The rest of the Winx were still in class by the time Samara came back to the school. She decided to go to the library and try to prepare for Avalons class.
"I thought the third years were having class this afternoon?" Miss Barbatea asked nicely as she walked up to the fairy.
Samara finished writing her sentence before she looked up.
"They do, but I am on a different schedule." She said.
"Ah yes I forgot." The librarian said as she sat down opposite from the girl.
Samara, who wanted to go on with her notes, reluctantly put down her pen.
"Bit of an awkward situation hhhmm…" The woman said as she adjusted her glasses slightly. "I suppose that's why I saw you two in here together all the time!"
A rather fake and loud laugh escaped her mouth. "Just don't let me catch you in a corner doing naughty stuff."
Samara felt her head grow red. "We…"
"I have walked in on several young couples you know…" Miss Barbatea went on cutting Samara off. "But never on a member of the staff, heavens no."
"I am going to finish this in my dorm." Samara said as she closed the books around her rather hard. "I need some peace and quiet to study."
The fairy stood up, gathered the books in her arms and marched out of the library, leaving Miss Barbatea rather stunned behind.
Samara was glad to find the dorm unoccupied. She scattered the books all over the dining table, resuming her notes. She was just finishing when the door opened and the others walked in.
"I don't care that we are in our last year!" Musa complained. "This is our first day and we're already stuck with a load of homework!"
"We better get used to this pace as soon as possible." Tecna said. "It is what it is."
"A load of crap that's what it is!" Stella chimed in.
"Well hello to you too." Samara said.
Bloom and Flora fell into the chairs opposite from her while the other Winx retreated to their rooms.
"That bad huh?" Samara asked.
"Palladium gave us two chapters to read." Bloom said. "There will be a quiz the next lesson which is in two days."
"And don't forget Wizgiz's homework, study the anatomy of a bird." Flora said.
Samara sighed. They had to be able to transform a cup into a bird within two weeks.
"What's all this?" Bloom asked gesturing towards the books and notes scatered all over the table.
"I summarized the first three chapters." Samara said as she started to gather everything.
"Did Miss Barbatea allow you to lend so many books at once?" Flora asked.
"Yeah, so dinner?" Samara asked quickly.
"Nah, I'm taking something from the kitchen and start with the homework." Bloom said.
"Yeah me too."
They said goodbye to Samara and headed towards their room. Samara was just about to leave when Layla joined her.
"I just can't focus on school right now." The fairy of waves said as they walked downstairs.
"I can understand." Samara said. "Got any more news?"
Layla shook her head. "Every fiber in my body tells me to get back home and help."
She sighed deeply. "But my parents have ordered me to stay here and focus on my education."
Samara didn't know how to respond.
"If only we could use the Enchantix power." Samara said. "If we have to believe Faragonda, it has tremendous possibilities."
They sat down at the end of one of the tables. Samara gave Layla a plate filled with mashed potatoes, green beans and sausages. She didn't respond but seemed lost in thought. Samara decided to just start with her own plate when Layla suddenly spoke up.
"But that's it!" She said with a determined look in her eyes.
Samara almost choked on a piece of meat.
"What?"
"If I go to Andros and save someone, I can earn my Enchantix!" Layla said. "And use it to defeat Valtor!"
Samara looked at Layla's triumpfant face with a slight frown. "We don't need to save someone, we need to make a sacrifice, that's a completely different thing…"
"I would gladly give my life to save my people." Layla said a tad annoyed.
"I'm not saying you wouldn't, but it's not that easy."
"What do you know about it, your people don't even support you as their princess!"
Samara was taken aback by that comment and took a gulp of her drink instead of answering.
Tears filled Layla's eyes. "I'm so sorry, I should not have said that….I'm just…I feel so powerless."
"I understand." Samara said.
She looked as Layla slowly ate her dinner, her eyes still wet.
"Let's talk to the other Winx, we might be able to get to Andros unnoticed, see if we can help."
"I can't ask that of any of you." Layla said, but the change in her voice betrayed that she liked the idea.
"You're not, I am offering."
They ate the rest of their dinner and walked back to the dorm. No one was in the common living area.
"Let's discuss this in the morning." Layla said. "It's late and everyone was quite overwhelmed to say the least."
Samara agreed, reminding Layla that she had class in the morning and Layla was okay with talking to the others on her own.
