Douse the Flame
Summary: When Sofia gets word that Greeneyes has been revived and is out for revenge against Sofia and her family, she calls for help to eradicate the evil entity for good.
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters from Sofia the First, as they belong to Craig Gerber. I own Serena, Charlie, Angel (mentioned), Takoda (mentioned), Butterford, Muscles, and several others. MarionetteJ2X owns Nana and Tanya (both mentioned).
A/N: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, RD! :)
Chapter 6: In the Shadows
Deep within the confines of Greeneyes's secret realm, Serena was magically tied up to a hefty beam in the middle of the large space, her blue eyes tired yet curious as she watched the evil woman before her. She could see that Greeneyes was slowly increasing her powers using a large dark crystal in the center of the vacant area, the makeshift veins in her "skin" glowing a deep yellowish color, which was somewhat unsettling to the girl. Of course, Serena was still young, and as such, she was quite impatient and inquisitive, and so… "Who are you?" she finally asked, seeming to startle the woman in the process. That gave her a mild sense of accomplishment, which she wouldn't admit out loud. "Why am I here?"
A bit irritated that her concentration had been broken, but never one to miss an opportunity to mentally and/or verbally torture and berate her victims, Greeneyes smirked at the young sorceress. "We've met before, little one."
"How?"
"Oh." The smirk twisted into a full sadistic smile. "I'm sure you don't want to know that… I don't think you can handle the truth."
Serena glowered at her, those blue eyes of hers growing stormy. It was a strange trait that she'd grown accustomed to, but she didn't know anyone else in her family whose eyes shifted shades and hues like that. "Try me."
"Very well…" While she spoke, Greeneyes went back to her work. "Years ago, I took your mother from her own bedroom while she and your father were sleeping. I brought her to my other realm at the time, and I informed her that I was going to steal her baby–you." She ignored the stunned expression on Serena's face as she continued, "While she was helplessly captured and bound, I split her belly open, removed you in your infant form, and left her bleeding and dying. I aimed to extract all your magic and then use you as a sacrifice."
The fact that Greeneyes had told her story in such a matter-of-fact manner made Serena's blood run cold. She'd never known anything about that… Of course, after hearing it, she could understand why. So her Mama had suffered and nearly died for her… But how did she…?
"Your oaf of a father came after her, and under certain circumstances, I was defeated and you were restored, and your mother was apparently healed," the woman added, almost as if it were a reluctant afterthought. "But I won't be defeated this time. No, I'm stronger, and I'm calling the shots now." She practically glided to Serena, grasping her chin, her blood-red lips pouring into a saccharine grin. "And I'll steal your powers with no interference from anyone. I've got the powers of all inferno on my side, and not a single one of you can stop me." She hummed in mild satisfaction as she saw Serena's eyes flicker a strange green shade like hers, though it was brief, and she chuckled. "That's my girl." She patted her cheek a little too hard before turning and beginning to walk back to her previous location.
Serena was still in shock after hearing everything, but she refused to let it show. She was mentally strong–probably stronger than most others in her family–and now she had to wonder if that was why. But still, she had to know more. "So this is about revenge?"
"Of course it is, you stupid girl." She scoffed as she raked her hands through the air, stirring some of her powers around. "I never got to finish what I started last time, and I intend to do so at last."
While the young girl had a lot of Sofia's empathy and sharp wit, she also had her uncanny knack for reasoning with others. Even despite all she'd heard so far, she decided to try and see if she could dig a little deeper… "Don't you ever get tired of this whole 'evil' thing? I know it's got to be exhausting." She smiled in an almost understanding manner when Greeneyes paused and looked toward her, her brows furrowing ever so slightly. "You've never thought about just…being good? My Mama knows a lot of people who have changed from bad to good, and you could be one of those people too if you just opened up your heart–"
"I don't have a heart, you idiot child," Greeneyes snapped, a sneer on her face once more; she took a special interest in realizing that she'd clearly just hurt the girl's feelings with yet another insult and probably tarnished whatever empathy she was about to express for her. Even better. "No heart, no soul, no conscience, or didn't you realize that when I told you that I literally tore your mother open, ripped her body apart, just to steal you before your birth? Do you still think you're going to find some 'good' in me?"
Discouraged, Serena lowered her head and stayed silent. She remembered what she'd heard Cedric telling Sofia throughout the years–something that had stuck with her. "You can't save everyone, my darling… No matter how hard you try…" And Greeneyes would never be saved. But she barely had time to ponder that or her situation when she heard several people calling out her name. She swiftly lifted her head, turning to see, to her surprise, her parents and some other familiar faces. "Mama! Papa!"
While Cedric and the Protectors hurried over to try to help Serena, Sofia and Butterford stood next to each other, facing a perturbed Greeneyes.
"How did you even get here?!" the evil entity growled.
"Release Serena, Greeneyes!" Sofia demanded, ignoring her previous question. She could see the woman's confusion and irritation melt into a more amused smirk, which angered her. Her powers felt warmer in her veins and hands as she dug her nails into her palms, only the slightest bit of relief coming to her when she felt her Guardian and friend cup his hand over hers.
Greeneyes chuckled, the sound haunting as she sent a blast of energy toward the Protectors and Cedric, knocking them backwards, while Serena screamed in surprise. "I think we both know how this is going to end, Princess Sofia…" She turned those sharp green eyes toward the princess, her lips looking like pure blood as they slid over her startlingly white teeth, which seemed to be sharper than they once were. "With you bloody and slowly dying on the floor once again, suffering in pain and agony, while you are once more without your little girl…" Her powers began increasing as negative energy radiated off her form. "And believe me… I have every intention of succeeding this time!"
To be continued…
Next Chapter: Standoff