A/N: Hello loves! Sorry for the wait! I've been quite busy with other projects so I hope you don't hate me too much. Please enjoy the update, even if it is kinda slow moving! Leave love on your way! XOXOX!
Chapter 13
It took hours to get back to Alfea on foot.
Bloom debated for a while about going back and taking Brandon's levabike but there were too many risks involved. She couldn't take the bike and leave the body, especially if he had to check it out from Red Fountain. They would find his body and then track his bike right back to her. That meant she would have to dispose of the body, and she didn't have the stomach to do that. Just looking at his vacant, lifeless eyes was enough to make her vomit. She couldn't bear to be around Brandon for another moment longer. Hence, the running.
The night sky was twinkling with stars by the time Bloom got to the front gates of Alfea. Really, it was a miracle she remembered the way, her subconscious taking over as she ran off of pure adrenaline and fear. She barely had time to struggle with the truth of her existence because this was far more important. She could worry about her fucked up past once she had this murder mess sorted. Unfortunately, there was a nagging feeling that told her that things were only going to get harder and messier from here.
She tried not to dwell on that sense of foreboding as she snuck through the school for fairies, tiptoeing her way down halls and up stairs. It was painful to be so quiet, but she was not in the mood to be caught by administration this late at night. Not that they would immediately suspect her of murder, but Bloom as pretty sure the Headmistress already hated her, and there would be a lot of questions involved as to why Bloom was up so late, dressed in her day clothes, and smelling of sweat and nature. Yeah, that wasn't suspicious at all.
Finally, she reached her apartment, the door swinging open with minimal squeaking. No one came out to crucify her, so she took that as a good sign and shut the door, ready to tuck herself into bed and sleep away all her problems, if she could sleep at all. She felt wired, like her entire body was on edge when she was certain all she should be feeling is exhaustion. After all, she did run fucking miles through the woods.
Inside her room, Flora was fast asleep, face buried into a pillow while she cuddled with a stuffed animal. It was adorable, distracting Bloom for a second as she remembered that The Day of the Rose holiday break was over so the rest of her roommates should be back as well. Then, Bloom tripped over a vine and landed hard on her ass, causing Flora to whimper and toss in her sleep. Bloom cursed herself mentally, carefully disentangling herself and creeping over to her bureau. Fresh clothes were needed desperately, the old dirty ones peeling off her sweaty body like a layer of skin. They definitely were not salvageable, which was sad because Bloom really loved those yellow star jeans. She tossed them in a pile under her bed, out of plain sight until she could properly dispose of them later.
In the shower, Bloom scrubbed her skin mercilessly, trying to get the scent of sex and death off her skin. Dirt and leaves sloughed off her body, turning the water brown. She scrubbed and scrubbed and scrubbed until her skin was red and raw, the steam from the scalding water rising up above her like a cloud. She wished she could choke on the vapor. It was what she deserved being the shit human being - no, the shit creature - she was. The shower masked her tears, the sound of the water hitting tile hiding her sobs. She cried with a hand over her mouth until she threw up, and then continued until her eyes dried up and her stomach was empty and all she could do was gasp out dry heaves. Then, she turned off the water and stepped out of the tub, studying her reflection in the mirror.
Her entire life, her parents - adopted parents, she reminded herself bitterly - told her she was gorgeous. Look at your glowing skin, those bright blue eyes, such fiery hair, they would praise while all the school boys tries to bounce quarters off of her abnormally large ass and shoot popcorn down her cleavage. It was such a juxtaposition that she never knew what to think...but now...She was a sex creature. Succubi were meant to seduce, meant to be coveted, to be wanted by all men. It was her birthright to be beautiful, but now she would do anything to be average. All she saw in the mirror was a hideous, blood-stained creature who no one could ever love. Her adopted parents were liars for more reason than one.
Once out of the bathroom, she pulled on her pajamas and went to flop down on her bed. Unfortunately she caught the corner of Flora's desk on her way there and knocked a potted plant over, the ceramic shattering, dirt going everywhere, and the plant itself shouting profanities that would make a sailor blush.
