An: I hope you all really like this chapter! Took me forever to get just right. A LOT of facts and secrets get unloaded here. So ENJOY!

NymhadoraTonks: Most of the major drama is in the Broken Souls story now. I Think Matt and Donna are past the point of crazy drama now. Matt did take three days to think before forgiving Donna, I just kinda glazed over it. There are just some minor things we'll see in the future when it comes to them. I'll pick on other characters for drama in the future.

PowPow456: Matonna Forever! I love writing about them. Expect more cute moments in the future!

THANK YOU BOTH!

Chapter 16

The Sapphire Sorcerer

Laura and Felicity got up early the next morning. They had made camp in the middle of the woods. Laura wanted to walk through the night, but Felicity was determined to take a night to think everything over. But what was there to think about? They had just uncovered a huge secret. Possibly a scandal. Who was going to stop Luara from uncovering the whole truth now?

"Why are you so determined to find him?" Felicity asked as they walked on. Laura nor Felicity dared to try a transportation spell after last night. Both girls were shaken by Laura's out-of-control magic. Laura hated to admit it, but she was a little scared of herself.

"Because this is the greatest sorcerer in history!" Laura called back as she led the way. "Don't you want to meet him?"

"He also had the biggest downfall in history," Felicity reminded. "Why else do you think his death was faked and he was never heard of again?"

"That's exactly what I want to know."

"We could've just asked Yaga."

Laura laughed. "After last night? We're basically fugitives at this point."

"What are you saying?" Felicity asked in a quiet voice.

"She's gonna turn us in as soon as we step foot back on school grounds."

"I should've never followed you to that classroom."

"It's too late for regrets. We're in this together now. If I go, you go. We had a deal, remember?"

"Yes, I remember," Felicity rolled her eyes. "But you can afford a blow. You're just a freshman. I am in my final year. This could throw any potential scholarships away."

"As if you really need to go to college," Laura shook her head.

"Yes, I do actually," Felicity snapped back. "I want to be a magical doctor."

"A dark fae doctor?"

"Dark creatures need help too."

"Well, it's not an occupation I would pick." Laura tried her best to avoid thoughts of her mother. All of the missed calls Laura had made. Now, she had forgotten about her mother completely.

"Your mother works there, right?"

"Yes," Laura said quickly. "That's why I don't suggest it. She's always at work, and when she's not, she is too tired to do anything."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be."

"Why don't you ever open up to anyone?" Felicity suddenly asked. Laura stayed quiet. "I've seen you and Mitchell. I've never really seen you two have a real conversation. Does he even know about your little investigation?"

"Of course not," Laura shook her head. "Mitchell can't comprehend that kind of stuff."

"He's smarter than you give him credit for."

"What's it to you, anyway?"

"He used to be my boyfriend."

Laura stopped in her tracks. "You? And Mitchell?"

"Yes," Felicity nodded. "It was brief. I realized he was just too young for me."

"Why didn't you tell me before?"

"Because it never came up before," Felicity defended. "My point is, you should open up to him more. He wants to know you, not just some face you put on for him. He hates secrets."

"Don't tell me how to live my life," Laura shook her head. "I've been doing well on my own so far."

"Do you count so far up until you terrorized Baba Yaga or before?"

"Baba Yaga is just an old hag that had the information we needed." Before Felicity could retort, Laura pointed out of the tree line. "Look, there it is."

The Charming Kingdom was one of the nearest kingdoms to Ever After. It was the only one with a prison. This prison in particular was well known for holding the most evil of villains. Laura had once heard that Snow White was still locked up there. It was probably in her history unit back in the last term, but as if Luara actually listened to that unit.

They headed towards the prison together in silence. Security was going to be tight. Before they could be spotted, Laura pulled Felicity aside. "We need to transport in."

"What? Are you crazy?" Felicity raised a brow. "They probably have a magical barrier."

