Hello beloved readers! Thank you once again for all the beautiful reviews from the previous chapter. The support for this story continues to be so overwhelming. I am so excited!
This chapter I have drafted for so long and I have been waiting for the moment it can finally be published. This story is only halfway through so I promise Musa's adventure is not over yet.
I want to give a special shout out to the following reviewers from the previous chapter:
Mitchy, You Don't Know Me150, PigtailswithBangs, EmotionalBerry, Kelly, AngelCutie ChildAtHeart, Whelefhie, , SunshinewithHurricane, Love Horimiya Series, and all the Guest reviewers.
Thank you for the continued support from everyone who has read this story. You are all the best! Now, on with the story.
Disclaimer: I do not own Winx Club or any of its characters, except for my OCs.
"You should have seen it, girls!" Stella exclaimed as she told the story of her and Musa's run in with Darcy.
It was the following morning and Stella wasted no time in dragging all the girls to have breakfast outside in the morning sun. She knew from experience that most courtiers would not rise until mid-morning after partying till late into the night, so the group had plenty of time to talk freely without ears dropping courtiers. Musa quietly leant back in her seat as she nibbled on her yoghurt and fruit while the other girls were enthralled by Stella's story.
"A bright burst of light just shot out of Musa from nowhere! It was so bright that I had to pretend that it was my own magic."
The girls gasped and shot their gazes to the young princess, hiding the embarrassment on her face. It was like hearing your mother tell your family members the awkward moment that you had reached puberty and your powers were uncontrollable. While Stella and Layla merely brushed off the incident as normal for someone who had not used their powers for so long that they had become like new, Tecna was unimpressed.
"You used magic in front of the prince and Darcy? Are you insane?" Tecna hissed in a whisper as she stood behind the girls like the dutiful handmaiden she was. If anyone were to walk out to the gardens and find them, Tecna wanted to avoid getting into trouble by sitting with members of the court.
Musa rolled her eyes and side-eyed her friend. "It is not like I had a choice, Tecna."
"Tecna, Musa is right," Flora reasoned as she sat her teacup down on the saucer. "She is rediscovering her powers so little mishaps like this is not unexpected."
"Little mishaps?" Tecna questioned. "That is not a little mishap, Flora. If it were not for Stella's quick thinking, Musa and the rebellion would have been discovered and worse, Musa could have been sentenced to death."
Flora looked down at the table in silence. She could not argue with her friend. Treason on any realm was punished with either exile or death, with Valkarians obviously punishing with the latter. If Musa's magic or crystal were found in her possession it would be considered treason, let alone if the king found out about the rebellion.
"After the run in with Darcy last night, she is clearly smelling a rat and is on to us," Bloom agreed sadly.
"Not on to you, Bloom, she is on to Musa," Tecna corrected. "Right now, the king and Darcy see you girls as allies to the king. Annoying allies but allies nonetheless."
Stella gave Tecna a smirk in response. "Worth it to see the face on that witch."
"Look, Tecna, I am sorry," Musa said finally. "I truly did not mean for that to happen. There was no music around, so I have no idea where it came from."
"You were running really hot when it happened, Darling," Stella said. "You said your heart raced and you felt lightheaded. The bruise on my arm proves that."
"Sorry," Musa grimaced. Stella shrugged it off like it was nothing. "Well…..I have been hearing things lately."
"What things?" Layla asked.
Before answering, Musa and the girls looked around the gardens before leaning in closer so Musa could whisper her conversation.
"I have been hearing voices. Not conversations, but more like singing."
"Singing? Someone else is singing in the palace?" Flora asked.
Musa shook her head in reply. "No. At first I thought I was the only one hearing it but last night I think Darcy heard it too."
"So that was what she was saying!" Stella said now understanding. "Her behaviour last night was so odd, I just thought someone was pranking her."
"I heard someone singing like an echo in the wind last night and Darcy and I were the only ones who heard it. I have been hearing it the last week, but it has been increasing rapidly."
"Is the voice familiar?" Layla asked. "Perhaps your father is trying to send you a message?"
"The king is unreachable from the dungeons. There is a barrier that protects it from magic going in and out," Tecna answered sadly. "Even if he were the one, he does not have the power to mask his voice from selected people."
The girls were silent for a moment as they took in Musa's new information.
"What did it sound like?" Bloom whispered.
The girls again checked their surroundings before Musa softly sung the melody she had been hearing. The girls were confused by the notes until Flora broke their train of thought.
"The only thing I can think of, Musa, is that it reminds me of something on Linphea. The voice of nature we hear on the wind is like what you heard. They use it to warn us or guide us. Only true masters, guardians or members of the royal family master the craft and can distinguish the voice from their surrounds."
"I do vaguely remember something my parents told me as a child. They used to say that Melody sung its emotions, but I always thought they were fairy tales. I mean, how could a realm sing?"
"How can nature speak?" Flora retorted with a smile.
"Then you think the stories are real, Flora?"