"Bloom..." Flora asked groggily, "What are you doing...? What's going on...?"
"Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you," Bloom apologized, skittering around the room as to avoid bumping into anything else. She would clean the plant up in the morning when she wasn't in such a frazzled state of mind.
"Where've you been...?" Flora yawned, rubbing her sleepy eyes.
"Library," Bloom said. It wasn't completely a lie. She was at a library, just not Alfea's. "Lost track of time."
"Mmmmm..." Flora hummed, already lowering her head in all its wild-haired glory back down to her pillow. "Just try to be quiet please."
"Sorry," she apologized again, only allowing herself to let out a sigh of relief once Flora's breathing was back to being deep and regulated.
That was too close. She was only grateful that Flora was tired enough not to question much past the basics. If she was lucky, she would wake up early enough to clean up the plant and Flora would chalk this all up to a dream. If she was luckier, she herself would wake up and the last few weeks would all be a bad dream. She would wake up and be in Andy's arms and they would be happy with their normal, boring life in Gardenia far away from fairies and succubi and witches. That was a good plan, Bloom decided as she crawled into bed and pulled up the sheets, completely exhausted.
If the universe is listening, don't let me wake up, Bloom thought as she started to drift off to sleep.
Then, an alarm pierced the air like a shotgun, making Bloom jump out of her skin. She bolted upright in bed, completely disoriented even though she had barely closed her eyes. It sounded like the sky was crashing down, the ear-splitting sirens making her hearing ring.
"What now?" Flora complained, upset that she was once again woken up from her beauty rest.
"It wasn't me," Bloom said as she raised her hands in innocence.
Then, their door opened and Tecna's head popped in.
"Emergency alarm," she explained, beckoning them out of the room. "Come on, everyone's expected in the dining hall."
"How do you know this?" Bloom asked, slipping her shoes back on her aching feet.
"It was in the Alfea handbook, section twenty-three on emergency protocols. I swear, am I the only one who is prepared?" Tecna asked, baffled by everyone's lack of knowledge.
"Obviously," Bloom said under her breath, letting Flora pass first so she could grab her robe. It was a good thing for that robe too, because the last thing Bloom needed on top of the shit show of tonight was to be distracted by her roommate's flawless body.
As the five girls made their way down the halls, Bloom noted a few obvious changes that had not been there when she had snuck in. The windows that normally let in the sun and moon shine regardless of weather were now hidden behind curtains, doors to the halls to the classrooms which were always open were now closed and locked, and most noticeably was the presence of many men clearly of military status directing the flow of traffic, pushing the students along at a quick pace. They seemed stern and callous, not caring that everyone was tired and confused, only concerned with their end goal of getting everyone to the hall. No one dared stray off track, the unknown men not the kind to be trifled with.
Bloom kept close to her friends the entire way, trailing at the end. She watched as Musa discreetly laced her fingers through Tecna's and leaned on the magenta-haired girl for support. Flora pulled her robe close to her chest, shivering not entirely caused by the cold. Stella seemed to be intrigued by all this chaos, chatting with the girls next to her about what they thought was going on. Bloom herself stayed focused on the course ahead. This was only a speed bump, a distraction from her real problems. She just needed to get this meeting over with so she could go back to bed, get some sleep, and wake up refreshed with new ideas on how to get away with murder. It sounded so much easier said than done.
There was no order as to how the students were to fit in the room, all the fairies grouping together in their cliques and circles, gossiping about what this could possibly be about. There were also Red Fountain guys in the mix, wearing their civilian clothes instead of their usual jumpsuits. They seemed just as confused, if not more so, to be there in the school for fairies. Everyone's opinions thrummed in Bloom's ears, causing the hair on arms to stand on end. There were more unknown men with large pointed spears and swords attached to their hips standing in few-foot intervals, running the entire perimeter of the dining hall. It was unnerving to be surrounded, caged with no way out.
