Hello, all faithful and first-time readers! Thanks for clicking in. I'm really sorry about how long it's taken for me to get this done, but it's finally ready. Hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it!
Fly on,
NitnatRide
Chapter 4: A Voice in the Dark
Cassie's POV
I wince guiltily as my semi-final opponent tumbles backward, scraping along the ground a few feet before lying still and groaning. As Codatora announces my victory and the other specialists in the wings applaud, I walk over to the guy, holding my hand out to him.
"Sorry," I say sincerely. "I guess ruthlessness runs in the Cestanne family."
A "hmph" from the sidelines makes me look up, and I roll my eyes at my brother's glare, ignoring his sulking; I beat him two rounds ago, and apparently his ego had taken too much of a blow to congratulate or support me.
My latest opponent is helped from the arena by a friend, and Codatora grins as he strides towards me.
"What an addition to our tournament!" he laughs, obviously impressed with my performance so far.
Why? I think. Hasn't he seen the same thing from Riven?
The sound of fighting alerts me to the fact that my opponent in the final match is still to be decided. As I turn however the sound of a groan and something falling heavily signifies the match's end. The poor victim lies on the floor, holding his head. The cloak of the victor catches my attention, and I flick my gaze to him, a few feet away, and my heart and breathing stutter.
Danny too seems surprised at the identity of his next opponent, but then he smirks at me. My brain luckily kicks in again, and I raise my eyebrows, smiling with pursed lips to show how impressed I am at his victory. Sheathing his weapon which I only just realised is in his hand – a staff with laser blades at either end that is a startlingly close colour to my eyes – he bows to me in gracious acceptance of the appreciation. I laugh out loud at how contradictory but perfect that looks on him; just moments ago I had seen him beating the crap out of one of his fellow specialists, and now he's being a perfect gentleman.
"I'd be careful, Qator," I tease. "You won't be bowing to me by the end of this. This isn't a chivalry test," I repeat the words my brother used in the warm-up session.
He grins then winks at me, almost completely stopping my heart. "We'll see about that; it depends on your fighting style."
He's deliberately but teasingly mocking me, probably referring to the fact that I'm a girl, so he's really only expecting wild and weak moves. I raise my eyebrows at him in surprise. "Oh, it is on."
"Okay, you two," Codatora shouts. "Get ready for the final battle in the tournament. One of you will be the champion of this group of Red Fountain specialists. Okay! The final battle: Danny Qator versus Cassie Cestanne!"
A huge amount of applause and cheers surround us, and I hear Helia laugh and say "This'll be good."
Keeping one eye on Danny's movements, I grin at him and call, "Hope you brought a camera."
"Damn! I should have thought of that!" Brandon mutters, making me laugh again.
Danny grins then turns to me again.
"Weapon ready?" he challenges.
Smirking, I dramatically unsheathe my weapon, enjoying his impressed look as a purple laser whip unfolds, and a laser knife partners it. He grins before preparing his own bladed staff, spreading his legs out a little more and holding it in a two-handed defence grip in front of him.
A tense silence reigns over the audience as we stare each other out, each trying to detect any kind of offensive movement, no matter how small. Eventually Danny springs forward, his teeth still flashing in a smile as he swings his staff forward. Giggling in excitement, I roll to the side to avoid his swipe, shooting the whip out as I slide on my back. The end loops around his ankle, and my momentum means he can do nothing before his feet are swept from under him. He absorbs most of the fall on his outstretched hand, but it's still satisfying to see a specialist taken off his feet by me.
Apparently the audience are satisfied as well, they laugh and whistle and cheer even as one of their own appears to be disadvantaged. I let Danny get back on his feet, and he's still grinning as he turns to me once more.
"Not bad," he says, preparing his staff again. "But then again, I'm not sure why I was expecting any less from a Cestanne."
"Me neither," I joke, winking at him. "Haven't you fought my brother before?"
