Chapter 16 is finally here. Sorry for the delay. While most of it was finished a long while ago, real life kept me too busy to finish it completely. Next two chapters will probably be the last dealing with the Princess Ball.
It was nighttime, even though such a thing did not really exist on Solaria. The only indicators that such was the case were the darkened windows of the palace, revealing that the people inside were sleeping. The silence was only interrupted by the rhythmic slapping of flesh against flesh.
Bloom tried her utmost to stifle the moans and groans threatening to escape her mouth, biting her lip in futile effort. Delicate hands gripped the rails of intricate filigree belonging to the balcony tightly as Harry's massive cock was surging in and out of her wet pussy. She threw her head hither and fro, fiery hair swinging with the motion of silent ecstasy. However, she was only partly successful in containing her rapture. Feeling his rough hands driving over her body, one going down to rub her erect clit while another tweaked a nipple. His body pressing tightly against hers combined with his glans' ruthlessly assaulting her pussy's ridges let her lose control, exclaiming in a gargle. "Oh fuck!"
Harry chuckled darkly behind her. "Careful now." he warned mockingly, leaning into her back and letting her feel his muscled chest as the hand on her breast wandered to her throat to take hold of the Charmix sitting there. His chin rested on her delicate shoulder as he looked down, letting her do the same with wide cyan eyes. "What would the people think if they saw you now?" He whispered sweetly in her ear, pointing below where Bloom spied a few guards patrolling through the grounds, her semi-shout apparently letting them look around a little. She was distantly aware that they were so high up that the guards wouldn't recognize her. Though, the same couldn't be said for neighbouring balconies, should the guests inside wake. A fact that only heightened her arousal, making her pussy grip the steely pole of meat inside of her like a vice.
Despite his words, Harry never stopped his ministrations upon her body. Still fucking her without a care in the world in broad the light of three suns and driving her towards orgasm.
"Or maybe you want them to look?" he asked rhetorically, feeling her cunt tighten on him at his words. She did not see his face, but the redhead could practically hear his grin. "Oh, you really want me to continue out here in the open, huh? Naughty girl!"
"N..no." she unconvincingly denied with a gasp, a shudder racking her frame as pleasure coursed through her body like lightning at the thought of discovery. She was so close, so close!
He smacked her arse in punishment, leaving a red spot behind. "You're a poor liar." The powerful wizard admonished lightly. "But as you wish." Harry said, gripping her waist tightly and slowing down his thrusts before stopping entirely. Leaving his cock buried as far as it could go but only rubbing softly against her cervix.
Bloom felt her orgasm waning, tapering off before she could erupt, until it only simmered under the surface. In a panic she looked questioningly over her shoulder, but only got a raised eyebrow in return as if to tell her she told him to do so. The fairy tried to entice him to continue fucking her by desperately shaking her hips, but couldn't move an inch in his unforgivable hold. Next came the attempt to use her Kegel muscles, letting her pussy ripple as it lavished a massage onto his cock. Still, his prick refused to move, sitting unyieldingly inside her cunt.
'No, I was nearly there!' the redhead thought in despair. "Please." she grit out quietly, her words lost to the wind.
"Hmm? You'll have to speak up." Harry replied with one hand mockingly held to his ear. Only exerting a little pressure onto her begging womb to keep minimal stimulation going.
She looked at him pleadingly with her cyan eyes and a pout on her luscious lips. "Please!" she hissed louder.
A twinkle grew in his emerald ones. "Please what?" he asked innocently as if he wasn't splitting her cunt's lips apart to its limits, or didn't know what she desired. Suddenly, and without warning, Harry pulled his prick out of her clenching cunt with torturous slowness, vacating her velvety heat inch after inch.
Bloom's pussy clasped his cock tightly in distress, the last of the fire in her belly slowly sputtering out as emptiness and coldness replaced it. Her teeth briefly played with her lower lip, chewing on it in indecision before she threw caution out the window. "Please, fuck me! I can't take it anymore!" her shout was probably heard by every guard outside, echoing throughout the courtyard.
"As you wish." came the smug reply before he once more buried his cock to the hilt in one stroke, resuming his previous hammering and reigniting that flame of passion inside the fairy. His hands swiftly went under her thighs, locking his elbows under her knees before hoisting her up, spreading her legs wide in the process and showing the world how much her pussy enjoyed his cock. "Let's show the whole of Solaria what a slut you are, who you belong to!"
Bloom just so managed to sling an arm around his neck for stability, unable to comment or command her jelly-like legs. In this position she was completely exposed with no option to conceal her nakedness. Not that such a minor concern lasted longer than a moment before it was replaced by the sheer rapture that came with her orgasm building back up again.
The next moment a crystal clear knock could be heard echoing through the apartment, coming from the entrance. Without warning or any concern Harry suddenly moved towards it. With each step Bloom felt the heat accumulating in her loins more keenly as his steps caused his cock to move deliciously inside of her. She only distantly noticed the door opening, revealing Sky standing there with a bouquet of flowers and a wide smile. The flowers and smile quickly wilted simultaneously as his mouth then hung open and disbelief entered his eyes. Somehow seeing that caused Bloom to erupted with Harry's cock now deeply entrenched inside her centre. Her peak seized all of the fairy at once as it thundered through her nubile body, causing her to squirt out a stream that splashed onto Sky's boots as Harry released a flood of semen inside her womb, seeding her in front of her ex with her wailing to the heavens in delight.
The door of the apartment slammed shut with a bang unnoticed by Bloom.
Planet Solaria, Royal Palace.
With a start Bloom came awake, cyan eyes snapping open, looking around the empty and still darkened apartment. Only a few rays of sunshine peeked through the curtains of the room to illuminate it sparingly. Her heart was beating so hard she thought it might leave an imprint on her ribcage.
