I apologize but I had a bit of writer's block for this one. Cora has a dream that can be considered rather creepy, so skip that if you easily get frightened out of your wits. All I own are my OC's, the plot and places that are made up. I don't own Winx Club. Enjoy!

Chapter two

Kidnapped

Queen Miranda was pacing in her chambers, her mind a mess as she thought about her current situation: Captain Hald had returned with the news that they had lost Terta while trying to cast a Teleportation spell. She was restless, her usually women brown hair in a mess and her sky-blue eyes showing much more worry than was necessary. King Kaldo sat in silence on his chair as he watched his wife pace around so restlessly. His blond hair hung lazily on his shoulders and his ocean-blue eyes showed no emotion. His expression was neutral, his mind unconsciously counting the number of times she changed direction.

"Miranda, there is no need to worry." He said calmly after a while. "Terta is dead, that should be enough."

"It is not enough!" Miranda shouted as she stopped and turned, her hair being thrown over her shoulder. "We lost her! She was supposed to be punished and we lost her! How is her being dead enough?!"

Miranda was fuming and Kaldo sighed, closing his eyes and running his hand through his hair. He knew this would happen.

"Miranda, Terta is deceased now. No more harm can be done by her. The worst that could happen is that her powers were transferred and you know as well as I do that that will never happen. There are only two ways of doing it: one is through a spell that has yet to work properly and the other is through a Wishing Fairy, none which exists on Earth anymore."

Miranda allowed her husband's words to settle in before taking a deep breath to calm herself.

"How would we know for certain?"

"It has been that way for over a thousand years. Please, let it go." Kaldo calmly asked, rising from his chair.

"No, I can't. I must know…"

Queen Miranda's words were cut off as her door burst open to reveal Captain Hald looking as if he's just seen a ghost. Hald was a patient man, emotionless and always calm, even on the battle field when it seemed that his world was about to lose the war.

Hald went on his knees as he bowed and waited to be given permission to speak.

"What is it?" Queen Miranda barked, already planning on how to strip Hald of his title for his interruption.

"Your Majesty, please forgive me but I have urgent news. Terta's body no longer holds her powers and after casting a Tracing Spell, it was discovered that they have been transferred to… to…"

"To what, you stammering twit?!"

"To a human, your Highness."

Silence ruled over the three as Captain Hald's words registered in Queen Miranda's mind. Captain Hald's breathing was slowing back down to its normal rate while King Kaldo's breathing picked up, the panic settling in as his eyes dashed to Miranda.

"A…a… filthy… rotten… human?" Queen Miranda muttered as Captain Hald's words repeated themselves. Then she snapped. "Who is this human?! I want her this instant! Bring her to me at once!"

"Yes, your Majesty!" Captain Hald replied before rushing out.

"Human…" Queen Miranda growled as she clenched her fists. "You will pay dearly for this insult."

*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#

Cora found herself standing in a dark place, the candle in her hand the only source of light. The wax seemed to have dripped down a reasonable amount, as if she'd been holding it for hours. A cold and sour wind blew, one that sounded like the breathing of dead and lost souls. Her body shook from the cold air and the scent of death that was all around her.

Her mind was unable to register her whereabouts and her eyes held fear. However, she felt at home. It was as if she was born and raised within this unknown place.

Hesitantly, Cora stepped forward. A sudden and loud crack was heard, whispers followed quickly after and Cora froze in her tracks, looking around frantically for the sources that caused the eerie sounds. She moved her body around on the spot, the candle lighting nothing but a few inches before her eyes.

'Nothing.'

Cora's breath picked up and she tried to calm herself by telling herself that it was all just a dream. Summoning her courage, she stepped forward and the same noises graced her ears. Her heartbeat picked up its pace, her breath coming out in pants as fear entered her heart.

"Wh…Who's there?"

No one answered back and nothing was heard, not even an echo.

Cora released a breath she didn't know she was holding.

'Just calm down, it's nothing. You're just imagining things.'

Taking a few deep breaths, Cora tried to calm herself down before turning her attention back to the darkness before her. Taking another step forward, the cracks and voices repeated themselves.

