A storm raged outside as Adelaide gazed out of her tower window watching the rain pelt the glass panes. Something was wrong, she could feel it, despite the knowledge that trainee elemental witches were known to get out of control. Her best friend Lexi was proof of this as she had gone down in legend for destroying the South tower when she was first learning. Of course Lexi was now incredibly accomplished and skilled so it couldn't be her. Speaking of Lexi she really should go and look for her it was almost time for their daily ride around the kingdom's perimeter.
An elf appeared all of a sudden at her door "mistress requests your presence in her office Miss Addie" it informed her before disappearing in a flash.
Elves were not commonly acknowledged throughout the magic realm but they were loyal and often used as servants by many superior magical beings, witches being some of them.
Adelaide groaned internally and steeled herself before hastily making her way to her mother's office on the middle levels of the cloud court palace. She wasn't expecting a summons today and it made her uneasy, much like the weather actually. One look at her mother diligently studying maps of the woods outside their kingdom's barrier immediately set her on edge.
"Mother you wished to see me" she attempted a controlled tone but inside she felt a storm brewing as nerves wracked her.
"Yes, I have decided it is time" her mother replied without looking up from her battle plans.
Adelaide knew what she meant but couldn't bring herself to acknowledge it out loud just yet "what do you mean?" She responded her tone far more wary and quiet. Her mother always had a way of doing that to her; making her wary and afraid despite being almost a grown woman now at the age of 17.
"It is time you accompany me to the front" came her mother's reply with a clear hint of no nonsense in her tone.
"But mother -"
"Adelaide if you are to rule these people someday you must first gain their respect in combat. You are skilled enough but have yet to prove yourself in a real battle." Her mother interrupted finally looking up only to fix her daughter with a steely glare.
"You will join me tonight in a raid on the nearby fairy settlement. There have been burned one sightings not far so it shall prove a challenging endeavour but a necessary one nonetheless" her mother continued in a business like voice as though bringing her daughter to war with fairies and ungodly monsters was a right of passage. In a way it was but Adelaide was already starting to hyperventilate at the thought.
"Mother I beg you I'm not ready I -" Adelaide tried to persuade but was once again cut off as her mother moved to stand in front of her finally coming away from her precious desk.
"No daughter of mine shall be branded a coward, is that clear Adelaide. You will meet me in the courtyard tonight at 21:00 and you will take your first fairy heart. That is an order" her mother commanded giving her a look so fierce Adelaide couldn't hold her gaze and instead looked to the floor her mind racing with sheer panic.
It took a miracle but eventually she managed a clear yet not very assertive "yes mother" before leaving the room eyes still locked firmly on the floor. Her mother was excellent at reading people and if she took one look in Adelaide's eyes just now all she would see is fear and then she would know. She would know Adelaide was different. She didn't hate fairies as she should and she didn't want to kill or injure like her people. She just wanted to live in peace. Worst luck the only person who seemed to agree with her was Lexi. That was it, she had to find Lexi. Immediately.
She picked up her skirt and ran through the corridors, dashing up the winding staircases skipping two at a time, racing to the west wing of the south tower in a desperate search of her best friend.
Eventually she reached her chamber door and without knocking flew through the doorway alarm written clear as day on her face as the words exploded from her mouth "she's done it. She's finally given the order. I'm to be marched into battle like a soldier. Lexi I'm not a soldier I can't - I'm not - Lexi I can't do it - please" she started to hyperventilate and suddenly the room was closing in and all she could hear was the panic raging in her own torturous mind as she sunk to the floor of her best friend's bed chamber.
Lexi rushed to her friend's side grasping her shoulder's and forcing Adelaide to look at her "hey, hey, Addie look at me it'll be fine just breathe Addie" she tried to get her to focus her attention back on the present and to calm down.
"Lexi I won't do it - I'm not a killer - I'm not" Adelaide whimpered through her tears as she shook her head violently. Adelaide had always been afraid of her powers and what they could do. Not because she'd ever actual hurt someone critically but because she'd seen the death and destruction her mother had caused and knew in her heart that is what her mother wanted her to become. What she had raised her for. In fact if it weren't for Lexi keeping her sane Adelaide was pretty sure she would've turned out exactly as her mother wanted. The perfect warrior. The perfect Queen.