"Talk about a wet dream." Bloom murmured with a smile, noticing the mess she made of the bed. A large, wet stain was clearly felt by her on the now nearly drenched sheets where her crotch was. She had gone to bed naked due to having been utterly exhausted after Harry had flamed her back to her own apartment. The fairy's cheeks were as red as her hair with the happenings of yesterday and the dream still fresh and at the forefront of her mind.
Relieved, she fell back onto her fluffy bed with a sigh and closed her eyes, wishing to rather be in Harry's bed right now. Preferably with him in it serving as a nice pillow for her, enveloped in his embrace and scent as she woke up to his heartbeat.
A content grin now accompanied her blush, remembering yesterday's fornication. Everything had happened exactly like in her dream; him fucking her on the balcony, making her abandon reason for pleasure, and showing the nearly empty courtyard their union. The only exception being Sky's visit that is, which thankfully hadn't happened. Though, a vindictive part of her evidently hoped for it to happen, as shown by her dream.
"Well that, and the fact that Harry had put up a temporary bubble of silence that dampened the noise we made." she murmured with a fond grin.
At the time she had been convinced they were perfectly audible for all to hear, causing her a potent mix of embarrassment and arousal. The memory of it and his roughish grin after telling her of said measure served to remind her of the differences between Sky and Harry. The latter not at all ashamed to claim her as his, boldly doing so in front of everybody loudly and proudly. Bloom didn't doubt for a second he would not have stopped ravishing her in front of an audience. Apparently completely immune to others' opinions of him. Something she envied more than a little and attributed to his past of being constantly in the spotlight. He also never lied to her about anything, telling her exactly where they stood. Complications that were not his fault included.
Something about the thought of being claimed in front of a crowd of people only made her wetter, causing the redhead to squirm, rubbing her thighs together in need. Her inner dragon telling Bloom that the rabble should be grateful to witness it. Images of her sitting on the Throne of Domino flew through her mind, Harry serving as her own personal one, his cock impaling her tight cunt as she imperiously held court naked. Just daring anyone to raise objections and knowing none would come in the face of their power.
Without her really noticing Bloom's hands wandered south, her imagination running absolutely wild. Everything else fell away as she completely surrendered to the rather racy fantasy inside her mind. Bloom knew exhibitionism shouldn't turn her on that much, but she simply couldn't help herself.
Just before she could get really going it was ruined by Stella knocking loudly on her door, letting the redhead feel as if someone dunked a bucket of cold water over her. "Bloom, are you awake yet?!" the Solarian Princess shouted with her impressive set of lungs. Bloom bet the whole wing of her part of the palace heard Stella.
Instead of answering Bloom scrambled out of bed awkwardly, causing the sheets to tangle her smooth legs up in her hurry, and letting the redhead fall ungracefully on the floor. After freeing herself, and fingers still dripping with her own juices, Bloom frantically tried to vanish the mess she made. The attempt done in a panic and haphazardly only worsened the situation by igniting the bed.
"Fuck!"
"Bloom, is everything alright?" came Stella's now concerned voice, the doorknob rattling as she opened the door and entered. The Celestial Fairy, still in her own pyjamas, stopped short as she took in the scene before her; a bed in flames and her best friend beside it, utterly naked. She couldn't help herself and let loose a snort that developed in a hysterical laugh as she doubled over.
Bloom face grew crimson with a mix of embarrassment and fury, trying to cover herself as good as possible. "What?!" she finally snapped after a good ten seconds of laughter went by. Also not having forgotten Stella's rather rude actions yesterday.
Stella waved her off, wiping her tears of laughter away. "Nothing, nothing! It's just too funny." a grin on her face as she struggled to contain her laughter before giggling again. Before Bloom could retort anything, she said. "It's good to know I'm not the only one that happens to, and to see it from the other perspective for once."
That threw Bloom for a loop. "Huh?" she had thought Stella would be furious with her for ruining the beginning of her Princess Ball.
Stella easily created a vacuum over the flames, extinguishing them and leaving only the charred remains of the once luxurious bed. "Did you forget who you're talking to?" the blonde asked with a grin. "I've set my bed on fire multiple times in the past, igniting my pyjamas with them. Not to mention utterly demolishing the Potions Laboratory of Alfea." she shrugged unconcerned. "Such things happen."
Now that she thought about it, Bloom remembered the latter incident. As well as the fact that Stella was rather carefree in such matters. Not really valuing material things outside of clothes or jewellery. The result of a life of excessive luxury, Bloom supposed.
"Besides, it's just a bed that's easily replaced." with a snap of her fingers a female servant looked into the room, saw the damage, and promptly gave commands to others for one of the spare beds, indicating that this was indeed not a rare occurrence. As well as ordering things to treat the spots where the flames had licked the ceiling. "See?" with a twinkle in her golden eyes, Stella proposed. "So, why don't you clean yourself up before we get breakfast? We have a long morning of preparation ahead of us, after all." manicure, pedicure and various other beauty treatments awaited them.
Bloom nodded with a relieved smile, already going to the adjacent bathroom to do just that. The redhead called over her shoulder, her clothes for today floating behind her. "Thanks Stella, you're the best!" Bloom told her honestly, remembering why the blonde was her best friend. While Stella was rather insensitive to her friends at times, there never was any malice behind it. Rather a spoiled and sheltered upbringing where she never heard no for an answer, nor any kind of backtalk from anyone. Or having to take care to not harm another's feelings.
"I know." came the smug and satisfied reply, getting a chuckle from Bloom before she closed the door.
