Chapter Eleven: Family and Friends (Part One)
Stella held the hand of her daughter. She looked so sick and pale, she wondered if her sleeping was permanent. Helia rubbed Stella's shoulders and tried to comfort her. She turned to him and hugged him. "Oh Helia, it's even worse than I thought."
"Shhh... It's okay, my love. Our girl's a fighter. She'll open her eyes soon; I know it."
Tecna scanned Euphoria again. "Quite right. I'm very sure that I've reversed the spell; but, I called you here to make sure that it was successful."
"What do we need to do?" Helia asked, rubbing Stella's back.
"Just ask her questions that only she would know." Tecna advised.
Stella swallowed. "I might not be the best person for that." She let go of Helia and touched Euphoria's soft hair. "I got pregnant with her because Bloom had a baby and thought it was cute. So when she got here, I knew nothing about babies and hired Eleanor. She had a nanny so I continued to party and live my life the way it was." Stella felt fresh tears hit her eyes. "I was too busy in my own world that I didn't even notice my own daughter call another woman mommy..."
"That's all in the past..." Stella gasped and held her hand.
"How do you feel sweetie pie?"
Helia kissed Euphoria's cheek. "Are you okay, Euphoria?"
"I'm just really happy to be here."
"This is our daughter. It doesn't take much for us to know her." Helia affirmed
Ismene frowned, storming away from her room. She was Eraklyonese; there was no way she could ignore a direct order from her prince. That was essentially suicide! The fairies looked at her with scared or disgusted looks. She'd bought a couple of baby tees that showed how she felt. The one she wore said "Did you say witch or bitch? Doesn't matter, still right." Her t-shirts now had sassy sayings or represented Cloud Tower. She initially bought them to scare away her roommate with her witching. She knew those fairies wouldn't be able to put up with her. Faragonda must have felt the same way because instead being a fairy, her roommate was Regina. She found it discriminatory. Why pair the two witches together? What happened those discussions of fairness and tolerance? Anyone with common sense knew not to pair Regina and Ismene together. They hated each other.
Ismene had to admit she loved their room. Regina's side was covered in pictures of her family with a few exceptions of her and Semiramis. Her bed was a grey futon and her carpet was surprisingly white. Ismene made her wall be a mash up of her favorite Earth comic and anime characters. Her bed was extremely high and squeaked. Her floor became hard and green. Her pillows bore her name in a Halloween font. She also liked that their cafeteria served great food. Cloud Tower could do better with their rancid selection. These fairies had it made! It was probably why witches were generally stronger. She played with her salad and cheese pizza before taking a bite. It tasted better than it smelled.
Semiramis walked in and saw Ismene. She didn't know much about her; Regina never talked about her. She seemed interesting. Ismene had the same attitude as Regina and oozed power. Maybe they were a part of a coven. She had a Gloomix just like Regina's so it was a fair assumption. Semiramis sat next to her and took a bite of her burger. "Hey."
"Um eww. Why the hell are you sitting here?"
Semiramis frowned. Ismene was a bitch. "Why shouldn't I sit here? You bite?"
Ismene stabbed her salad to add emphasis. "I do worse."
"Interesting. I heard you are the witch of nightmares. I bet you'd write killer scary stories."
Ismene shrugged. "I guess."
"You guess? See this is why you need to know me. You could go to earth and make easy money writing scary movies and books."
"I'd rather write horror manga. I've made a few sketches, but I'm not a good artist so... The hell? What are you the fairy of truth?"
"Heavy metals."
Ismene looked up at her and nodded in approval. "That's kind of cool. You're not a typical princess."
"People don't look too favorably on the I people. They blame my mom for the war. This school is supposed to be tolerant, but..."
"Don't get me started!" Ismene growled. "I hate Alfea!"
Semiramis giggled. "Me too."
"You're alright, fairy."
Meanwhile...
Regina was supposed to be meeting Semiramis at the cafeteria. She was only late because she thought she felt a dark energy and went to go check it out. It was odd. It was there and gone in a flash. She didn't ignore it; but decided to focus on making lunch with her best friend. She ordered salmon and rice. She sipped lemonade and looked for her blonde friend. She smiled once she saw her, but it quickly faded once she saw Semiramis laughing with Ismene.