Once the last of the students was in the hall, the double doors shut and Headmistress Faragonda stood, a man with long white hair and a crooked staff seated at her right side with another strong, dark haired bearded man standing behind him, presumably the Headmaster and deputy of Red Fountain as no one questioned their presence. Faragonda looked more grim than usual, more wrinkles on her aged face than before, her hair just a tad whiter. Everyone hushed as she raised her hands to silence the crowd, clearing her throat to deliver her message with devastating clarity.
"Ladies and gentlemen, it is my solemn duty to inform you that earlier this evening, Prince Sky of Eraklyon was killed."
A collective gasp ran throughout the room. Bloom swallowed thickly. Stella stumbled backward, one hand clutched over her chest while tears streamed from her eyes. Flora held onto Stella as she sobbed, running a hand through the girl's golden hair comfortingly. Bloom felt a pang of sadness upon seeing the sight.
"I was just informed by Headmaster Saladin that his body and his levabike were found by Cloud Tower security just outside of the forest perimeter," the Headmistress continued, her tone full of sorrow and steel. "As of yet, there is no information as to how or why he was killed, but Headmistress Griffin of Cloud Tower is working mercilessly to figure out what Prince Sky was doing so close to her school. All we know is that this was a senseless, unprovoked attack, as he was alone and his weapon unused."
"My money's on a witch," Musa commented under her breath, Tecna pondering the likelihood before nodding in agreement.
Wait...this didn't make sense. The person Faragonda was describing was not Prince Sky, but Brandon.
There was no time to dwell on possibilities, because Headmaster Saladin was gesturing for someone to come forward. A confused murmur ran through the crowd as a brunet young man they all knew to be Prince Sky walked up Headmistress Faragonda and Headmaster Saladin. His gait was heavy, his head bowed in respect as he turned to face the crowd. Even from the distance, Bloom could see he was shaking and his eyes were red-rimmed.
"I am not who you think I am. My real name is Brandon Martin, squire to Prince Sky of Eraklyon," Not-Sky said, his voice heavy with emotion. His gaze was downcast, as if he could not bear to look anyone in the eye and face his failure. "The prince and I switched places at the start of the semester. Our close friends knew about it, but that was all. He wanted to live a normal life without the restrictions of his title, and so I indulged his wishes. Now...I know I should not have. I failed at my duties to protect him and now my prince is dead."
Not-Sky pulled something out of his pocket and held it out in his hand. A moment later, a blue holographic image of the real Sky popped up, the blond dressed in finery, and crown placed upon his head. The entire room gasped then went quiet, absorbing this information, and none was more shocked than Bloom. Immediately, her situation became a thousand times worse, because now she had not only murdered a man, she had murdered a prince. There was nowhere the Magical Dimension she could run; an entire planet was after his killer and it was only a matter of time before their infinite resources tracked the clues back to her.
She needed to get the hell out of there. She needed to get the hell off this planet, back to Earth to heal her parents and then she didn't know where. Just keep moving...just keep -
"Prince Sky is...a SQUIRE?" Stella gasped dramatically, like she might faint, a few people turning their heads to watch her spectacle. Of course that would be what she focused on. A man was dead and the only thing she cared about appearances. Then she turned to Bloom and continued, "You've been dating the real Prince Sky this whole time?"
"We weren't - "
"Silence!" Griselda demanded, sending cutting glares their direction from over her glasses frame.
"As I was saying, this is a senseless act of violence that will not be tolerated," Headmistress Faragonda continued, her lips pursed in a thin line as she gestured to the uniformed armed men lining the walls of the room. "These are soldiers of the Eraklyan guard, and they will be a constant presence in Alfea, as well as the rest of Magix, until Prince Sky's killer is brought to justice. Respect them and their rights to be here. Comply to their wishes, and life at Alfea will run smoothly."