"That's an unfortunate turn of events." Harry summarized after Diaspro had finished telling her story. After waking up to Chimera's blowjob he'd been more than surprised to see another naked fairy other than Bloom exit his wardrobe, even one he met the day before. Harry then had briefly wondered if it was some kind of Vanishing Cabinet prank gone wrong before dismissing the thought.
Chimera, Diaspro and him sat around the table of his apartment, just finished eating the small breakfast they had ordered per the room service. Chimera, still only clad in stockings, sat on his right leg, which was her second favourite spot to be in after being impaled on his cock. She was alternating between glaring at Diaspro, who sat on a chair at his left side, and snuggling against Harry's chest.
"Indeed." was all Diaspro could say with a smile on her face, her amber eyes sending him looks of adoration, ignoring Chimera completely. If Harry didn't know her to be under a Love Potion he'd not even assume her smiles were manufactured. Like Chimera, the blonde noblewoman was clad in nothing else than her stockings from yesterday, hers white in colour, citing that she didn't have any clothes with which to clothe herself. Pointedly ignoring that she could conjure or summon a few.
Harry didn't know just what to say in this situation. So he went with a little stalling. "Well, first let me say that I appreciate your honesty." that she even remembered to tell him everything in her current state either showed her mental strength or displayed just how used to being under a Love Potion she was after around a decade of it.
Diaspro's response was an excited squeal. "Thank you!" her rather predictable and enthusiastic reply was followed by the blonde climbing onto his other leg to claim it as her seat. Literally taking his words as an invitation. Her right arm wrapped around his back while her left hand slipped into his loose pants to free and grip his cock. Diaspro immediately and swiftly began to kiss his neck hungrily, sucking on it as if starved. Starved for affection, for attention and for love.
"Hey!" Chimera practically hissed. Her own hand was also gripping Harry's cock just under Diaspro's hand, making it the beginning of a tug-of-war. "Hands off!"
Diaspro gave the blue-haired fairy a smile of pure condescension. "Really? I seem to remember a certain redhead also having her hands all over what you claim as yours." well, she hadn't truly seen it, but it was obvious. While she talked her hand didn't stop stroking along Harry's length, rubbing her thumb sensually over his glans, eliciting a gasp from him as his cock stirred to life again.
A growl escaped Chimera at that. "Bloom isn't you!" she stated vehemently, knowing that insulting Bloom wouldn't endear her to Harry. No matter how much she might want to do so. All the while tugging at his growing erection, pressing herself tightly against Harry and rubbing her breasts enticingly against him in the process.
Not bothered in the least by Chimera's words, Diaspro replied smugly. "That doesn't tell me what's wrong with adding one more." she used her unoccupied arm and placed his palm on her ass. "Besides, the Summer Holidays are nearly over and you'll have to return to school soon." it wasn't as if she was opposed to sharing a man, having already expected such an outcome with Sky. It wasn't even as if this potential arrangement would be permanent.
"So what? The same is true for you!" Chimera challenged with narrowed eyes.
Diaspro giggled vapidly as if Chimera had told her a particularly funny joke. "Of course, but not in the same way as you." the blonde's smile turned downright predatory. "While you have to attend classes and repeat your second year to attain Charmix, I will be free to do as I please in my quest to achieve Enchantix." to demonstrate she briefly summoned her own Charmix as proof, the iridescent choker gleaming beautifully against her throat before it vanished once more. Next Diaspro leaned against Harry's shoulder, fixing the other fairy with what seemed to be a sneer of superiority. "I'm sure Harry here won't mind me attending to his needs whenever you're unavailable. After all, it is only fair after he helped me out so much."
"What would you know of his needs?!" the words were hissed out, venom practically dripping from each syllable. Not liking Diaspro's words, or the truth in them.
Before the situation could deteriorate further Harry interjected sternly. "Ladies!" his voice was one of command as his aura briefly flared to life, rattling the windows and creating a gust of wind. The sheer magical pressure stopped them from literally butting heads. He turned to address the blonde, removing her hand from inside his pants too. "While I appreciate your offer, Diaspro, I'll have to decline." Harry told her softly, sighing at her brief dejected look before she poorly covered it up with a mask that cracked immediately.
"Why?" despite it being a single word, it held so much more hidden meaning behind it. Why does nobody love me? Why does everyone reject me? Am I not beautiful or desirable? And so much more. "It's because of Bloom, isn't it?!" she spat bitterly with a forlorn look, crossing her arms and looking away so he wouldn't see her repeated weakness, nor she Chimera's smugness.
Harry answered honestly. "In part, yes." he removed his right arm from Chimera's grasp, causing the blue-haired fairy to sling her hands around his neck for stability. Harry lifted Diaspro's chin to look at him, his emerald eyes never leaving her amber ones to convey his sincerity. "Another part is because you've just came out a situation with someone you thought to love. However, the biggest reason is that you're still forced, for a time, to be under the influence of a Love Potion." he sighed as he saw Diaspro's eyes threatening to spill tears, and feeling the clenching of her jaw. "You're a beautiful young woman that was dealt a bad hand, but despite that you didn't give up. I admire that. Still, I want you to experience true love and not the mockery you're feeling now. You deserve better!" seeing that she didn't object he continued, taking her face in his hand, stroking her cheek with his thumb. "I know it's difficult, if not impossible for you right now, but you should focus on pulling yourself back together and heal." that had been his advice to her previously and it had not changed after a day.
Unwilling to give up so fast, potion or not, Diaspro replied strongly. "As if Bloom hadn't come out of a relationship right before!"
"True, but Bloom and I waited nearly a month to do what we did yesterday. We got to know each other first and foremost." he left out their first time. The situation was complicated enough as it is. "And Chimera was single when we met." the wizard added before another argument could be made by the blonde.