Cora screamed and dropped the candle. Her heart was racing and she was shaking in fear. Tears began to form in her eyes and she fell to her knees, her body shaking violently. She opened her eyes to look at the candle lying on the ground, still burning. Her eyes travelled on the objects that the candle shed light on and Cora's face went lost all colour as she caught sight of what made all the cracking sounds: skulls, human skulls. They were littered all around the candle and her body, the candle also casting strange shadows. The skulls Cora stepped on were lying shattered among other broken and whole skulls, the eerie silence becoming more terrifying as every second passed.

"Beautiful, isn't it?"

Cora sat upright, at complete attention as her fear-filled eyes desperately tried to find the voice speaking to her.

"Don't you agree, Princess Cora? This place… isn't it wonderful?"

The voice belonged to a woman, sounding young and happy. Several loud cracks were heard before the woman spoke again.

"Don't you like your kingdom, Princess Cora? It was made just as you wished. Is something wrong that you are so quiet and afraid?"

Cora's breathing came out in pants and her heartbeat picked up with each passing second, her voice seemed to have vanished and the temperature dropped by several degrees. A few more cracks were heard and then Cora caught sight of a shadow near the candle. She moved backward in fear as the shadow came closer, causing a few more skulls to break. Once in the light, Cora saw the source of the voice.

"You…you're…the…" Cora stammered in whispers.

"Yes, I am the one you saw in the park. My name is Terta, your Highness."Terta answered, giving a slight bow.

Cora was in too much shock to say anything else and her mouth was moving like a fish out of water. Her mind couldn't process the words Terta spoke nor the image of the place she was currently in. Terta smiled warmly before continuing.

"Do you not like this place?"

Cora remained silent and frozen in place, her heartbeat ringing in her ears. When Terta received no reaction from Cora, she continued as if she wasn't expecting an answer.

"This is your palace, your Majesty. These are the bones of all those who have opposed you, those who have tried to avoid death and those whose souls were sent to the Spiritplane by you. By the way, have you seen your doll? I looked in the place where she usually is but she wasn't there. She was wearing this purple dress and had a dagger in her hand. Her favourite line is 'You are my master and I will kill for you'. She seemed to have just…vanished."

Cora's body went numb and cold, her eyes were focused on Terta before her and her eyes held even more fear than before. If possible, Cora was even paler now. Terta noticed this and smiled softly.

"Your Majesty, is everything alright? Did something happen?"

Cora swallowed hard as her eyes began to water and tears threatened to fall, more out of fear than anything else.

"Does this have something to do with the blood on your hands?" Terta asked, motioning to Cora's hands.

Cora's breath hitched in her throat as Terta's words rang in her ears.

'B…Blood?'

Cora closed her eyes tightly and took a deep breath before opening them and looking at her hands.

*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#

Cora woke with a scream and a racing heart, covered in sweat and hardly able to breathe. Cloud came bursting in with a bat and a face painted in bravery while his eyes searched for the intruder.

"Where are you, you criminal?! I have a bat and I know how to use it!"

His eyes caught sight of his sister and he blinked rapidly, as if he couldn't believe what he was seeing. In an instant, he dropped the bat and was at her side on her bed, wrapping a protective over her.

"Cora, what's wrong? You okay?"

Cora was slowly starting to cry and Cloud took her into his arms, whispering softly that everything will be okay.

"Cora, did you have a bad dream?" Cloud asked and Cora nodded against his chest. "Then why don't you tell me about it? I'm sure it would make you feel better."

Cora sniffed before pulling back and rubbing her eyes. With a slight nod and a deep, shaky, breath, Cora told her brother just what she dreamed about.

As he listened, Cloud's eyes held pity and his face took on the same expression. Once Cora finished, Cloud sighed and smiled.

"It was just a dream, don't think anything of it. Besides, I'll be whank the butt of any bad person who thinks he or she can scare you."

Cora smiled before giggling, shaking her head and looking at her brother.

"Whank? What kind of word is that?"

Cloud laughed as he petted Cora's head.

"It's a mix between whip and spank. Why? Don't you like it?"

Cora giggled and then shook her head.

"Nah, I love it. Rosemary would disapprove until it is made part of the dictionary, though."

Cloud smiled and pulled Cora back into his arms, gently playing with her hair.

"Don't be afraid, Cora. I'll always be there to protect you." Cloud whispered before kissing Cora's head. "That's what big brothers are for."

*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#

"Good morning…" Rosemary greeted as she stepped into the dining room but stopped as she saw her parents' faces.

