Warning: This chapter may contain a slight graphic scene towards the very end.
Chapter Twenty-Two: "The Nightmares Begin Part (I)"
Oritel had noticed the intense glares that Marion and Bloom were giving him. He couldn't understand why they were displaying such a glare directly at him.
Last he checked, Oritel hadn't done anything wrong.
"What's going on, girls?" he said warily, his brown eyes flickering between Alec, Marion, and Bloom.
The redhead princess had narrowed her blue eyes at her father.
"Don't pretend like you don't know, Dad."
"Bloom let me handle this." Marion raised a quizzical eyebrow, chuckling in the most intimidatingly way possible. "You hadn't done anything wrong? Seriously? You'd kept the Prophecy hidden from me Oritel. How do you think I'm feeling right now?"
Oritel's eyes had fluttered wide open. His mouth hung open dramatically, utterly speechless at the prospect that Marion and Bloom were informed of the Prophecy. The man could easily see distress sparking in Marion's eyes even though she was furious, and Bloom, she had a scowl on her face, not liking the fact that he had directly lied to her face. His gaze had shifted onto Alec.
"You told them?" Oritel implied in a tone that sounded criticizing.
"They're going to know one way or other and you very well know that this is something that you can't keep under control for very long. You could've talked to Marion about it." Alec shot right back, annoyed by the prince's tone. The man had felt the intense glares head in his direction, no doubt that his sister and niece were upset.
"Oritel, you should've consulted with me first not my brother or even my parents. Sometimes I feel like you're treating me as if I'm not Bloom's mother that I'm just merely her friend!" Marion's expression had hardened.
"Marion! Enough!" Oritel had cut her off, glaring at her. "That's not the case!"
Marion blinked her eyes a couple of times, shocked. Oritel had never once raised his voice at her or had ever disagreed with her.
"Really? Then do tell Oritel. What is it? I get it now, you don't you trust me, do you?" Marion had addressed him sharply, her voice dripping with mockery.
Oritel had ran his finger through his short hair, glancing at her with concern shining in his eyes. He really didn't have any explanation to tell her.
The man knew he was running out of excuses to say to his fiancé. No words could cross his mind.
Marion had every right to be ticked off by him.
Oritel had given her an apologetic look, his lips twisting into a frown. Shivers ran down his spine. He shouldn't have lost his temper at Marion. She was only trying to do what was best for their daughter.
"That's not it either!"
In a way it had sounded utterly pathetic.
Oritel really didn't have much to say to Marion, knowing that she wouldn't easily for his deception. It'd never worked as she would find out in the very end.
Marion had closed her eyes.
The girl had sighed heavily out of frustration with her fiancé.
"You know what, I don't need you to owe me an explanation. Don't you dare trying to butter me up and try sweet talking to me Oritel. For now, I'm going to do what's best for my daughter whether you like it or not."
Bloom was genuinely surprised by how upset her mother was at Oritel. Not that she could blame Marion. She too had a direct involvement with Bloom's life not only Oritel.
Weeks earlier Oritel and Marion had been co-parenting together and in a way it had been wonderful. There were no signs of them arguing or not being on the same page, but apparently Oritel had made it abundantly clear he wanted to deal with it on his own without Marion's assistance.
Bloom could easily see the hurt flitter across her father's face when Marion had pulled her hands away from Oritel, a sign that she didn't want to be coddled by him. Her father had appeared to be utterly disheartened.
Oritel had turned to his daughter, somberly, as if she were the only person who would genuinely understand him and not be so angry with him. He couldn't handle the fact that Marion was being resentful towards him.
(Oritel was hopeful over the fact that just at least one of his girls wouldn't look at him with a bitterly).
"Bloom, I know I haven't been truthful to you about the Prophecy and I'm so sorry. Please understand the reason why I'd done it. I just wanted to keep you safe and not lose you to Valtor. It's my fatherly duty to protect you."
The redhead princess had detected the heartbreak laced through her father's voice. Seeing Oritel looking so shattered like that had broken her heart into pieces. It was hard to resist Oritel's pleading expression.
Bloom had lifted her gaze.
Hesitation danced in her shimmering blue eyes.
She didn't want to forgive him so fast and easily but feeling his hand on top of hers, giving her a slight squeeze. . . Oritel was making this rather difficult for her to not to stay mad at him.
Bloom had opened her mouth. "I suppose I can't really stay mad at you but if you keep insisting on treating me like I'm some sort of infantile child, then it's going to be a problem. Promise me you wouldn't intervene as much?"
The redhead princess had looked her father in the eyes for a determined response. Oritel appeared to be dwelling on Bloom's words.
"Promise."
Aisha was surprised in seeing how Bloom's fiery temper had managed to dwindle down due to Oritel's calming and promising words he'd made to his daughter. It had really struck Aisha moment earlier when Bloom had wanted to give her father a piece of her mind out of her frustration.
"So, what are you planning to do Bloom? About Valtor?" Aisha asked.
Bloom gave her friend a long look.
It wasn't too hard to find Valtor especially if his hideout is on Domino. She had noticed that whenever she'd used her magic—her Dragon Flame on her home world, she could easily tap into the deeper roots of her powers.