Diaspro slid down from his leg, took a few steps away and turned her back to him with her arms crossed. Unwilling to let him see her tears. The blonde's shoulders were shaking as she tried to contain her emotions. One part of her knew he was exceedingly gentle for being put in such a situation by her. Another told her the love and affection she felt for him was real, that she would do everything for him. And it hurt to not have it reciprocated. It hurt so much!
Sadly, it was a familiar sorrow.
Harry gripped Chimera by the hips and lifted the reluctant and pouting young woman off of him. Followed by approaching the distraught Diaspro. He knew that her emotions were not true, but that didn't make him feel any less sympathy for her plight. Even if it was a lose-lose situation for him. If he encouraged and accepted her then what followed would be a lie. If he rejected her then that was just as bad due to the Love Potion. Ironically it'd be easier to reject her without a potion in her system due to her then having the ability to move on; something a Love Potion actively prevented from happening by keeping her fixated on him during its duration.
He drove a hand through his dishevelled hair, sighing in irritation at the mess this was. Then he approached the distressed fairy, gripped her shoulders firmly and turned the young woman around to face him. Before she could react he embraced her tightly, rubbing soothing circles on her back. A gesture she replicated shortly after, desperately holding onto him as she let loose all her frustration and anguish, crying and trembling into his chest.
"Better?" he asked softly after a few minutes, putting a stray lock behind her ear.
Diaspro nodded a little, tears still leaving her amber eyes and staining her cheeks. "Yes... marginally." she hiccuped, not caring about appearances right now. Besides, he'd seen that side of her already and wasn't put off by her display of weakness.
"Good, hopefully you won't need a shoulder to cry on again so soon." he said with a little weak humour and relief in clear to hear in his voice. "To prevent just that I have a proposal." at her inquisitive look he continued. "I may not take you into my bed, but that doesn't mean I have to make this harder for you than it has to be." He squeezed the vulnerable woman's shoulders firmly. "Let's say for the duration of your... treatment, I'll not spurn your advances. As long as they're not sexual in nature." he could bear it if she restricted herself to hugs and other minor displays of affection. Maybe even a small date or something. Basically things very good friends also did. "You're confused enough as it is, I reckon."
The blonde nodded weakly once more. Being under the influence of a Love Potion and knowing it was a weird situation to be in. A part of her buried deep in her mind knew it wasn't real, while the bigger one strongly insisted it was. It'd be easier to just ride it out without being constantly reminded of that. "Thank you!" she told him, her voice choked with emotion. Mostly huge amounts of gratitude.
"No problem." he told her with a soft smile. "Why don't you freshen up a little, and calm down before we join the festivities?"
"I'd like that." she graced him with a terribly beautiful smile. "You nearly make me enamoured with this kind of sadness." The fairy admitted, looking up at him. "Somehow, you almost make the bitter sweet." she leaned up, kissed his cheek and made her way to the bathroom, giving him one last measuring look mixed with adoration before she vanished behind the door.
"I hope not." he murmured, shaking his head with a sigh.
Once the door was closed Chimera was in front of him, a worried frown on her face. Without saying anything she jumped him, frantically kissing all over his face.
"Chimera, what's gotten into you?!" he demanded bewildered, setting the young woman down and keeping her there. She struggled a good bit, which was not a reaction Harry had expected from the fairy right now. Well, her sexual thirst wasn't surprising; the girl seemed like an addict from time to time. However, there was a certain desperation to it. A distress that tainted what a kiss should be.
Chimera looked away, fidgeting nervously like she'd been discovered doing something she wasn't supposed to. Unfortunately for her, the things one didn't say usually tended to scream the loudest. Something she must've seen in his emerald eyes as she briefly glanced up. "You don't need her when you have me!" she finally insisted loudly, talking to the floor more than him before pleading. "I can buy you more stuff. I'll even leave school!"
Harry sighed as Chimera's insecurity reared its ugly head. As well as another confirmation that she partly equated material things with love, most likely due to her mother having given her things as a poor substitute to affection. "I don't need you to buy me things and don't want you to leave school." he hadn't wanted for her to buy him a completely new wardrobe either, but she had insisted and wouldn't take no for an answer. "Just because we won't be able to spend as much time together in the future doesn't mean I'll forget about you." he told her, lifting her head so she looked him in the eyes.
"Promise?" the vulnerability and fear was very real in her voice and eyes. She didn't care that much about him having another woman, as long as she had a place in his heart. Fairies and Witches outnumbered Wizards greatly anyway. The latter being a extremely desired commodity. No, Chimera's concern was more about that she'd be replaced or worse; forgotten.
"Of course." Harry affirmed without delay at all. He knew he was already trapped in that web of emotions. It left him nearly unable to fend for himself. Not that Chimera knew the full amount of attachment that had grown in his heart for her. Or maybe he was just selfish after more than two decades of constant sacrifices. "I promise!"
To cement that Harry rummaged around in his luggage a bit. "Here, I made this so you can contact me anytime you wish." held out by him was a mirror exactly like the one he gave Bloom and the Trix. "Though, I hope you don't ignore it like my Patronus messages yesterday."
Chimera promptly jumped him, wrapping her legs and arms around him and acting like an overly affectionate limpet. "Thank you!" she said relieved. The fairy wouldn't let distance spring up between them, knowing what distance could do. It may make the heart grow fonder, but only so much before it became something poisonous.
Before the preparations for the Princess Ball went truly underway Harry, with Chimera still clinging to him, stowed Bloom's gift for him securely away inside his mokeskin pouch. Not wanting to lose the invaluable piece to curing his current condition.