"While the Eraklyan guard is searching for the killer, a strict curfew will be put in place for the protection of the rest of Alfea's and Red Fountain's students," Griselda picked up, peering down at her clipboard. "From this moment forward, Magix is under lockdown. No student shall travel alone whether that be across the quad to class or to the restroom. Find a friend and stay with them at all times. There shall be no trips into the city, no excursions off planet - even to visit family. If you no longer feel safe at your respective schools and wish to return home for the rest of the semester, you must first schedule an appointment with the administration at your earliest convenience."
"That being said, classes will continue as normal," Headmistress Faragona finished, her hands tucked militarily behind her back. "This school shall not shut down just because someone wishes to break our spirit. We must show the Magical Dimension that the young men and women trained at our fine institutions will not bend to the will of evil."
Deafening silence was broken with a round of applause, everyone united by a common enemy.
Bloom was practically hyperventilating.
What happened if she needed to feed again? She had no idea how often Succubi got hungry, and there would be no hiding what she did if she left a trail of bodies behind. Someone would be bound to notice that everyone she was around tended to die. Plus, it wasn't like she could leave campus to do it either. She would be forced to pick someone inside Alfea, and all she could think about was Flora's lips on hers with legs spread open and wanting...
Bloom actually pinched herself, trying to stop her train of thought before she actually went and killed someone else.
"If any student from either school knows anything that may help this investigation, we implore you to come forward now," Headmistress Faragonda decreed. "Time is of the essence, and the more we waste, the closer another one of our own is to becoming a victim."
Unsurprisingly, no one stepped forward. It wasn't in anyone's first instinct to put themselves on display, and it seemed that no one was eager to start a witch hunt (no pun intended). All it took was one person to point at someone they didn't like and this plan would derail fast. There were too many things that could go wrong, too many loose canons, and every cell in Bloom's body screamed to seize the first chance to get the hell out of dodge.
"My office is always open. Please, if anyone needs to talk, make use of it immediately," Headmistress Faragonda concluded, visibly disappointed no one had come forth. She sat back down and folded her hands primly in her lap, conversing with Headmaster Saladin privately.
"Everyone back to your rooms!" Griselda commanded, clapping her hands twice to spur people along.
"Specialists, with me!" the bearded man ordered, his voice gruff and low.
Everyone began moving, and through the shifting crowd, Stella pushed her way to where Brandon was leaning up against a wall. He looked even worse close up, hair messy and greasy, like he'd been pulling at it. The bags under his eyes stained like bruises, contrasting against the red of his corneas. He looked like he'd had a rough night, and Bloom really couldn't blame him. He'd lost someone close to him and had been beating himself up every minute since he got the news. Bloom hung back while the rest of the girls went back to the dorm room. She was Stella's default buddy after all; couldn't leave her alone even if the guilt of being so close to the real Brandon after what she'd done to Sky was threatening to eat her alive.
"How could you do this to me?" Stella demanded, her eyes watery. "How dare you make me fall for you!"
"I didn't mean to, promise," the real Brandon assured. He went to put his arm around Stella but she took a step back, a clear rejection that only hurt him further. "Please, I just lost my best friend. I can't lose you too."
"You lied to me!" Stella accused, the first few tears falling down her red cheeks. "I am the Princess of Solaria. Do you know what that means? I have to marry a Prince - I can't be seen consorting with commoners, especially not a squire."
"I'm not even that anymore," Brandon admitted, looking ashamed. "I failed in my duties to protect Prince Sky, and now the unthinkable has happened and the King and Queen are blaming me. They're saying that I went along with the switch out of selfish reasons and stripped me of my position. They're pulling me from Red Fountain. When I return to Eraklyon I'll be arrested, imprisoned for treason, or worse."
Brandon didn't have to continue for them to fill in the blanks. The terror in his eyes was enough.
"What do you expect me to do about it?" Stella asked indignantly.
"Help me," he pleaded. "I know I hurt you but I still care about you, and I know you care about me."
