Sorry I took so long :/ Final Exams,
Stella/Brandon especially this chapter! R&R!
Chapter 20: Jealous
"What do you mean, Bloom isn't with you anymore!?" she asked furious. "Valtor this wasn't a part of the deal!"
"Watch it princess, my patience has its limits and you're reaching it!" he hissed, frustrated.
"Bloom hasn't turned on me, she's simply not present. Frankly, I wasn't entirely assenting at first but, this could work to my advantage", he said, a smile creeping on his expression. Diaspro stared at him, dumbfounded.
"How so…? The whole point of kidnapping that nitwit was to have her with you"
"Yes, but who says I've lost her? Bloom is still working for me. And having her inside Alfea makes her a spy. And who better than Faragonda´s most trusted pupil to keep me informed?" Diaspro smirked.
"How do come up with such plans?" she said stepping closer to him. He sighed, crossing his arms.
"Focus on your goal princess, it's about time you had King Sky at your feet", she twirled a strand of hair around her finger.
"With Bloom back in Magix, carrying out my plan is a bit tougher…but not impossible", Diaspro smiled wickedly and placed both hands over his shoulders, before leaning in and giving him a soft kiss on the lips. Valtor remained completely motionless as she deepened the kiss for a brief moment before pulling away. He raised his eyebrows, slightly unfazed.
"I could have him right now, if I wanted to…but something's in my way" she said, stepping away from him. He chuckled.
"You´ve made your point",
"We have to separate those two no matter what it takes, I need Sky away from Bloom…"
"I´ll reiterate your words, you could have him now if you wanted to. With or without Bloom. It's only a matter of intelligence", he said.
"Well, first things first, you have to help me convince Oritel. I need another portion of the dragon´s flame!" she claimed.
"I agree, but I can't give it to you. My magic is far too dark and there's no telling what effects it may have on someone who isn't accustomed to this kind of power",
"Then help me take Bloom´s power! I took the afternoon off from all duties at the palace. They won't even suspect-"she said, before he cut her off.
"No. I can't risk losing Bloom´s trust. And it's exactly what´ll happen if I were to take a part of her power. If you need the dragon flame so desperately, and by the looks of it you do, then you must do this alone", he said firmly. The owner of his counterpart was important to him, more than he cared to admit…
"Fine. I´ll just have to do this myself, but don't expect me to go easy on her!" she said, clearly annoyed. The wizard´s eyes darkened suddenly.
"You won't have to. I´ll give you a spell that will extract the strict amount you require. You will wait until nightfall, when she´s asleep. And no matter what, Diaspro, you won't lay a finger on Bloom. If you hurt her, we´re through", she snickered.
"Sounds like someone´s getting attached",
"It's none of your concern. Do the job right, and you´ll have your King in no time", he said, wiping the bit of lip gloss Diaspro´s kiss had left on his lip.
Stella strolled through Alfea´s campus searching for Nova. As promised she had to discover who this mysterious girl, that had obviously caught Helia´s attention, was. And Nova usually had the latest news on everything in general. Suddenly her cellphone began ringing.
She groaned. She was growing a bit tired of saying no to Bishop. He was so persistent! Although she had to admit how admirable she found it that a guy wanted her attention so bad. But she couldn't. She was with Brandon and she wouldn't do such a thing to him. She had to exterminate Bishops interest in her somehow. And her ringtone just went on and on. Frustrated, she pulled her phone out of her pocket and opened it fiercely.
"I said no! Would you back off and leave me alone?!"
"Stella?"
"Brandon!" she answered, bewildered. His voice sounded…awestruck. Now she´d done it!
"Stella, what's going on? What are you yelling about?-"
"Brandon-I-I thought it was…Musa! She and I…well you know, we argue sometimes and, it's complicated", she said forcing a laugh, which Brandon clearly read through.
"No way Stel, You wouldn't tell Musa to back off…" he pondered. Stella remained silent…
"Stella what's really going on? You´ve been acting strangely for the past couple of weeks. I haven't said anything because I didn't want to make you uncomfortable. But Stel, I´m worried about you",
"Brandon, I´m sorry. I've been stressed, it's this whole Valtor mess, but I-"
"Stella, there's something else you´re not telling me…we´ve been through worse and yet you´ve never snapped at anyone likethat! Especially not at one of the winx…I need you to be honest with me sunshine, what is it?"
"Brandon, maybe, maybe we should see each other", she said as Nova appeared in front of her, waving like crazy.
"I agree. How's tonight sound?"
"Sounds great Brandon, gotta run!" she said before hanging up. She sighed heavily. Nova´s overwhelming smile disappeared.
"Stella what's wrong? Did..something happen to your boyfriend?" she asked worried,
"Not yet, but it will once he finds out about Bishop", she groaned rubbing her forehead.