Finding Valtor would be easy unless he managed to deceive them all again with his manipulation spells to keep them off his back as a mere distraction.
Bloom knew that the dark wizard wanted to be free of the Ancestral Witches' ploy. Valtor wouldn't dare to attempt to misguide her.
"I'm going to have to find him first."
"You know where he is?"
Bloom gave a nod, unsmiling. "Unfortunately."
"Are you sure he's not going to deceive anyone?"
Bloom had gazed at Aisha, flatly. "I'm certain. What's important to Valtor is wanting to be free from the Ancestral Witches' grasp."
The Andorsian Princess was utterly appalled by Bloom's sudden information as if she had never heard that from before or had least expected that from the dark wizard.
She had appeared to be dwelling on Bloom's words. She bit her lips. Her teal eyes reflecting utmost worry about her friend being swindled with his words. After all, Valtor had a slipper tongue—a seductive way of making people fall to his words and join his cause. She was fearful for Bloom.
It hadn't been the first time that Valtor had lied directly to her face.
"Are you positive? Like a hundred percent sure? I mean, this isn't the first time Valtor used that kind of card on you?" Aisha said warningly.
Oritel blinked his eyes.
He gazed at the girl with curiousness, wanting to hear more of Aisha's side of the story. Valtor may had showed Marion whatever he wanted to show her of Bloom's memories to fit his own perspective.
To keep playing the damned game whenever it pleased him.
Bloom's voice had rung in his mind, back to the conversation they had in the aircraft when they had escaped Mandragora's wrath on Alfea.
"He wants me."
"What? What do you mean he wants you, Bloom?"
"I don't know." Bloom shrugged.
Valtor was seriously getting on Oritel's nerves. Valtor had wanted anything to do with his daughter. Playing her to ends. Use her as his own pawn for his selfish personal gains, and whatever he deemed was necessary.
It was making Oritel's blood boil.
"If you please, may I hear your side of the story?" Oritel asked kindly.
"Oh of course! I mean, Bloom had a couple of opportunities to defeat Valtor permanently. But the moment he knew he was losing; he would easily slip up to Bloom saying I know what happened to your parents or like I can help you find them. Last he said. . ."
Aisha had appeared skeptical; her teal eyes flickering at Bloom whether she should spill or not. She could see the sadness reflecting in Bloom's sapphire eyes, the frustration in Oritel, and the overprotectiveness in Marion as the girl had her arm latched onto her child for safekeeping.
It was difficult to utter those horrifying words to Marion and Oritel or how Valtor had truly manipulated Bloom.
"What did he say last?" Oritel said thickly.
Aisha had swallowed hardly. It was hard to look Oritel and Marion in the eyes and at Bloom's maternal uncle knowing the twisted lie about his sister's fate.
"Valtor told Bloom specifically that he had imprisoned you and Marion in his own body and if anything had happened to him. . ." Aisha had trailed off.
It was like the oxygen had been sucked out of them all.
Marion had turned white, her grip loosening on Bloom.
"What?" Alec had mumbled faintly.
Niobe and Teredor grimaced at such a thought. It was utterly barbaric and the cruelty Valtor displayed was simply unimaginable.
For the first time, Oritel was truly at loss for words. The prince couldn't even. . . he glanced at his lover with utmost heartache like he'd never experienced from before.
Dragons. Oritel had cursed silently.
"But it had turned out to be a complete lie, since you were the ones to imprison him in the Omega Dimension—"
"But you still believed him, didn't you?!" Oritel had argued, utter fury laced in his voice.
It had thrown Bloom off guard upon seeing Oritel getting angry with her (no it wasn't that he was disturbed or even upset, her father was completely furious not at her poor choices, but her naïveté).
Bloom blinked away the silent tears away.
It wasn't like she knew any better. She could tell that he was accusing her (yet again) but in a subtle way. It had annoyed her. Oritel was really starting to irritate her in many ways. Oritel was acting like an imbecile.
"What do you want me to do?" Bloom spat, angrily. "There was no choice because I thought it was true until I saw his true colors!"
Oritel had given his daughter a twisted sneer of disapproval.
"Why couldn't you stop bel—"
"That's enough! Oritel, you're blaming her again." Marion snapped, narrowing her eyes directly at her irritated fiancé. She personally couldn't tolerate him acting up without getting more details. Always jumping to conclusions.
"What do you want me to say, Marion? That she did a wonderful job! No. She didn't!" Oritel had said sarcastically, which had rubbed Bloom the wrong way.
Bloom winced at Oritel's harsh words. For a moment there, they were having a good father-daughter bonding relationship, but lately, all what Oritel was seeing in her was the failure side of her. Failure. Failure. And even more failure.
He was prone at getting angry quickly with a few words being said. Oritel didn't outright say it, but he was very much implying it directly to her face.
"Oritel," Teredor had chimed in, trying to calm down his irritated friend from lashing out at his child. "We'd all fallen for Valtor's deception. Should I say, Remesu? Bloom isn't the only one. He's a tricky bastard."
At this point, Oritel had fallen silent as he swallowed in Teredor's words. He hadn't realized that Teredor would bring up the topic of Valtor masquerading as an innocent wizard to his face.
