Disclaimer: I own nothing from Winx Club, just my own characters and storyline.

Chapter 4: Sacrifices and Deals

The morning after Bloom told Artemis she'd take her away from her 'prison', Artemis noticed that something was different, Melody hadn't brought dinner to her, some random maid had, claiming that Melody had been called away for an important matter, concerning her family.

"Hey Bloom, do you have any idea where Melody went?" Artemis asked after training finished, and they were eating lunch.

"No, she didn't say anything to me," Bloom replied. "Why, is something wrong?"

"Well no, but I feel like I'm missing something important," Artemis said. "Like I should know why Melody isn't here,"

The maid who'd been serving them since last night came up to collect their dishes, when Artemis stopped her.

"Hey," she said forcefully. "I know you know where Melody is, now spill."

"I'm sorry Princess, but it's not something I can reveal to you at this time," the maid responded coolly. "If you wish to know, you'll have to speak to Lord Samil, which I doubt you'll be able to do trapped up here all day and night," the maid added snobbishly.

"You listen here," Artemis said angrily. "I am the princess of Nyx, and heir to the throne," she got in the maids face, smirking at the look of terror on her face with how close she was. "Now, you've probably heard about the curse upon me haven't you?"

"Artemis…" Bloom began worried for her pupil's sanity.

"Not now," Artemis said her eyes narrowed at the smart ass maid. "And I can tell you, the rumors are true, I could kill you with one touch,"

The maid gulped trying to back up, but Artemis grabbed a fistful of the fabric of her dress. "I…I really can't tell you, he'll kill me." She stumbled over the words as she tried to say them as fast as she could.

"Well would you rather die now?" Artemis asked coldly, a sneer upon her face.

"N-No," the maid stuttered, shaking in fear. "Her family is being sacrificed in two days….to the gods," Artemis' eyes widened at this, and dropped the maid's clothes, and glared at the maid who scampered away, forgetting the dishes in her hurry to get away.

"They're being sacrificed?" Bloom asked confused.

"Yeah," Artemis said, voice void of emotion. "Every few months, Lord Samil, sacrifices a family, to please some gods, so they don't destroy our kingdom here on the moon, the same way they did our planet."

"That's awful," Bloom said horrified.

"It really is, and the sickest part is, he chooses the purest of people to sacrifice," Artemis said, her pale face turning slightly green. "Melody has a husband, and two little children, I've never met them, but she's told me about them….and now they're all going to die,"

"Is there no way we can stop it?" Bloom asked, eyes sad.

"No," Artemis replied with a sniff. "Unless I want to cause an uproar among the people, they truly believe that sacrificing people is what's keeping us safe," she said bitterly. "Besides if Samil caught me outside this tower, he'd probably kill me."

"He wouldn't be able to touch you," Bloom said. "I wouldn't let him, he can't take me, and if I had to, I'd call my friends and they'd be here in an instant."

"You'd really do that for me?" Artemis asked.

"Sure, that's what friends are for right?" Bloom said smiling.

Samil smirked as he looked into the little room that Melody and her little pathetic family were being kept in.

"She looks so pathetic," he said snidely to Aza'zel who nodded. "When just mere hours ago she was trying to fight against this."

"Indeed, she is definitely strong willed." Aza'zel said. "Although when I looked into her soul, I found something that might interest you."

"Did you now?" Samil asked curious.

"Yes," his servant said. "She has much more power than she thinks she does, and it would be of great benefit to you….to make her yours,"

"Ah," Samil said an evil smile on his face. "She is quite lovely."

"Indeed my lord," Aza'zel said. "But in order to make her yours, you must kill her family, and put her under your spell."

"I think I will," Samil said as he gazed upon the beauty. He never said it aloud, but before becoming the vizier, he'd fallen madly in love with the queen's attendant, but could never tell her, as she'd fallen for that lousy guard. So in his rage at the thought of the woman he loved marrying someone else, he decided to take over the kingdom of Nyx. "With the power she gives me, I may just be able to take out that damnable princess,"

"Yes," Aza'zel said nodding.

