XI. The Bubble Bursts
***TRIGGER WARNING. This chapter contains themes of physical and verbal abuse. If this triggers you and you choose to continue, please proceed with caution. You have been warned. ***
"Diana. Elizabeth. Cavendish!"
Diana's heart stopped and her mouth dried up. She slowly parted from Akko to see Aunt Daryl and her two twin cousins, Maril and Merrill. Both of whom, were trying to stifle their laughter and snears, but Daryl was the seething.
Diana felt her suit and all of its armor and protection seemingly melt away under Daryl's inferno stare. Akko looked confused, saw Aunt Daryl and scrunched up her face.
"Hey! We were dancing here! How about you mind your own business!" Said Akko angrily.
"Oh, that's where you're wrong. This is my business. It seems Diana, you have forgotten our agreement." Daryl's eyes narrowed as she stepped menacingly forward.
Diana felt rivers of sweat run underneath her suit. Was this a threat that even with the suit, she couldn't overcome?
No.
She had come too far, she had been through too much to give up so easily. She dared to meet Daryl's seething stare and immediately Daryl took it as an insult, an act of defiance.
"Diana we need to speak, privately. You know what this is about." Daryl said.
Diana was frozen in place, being torn between two roads. She was a prince and she already had her princess, but now a dragon was challenging her. I did she dare fall down another rabbit hole of pain, shame and self-loathing because of Aunt Daryl's wishes? But this might be the only way to free herself from those demons once in for all. She could face them and then return to Akko a free woman. She knew in that moment she would never be free if she had Aunt Daryl's shadow constantly over her.
"Yes. I remember now. I apologise Akko, I have to take care of something." Diana said picking up the metaphorical glove that Daryl had thrown in her face.
Daryl started to lead Diana and her two cousins toward one of the ballroom doors. Diana followed as looked at Sucy, Constance and Jasminka as they looked scared for her. Amanda and Lotte both glanced at each other. Akko grabbed Diana's arm tightly making Diana halt.
Turning back she saw Akko's face riddled with fear.
"Don't go Diana! She's got something up her sleeve, I know it! I won't let you!" Akko said gripping tightly to Diana's arm, sticking her tongue out at Aunt Daryl, much to the cousins' amusement.
"Akko. I promise I'll be back, don't worry about me. We'll dance together again." Diana said pulling Akko off of her patiently.
Akko rubbed the tears from her eyes and tried to be strong.
"You promise?" Akko said softly.
"Yes. I'll bend the world to make it happen." Diana declared before she pulled Akko in for a kiss.
Andrew's last dreams of being with Akko were crushed in that moment and he fell back into a chair dazed. No one noticed or cared. Even Frank failed to noticed as he shed a manly tear as he and everyone else witnessed Diana and Akko parting.
Diana turned away from a very red Akko and followed Daryl to a more private place.
Akko took a few steps back and Sucy caught her before she fell. Lotte raced over there with the rest of the gang.
"Akko are you okay?" Lotte asked.
"She, she, she kissed me! She likes me. Like, like-likes me! Right?!" Akko exclaimed happily.
"She sure does." Sucy said slightly impressed.
"Wait and her Aunt! We have to save her! Diana's in trouble! It's all a trick, I know it is!" Akko said trying to scramble up and go after Diana.
"How do you know that for sure?" Frank wondered out aloud.
"I just know okay!" Akko said desperately.
Amanda sighed and looked back the way Diana had gone. When Diana glanced back, Amanda's face took on a serious expression. "I don't know if there's much we can do. This is Diana's fight."
Diana turned back to follow her Aunt, shaking in her boots. After passing a few empty rooms, Diana found herself behind closed doors with Aunt Daryl. A small study in one of the lower corridors of the school, different from last time.
However this time she was outnumbered. Her two cousins circled her like sneering serpents, ready to strike. It was hard for Diana to stop focusing on them and just on Aunt Daryl. She had to remind herself that they were just her Aunt's mindless minions and nothing more.
Diana stood ready with a defiant stare and a steady stance. She was ready, she told herself for whatever Daryl wanted to hurl at her. The older woman stood a distance away and started grinning. Daryl had helped raise Diana from an early age and all of her weak points. The older woman stepped back, leaning back on the heavy set desk in the corner of the room and started twirling her hair between her fingers.
"Well? You wanted to finish this, so do it." Diana spat.
"Aww. But Diana." Maril mocked from behind her.
"We just wanted to catch up with our favorite cousin." Merrill chimed.
"Another time." Diana growled.
"God, a white suit? It would be a shame if someone to … spill something on it." Maril smiled through her voice.
