Chapter 14: Nightmares in the Dark
The week had dragged on and Erasiel had found himself once again in Bloom's room, more dreams with regards to Domino and more often; the most recent involved a battle between her grandfather and the Grand Templar of Lighthaven, the visions kept getting more serious, the source of these however was obvious: Daphne. Daphne had seen all these events and because she had seen them she sent them in Bloom's dreams. This had led to him staying at Alfea whenever they came up, Bloom's dreams didn't come up frequently enough to warrant him staying there permanently but they did happen enough to warrant him staying overnight and awake, not that he needed much sleep as it was, he could go months without needing to sleep as he did in his battle on Domino against the Ancestresses. The evening had faded and Winx had dawned their pajamas or nightgowns and had fallen asleep.
Unaware to Erasiel and to the public at large something was brewing in Cloud Tower, and it wasn't the Trix who were involved with this one rather someone else. In their dorm late two sisters were awake and wide awake at that. They were twins, Ivey the elder twin by two minutes and Vera the junior twin, the two sisters were nearly identical save for three differences hair color, magic, and personality. Ivey had poison green hair while her sister Vera had black hair other than that they had the same hairstyle. Vera was a caster of the lore of Metal while Ivey was a caster of the lore of poisons. Lastly Ivey could be a bit spiteful venomous and ruthless as well vicious and arrogant she was definitely obsessed with Erasiel in a stalker matter and was trying to come up with the best way to lose her virginity with him, she also had an extreme dislike for faeries and specialists and most people that annoyed her, while Vera was generally kind and caring, though like her sister she was obsessed with Erasiel; though this was the norm everyone at Cloud Tower was interested in him and if you weren't you were either living under a rock or not wanting to say it. Both sisters wore their hair in a spiked shape both had grey eyes, both were beautiful, both had the same hourglass figure, both shared similar interest though they wore different outfits: Vera's outfit was more in line with the witch garb and was same as Stormy's witch form but was lime green and had black gloves and lines she also wore a unique hairband that resembled headphones, while Ivey's outfit was more revealing she wore a pink tank top and green sweats, these highlighted her figure she also wore gold triangular earrings, she was also good friends with Shilly.
Right now, the two sisters were in a bit of an argument while Ivey was pouring ingredients in a cauldron. "You can't be serious what did the Faeries at Alfea ever do to us, don't you remember how Musa helped us against the Specialists" Vera argued.
"That was situational, secondly the faeries have looked down on us witches for centuries, I simply intend to give them something to play with and give them a taste of their own medicine" Ivey stated adding a pinch of granite into the Cauldron.
"If you do this I'm telling Griffin" Vera threatened.
"No, you won't because if you do I'll tell everyone about what you at night, how you fantasize about Erasiel as you play with yourself" Ivey retorted.
"You wouldn't besides you do it too and I'll so do about half of the girls here" Vera responded.
"You know I would and I have pictures, I would gladly give them to Erasiel and the Trix, then see how you live that down" Ivey blackmailed.
"All right you can do it but if this goes horribly wrong I'm not taking the blame for not telling Griffin" Vera stated defeated, Ivey smirked she knew her sister would back down if she pressed that issue, she was bluffing of course while she had pictures she would never do something to her twin sister that vile.
Vera went over to her bed and lied down to sleep after changing into her sleeping attire which meant taking off her day clothes and shoes then plumping down in her underwear and stockings under blankets, some being her childhood blankets. As Vera fell asleep Ivey finished putting in the last of the ingredients then began the incantation.