"Aww man, don't tell me that the senior specialist is still after you",
"He is, and it's bad, really bad", Nova patted the princess´s shoulder.
"Nova I need a special favor from you" she said suddenly. Flora would kill her if she didn't have any information until later.
"Sure thing, Stel"
"Would you happen to know a girl in this school named Krystal?" she asked
"Well, I know a couple of girls with that name" she said, thinking about it for a moment.
"Description please", Stella inquired.
"Well, one of them is in art class. She´s from the Harmonic Nebula. And she´s actually kind of cool"
"Next", Stella pressed.
"Oh and there's this new exchange student from Linphea. Well actually I heard she was the princess of Linphea. She´s in herbology. She knows tons of spells! I think she´s a friend of Riven´s"
"Whoa…Riven?"
"Yeah, I´ve seen them talking before. I´m pretty sure they get along", Nova told her. Stella was dumbstruck. Helia and Riven? And I thought I had problems!
"So, Ophir…" Layla began,
"You said you were from Andros, what does your family do?" Ophir smiled, he had a breathtaking smile, although Layla refused to admit something so embarrassing to her friends.
"My family is, well, I guess you could say they´re rather wealthy. My father is the owner of an exportation company on Andros. Both he and my mother have dedicated time and hard work to the business. My brothers on the other hand are completing their studies at the Oskuria College for Wizards",
"And…yourself?"
"I attended the same college but since I started before them, I´ve already concluded my studies. I always knew what I wanted to be, so I entered the school as soon as I was eligible", he said.
"A wizard. And you´re really talented! I can't thank you enough for what you did to help us save Bloom, Ophir",
"No gratification needed. Your friends and you are very much talented as well. To be honest I´ve heard a lot about "the winx" back on Andros, you´re quite the celebrities", he said as they both laughed.
"Well then, thank you, for just…being you", she said. Ophir cleared his throat suddenly, shifting uncomfortably in his seat.
"Princ- I mean, Layla. There´s-there´s something I should tell you before we go on any further", he said. Layla stared, confused.
"Alright…" she said, expectantly.
"Layla, everything I´ve ever said to you about myself is true. The one thing I haven't been completely honest about, is my name", he said, staring at the plate of fruit salad in front of him.
"Well that doesn't sound so bad", she said with a smile.
"My name is Nabu. And it was arranged by the royal court that I would marry the Princess of Andros", he said quietly, not daring to look up.
"What?" Layla asked, shocked. Nabu remained silent.
"But that would mean…that you´re my-"
"Fiancée. I am, princess Layla", he sighed.
"So…you´ve been lying to me all along…" she said, as a matter of fact.
"Layla, please. Just hear me out", he pleaded. Her silence was his signal to continue.
I ran away from home because I believe that love isn't something that can be arranged between two people. I´m not much of a romanticist but I have my own view on these arranged marriages. So I came here. Because I wanted to meet the terrible woman I would have to marry. And to be honest…I´m amazed", he said, looking up at her. Layla´s dejected look had his hopefulness falling even lower.
"What do you mean?" she asked, now coldly.
"Layla, I-I wouldn't know where to begin. You´re not at all what I expected! When I first received the news I imagined a girl in high heels, and a crown, someone I couldn't possibly have a connection with. But you…you´re beautiful, smart, hard-working, brave. Watching you fight that day, I know now that you´d be willing to give your very own life for your people. I haven't met a stronger woman than you, Layla. And, I´m truly sorry for messing up so bad from the start",
Layla stared at him, wordless. She was upset alright. He had lied to her about more than just his name. He lied about his identity. He wasn't just Ophir, the wizard. He was Nabu, her fiancée. But then, why wasn't she angry? She wanted nothing more than to stand up and leave, like the tough independent person she was. But she couldn't.
"Nabu, this hasn't been easy for me either. If you´ve really gotten to know me the way to say you have, than you must know I´m not good at this sort of thing. I´d do anything for my friends and my realm and when I read the letter my parents sent…" her voice trailed off. Nabu took her hand in his gently, catching her off guard.
"Layla, I know I made a mistake. But all I ask for is a chance. Let's put aside this whole arranged marriage situation for a moment. Let it be just you and me. No etiquettes, no royal procedures. Just two people getting to know each other", Layla smiled. She couldn't blame him, at some point she might even had done the same.
"I think I´d like that, Nabu", she said. He bowed his head and kissed her hand gently.
"Thank you, princess"
Riven strolled through Alfea´s campus searching for Musa.
"Hey Muse", Riven greeted as he reached Musa, who was sitting by a tree.
"Don't `hey Muse` me", she said, standing abruptly.
"Musa? What's with the attitude?" he asked, smiling slyly. She huffed. Riven placed each hand on either side of her as she leaned against the tree.
"Let me freshen your memory Riven, who's Krystal?" Riven stifled a laugh.
"Krystal? Is that what this is about?" Riven asked, fighting to keep a straight face.
