Chapter 10

Bloom as a little girl happily playing with her parents. No wait, adoptive parents.

That's not what she was looking for.

Bloom as a teenager. Looks like she is in a pet store. She is watching a blue bunny. Is that Kiko?

Not the kind of information she wants.

Blooms first day in Alfea. She is saying goodbye to her parents.

The first time Bloom met Sky.

This was going to be harder than she thought.

Bloom and Icy during a battle. Her sister just lost.

Nope.

Bloom and Valtor talking.

Bloom turning into an Enchantix fairy.

The Winx defeating Valtor.

Bloom meeting her parents and saving Domino.

Nothing that is useful.

Icy accidentally attacking Bloom

And we are back in the present.

'Get out of my head!' Bloom shouted and Darcy had no other choice then to leave her mind.

For three hours now Darcy had been trying to figure out what made Bloom attack her sister. She wanted to find out how Belladonna got inside her head.

'She has no clue. She doesn't know anything. It makes absolutely no sense that she doesn't remember.' Darcy stood up and walked around the room.

When Bloom woke up she was completely confused. She didn't understand why she was tied up on a chair in Faragondas office. When Griffin, Faragonda, Addy and Darcy explained to her what she did, she didn't believe them. She would have noticed it if Belladonna was in her mind. Or would she?

'There has to be something.' Griffin replied 'Belladonna must have made contact with her. Otherwise she wouldn't be able to control her mind. There has to be a moment in her memories where Belladonna possessed her.''

'If you are so sure, why don't you give it a try!' Darcy yelled. She was no amateur, if she said Bloom didn't have contact with Belladonna, then the fairy didn't. There was no trace of the witch in her mind. Nowhere.

'I am telling you I have had no contact with Belladonna. Why don't you believe me?' Bloom looked at the four people in the room.

'She is telling the truth.' Faragonda spoke up 'Do you remember the truth spell Addyson put on the drinks. If Bloom noticed she was possessed, she would have said it.'

' There has to be an explanation.' Addy said tiredly. The only reason she was there was because as an Elementalist she was able to control fire. Not that she could do a lot against the dragonflame but Griffin asked her to stay nevertheless.

'Miss Faragonda? Flora would like to talk to you.' Griselda came into the room.

'I'll be right back.' The headmistress excused herself.

Flora was standing outside. For a second she saw Bloom on the chair. Then the door closed again.

'Her eyes are blue again. That is good, right?' The fairy asked.

'We are trying to figure that out.' Faragonda said ' What do you want to tell me?'

'Icy is awake. You wanted me to inform you.' Flora answered.

They both made their way back to the infirmary. Icy and Darko were sitting on the bed. When they went inside Icy handed Faragonda a piece of paper.

-I want a new roommate-

Faragonda let out a small smile when she read what Icy had written down. So the witch didn't lose her sense of humor.

'Give me your arm' She told the ice witch.

To Icys surprise, Faragonda took off the bracelet. She instantly could feel her magic return.

'The burns on your neck will heal faster when your magic is functioning. And I am certain it will make you feel a lot safer. ' Faragonda explained when she saw Icys questioning look.

-Thank you-

'Flora has something for the pain in your throat.' The headmistress allowed Flora to step forward.

'Here is the potion. Drink all of it in one go and in an hour you should be able to talk again without any pain.' The flower fairy gave her the vial.

Icy did as she was told and she was surprised that the potion tasted a lot worse than it smelled.

'What is going on with Bloom?' Darko asked

Faragonda took a deep breath before she answered 'We don't know. So far Darcy hasn't been able to find any traces of Belladonna in her mind.'

No trace of Belladonna? Could it be…? That would be a smart move.

-I want to talk to her.-

'No' Faragonda immediately replied

-Why not?-

The headmistress didn't have an answer.

'I think it would be a good idea. Maybe Icys presence can trigger something in Bloom.' Flora said.

'Alright. We are going to try. Let's wait till her voice is back.' Faragonda reluctantly agreed. 'And Icy, it's good to see you're alive.'

-Can't get rid of me-

Bloom kissing Sky for the first time.

Bloom and her little pixie bonding.

Bloom and the rest of the Winx celebrating.

Happy memories. Nothing that indicates Belladonnas presence.

'Stop it!' Bloom was sweating. 'Please.'

Darcy was breathing heavily. That must have been her fourteenth roundtrip through Blooms memories and it was anything but easy. Above all it was frustrating.

'You almost killed my sister. I am going to stop when I have answers.' Darcy was about to go back inside the fairys mind when Addy stopped her.