Teredor's olive-green eyes had shifted onto Bloom; his expression had softened.
"We came to a better conclusion about Valtor's situation. It was Radius's idea after all. Why don't you teach Oritel that spells of yours? Because everything we came across requires a sacrifice that. . ."
Bloom's face had instantly darkened. She was already aware of what those kinds of sacrifices had required. Her very own life.
Marion had let out a whimper, grasping at her daughter's arm again. Nothing was comforting to Marion. There was simply no way out for her daughter without risking her life. Tears brimmed at the corner of her eyes.
"Mum. I promise you that nothing will happen to me." Bloom had given her mother her word. A fierce determination sparked in her blue eyes.
Bloom had turned her attention back onto her father. The redhead princess lifted an eyebrow. "I can teach you the spell only if you would stop throwing a temper tantrum every five minutes."
The brown-haired prince had let off his esteem with a muttering sigh.
Oritel finally glanced at Bloom with a calmer look. There was no doubt that if he continued to berate his own daughter, Bloom might not even teach him the spell, which would mean that Bloom would fight Valtor on her own.
Oritel winced at the thought of Bloom subjecting herself to the bastard. No. He wouldn't allow her to confront Valtor. He'd rather die than allowing her to suffer under his brutal hands.
"Fine."
"Good. I'm glad that you can be reasonable."
Oritel had wanted to comment back, but he had figured it was best to not ruin the moment. Getting on Bloom's bad side wasn't something he was greatly fond off especially knowing that his daughter had inherited his infamous temper.
The entire atmosphere had shifted for the worse.
Bloom.
Bloom felt her head wash over with absolute dizziness, sensing Valtor's dark magic wash over her entirely. The girl had blinked her eyes to see that everyone had vanished from her sight, leaving only Valtor who was standing right before her very own eyes.
His sneer of a smile had made her flinch.
His pale blue eyes were ignited with absolute exhilaration, as if he had accomplished a great feat. He had gently approached Bloom had gazed down at her.
It's been days since I'd last seen you Bloom. Unfortunately, time is running out. If you don't manage to come up with a plan to break the curse over me. . .
Bloom hadn't liked the sound of his wicked laughter echoing, neither the dark flames dancing in the palm of his hands as if Valtor was merely entertaining himself.
I'm an impatient wizard, sweetheart.
Valtor had carefully lifted Bloom's chin in the most delicate manner, as he looked deep into her blue eyes that were filled with wonders of the universe. So innocent. So Naïve. So beautiful. He could easily see the faint freckles scattered all cross her face—noting how much were on the bridge of her nose. Her red eyelashes batting at him. Oh. How much he had wanted her in that very moment.
All what I'm seeing is that you're chit-chatting with your pathetic friends!
I'm working on it.
Working on it isn't good enough Bloom! Valtor had snapped at her. Fury had overtaken his features. His pale blue-grey eyes flashing to bright red. Indicating that the demon was trying to break free from Valtor.
It's only a matter of time when they'll reawaken the real demon side of me.
Bloom noted that the demon within Valtor was slowly becoming unstable which could be utterly problematic if it had decided to break free ahead of time, due to the Ancestral Witches' powerful dark magic. It had been nearly impossible to defeated him in his cruel demonic form.
If yours and Marion's essence is tied to my life force isn't enough to convince you to hurry up otherwise, I might be looking into other options.
Bloom had narrowed her eyes. Other options? What does that supposed to mean? Isn't that enough that you're torturing me and my mother endlessly?
Valtor licked his lips and softly crooned. Nothing is ever enough. Well, there is one thing that would satisfy me my sweet Bloom. . .
It had made the princess gag on the inside.
Which is? Bloom had furrowed her eyebrows.
The dark wizard had approached the young princess and gently leaned towards her, grasping her red curls in his fingers, eyeing it with absolute lust in his eyes. Bloom had shivered upon feeling his lips ever so close to her slender exposed neck.
You know what I want really Bloom. Valtor had pressed his soft lips against her neck aggressively, as the princess groaned. I want you. I want you as my partner—as my wife if you will.
Wife?!
Color had drained from Bloom's face entirely, leaving her numb on the inside for his mere suggestion. She couldn't . . . Bloom couldn't even lift her gaze to see Valtor.
Valtor had titled his head to the side to only see Bloom squirming in discomfort. He had truly enjoyed making the girl feel utterly defeated. It's what he had truly craved.
Like I said before Bloom, I will wreak havoc and chaos everywhere. First starting with your precious family. Perhaps your maternal grandparents? From what I know, your mother is greatly dotted on by her parents and if anything were to happen to them. . .
Bloom's eyes had fluttered wide open, her lips quivering.
You wouldn't dare—
Well then, time is of the essence Bloom!
Valtor smirked before vanishing from Bloom's sight.
"Bloom?"
Bloom had finally snapped out of her trance. Her blue eyes had fluttered widen open. Though she had noted the strange looks that her friends were giving her.
Bloom had cursed under her breath.
Although she had finally that Sky and Stella had decided to join them, though Bloom had tried to hide her giggles once she had spotted Radius sitting between Brandon and Stella.