The sounds of the cafeteria were drowned by her heartbeat. She dropped her tray and made her way to the corner of the cafe. Her anger for Ismene increased by each step. She hated her! Ismene wasn't slick; Regina was so sure she was trying to turn Semiramis against her. Semiramis was her first friend; Regina wasn't going to let her go without a fight. She arrived at the table. Semiramis smiled; before she could greet the blood witch, Regina's fist had connected to Ismene's eye. As Ismene nursed it, Regina jumped over the table and on her. Punches began to fly. Semiramis yelled at Regina while she grabbed her arm. In that small window Ismene headbutted Regina and scratched her face. Regina kicked her in the gut and tried to get on her again.
Semiramis transformed. Gold dust blew across her body forming a bronze tube top, it continued down making matching shorts, silver tights and bronze boots. Her wings were golden and her hair became spiked behind a bronze headband. She put her hands on her hips and smiled brightly. Once her transformation was over she commanded the metal to wrap around and separate the witches. Regina struggled and tried to free herself. Ismene's nose was broken and bleeding. Regina glared at her; Ismene's eyes widened. "Turnherface! Turnherface! Turn her face!"
Semiramis wrapped the rod around Regina's head and force her to look at the ceiling. She assumed Regina could manipulate blood she saw. She flew above her and looked confused. "Regina, what the hell?"
She tried to calm her breathe. "It doesn't concern you. I have a score to settle with that lowdown witch!"
"You'll see how lowdown I am tonight."
"If you want to live, you'll stay out of my head. Just wait til I get free. I'm going to kill you! First Cloud Tower and now Alfea? You're so pathetic trying to take everything from me. Stay away from my friend." Regina transformed and broke free. She was itching to hurt Ismene again.
"I was the one who sat next to her." Semiramis admitted.
Regina stopped in her tracks. Ismene transformed and positioned herself defensively. She couldn't read the expression on Regina's face. Regina had no idea how she felt. "What?"
"I sat next to her, I didn't know that this would happen. I just thought she was cool and wanted to make friends."
"You sat next to her." Regina repeated. No matter how she said it; it sounded wrong. "My worst enemy, the one who won't stay out of my head giving me nightmares, constantly harassing and embarrassing me, is who you thought was cool." Regina glared at her. "...Fine, I don't care. You two can have each other."
Semiramis looked at Ismene and then back to Regina's retreating figure. Several staff came in to fix and discipline the witches, but Regina walked passed them and went to the roof. She was surprised to see Topaz there. Topaz turned to her and waved nervously. "Hello."
"Hey."
"Is there anything wrong?" Topaz asked concerned.
"I could ask you the same." Regina replied. The wind fairy was more fidgety than usual.
"It's nothing, but boy problems." Topaz tried to smile, but couldn't. "You?"
"Nothing at all." Regina denied. "Why aren't you talking with Euphoria?"
Topaz played with her cornrow. "I feel awkward around her. She's my best friend and I didn't even know the difference between her and a lunatic. I don't know what to say or even how to apologize. ...How come you aren't with Semiramis?"
Regina scoffed. "She can hang out with her new best friend, Ismene. I don't give a damn."
"Do you not like Ismene? Forgive me, I don't know anything about your life in Cloud Tower. I thought she was your friend because of your similarities."
"Friends? Your judgement on people is flawed."
Topaz frowned and looked towards the forest; Leon was supposed to have arrived twenty minutes ago. "Perhaps, you're right."
"..."
"Can I ask you something?"
Regina shrugged. "Go ahead."
"How do you say no?"
Regina almost stopped breathing. She wasn't expecting that as a question. She knew Topaz had am older boyfriend. It frightened her to know the reason behind the question. "Why?"
"When I went to Red Fountain, I ended up going all the way with Leon... I don't regret it or anything, it's just... we do it all the time now. I just don't wan- I just need to learn how to say no."
