Chapter xxv: Blast
I had never thought i would enter the queen's bedroom. Ever.
And yet here I am, standing in the exaggeratedly baroque piece. It reminds me why I am a fan of 'Less is more' because it's absolutely hideous.
"Pssssh!" Stella motions me (in her subtle, quiet way) to continue the search for the earrings that could exonerate me and prove the queen's guilt. Stell flips over blankets, boxes, closets roughly, but always places everything back in the previous state of organized chaos.
"She's in the palace, Stella, you have few minutes left." Layla suddenly yelps through the walls, scaring the hell out of Stella and me. As Stella starts shouting back angrily, I notice a small rhomb-shaped box in an open drawer. The exact moment I lift the deliciously soft velvet lid, a familiar low voice shrieks (very uncharacteristically): "Holy shit, what are you doing here?" I recognize his voice, so I don't pay attention to Stella's babbling as a response to Sky's question, and I wipe away the spongy tissue that is covering –at least I hope it is- the jewel.
I feel myself staring in awe, hearing but not really listening, seeing but only what's right in front of me.
"1 minute, Stell!" Layla's not too serene voice doesn't faze me. In the back of my mind, I register how Stella starts panicking and rambling to Sky, who cuts her off with a strangely raw voice. The only thing I want to do is touch the silver outlines. I stretch my fingers and gasp horrified as my skin grazes the cold metal. Cold. Oh so cold. And through Stella's yelling and poking, I only remember one single thing.
They're red. Scarlet.
Switch to Stella's POV:
"God Layla, you scared me shitless!" I reply harshly and probably louder than necessary. "Shouldn't Tecna monitor?" I would just love to wipe that smirk –she probably has it on her countenance- off her face.
"She is, my dearest." Tecna reacts, a bit too sweetly. "However, my multitasking skills are limited and I only have one brain." She states sarcastically. "You're on a mission for Magix's sake! Stop whining about my representative." She snaps. "This is dangerous, be careful." She adds, a bit calmed down.
"Fine, fine." I mutter, trailing off to another closet. God how many closets can a woman have? Okay, okay, I'm doing the pot-kettle thing.
"Holy shit, what are you doing here." I spin around, frightened out of my wits.
"Sky! Oh my, what a relief! Thank god it's you. Well not really," I start talking to myself, "but still, it could have been a guard or something, and that would mean trouble…" I continue to ramble, but I notice his look drifting off to Bloom, who is strangely fascinated by a deep red box. I call her name –she should at least say hi to Sky; they are like perfect for each other- and she doesn't reply. Sky doesn't shrug (which would have been the usual reaction from a guy being ignored), but he glares at her with such an anxious, intense look that it sends shivers down my spine. I yell her name again. And again.
"One minute!" –God, that woman is bugging me!- And…shit!
"We have to get out of…" I startle when he grasps my shoulders and roars with a voice thick of emotion.
"What did you do to her?"
"God, nothing!" I exclaim, insulted and piqued. I start shaking Bloom by the shoulders, but she doesn't react. "She grabbed the box, got fascinated and then went all catatonic on me!" I shriek loudly.
"30 seconds, Stell!" Layla reminds me.
"BUZZ OFF!" I yelp and look at Sky desperately.
"I know a way." He sighs. He'd better know a way literally. "Take her." He commands me in a weird tone. He points us a door, hidden in a blue mahogany closet. I try to make Bloom levitate with a movement of my hand, but something is resisting my magic. Could it be…?
"Ten seconds, Stella!"
"Come on Bloom, move!" I yell panicked. Sky dashes over to her and whispers something in her ear. Her eyes widen, astounded, and her concentration-wise trance seems broken for a few seconds, so I'm able to shove her in the hole.
"She's here!" Layla whispers.
Bloom
I can hear her. Though maybe I'm dreaming this. It definitely seems so surreal.
Nothing. Nothing, nothing makes sense anymore.
Maybe I dreamt that I ever laid a finger on those cursed things. Maybe I imagined the three words Sky whispered urgently in my ear. I don't know what upsets me the most: the fact that I hear the woman who killed me talking to the man I desperately want but should not want… or those few syllables Sky trusted me.
I don't understand.
