Chapter 13- Unexpected Leads
As soon as she saw Layla falling out of the sky, Musa went flying after her. Her heart pounded, her wings hummed as she sped, and the wind whistled in her ears; everything seemed to be creating an agitato tempo music. "Layla! I'm coming!" Musa shouted.
Musa had never flown so fast before in her life. Compared to the other Winx girls she was slower when it came to flying. But at that moment, her speed could have probably competed with Layla's flying speed. Everything blurred past her, like some kind of psychedelic vision filled with vibrant colors and loud sounds. But Musa's attention remained focused on the falling form of Layla.
The distance between Musa and Layla was shortened until Musa was finally able to reach out and snatch Layla by the hand. Layla's downward inertia nearly dragged her down into free fall, but Musa pushed her wings to their limit. The two of them did fall, but they didn't hit the ground with quite as much impact they could've. However, their meeting with the ground still knocked the breath out of both of them and the two were left lying there, panting and gasping for air.
"You alright?" Musa finally asked after her labored breathing finally caught up with her pounding heart. "Scared the crap out of me!" She quickly scrambled to her feet and held out her hand to Layla.
"Scared the crap outta myself." Layla replied. Grabbing Musa's hand, she stood up and looked toward the direction the flames had risen from. Her teal eyes held a mixed look of both fear and awe. "What the hell could have caused that inferno?"
Musa frowned and followed Layla's gaze. "Hell perhaps?" Musa answered. She heard a sharp crack and clash in the distance, a familiar sound similar to sounds she'd heard all too often ever since she'd began her training at Alfea. "Sounds like a battle is going on."
Layla bowed her head and gazed at the ground for a moment, then caught Musa's gaze. "Someone else is hunting Eilian. I'm sure of it. She was obviously running from someone and I'm certain it wasn't us." Layla stated. "And whoever it is has some major power to back them up. We'd better go check it out."
Musa nodded and the two of them forged their way through the undergrowth on foot. Musa would've flown, but she'd landed on her wing when she hit the ground and the delicate appurtenance felt sore. She carefully fluttered her wings and winced as pain shot through her back. She wouldn't have fun flying with that if the situation demanded it.
"The other girls must've gone to check out the source of the attack." Layla said quietly. "Hopefully they're on our side. Our mission to save Bloom is already taking too long. We don't need to handle another enemy now."
Musa agreed. But an odd feeling within her told her that whoever was hunting Eilian wasn't about to play friendly with the Company of Light, and she told Layla so. " My intuition isn't giving me a hopeful feeling about this 'ally'." She glanced at Layla, who said nothing to the comment. But Musa could see that Layla had the doubts as well.
Another explosion shook the forest and Musa and Layla gave each other nervous glances before rushing toward the source. A familiar shout echoed through the trees and a bright light lit up the foliage. Stella had obviously found Eilian or the inferno source and was trying to take them out. Musa felt her heart speed up again for fear for her friend. Finally they stumbled through the last barrier of undergrowth onto the scene.
From what Musa could surmise, the rest of the Winx had just come on the scene themselves. Flora and Tecna landed on the ground, standing between Musa and whoever the enemy was. Stella was up in the air, prepared with an energy blast in hand for whatever Eilian could dish out. Beyond them, Musa could barely make out the figures of what must have been the guys and Roxy.
"Solar ray!" Stella screeched and threw a comet-like ray of light at the enemy. Musa watched in horror as the light flew then stretched and warped like it was rubber. Then the light disappeared.
"Green luxurious ivy!" Flora cast her energy from her palms toward the enemy. Vines rose up out of the earth and whipped out, attempting to wrap around someone. The air surrounding the vines became distorted suddenly by some unseen power and Musa stared in shock as Flora's vines fell limp to the ground.
Amidst the limp vines stood a girl, appearing to be about Musa's age. She had long, golden-blonde hair and depthless blue eyes that peered out from her heart shaped face. The girl wore a simple brown robe with the hood lying down her back, apparel that hid most of her body from sight. She held an air of grace about her as she stepped forward, the brown robe rustling with each step. "Please stop."
Musa watched as the Winx all stopped their assaults and stared at the girl with looks of confusion and awe. Why would an enemy beg for the fight to halt before it even began? Then an explosion erupted behind the girl and she was thrown off her feet to the ground. Flora and Tecna threw up their hands to shield their eyes, while Stella, who was just above the girl, hastily attempted to throw up a shield. Stella's attempt failed and she fell to the ground next to the girl.
The blaze dissipated quickly after throwing the unsuspecting fairies to the ground and two figures came into view. Who Musa saw made her gasp in horror and struggle with inner feelings of frustration and dread. She clenched her fists and the names Layla muttered sent shivers of anger down her spine.
"It's Baltor and Diaspro." Layla whispered, her voice laced with horror and incredulity.
"How are you alive?!" Stella snapped. Musa noticed she seemed to be less amazed than the rest of them. "Bloom destroyed you!"
A look of displeasure crossed Baltor's face, but he didn't reply. Instead Diaspro stepped forward and directed a question at the girl. "Where is it?"
The girl was on her feet now and slightly raised her chin in defiance. Musa had to admire the grace with which the girl moved and acted. Her blonde hair shone bright in the sunlight as she stood her ground. "Where is what?"
Diaspro made a move to throw another blast at the girl, but Flora intervened. "Ivy cantata!" Flora cried out. Writhing vines erupted from the ground and wrapped tightly about Diaspro. Diaspro cried out in shock and struggled against her bonds.