Apparently, Radius wasn't thrilled at all with the idea that Stella had a boyfriend and kept giving Brandon dirty glares. Meanwhile Oritel couldn't help but mutter the ultimate words of sweet revenge for all the jokes that Radius had made about him about Bloom.
Sky wasn't in the mood (it was no doubt that it had to do with Erendor). Sky's gaze had seemed to be glued right on her—studying every inch of her.
Distracted in thought, the girl had flinched at her mother's touch.
"What happened darling?" Marion said worriedly.
Bloom had looked at her mother gloomily.
The girl didn't even know what to say to her own mother. How could Bloom spill out the words that Valtor had threatened to hurt her maternal grandparents if she doesn't break the curse over Valtor soon.
The girl had swallowed hardly, feeling everyone's intense gaze on her for an answer. "Valtor had communicated with me via magic."
"I'm not surprised." Aisha said.
"It's about the curse, isn't it?" Nabu had meant it more, as a statement rather than a curious question.
"Yes, and Valtor wants it done by tonight." Bloom had looked utterly solemn in that very moment. She didn't like how Valtor had threatened her with her grandparents. The damned wizard couldn't go one day without threatening her or her family members.
"What? He can't be serious." Alec spluttered in horror.
Even Oritel was at loss for words to say to Bloom.
"Oh. He's dead serious or he would—" Bloom had bit her lips nervously.
She didn't want to put anyone else lives in danger just because her father had wanted to avoid her the spell. It was utterly ridiculous. And most importantly, Bloom didn't want to have anyone's blood on her hand and that's what terrified her more than anything in the entire universe.
"Or he would what?" Stella finally asked, worry shining her hazel eyes.
The look that Bloom had given Stella was all what the Solarian Princess had needed to know and that had disgusted her. Typical Valtor.
Come on Princess. You better get moving along if you want to see your grandparents alive again Bloom.
"I have to go now!" Bloom said urgently, standing on her feet, tears at the bay of her eyes. "Or he's going hurt them!"
"Them? Who?" Marion demanded, not liking how frantic and desperate her daughter was becoming at that very moment.
Bloom had felt as if the world had spun all too quickly, leaving her breathless and lightheaded, almost wanting to pass out. The color of her face had completely drained away—appearing ashen.
Please stop Valtor. I'm begging you, don't hurt them.
Don't hurt them? I'm afraid it's too late Bloom. Valtor's curled his lips in satisfaction. Oh. How he greatly relished seeing the princess on her knees just crying out to him, begging of him to simply stop.
Bloom's lips trembled, as she uttered the words out to Marion.
It had made Marion's stomach drop to the bottom depths of Domino. Fury had ignited in her emerald eyes.
"That despicable wizard . . ." Alec snarled, cursing him to Shadow Haunt for all eternity and glanced at his niece. "Did he say where he took them Bloom?"
Bloom had slightly flinched upon detecting the rage of her uncle's demanding tone and had given him the location of the place where Valtor would meet them.
Bloom had sensed Sky's hand grabbing hers—giving her a tight squeeze. Sky had looked down at her. His ocean blue eyes had reflected with utmost worry as if he were about to lose her for the third time.
"You're not going to do this on your own!" Sky's voice had rose, sounding almost like his father.
"But Sky this isn't exactly your choice to make," Bloom said irritably. "This is much bigger than that."
He hardly mistaken Bloom's harsh tone and he narrowed his eyes directly at her. "Bloom. You don't need to play the hero all the time. You have friends who are willing to help you. Can't you see that?"
Bloom's jaw had dropped, staring at him incredulously. She couldn't believe the words that was escaping Sky's mouth. Had he forgotten who was Valtor exactly? The magic he possessed.
"You think I don't know that Sky? Even so, it's not like any of you can confront Valtor on your own and expect to win." Bloom was being frustrated by Sky's obnoxiousness.
Sky had had glared at her, slack jawed. "So, what does that mean Bloom?"
"You know what it exactly means Sky! And I'm not going to back down or change my mind about this." Bloom's expression had hardened.
"You're being selfish Bloom. You want to do things on your own terms without even listening to anyone else's suggestions!"
"You think I'm being selfish!" Bloom was utterly shocked by the cruelness that dripped in Sky's voice, accusing her of being inconsiderate.
"Yes! Because I can't risk losing you the second time Bloom!" He grabbed her by the shoulders, panic had flooded his ocean blue eyes. It was an expression that Bloom had hardly seen in Sky from before. It had thrown her off guard.
"I don't know if you're aware of this Bloom, but when you died it had been the hardest thing on me. I couldn't accept it and it drove me mad. I felt lost—like all hope was sputtered out for good." Sky's voice had softened; he was less irritated, showing absolute fear and worry over Bloom's life.
In the moment, Bloom could easily understand Sky's deep heartache for her. He had been grieving over her loss for six months. It hadn't been easy on Sky, and it had clearly showed on his face.
"You haven't been getting much sleep, have you?" Bloom whispered.
Sadness had flittered across Sky's face. "No. I haven't Bloom. How could I possibly continue living knowing that you died."