"Many times. Often concluding with me writhing on the floor in pain. Again, I'm not sure why I expected your senses or skills to be any less sharp."
"I know why," I mock-glare, grinning as his eyebrows rise. "It's a phenomenon, more prominent in males, called sexism."
Even as he laughs, he launches himself at me, smiles bright on both out faces as we set up a rhythm of equal attacking and defending. A number of times each of us break the other's defences, and either sweep them off their feet or press their weapon really close and forcefully against our opposition. Each time this happens, the defender recovers quickly by either pushing their own offense forward or by landing skilfully. With this pattern we have going on, some of the newer specialists might think that we're just toying with each other, even dancing together. But those of them that know Danny and/or me can easily see that we're going all-out on each other. We're just especially evenly-matched.
When things in the audience begin to get tense with prolonged anticipation, by some unseen consensus Danny and I decide to end it. Although I predicted him throwing himself at me and pinning my throat beneath his bladed staff, our unequal amounts of strength mean I can do nothing to stop him from doing so. As we both lie there breathless, him on top of me – although pushing him off is far from my priority – with his staff in an offensive position, I can tell both he and the audience think he's won. But I grin at him, moving my hand slightly to direct his attention to his upper chest. He blinks, and shifts slightly before looking down in curiosity and disbelief. He grins too, laughter starting quietly before building slightly. He turns to the audience, no doubt to describe the small but significant detail that they cannot see.
"She's got her knife pressed to my chest," he chuckles. "It's a tie!"
An explosion of cheers and applause erupts from the crowd, and when Danny helps me up I can even see a small but proud smile on my brother's face.
"Wow!" Codatora thunders before he claps a hand on our shoulders (almost knocking me to the floor). "What a match! We haven't seen something like that at Red Fountain for years! It was certainly enjoyable, wasn't it?"
A loud affirmative is the crowd's response, and Danny and I grin at each other.
"Anyway," Codatora booms, his good mood suddenly diminished slightly, "I want you all to analyse what you can remember of the style and strategy of each of the fighters, and write at least three hundred words of evaluation on at least three specific skills displayed. That's three hundred words per skill." (I know that's not a lot, but I'm sure you'll agree that almost any homework is too much homework.)
A collective groan rises from the specialists, and I grin as I realise I'm an exception to any work set here. Still euphoric from this fact and my victory – I could have beaten him, I just didn't want to embarrass him in front of the others; I obviously let him push me to the floor – I grin at Danny.
"Yeah, Qator, what did you do wrong in this battle that let you get beaten by a girl?"
In mock indignation, he makes a sound in the back of his throat and raises his eyebrows at me. Then suddenly, his smile turns into a smirk, and he winks at me, stepping minutely closer. My heart picks up double-time, and my grin slips quickly in surprise.
"Well," he says in a low tone, "I looked at her, for one. That was a big mistake in terms of my focus and even my wish to actually win."
I gasp out a small, shy laugh at his compliment before promptly drowning in his sparkling ocean eyes. We stand, staring at each other for who knows how long, lost in each other and the emotions sparking in the moment.
"Cassie! Danny! You coming?"
We each jump slightly before turning to Helia, who had called us and who is currently smirking knowingly. Trying not to smile in response, I gesture to him subtly, indicating Riven and his potential reaction if he saw Helia's smile. Helia's shoulders shake slightly as he laughs quietly before turning away from us and starting a casual-looking conversation with Brandon.
Danny chuckles breathlessly before shaking his head a little, as if trying to clear it. He runs his hand over his face before glancing at me sideways again, looking completely mischievous.
"See what I mean?" he says, starting to walk past me to the others. "Completely detrimental to concentration."
ЖЖЖ
After the tournament, Helia invites Danny up to Timmy's room, where we kicked back last night, and so Riven can't disagree without being rude. The smirks on Danny's and Helia's faces tell me they know this, too, and I grin at Helia, silently thanking him. Danny accepts, and we all meet in Timmy's room once the guys have changed.