"You don't have to kill anyone, we'll figure this out together, just like we always do. I'm sure if I talk to my father we can convince her to delay until we find a better solution" Lexi reasoned trying to think of any way to save the girl she loved as a sister from becoming a murderer.
"No there isn't time, I'm to meet her in the courtyard in 3 hours to go out on a raid" Adelaide interjected with despair, but just as quickly she raised her head from her knees and looked Lexi in the face with a look so grave it told her friend she had an idea. An idea that would change their lives.
"I have to leave. I can't stay here I refuse to become part of the problem. I have to run." She said in a clear tone now full of determination and a hint of nerves.
"If we pack quickly we could leave within the hour giving us plenty of head way before they all come after us" Lexi responded with a look of steely determination to match. Adelaide loved how she immediately said 'we' as if there was no possibility of Adelaide going it alone. Lexi would never leave her. They were sisters in all but blood and she knew in that moment once they leave they would only have each other; and that would be ok.
"Meet me at the bottom of the North staircase in 15 minutes and pack light" Adelaide ordered rising to her feet and dusting off her skirts with the illusion of composure while her insides were rolling and she was all but certain she'd either throw up from fear or pass out in panic. Lexi nodded in understanding and immediately started pacing her room filling a rucksack and looking for a more appropriate outfit.
15 minutes later they were packed and ready to flee like thieves in the night. Their whole world and way of life was about to change - and they hadn't a clue where they would run to. Of course this didn't cross either mind as they discussed escape routs and bypassing guards in hushed tones. Far too focused on actually escaping to ponder a safe destination.
Having made it passed the barrier of their kingdom the pair of teenage witches began making their way to the nearest portal access point.
"Look, Lex that's it up ahead" Adelaide pointed out and Lexi looked as though she were about to reply but was cut off by a fireball shooting over their heads and hitting the tree in front of them.
"Duck" Lexi yelled pulling Adelaide behind a tree. Not 3 minutes later they were under heavy fire from a storm of witches hot on their trail.
"What in the name of Artemis are we gonna do now?" Lexi inquired from her defensive position behind the tree looking half pissed off and half frightened.
Adelaide was equally as terrified not knowing but suspecting what might be done to them if they were caught. However she was also determined, now that she'd chosen this path she was not about to back down. "There's nothing for it we, will never make it to the access point now we're cut off, we have to make a run for it" she answered attempting to shout over the sound of explosions from potion bombs being launched their way.
Adelaide thanked the Greek gods above she'd thought to bring an enchanted black tourmaline crystal to create a temporary boundary to protect them from the assault but it wouldn't hold up for long.
Lexi looked at her then looked at the heavens above as if issuing a prayer knowing this plan was probably mad but as predicted she went along with it anyway. She nodded to herself as if to give one final self reassurance before the pair pushed off from the tree and began to sprint through the woods.
Always the more scatterbrained of the two Adelaide had neglected to change out of her dress so consumed with their escape. She therefore found herself hopping over tree roots and hiking her skirts up to her knees as the pair raced through the trees knowing the devil herself was hit on their tail. Hades help her but Adelaide was grateful she had donned a pair of practical work boots this morning for her herbology class in the greenhouses. They certainly served her well now as she ducked and weaved to avoid spells being blasted at her by her mother's foot soldiers.
"I sense them" Adelaide panted informing Lexi that the sacred 28 had joined the throng of witches chasing them through the woods on the outskirts of Solaria.
A particular nasty fireball skimmed past Lexi "that bitch almost killed me" she exclaimed in fury aiming a matching fireball behind her at her cousin who was chasing her. Clearly it wasn't just Adelaide who was cutting up familial bonds tonight.
"Where the hell are we gonna go we can't possibly keep this chase up any longer" Lexi shouted over to Adelaide who had just snapped a warlock's leg with a click of her fingers as he got too close.
