, we can unlock the true power of the Trix."