A/N: I almost didn't get this chapter out. Only some guests, whose arrival confined me to my room gave me the much needed one-on-one with the screen.
Disclaimer: I don't own The Winx Club, and don't know Italian, but if I did, I would watch that rather than the crap the 4Kids produces. Musa with the phoney urbane accent sounds so bad, and the other version isn't available for download. I am so glad my country follows the UK version, Cerelluen, I think it is called. I recommend that as it doesn't actually cut out kissing scenes and doesn't make Riven and Musa sound like carbon copies of the other Winx. Seriously, if I had only the 4Kids version from US to rely upon, I wont have gone past episode one. Oh, yes the actual disclaimer—I don't own any version of the Winx Club, but I do own Alberta and Tom Solomon.
Alberta was still dazed when the two brought her in. Riven followed awkwardly behind as the one cousin held up the other. Alberta mumbled a few phrases and Sky sushed her, so that Riven couldn't hear most of what she said.
"It's my fault, then, god…" she moaned, aghast. Her voice quivered as she fought the urge to cry.
"We are almost there, Bert," said Sky,"Hold on."
They were in the castle then and Riven flew up the stairs, taking two at a time. He wasn't sure what Alberta was talking about, but evidentally, Alberta was somehow responsible for Nabu's death. He was never one to gossip or even stand for it, but he felt a burning desire to pass this information on to Musa. His stomach contracted with pleasure as he contemplated the look in her eyes—the tiny blue orbs flaring up in interest. Though personally, he didn't believe Alberta could be even a bit responsible.
He burst into the meeting room. The large hall was deserted, and so was the room. Well, almost. Musa was tugging at the ends of her hair nervously and talking earnestly to the Law Officer. Was it his imagination, or did her eyes flicker for a second when he came in? did her face change its expression abruptly?
"—So you are saying that you were thrown out of the band for being too loud? Cant believe it of you, Officer Jones," she said, and threw her head back dramatically and uttered an almost-fake laugh. Her eyes flitted to Riven and she smiled all too-cheerily,"And here's Riven." She stood up and introduced him with a hand.
Riven's eyes narrowed at the Officer as he shook his hand. "What are you two doing here, alone?" He tried to keep the anger out of his voice and failing miserably, forced a plastic smile on to his face.
"Well, I was keeping Jones here busy. The rest have gone to have their lunch," replied Musa, shaking Officer Jones' hand as she began to head out. Riven followed close behind.
The Officer began packing up, collecting his pen and notebook and making a great show of putting them away. "Didn't you need to eat?" he heard Riven say, his voice laced with sarcasm. That young woman better watch herself, he thought. He's a jealous one.
Riven was seething before he left the room, but stopped short when he realized what had puzzled him. The nametag the Officer wore was not labeled 'Jones', it read 'Tom Solomon'. He looked down into his girlfriends' face. It looked worn and worried, and she was speeding towards the Dining Hall. Remembering that he was always the one who lead, he was surprised. Suddenly, recalling the news he had to give Musa, he reached out to grab her shoulder. She flinched. He could see that she tried to fight it with a wide smile, but he was not convinced. He dropped his hand to his side.
"Coming?" asked Musa, as she raced towards the dining room. Riven followed, but this time, he didn't bother to catch up with her. Something was wrong, he could tell. She had been acting weird ever since he had entered that room. What could have happened? He felt convinced that Musa had changed the topic as soon as she had heard the door open. What secrets could the two have been discussing? Was he perhaps a suspect or something? No, that was a crazy thought. He had an alibi. Was she telling the Officer that Layla and hin were related? His stomach curled. Can't she keep her damn mouth shut? It had to be that. It was like de ja vu. That's what you get for trusting a woman, the voice said. No wonder she was acting funny. She was probably burning with guilt.
The surge of anger died away as he entered the dining room. There was only Musa in there, spooning some pasta onto her plate. Perhaps she was waiting for me? He thought with a pang of guilty happiness. Which is why she was killing time with the Officer. Perhaps those detectives, with their mendacious questions had made her clurt it out. He felt another pang of unease as he realized that he was the only one, perhaps along with Alberta, who had not been questioned yet.
"I forgive you," Riven blurted out.
Musa regarded him confusedly.
"For telling them Layla is my sister," he explained, matter-of-factly.