How is it possible? It can't be. It can't be. Great, now my mind is stuck on repeat. Even while Stella's nudging me, I still think that it simply can't be.
Yet, why would he lie to me?
Stella
"Phew. That was close!" I whisper to Bloom, who's still playing mute. Maybe she thinks the queen can hear her. I think I just heard the queen call Sky 'the light of her life'. Hu. That woman has issues.
"Hey hon, you can stop playing Charlie Chaplin now." I try to quip, not very sure if the situation is humorous. Besides, I hope my voice can overstemmen the queen's, I don't think that voice would sound like music to Bloom's ears right now. She doesn't even twitch a muscle.
"What did he say to you?" Still no reaction. "Come on, tell me!" She keeps staring off into space, murmuring incomprehensible words. The only thing I'm able to understand is 'I' and 'you', but that's not really a great help.
"Bloom, you're scaring me, knock it off!" I shake her shoulders for the umpteenth time, but she remains in that paralyzed state. My heart skips a beat when a door opens on the other side.
"Sky, thank God!" I sigh, rubbing my forehead wearily. How was she able to resist my magic that heftily? I mean, I had to use all my strength to fight against it, and let's face it, I only got her to move because Sky jumped in. "Bloom." I try out in vain and raise my eyes at Sky. "She doesn't want to come out." I mutter, after I climbed out.
"Try again." He nudges me. I reach my hand through the door and poke her, but she doesn't respond. Major déjà-vu.
"You try." I say with a nod of my chin.
"No, no." he whispers nervously. "Try one more time. Please Stella?" He looks at me with his pleading deep eyes and … I cave. Fine.
"Fine. One. More. Try." I spell out slowly and repeat my previous actions. I nudge her harder, shake her shoulders five times, yell until my throat is sore. "You have to do it. I cannot lift her."
"What about your magic?" he asks, exasperated.
"I'm drained out Sky!" I complain crabbily. "Please just pick her up. You don't have to deal with her, okay? I'll take care of her." I try to convince him, but a low growl escapes from his throat. Wrong move, Stell.
"What the hell are you insinuating?" he bursts out. I lay my hand on his arm and softly coo him.
"Just do it. Please."
He stretches out his hand, but she shies away from him and crawls into the dark corner.
"Come on Bloom, it's not like you've never seen Sky before." Jeez, I bet she even saw him naked once. Stop picturing Sky naked, princess! The same boy looks at me with a tortured look.
"At least she moved." I offer, not flinching. Waw, that was lame-o. He braces himself and puts his arms through the hole, when suddenly a hissing sound echoes and a loud blow erupts, sending him flying across the hall, making him collide with the opposite wall. Hu.
Bloom
He's trying to touch me, but I won't let him. My back aches and I can feel the tattoo crawling again, almost trying to break through my skin, as in an attempt to carve it once more. I press my hands against the wall and clench my teeth, bracing me for the next assault and more pain. When I see his horribly soft hands come through the opening, I yell (well, more screech)
"Don't touch me!"
In a matter of milliseconds, I realize he will not listen to me, so I push off and launch myself forward. I however don't move, yet something seems to stream out of my body and drags Sky away from me.
What did I do?
I start sobbing uncontrollably as Stella pats my back comfortingly, shushing me and whispering 'it's over'.
"Him, Stella. "I murmur through my teary hiccups. Her eyes widen after understanding, astounded, and she whispers back.
"Are you sure?"
"He told me." I simply reply and want to get up, but Stella pulls me back down with a furious look in her hazel eyes.
"Are you kidding me? You can't just walk away after you told me this!" she screeches.
"Stell, calm down. Keep up that pitch and only dogs will hear you." I shake my head, surprisingly soothed by throwing Sky into a wall and play the tell-tale about what he did.
"God, Bloom, come on! Don't you see how big this is?" She urges loudly.
"Stella, BFF of mine," I sigh theatrically, "of course I do. But unless that wasn't Sky defying gravity a few minutes ago, I have to check on him." I mock, jumping to my feet spryly. I feel… fresh.
"I bet you do." She murmurs, rolling her eyes.
"Sky honey, I'm sorry." I whisper, kneeling down in front of him. He tilts his head up.
