An: PowPow456: Yep. That was the accident. More on Baba Yaga and her mysterious relative in this chapter!

NymhadoraTonks: You'll find out what happened to Oakley and Chester that night. Felicity and Laura do make a fun duo. I would like to say that there was a future friendship between them, but I don't think that's going to happen. You'll see why soon. You're pretty good with the predictions, but sadly Eliza won't get the help from Laura she needs this time...

THANK YOU!

Chapter 15

Mysteries and Truths

As they headed into the dark woods, Laura had forgotten about what was happening in the field behind them. She began to focus on what was in front of her. Specifically, Felicity. The dark fairy had been gone all day, and then suddenly appeared when the havoc started. "Did you cause that riot?" Laura asked suddenly. "As a distraction so Yaga couldn't catch us?"

"I wish I could say I was that clever," Felicity smirked.

"Then where were you all day?" Laura asked. She tightened the straps of her backpack, which held the spellbook.

"I went looking for that chicken house to see where it would be," Felicity explained. "I found it nesting near a waterfall."

"Why didn't you let me in on it?" Laura asked.

"I didn't want Yaga to get suspicious," Felicity called over her shoulder. "We have to be quick. I don't know if it'll move or if Yaga will try to get something from it. I'm assuming she tending to Matt."

"They'll transfer him to the magic hospital," Laura realized. "Where my mom is."

"Do you think he's that serious?"

"He wasn't moving. The nurse can only do so many things. I think a broken bone is about as far as she'll go. He's got multiple, I'm sure of it."

"You're acting as if you're responsible," Felicity commented.

"I'm not," Laura shook her head. "I was just mad at him because E—"

That was when they heard rumbling. Felicity put a finger to her lips. "We're close. Follow my lead."

Laura sucked in a breath before nodding. In the depths of the night, Laura could still see quite well. The trees were beginning to thin, and the rumbling became louder. They were getting close to the waterfall. Laura didn't know that there was a waterfall in the Enchanted Forest, but anything was possible in this forest. She moved quietly along with Felicity with watching eyes.

Once they were out of the trees, Laura expected to see that giant house with legs, but it wasn't there. Felicity looked just as shocked as Laura did. "But it was right here when I found it. How could it move?" She walked closer to the water, looking over the edge of the little cliff and down the waterfall.

"Well," Laura came up beside her. "It does have legs."

That was when there was a deep rumbling behind them. Both girls froze in place. There was a small squawk, and they both turned to see the house rising up onto its feet, glaring down at them. It was intimidating for sure. "Uh," Felicity raised her hands. "Good house. Stay."

The house was gone in a split second.

Felicity groaned. "Come on!" She began to run after it.

"How are we supposed to catch up to that?!" Laura asked as they ran back into the woods.

"I don't know," Felicity said in a sarcastic tone. "Perhaps use a spell?"

"Oh," Laura reached into her backpack and pulled out the spellbook. "But I don't think there is a spell to stun a chicken house."

"Well, make something work, Fae!" Felicity continued to run. Laura stopped and began to read. She flipped to the puppetry section. Surely something had to work. Her eyes flickered back from the page to the house. Felicity was using fireballs to trap it within Luara's reach. After a few minutes, Laura felt helpless.

"I can't find anything!"

"Don't be useless, Fae!" Felicity yelled, throwing another ball of magic at the house.

"Don't you think you know what I'm doing?"

"No, I don't."

"Come on, Laura," Luara told herself. Her hands were starting to shake. "Do something."

"You have dangerous power, Laura. Don't do something you'll regret."

"Fae!"

Caution: if you mess up any of these actions, the spell can forever alter the control of your powers as well as others'.

"Stop!" Laura suddenly screamed. A bolt of light shot from Laura's hand and hit the house's legs. At first, it was stunned, but then the house fell over making a loud boom as it hit the forest floor.

Laura was catching her breath when Felicity ran over to her. "What did you do to it?"

"I don't know," Laura admitted. "Stopped it I guess."

Felicity did a quick flick of her wrist, and the house uprighted itself. The chicken legs remained limp as the girls leaped over them to get to the door. Laura didn't bother with the knob, she spelled the door open. She felt her magic running through her veins. Thick and present. Laura liked feeling it. It gave her confidence and made her feel powerful.

They crept into the abandoned home. It was dark as the world outside. The wheel that would control the house was broken. Laura swallowed nervously as she looked at the rest of the house. It was filled with many decorations and desks. "I take the right, you left," Felicity said after a quiet moment. Laura only nodded, and the search began.