"I would say it is possible. You have discovered that your realm not only survives but thrives on music. Why can it not speak to you through it?"
"But why now? The realm has been dying for years. Why is it only speaking to me now?"
"You are rediscovering your powers, Musa," Bloom said with a smile. "Perhaps she was always speaking to you. It is only now that you are able to hear it."
"But I do not hear it all the time though. Only at certain times."
The girls were confused. "Please explain," Tecna asked.
Musa hesitated before answering. She was embarrassed by her run in with the prince the night before – the argument they had and what followed. A part of her hated herself for lying to the prince about her feelings but why should she be remorseful? She had to keep reminding herself that he was still the enemy at the end of the day. Musa knew what the girls were going to say if she let that piece of information slip. That she was reckless and almost lost the rebellion's chance of intel. She could not bear to hear that.
"First, I heard it in the training room with the prince, then after we first kissed, and while I had dinner with the king a few days prior. I also heard it the other night while I slept."
The girls were silent for a moment again. "What were you dreaming about?"
"…..The day they invaded."
"That is grim," Layla said sadly. "Why did you do that?"
"It was not on purpose, Layla," Musa replied with annoyance. "I do not choose what I dream about."
"Did you dream of the prince?" Flora asked suddenly.
Musa's gaze shot right to the young brunette with wide open eyes. She was quiet for a few seconds, unsure how to reply. Flora gave a soft smirk in reply.
"He was there was he not?" Flora continued.
"I….I…."
"There is no shame if he was, Musa."
"I…..I remembered that night that he was there. He was a boy. He ran over to me after Darcy attacked my mother and I."
"You never told me this," Tecna gasped in surprised.
"As I said, I only just remembered. My younger self must have pushed it out of my mind. The prince was so young then, but he still managed to convince his father not to kill me."
"He was the one who saved you? He came up with this deal?" Bloom gasped. "I thought it was the king or Darcy."
"Darcy wanted me dead."
"Musa…." Flora started after a moment of silence. "I have a theory though you may not like it." Musa and the girls turned their gazes to her in response. "Think about it. You heard the voice while you trained with the prince, after you kissed the prince, while you had dinner with the king and prince, and when you dreamt of the prince. Melody is trying to tell you something about Prince Riven."
"No."
"But Musa-"
"I said no!" Musa stood up from her chair so fast that it felt on the ground behind her, and the table shook. "I love you, Flora, but there is no way you are right on this."
"Do you have another explanation?"
"No but-"
'Ah ah, oh oh…'
"Exactly. Look, we all cannot know what reason Melody has for doing it when she did, but you must at least admit the timing coincides with your time with the prince. The more she sings, the more music surrounding you that you hear, the more power you get."
'Ah ah, oh oh…'
Musa whipped herself around to stare at the empty fields and gardens behind her.
"You hear it again, do you not?" Tecna asked softly.
Musa did not need to respond for the girls already knew the answer.
'Ah ah, oh oh…'
"Now the voice appears when we speak about the prince," Flora continued. "Musa, I do not take joy in saying this, but you must admit it. Melody wants to tell you something.
"Let us follow it," Bloom suggested. "Follow the voices and perhaps we will find what the message is."
"Your crystal glowed last night, Musa," Stella added. "I think Flora might be right. Melody is singing to you, giving you music and it did something to your crystal. When you played your guitar and sung, you did not display power like that. Last night was amazing."
"That is it!" Tecna yelled, catching the eye of one of the knights up the hill. The girls laughed loudly as Layla yelled the same thing as Tecna to cover it up. The knight turned away and continued his patrol. "My bad. That is the missing link. The crystals. It has always been about the crystals."
'Ah ah, oh oh…'
"You have lost us," Stella said.
"Think about it. You just said it, Stella. You are brilliant!"
"Why thank you."
"Musa started to feel something physically, but the crystal also glowed and heated up. The music around you powered up the crystal. With the power up, the crystal amplified your powers and that is why you had to release it when you did. The crystals are not token pieces like the Valkarians believed. They are the amplifiers. That is why everyone on Melody wore one, including your mother. The crystals would link together and link to the big crystal we found in the palace. All the smaller crystals would make up the power for the big crystal to rejuvenate Melody. With the Valkarians stealing your crystals and preventing music of any kind there was nothing to power the crystal and eventually Melody lost its power."
The girls stared at Tecna in shock. It was a big theory, one that was hard to deny that fit the other pieces that they found.
"That makes more sense than Melody sending me a message about my enemy prince," Musa joked. Flora threw a biscuit at Musa in response.
"I agree with both Flora and Tecna," Bloom said. Stella and Layla nodded in agreement. "Nothing else makes sense, Musa, and we have turned over every stone that is available to us. We can only follow it until we find someone, like your father, who has the answers."
'Ah ah, oh oh…'
"Follow it, Musa," Bloom urged. "Follow the voice. We will be right behind you."
"Alright, let us follow an eery voice," Musa joked and started following the voice.
The girls quickly fixed the place setting to indicate to the servants that they were done and followed her.