"I really don't see the humor in this", she said annoyed. Stella had told her all about the new girl earlier today, and she wasn't amused in the slightest.
"You have no reason to be jealous Musa. Believe me", he said, smiling shrewdly.
"What?! I´m not jealous! But I won't let you mess around with me", she said, walking away angrily. Riven grabbed her arm and pulled her toward him.
"Hey, hey…" he said, kissing her neck.
"Krystal´s just a friend, and she´s more a friend of Helia´s than she is mine, anyway", he whispered, holding her closely.
"I said I don't care", she mumbled into his chest. After a brief moment of silence, Musa spoke,
"So she´s a friend of Helia´s hm..?" Riven grinned.
"She is. I met her on the day of your accident. She helped heal your wounds until help arrived",
"Wait. You met her here. Then where´d she meet Helia? I shouldn't tell you this but Flora´s worried",
"I probably shouldn't tell you this either. But I think the girls got a crush on him, she asks about him all the time",
"She asks you about him?!" she asked, bewildered. Suddenly she slapped his arm, hard.
"Hey! What was that for?!"
"Another girl is asking you about my best friend's boyfriend and you don't say a word?" he groaned.
"Aww Musa you know I don't get involved in your chick problems!" she shook her head in disbelief,
"Boys…"
Stella finished applying her makeup and doing her hair.
"Tecna, I´m going to see Brandon. Could you let Flora know that´ll talk to her later tonight?"
"Sure thing Stel, I'll tell her when I see her", Tecna said. Stella put on her jacket, leaving the dorm. She knew this would happen sooner or later, just…not so soon. Brandon would be furious once she told him about Bishop´s constant phone calls and harassment. For the first time in what seemed like forever she felt her hands sweat. Definitely not attractive…
The hallway was empty since most of the students and teachers, if not all, were in the cafeteria having their dinner. Making her heels sound all the more stridently. Suddenly someone wrapped their arms roughly around her pulling her back, and placing a cloth over her mouth firmly. She immediately gasped and tried to scream, but it was no use, the sound was muffled by the cloth. She tried to break loose, completely terrified. But the person holding her was stronger. It had to be a man.
"Shhh, it's okay Stella" he whispered as she sobbed. "You´re going to be okay". She shook her head fiercely, screaming uselessly. The man stroked her hair with one hand, gently.
"There, there your majesty. Everything´s going to be okay. You´re with me now". Please don't hurt me! I can't even transform!
The person behind her began dragging her down the hallway. She began feeling sluggish. The cloth had something on it. In all her struggling she hadn't realized its scent, it was intoxicating. Tears strolled down her cheeks. Her heart was racing in pure panic. She vaguely felt herself being dragged farther and farther, before an overbearing drowsiness took over her. She was so weak she couldn't transform at all.
Suddenly, her attacker lied her down on a bench. Of course, the gym….
She saw his face…she knew him! She knew it would come to this!
"Please don't hurt me…" she whispered. He lied above her, caressing her cheek and wiping the tears away.
"I gave you time, princess. I gave you more than enough chances to respond to my affection",
"I´m sorry" she pleaded, sobbing. She wanted nothing more than to push him off of her. But whatever toxin had invaded her, made it impossible. Brandon…Brandon…
"You´ll be mine one way or another", he said as he began trailing kisses down her neck. She struggled to fight him but it was useless.
"Please...stop!" she cried.
"Oritel"
"Yes darling?" he asked his wife. She sighed, causing him to look up from him work.
"Diaspro and Daphne´s ceremony is very soon. And as you must already know, Diaspro has taken the initiative to make the invitations", she told him.
"So I´ve heard. What worries you darling?" he asked, not understanding.
"Oritel, our daughter wishes to announce the ceremony throughout the magical dimension. She wants to have several friends here, from other realms, and-"
"Marion, Valtor was clear when he made his demands in exchange for Bloom´s wellbeing",
"Oritel, don't you think we owe it to our daughter? To give both her and Daphne the celebration we never could?" the King considered her words carefully, pacing around his office.
"Please honey, what harm could possibly come out of announcing our Kingdom´s return? We won't break our promise of staying out of Valtor´s way. We won't interfere in anything. It´s only a ceremony", she appealed on behalf of her daughters. Oritel stood by his desk, feeling powerless against his wife´s plead.
"I suppose it couldn't hurt, but we mustn't take any risks! Valtor doesn't intimidate me at all. But I refuse to lose the peace that now reigns over Domino, I don't want to lose my family again", he said. Marion walked over and hugged Oritel comfortingly.
"Diaspro has my permission to send invitations out to whoever she likes. But the ceremony will not be announced to any reporters until the very same day of the event. We don't want to give any enemy the upper hand".
"Thank you dear. Our daughters will be pleased. Domino will be a part of the magical dimension once again",