"Yeah, you're still such a try hard. Are you supposed to be some sort of white knight?" Merrill laughed into Diana's ear.
Diana whipped around to try and face the both of them but they kept a distance away from each other. Their comments were just pissing Diana off even more, but the fact that she couldn't face both of them at the same time made her feel vulnerable. They were trying to find a chick in her armor and Daryl was just watching the show.
"I don't have time for your games." Diana said almost yelling.
"Oh really, but you have to time dress up like a man." Maril laughed.
"Hey, did balls come with the suit or did you buy that separately." Merrill sneered.
Daryl laughed smugly. Diana whipped in her direction and marched over to her.
"It's cowardly of you to make your minions do you dirty work!" Diana aimed.
Diana got right in Daryl's face, but the older woman shoved her back and both cousins grabbed her arms for restrainment.
Daryl reached into Diana's left pants pocket and pulled out her wand. Diana's eyes sides in fear as the older woman stuffed it into her purse.
"There, now we can talk business. This evening was so boring but it's nice when you get an opportunity to make your own fun. Honestly, you remind me of your mother in many ways. So serious all the time." Daryl remarked.
Diana tried to break the twin cousins grips but they were too strong. Aunt Daryl ended her joking mood and raised her wand to cast a spell.
"I've done a lot of thinking about our last talk. I made promises that in retrospect were made with good intentions. However, I think that what you really need is a clear reminder of the truth of your situation." Daryl said menacingly.
The cousins let go of her and Daryl cast a spell on Diana. After the spell hit, Diana tried to cast back but couldn't. The magic that usually flowed through her body was blocked, it felt like a strange indigestion radiating throughout her body. All three women now had their wands out and we're radiating large green orbs of magic from them. Diana was overwhelmed, Akko was right. It really was a trap.
"I'll break you down piece by piece and build you up into someone worthy of the Cavendish name." Daryl declared. Diana felt like she was going to throw up but she found that her body was helplessly shaking.
The first orb hit Diana with and knocked her back the next two hit her on both sides and the rest became a blur as she beaten with orbs on all sides from all directions. Daryl eventually yawned and ceasted her magic and the twins followed.
Using her bruised limbs Diana fought against gravity that seemed in her state to be pinning her to the floor. But Daryl's magic grabbed her by the shoulders lifting her up. Once Diana was at eye level with Daryl she could see the ruthless smile spread across her Aunt's face. Daryl examined one Diana's sleeves.
"This little suit must mean a lot to you. After all, you went to the trouble of defying me to get it. Alas, this silly little costume you're wearing is going to cost you." Daryl said as she stuck her wand into Diana's left leg.
A searing pain rattled Diana as she fought the instinct to cry out in pain. When Daryl relaxed her punishment away from Diana, the young witch spoke back.
"What's your quarrel with it? I like wearing this, it makes me feel like me. You're making a mountain out of-" Diana was cut off with a searing pain in the opposite leg. Tears broke from her eyes as she was in a vortex of pain.
"This behavior isn't normal Diana and it's troubling that you think it is. Again, you are a Cavendish, you have a reputation, but just want to throw that all away don't you?" Daryl said, tapping Diana's nose.
Daryl smiled wickedly and grabbed one of Diana's sleeves.
"Hahahaha, it's adorable when you first think about it. You're just playing knight. In a little white suit with a another lost girl who's just as delusional as you." Diana watched in horror as Daryl pulled hard enough on the suit to tear a piece of it off.
Daryl's tone completely changed, it was more threatening. "However, the truth is that you're turning into a dyke. A filthy, ugly, DIGUSTING LESBIAN."
More and more parts of Diana's suit were torn apart and thrown into the air. Wanted to break down, but she clung to the part of her that refused to give her aunt the satisfaction.
Diana felt utterly destroyed when Daryl was finished. The most of the suit lay in tatters around the room hanging on pieces of furniture and floor. Diana fell to the ground in a bruised, torn up pile. Daryl turned to leave. And stopped.
"Be thankful that I'm choosing to let you stay at Luna Nova. However, I will be keeping a closer eye on you and next Thursday you will start seeing Doctor Klein, weekly." Daryl walked out of the room with the twins in tow.
Diana was pissed more than anything. She had lost something she had fought so hard for, the suit, her armor. More importantly, she felt defeated. The encounter had ended the same as last time. What was the point? Daryl was always one step ahead of her. What if she could never escape from her shadow? What if all those things she said were right? Was she unlovable, ugly and disgusting? Was Akko only pretending to like her?
Light flooded the room and Hannah and Barbara poked their heads through. They both ran over to her and Diana melted into their arms. They gathered her up and led her to their room.