The hallways were quiet as the courtiers continued to sleep off the previous night's partying. It was not unusual for the palace to be quiet until mid-morning but the sound of someone running down the hallway, heels clicking on tiles as they ran, broke the silence. It was difficult to keep what she saw overnight but she knew her friend would have killed her if her beauty sleep was broken. The heels finally stopped as the young woman arrived at her destination. A large dark oak wooden door stood in front of her. Without wasting time, the girl knocked loudly on the door. A servant greeted the woman on the other side and curtseyed to her.
"Who is it?" A shrill voice inside demanded.
"It is Lady Lovi, My Lady," the servant immediately answered.
"Let her in," the voice ordered.
The servant opened the door wider and let Lady Lovi rush into the chambers. The entryway to the chambers was grander as it was closer to the royal chambers, with several seats to welcome guests and photos of the owner and her father on the walls. Lady Lovi and the servant rushed down the hallway and walked inside the grand quarters and found Lady Mitzi sitting in front of her vanity as two servants got her ready for the day.
"My dear, Lady Lovi," Lady Mitzi greeted happily. "What a pleasant surprise."
"I am so sorry, Lady Mitzi," Lady Lovi said as she tried to control her breathing. "This could not wait till our breakfast."
"My you must have run here. Get her a chair."
A servant quickly appeared with a seat behind Lady Lovi and the woman sat in it, sending a grateful smile to her friend.
"If you forced yourself to run in heels here then I am eager to hear what you have to say."
"I….I fear you may need to face me to hear it, my friend. It is grim."
Lady Mitzi signalled her servants to stop before she turned in her seat to stare at her friend.
"The Siren is not your ally.
Without a word, Lady Mitzi shooed her servants away and waited till the door was closed before they spoke further.
"What do you mean, Lovi?"
"I saw her last night with the prince."
"At dinner?"
Lady Lovi shook her head. "No. I am so sorry. She was in the sick bay with the prince. They were alone."
Lady Mitzi slowly stood up in her chair and walked over to her friend, her gaze never wavering.
"What did she do?"
"The Siren bewitched him, Lady Mitzi. I am sorry. I saw them kissing in sick bay."
The scream that immediately fell out of Lady Mitzi's mouth would have sent evil spirits flying back to the pits of Hell and shatter glass like a Banshee. Birds sitting on tree branches and on the windowsill outside dispersed in fright at the sound. After several seconds of screaming, Lady Mitzi stood in front of her friend panting heavily, her eyes dark with rage.
"I will destroy her!" Lady Mitzi screamed, before storming out of the room towards the door.
"Where are you going?" Lady Lovi asked as she hurried after her friend, grabbing the hairbrush for her friend as she went to finish getting her ready.
"To find the Siren!"
The girls quietly walked down the many hallways of the palace, Musa listening carefully to the voice as they went. The girls continued their charade of politeness to the guards on their journey. The more the group followed the voice, the louder it grew. Stella gently nudged her friend forward knowing that if Musa heard the volume increase, then so would Darcy. Soon, the group arrived at the same large doors that held the giant crystal.
'Ah ah, oh oh…Ah ah, oh oh…'
The group stopped short and gasped behind Musa.
"I heard it!" Stella cheered. The girls replied in agreement.
'Ah ah, oh oh…Ah ah, oh oh…'
Musa stared at the doors as she listened to the beautiful voice echo through her hair and into her heart and soul. She felt a heat on her chest and noticed the crystal glowing again. The girls gasped behind her, and Musa started to hear different voices mix as they sang.
'Ah ah, oh oh…'
Musa knew that if that were Melody singing, it could not be made up of more than one voice. Flora was right about one thing, there was a message and they wanted to guide Musa to the crystal. These were the sprits of Melody. Musa smiled and felt a familiar sensation on her fingers as she opened her eyes and sang:
"Ah ah, oh oh….."
The girls quietly cheered as Musa sang along with the voices as they started hearing wind and violins mixed together as they sang.
"Ah ah, oh oh, ah ah, oh oh…" Musa sang, the crystal growing brighter.
The large doors opened before the group and inside were swirls of light dancing around the large crystal. The crystal around Musa's neck floated, pointing towards the large crystal, matching the same pink colour as the pair glowed. The swirls of light danced around the girls, around their bodies and over their arms. Like a pull from a person, the swirls dragged the girls inside. Musa laughed as she watched the necklace beckon towards the large crystal. The swirls lit up brightly in various colours and grew the more Musa sung with them, her eyes glowing the same colour as the crystals.
'Ah ah, ah ah….ah ah, ah ah, oh, oh, oh'
"Ah ah ah ah, ah ah ah ah"
Soon the voices started forming words that all the girls could understand.
'Hear the freedom in our song….'
Musa smiled and noticed the swirls stilling and turning into figures as they spoke. The spirits of Melody. The music stopped and soon only a faint whisper of one or two people still singing 'ah ah, oh oh' remained as the rest of the ghost-like figures stood before Musa and the girls. One woman stepped forward, only the details of her face were apparent not the colour of her skin, eyes, or hair. Like they were all figures made of light. The figure curtseyed low before Musa.
