Chapter 13
'Addy. Addyson. Addyson. Wake up'
' Go. Away. I am sleeping.'
'I need to talk to you.'
'Talk to someone else.'
'I need to talk to someone who has a neutral opinion.'
'We'll talk later, I promise.'
For a second Addy thought she could go back to sleep.
'I almost kissed Flora.'
She was instantly awake and sat up.
'You what!'
Addy looked absolutely perplexed as she stared at Stormy. The storm witch looked bewildered as well.
'This is the wrong time to stop talking' Addy told the witch 'What happened?'
'I almost kissed Flora' Stormy said again
'Yes, I understood that. What I meant was, what happened before and after that.' Addy rolled her eyes.
'I…I don't know…I just..well…she said…and then Icy said….and then I said..and then…I wanted to kiss her….but some other student came around the corner and I just ran away.' Stormy wasn't able to get a full sentence out of her.
'Okay, there were a lot of words that didn't make sense to me, but I think I got the message.' Addy said calmly.
Stormy groaned and let herself fall on Addys bed. 'What do I do?'
'Do you want me to come up with a story or can I just tell you that I have absolutely no idea what you should do.' Addy replied
Stormy groaned again and wrapped the blanket around herself to hide.
Addy smiled at the childish behavior of the witch. She decided to tease her a little.
'You seriously wanted to go through with it?'
'I don't wanna talk about it.' Stormy lifted her head from under the blanket. Addy saw how her cheeks turned red. So she took that as a yes.
Addy smirked. 'Your cheeks are bright red.'
Stormy immediately hid her head again.
Addyson laughed. 'That's nothing you have to be embarrassed about.'
'She has a boyfriend.' She heard Stormys muffled voice.
'Do you like her?'
The witch didn't answer.
'You don't have to say something, just look at me. The colour of your face will tell me your answer.' Addyson continued to tease the witch.
Stormy lifted her head again and glared at the other girl.
'See, no talking necessary.' Addy looked at Stormys red cheeks.
'Can I sleep here? I don't want to go back to my dorm room.'
Addyson smirked and couldn't help herself. 'Wouldn't you rather….'
Stormy hit her with a pillow before she could finish the sentence.
The sleeping draught worked very well. No dreams, neither good nor bad, disturbed her.
She had no clue how long the potion made her sleep. But it wouldn't surprise her if she had slept the whole day.
She was grateful no one came to wake her up. The others were probably still asleep as well.
Icy felt how she slowly started to wake up. She didn't open her eyes and just decided to stay in bed a little longer.
She wasn't alone in the room.
'It is rude to stare at people when they're asleep.' Icy said sleepily. She didn't have to open her eyes to know who it was.
'It's also rude to steal someone's magic. Didn't stop you to try.' Icys visitor replied.
'True.' The ice witch opened her eyes and sat up. 'Why are you here?' She looked at the person sitting on a chair.
'Straight to business, I like that, Isabella.'
Icy hadn't been called by her real name in a long time. She was even more surprised to hear Queen Marion say it.
'How..how do you…?'
'You're asking the wrong question!' Marion interupted her . 'The right question would be, why didn't I tell anyone about the blood ritual?'
Icy didn't answer her. Yes, she assumed Marion already knew about everything, but maybe she didn't and this was just a test.
'I want to thank you.' Marion continued ' I am aware about the little feud you have with my daughter and her friends. It can't have been an easy decision to help Bloom given the circumstances. But I am glad you did.'
'I doubt you are here just to tell me that.' Icy frowned. She wasn't stupid, it was obvious Marion wanted something else. 'What do you want?'
'Stormy wake up!''
'Five more minutes.''
'Nope'
Addy took away the blanket, which made the storm witch shiver at the sudden cold.
'When did Stormy get here?' Darko stood in the doorway. He sounded like he hasn't been awake for a long time either.
'A few hours ago.' Addy answered shortly
When the storm witch looked at Darko she suddenly remembered what she said to Icy.
'Oh god, I said something extremely stupid to Icy.' Stormy took a pillow and put it over her head.
'You say a lot of stupid things, I am sure Icy didn't even notice it.' Addy grinned.
'I did notice it.' The ice witch appeared next to Darko in the doorway ' She was very explicit'
'Icy, I am so….'
'I am not here to talk to you.' Icy said harshly. 'And I am certainly not here to listen to any apologies.'
Addy and Darko were both surprised at the tone of her voice. Stormy was as well. She visibly flinched.