Laura had sorted through many papers and books, but there was nothing. She was hoping that there were at least more yearbooks or photos Laura could see of this mysterious sorcerer. As she sat down yet another magic book, Laura sighed. "This is useless. She doesn't have anything on the sorcerer. Perhaps he was just a student."

"Maybe you're right. Even these scrapbooks have nothin—"

"What, Felicity?" Laura asked. She got up from her seat and ran over to the dark fairy. Her eyes were wide.

"Get out the yearbook," Felicity commanded, her eyes not leaving the page. Laura dug in Felicity's pack and retrieved the yearbook. She flipped it open to the picture of the mystery man. With a shaky finger, Felicity pointed to a picture. Laura followed her gaze and gasped when she saw it.

Baba Yaga was younger. Significantly. Laura hardly recognized her with dark hair and smooth skin. She was holding a little boy with shaggy blonde hair and eyes of a brilliant blue. Even as a very small toddler, he had that same smirk Luara had seen before. Another person was in the picture but was ripped away from it.

"You don't think that..." Laura trailed off.

"That Indeevar Yaga could be..." Felicity shook her head.

"What are you doing in here?!" Baba Yaga's shrill voice made both girls jump up to their feet.

"Madam Yaga," Felicity gasped.

"Who is Indeever Yaga?" Laura asked suddenly, her heart pounding loudly in her chest.

Baba Yaga froze at Laura's words. "How do you know that name?"

"My mother's yearbook," Felicity answered. "They were in the same class."

"Is he your son?" Laura asked.

"You both need to get out right now!" Baba Yaga dismissed her question and rolled up her long sleeves. "I shall cast forgetness spells upon you." She began to mutter a spell.

Laura felt as if she was about to burst. She was getting to know the truth. She couldn't let that be taken away. "No!" Laura shouted, and she drew her hands forward, creating strings. Baba Yaga tensed again and became still. Felicity gasped. "Tell me who Indeever is."

"No," Baba Yaga resisted her spell.

Laura remembered a spell from the book. One to help persuade others to tell the truth. She thrust out her other hand, and Yaga began to wince. "Tell me!"

"He is my..." Baba Yaga continued to resist, but Luara held her ground. "My son."

"Was he the Sapphire Sorcerer?" Laura asked.

"Ye-yes," Baba Yaga's voice was starting to weaken. "He is the Sapphire Sorcerer." She groaned in pain.

"Laura," Felicity warned.

"Where is he?" Laura asked suddenly. She could see Felicity's eyes widen at the question. Baba Yaga said nothing. "WHERE IS HE?!" Laura balled her hand into a fist. Baba Yaga began to shake.

"Laura stop!" Felicity reached out to Laura, but Laura gave a shake of her head, knocking Felicity back.

"TELL ME!"

"In the Charming Side Prison!" Baba Yaga screeched. "He's been there since his death had been faked."

Laura couldn't believe her ears. She felt something strange inside her. She was losing control of the power that was pumping wildly through her veins. Just when Laura was about to let Baba Yaga go, Felicity shoved her hands down. Baba Yaga let out a strained breath as she fell to the floor. Laura began to catch her breath as she watched the old woman lay on the floor, shaking and fragile.

What had she done?

She had lost control.

"Let's get out of here," Felicity tugged on her arm. Laura looked down at Yaga one last time in horror before she followed Felicity into the night.

They ran deeper into the woods. Once they stopped, Felicity ran her fingers through her hair. "What just happened?" she asked suddenly.

"She was resisting," Laura shrugged.

"You could've killed her."

"I didn't," Laura defended herself. "I don't know what came over me."

"You're losing control," Felicity shook her head. "That's dangerous."

"I promise it won't happen again."

"How do I know you can keep that promise?"

"Because I just uncovered the most famous sorcerer's fake death," Laura widened her eyes. "Give me some credit."

"Fine. But we can't go looking for him."

"Why?" Laura asked.

"Because you can't handle it," Felicity shook her head.

"No, you can't," Laura snapped. "I'm trying to solve this strange mystery and I'll do it with or without you." There was a small silence between them. Laura took a deep breath. "Look, I like this duo, but you have to trust me if we're going to stick together. So, are you coming with me or not?"

Felicity turned away from her. "You have to give me the spellbook until you've gained control of your magic again."

"I don't have to give you anything," Laura pulled the straps of her pack tighter to her body.