"But there's a spell in the book—"

"Forget the book," Felicity shook her head. "We both know how dangerous it is."

"We won't get in any other way," Laura reached for Felicity's pack. The dark fae dodged.

"No," Felicity took a step back. "We had a deal about that book and I intend to keep it until this is over." She turned and started to walk, but Luara attacked. She yanked the bag from Felicity's shoulders.

Before Felicity could resist, Laura used the puppet spell. They both froze. Felicity because she was forced. Laura because she was shocked at what she had done. She didn't even have to think about controlling her. The spell just happened. Laura looked down at the book in her hands now. She was losing control of not only her magic but herself.

She looked back up at Felicity, then down at the book. There was no other way in. Laura began to flip through the pages, desperate to find the spell she needed before Felicity became free of the spell. She went to the transportation section. There was something about magical barriers and ways to break them. Once she had found the spell she needed, Laura began to recite it without looking at any of the warnings.

Felicity had become unfrozen. She gasped. "How dare you use that spell?!"

Laura kept reading aloud, feeling the powers inside her veins move. She had never used this much magic before. She could feel it starting to boil and bubble. Just as she completed the spell, Felicity grabbed her. They both disappeared in a burst of flames. A boom echoed across the Charming Kingdom. It had even reached the ears of the little Princess Lily Charming, who was out in the castle gardens.

The next thing Luara could see was darkness. She could feel the cold stone floor beneath her. Felicity was laying over Laura's back, groaning slightly. Laura suddenly felt very tired and strained. She couldn't even feel her magic. It would come back. It always did. But Laura still didn't like the feeling. It was as if she was absolutely defenseless.

Just as her eyelids were becoming heavy, another human cleared their throat. "Felicity," Lara whispered. "Did you hear that?"

"Where am I?" Felicity asked.

"Get off," Laura shoved her body off of her own. Laura searched the dark floor for the book, but she couldn't see it. It had to be around here somewhere. "I don't think the spell worked."

"I'm pretty sure it did," a deep voice called in the shadows. Laura pushed herself up on her feet. "I can sense you are very powerful for your age. Perhaps even more powerful than me."

"Who's there?" Felicity was suddenly very alert next to Laura.

"Indeevar Yaga?" Laura called out.

"Indeevar?" the voice laughed. "That's a name I haven't heard in a long time. I don't get very many visitors."

Laura couldn't believe it. They had actually found him. He was real. There was a scandal. Laura thought it was too good to be true. That perhaps he really was dead. But this master sorcerer was alive.

"Would you prefer the Sapphire Sorcerer?" Laura raised a brow. She wished to see him, but there was no light, and there was no magic left within her to cast some.

All Indeevar did was laugh.

"What?" Laura asked. Felicity was silent beside her. Probably scared out of her wits.

"I'm sorry," he said between breaths. "I haven't heard that name in years either. I like the sound of it. Tell me, where did you hear of that name?"

"We'll tell you once you tell us something," Laura folded her arms. "What had you done so badly that you had been declared dead for or fifteen years."

He laughed again. "Is that what they had done? I have always wondered why I was never visited before. Fine. I'll tell you, but perhaps we should shine some light on the subject."

Indeevar pulled back a curtain to reveal a small window. The morning light filled the room. That was when Laura saw the cage. They were standing in the small space outside of it, a steel door behind them. Inside the cell, there was a plush bed, a matching chair, and a little table. There were some books scattered about. But most importantly, Laura could see Indeevar in clear light.

He hadn't changed much since high school. He was still blonde, although it was far dirtier than before. There were permanent bags under his eyes. Indeevar was dressing in a dark blue robe that matched his familiar eyes. Laura still didn't know where she had seen them before. He looked at both of them with a curious expression. His lips suddenly curled into a grin.

"Oh, my," he took in the sight of them. "You two look like you've been rolling around in the mud."

"Something like that," Felicity mumbled. Laura ignored her.