Musa cast her gaze toward Baltor and felt her confusion grow greater. Baltor made no move to help Diaspro. Rather, he stood back and watched as Diaspro fought off Flora's vines. He caught Musa looking at him and moved forward, extending his hand to cast a spell of his own. "Vites excidere!" The vines sliced up and Diaspro pulled herself free from the green ropes.
"Suspendisse tellus reicio meam hostes ausi resistere et animalia nascuntur in via!" Diaspro shouted in retaliation.
The ground beneath them rumbled and cracks ripped through the open clearing. Obsidian, crystal-clawed creatures climbed out of the cracks in hordes. The crawled straight for the Specialists and Winx, jaws snapping.
"What dark magic have we tapped into now Diaspro? Did Baltor supply you?" Stella threw light filled blasts at the creatures.
"No fairy is supposed to use necromancy! It's against the laws of magic! Only witches and wizards work with the dark arts!" Tecna glanced toward Baltor nervously, then looked back at Diaspro. "Your fairy powers wouldn't allow it!"
"It's a good thing I've tapped into my inner witch then." Diaspro threw her hands into the air and dark crystalline structures forced their way upward from the earth. "Give me the aspect, Aetheria!"
"Aetheria?" Musa glanced at the blonde girl.
"You will not have that which you have asked." Aetheria said daringly. "It is my duty to protect the aspects of space and I cant allow you to mishandle them!" She produced a spear from out of nowhere and pointed it toward Diaspro. "I will do everything to stop you!"
"Right." Diaspro said sarcastically. She threw a dark orb at Aetheria.
Aetheria lithely dodged the attack and threw her spear at Diaspro. The spear hit the ground before Diaspro and from the impact erupted a distortion that threw Diaspro off her feet. Diaspro scrambled to her feet and lunged for Aetheria. "Give me that aspect! Now!"
"Harmonic beam!" Musa raised her hands and an intense beam of musical energy hit Diaspro back from Aetheria. "What's all this chat about aspects?" Musa demanded, her gaze pinning Aetheria on the spot. But Aetheria didn't even seem phased. Another spear in hand, she charged Baltor.
"Please Aetheria." Baltor sneered and vanished as Aetheria was about to attack him. "I was able to defeat your sister Eilian. What makes you think you can take me?" Baltor appeared behind Aetheria and grabbed her spear with both hands. Aetheria struggled to pull it back, but froze when Baltor's face came in close to hers. "I'm surprised the gods would choose someone as weak and pathetic as you to protect the aspects of space."
Aetheria snapped out of her fear and lashed out with her foot, kicking Baltor in the chest. Backing away with her spear in hand, Aetheria raised her free hand in the air. "Divinix…"
Musa watched in awe as the girl's robes faded away, leaving her standing in a bright cream-colored dress, cinched at the waist with gold chains. Similar chains wrapped their way up her arms and encircled her neck and a gold tiara took form upon her brow. Wings erupted forth from Aetheria's back and a crystal vial of water swung from a chain about her neck.
"Eilian pulled that trick too you know…" Baltor chuckled and summoned dragon fire in his hands. Aetheria said nothing and grasped the shaft of her spear. "Of course that didn't help her any. I'm stronger than you pathetic little fairies ever will be."
"Spatial reverberation!" Aetheria stabbed her spear into the ground before her and energy rippled away. It smacked into Baltor and he slid back on his feet, crashing into a tree at the edge of the clearing. Musa felt the energy rip through her and force her to the ground. The creatures Diaspro had summoned shattered to pieces, their horrid cries echoing through the clearing. The others fell to their hands and knees as well.
"What power!" Musa exclaimed and yelped as the power intensified. She struggled to rise to her feet, but the force was too strong. The roar of the energy made it near impossible to hear anything, but Musa could barely pick up the cries and yells of her friends.
"Someone needs to kick this chick to the curb!" Layla growled, her own struggle against the force evident in her strained voice. "No one should be allowed to wield that much energy!"
"I can't move!" Stella lamented. "She's too strong!"
"The readings are all wrong!" Tecna called out from yards to Musa's left. "These aren't the same readings we found back at the Domino Palace! This girl had nothing to do with Bloom's disappearance!"
Musa's heart fell. Their only lead was a dead-end. But they couldn't just abandon it now that a new threat had reared its ugly head. They were going to have to put Bloom's rescue on hold until they could finish Baltor off and take care of Diaspro, and Fate only knew how dead their trail was already. "Okay! Winx change of plans…" Musa began, trying to project her voice enough for them to hear.
She was cut off when the power stopped abruptly. Musa quickly glanced back at Aetheria. Aetheria had been tackled by Diaspro and the two were grappling with one another and the ground. Diaspro's hand snatched at the crystal vial Aetheria wore about her neck and yanked hard. The chain snapped and Aetheria cried out in dismay. "Thank-you." Diaspro purred. She scrambled away from Aetheria and ran for Baltor. "We're out of here."
Baltor stood and waved his hands and the two disappeared in a flash of light.
"No!" Aetheria screamed. She pounded her hands on the ground and bowed her head, tears streaming down her face.
"Aetheria?" Roxy approached the distressed fairy with apprehension. "Aetheria? Are you all right?" She gently placed a hand on Aetheria's shoulder and jumped when the fairy threw her head back and gazed at the blue skies above. "Aetheria?"
"Gods forgive me! Zeus hear me! I have failed you! I have failed my sisters! And I've failed the girl to whom the aspect belonged." She bowed her head again and her body shook with silent sobs. "I've failed one of the greatest souls to walk Fate's path. I've failed you… Bloom."
-Author's Note- Whew! I haven't updated in nearly a year! Guess I was so caught up in Martyr. Here's the chapter you've all been demanding since… I guess last October. Figured I'd better take up this project again. Tell me what you think. ~Kyree Winx~