"Hey, that's okay. I kind of deserved that." He mumbles, struggling to stand up.
"Damn straight." I laugh gingerly, already feeling the weight on my lower eyelids increase. "God…"
"Not the waterworks again, hu?" He smiles, wiping away the first tears. "I'm not good at plumbing." He tries to joke with a goofy look on his face.
"Okay, I know you recently had a collision with this wall," I pat the respective wall, "but that was a very lame joke."
"I don't get slammed into walls by girls every day, you know." He sternly retorts.
"Well, we can always practice on that." I flash him a coy smile.
"Hey, love birds, you have an audience, so knock it off. I don't need to see a gross sucking fest."
"Stella, just because Br…" I start, infuriated, but Sky cuts me off by covering my mouth with his two hands.
"2 more minutes, pretty please, Stella?" he shows her a charming bright smile.
"Hey!" I slap his chest indignantly. "Those smiles are supposed to be exclusively for me."
"This one was too, Bloom." He whispers against my ear, sending a chill down my spine. A very hot chill. Damned hormones.
"Sky, we have to talk about this, I mean…" I shut up, not knowing what question to ask first.
"I know." He only answers. "You deserve to know the whole truth. However… I really need to change first." He looks pointedly at his dirty, torn clothes.
"Yeah, you definitely should get thrown into a wall more often. The rough look works for you." I rub his arm comfortingly, but start blushing as I realize what I just said. He stares at me intently as I complete the transformation from normal face to tomato.
"It'll take just a few minutes." He promises me, letting his arms linger around my hips casually. I love that about him. Screw it, I would even be able to love him if I just got to know the whole truth. I want to turn away, but he spins me back, pulling me flush against his body (and almost making me swoon)
"Make sure you're alone." He whispers to my hair. I gaze at him wide-eyed until Stella yanks me away from him.
"That was 2 minutes and 6 seconds, you airhead!" she bites angrily. I shake my head and start walking away from them. Before I turn around the corner, I notice he's still trying to reason with Stella. Poor boy. No, stupid boy! Why did he have to get me all excited for two totally different things? I do know my priorities, though. If I have to choose between A) knowing what happened or B) have steamy sex with Sky, I would take B. I mean A.
Maybe I should change.
My stomach makes a summersault when I hear three soft knocks. I open the door happily, but my expression falters at the sight. The person standing in front of me doesn't notice, enters and closes the door behind her.
"This can't be happening." I mumble to myself, still stuck on the same spot.
"About time you start believing then." She drawls mockingly and locks the doors and windows with a wave of her hand. "I have to say dear, I was a tad disappointed. You almost forgot my royal existence."
"Almost?" My voice cracks.
"Well, you've probably had a few anxiety attacks and altogether not very pleasant flashbacks."
"Why now?" I clench my teeth.
"The question ought to be: why not earlier?" She rolls her eyes. "I figured this was an appropriate moment. Besides, your friends and my capable staff have been watching you like a hawk. That was rather annoying." She murmurs as she walks to the bay window. "Now seems like a great time. You're alone and you're weak. Princess." She hisses the last word menacingly.
"I need to know why." I whisper motionless.
"Why should you?"
"Because I'm dying anyway." I reply boldly.
"Oh yes." She nods calmly. "That's right. In that case..." She moves her arm and makes me collide with the wall behind me. "Let's get started."
A/N: Yup yup. How much do you hate me now? :) Honestly, I thought you deserved a nice christmas chapter! XL and all ;) Merry Christmas everyone!
Thanks for your patience and special thanks to:
annika22: Yes I will finish this story! Thank you so much for that review :)
Totally Lori: Good heavens woman! You're amazing, I'll PM you ;) x
Skylar Stars: thanks, it's supposed to be confusing, btw :) If you have any questions though, let me know!
FireFairy219: Could you... like beta for me? :D Since you're a super cool university student now? Pretty please? Or maybe you could just be advisor? I'll PM!
Starfire1994: thank you! happy holidays!
BloomandSky4ever: thanks! More Sky to come... :) He's a special boy :D xoxo
I'll probably PM most of you!
Bye and Happy New Year too (it's not very probable I'll be able to upload another chapter before 1/01, since I have exams to study for ... but I'm writing! Wish me luck)
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