"Are you going to tell us?"

"I must say, you two look familiar, do I know you?'

"No," Laura shook her head. "But we know you. Your mother is Baba Yaga. You went to high school before the wars. And you disappeared, later claimed dead."

He flinched at the sound of his mother's name but kept his grin. "You forgot to mention that I am the most powerful sorcerer there ever was."

"Before you caused your own demise," Felicity muttered loud enough for both of them to hear.

"You must've traveled very far to find me," Indeevar sat in his chair. "And to get in here, one of you must be very powerful. Tell me how you pulled it off."

"I will as soon as we find what we're looking for," Laura kept her arms crossed.

"Which is?"

"The truth. Why was your death faked? Why did your own mother leave you here? Wh—"

"Because they were all too afraid of me," Indeevar snapped.

"Did it have something to do with this?" Felicity finally spoke clearly. Laura looked back to see Felicity holding the spellbook.

Indeevar stood from the chair. "Where did you get that?"

"I found it," Laura told him. "It was in your mother's possession."

"I thought they would've burned the thing by now." Indeevar walked up to the bars. Only now did Luara noticed his magically cuffed hands.

"So this was really your spellbook?" Felicity asked.

"Of course it is," Indeevar pulled something out from under his shirt. Laura's jaw suddenly dropped at the sight. It was the exact same amulet from the picture. The blue sapphire ring proved the book belonged to him.

"Did people want it?" Laura asked.

"Only my parents could actually perform my spells easily. Others have tried, but there wasn't much success. Only one person truly wanted it for themselves," Indeevar grimaced. "My father. Merlin."

"Merlin?" Laura and Felicity repeated together. That must've been whom Baba Yaga had ripped from her scrapbook.

"Yes, Merlin," Indeevar sneered. "That bastard that left me with my mother when I was little. Apparently, it was a huge secret. Merlin and Yaga. I never knew it until the end. I didn't know that I would be in such danger because of them."

"Why?"

"Because it's dangerous for dark and light magic to mix," Indeevar said with distant eyes. "It didn't help that mom was a witch, and my dad and enchanter. Both are dangerous in their own way. I had even greater power than both of them by the time I was seven."

"Is that why Merlin left?" Laura asked.

"He left because he was a bloody coward. He didn't care about mom, or me. Just his little magic tricks. I had resented magic for most of my childhood. Until it was too powerful to resist."

"That was when you lost control?"

"No," Indeever shook his head. "I actually began to like magic. My mother taught me how to control it. When I got to my second year at Ever After High, that was when I discovered I could do more than the average sorcerer. I began to make my own spells. I didn't want to put them down in text, but Faybelle insisted I wrote them down."

"Faybelle?" Felicity gasped quietly. Indeevar noticed.

"Do you know her?"

"You were in the same class," Laura recalled the picture. "You signed her yearbook. Were you close schoolmates?"

"We were more than simple schoolmates," Indeevar said with a little grin. "We were a couple. What does Faybelle have to do with any of this?"

"She's..." Felicity paled, "my mother."

Indeevar's grin faded from his face. "Felicity?" he gasped as he reached through the bars. "Is that really you?"

Laura turned to see Felicity's shocked face. For a moment, Laura wondered if she had known. Was that why she didn't want to come here? But then she saw a realization in Felicity's eyes. She didn't know. "You're m-my father?"

"I hadn't seen you since you were a newborn," Indeevar smiled again. "I didn't know if you were going to make it, in the condition you were in. But you're still here, and you've found me."

"My father," Felicity whispered. She was in complete shock. "I thought you had left me."

Indeevar flinched, then straightened. "I didn't want to."

"What happened?" Laura demanded.

"Once I left high school, I married Faybelle. Felicity was on her way about two months after. My spells and powers had become well known throughout the worlds," Indeevar explained. "When Merlin had gotten word of my new spells, he came looking. No one had known who the Sapphire Sorcerer truly was, thanks to Flo's idea of a pen name. Merlin was the only one who figured out it was me. My mother begged me to burn the book before he could take it away, but I couldn't. It was my life's work."