"You either borrow me the book or I tell everyone that you broke in Yaga's house and tortured her."

Laura swallowed nervously. She hadn't thought about the blackmail Felicity could pull on her. She fished the book from her bag. "Fine. But once this is over you have to give it back."

"Deal."

"Where is Chester?" Fauna asked. They were sitting in the girl's empty dorm room. Laura had been missing since last night, and Eliza had enough going on that Oakley didn't question her absence.

"I wish I knew," Oakley admitted.

"What happened last night?"

...

Oakley tried to stay close to Eliza as they rushed through the shoving crowd, but he was starting to lose her. With Fauna and Laura missing, Oakley had to stay close to a least one of the three. "Eliza?" Oakley called out for her, but she didn't wait for him.

That was when he has suddenly pulled away from the crowd. He was being dragged by the arm. Oakley tried to fight back, but Chester hissed. "Come on."

"Chester, what are you doing?" Oakley asked.

"We're going to Wonderland."

"Right now?"

"Yes," Chester said, giving a small glance over his shoulder.

"But what about Matt?"

"He'll go to the hospital," Chester muttered.

"What about Eliza? She needs me."

"She'll manage. I need to get you out of here before you get yourself hurt."

"No!" Oakley stopped walking along with him. Chester turned to his resistance. "I can't just pick up and go. I have commitments here. I need to be there for Eliza and Matt."

"What about me?" Chester looked hurt.

"You can wait," Oakley ripped his arm from Chester's grasp. He began to walk, but Chester grabbed his arm again. "Let me go!" Oakley snapped. Chester's eyes widened, his expression hurt. Then he disappeared.

Oakley hadn't seen Chester since.

...

"Then I went to find you or Eliza," Oakley concluded. "It was strange. Earlier he was saying how we should go to Wonderland before the after-party. Then, when I mentioned his friends, he sorta dismissed the conversation completely."

"Do you think he's embarrassed?" Faunaraised a brow.

"We've been hanging out for weeks," Oakley shook his head. "We are officially together. What do you think he's trying to hide me or—" He stopped talking when Fauna looked at him with caring eyes.

Oakley hadn't thought much of it before. Chester was always pulling him away from crowds and meeting him alone. They had never gone out in public together. No one at school even knew that they were really together except for Fauna.

"Do you think he was going to bring me to Wonderland so he could avoid his friends?" Oakley asked in a weak voice.

"I'm afraid so," Fauna put a hand on his shoulder. "Oh, Oakley, I'm so sorry."

"No," Oakley shook his head. "Things make more sense now. He's ashamed of me."

"I don't think he is," Fauna shook her head. "He must just be afraid of how other's will react. You have to remember this is all new for him."

"But still, how couldn't I have picked up on this sooner? Was I blinded that much by love?"

"You can't blame yourself. The only way you can move forward is if you ask him directly what's going on."

"That would be easy if he hadn't disappeared."

"Well, has Matt been moved to Wonderland?"

"I haven't heard anything."

"Eliza hasn't either."

"Where is she?"

"I sent her on a walk to clear her mind."

It was too cold to walk outside, so Eliza was wandering the halls. She hadn't heard anything about Matt since the accident. She searched for any remembrance of him. She had even traveled down to the sorcery classroom, in hopes that there was at least some kind of memory to set her mind at ease. As she stepped into the empty classroom, she scanned every desk, looking for any sign that one belonged to him.

Eliza stopped when she saw a small teacup design drawn on a desk. Matt's initials were scribbled beside them. Eliza ran her fingers over them. Tears pricking her eyes.

...

"Matt!" Eliza yelled as she pushed through the crowd. The students were getting into fights around her, but she got through unscathed. She had lost Oakley a few yards back. She didn't care, she was desperate to get to him. "Matt!"

She managed to get to the end of the field. He was still laying there. Baba Yaga, Apple White, and a medic were gathered around him. Eliza ran over to them. "Is he alright?" she asked, out of breath.

The only one who turned was Apple. "He's not. We're sending him to the magic hospital."

Eliza took a few deep breaths. This was serious. "No, he has to be alright."

"Don't worry," Apple reassured her. "They'll take care of him there." She turned back to Yaga. "Can you clear the crowd?"

"I'll retrieve a skunk potion from my hut," Baba Yaga said as she began to float away. She gave a small chuckle. "That'll clear the field."

When Baba Yaga left, Eliza could see Matt's face. "Matt," Eliza gasped.