Bloom strolled along the spacious corridors of the royal palace with purpose. Her royal blue heels clacked against the marble floors, echoing off the walls when an interval with no carpet appeared. The redhead's preparations were finally complete, while Stella's were not quite finished.
Her dress was a bodice of silk as black as soot, embroidered with crimson flames that went along the edge of the floor-length skirt. A vermilion corset shot through with veins of gold was wrapped around her stomach, clearly made out of the scaly hide of a dragon. Red coils of fiery hair cascaded down her naked shoulders and back, braided and perfectly coiffed. Only partly held up by a brooch made of gold and bronze; the material magically shaped like a rose. The last living royal of Domino didn't wear much make-up. It just consisted of navy blue lipstick, nail polish and some mascara. As well as some of her perfume of lilac and elderberry.
In terms of jewellery there were only two pieces of importance, aside from her permanent Charmix choker on full display, but they were breathtaking enough on their own. Most importantly both were given to her by Daphne, who had somehow rescued them from Domino.
The first was the Seal of Domino; a thick ring of gold shaped like a dragon's head that sat on her right index finger. In it's lifelike jaws was set a globe of a thousand facets; shining like silver in the firelight, like water in the sun, like snow under the stars, like rain upon the moon. The jewel the size of a big raspberry appeared a little orb of pallid light in darkness, and yet it took all light that fell upon it and changed it into ten thousands sparks of white radiance, shot through with glints of a rainbow.
The last and most important piece sat on her head: The Crown of Domino. It's intricate design of threading gold and bronze metal through and around one another evoked writhing flames. An onyx, as black as night, dominated the crown's centre, with the frame spiralling outward like the roots of a tree. A strange, hazy heat radiated outwards from the gem, which subtly glowed like a hot coal.
All of it together with her ivory skin, flawless to the point of being alien, gave Bloom an otherworldly allure.
However, despite her appearance, perfect posture, and being in the possession of Domino's royal regalia, Bloom felt nervous. 'I'm the Queen of Domino!' she repeated in her mind for what felt like the hundredth time today, trying to live up to a legacy she didn't know she had roughly two years ago. All of it made her feel like an imposter wearing a costume, the weight of Domino's history adding it's burden to the crown. To her it did not matter how good an opportunity this ball was to make her proper reappearance to the Magical Galaxy at large.
'I'll either find a way to strangle Daphne or thank her, depending on how this whole celebration goes.' Bloom thought, hoping she wouldn't embarrass herself. Once at the Red Fountain was quite enough for her. 'Just one more reason to somehow resurrect Daphne as the heir presumptive so she can deal with all that political stuff. Maybe Harry knows a way to do it?'
Her fanciful thoughts were interrupted as the door of an apartment came into view. It was one for a visiting royal family, made obvious by the guards standing in front, as well as the standard with the royal insignia held by them. It was one she knew, and unfortunately also the one she sought right now.
'Here goes nothing.' she thought after taking a deep breath, followed by approaching the men guarding the massive oaken doors. "Inform King Erendor that Queen Bloom of Domino wishes to speak with him. Now!" the fairy's voice was imperious and firm as she gave the order. A light but expectant glare directed at the two men in their rather ridiculous-looking uniform.
The two guards took one look at her and decided to not bother her with platitudes. The one on her right simply nodded and went inside to convey her desire.
It wasn't long before the doors opened again and Bloom was beckoned inside the lavish and huge apartment truly fitting for royalty. The foyer welcomed her with crimson carpets that were lush and warm. The room was circular, domed at its top, and even had a spiralling staircase leading to a second floor. Portraits and tapestries adorned the spotless walls, depicting the current occupants. In one, a young blonde boy played with a puppy; in another, a husband and wife of noble bearing stood shoulder-to-shoulder, their faces stoic but kind.
'Seems King Radius didn't spare any expense at housing Sky's family.' the redhead thought as she cast her gaze around the foyer, noting its various doors and a few branching passageways with a miniscule frown on her face. Domino's princess didn't know if she should take offence or not, considering she was also royalty and Stella's best friend to boot. Though, another part told her such accommodations would be wasted on her due to not having family with her. Nor any kind of servants at her beck and call. Instead of thinking about that further she took a seat on the comfortable couch placed in the middle of the room, hands in her lap.
Two of the three people shown inside the portraits entered the foyer soon after. First came the King of Eraklyon: Erendor. He was just as she remembered him; of middling height and in possession of a big but not excessive belly. His hair and full beard were a rather dull brown, as were his eyes. Also like last time, his clothes consisted of dark red royal garments. Most noticeably was the truly gaudy crown on his head, made of gold, huge and heavy, with a rectangular beryl the size of a child's fist decorating its crude front.
Sky was walking just behind Erendor, wearing his usual princely raiments. "Bloom!" he exclaimed upon seeing her, wide blue eyes taking her in. Completely bypassing his father and all but running to her with a nervous grin.
Unlike all the other times Bloom did not rise to greet him enthusiastically. Instead, she looked Sky directly in the eyes and simply raised a languid eyebrow. A gesture that stopped him dead in his tracks and practically screamed 'Try that again properly.'
"I.. I mean, what brings us the unexpected pleasure of your visit?" he covered up the brief stutter in the beginning remarkably well.
'Unexpected, huh?' Bloom glowered in the safety of her mind. Outwardly she simply lowered her eyebrow and greeted him back stoically. "Prince Sky." only for his father did she stand up. "King Erendor." Bloom did not bow to the man, a slow inclination of her head enough to acknowledge Erendor. That was something she had done wrong in previous meetings, having wanted to be polite but it only had made her seem weak and subservient. Even though she was of equal standing with him. "I'm here to discuss some knowledge I recently acquired that pertains us both."