"So you tried to hide from Merlin?"

"He tried to hide from me," Indeevar snapped again. "I had never known who he was, or why he was coming for me. That was when my mother dearest told me the truth. I wanted to get back at him for leaving. Apparently, it's what he does best. Leaving and hiding. But I found him. And that was when things got...messy. He had many guards. Flo and I couldn't take them all. If Faybelle hadn't been home with Felicity, we might've gotten through it. I had lost control in the middle of the battle. I finally was taken down, never to see anyone I ever loved again. Not Faybelle, Flo, or my little girl. I don't even know if Flo made it out alive."

Flo. Why did that name sound familiar? Laura's mind showed her images of classmates Indeevar had. She didn't remember anyone named Flo. There wasn't anyone who had names that started with F besides Faybelle and Laura's mother.

"Flora," Laura said under her breath. "Flora Fae." Her mother was closer to him than she thought.

"Is she still alive?" Indeevar asked with raised brows.

"Yes," Laura nodded. "I'm her daughter."

"I should've known," Indeevar shook his head. "You look a lot like her. Except for the eyes, they're...like mine."

That was when it all fell into place. Why Laura had never seen her father or even knew his name or past. Why her mother was so heartbroken about him. They were forced to forget him. They thought he was dead. It all made sense now. Laura suddenly knew where she had seen Indeevar's eyes before. She had seen them in the mirror. Her own eyes belonged to him. To her father.

"No," Laura denied. "There's no way you're—"

"But I am," Indeevar seemed to realize the truth. "I can feel my power in you." He gave a small laugh. "I can sense the lack of control. I know what that feels like. You're power-hungry, just as I am. You know what you're capable of, but need a better teacher. Have you been using my book?"

"Laura," Felicity whispered.

"I have," Laura said. She didn't want to act weak now. Even if her mind was whirling. "But I'm not losing control. I'm strong."

Indeevar chuckled. "I know you are. I was like you once too. They all think you're powerless. I can help you prove them wrong, child. Just set me free, and I can help you."

"No," Felicity said before Luara could say anything at all.

"Oh?" Indeevar raised a brow. "After all of this time, you don't want to get your father back? I hated my father too, but at least you have a chance to get me back. You two are my girls, you're not going to leave me here? Are you?"

"No," Felicity said firmly again. Laura was losing the battle in her mind. The shock was starting to take over. She could finally have a father. A person who understood her and her magic. "Laura, we need to go. He is dangerous."

"Laura," Indeevar tilted his head. It was as if a switch had flipped. His eyes became dreamy and glossed over. His movements were almost robotic. Somehow Laura knew that feeling. He was losing control of himself. "I can teach you to control it. I can help you become more powerful than you've ever dreamed. You have the power to let me out now. Then, we can make up for lost time."

How did he know her wishes? Her most inner thoughts that she had never voiced. Memories of her lonely childhood flashed in her mind. They were starting to replace themselves with memories of what could happen if she decided to set her father free. She could finally show everyone her true power. She could never be denied again.

Laura was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't realize Felicity was reading the transport spell. Indeevar seemed to realize what was happening. "No! Don't leave me here!" He pulled at the bars, unable to any magic of his own. Felicity kept reading. Laura tried to attack her, but her feet wouldn't move. "Laura!" Indeevar called. Laura turned. Her father's face was filling with tears. "Help me, daughter!"

"Father!" Laura called. She ran to the bars, but, was yanked back by the power of the spell. Laura reached out to Indeevar's reaching cuffed hand. He was trying to break the bars. Felicity had grabbed Laura's arm, pulling her back further. Slowly, the image of Indeevar's teary face disappeared in a flash. The last thing Laura could remember was darkness and a deafening boom.