His eyes were so wide, so vulnerable it hurt. He was a desperate man searching for a way out of the mess Bloom had made, looking for salvation in the girl he loved. If only things could work out in his favor, it would save Bloom the smallest bit of guilt. She ruined everything...why did she have to ruin everything?
"I'm sorry Sk-Brandon," Stella corrected, sniffling as she tried to regain strength. "But I don't even know who you are anymore."
Stella didn't even wait to hear what Brandon had to say, turning around and running out of the hall. Bloom ran after her, trying not to think about the implications of her rejection. She caught up to Stella at the stairs, the blonde hunched over and breathing shakily. Bloom ran a hand down Stella's back comfortingly.
"Don't you think that was a little harsh?" Bloom asked, looking back pityingly at Brandon who had sunk to the ground, head between both knees as he contemplated the rest of his short life.
"A prince is dead and an entire planet is calling for blood. I'm not sticking my neck and Solaria's out for the witless squire who was supposed to prevent this type of thing from happening," Stella said coldly, not at all like her usual chipper self.
They picked up the pace, hurrying down the halls to get back to their dorm before anyone caught them and punished them for breaking curfew already. Stella was nearly running, trying her hardest to get away from Bloom, but Bloom wouldn't have it.
"But you love him?" she tried, knowing that, despite their lovey-dovey scenes, some of that show was genuine. Stella lit up around Brandon, smiled wider, laughed more.
"Please, love? I barely knew him," Stella scoffed, though the pain in her amber eyes was enough to give her away. "Besides, I'm going to be a queen one day and make decisions like this all the time. I should at least act like it."
She let herself into the dorm, making a beeline straight for her room with Bloom hot on her heels.
"But still - "
"Just shut up, will you Bloom?" Stella demanded, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Don't pretend like you care. You hated the two of us together anyway, so why don't you go and bother someone else and leave me alone."
Bloom was frozen still, not expecting such cruelty to come from Stella who, despite her cattiness, was always smiling and bright. She entered her room and slammed her door shut in Bloom's face, the distinct click of a lock making her point crystal clear. Bloom sighed and walked away, knowing that Stella was a lost cause. She didn't want to be helped, and so there was no helping her.
In the common area, everyone had gone their separate ways. Bloom could hear the shower running in her and Flora's room, and Musa was playing a sad and mournful dirge on her flute, the notes wafting hauntingly through the apartment. Only Tecna was out, reclining on the sofa with one leg crossed over the other, sipping serenely on a cup of steaming tea.
"How is she?" Tecna asked, eyeing Stella's door with mild intrigue.
"You just saw. She's heartbroken," Bloom said sitting on the couch. "She really liked this guy and now he's going back to his home planet to die."
"Such is life, I suppose," Tecna sighed as she sipped on her tea. "How are you holding up?"
"Me? I'm fine."
"You look rattled."
"Yeah, the guy who was into me suddenly dies - that's weird and only slightly unnerving," Bloom said, trying to be casual about the whole thing when really she was freaked out beyond belief. She wished everyone would just drop it, though she knew with everything going on this was only the beginning. "It almost feels like bad karma, you know? My first and only boyfriend died suddenly, no explanation, and now the prince..."
"That is, what you said, bad karma," Tecna mused, her eyes studying Bloom intently. "Do you ever think it is more than karma?"
"No..." Bloom trailed off, feeling unnerved. "Why would you say that?"
"Just a thought," Tecna dismissed, averting her gaze.
Bloom felt uncomfortable with this turn in conversation. Tecna's gaze seemed a little too suspicious, a little too knowing for Bloom's liking. So, she got up and smoothed her pajamas, looking out the window to see the first rays of sunlight creeping over the horizon.
"I'm going to go catch as much sleep as I can before class," Bloom said, eager to leave.
"By all means," Tecna said, going back to her tea. "Pleasant dreams."
Bloom gave a small quirk of her lips, walking quickly over to her room, the feeling of Tecna's eyes following her the entire way.
Needless to say, there were no sweet dreams. Only nightmares.