He might not have caught it if he hadn't been studying her face.
"N—," she choked out, then quickly held a napkin to her mouth. "Oh, yes, yes," sshe replied hurriedly. But he had seen her eyes. They looked confused for too long for that to be true. He seized her hand, knocking the fork from it. It clanged on the ground, and Musa's eyes helplessly looked at it, to keep from looking anywhere but at his face. She seemed outraged, sadned and confused all at the same time.
"Muse—" His tone was persuasive, and seductive. It made you want to tell him all your secrets.
"I am not hungry," she said, getting up. He was still holding her hand, and roughly pulled her towards him. He realized she was trembling, and her eyes squeeze themselves shut as her mouth twisted into a grim line. All the signs pointed to a burst of tears, but it never came. She stood stiffly in his arns, him sitting, looking up at her and she standing stiffly.
"What's wrong?" he tried to say it with as much gentleness as he could muster in that situation. "You have been acting weird since I came into that room. What happened?"
Musa shook her head, leaning away from him. Her eyes were still closed, and he could tell she was trying even harder not to cry. That was the second time this day, he realized. The first time, she hadn't minded him seeing her cry, at least not as much. Now, she apparently did not want his comfort, while he, who had skipped breakfast and was delaying his already late lunch was ready to give it to her.
His hands tightened around hers in anticipation. She tried to pull it away, but he held on, looking earnestly into her face.
"I'm starving," Sky burst into the room, a hearty grin spread across his face. Though his eyes were worried. Alberta followed him reluctantly, a blank and helpless look on her face. "Where are the servants?," she snapped suddenly, taking a chair and looking around. Riven and Musa broke apart as soon as they had heard Sky. Musa excused herself with a monosyllabllic word and curt nod and was off.
"At your service," Riven joked, mockingly. The atmosphere in the room was awkward and tense. Alberta avoided eye contact with the two and served herself. Riven did the same and Sky followed. When they were through half their meal, Musa joined them. She had obviously been crying. Riven shot her a concerned look, but she averted her gaze.
"I don't believe you have met Alberrta?" Sky asked her when she had filled her plate. She nodded to the other girl, managing a non-specific greeting.
"I am sick of this place, Sky," whined Alberta, her voice cutting across like a knife. "When the hell can I go home?"
Sky patted her hand sympathetically. Riven scowled. He had two emotionally unstable lasses in this room and the only sane one was his oversympathic rival. He wondered whether Musa would have come back if those two hadn't caught sight of her before she had made her exit. Princess etiquette or something, maybe, he thought. Especially since she hadn't seen Alberta before this. Royalty just got stupider every day.
I have got to get a hold of her, he decided. Talking about feelings and stuff is not my style, but I'll go crazy if I have to analyse why Musa's acting like a scared rabbit. Was it something Jones or Tom said? A jolt of fear shot through him when he realized what it could have been. It explained everything... the feeling of utter hopelessness made him drop his guard., and Sky saw it.
"What's wrong, Riven?" Sky asked. He ignored the man. His head was throbbing, sweat began to trickle down his temple as warning alarms began to ring in his head. He desperately wanted to leave, to just be alone for awhile. But he knew that it was better to resolve this right now, right here. If he ran away, he would probably never be able to nip the problem in the bud.
"You nervous about the interview?" asked Alberta to Riven. She seemed to have magically returned to herself again, and was regarding his beads of sweat with a cool interest.
"No," Riven shot back.
"Well, I am, Alberta conceded. "I have a big confession to make."
"Alberta-" Sky's tone was one of warning.
She ignored him and went on. "You see, I'm the reason for Nabu's-"
"Berta, shut up!" growled sky.
"Well, it is true, isn't it?" she yelled back, losing her composure. Musa slowed her eating even more, but she didn't look up. She was interested despite herself and her current position.
"I am responsible for Nabu's death!" bellowed Alberta. Sky was on his feet, and was dragging her away from the room, but she stood still and addressed Riven.
"Riven, please tell my cousin to get his mitts off off me, and now," alberta commanded.
Riven, looking uncomfortable and embarrassed, repeated her words in an even tone.
"You'll be stuck here if you say more," he hissed, "Alberta—"
She ignored him and looked at Riven. She returned to her dining chair and told him all. Musa compelled by her good manners and natural curiosity stayed planted to her chair, shifting a single piece of pasta around her plate. Riven's plate stood empty. Sky threw himself facedown on the couchnear by, groaning and growling.