"Asraa Intein Malakoss Zinthos, Shadows of fear plague the mind terror from the night, summon creature of terror stone wake from shadows cold, Bubble double toil and trouble Cauldron burn and Cauldron Bubble. Eye of Warg and horn of Gor, teeth of goblin, blood of crows; make shadows bind and terror real, bring nightmares of steel, make Stella suffer worse of all spare Erasiel from your call. Bubble Double Toil and trouble, Cauldron burn and Cauldron Bubble, Double Bubble Toil and Trouble, Cauldron Burn and Cauldron Bubble. By the pricking of my thumbs something wicked this way comes, Mazar Incarnate Votia Vile, form of terror rise in shadow, spare the witches in your path make this witch laugh, prey on Specialist and Fairy too bring terror thru and thru, sow the shadows on the moon at night and fill their dreams to the brim with fright, Bubble Double Toil and Trouble Cauldron Burn and Cauldron Bubble, Bubble Double Trouble; By the pricking of my thumbs something wicked this come!" Ivey chanted, out of the cauldron a shadow cloud rose followed by the form of a goblin like creature but made of granite stone and with pupil less red eyes: a Nightmare Gargoyle.
The Nightmare Gargoyle let out a mumbled growl then Ivey spoke to it. "Go minion first to Alfea and to the Winx's Dorm room give them nightmares first then do the same with the rest of the faeries and then head to Red fountain and give the Specialists nightmares, then well I'll think of the next step" Ivey stated, the Creature nodded in agreement then turned into a shadow and crept out of the room. "Perfect that will teach Stella to buy the last of the outfits I wanted" Ivey mentioned to herself then she changed into her pajamas which contrary to her personality were actually sweet and covered with pleasant images she then went into her bed and grabbed her teddy bear.
At Alfea… Erasiel was once again sitting on the guest couch in the longue/dining room across from Bloom and Flora's room; he was watching the two sleep mainly Bloom to keep an eye out for the signs of her dreams these usually were convulsions followed by transforming in and out of her Charmix form, she also talked in her sleep at the moment Bloom had only just fallen asleep, Erasiel was fully awake and as vigilant as the sentinel statues in front of fortress of his father in law Hagen who was the father of Zera one of his broodmates but also a master smith that was unrivaled by any save one: Caldatorus the Elder dragon who created the weapons and armor of the Dragon Knights as well as the strongest weaponry and armor, he was also the only dragon he had met so far that wore Glasses which he had made himself.
Erasiel's watch was not however focused on the rooms behind and to the side of him; the Nightmare Gargoyle crept in like a shadow thru the open window of Stella's room it turned into its regular form and crept over Stella's bed and Stella, it let out a quiet shriek and changed shape from the form of a goblin like creature to the form of wolf with the quills of a porcupine. The Nightmare Gargoyle then crept silently out of Stella's room and avoided the vigilant Erasiel by climbing on the ceiling out of his sight. Stella started mumbling in her sleep, in her dream her parents were arguing again, they had divorced a year ago and Stella still considered it the worst part of her life, on top of that the seen shifted and she was a young child in school being teased again for her glasses. Then the scene shifted once more to a fashion competition her outfit was tacky and then shrunk until she was left with nothing on and hiding herself in embarrassment. The worse of Stella's problems was that she couldn't wake up from this nightmare.
The Nightmare Gargoyle crept into Musa's room and breathed on her with a silent shriek and it changed Form again into a cockroach/spider like creature with one eye and sharp teeth. Musa's nightmare was all too familiar the pains of loss from her mother but her mother this time wept blood and wore nothing showing bloody cuts the bleed, on top of it she was half spider having the lower half a spider and eight blood red eyes and kept saying "don't worry mommy's here" as she wrapped her in webbing. On top of that her father laughed at her only he had the head of tiger and lower body of a Scorpion. Musa's pain though was only followed up by Tecna's who's nightmare consisted of her stuck in court with her family dressed in the garb of an Arch-duchess princess as she was the second daughter of King Cryos VII of Zenith and Queen Magnithia Ypsi of Titania, she was being mocked by her older sister Grisellia and light brother Kuran and had to maintain a cool demeanor because every time she would protest Grisellia would beat her. The Nightmare Gargoyle had now taken the form of a brutish three eyed bull and crept over the ceiling into the dorm of Flora and Bloom before breathing on Flora taking her into a nightmare, then Kiko, and finally Bloom assuming a form that was an amalgamation of its previous forms and dawning demonic wings and a long-spiked tail, this time however it was noticed.