Originally she was just here to break up with Sky, but now that she saw Erendor the talk with Daphne came back to her. This was a golden opportunity to squeeze the truth out of him.
"Oh, what would that be, Princess Bloom?" Erendor inquired with an amused and somewhat condescending grin. As if she couldn't possibly have anything of importance to tell him. "Surely the Trix didn't sneak into the Palace somehow." he chuckled, referencing the cause for why she fought Diaspro in her first year at Alfea. He motioned for her and Sky to sit down and took a seat himself.
"It is Queen Bloom!" she corrected him firmly and strongly. Her eyes flashed briefly in warning, but it was instantly replaced with a relaxed smile as she leaned back into the couch. "And nothing of the sort happened." her right index finger tapped her chin, putting the Seal of Domino on display for them. "I suppose it is understandable for you to hold that fear after the Fortress of Light proved incapable of containing them before." a touch of pity crept into her inflection at the end. "However, you can take solace in the fact that I shall do my best to protect Solaria during my stay here. Just like I protected Magix, and even your own realm."
In one fell swoop she implied him to be a coward and incompetent king, needing protection from another for himself and his kingdom. Packaged nicely, of course. Naturally, Bloom could've laughed his words off or not take them as seriously, and therefore not antagonize him. Yet her pride did not permit her to perform such a farce.
"Bloom!" Sky exclaimed in shock, blue eyes darting between his father and her.
A suffering sigh escaped her lips. "It is Queen Bloom, as we already established." came the cold rebuttal, accompanied by a dismissive wave of her left hand. Not even deigning Sky with a look beyond a glance. "Now, is there a place nearby where we might talk privately? I shall require but a moment of your time."
Erendor looked like he'd swallowed a lemon, his face growing red with indignation. "Why, so you may throw more insults?!" he shot back, puffing himself up unnecessarily.
"Insults?" Bloom tilted her head slightly, adopting a confused look. "I merely expressed my support for the traditional alliance between Eraklyon and Domino." at the king's baffled silence she added. "Or shall I take your quiet as indication of your desire to rescind it?" she shook her head with calm indifference. "I suppose that should come as no surprise to me, considering that your heir neglected to inform me of any such existing agreement between our realms for nearly two years now, despite our... relationship." Bloom expertly ignored the flinch her words produced from Sky. "After all, I had to learn of it from a third party."
The king seemed to have caught up with himself, nodding in a manner fitting for his self-importance. "Our alliance was dissolved the moment Domino fell. A dead world hardly brings Eraklyon any benefit. Not to mention your own atrocious and deplorable conduct in all our encounters. It takes more than a crown to be royalty."
Suppressing her desire to incinerate the man, Bloom did not let his words rattle her outside of a small grimace. The fairy instead used all the knowledge from Alfea's etiquette lessons to her advantage. "As you wish, then our alliance shall be no more." One part of her wondered if Erendor was an idiot, hiding something or just extremely spiteful. Even without an army or resources, having a powerhouse like the Fairy of the Dragon's Flame on his side to call on was nothing to scoff at. That didn't even include the possibility of getting into her good graces in case of Domino's revival. Not that she wanted the alliance to continue herself. "Still, it'd be remiss of me not to point out that the need to hide your heir's identity was the cause for my altercation with Lady Vala." she smiled coldly. "While I can understand that to a certain degree deception was prudent to employ, I think Prince Sky went a little far by entertaining a false relationship with someone he thought of no significance."
She relished the dumbfounded look on Sky's face more than she should have. "But that is of no consequence now." she waved the matter off before either of the two could interject. "Of far more import is that my request to talk privately is still pending."
"Very well, follow me." Erendor replied reluctantly and with a grunt, standing up before motioning her and Sky to follow him. Bloom briefly pondered if she should request Sky's absence, but thought better of it, knowing Erendor would insist on his heir's presence. All the while she ignored the looks Sky sent in her direction, ranging from confused to forlorn.
Erendor lead them through the foyer to an adjacent drawing room. The room was warm, but not unpleasantly so. Soaring walls and steepled eaves of glass allowed in copious amounts of sunlight, warming the tiled stone that made up the floor. Plants of all varieties thrived here, their vines and leaves hanging over expensive porcelain pots and stone beds. A seating area, consisting of wooden furniture laden with firm padding and draped with silks, dominated the centre of the space.
As they sat down Erendor waved his guards and remaining servants off, sending them out of the room. Just as the doors closed Bloom covertly cast a silencing spell on the room, and locked the doors magically.
"What is it you wished to discuss?" Erendor all but demanded.
Bloom smoothed out non-existent wrinkles on her dress after sitting down before replying stoically. "I'm soon entering my third year at Alfea, and as you may or may not know, that means endeavouring to obtain my Enchantix." her cyan eyes never once left Erendor, observing him for any trace of lying. For now she hadn't activated her empathic ability. It always felt like a violation of privacy and Bloom rather wanted to trust peoples' words. "In case you are unaware let me state the requirements for achieving the transformation..."
"Yes, yes, everyone knows about that. My question is; what does that have to do with my realm?" Erendor interrupted impatiently, crossing his arms. When Sky made to say something Bloom silenced him with a glare.
"I was getting to that!" Bloom retorted rather irritated. Her patience wearing dangerously thin caused her to take a calming breath. "Domino being the frozen wasteland it now is leaves me in a bit of a bind in terms of people fulfilling the requirements necessary for me to achieve Enchantix. Seeing that you and my parents were allies at the time leads me to believe that there have to be survivors from Domino on Eraklyon."
Without delay the corpulent king said. "There are none!" he quickly made to stand up. "If that is all?"