'Everything all right?' Darko looked back and forth between the sisters.
'Yes.' Icy answered. 'She just didn't get back to her dorm room and no one knew where she was. I thought I should try here.'
'I…' Stormy wanted to say something
'Sorry, for waking you up. If you are hungry, there is food in the cafeteria' Icy interupted her and turned around to walk away.
Addy, Darko and Stormy were the last to arrive. The rest of them were already there.
The storm witch paused when she saw Flora sitting next to Helia. Addy gave her a nudge to continue walking.
'Stormy, where were you? We were worried when we noticed you hadn't come back' Darcy said as her sister sat down next to her.
'I stayed with Addy.' Stormy answered. She wasn't able to look at anyone.
'How are you Bloom?' Addy changed the topic and looked at the fire fairy.
'So far there have been no weird side effects.' Bloom answered smiling.
'We are still waiting to see if she grows another pair of limbs.' Musa joked. Most of them laughed at that.
'That's not going to happen. But you might experience colds and shivers.' Icy deadpanned. 'Not to mention the possible magic loss.'
The laughter immediately died down. They noticed Icy was tense.
'Someone's in a good mood.' Sky said sarcastically.
'Mind your own business.' The witch hissed.
'Icy are you alright?' Darcy looked at the ice witch.
'Yes.'
They didn't know what to say after that. Something was clearly bothering the witch and she obviously didn't want to talk about it.
'Icy can I please talk to you?' Stormy asked quietly, to not get any attention.
Darcy heard her and looked confused when Icy didn't answer the youngest of them even though she was certain the ice witch heard her as well.
'Stormy asked a question. '
'Tell her no' Icy snapped.
Now they were certain something bothered the witch.
'Alright, let's ignore our favorite ice witch and start talking about tomorrow.' Stella said which only made Icy roll her eyes in annoyance.
'Why? What's happening tomorrow?' Darko asked. He noticed as well that something bothered the ice witch, but he decided to leave her alone and just keep an eye on her for now.
'Assembly of the royal houses.' Bloom answered. 'They are discussing how to proceed concerning the ancestral witches.'
'And Bloom, Stella and I are not invited.' Layla was clearly enraged about that.
'They said if our help is needed they would get us.' Bloom replied. The fire fairy wasn't disappointed that she wouldn't be there. She was kind of relieved, considering the fact that they still weren't sure if there would be side effects because of the blood ritual.
That and royal occasions were still new to her.
'It is unfair that Sky is allowed to go.' Stella pouted.
'I am currently being prepared for how to rule a kingdom. You know that my father wants me to take over the throne in the near future.' Sky explained.
Of course he understood that both of the princesses were a bit angry. But their parents decided to not let them participate. They simply weren't ready for that and to be honest he wasn't even sure if he was ready for something like that.
'Can we stop with this pity party now. It's getting on my nerves' Icy sighed annoyed.
No one commented on the witches behavior. They ignored her and continued to talk silently.
On their way back to the dorm room Icy didn't talk to anyone and she didn't answer any of the questions Darcy asked her. She immediately went out on the balcony when they arrived back at the winx suite to put some distance between her and the rest.
Addy and Darko exchanged a glance and pulled Stormy to the side.
'Talk. Why is Icy mad at you?'
Stormy reluctantly told them what she said to her sister. She immediately apologized to Darko, who just stared at the storm witch in disbelief. His relationship with Icy was none of her concern and she had no right to judge them like that. Stormy seemed to be in absolut distress about everything. Addy just told her to calm down and that they would find a solution.
'I should talk to her, right?' Darko asked his sister.
'Yeah, good luck with that.' Addy patted his shoulder 'We all saw how you talking to her ended the last time. She accidentally attacked Bloom. Try not to say something stupid. One wrong word and you're turned into an ice cube.'
Her brother rolled his eyes. He was almost certain Icy wasn't going to curse him. Almost. That's why he knocked on the balcony door before carefully poking his head out.
'Can I join you?' Darko asked. He stepped outside when he saw Icy nodding and sat down close to her.
'Stormy is sorry for what she said to you.' Darko said after a minute.
'She told you?' Icy asked.
'We squeezed it out of her.' Darko replied 'She doesn't know what to do to make it up to you. You need to talk to her. She thinks you hate her now.'
'I don't.' The ice witch immediately said.
'I know you don't, but Stormy doesn't.' Darko looked at Icy. 'And I was a bit too angry to tell her that.'