Erasiel shot to attention upon seeing the Gargoyle as it hovered over Bloom and sent a Fireball at it, the creature roared in pain then retreated as Erasiel attempted to stick it with Persuasion and Reason it then assumed a shadowy form and fled out a window. "Crap Nightmare Gargoyle" Erasiel stated to himself then came to Bloom: Bloom was in the dreamscape of Domino once again however skeletons danced around her, and the shadowy forms of Ancestral Witches cackled at her. "We finally have you my pretty!" Belladone stated with a malignant grin. Bloom panicked and ran though wherever she went the Ancestresses followed. Erasiel didn't have much time and mumbled an incantation to transfer part of himself into Bloom's dreamscape.
"Bloom it's just a nightmare! You've been attacked a by a Nightmare Gargoyle the only way to wake up is to confront your fears!" Erasiel's voice echoed. Bloom clutched herself.
"How do I do that!?" Bloom asked as she continued running.
"Use the Dragon Flame it will give you strength beyond that needed to break free of the Nightmare, ordinarily I'd advise you to attack head on without fear but since you have the Dragon Flame go all out!" Erasiel chided. Bloom transformed into Charmix then let out a massive dragon in the direction of the Ancestresses.
"I'm not afraid of you three witches! You've been dead for a long time and you're not real just an illusion of my dreams! By the power of Domino and the Dragon Flame I purge you! DRAGON ENERGY!" Bloom roared and changed into an Avatar of fire and let forth a massive tidal wave of fire the Ancestresses screamed a primordial scream and were incinerated. Bloom woke to Erasiel looking at her with a smile. "I did it" Bloom stated.
"Yes, you did now help me with the others!" Erasiel ordered. They moved quickly to Kiko who Bloom's soothing voice broke the vile dreams of wolves chasing him, then they moved to Flora who was tangled in ivy in her dream and being squeezed.
"Flora it's a nightmare you're in control!" Erasiel stated, Flora noted this then thought of Erasiel and he materialized and used fire magic to torch the ivy, Flora woke. "No time to explain, we have to help the others!" Erasiel stated and they went into each room Erasiel rousing Stella from the terrors of her childhood bullies while Bloom and Flora woke Tecna and Musa from their terrors. Soon each of the Winx was gathered around the coffee table in front of the couch and Erasiel was explaining the situation, Stella was wearing her back up glasses as she didn't have time to put on her contacts.
"There is a Nightmare Gargoyle on the loose, I don't know where it came from nor do we have the time to figure that out we need to move fast and wake up the entire school; Bloom you and I will wake Faragonda and pursue the Gargoyle everyone else wake anybody apart from Griselda" Erasiel stated, and they moved out.
The waking of other people proved easy enough making loud noises and explaining the threat Bloom and Erasiel darted into Faragonda's room and Erasiel shouted "Awake! Fear! Fire! Foes come!" this woke Faragonda up. "Nightmare Gargoyle in the school here" Erasiel explained handing Faragonda her glasses she got up and transformed into fairy form, her wings were grand and colored Bright Blue, Gold and Lavender she wore plated armor over a traditional fairy garb.
"Bloom you heard Erasiel there's no time to waste!" Faragonda stated to Bloom who was shocked having seen Faragonda transform for the first time. Soon the school was fully awake, the Winx and Professors gathered together with Erasiel
"This Nightmare Gargoyle has already absorbed several nightmares it's become extremely powerful only the combined strength of myself the Professors and the Winx specifically Bloom will have any chance of matching the creature" Erasiel explained. "Alright the plan of attack have some of the faeries lure the creature into the courtyard once it's there we will attack from all sides our combined might should destroy it" Erasiel stated.