A considerable wave of force pushed the surprised man back down onto the seat. "Excuse me if I don't believe that." with no more hesitation or compunctions her empathic ability was activate in an instant. "Why wouldn't refugees of Domino head for Eraklyon due to proximity alone? Not to mention our long history as allies." something smelled rotten here and Bloom didn't let such things go easily. "While I can see how most of my people perished, I refuse to believe not a single survivor aside from me exists!"
"And why would that be so difficult to fathom? Unlike you, I personally saw the devastation wrought by the Ancestral Witches!" his face was growing from red to purple at what he perceived as insolence. "Domino wasn't the only planet they ravaged. Havram, Eraklyon's most splendid city, was completely destroyed by them as well!"
Bloom found something weird about that, and the spectral representation of his feelings told her the rest. It was a pathetic and wretched thing, chains hung all over it, dragging the apparition down. "Yes, and I'm not refuting that." she told him, eyeing the king suspiciously. "However, why did they stop there?"
"Pardon?" he looked uncomfortable now. Purple shockingly quickly becoming white.
Did she detect a hint of fear there? Bloom could practically smell the guilt on him now. And like a mastiff with a bone, Bloom would gnaw it down to splinters to get to the truth. "Why did the Ancestresses stop with Havram? I doubt they did so out of the goodness of their hearts. So, what reason was there for them to spare the rest of Eraklyon when they were perfectly willing and capable to destroy Domino?"
"How should I know how the minds of wicked witches work?!" he retorted agitatedly. "Maybe they wanted to preserve their strength for Domino?!"
Bloom's hands clenched tightly at that, knowing a lie when she saw one. "Really? Leaving a whole world braying for your blood at your back, ready to support your future target, seems counterproductive." she stared the man down with fury. "Unless, they had assurances that Eraklyon would not interfere!" it wasn't even a question, but just a stating of fact. The pieces of the puzzle fitting into place in her mind. Erendor's and his apparition's flinch told her all that she needed to know of his guilt.
"You piece of shit!"
In an instant Bloom sprung up, her hair literally aflame as her cyan eyes glared daggers at the man in front of her, who was paralysed by fear. "Tell me the truth! The whole truth!" she demanded, taking deep breaths where each exhale caused flames to shoot out of her smoking nostrils. At the time where she had seen Harry's memories Bloom didn't truly know why Harry wanted justice so bad. Now she knew exactly how it must've felt for him.
"I don't..."
Not even waiting for his refusal she cast a spell. Flames leapt out of her fingertips, roaring outwards and shooting over a dozen feet before enveloping her target and vanishing into thin smoke. What was left standing was a completely unharmed king. He was on fire, true, but the flames did not seem to burn him.
"I advise you to be completely honest with me, or I can't guarantee you coming out of this unharmed." she snarled with a pleased vindictive smirk on her lips. "The Flames of Justice don't care much for liars." it was a rather nasty spell she found in Harry's library. Also a very fitting one to add to her repertoire. Sadly, it couldn't directly force the subject to answer questions. And like all spells dealing with truth, it depended on the person's perception of it. "Though, don't let me stop you from being a pile of ashes!"
Sky stood in front of his father, pleading. "Bloom, you don't have to do this?! We can still do this peacefully, please!"
"Guards! Help!" Erendor screamed at the top of his lungs, making his way to the door.
Only to be once more forced on his knees by a wave of pure power courtesy of Bloom. "The time for diplomacy is over, Sky!" she growled at the blonde. He should know how far Bloom was willing to go for any information regarding Domino or her biological parents. Next, chains of Obsidian erupted from the ground, wrapping tightly around Sky's father and restraining him utterly.
A furious Bloom levitated in front of them. For a beat that their hearts missed, they were alone with her, so utterly alone. Then all of existence caught up and leaked slowly into place around them. But for that instant they saw her as she truly was. Burning without being consumed. Smiling, but with the energy of constant wrath and hunger. The heat around her was oppressive, overwhelming, otherworldly. The fire raged eternally, engulfing but not consuming all it touched. The air, thin and hazy, rippled with the intense heat emanating from the powerful fairy.
"No one will hear your screams." Bloom sneered, an unmerciful stare boring into them. "But because I'm merciful, I'll give you a choice. Either answer my questions to a satisfying degree, or summon more targets for my wrath." her cyan eyes glowed with power and malicious intent, practically begging them to futilely call the guards again. "So, what is it going to be?"
It was only a brief moment of indecision before the older man caved in. "Ask your questions." he told her with his shoulders slumped in defeat.
"Did you betray Domino?" she growled.
"Yes." he said resignedly. The man didn't burn, indicating him telling the truth as he knew it.
Bloom had already known the answer deep down. Nonetheless rage flared in her breast, her hands curling into fists. "Why?!" the fairy ground out between gritted teeth, her flaming hair burning brighter with ever more intensity. She clearly expected him to confess his jealousy at Domino's prosperity and her parents' love.
"What else was I to do?" he shot back bitterly. "Either I let my people die or betray my allies." Erendor told her grimly. "I choose to do my duty as a king to his people."
"More like you chose your own life as a coward would!" Bloom spat accusingly. "Why not fight side by side with Domino?" together they could've won easier, instead of Domino barely managing it alone and not surviving itself.
Some resolve seemed to return to Erendor as he snorted. "And let my realm burn as we wait for reinforcements to arrive? I think not."
Discarding that line of query, Bloom picked a new one, knowing she couldn't change a coward's way of thinking. "Fine, you let Domino fall because of your cowardice." she agreed to his definition and immediately further questioned him. "What did your deal with the Ancestresses entail?"