For the first Bloom had lacked any comforting words to say to Sky. She placed her hand on his cheek; her blue eyes shining with utter solace, giving him the comfort that he needed. Sky had embraced Bloom tightly and comfortingly, warm as the sun. Tears had managed to drip from his eyes.
"Sky," Bloom begun softly, feeling the brush of his lips against her forehead, before looking at him again. "You know I must do this. Besides I won't be on my own. My father. He's going to help me take down Valtor."
"Well, I suppose that is comforting," Sky mused.
Oritel's gaze had fallen on his daughter and a young man who he'd believed to be Sky—they were away from everyone else—in a deep discussion that no doubt had involved Valtor in the center of all things.
A frown tugged at his lips. He could easily tell that a heated argument had broken between the two. Oritel didn't like Sky's behavior towards Bloom at all.
Oritel's heart was caught between a tough place.
One to comfort a distressed Marion who seemed to be on the verge of tears as her own brother tried to reassure her. Or second to diffusion the escalating situation between Bloom and Sky.
Oritel had pressed his lips against Marion's forehead lovingly. He had given her a tight hug. "I'll be right back, Marion."
Sniffling, Marion had given him an understanding nod, muttering.
"Do what you must do, Oritel. I'll be fine."
It had pained him to see Marion suffering yet again. Oritel had cursed all the wretched evil that was taking place and how it was slowly tearing them all apart to nothing but broken pieces.
Bloom's heart had pouched to all corners of her body once Sky's lips met hers—feeling the sizzling sensation spark her with excitement again.
The moment Bloom had pulled away from Sky, the girl had noticed that Sky had gone rather pale and had stiffen in his place.
Bloom blinked her eyes a couple of times.
Her lips curling into a frown.
"Is everything alright Sky?"
"So, you're the young man that my daughter had taken a fancy to?" Oritel had stated rather dryly, posing a direct brow at Sky.
Shivers had run down the back of her spine upon hearing Oritel's voice coming from behind her. Bloom had spun on her heels to see her father standing before her, arms crossed, eyebrows raised, a frown tugging his lips.
Bloom knew that her father wasn't pleased, rather annoyed.
"Shall I ask what was going on between you and my daughter? I've heard you arguing with her, and it got heated—"
"Dad!" Bloom tried to cut in, knowing her father's harsh and critical tone. She didn't want him to sound like Erendor, jumping to the wrong conclusion. "It was just a misunderstanding. There's nothing for you to be worried about!"
Oritel had snorted, hardly believing a word from Bloom. His brown eyes were firmly planted on Sky, observing him from head to toe.
"So, you're the infamous Sky I've kept hearing all about from Bloom. She told me all about you."
Sky felt his face flush brightly. He was at loss for words. He casted a glance at Bloom to see her only shrugging in response as she giggled innocently.
"It's a pleasure to meet you sir." Sky had shaken his hands with Oritel.
Though he could sense the intimidating glare that Oritel was giving him. It hadn't settled well with Sky knowing that Bloom had told her father everything about him. So naturally, Sky was a nervous train wreck on the inside.
"Likewise."
Oritel had turned his attention on his daughter. "Bloom why don't you go to your mother. She needs you. It won't take long."
He'd rather talk to Sky in private.
Bloom knew better than to argue back and nodded. Before leaving she had given Sky a quick kiss on the cheek, causing Sky tense up. "Don't worry, you'll be fine," Bloom whispered in her boyfriend's ear.
Once Bloom was out of sight, Oritel had glanced at an anxious Sky.
"My daughter is beautiful, isn't she?" Oritel had asked upon noting Sky's eyes stare on his Bloom.
Sky wasn't entirely if he should respond to Oritel's question of it was out of pure intimidation. He simply nodded.
"Now let's have a talk Sky. Man-to-man."
Bloom had tried to comfort her shattered mother, but she knew that the only way possible was to confront Valtor head on and...
Time is ticking faster. You better hurry little Princess or their deaths will be on your hands alone.
Ugh. He kept infuriating her every five minutes with despicable threats. Her hands had turned into fist balls out of exasperation.
"We need to go now. Valtor's rather impatient." Bloom had glanced at her uncle; sparks of anger filled her eyes.
"Can you open up the portal to the precise location?"
There was no time for any of them to take the hyper ship which would take a few hours to get to Domino. Bloom didn't have hours to lose.
Time was working against her.
Alec had nodded and concentrated his magic in opening the portal to their precise destination. A gush of strong winds had surrounded them followed by a bright blue light—a portal that led to the ultimate landing place.
"I'm not going to let you face him on your own Bloom, not again! He's a monster! Besides, I've learned a powerful spell that will temporarily render him blind – or maybe in his case it will blind permanently."
"Uh, Stella, I think that's a bad idea."
"Oh . . . right! Completely forgot about that. Why that b—" Stella had made a face and cursed the blasted wizard under her breath even though earning a glare from Luna. Radius could hardly care and found it amusing as he too agreed with Stella's point.
"What? You can't really say that he isn't," Stella gave a shrug.
"You really do take after father's inappropriate jokes," Luna sighed much to her disapproval. "And I blame you for that Radius."