If Icy heard him she didn't show it. The witch just stared into the distance.
'Do you want to talk?'
The witch shook her head.
'Can I talk?' He asked carefully.
Icy shrugged.
'What Stormy said is not true, okay? You are very much capable of having feelings.' Darko said.
The ice witch rolled her eyes. Of course she knew Stormy wasn't right.
' And don't you dare think you were just a fling to me.' He continued.
Yes, she knew she wasn't. Was he actually worried she believed what Stormy said.
'Why does it bother you so much what Stormy said?'
It didn't. But it seems to bother him.
'Izzy, look at me.' The witch hesitated but turned her head towards him. 'Was I...'
…just a fling to you? That's what Darko wanted to ask. But he got cut off by Icy.
She suddenly pressed her lips against his, kissing him gently.
'You know you weren't.' Icy quietly said when she pulled away.
Darko instantly responded and cupped her face with his hands. He lowered his head to capture her lips again.
The kiss was soft and gentle. But the longer they kissed the more daring they got, testing to see how far the other would go. After a few seconds the lack of air made the witch feel light headed and she expected Darko to feel the same. But instead of pulling away completely, his lips moved across her cheek towards a spot behind her ear.
Bastard, he knew what he did and Icy involuntarily moaned, which made the witch pull back immediately.
'Shit, stop. We're on a balcony.' They were both breathing heavily.
'Sorry, sorry…I got carried away.' Darko slightly chuckled. He leaned his forehead against the witch's. Neither opened their eyes until they calmed down again.
'It's adorable that your worried.' She smirked before giving him a chaste kiss. ' But you are breaking your head about the wrong things. It didn't bother me what Stormy said and you shouldn't be bothered either.'
Darko shot her a questioning look.
'She was lashing out because I told her something she didn't want to hear.' Icy explained 'The only thing that bothers me is that she still doesn't understand that she has to think about consequences. She can't just act as she pleases. Her inability to control her emotions is just going to get her into trouble one day.'
'I was worried you might have believed her.' Darko quietly said before frowning 'If it's not what Stormy said, then what's going on?' He asked. The witch acted weird. In the cafeteria she seemed tense.
Her reaction confirmed his suspicion. She slightly squirmed and looked away from him.
'Now I am certain something's happened.'
'Any chance you'll forget about that if I kiss you again?' Icy asked.
Darko didn't have to say anything. One look at his face and Icy knew he wouldn't drop the topic.
'You're not gonna like it.' The witch breathed out.
'Tell me.'
'Darko…..'
'Please.'
She knew it would be better for him fo hear it from her. Darko would find out anyway. So she took all her courage together and told him.
'I'm joining the assembly tomorrow as crown princess of Whisperia.'
His reaction is exactly like she anticipated. He was confused and shocked at the same time. Darko almost immediately shifted away a little and avoided her gaze.
'Why?' He sounded harsher than he intended. Icy knew it wasn't personal.
Darko has always had negative thoughts about the royal upper class and other authorities. He avoided them. Not just because Addy and him were not exactly dealing with legal activities, but also because he thought they wasted their power for their own good. Medora, Icy's stepmother, was the perfect example for that.
'God Izzy, you can't kiss me like that and then tell me you are taking your title as crown princess .' Darko buried his face in his hands in exasperation.
Icy just made it complicated. And she knew that. By kissing him she silently told him she still had feelings for him, just like he did by kissing back.
'You always knew who….' Icy whispered.
'Yes, I knew who you were.' Darko interupted her 'But that was different. You didn't know. And you shared the same opinion as me about the royal upper class.'
'And I still have the same opinions. I am not suddenly going to change them just because now I know I am royalty as well.' Icy tried to assure him
'Iz…'
'And it's only temporary.' She added. 'As soon as we finished off the ancestral witches, anyone who dares to address me as princess will regret it.'
Now he looked absolutely lost.
'I had a visitor earlier.' Icy started to explain. 'Queen Marion, she's…..'
'Bloom's mother, I know.' Darko cut her off. The witch nodded.
'She knows my backstory and who I am.' Icy slightly paused. 'And she knows about the blood ritual.'
'Did she tell anyone?' Darko was aware that the witch could get into serious trouble should anyone find out about that.
'No and she won't . As long as I join the assembly.'
'I don't understand. Is she blackmailing you?' Darko stood up . He went into protective mode. Icy knew she could ask him anything right now and he would do it without a question .