Her father was sitting with another man, Rosemary assumed it to be a client, and her mother was looking upset yet she seemed to be trying to hide her emotions. Rosemary smiled and bowed respectfully.

"Good morning." she tried again.

"Rosemary, sit."

It wasn't a request, it was an order. Kenneth never made requests, only gave orders with a severe punishment if those orders are not fulfilled to his wishes. Rosemary took a seat next to her mother and waited for her father to talk.

"Rosemary, this is Hendrik Anghet. We have been clients of one another for quite some time and we have decided to merge our companies. However, the only way this can happen properly is if you marry his son, Stephen."

Rosemary looked at her father for any signs that could show that he was merely playing a trick on her, but all she saw was a serious face.

"We shall discuss this when you return from school." Kenneth went on. "We will not be limited on time then."

Rosemary nodded and Kenneth motioned for their butler to inform the kitchen that everyone has arrived for breakfast. While Kenneth and Hendrik discussed business, Rosemary and Rochelle were discussing books. Once finished, Rosemary requested to be excused. Kenneth gave a nod and sternly told her that she was to return home immediately after school. Rosemary nodded in understanding and left. Once out of earshot she released a heavy sigh.

'Always the company. Can't he ever consider my feelings?'

*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#

Hald stopped and gazed at the large building.

'So, this is a human school. It looks so large. Do humans exaggerate even with buildings?'

Sunden High was a school for the rich and famous. The building looked like a villa with white walls, many buildings and a large courtyard filled with green grass and blue fountains. The school uniform was nothing different from any other school. Everyone wore white jackets with the school's crest on the left chest pocket and gold buttons. The boys wore black trousers and a white shirt with a black tie while the girls wore a white shirt, a black tie and a black skirt with white stockings. Everyone was neat and proper. It was as if one was in the presence of royalty.

Shrugging, he walked into the schoolyard as his brown eyes searched for the face of the human who has Terta's powers. Students were talking and laughing, as if nothing was wrong. Some students looked at Hald but shrugged, telling their friends that it was probably a new teacher. He found several girls who looked like the girl he was searching for, but none of the faces were an exact match. The picture in his hand showed a clear sketch of Cora, her face sketched perfectly in every detail.

Hald hummed lightly before turning around and hitting something, causing him to fall backwards. He heard a groan and looked up at the person he bumped into.

"My apologies, miss. I did not…"

Brown eyes clashed with brown eyes as Cora and Hald locked gazes. Cora looked down in shame before picking up her bag and rising to her feet.

"Sorry, I'm…I'm…just a bit…clumsy…" Cora said nervously with a small smile but Hald noticed how scared she seemed. She was shaking slightly and her eyes showed a small layer of fear.

Upon seeing her face, Hald kept looking between her and the sketch in his hand until he found that all the facial features matched.

"No, don't be. It was my fault for not looking where I was going." Hald apologised, placing one hand with the picture behind his back, quickly reciting a sleeping spell in his head as he rose to his feet.

Cora smiled weakly before walking past him. Just as she passed, her body went numb and she fell to the ground, unconscious.

Hald mumbled an apology and picked Cora up, holding her bridal style in his arms, the sketch still in his hand. He felt as if his body was thrown into an ocean of ice the second he picked her up, but shook it off. He walked out of the schoolyard, the other students too busy to notice what had occurred.

Hald walked past several other people, some giving him suspicious looks but no one asked why he was carrying an unconscious teenage girl in his arms. He walked until he reached the corner, then froze. His body felt somewhat warmer and he felt as if nothing was wrong, as if he was floating in a pool of happiness and no cares in the world.

"I beg your pardon, sir, but may I ask as to why are you carrying my friend?"

Hald looked at the girl before him. Rosemary was standing with a book in her hand, her glasses in another. He quickly looked her over before reciting the sleeping spell in his head again.

"My apologies," Hald said to Rosemary as she looked at him sceptically. "I did not realised that I was in the presence of a fairy."

Rosemary turned her head to the side, as if this might help her understand what Hald had said to her. Before she got the chance to ask for an explanation, she collapsed and her glasses shattered as her body hit the ground, the book falling with a thud to the pavement.

Hald sighed and threw Cora over his shoulder, bent down and picked Rosemary up, carrying her under his arm. He then mumbled a Teleportation Spell and vanished.

*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#

Thanks for reading. Reviews are appreciated!