"Your Majesty…." The figure whispered, her voice as airy and melodic as music itself. "Do not fear us."
Musa was stunned into silence as she looked at the figures.
"What you thought is correct. We are the spirits of Melody, of people gone from your realm but protect it still. You have heard our call."
"You were the ones singing to me?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. As you know, Melody is dying, and we feared its time was limited with the loss of your magic. Now though with your rediscovery, there is hope."
"If you know that I knew that Melody was dying then why were you calling to me? Why only at specific times?"
"You fear the Valkarian Prince, Your Majesty. For his father's and the witch's deeds, we do not blame you. However, we wanted to warn you. You need the Valkarian Prince. Do not fear what you feel for the spirits bless him."
"What?" Musa and the girls screeched.
"You bless him?" Musa repeated.
"Yes, Your Majesty," the spirit said, and the others whispered in agreement. "We bless the union for you need the prince. For Melody to live you need him."
"We knew that already," Stella scoffed, earning an elbow to the side by Layla.
"We called you hear to warn you that you need him more than you realise. He is Melodian, you do not need to fear him. Do not fear what you feel."
"Musa, what is she talking about?" Bloom asked curiously.
Musa ignored the question. "I do not know what you are talking about," she said to the spirit.
The spirit smiled in response. "We ask that you continue with your plan with haste. Your mother has been watching over you and is extremely proud."
"My mother? Is she here? You said you are the spirits of those who have crossed over. Is my mother with you?"
"I am sorry, Your Majesty. Your mother felt that it would be too difficult to visit you in her state, not until you are ready."
"I am ready. I am seeing you now."
"You have more to learn, Your Majesty. You need the prince. Find the rebellion leader and let us sing once again."
'Hear the freedom in our song….'
The spirits started singing those words repeatedly as they dispersed back into swirls of light. The glow from the crystals continued to shine until the words turned back to echoes.
'Ah ah, oh oh…..'
"Ah ah, oh oh…" Musa sang back with a sad smile. "Ah ah, oh oh…."
Soon the swirls disappeared taking the music with them and the crystals' glow dissipated. There was silence for a few moments as the girls stared at the now quiet room with the crystal.
"Well, well, well," a new voice echoed in the room. The girls gasped and turned around to find Lady Mitzi standing in the open doorway with Lady Lovi, holding a recording device in her hands. "It seems the Siren has been very naughty."
"Lady Mitzi," Musa gasped. Her blood ran cold at the sight of the women. Musa had no idea how long they had been standing there so she had no idea how to talk her way out of it. "H-How…"
"How did we find you? Well, the sound of music and singing up the stairwell helped our search. Lady Lovi, what does the king see music in the kingdom as?"
"Treason," Lady Lovi answered with a deadly smirk.
"Singing?"
"Treason."
"Kissing a forbidden prince?"
"Treason."
"Oh, and we all know what liaison with a rebellion is looked upon as."
"Treason," Lady Lovi giggled as she stared at the rest of the girls.
Musa had never felt so terrified in her life. It was like her heart stopped and the blood throughout her body turned to ice. She wanted to vomit and faint all at once. Her body locked itself stuck between the 'fight' or 'flight' mode. The girls were much the same.
"Once we show Madame Darcy and the king this video, that is all the evidence we need to destroy you," Lady Mitzi said. "That is the last time you take what is rightfully mine."
Without another word, the pair turned and ran out of the room and down the hallway. Sounds of yelling in the room echoed but all Musa could hear was the sound of her own heart barely beating and her ears ringing. Musa barely acknowledged the movement of a dark brunette woman as she ran out the room while another brunette and red head ran up to her face and tried calling to her. Suddenly, a slap on the face brought Musa back to reality.
"Musa!" Bloom yelled. "We need to go. Your cover has been blown. We need to get you out of here, now!"
The rebellion. No, Musa could not leave now. They needed more information from the prince. They needed more time to smuggle more troops. She had to save her father.
"No! I cannot leave."
"Musa, if you stay, they will kill you. We have to get you out of here," Bloom reasoned.
Layla suddenly ran back into the room panting heavily. "The witch used magic to evade me. We do not have much time before she finds Darcy."
"Musa, we have brought enough troops in for now. Our priority is to get you to safety. We will smuggle more troops in later."
Musa pulled herself out of Bloom and Flora's clutches. "I cannot go without my father."
"Be reasonable!" Layla scoffed. "Your father would be furious if we saved him but not you. There is no rebellion without you."
"Yes, there is! There will always be a rebellion as long as the Valkarians continue to bully others. Do you really think that if Melody falls that they will not invade another realm? They will go after one of yours. I cannot live with myself if that happened." Tears started to pull in Musa's eyes. "You girls need to escape now while you still can. If something were to happen to any of you, the alliance the rebellion has with your realms would be destroyed and then we would never have this chance again. You must promise me that if I fall and if Melody falls, you girls continue the rebellion. I am not the rebellion, you all are. Stop the Valkarians from doing this to another realm."