"You just say it. There's nothing more you have to say."
"What if-"
Regina cut her off. "There is nothing more you have to say."
"What are you girls talking about?" It was Leon. He was wearing a blue Red Fountain t-shirt and grey jeans. Topaz smiled and blushed. She didn't expect to get caught talking about him. He looked at his girlfriend in her tight white capris and red tube top. She looked delicious. He couldn't wait to get them off.
Regina caught the gleam in his eye and cleared her throat. "If you ever have to say more than that let me know and I'll take care of it, okay?"
Topaz nodded. "You're a good friend."
Regina blew off the word and went to receive her punishment. Part of her hoped it was expulsion.
Topaz walked hand-in-hand with Leon. They'd walked through the forest doing nothing, but talk. She really loved dates like this. They were really intimate and she felt like he told her things no one knew. Leon stopped walking and looked at Topaz. She was so hot. He appreciated every inch of her. He brought her in his arms and kissed her. She hesitated at first and kissed back. He could feel the warmth of her blush. He loved her innocence. Sometime he felt like it was too much to handle. He moved his hands to his zipper and then to hers. Topaz froze and looked at Leon. "L-leon" Leon ignored her to pry her capris down her legs. "I don't want to."
"My nose sense something different." He said huskily as he grabbed her waist. Topaz pulled away. "What's your problem?"
"It's just last time kinda hurt and..."
There goes that innocence again. "I'll be gentler this time, but if we wait any longer, I might not be able to keep that promise." He smirked when he saw her shiver. She was like prey. "You've done it before. Quit acting like this."
"Leon, no." She fell backward because of the capris. He continued to advance on her; Topaz closed her eyes and held out her hands. "Stop!" A strong gust of wind pushed him away from her and into a tree. Topaz got up, fixed her clothes and ran back to Alfea. Too scared to look behind her, she transformed and took flight. She made sure to give herself a boost, that rocketed her into her room. She flew into her hammock. It spun her around and dropped her onto the floor. She shut her window and fixed her hammock. She went back to her civilian outfit and buried her face in her hands. "What's wrong with me? I can't believe I did that..." She groaned and turned to her side. Maybe she should go back and apologize. Maybe she overreacted; he was her boyfriend he wouldn't hurt her. She should know that. She knew he probably wouldn't want to see her anymore. She berate herself until she went to sleep.
Meanwhile...
Leon growled as he got up. He was done with her! She may have been fine, but so were many girls in the magic realm. At least he'd gotten some before he threw her away. It was good, but he didn't have time for her mess. He was a Specialist. How many girls could say no to that, especially one that looked like him.
"You like little girls?" The aura of negative energy seemed to come out of nowhere. He looked around and saw a someone in the shadows. Leon put a hand over his sword. "I asked you a question."
"She was acting like a kid. Doesn't matter, there are others... Who are you?"
Anagan stepped out of the shadows. "Her daddy."
Euphoria and Topaz were deep in sleep. Usually they'd be up talking this time of night, but Euphoria was still shaken from her experience with Lucy and Topaz was drained from her altercation with Leon. Both had so much to say to the other, but couldn't. Anagan dragged the boy from his hair and stood outside his daughter's widow. He noticed it was closed so didn't bother to knock. He launched what was left of his daughter's ex boyfriend through the glass and felt like the world's greatest dad when he heard Topaz scream.
(A/N) Surprise! Anagan! It actually wasn't much of a surprise to some. AND I stupidly wrote all my ships in one of my other Winx stories. About the Leon part, I'll be blunt. He's a rapist. This is a college setting; 20% of college women become victims of sexual assault; I wanted to show Topaz as being strong even though she's timid. I also wrote it because I hate the idea of all the Specialists being perfect boyfriends. I hope you still continue to read and review this fic. Don't be turned off by Leon's audacity, smile at Topaz's courage. Sure she beat herself up, but that's normal. The Ismene/Regina/Semiramis part will also be addressed in part 2. Also "I people" are the way I'll address the people of Isis.
Next Chapter: Leon needs a blood transfusion, a match comes from an unlikely source.