"Me? What did I do exactly, Luna?" Radius asked nearly offended by Luna's remark. "It's not like I intentionally gave her those genes or anything. . ."
"Joking around with Dad is one of our favorite hobbies we do together even though it may be a tad mean sometimes, it's funny!" Stella pointed out.
Luna gave her fiancé a pointed glare, emphasizing the problem. "See?"
"So, I don't see the problem with that. Frankly, Valtor deserves that."
Luna rolled her eyes due to Radius being prideful over the fact that Stella had manage to share his sense of inappropriate humor.
"The only thing I'm disapproving of is Brandon, here," Radius had shot the young specialist a dirty glare for managing to steal Stella's affection. There wasn't a single thing that Radius happened to like from Brandon.
Typical Radius.
Even during her Princess Ball, Radius wasn't exactly fond of her boyfriend. No matter what Brandon did to impress her father, or how Brandon did while discussing politics, all what Radius saw in him was a boy who captured his daughter's heart. A boy who took Stella away from him. In Radius' opinion Brandon was not good enough for Stella's standards.
"Dad, I mean you know one day it's bound to happen," Stella said softly. "I get to meet someone, fall in love, get married, have children of my own. . ."
Dragons.
It was the same exact words he said to Oritel, teasing him to no ends about Bloom and seeing the horror flash on Oritel's face had been the highlight of his day.
Radius had sulked like a little child upon realizing he had gotten a taste of his own medicine. The ugly truth was utterly bitter. Perhaps he shouldn't have casually teased Oritel endlessly about Bloom.
Who knew karma could be a real bitch in the back?
"Dad, I'll always love you no matter what. Even if I did get married in the future, I'll always be your little ray of sunshine."
Radius had given her a small smile—comforted by her words—and chuckled. "Little ray of sunshine?"
"It's the nickname you gave me when I was little."
It had seemed to appease Radius as his smile had stretched across his face—delighted. But it hadn't meant he had stopped giving Brandon death stares every now and then. Brandon was still twitchy with Radius being nearby.
"We're right beside you Bloom." Aisha had given her a confident smile. "And whatever you say, you can't convince us to stay out of this."
Bloom had felt a strong hand being placed on her shoulder to see it was her father, gazing down at her.
"Can you elaborate to me on how that spell of yours work Bloom? Before we confront Valtor?"
The redhead princess had given her father a nod. She was going to bring Valtor down no matter what. Bloom wasn't going to turn back from her decision or regret it at all. No. She had enough of Valtor.
Apparently, Sky had made his own choice to go with Bloom even though Erendor kept rambling how dangerous, impulsive, and reckless he was being. It was obvious that Erendor wasn't willing to let his son go alone.
It had seemed to her that everyone was on board and that one was willing to back down from this much to Bloom's disfavor. She didn't want any of them to put their lives in danger.
Bloom had sucked in her breath—gazing at the bright blue portal before her. There was no time to even argue, and Bloom had managed to step into the portal followed by everyone else.
Nightfall had fallen on Domino. It was a clear and starless night not even a rustle of winds was heard. The feeling itself was utterly ominous—it was eerie and too quiet even for Valtor.
All the girls were in their Enchantix, fluttering while the specialists had their swords all drawn out for anything suspicious. They were in the middle of a deserted forests that had seemed to have lacked any source of life—almost liked it was dead. Not a single animal had inhabited the territory.
Oritel had appeared to be infuriated by such a scene. It was Valtor's dark magic that had polluted one of the sacred places on Domino. Here was the essence of true healing magic—the plants had contained a wide variety of unique properties. All the plants were withered. It was no doubt that Valtor's hideout was nearby draining every magical source his fingers could latch on.
A tree branch had snapped loudly, which had startled Bloom. She nearly jolted in mid-air. She spun around to see if anyone was behind them, but unluckily there was no one behind them.
"Bloom, are you okay?" Stella asked. "I can't blame you if you're terrified of confronting Valtor."
"Maybe it's not too late to opt back Bloom," Aisha reminded, seeing the frightened look on Bloom's face that kept intensifying for the worse.
"I can't backdown especially now. My grandparents' lives are stake and Valtor won't release them not until. . . I really wish there was another solution to this madness."
Stella had gazed at her friend with a heartfelt expression.
"I know Bloom. But I'm just worried about you."
Deep down within herself, Bloom had wanted to throw herself in Stella's arms and admit that she wasn't alright, and that the truth was: she was deeply terrified of Valtor's cruelness.
Valtor had always been a sadistic wizard. He always managed to exploit everyone's vulnerability and used it against them very well. Cruel. Barbaric.
"We're almost there," Bloom said, feeling the strong presence of Valtor's magic linger all around them. He was here—right in the center of the dead forest.
Bright crimson eyes had ignited in the darkness that had surrounded them all-not even the faintest of moonlight had spilled in the forest, besides the girls Enchantix giving off such a faint glow.
Bloom's heart had managed to skip a beating rhythm—panic and fear had flooded her face entirety upon the scene she had witnessed. All color had drained from her face—as she had violently trembled.