"Musa, please," Flora begged, tears falling from her eyes. "We cannot lose you too. You must come with us."
"If we have any hope of Melody surviving then I need to listen to the spirits. I need the prince. I need to get to him before the others do so he can join us. Layla, Stella, and Bloom, you must go down to the dungeons and free my father. Flora and Tecna, you must go to my music room and gather all the evidence and research we have gained, and my mother's diary and letter. Leave no trace of the Valkarians finding that secret room or any evidence of the rebellion. Do you understand?"
"We will not leave you," Layla said with determination.
"As ruler of Melody I am ordering you all to do this. I need you all to do this. Without you there will be no rebellion. It is not just about me or Melody, it is about the rest of the magical dimension."
"What will you do?" Stella asked.
"I will go find the prince. If I have time, I will sneak into Darcy's room."
"Why?" Bloom asked.
"I know Darcy is the one who killed Queen Miranda. She is power hungry and wants Melody's power. She has been determined since day one to find out anything I know about the crystals. She thinks the crystals were the source of our power, we cannot let her discover she was right. Keep the Valkarians from accessing this chamber. Go!"
"Musa! I will not leave you!" Tecna yelled.
"Yes, you will. I am ordering you to go with the others. The longer we argue the less time we have to escape."
"We will meet you in the secret garden," Bloom instructed. "We will message the troops to rescue you if we have to."
"No, if I do not show up within the hour, you must leave without me. Go!"
The girls gave one last hug to Musa before they all dispersed. Musa immediately started running down the hallway to find the prince. Stella pulled off her Solaria ring and held the sceptre.
"Your sceptre!" Bloom said in shock. "We have to keep the magic low."
"That ship has long sailed, Bloom," Stella scoffed. "Right now, this is an escape mission, and all bets are off."
Without another word, Stella transported the trio to as close to the dungeons as possible with the magical barrier surrounding it could allow. Tecna dragged Flora down the hallway with Musa before turning quickly into the secret entrance that Musa showed her once in the many old Melodian books.
"We will take the tunnels," Tecna explained. "There is one that takes us to the library."
Musa wished that she had enough magic within her to transport to the prince, but she knew that she had to save what little she had for to fight her way out. It was mid-morning so Musa knew that the prince would be in the training rooms at that very moment, and that was exactly where she was going to go, but first she was going to get her evidence. Lucky for Musa, Darcy's quarters was on the way towards the training area. The palace was eerily quiet. Musa half expected the warning bells to sound once Darcy had received the evidence from Mitzi, but Musa hoped that she had to take it to the king first before getting approval to release the guards.
After a few gruelling minutes, Musa shoved her shoulder against a black wooden door and barged her way into the room. Everything was dark and neatly placed, nothing that screamed 'evil plan' anywhere. Musa knew she only had a minute in the room before giving up to find the prince, but her eyes drifted to floorboards. Musa saw a slightly lightened board and dug her heel in. Sure enough, the board flipped up, revealing a secret stash of items. Musa would have cheered if she were not running for her life. It was scary to think that her and Darcy had the same idea of hiding items. Musa looked in and found exactly what she wanted, an old jar of Golden Dewdrop ointment and a faded recipe for turning it into a liquid. Musa smirked; she got the murderer. Without wasting time, Musa shoved the items in the pocket of her dress, slammed the door shut and ran towards the training areas.
A few shouts echoed from a few floors above her, and Musa pushed herself to run faster. Musa panted hard and fast as she felt pain in her legs. She tripped on her heel but caught herself on the wall. She groaned and kicked off the heels, leaving them behind. Ladylike be damned, she thought.
Sir Hammon walking down the hallway towards Musa caught her attention as she turned a corner. Musa tried to return her composure, but he had already seen her. He raised any eyebrow at her and stopped her in her tracks.
"Lady Musa," Sir Hammon said with confusion. "Where is the fire?"
"Ah…Sir Hammon," Musa panted nervously. "I..ah….am searching for His Highness. Do you know where he is?"
"He is training, Lady Musa," he replied. "Is there something wrong?"
"Nothing at all, Sir Hammon," Musa lied, thanking all the deities that he had not heard from Darcy yet. "I just forgot to do something that the prince asked me to do early this morning."
Another shout from what sounded like Lady Mitzi echoed from above. Sir Hammon looked up with confusion before returning his gaze back to Musa.
"Where are the princesses?"
"They are…they are helping the other courtiers get ready for the day."
"That is very…..nice of them. Sounds like Lady Mitzi needs some help," Sir Hammon said.
"Yes, very nice," Musa agreed. "My apologies, Sir Hammon, but I must be on my way."
Musa quickly curtseyed before fast walking down the hallway and around the corner, forcing herself not to turn back towards her personal knight. The knight stared curiously at the Siren as she walked away suddenly noting that she was shoe-less. Once Musa was around the corner, she sighed with relief before picking up speed down the next hallway. So far, she had yet to be caught. Musa prayed that the girls were just as lucky as she was.