Matt's lips moved, but only little noise came out. "El...El..." Eliza gasped again and rushed to his side. The medic and the nurse were both putting him on a stretcher, but Eliza stayed next to him.

"I'm here, Matt," Eliza looked down at his face. His nose was gushing with blood. His eyes were drowsy and fighting to stay open. His helmet was crushed in on the side.

"Eliza," Matt whispered.

"You're going to be alright," Eliza told him, tears pricking her eyes. Matt's eyes filled with tears as they studied her face. He tried to reach out to her, but then he slipped from consciousness. Eliza watched them carry Matt away, fear settling in her stomach.

...

Eliza felt even worse now. She hadn't gotten much sleep last night. It took much longer to break up the fights. Baba Yaga had not returned with the skunk potion. Which was odd considering how the old sorceress was excited to use it on the students. Eliza was also worried about Laura. She had vanished from the scene. Mitchell said he had seen her only once before the end of the night.

"And you want to become a rebel because you never have gotten to make your own choices before."

With Laura gone, Eliza felt truly alone. Her emotions were overwhelming her mind. She felt so out of control. She hated that feeling.

"You think by making yourself popular you're going to fill that void in your life."

As Eliza stared at Matt's drawing, tears began to build in her eyes once again. She felt as if it was her own fault. Eliza had stepped close to that flaming circle, she had almost killed Matt with her magic recklessness, and now she was all alone and didn't have anyone to help her with this growing power inside. As much as Eliza wished to deny it, she knew that she could never get rid of what Laura had done to her.

"When in reality, you wish you could just accept yourself the way that you are."

Eliza wished that she felt comfortable in her own skin again. But not now when the whole world was changing around her. She didn't want her life to be like this. But these last few weeks had made her face what was truly wrong. Something new was taking over her, and she had no way to stop it.

"You want to be able to just be yourself, but you don't even know who you really are."

"What's wrong with me?" Eliza cried, glaring down at her hands. "What's wrong with me?!"

There was a sudden shuffle of noise. In fear, Eliza whipped herself around. Instinctively, she threw out her hand. Another bolt of silvery light flew from her palm and hit a desk. There was a sudden squeal of pain as a mouse dropped from its stance. The blood drained from Eliza's face as she ran over to the creature, but it was too late to save it.

Hermon was dead.

More tears spilled from Eliza's eyes as she dropped to her knees. She scooped Hermon into her hands and she sat on the cold stone floor. "I'm sorry," she whispered to the corpse. She sobbed, then whispered to herself, "I'm sorry."

Matt's eyes suddenly popped open. Immediately, he felt pain all around his head. He tried to sit up, but a hand pushed him back down. "Don't move," his mother's voice said quietly. "You'll only give yourself a headache."

"M-mom?" Matt's voice sounded weak and raspy.

"Yes, I'm here," Maddie's face came into his view. He closed his eyes, letting himself relax as much as his body would allow him.

"What happened?" Matt asked.

"You don't remember? You were knocked out last night at the game."

That was when the memories of last night flickered in Matt's mind.

The end zone, the grass, the players on top of him. The noise of his helmet cracking. The pain he felt. The blood trickled down his neck as he laid there. A distant scream in the crowd. The yells and screeches of fighting schools. Matt hearing his heart pound in his ears. He recalled feeling himself dying. His lungs taking irregular breaths. His eyes refusing to stay open for long.

The visions of the starry sky were prominent. Worried faces came and went. The only one he remembered was Eliza's. Or at least he thought it was her. As soon as he was pulled away from her and into the ambulance, he was pulled under. Perhaps in a dream, he saw another girl. She seemed familiar, but Matt felt he had never seen her before. At least not in this light. Her long brown hair framed her pale face. She was beautiful, even though her features were blurred. The only thing he could see clearly was a pair of violet eyes.

When Matt felt himself slipping that night, only a distant whisper kept him alive.

"I need you."

When Matt opened his eyes again, Maddie was still staring at him with concern. "Mom," Matt's eyes began to pool with tears.

"It's okay, Matt," Maddie wiped the single tear from her son's cheek. "You're going to be okay."

"No," Matt shook his head, then winced. "Is Eliza okay?"

"I'm sure she's fine. Rest now. You'll feel better."

Matt didn't fight sleep. As he slipped away again, the whisper continued to play in his head. Little did the Wonerlandian know that voice didn't belong to anyone in his present life. That it was from someone of his future. Someone that when she called, he would always answer.