'Take a break. You are exhausted and if you're not careful enough you could damage her.' Addy said ' I want answers as well, but we won't get them like this.'

'She is right.' Griffin replied.

Darcy started to walk up and down the room again.

'Thank you' Bloom said to Addy. She was clearly relieved that she got a break. That was until the door opened.

Blooms eyes widened as Icy stepped inside the room. She immediately saw the burning marks on her neck. Faragonda followed her inside.

'Darcy, Addy could you please go outside.' Faragonda asked the two girls to leave.

Darcy and Addy glanced at each other and then at the ice witch. They didn't move away.

'I'm fine. Wait outside.' Icys voice was very raspy.

They hesitated, but still went outside.

Icy went to sit down on the chair in front of Bloom. The fire fairy couldn't get a word out.

'My voice is a bit difficult to understand right now, you will have to do the talking.' Icy stared at the girl in front of her.

A few tears rolled down the fairy's cheek. Still she kept quiet.

'Did Darcy break her?' Icy asked Griffin. Her former headmistress seemed to be in shock as well. Apparently she didn't expect to see the white haired witch.

'I am so sorry.' Bloom finally whispered.

Now it was Icys turn to stay silent.

'You have absolutely no reason to believe me and I am not asking for forgiveness. I swear I didn't know what I was doing. I would have never hurt you like that.'

The ice witch still didn't react.

'If you want me to, I'll let Darcy go back through my mind. Maybe there is something somewhere that explains everything.' Bloom was crying now.

Icy stood up. Bloom could see she was tired and that it took her a lot of strength not to sink back into the chair.

'Darcy is not going back into your mind.' Icy said and walked a few steps towards Bloom. She walked around the chair and the fairy could hear her stop right behind her.

Bloom was certain Icy was going to kill her. Out of the corner of her eye she could see Griffin making a step towards them, but Faragonda told her to stop.

That's it. After three years of battles between the Winx and the Trix, Icy was going to kill her. Faragonda and Griffin were just standing there and watching her die.

What an absurd ending.

'A blood curse? Is that even possible?' Addy asked.

After Faragonda told her and Darcy to wait outside, Darko and Flora informed them about Icys suspicion.

'That would explain why I didn't find anything in her mind.' Darcy thought out loud.

'But they are rare. And dangerous. Not just for the person infected, but also for the one who casts it.' Addy continued and looked at the witch of darkness. 'Blood curses need a source, something to hold on to. Pure darkness. I somehow doubt Bloom has a drop of pure darkness inside of her.'

'She does.' Flora spoke up. 'In our second year, Lord Darkar infected her with something called shadow virus. It turned her into a creature of darkness. She managed to control it and turn back into our Bloom, but we never were able to remove the virus.'

'Darkar created the ancestral witches. I am sure they knew about the virus and that they could use it against us.' Darcy continued 'Belladonna probably took control of Bloom when she was asleep. That's why she didn't notice anything.'

'Can a blood curse be reversed?' Addy asked.

That was a good question. Can a blood curse be reversed?

'No, at least I can't think of anything that could reverse it. It's not just a part of her, the curse runs through her veins.' Darcy answered.

'So she has to die?'

Another good question. Does Bloom have to die?

'There is nothing else I could think of.'

Bloom saw her life flash before her eyes. Every single memory. Every adventure. Everything.

Nothing could have prepared her for this. She wasn't ready to die, there was so much she hadn't done yet.

That's when she heard Icy create an ice shard and she knew it was time. Bloom waited for the final blow.

It didn't come.

Instead of killing her, Icy cut the rope and released her.

'Belladonna isn't in your head. She is in your blood. It's a blood curse.'

Bloom didn't know wether she should be relieved or scared. She definitely was confused and needed a minute to comprehend what Icy just said.

The ice witch took the time and sat back down.

Griffin immediately came to the same conclusion as Darcy did. And it made sense.

'I don't….Is that..good or bad….I mean, it's not good I can imagine, but is that better…or worse than her being in my mind.' Bloom stuttered.

Icys silence was answer enough

'So it's worse.'

'Yes, much worse.' Bloom hoped Icy would've said something different.

'What's the difference to mind control.' Bloom asked curiously.

Griffin answered her 'If Belladonna controlled your mind, it would still be you. She would only decide what you say and what you do. You would be able to remember what you did. With a blood curse you are completely out of your body and Belladonna replaces your identity.'

''How do we get it out? Do we have a plan?' Bloom looked at Icy and the two headmistresses.

'Blood curses can't be reversed.' Griffin told her. ' Only death can stop it.''