The rest of what is left of the tournament day and a good deal of the next are spent helping each other with the homework – although I didn't need help, of course. We all engage in interesting discussion or even friendly debate as to which moves worked in which situations and if/how they could be done better. It's pretty fun, especially when talking about the final battle between me and Danny; it's interesting to hear what the guys have to say about each of our fighting techniques and styles, seeing as we were fairly evenly matched.
Eventually though, on the second night – the night before I leave for Alfea – we all decide that we've definitely worked hard enough on those pieces of work, and go our separate ways to bed. Seeing as there isn't a spare bed in Riven's room, I insist that I make my way back to the hospital wing, and my brother concedes after I remind him that I'd be a lot more comfortable in a proper bed.
When I get back, however, apparently comfort has no effect on my effort to sleep; I can't stop thinking about tomorrow and how scary it'll be to go to Alfea. I'm a disabled fairy among some of the best, especially since I'll probably be hanging out with the Winx. What happens if, after they realise I'm crap at practicals and demonstrations, they ditch me? I'll be able to tell the students who are aiming for Enchantix the theory of it all, but if they ask for a demo, I'm screwed. Even if Riven tells everyone, swears to them, that I'm an Enchantix fairy, they won't have the proof of it. They'll whisper about me in the canteen: "Hey, look, there's the useless fairy." "She's probably never achieved Enchantix, no matter what she says." "Can you imagine if she gets into a real fight? She wouldn't last a second." "Jeez, have you met anyone more pathetic?"
Emitting some kind of cross between a groan and a snarl, I launch myself out of bed and begin pacing the width of the hospital wing, travelling from one row of beds to the other and back again while staring furiously at the floor as similar thoughts continue to wreak havoc in my head.
On one pass back to my bed's side, a dash of light makes me look up, and I stop in my tracks. The window. I'd forgotten all about the window. Now, in the cover of night, the forest has gone. But in its place is a world of unknown blindness, mysterious and possibly frightening land. But above this sheet of blackness sits another more purple one; the sky is…so open somehow. The darkness of the forest does seem to stretch out as far as the eye can see, but there's something infinite about the sky. The stars boast of their distance and power, but gently, as if acting as role-models and support: look what we've become. We give light even in all this darkness.
And the moon; it's only a thin sliver, which is why the forest looks so dark, but that thin sliver is like a cut in the sky. The potentially smothering blanket that has fallen over the word is cut, and it shows that there is a way out. Something beyond. A hope for better.
Needing that hope to be closer to me – closer than it is now, even as I suddenly find myself pressed against the glass – I stride decisively out of the hospital wing, through the corridors to a balcony outside, round the front of the academy. I breathe a sigh of relief as the fresh air hits my lungs, not cold at all, and I lean against the balcony, simply staring up at the marvel spread out before me.
"That's one of the awesome things about Red Fountain; the views are spectacular in all weathers and times of the day."
Startled by the soft voice, I jump and whirl around, searching for the source. It emits a familiar chuckle.
"I'm up here, Cassie."
Glancing up as instructed, I blink in surprise then grin at the smiling face of Danny, peeking over the edge of the slanted tiled roof, above and behind me.
"What are you doing up there?" I laugh.
He shrugs carelessly. "I usually come out here when I can't sleep, and from up here you can see even further. Come on; there's room for two."
I laugh again before studying the ten-foot wall up to the edge of the tiles.
"You need help up?" Danny says cautiously, suspecting that I don't but wanting to be chivalrous. What a gentleman.
"No, I'm okay, thanks," I say cheerfully.
Glancing quickly at the roof again, I rush forward towards the corner, springing up before kicking one foot off one wall, then the other foot off the other wall, effectively walking up the wall. Within five steps, the roof's in reach, and I kick off again with my arms outstretched, almost in a flying position, before my hands grasp the edge. I quickly swing my feet forward to stop my body colliding with the wall. After that, it's no effort to lift myself up onto the roof.