'Darko sit back down and keep it quiet. Darcy and Stormy are inside and I haven't told them anything yet.' The witch put a hand on his chest and tried to calm him down. 'I am sure you are aware that I am not exactly on good terms with any of the kingdoms in the assembly. And Marion thinks that tomorrow during the negotiations about what to do concerning the ancestral witches the kingdoms will try to get Darcy, Stormy and me to leave the school. Alfea is currently our only protection.'
'What is she aiming for? Do you know?' Darko asked a bit calmer. He sat back down while Icy leaned against the railing.
'19 years ago Eraklyon, Domino, Solaria, Andros, Melody, Linphea and Zenith signed a contract. That was during the first war with the ancestral witches. They wanted to guarantee that they would work together to find a solution. And that none of the kingdoms would unexpectedly turn their backs on them to help the three witches. Guess who signed the contract as well. My father. Whisperia is officially allowed to participate in the assembly.' Icy explained 'Marion says I should take it as security. If Whisperia or anyone from the planet is targeted, the other kingdoms are forced to help. But…'
'But someone from the whisparian royal family has to be present at the current assembly.' Darko understood.
'Yes.' Icy nodded.
'Security is not a bad thing.' Even he had to admit that this was an advantage.'Why did she have to blackmail you?' Darko asked.
'I am not very keen on sitting at a table surrounded by people that I have threatened before. And they won't be happy either. So I respectfully told Marion to go screw herself. As response she pulled the blackmail card.'
'She forces you to join the assembly because she is concerned about your well being?' Darko asked in disbelief.
'Good question. I asked myself the same thing before I found an even better question' Icy pointed out 'How can someone I have never met before and someone who was trapped inside of Obsidian for almost two decades know who I am?'
Whisperia did as little business as possible with the the other kingdoms. Even though it was close to the size of the rest of them. Not because they wanted to but because it was the only planet that was ruled by witches and dark wizards. It has always been a thorn in the eyes of the other kingdoms and as a result Whisperia distanced themselves.
As long as they didn't cause any trouble, none of the kingdoms cared about the planet and it's rulers.
But then the ancestral witches started to cause havoc. And to limit the risk that Whisperia would form an alliance with them, they included them in the assembly. It was a strategic decision.
Icy and Darcy were still infants at the time and Medora was pregnant with Stormy. Her father was the only one who participated at the assembly and the witch was certain no one cared about his family situation. So how should anyone know about her being the crown princess? Especially after most of the planet was destroyed and people believed the royal family had died.
'You think something's off.' Darko concluded.
Icy nodded and sat back down next to him.
Darko knew better then to ignore Icys gut feeling. If she thought something was weird or not going the way it was supposed to she was mostly right.
He made a mental note to talk to Addy.
'Does that mean I have to adress you as Your Royal Highness ' Darko jokingly said after a minute of silence. When he saw Icy looking at him with a guilty expression he immediately apologized. 'Sorry, too soon?'
'If only I had just done nothing.' Icy huffed 'I do something good for once and help Bloom, just to get blackmailed by her mother. How embarrassing.'
'I am sure you'll find a way to use that to your advantage.' Darko replied softly.
After a short pause he added 'You going to talk to your sisters?'
'Yeah' Icy sighed 'Can we just sit here for a few more minutes and pretend everything is fine?'
'Okay.' Darko put his arm around her shoulder.
'I need to talk to you.' Icy walked up to Darcy. She was not surprised to see her younger sister with her nose in a book on her bed.
'About what?' The witch of darkness lifted a brow. 'Your weird behavior towards Stormy or your current anger issues. Maybe it's about….'
'It's about what I told you a few days ago. You know, about Obsidian and our memories and the nightmares. I would like to continue our conversation now.' Icy interupted her sister.
'You have made it a habit to ignore that topic. Why do you want to talk about it now?' Darcy frowned and closed her book.
'It's important that we talk about it today.' The ice witch saw the confusion in her sister's face.
There was a knock on the door and Stormy stepped in.
'Addy told me, that Darko told her, that you want to talk to me.' The storm witch was prepared to get told off by her eldest sister. She was certain there would be a lot of shouting. She instantly wanted to apologize.
'It's not about that' Icy cut her off.
Yes, she said what Stormy said didn't bother her. That doesn't mean she was just going to let it slide. When Icy was certain her youngest sister had learned her lesson she was going to talk to her.
'There is something I have to tell you.'