Both father and son remained stubbornly silent at that. Not caring about being proper anymore Bloom clenched her fist, making the black chains tighten on them ever so slowly. "What did your bargain entail?!" she demanded coldly. "I won't ask again." she added, loosening the bonds a little once she deemed the threat sufficiently conveyed.
After a few deep breaths to get his lungs working again, Erendor answered. "For Eraklyon's survival I was to not lend aid to Domino in any way."
"What about possible survivors coming to your realm from Domino?" her own suspicion caused her to snarl the question out, a threatening growl leaving her throat in a rumble.
Erendor glared at her in fury, incensed at this humiliation. "I heeded their calls for aid and told them to land in a remote area." he told her before his glare transformed into a sneer. "There I shot their vessels out of the sky to prevent the Ancestresses from targeting Eraklyon in the future."
'Daphne and I could've been in one of those vessels.' Bloom thought numbly in the back of her mind.
Immediately she felt the fury of the inferno building within her, easily and rapidly rising to the surface of her being. A fire sparked to life on her outstretched hand, quickly growing white hot as she prepared to unleash the raging caldera at her fingertips. "DIE!" she commanded, letting a lance of pure flame jet outward to the one causing her ire.
It struck true, enveloping her target into a raging embrace of fire. However, instead of an incinerated husk of a king she saw Sky standing in front of his father with his Phantom Shield having blocked the scorching ray. Though the device was now nothing more but slag, his hand that held it burned to blisters.
He grit his teeth, crying out with tears of pain in his blue eyes. All it did was redirect Bloom's focus to him. Sky swallowed as he looked through his tears at Bloom, seeing her stare him down without mercy. A look she usually only levelled at enemies.
"Did you know?!" she demanded, fire still in both of her palms, all too eager to devour anything in her path. At his continued silence Bloom roared like a dragon, making the room shake. "DID YOU KNOW?!" her entire being briefly lighting on fire so that she scorched the ceiling.
"Yes." he admitted meekly, knowing Bloom wouldn't be deterred by cheap evasions. His head was bowed, unable to see the hurt in her eyes.
"Was anything about you not a lie?" she snarled furiously, literally spitting flames. "First you lie about who you are! Then you have a betrothed I know nothing about! You probably lied about loving me, too."
Sky hastily told her. "I didn't lie then. I do love you!" flinching from her glare and the pain in his hand.
"You don't lie to people you claim to love!" The redhead snorted in answer, letting flames shoot out of her nose. "All this time you knew and didn't tell me, knowing I was looking for any kind of information of that fateful day. You took me for a fool!" she landed on the ground again. "Worse, I was a fool to believe your lies for so long!" Her rage slowly dwindled as she looked at Sky cowering, wondering just why she forsook the passion with Harry for someone like Sky.
He didn't deserve her rage or tears.
"We're through!" Bloom spat with a slashing look of disdain. "The only reasons I don't kill you right now are the two years of aid you've lent me. As well as me not wanting to utterly ruin the day of Stella's Princess Ball." she smoothed out her dress, returning back to her normal form as the flames vanished. Her fury cooling to a simmer. "We're friends no longer, but I will be cordial in the presence of our mutual friends. For their sake, not yours."
With that she shattered the Obsidian chains and the Flames of Truth, leaving them without so much as a goodbye.
Bloom's thoughts were back to something resebling order as she walked along the corrirdor leading away from the suite of Eraklyon's royalty. She had wanted so badly to maim or kill them, get revenge for her destroyed homeworld. However, doing such would carry a multitude of serious repercussions she wasn't remotely ready to deal with.
'I damn near did it, too.' she thought, not feeling any remorse over her attempted murder. 'Their time will come! All their times will come!' she vowed to herself, hands balled into fists so tightly her fingernails left imprints on her palms. Bloom remembered all the other nobles that had sneered at her, and still did. Completely spitting on the sacrifices of her parents and people.
It took a few minutes for the redhead to cool down, to gain control of herself again. It wouldn't do to have an episode during the festivities.
"Bloom!" a familiar voice called out, stopping her advance through the corridor.
"Harry!" she called back enthusiastically, smiling. "What're you doing here?" it wasn't exactly close to his quarters, or the ballroom.
The moment her cyan eyes fall upon the man, she could not help but be drawn to him, inexorably. She took in his body: tall, well-built with muscles rippling beneath his clothes. His shining, raven-black hair was lightly oiled and she could see the attempt to neatly tuck it behind his ears, though it was messy as always. His equally immaculate and glossy full beard was trimmed short. Harry moved with the otherworldly grace of a predator, each arch of a sculpted brow, each gesture with a calloused hand, each careful step a measured, purposeful action. Those alluring lips parted to make that perfectly crooked smile of his.
He wore black dress shoes and a three piece suit made of gossamer. The colour lied in that indistinguishable range between pure black, deep blue, and rich plum, and the closer she looked, the more difficult it was to pinpoint the exact shade. A white shirt was underneath, a ruffled neck and sleeves poking out. A jewelled belt, cufflinks, a ring of gold with an inlaid onyx and a simple golden pocket-watch sitting in his breast-pocket were the extent of his jewellery.
Without waiting for an answer, Bloom pounced, kissing him. Causing her remaining fury to lift, vanishing like smoke in the wind.
"Well, I think the whole palace felt the pressure of magical energy, but I knew you were distressed." he told her with a satisfied grin after parting from her lips. "So, I wanted to check if you're alright."
She blushed in embarrassment at having caused a scene again, inadvertent though it was. "I'll tell you later what happened." Bloom told him, not wanting to dwell on these things now. Today was a day that should be a joyous occasion. "For now we have a ball to attend."
"Then, shall we?" Harry offered her his left arm with a flourish.
"We shall."
Well, I hope you liked the chapter. Don't know when the next one will be out, to be honest.