'Then why did Icy release me? You need to tie me back up! Kill me if you have to. Don't let Belladonna control me anymore.' Bloom got frustrated and handed Icy the rope that was loosely hanging at the chair.

Icy took the rope and threw it to the ground.

'I am not going to kill you.'

Bloom just stared at her in disbelief.

'Yeah, I am surprised about that as well.' Icy continued.

Faragonda stepped forward together with Griffin.

'We think Belladonna wanted to curse Icy through you. Icy mentioned, that in her dream the old witch wanted to force her, to let her inside. But whatever she tried to do, didn't work.' Faragonda said to the fire fairy.

'I think my magic stopped her. We both have ice running through our blood. She can't control me, even if she wanted to. Her ice didn't have anything to stick onto' Icy tried to explain.

'Don't get me wrong. It is great that she can't get inside of you. But how is that going to help me?' Bloom asked.

Faragonda and Icy glanced at each other.

'Yeah, how is that going to help her?' Griffin was as curious as Bloom.

''We have a theory. But it might not work.' Faragonda started.

'I don't have a lot of options, do I?' Bloom was willing to try anything

'Icy might have an idea to neutralize the blood curse in you.' Faragonda carefully said.

'Impossible!' Griffin spoke up.

'Icy?' Bloom saw how the witch was trying to look for the right words.

'I thought…maybe, just maybe….If we get my blood inside of you, it will take care of the curse.' Icy revealed.

'You want to perform a blood ritual? With a fire fairy! Are you out of your mind?!' Griffin hissed. 'They are illegal!'

'It was just an idea that crossed my mind.' The ice witch defended herself. 'If you have a better plan, do enlighten us'

Of course Griffin didn't have a better idea.

'Is that dangerous?' Bloom asked quietly. 'please be honest.'

'Yes. Blood rituals are illegal for a reason. If we do it wrong, you die.' Icy didn't sugarcoat it.

'If we don't, I die as well.' Bloom replied. True

' There are a few things you need to know. Someday you will be crown princess of Domino. Your blood needs to be pure if you want to be queen someday. It won't be after the ritual. And it will never be again.' Faragonda continued.

Bloom understood and asked ' Is my magic going to be affected?'

'Possibly. Ice and fire are opposites. If you proceed with the ritual, Icys magic will partly flow through your veins. You might lose your magic.'

Bloom gulped. She could live with not being queen but she didn't want to lose her magic.

''When do you need a decision?'

'As soon as possible. You are not allowed to go back to sleep, otherwise Belladonna will be taking over again. She will have access to your memories and know about the plan. She won't like it.' Icy avoided looking at Bloom

'She would try to kill you again.' Bloom understood.

'Yes.' Icy answered honestly.

'I hope that you are aware that I can't perform the ritual. I am headmistress of a school. I can't enact in illegal activities.' Griffin said 'Neither can Faragonda.'

'I am aware of that.' Of course the white haired witch understood that Griffin wouldn't help them. She used to work for the ancestral witches and if she helped them with a blood ritual, she would get into serious trouble.

'And who do you think is going to perform the blood ritual?' Griffin frowned

'Darcy knows how to do that.' Icy replied confidently .

'What are you talking about! I have no idea how to perform a blood ritual!'

After Icy stepped out of the office, she was instantly embraced by someone. It felt like that person was never going to let her go again. Icy was surprised her sister openly showed affection like that. Of course they knew they loved each other, but they never really talked about feelings. They have never been taught how to do that.

Still Icy put her arms around the younger witch. Both of them just stood like that for a few minutes until they were ready to let go.

Instantly she was bombarded with questions and she answered all of them. Then she had to tell them about the blood ritual.

'Griffin won't do it. I am sure you have read about them.' Icy replied, after her sister made clear she had no idea how to do such a ritual.

'Read about them? Yes, I have.' Darcy said in disbelief 'That doesn't mean I am able to perform one. You apparently read about it as well. Why can't you do it.'

'Because it's my blood. I don't know if that could lead to consequences.' Icy explained. 'Just think about it.'

Darcy nodded 'Ok'

'Did Bloom agree?' Flora wanted to know

'We are giving her a few minutes to decide.' The ice witch knew it was a difficult decision to make.

''How are you?' Addy asked the ice witch.

'My voice will be as good as new in a few hours and the wounds on my neck will heal in a few days.'

'I didn't mean physically.' Addyson corrected herself.

'Confused and tired.' The witch said 'I really thought it was me.'

'Sit down. You look like you are about to faint.' Darko gently pulled Icy over to a bench.

Now it was time to wait for Blooms decision. It felt like hours until Faragonda came out.

'Flora, could you go get the others, please. Bloom wants to talk to you all.'