"And I just told this to Sky and he was telling me to keep my mouth shut because of the punishment I'd have to endure," she said the last word dramatically.
Musa stiffened. She was aware of what would happen to Alberta. For being responsible indirectly for a spouse's death, the person would have to pledge allegiance to the planet, here, Layla's planet. That meant Alberta was now a resident of Tides and could never leave. Her future—whether imprisonment, servitude or freedom—would depend on Layla and her father.
She watched Alberta explain this to him. She watched his eyes fill with sympathy for her, consequently filling her with a mixture of envy and surprise. Apparently, they were better friends than she had imagined. Well, Alberta could have him, and he and her and Layla could live happily ever after.
"Don't tell them," Riven suggested, simply. Musa tried to hide the gasp, but it was as clear as a loud bell ringing in a silent churchyard. Riven heard it, and looked sharply at her.
"You obviously don't have any idea what assholes these Law Officers are," he snapped, to no one in particular. "They wont let Layla decide for you, they'll take you somewhere—"
"Like prison?" Musa took her opportunity to strike, every syllable laced with ice.
"Whoa, you've been there?" Alberta asked, interested. Riven sighed as he watched Sky make his way back to his dining chair. Might as well come clean while I can, anyway those Officers will get it out of me—and perhaps, they are have already told the others about it.
"Yes," he admitted, "I was sent to juvie when I was seventeen." "On rape charges." He added.
"Of course, you didn't do it," Alberta said, not skipping a beat. Right then and there, Riven reconsidered his newly formed relationship with the musical fairy. Obviously, Musa had heard about his past from the Officer, and tried to hide her discomfort from him, but had failed miserably. And here was Alberta, unhesitatingly declaring that he couldn't possibly be a rapist. He loved Musa, yes, but for that one minute, he wished he didn't. she obviously hadn't thought he could be innocent. Still, she had probably heard all this from the lips of a very biased Tom Solomon, who had probably informed her that this had been 'proven beyond doubt' or something solid like that, when she had protested, something which she had definitely done, though out of disbelief or the hope that it wasn't true, he wasn't sure.
"No," Riven agreed, "I was framed by a girl called Veronica, she lived in the orphanage with me."
"You lived in an orphanage?" It was Sky this time, and Riven hated the way his eyes were clouding over, a look that had 'charity' stamped all over it.
"yes," Riven waved away the fact nonchalantly. This was not some sappy chat show, wherr his sad past and abandonment issues would be dwelt upon and used to decode his present actions. He was doing this to explain to Musa, in the least awkward way possible, about his less-than-honourable past.
"But you tried to break out of prison…" added Musa reluctantly. He obviously knew she knew, and there was no point in hiding it. Besides, she hardly had the option of hiding in her room, as she had been informed by Officer Solomon that she and Riven had been given a room in the palace by their orders, as it was potentially unsafe for her to leave Tides, as well as it being a rule that they not do so until Jared was found.
"A room together or the same room?" she had asked. This was before he had mentioned Riven's arrest and jailbreak. "Separate, of course," he said, glancing at her solemnly. She was sure she had turned beet-red, when he suddenly looked serious and enquired," You know about his life of crime, of cause?"
She was turning pink again under the influence of Riven's stony gaze. "Yes," he repeated, slowly, "There was a girl called Priscilla who encouraged me to do so. I listened to her, she told me she would take care of it." His eyes hardened at the memory. "She did, but it was purely an act of self interest, and some revenge instinct against her father, who was apparently a rapist," he continued.
Alberta let forth a low whistle. "Talk about the battle of the sexes," she laughed,"Women certainly seem to be programmed to bring you down."
Riven nodded, but he was studying Musa's face. She looked abashed and terribly tired. There was a moment of silence, a much needed break for the four. They were turning over thoughts in their minds.
"So what Riven is saying is," butted in Sky, "Don't tell those Officers—"
"Tell me what?" Tom Solomon stood at the door, his hand still on the handle.
A/N: Please review, it is like an incentive to continue. You can also answer these questions: Do you like where the story is going? Is it too detailed? Do you like or hate Alberta? Is Riven acting OOc or is anyone else? Please criticize, praise or give your opinions.