"Solaria Sunbeam!" Stella yelled as she knocked the two guards in front of them out.
"Stella!" Bloom chastised. "We are supposed to sneak the king out, not make a scene."
"What would you have me do, Bloom?"
"Well, we could have used your magic to hide us in shadows again," Layla said as she stepped over the guards.
Unfortunately, with the barrier surrounding the dungeons, the girls had to access the area the normal way – through the doors. Stella's transportation spell managed to get them to the floor above, but they had run into a few guards and, upon seeing Stella's sceptre out, immediately went into the offensive.
"It was too late for that when they saw my sceptre," Stella scoffed.
The girls continued their bickering as they ran down the hallway, thanking their deities for only running into two guards. Stella quickly transformed the sceptre back into the ring to avoid unwanted attention again as they ran. A few guards looked at them curiously as they ran down other hallways but ignored them.
"Do you think Musa is ok?" Stella asked worriedly.
"We cannot be distracted with that right now," Layla replied. "We must do what Musa asked and that is to save her father. He is the last living royal of Melody and the only one who can help her with her magic. We must get him out."
The girls ran down several more hallways noticing how quiet everything was. They had not seen a guard in a few moments, so Stella summoned her sceptre again just before they rounded a corner. They girls stopped short when they saw Sir Darien and Sir Caelum standing in the middle of the hallway waiting for them with a few other guards behind them. It was too late. Mitzi had informed Darcy and the king.
"Princesses," Sir Caelum said sternly. "You must come with us."
Flora and Tecna rushed around the music room as they tossed all their research papers and ancient Melodian history books into bags they found in Musa's room. Tecna wanted to take all the Melodian books in the room but knew they were too heavy. She made the hard choice to leave them there but figured that they would be preserved as long as the room remained undetected. Flora wrapped all the instruments in thick cloth to protect them for long-term storage and prevent any sound from echoing as they rummaged the room.
"We must hurry," Flora urged quietly. "I hear shouting in the hallways."
Tecna acknowledged Flora's statement before she finally got to Musa's mother's desk. She gently pulled open the drawer and took out the letter to Musa and the diary. She wrapped them both in the last piece of cloth they brought and packed it in the bag. The pair zipped up the bags and threw them over their shoulders before quietly leaving the room.
Tecna and Flora were quiet for a few seconds at the top of the library, waiting to hear if there were others in the library below. The sounds of chairs scrapping along the floors sounded, causing Flora and Tecna to remain still as stone.
"She is not here!" A gruff voice sounded.
"Where are those warning bells?" Another voice asked in annoyance. "They were supposed to have rung by now."
"It does not matter. Once we find the Siren, it will be over."
The two laughed as they eventually walked out of the library and slammed the doors shut. The laughter echoed down the hallway for a few seconds until it went quiet again. Flora and Tecna remained still for a few minutes waiting to see if anyone had entered the library again. Tecna quietly leant over the railing and noticed it was clear. She beckoned Flora to follow her, and the pair ran down the flights of stairs and headed for the main door. Tecna leant up against the doors to hear for other knights. She heard nothing so she carefully opened the door and her and Flora walked outside and closed it behind them. The sound of someone clearing their throat behind them caused them to jump and hearts to stop. They slowly turned around and saw Sir Lance standing behind them with his arms crossed.
"I have been looking for you two," Sir Lance said with his arms crossed. "You must come with me."
Musa should have tossed off her heels long ago. It was much easier to run to the training rooms in her bare feet. Since running into Sir Hammon, Musa had yet to find another person. She was not complaining but she hoped it was not a bad omen. Soon she finally made it to the training rooms. Only one room was lit with light, and she prayed Riven was inside. On instinct, Musa ran down the last hallway and threw open the door inside, slamming it shut behind her.
The prince was inside and turned in surprise to see Musa's panting form leaning against the door. He was wearing his normal training clothes, including the shirt, as he held a bow and arrow ready to shoot a target at the back of the wall.
"Musa," the prince said with surprise. He immediately took in her distressed state and put down his weapons and rushed over to her. "Is everything alright? You do not look good."
"Riven," Musa panted, trying to control her breathing. "I need you to come with me."
"Why? What is happening?"
The sound of stomping feet above their heads caught Musa's attention and soon, as feared, the warning bells of the palace sounded. Riven's body went rigid, as he looked at the ceiling.
"Musa, tell me what is happening."
"I need you to trust me," Musa replied. "I need you to come with me now. They are coming."
"Who is coming? Are you in trouble?" Riven asked seriously as he stared into Musa's fear-stricken eyes.
"Yes!" Musa yelled anxiously. "I do not have time to answer your questions. I just need you to come with me now. I did not mean for this to happen; you must know that. Please, come with me now."
"But I-"
"There is no time!" Musa rushed, her hands shaking as she held out one for the prince to take. "I know who really killed Queen Miranda. I need you to come with me now so I can tell you before they come for me."