That night Samara crawled in bed with a knot in her stomach and sleep did not come easily. They had just started school and already the Winx were planning to do something that was highly illegal.
By the soft breathing that filled the room it was clear that Layla was not so disturbed by the idea. Finally after several hours of tossing and turning Samara fell into a light sleep.
"You don't look too good."
Samara looked up to see Tecna staring at her with quite the worried face.
"Bad night." She responded right before she shoved a spoon full of cereal in her mouth.
"Any particular reason for that?"
Samara stared at the fairy of technology as she ate her scrambled eggs.
"Not really, just adjusting to the classes I guess."
Tecna seemed to buy that lie.
"What are you doing up so early by the way?" Samara asked. "You have the morning off."
"I find it is most productive to maintain a steady schedule." Tecna said. "I can finish my homework for Wizgiz and make a start on chapter one of Palladiums assignment."
Samara nodded. They ate in silence for a while before Tecna's phone started to buzz.
"It's Layla, she wants to talk to me in the dorm." Tecna said with a frown. "How odd…"
Samara swallowed the last bite of cereal and stood up. "I have to get to class anyway, I'll see you later."
The fairy of the Moon walked towards the first floor and knocked on the door of Avalon's classroom.
"Come in."
Samara opened the door and saw the professor sit behind his desk. He smiled kindly and gestured towards the seat opposite of him.
"Goodmorning professor." Samara said as she sat down and took out her book and notes. "Thank you for doing this for me."
"Not a problem." Avalon said. "After all you have done to free me of Darkars dungeons this is a very small gesture."
"Now what do we have here?" He asked looking at Samara's notes.
"Oh I uh…started with the first three chapters, read them and summarized them."
Avalon walked towards her and took one of the notes in his hand.
Samara looked at him as he was reading it and the most chilling feeling spread in her chest. Any moment now that face would turn into a demon, horrifying looking wings would spread from his back and claws would grab her by the shoulders…
"Samara?"
Samara blinked a few times as Avalons voice came through.
"Did you hear me?" Avalon asked a bit concerned.
"Uh…sorry no, could you repeat it?" She asked trying to sound calm.
"Are you alright?" Avalon asked still concerned.
"Yes, just had a bad night that's all." Samara said quickly. "I really am sorry about dozing off."
Avalon nodded, his eyes still holding hers closely as he walked towards the black board to start the lesson. Samara made sure to keep focussed throughout the entire two hours, thankfull that she already read the chapters good enough to know everything the professor discussed with her.
As the bell rang and Samara prepared to leave the room, Avalon made one final remark.
"If this is too much for you, just tell me." He said. "I can imagine that with everything that happened last year you might still be on edge."
"Nothing is wrong professor I promise." Samara said. "I'll get into bed early this evening."
Avalon nodded and said goodbye. She marched through the corridors and went into the first bathroom she came across.
Okay calm down, calm down…you're fine…nothing's wrong…
She kept repeating those words as she splashed some water in her face. How did she come up with that? This was Avalon, the real Avalon and she knew it. But why did she imagine that horrible demon?
The door opened and some first years stepped into the bathroom, loudly chatting about innocent stuff. Samara stepped back into the corridor and wanted to head to the dorm.
"There you are!"
Samara whisked around to see Palladium walking towards her.
"I've been looking for you." He said.
"Hello to you too." Samara said with only a half faked smile.
Palladium gave her a quick peck on the cheek.
"How was your first lesson with professor Avalon?" "He told me you were well prepared."
The sense of pride in Palladiums voice made Samara feel a bit better.
"I think it went well."
Palladium stared at her for a second and frowned.
"You look a bit gloomy."
It was not a question but a statement.
"I slept badly last night, I'll go to bed earlyer from now on." Samara lied again.
It was hard to tell if Palladium bought her lie as he didn't let go of her gaze.
"Okay, take it easy alright?" He asked.
"I will, but right now I have to get ready for Dufours class." Samara said. "I'll see you around."
She didn't wait for a reply and instead turned back around and walked out of the corridor. Her mind felt heavy and she longed for just twenty minutes of silence and peace but as she entered the dorm she was met with the rest of the Winx sitting in the living room.
"We leave this Friday night." Bloom said. "And we'll make sure that Andros is not the next Domino."
Samara sighed and walked towards her friends.