Artemis woke up two days later, and when she did, the tears began flowing down her face. She got up to get changed, when Bloom walked in.

"I've been called to watch the sacrifices." Bloom said solemnly. "I have to go."

"Who's called upon you?" Artemis asked a little surprised.

"Samil himself," Bloom replied. "I don't even know how he found out about me."

"If you're going," Artemis said. "Then I am too."

"Oh don't put yourself through that," Bloom said.

"I have to," Artemis said. "At least it's some way to say good bye," she walked over to her wardrobe, and put on a black outfit, and a hooded cloak, so no one would know who she was. Bloom was already dressed.

"Well if you insist," Bloom sighed. "Let's get going."

Samil walked down into the holding cell, which now only held Melody.

"Hello Melody," he said smoothly. "How are you?"

"How am I?" Melody spat. "You're going to kill my family, and you want to know how I am?!" her pretty face was distorted with rage. "I am pissed to hell!" She shouted, not even fazing him one bit.

"I merely wish to make a deal with you," Samil said. "Become mine, and you will live."

Melody stared shocked into his eyes. "What?"

"You heard me," Samil said sternly. "I have always loved you my dear,"

She shivered. "Why would I abandon my family just to live, and belong to you?" She asked her eyes narrowed.

"Well then," he said shaking his head. "I tried to do this the nice way," he said a frown on his face. "But since you're being difficult, we'll have to do this the hard way."

"What do you mean 'the hard way'?" Melody asked backing away from him.

"You will be mine," he stated firmly. "One way or another." Samil said, turning on his heel from the room and locking her in.

Melody stared after him, eyes wide. Tears began to fall from her eyes as she realized he wasn't going to kill her, just her husband and her two children. She sank to her knees on the floor of her cell.

"Sariah, Silviu, mommy loves you forever," she said to herself. "Caine I'll never forget the times we shared," she blew a kiss to the heavens, and prayed for her soon to be lost loved ones.

Artemis and Bloom stood toward the back of the crowd, so everyone was facing away from Artemis, and that she was far enough away that Samil couldn't see her face.

"There's Caine," Artemis said as a tall man with shoulder length dark brown hair and brown eyes walked onto the platform he wore the uniform of a guard with a dark teal cape, followed by two children one looked about ten a girl with long black hair and brown eyes, and the other about twelve a boy with dark brown hair and purple eyes. "Sariah is the girl, and Silviu is the boy," Artemis explained quietly to Bloom.

"This is awful." Bloom muttered. "How do they do it?"

"There's no blood involved from what I've heard." Artemis replied. "He does a spell and offers up their souls to the gods." Just after she said this Samil walked up onto the platform, followed by his servant, a man with black hair and striking yellow eyes.

"Aza'zel position the sacrifices." Samil commanded. Aza'zel nodded and forced the man down onto his knees, as well as the two children.

"They are ready my lord," Aza'zel's voice carried across the silent crowd. Samil began to chant in the ancient language of Nyx, and soon the three people on the platform began to glow. Three thumps could be heard as the life less bodies hit the wooden platform.

"Our kingdom is safe for another six months," Samil said, and everyone except Bloom and Artemis cheered.

"Where's Melody?" Artemis wondered aloud.

"I didn't see her either," Bloom said confused.

Samil walked back into the building with a little more power than before. "Time to make her mine," he said smirking as he reached the door to her cell. He could hear her crying inside. He walked in unannounced.

"Have you come to torment me?" She asked through her tears.

"No," he replied, mumbling the spell as quietly as he could. He only had to touch her and it would be complete. "I have come to see if you've thought about my offer,"

"I haven't," She said defiantly. He strode across the room to her, placing his hand on her shoulder.

"Are you certain?" He asked, and noticed her eyes cloud over for a second.

"No." She replied. "I've thought long and hard, and decided that I will become yours, to do with as you please."

"Good," Samil said smiling. "Now come with me then darling," he said guiding her by the elbow. "I'll show you to your new room."