Without another word, Riven grabbed Musa's hand, causing tears of relief to form in her eyes. He grabbed the bow and arrow on the ground before turning the pair around and running out of the training room. Musa saw the prince's demeanour change the moment he heard the warning bells. He was the warrior prince she knew he was. He was moving quick and light on his feet as he dragged her down the hallway past the other training rooms, his eyes constantly scanning for those who wanted to take Musa.
Suddenly, figures stood at the end of the hallway, the only exit out of the training area. Riven stopped short causing Musa to crash into his back and nudged her behind him. The grip on her hand did not release. A dark chuckled echoed in the room, sending shivers up Musa's spine and the air turned cold.
"Oh Siren, you have made my day," the voice said before Darcy appeared from the darkness in front of the line of knights at the exit. Darcy pulled out the recording device from behind her back. "You have gotten yourself into so much trouble. Prince Riven, your father orders you to stand down and remove yourself from the Siren."
The was silence in response as Riven stared directly at Darcy.
"You have put your siren call on our dear prince it seems," Darcy tsked. "Knights, bear arms!"
The knights hesitated as they looked at their prince with confusion.
"Madame Darcy," a knight next to the witch spoke. "That is our prince."
"The Siren has bewitched him, fools. Bear arms so that we may save him from her grasp."
The knights did as ordered and unsheathed their swords. Within a second, Prince Riven released his hold on Musa's hand and held his bow and arrow at his knights. Musa's eyes widened at the act. The prince was aiming for his own men, most of them were Valkarian. Musa knew she had to get them out of there now or the prince would soon point his arrow towards her once he knew the truth.
"Riven," Musa whispered. "We must go now. There is another exit."
Musa knew that the prince did not know about the hidden tunnels that her family built in the palace centuries ago for times of crisis. One of the tunnels Tecna used was the same one she and her mother used during the invasion. She prayed that the prince did not question her knowledge, not yet. The prince ignored Musa's comment and continued to aim at his men and Darcy.
"Prince Riven, do you not realise who you are protecting?" Darcy questioned with annoyance.
"I do," Prince Riven eventually replied curtly. "Do they?"
"They are protecting you. The Siren has committed treason, Sire."
"I am under no spell, Darcy," Prince Riven said sternly. "I will not allow you to harm her. Our affections do not warrant treason."
"Riven, we must go now," Musa urged again.
Darcy laughed at Riven's response. "Oh dear, has she not told you the truth? Sire, your affair is the king's least concern." Darcy held up the device to play the video for the prince. "The Siren was found singing and playing music this morning. She used magic. She had an affair with our beloved prince."
Darcy's hand glowed and the crystal around Musa's neck hovered and broke free and flew in the air in front of both groups. "She stole a crystal."
Prince Riven did not flinch at Darcy's words.
"Not enough for you? Very well," she motioned with her hand and the sword on Riven's hip glowed and hovered over to the crystal. The crystal on the hilt of the sword shattered. "She stole a crystal from your sword, Sire, and replaced it with a fake. She used you to get to the crystal. Apparently Melodians need these, just as I thought. Spiritual tokens, such a liar."
The prince removed his gaze from Darcy and looked sideways at Musa, his hold on the bow and arrow not slipping.
"And finally, Sire, she has been working with the rebellion."
The prince's gaze returned to Darcy. The video skipped to the spirits mentioning Musa and the princesses continuing with the rebellion.
"She has been colluding with the other princesses for the rebellion. She used her relationship with you to gain information and steal crystals so she could smuggle them back to the rebellion. What more evidence do you need, Sire? The Siren played you. Used you. She used her call to trap you. Her feelings were not real!"
"Stop it!" Musa yelled angrily to Darcy.
"Do not dare speak, Siren! Do you deny it? Do you deny that you used our prince for your own gain?"
The silence from Musa was all the prince needed to hear. He lowered his bow and arrow and stared at the ground angrily.
"No! Riven, it was not like that," Musa lied. She needed to get the prince to the rebellion urgently.
"You continue to lie!" Darcy laughed. "It is over, Siren. All the lies you have built are now unravelling before your eyes. For once, just accept your fate with dignity."
"Riven, please listen to me," Musa begged, ignoring Darcy's words.
"Is it true?" Riven asked softly, refusing to look at Musa.
"Riven…I…"
"Is it true?" Riven yelled, the voice echoing loudly and scaring Musa. She had never heard him raise a voice in years, particularly not towards her. He sounded every bit of his father then. "Tell me right now. Is it true?"
He was a Valkarian. Musa tried so hard to fight it, but her brain knew all along. He was a Valkarian and only liked the Valkarian side she made up. When his feet were held to the flames and the truth was revealed, he chose Valkaris. His feelings for her were brought on the Valkarian lie she made, a lie she made to ensure her realm's longevity, to ensure the continuation of the rebellion. The side that he showed her was based on a lie too. He wanted Lady Musa, not Princess Musa of Melody and the feelings she thought she had had been a lie too. She wanted to ease the guilt she had for kissing a Valkarian, for betraying her people for her people. The feelings were for a man that never existed, that were never real. His blood may be part Melodian, but he was all Valkarian. She kissed a man for her people, she let the enemy touch her for her people. She wanted them free, and she would never insult her people by denying that she did everything she could to free them.