"We must move quickly!" Professor Gelt stated, then everyone moved. Professor Defour notified some faeries and Ahisa, Heidi, Karina, Luna, Priscilla, Katy and Amaryl volunteered to draw the Gargoyle out. They found the creature giving nightmares to Francine and let out a barrage of Magic at the Nightmare Gargoyle, the magic did minimal damage, but it did succeed in enraging the creature and causing it to pursue the five faeries who led it into the courtyard where Erasiel, the Professors, the Winx and other Faeries lay in wait.
"Attack!: Firestorm!" Erasiel casted and the others followed suit.
"Entrapment field!" Faragonda casted and a green set of barriers locked around the Gargoyle.
"Curse of the Midnight Wind!" Professor Defour casted and wind rent the creature.
"Final Transmutation!" Professor Gelt casted and the minerals of the body began to pull creature apart.
"Dragon Energy!" Bloom casted.
"Ripping thorns!" Professor Palladium casted.
"Polymorph form of a Goblin!" Professor Whizgiz casted, Other faeries let out surges of magical spells the Gargoyle fizzled and roared in agony.
"Finally let's finish it off: Convergence of order!" Erasiel casted and everyone else joined in unleashing their magic into the Gargoyle which couldn't hold back the magic further and it shattered into a thousand shards which then disintegrated in shadowy waves. "Light of day" Erasiel casted and the waves dispersed.
"It's over" Bloom stated fatigued.
"Indeed, now comes the matter of where this creature came from" Palladium stated.
"I have my suspicions, oh don't wake Griselda my little princess needs her sleep" Erasiel stated, which caused everyone to laugh even Balthazar Gelt who was hard to amuse.
Erasiel returned to Cloud Tower as the day dawned then went thru the dorms, witches were still asleep and he checked each room for signs of magical rituals, he was relieved to find the Trix passed out asleep and their room having no evidence of magical rituals, he then continued to investigate the rooms until he came Ivey and Vera's room where he found a cauldron that was still bubbling and a book of summoning, Erasiel had found the culprit the only question was which sister. "Morning this is your wake-up call!" Erasiel shouted in a booming voice awaking the two sisters. "I have it on good information: my personal witness in fact that a Nightmare Gargoyle attacked Alfea last night, fortunately the creature didn't kill anyone, and it was destroyed by myself, the teachers and students, however I am identifying a culprit and having seen the evidence for myself which one of you did it" Erasiel stated.
"Me I'm the one who did it" Vera stated lying.
"No Vera don't take the punishment for my wrongdoing, it's my duty to take responsibility for my actions I know you would do anything for my safety" Ivey stated.
"Explain now" Erasiel stated and Ivey explained her plan and that Vera had told her it was wrong, and she hadn't listened.
"I wouldn't have done it if I knew the monster could kill, I just meant to give everyone at Alfea and Red Fountain a scare not hurt them; I'm sorry I'll take full responsibility for my actions and take whatever punishment Mrs. Griffin has for me" Ivey stated.
"Don't worry I won't tell Griffin about this on a few conditions, 1. I want you to apologize to your sister for anything you may have said to her, 2. I want you to stop harassing faeries and realize they aren't your enemies, and 3. I want you to clean up this mess and give me this book I have no idea where you found this book, but it is a dangerous tome and belongs under lock and key" Erasiel stated. Ivey agreed. "Monstrous creatures and how to summon them by Amphoron the Crimson, this is a dangerous book where did you get it?" Erasiel asked.
"From an old man with beard in an orange robe, he said it would make me a stronger witch" Ivey explained.
"I see, I have no idea who this old man was, but I know what has to be done, this is another book for my library of dangerous books that people who have no idea how to use properly: trust me Ivey I've dealt with my share of these and this won't ever be a problem again, now get ready you have a new day of school ahead of you, now I have to wake up the Trix" Erasiel stated and left the room.