Valtor had stood there in the center, waiting for them, but he had looked awfully different. A little more demonic. His demon form was starting to emerge out of him. He left side was completely devoured by his beastly shape. Thick red skin, pale blue eyes glowing in the dark, his leathered wing, and the unforgettable sharp claws.
The entire group were completely startled by the wizard's newly appearance, cursing under their breaths, besides Bloom, Aisha, Nabu, Stella, Brandon, and Sky.
Tears had spilled from Marion's emerald eyes at such a horrific sight of her mother and father being tied up together with gashes of blood streaming down their pale, exhausted face, unconscious. They were trapped in a magical sphere.
"You Monster!" Marion cried out in utter fury. Flames had engulfed her palms— shooting fire balls directly at the blasted wizard before her.
Indignation and anger rose in Alec at once. His magic sputtering out of control—over the sight of his helpless parents. Valtor had managed to ambush his parents! He gritted his teeth, snarling.
Valtor had smirked in delight has he managed to deflect all of Marion's attack and had easily absorbed her spells within his own body.
"Ah, ah, ah . . ." Valtor had tsked, wagging his finger in front of the two siblings who were on the verge on out rightfully attacking him with their signature spells.
Valtor had flickered his fingers—the magical sphere was shrinking on Lassandra and Adrian—slowly suffocating the couple within the sphere.
"Surely, you don't that to happen to them, right Marion?" Valtor said haughtily, his lips curling into a ruthless smile.
Niobe was sick to her stomach, as she covered her mouth for realizing how twisted Valtor truly was.
"Now you're just a diabolical creature!" Luna couldn't help but emphasize the evilness that Valtor possessed—he had a real undeniable talent for that.
"That's a big word coming out of you, Luna."
Luna's face had gone red out of anger for ridiculing her.
Horror had plunged Marion's entire body—freezing up in her place. Not even a fickle of a movement. Alec had placed a hand on his sister's shoulder, trying to get her to ease up, but even he too was failing at it.
Bloom felt the undeniable rage stir within her. Bright flames had escalated dangerously all around her. Her sapphire blue eyes had narrowed with much hatred. Valtor was personally hurting all the people she deeply cared and loved in one way or another.
"Let them go Valtor! I'm right here as you asked for! What more do you want from me?!" Bloom bellowed out.
Valtor had titled his head at Bloom. He opened his mouth and uttered a few words that had sent cold chills down everyone's spine.
"I want two things from you Bloom. But first, you're going to break the curse over me, and we'll discuss the second one once you're done—freeing me of my half-demon self."
"How dare you!" Sky, infuriated, had uncontrollably lashed out at the pathetic wizard who kept chains on his beloved Bloom and her family. It was utterly disgusting. How could a dark wizard stoop this kind of low level was beyond him?
Valtor raised a curious brow, intrigued by the unfamiliar faces he was currently seeing with his own eyes.
"Oh? Is that so? Perhaps I'd forgotten my hospitality?"
His pale grey blue eyes had ignited—as the dark wizard had summoned one of the darkest creatures known to the Magic Dimension.
The dark monsters had materialized in front of the fairies and specialists. Their large amber eyes gleaming in the darkness that was filled with sadism. The creatures' sizes had easily towered over the group.
Stella was trembling at the sight of those awful monsters, reminding her of the Army of Darkness that had swept the whole City of Magix during the height of the Trix's ultimate rage for power during their First Year at Alfea.
Aisha hadn't been present during the time, but she had read through several articles regarding the matter. It had been utterly dangerous and terrifying—many people had died during the Trix's Reign of absolute Terror.
The Enchantix fairies had took their stance for battle—preparing their own spells meanwhile the specialists had drawn out their swords.
Valtor had turned his attention back on Bloom and summoned a barrier that kept her, and her family separated from the rest of the group who were off facing those gruesome monsters.
"We're all alone now."
Bloom grimaced. The girl had sat down, crossed-legged, which had rose Valtor's curiosity. She had concentrated deeply on her magic—allowing herself to be detached from her physical body.
Oritel had watched as Bloom preformed the spell before his own eyes. The bright flame of Bloom's essence had left her body and instantly her physical body had collapsed.
Marion had rushed to her daughter's side, pulling the girl into her arms, softly caressing her cheeks. Tears dripping from her eyes for everything that was happening to her and her family. It wasn't fair.
"Bloom. . ." Marion had softly stroked her daughter's hair. She had gazed upwards to see Bloom's bright flames floating all the way towards Valtor and into his body, which had caused Marion to wince.
Alec had his attention on his parents who were slowly waking up from their unconsciousness, but they were no longer kept in the magical sphere. The blond-haired wizard had instantly dashed over to his parents to check their injuries.
Oritel was at Marion's side. She had looked at him with full of tears in her eyes—sad tears that Oritel had often hated to see in Marion. His heart had broken in half.
"Don't let Bloom do this on her own. Valtor will do anything to hurt her. Please Oritel," Marion said brokenly.
"I know Marion." Oritel had pressed a loving kiss on his fiancé's forehead.
He had soon positioned himself like Bloom, crossed-legged, and slowly focused on his magic. He allowed himself to disconnect from his physical body just like what Bloom had told him.