"Yes, it is true," Musa answered truthfully, her eyes drying up and steeling. "I want my people free."
"You are protecting a liar and an enemy, Sire," Darcy continued. "She used you. It was all a lie. I do not need to use my truth spell now, but I can if you want."
"Stay out of this, Darcy!" Musa yelled angrily.
Darcy growled in annoyance and shot several balls of dark energy directly at Musa. For a reason that Musa could not explain, Musa shoved the prince away before using all the magic she had stored into forming a dark purple energy shield in front of her that absorbed the balls. Darcy's eyes widened in surprise, but it quickly went away as Musa managed to form to large rings that looked like music lines and shot them towards Darcy and the knights. Two knights veered off and went for their prince. The prince stared at Musa in shock and allowed the knights to drag him to safety.
"I knew you were trouble, Siren! We should have killed you the same day we killed your mother."
"Prince Riven saved me that day. It was the only good decision he has made!" Musa yelled back, finally free to speak freely. If she was going down, then she was going down fighting as herself.
"If you say that then why put your call on him?"
"How can I love the monster who helped destroy my family and realm?"
The prince shoved his knights away as he stormed past them and Darcy. He stopped short at the exit, his back towards Musa.
"Take her in!" Riven ordered before throwing the doors open and leaving Musa alone.
Musa knew it. She knew all along that he would choose the Valkarians over her. His feelings for her fantasy self were not strong enough. If she had a little more time, then she would be able to convince him to join their side, but fate had other plans. The spirits were wrong. They did not need the prince and he was never going to join their rebellion. Him and his father were the same – they were monsters and needed to be stopped.
"Sonic Blast!" Musa yelled, ignoring the icy feeling in her chest.
Darcy easily blocked the attack as the knights ran over and circled around Musa. Musa growled angrily feeling her small magic deplete.
"You cannot keep this up forever, Siren! You are weak. I do not know how you got your powers back but you are still a novice. I have had decades of training. I can hold out longer than you."
"Yes, but I know what I am fighting for. Do you?"
Darcy laughed. "Power, my dear! It has always been for power."
Darcy summoned a large black cloud that thundered with lighting. Musa's eyes widened at the sight before it was thrown her way. The knights circled around her prevented her escape and soon the cloud caught up to her. She screamed as the lighting shot through her, and she fell to her knees. Within seconds, two knights had pinned her to the ground on her stomach, and she was out of magic to fight. The knights parted as Darcy walked over to her fallen form, her heels clicking on the tiles, till she stopped in front of her face.
"That was pathetically easy," Darcy commented. She crouched down so she could whisper to Musa. "Shame you did not tell the prince about the items you stole from me. The secret will die with you much like your mother."
Musa struggled as she was forced to kneel in front of the king as he sat on his throne. Courtiers were yelling all around the room as they stared at the Siren in disgrace. Darcy eagerly stood next to the king waiting to hear the punishment. Musa looked around the room and noticed that the girls were nowhere in sight. She prayed that they all managed to get out safely, hopefully with her father too. The throne next to the king was unsurprisingly empty. Upon forcing her into the throne room, Darcy and the king avoided mentioning the supposed affair with their prince to prevent damaging his reputation.
"Silence!" The king boomed.
The room immediately fell silent.
"Siren!" The king growled, his eyes as dark as the day he invaded. "You are charged with playing forbidden music, for singing, for stealing Melodian crystals, using magic in my realm, and for colluding with the rebellion. All acts are considered treason to the crown!"
The crowed immediately booed and yelled profanities to Musa. All of which she ignored and kept her head high as she stared at the king.
"I would do it again!" Musa yelled. "I am not afraid of you, Kataar, and nor should any other realm! My friends will stop you!"
A slap on the face hit Musa from one of her captors. Darcy smirked at the display.
"Idiot child, my men have taken care of your friends already."
"No!"
"You dare disobey me! You dare spit on my generosity and make me look like a fool! I should kill you right where you kneel. However, the Melodians must learn once and for all that any treason to the Valkarian crown will be punished severely. Siren, I sentence you to public execution tomorrow with your father!"
Musa gasped in horror. Public execution? She hoped for a quick death. Her friends were already taken care of. No! She should have bought them time. They were supposed to have escaped with her father but now she was going to die with him. She could not bear the thought of her people watching the last Melodian royals die in front of their eyes. Musa only hoped that the rebellion would somehow live on and someone would stop the Valkarians once and for all.
"Mother, forgive me," Musa whispered as a lone tear ran down her face.
Please don't hate me for the cliff hangar! I promise the next chapter will be worth the wait.
Let me know your thoughts!
Until next time,
~AngelAlexandra~