Once I'm comfortable, I throw a casual but proud grin at Danny, which he returns.
"Nicely done," he says.
"Thanks," I smirk, mentally punching the air in success as I impressed him.
A few more seconds to get comfortable pass before I initiate conversation. "So what brings you up here?"
He shrugs again. "My little brother's getting the results for one of his exams tomorrow; I can't sleep with all the excitement."
"What, you don't think he can do it?" I ask, confused.
"Oh, no, I definitely know he's done really well. Excitement or nervousness is just part of the job description of 'waiting for results'."
I laugh. "You're not even the one who's getting the results. Imagine how your brother feels, if you're this nervous!"
Danny chuckles but shrugs once again, staring out into the stars. "I look after my family and friends, and if that means sitting up all night with the same nervousness they can feel, so be it."
All joking gone, I beam at his profile in sheer happiness for the love for his family that's so evident, remembering all the times when Riven and I would stay up together to distract each other from the dreaded results the next day.
"How old's your brother?" I ask, attempting to put Danny and his brother into a similar scene in my head.
Danny grins, still looking at the sky. "Connor's fourteen."
My smile widens as I picture many different situations in the life of these two brothers; Danny playing with Connor when he's still a baby or toddler, the two of them playing sports together, helping each other when they're hurt, emotionally or physically….
"So that's my excuse for not being tucked up right now," Danny continues, jerking me out of my daydream. "What's yours?"
Turning to stare into his eyes that are suddenly looking back at me, I swallow and frown automatically, the thoughts of a few minutes ago flooding my mind once again. I quickly hide my face from Danny as my insecurities make their reappearance.
"Hey," he says quietly, his tone making his surprise, confusion and sympathy clear. "Are you alright? I didn't mean to upset you."
I duck my head further, cursing myself for even coming out here. After a few seconds, Danny makes a noise.
"Ahh, I'm sorry; I didn't mean to pry either. There's obviously something that's upsetting you, but if you don't want to tell me, that's fine. I just…want to help you, and…want to make you feel like smiling again."
I gasp quietly and turn rapidly to stare at Danny in awe. He smiles back sadly, the anguish and desperation in his eyes almost painful to witness.
"It's only been gone a few seconds," he continues, his voice barely disturbing the night, "but I already miss your smile. And I vow to hate anything that makes it disappear. Even if that's me."
My eyes prick and burn as I try to suppress my tears; this young man here wants to know what's upsetting me, not because he wants to spread rumours, but because he wants to comfort me in the best way possible. Because he wants to see me smile again.
Once you tell him, he might start the rumours, though, a pessimistic cynic inside me says, and I drop my head in shame and depression again.
"You don't deserve anyone's hate, let alone your own," I argue. "But if you mean your vow, then the only object or person that needs to be hated right now is me; no one else is to blame for this but me."
"Impossible," Danny replies immediately, and I look back at his intense expression. "Even if you've done something really horrible, something so incredibly terrible – which, in my view, is impossible – I would still never be able to hate you."
The sincerity in his eyes both breaks and mends my heart; he doesn't know what he's dealing with, so he might change his mind once he has all the details, and yet right now he's so willing to help me, and so adamant and sure that nothing I say to him is going to change his opinion of me.
I make a decision to go for broke, but stumble over finding a way to start it.
"Well," I begin, looking down again. "It's…um…it's not so much…what I've done. It's…it's what I can't do."
Confusion flashes across Danny's face for a split second before it disappears into a politely and gently curious look. I suppress a smile; he's controlling himself again, making me feel comfortable and relaxed rather than pressured. He really is wonderful.
"Can you be my voice in the dark?" I say suddenly, gaining inspiration from memories.
Danny blinks in bemusement. "What?"