A brighter and bigger flame had emerged out of Oritel's body—it was his inner essence and watched as it gone into the dark wizard's body. Marion bit her lips nervously as the girl had only hoped that Oritel and Bloom would be safe from Valtor's wickedness.
Oritel had opened his eyes to see he was in the inner sanctum of Valtor's essence. The flames were rather intense, as it had surrounded Valtor and Bloom.
Oritel had narrowed his eyes directly at Valtor—utter disgust, outrage, a range of absolute ire had overtaken Oritel's features completely at such a sight.
Bloom was being forcedly held by Valtor. Her hands were up in the air—tightened by magic—unable to mover her wrists, as if she had chains on.
Bloom kept whimpering as tears had spilled from her innocent blue eyes that once sparked with life was now filled with fear, as she gazed at her father Oritel.
"Daddy!" she cried out to him in desperation.
Valtor had his hands firmly on her waist, keeping her in place—uncaring over the fact that he was in the presence of Oritel. Valtor had slid his hand under the dress of her Enchantix—Bloom's eyes had bulged out of her eye socket—horrified.
"No! Please! Please! I'm begging you! Please don't touch me like that! At least not in front of my father!"
Bloom had sobbed hardly, tears glistening down her face. He had messed up her gorgeous Enchantix hair—pulling out all her accessories from her hair.
Valtor's sadistic smile had stretched across his face. His hot breath had reeked against the slender of her neck. "But this is the perfect message Bloom. I wouldn't have it any other way."
Valtor had continued to pull down the side of Bloom's underwear down to her thighs—in that moment he was met with Oritel's undeniable rage of power—sending Valtor flying back.
Bloom was astounded by Oritel's raw, powerful magic he'd exhibited—never once having to witness something incredible—but the fury her father had displayed was unimaginable.
"Don't you dare fucking lay your dirty fingers on my daughter like that ever again, Valtor!" Oritel had seethed.
Oritel turned his attention on his daughter, and his heart throbbed endlessly upon seeing her fearful look and the tears that continued to spill from her eyes.
"It's going to be alright Bloom. I promise you," Oritel said softly, giving his daughter a kiss on her forehead with love and unbreakable promise towards Bloom.
"I need you Daddy, just please don't leave me all alone," Bloom whispered brokenly and added, "I'm scared."
"I will never you leave alone, Bloom." Oritel had tried to give her a hopeful smile.
Valtor's dark chuckles had echoed all around them. This was only just the very beginning of his plans. He will have Bloom as his wife no matter what. Valtor had licked his lip despite Oritel having thrown a heavy blow at him—he wasn't done, well not yet. Valtor will never give up on the thing he wanted.
"Oh, how touching. A father-daughter moment!" Valtor said, sarcasm dripping in his voice as he glared at the duo before him.
Oritel had took the vial of fairy dust from Bloom's neck.
He simply knew what to do with it—to break the wretched demon curse over Valtor and free his daughter and Marion from his wicked grasp.
"You know Oritel, I want Bloom—"
Oritel had already know that fact. "I'm never going to allow that to happen Valtor!"
Valtor smirked. "You didn't let finish Oritel. I want Bloom as my wife."
Author's Note
Holy moly! I'm back again! Anyways lots of interesting stuff happened this chapter! Damn. I didn't think that this was going to happen! Sometimes the characters takes me on this journey LOL.
Anyways, I'm sooo pissed at the Fate Winx Saga Season 2 massive cliffhanger! Like what the actual hell was that! Why couldn't they reveal Marion's face! Like why! It's so annoying. Season 2 is definitely a lot more improvement on S1. It's pretty good so far even though there's a few issues here and there in S2 but yeah I like it! Can't wait for what's next to come in Season 3! So we're going to have to wait a year for another season!
At least they fixed the Domino issue instead of being 17 years ago, but rather 1,000 years ago! Oh well. . .I'm not gonna say anything more than that.
I can't believe there's a few more chapters maybe three or four before this story wraps up to a final end *sobs in the corner* and then a following sequel may be coming out in sometime of 2023! I've gotta work the plot points and stuff but in the next sequel would be Valtor's Redemption. Unluckily Valtor doesn't get redeemed in this book, but definitely the next one! :)
Bex55: Yeah Oritel hiding something Marion wasn't a nice thing to do, but I guess Oritel is just trying to be overly protective but in the most stubborn way possible. LOL :)
Bellchocolate: Okay, you're probably gonna throw a book at me for that last scene and I don't blame you at all! Valtor, I feel like can't be easily changed by the end of the book, but progress is being made, perhaps after once that demon curse is lifted from him. So there could be stuff I'm gonna work on. I feel sooo bad for Sky right now! Oh Radius did deserved that a 100% for what he did to Oritel! We'll be seeing a lot more of Teredor, Aisha, Niobe, Samara, Erendor, Luna, Stella, Radius . . . etc in the next chapter!
(Ps. I prefer FATE Sky x Bloom - feels like they were both written better than the cartoon one).
I hope you had enjoyed this chapter!
Like always please leave your reviews and comments down below! I really do appreciate it and love to hear your thoughts about it!
Until Next Time!