It was then that they heard an almighty thunder. Apparently the rumours of burned ones nearby were true as they joined the chaos of the chase. It must have been the explosions which drew them here and they were now causing witches to scatter into complete disarray.
Adelaide used this reprieve to answer Lexi "I haven't a clue where we could go, cloud court is the only witch settlement. Our only chance may be to find a safe portal and flee to earth" she panted as they struggled on.
Her heart thrummed in her ears and that was when Adelaide knew they were once again being followed but by something much worse than vengeful witches.
They were coming to a clearing and two burned ones seemed to have caught up with them. With no witches in sight the pair didn't know whether to be alarmed or relieved. On the one hand they weren't outnumbered but on the other there was no chance of support from fellow witches.
'Not that any witch would probably give them aid now after the stunt they just pulled' Adelaide snorted in her mind thinking back to their escape and the tower they blew up as a distraction.
They halted their sprint and turned to face off against the burned ones. They were already slightly scraped up and disheveled but they finally looked like warriors. 'Exactly what their parents wanted' Adelaide thought with disdain.
Lexi had already engaged in a brutal fight against her burned one, manipulating the branches of the trees to grab at it and attempting to launch fireballs its way. Adelaide meanwhile was dodging blows left and right trying to come up with a solid plan of attack, potions and spells could only get her so far.
Her plotting was interrupted by a cry from Lexi who was knocked flying into a tree and appeared to be losing a significant amount of blood from a head wound. Adelaide's lost concentration earned her a stab to her abdomen from her own burned one as she dove down to Lexi's position.
"Go - leave me" Lexi tried to say but was losing consciousness fast.
"NO! I'm not leaving you!" Adelaide screamed as she attempted to get to her feet and face off against the two advancing burned ones. She hurled a spell with a scream at the one she had been chased by "INCENDIO" which sent it fleeing fire into the woods. She turned just in time to see the one who had hurt Lexi advancing on her. It was as if instinct kicked in as her mind went blank with pure terror and she held up her hand.
Within seconds the burned one had crashed to the forest floor and she was left clutching a bloody heart. A human heart. Adelaide gaped at it in horror before flinging the offending organ far into the trees. Her worst nightmare come true. She'd just summoned a heart. She had just killed a human being. Her mind raced with questions but deep down she knew the truth. Everything they thought they knew was a lie and she had a feeling in her gut that her mother was at the very centre of it all.
A mixture of exhaustion and blood loss kicked in and she attempted to haul Lexi towards the edge of the clearing only to stumble repeatedly and eventually drop her. Falling to the floor next to her not long after and eventually dropping into unconscious herself.
Little did she know that they had stumbled to the edge of the barrier protecting Alfea college and the chaos of their stand off had alerted the school to their presence.
A group of specialists and their leader Silva had rushed out to the clearing to investigate and found the two girls laying near the body of the burned one.
Silva barked orders to abandon the burned one for now and to get the girls inside the barrier and into the school to be seen to.
Adelaide was being carried into the school on a stretcher and as soon as headmistress Farah laid eyes on her she knew exactly who she was. Luckily the students had been forced to remain in their rooms and only the team of specialists sent to investigate were witness to what was said next.
"What are they?" Professor Harvey asked the headmistress in a low voice as he tended to their immediate wounds.
"Witches" Headmistress Farah answered in barely a whisper as she gazed at the two young girls in shock.
One of the specialists present hasn't registered what was said as he gazed at Adelaide. Even unconscious and bloody she was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. Her thick black ebony curls fanned out around her head forming a halo and her long black lashes rested on her high creamy cheekbones. What really drew him in was her full pouty rose mouth which he stared at to make sure she was still breathing. He didn't know why but one look at this unconscious beauty made him feel the urge to protect her from any further pain.
"Nick" Silva called "you should get to bed and get some rest we can take it from here" he directed this at the lone specialist who now realised in his admiring of the girl he hadn't noticed the other 4th year specialists leave.
He nodded and retreated from the room taking one last glance back at her with one question on his mind "who was she?"