I laugh self-consciously, realising that my request would mean nothing to him. "It's something my brother and I used to do; if there was something we wanted to tell the other but were too scared of their reaction or too nervous to reveal something about us, we'd ask the other to be our voice in the dark. We used to go outside at night-time, anywhere we could – the roof, the garden, a rock pool we found – and we used to lie down, so we could only hear the other's voice and not see anything but the night sky."
By the end of my explanation, Danny is grinning. "That's an awesome idea," he laughs quietly. "I'd be glad to be an addition to the voices in the dark."
So we both lie down on the roof, and I marvel at the celestial display in front of me. Their beauty calms me once again, and I begin.
"It's just…." I sigh, suddenly weary and needing someone else to dump this weight on. "I used to be a fairy. A damn good one. And now I've lost my powers. Well, not really; I just can't use them without suffering through agony afterwards."
The horrified silence is expected, as is the almost tangible confusion. Staring into the endless velvet sky dotted with stars, but battling with the urge to look at Danny, I retell the same story and explanation Riven gave his friends and I gave Stella. Again, everything about it; my incredible power at first, the wizards' attack, the detrimental effect on my magic and the new side-effect of its use, and how I'm just staying here for a short time and therefore how I'm moving to Alfea tomorrow morning, and my fear of other people finding out this and judging me on my complete lack of ability.
"Let's face it," I continue, "I'll be surrounded by fairies aspiring for Enchantix, which is the level I was at before all this. If I'm going to be one of the teachers with the Winx, I can dish out all the theory they need, but if they ask for a demo, I'm screwed. When they see that I keep handing that responsibility over to the other girls, they'll think I'm not really a fairy at all, like I'm faking it or something. I'll be called a liar and a pathetic weakling, and apparently that would be too much for the Cestanne pride."
"Hey," a familiar voice rebukes from beside me, "no pathetic weakling can be joint champion of a Red Fountain tournament. If they do start to say mean stuff about you, challenge them to a no-magic fight."
Half-smiling, I huff out a laugh through my nose, but phantom insults still ring in my ears.
"Listen," the voice returns, quieter, more serious, "I – the voice in the dark, that is – believe that you reached that level, because I have seen your dedication and intelligence. You say that you could show them the theory but not the practical, and so they'd start saying you were useless because you can't cast a spell without hurting yourself. But once they see just how detailed and deep your explanation and understanding are of the theory, they would never question the fact that you got that through experience, nothing less. They'll surmise that something happened to you that means you can't use magic anymore, but they'll never say that you're weak."
With a jerk, I realise he's right; no one could doubt my knowledge about Enchantix, both for its achievement and later its use. There's no one who isn't a fairy of that level who could know that, certainly not to that depth.
"Yeah," I say, smiling. "I never thought about that."
"That's because your pessimism wasn't letting you," the voice replies.
Silence falls over the rooftop, and after a few minutes, Danny speaks again, varying his pitch dramatically to sound surreal.
"I am your conscience."
The contrast in mood between now and our previous conversation finishes me, and within seconds I'm giggling uncontrollably along with Danny, both of us trying to keep quiet so as not to wake up sleeping specialists. I push myself up to look at Danny's face again, our laughs subsiding after a few seconds.
"And there it is," he sighs happily, staring at my smiling face. "Mission accomplished."
I blush at both his scrutiny and compliment, before asking in a low voice: "So if this mission is accomplished, what's your next one going to be, Mr Qator?"
He grins before his expression becomes unbearably tender. "Well, that's easy: making sure it stays there."
So, there's chapter four :) Again, sorry it's taken so long, and I'll try not to do the same with chapter five, okay? But I kind of prioritise my fanfic writing according to how many reviews I get from each, so if you want to see more, please just leave a review. It can be two words long: "Keep writing". It doesn't take too long, I promise. Thanks to all who read this and my fanfic.
Fly on,
NitnatRide
