POV Narrator:
Thursday 27 September 2018, Arcturus Prison
In Luna Nova things were pretty calm, with the exception of Daryl's presence that was threatening the girls' lives and disturbing them, even putting into practice the plan of causing nightmares all the time, as a way to try to weaken them mentally even more, but there was also all the tension that Croix was living in prison, in the middle of all these months that passed, Meridies' life became a complete hell, even with a visit or two from Chariot, it was clear that she was going through a lot of things that she didn't want to go through.
POV Croix:
I am forcibly woken up by a bucket of water in which the two guards make me wake up and they are already signalling with their batons for me to start waking up, I get a bit sleepy, I could hardly sleep properly and I have to make more conditions of these damned ones.
"What do you want?" I ask them until I get punched in the stomach.
"We ask the questions here" Guard Jones said.
"The headmistress asked you to come to her office, you are the only one who knows how to work a computer properly, she made a great proposal for you" said the other guard.
They then take me from my cell, so early and I already have to go and do some favour without even having a chance to negotiate, either I accept or I take, it's just that, arriving there I keep seeing the damned sitting in the armchair, I stay on the other side and that's far superior to my hard mattress.
"Ohhhh, you finally came Miss Meridies" said the headmistress.
"What do you want?" I say until I get another smack, this time in the head.
"Have more respect for our headmistress" Said the bloody guard Jones.
"Oh all right, she asked a question, but I will answer, I want you to fix the computers in this unit, in exchange I can give you the benefit of intimate visits, since you must be very anxious to call that girl you like so much to visit you... Well, that's my proposal" she said.
"And how can I deny it? I'm going to accept it one way or another"
"All right, that's how it's done Miss Meridies, now get to work" she said.
I was taken to the computer room, where there were only old machines, even an impressive internet router, they have access to everything, then I was pushed inside and had my handcuffs released.
"Get to work Miss Meridies, you heard the headmistress, if you don't finish on time you will face strong punishments and you don't want to go to the icebox do you?" I don't even want to think about going back there.
So they leave and I was even thinking of getting something and building my own computer, but I remembered that this place is surrounded by cameras, filming me everywhere, I take a deep breath and start to look at the first computer, when I see it was still with a very old system and everything else, I had no idea of what the director asked, but I will look at all.
A few hours later...
I'm tired, I've messed with all the computers here, upgraded the systems, besides improving the hardware, I hope the director will be satisfied, I even sit down on the floor tired, I hear the door opening and the director came with the guards and I go making a point of showing her everything.
"There, I did what the lady had asked me to do" I say showing her everything.
"Very well Miss Meridies, now you can go and stay with the other prisoners, the intimate visit is free, now take this human trash away" said the director.
I am being taken by the guards, where they take me from the boardroom to the corridors, arriving at the common courtyard, releasing me there, removing the handcuffs and then giving me a push, almost knocking me down on the floor, where they close the prison gates and I walk to get something to eat.
"Bunch of imbeciles" I whisper so they don't listen.
Then I go to the canteen, getting the food that is never that good, luckily the other prisoners never bothered me much, I sat down at Naomi's side where I feel much safer, starting to eat, it was a mashed potato with a chicken thigh, less worse than yesterday's, besides a box of milk, gee, I'll be starving this way.
These hours I start to admire the food more, only then I see Naomi herself moving away from me and two prisoners appear on my side, in a very threatening way.
"Next, big sister wants to talk to you" said one of them.
"Wait for me to finish eating and I'll go" I say as I go to eat, but my face is pushed away and I find myself face to face with the mashed potato.
"Big sister doesn't like to wait, if she asks now, it's now, she can eat later" Said the other who then goes over my head and so I nod in agreement.
I stand up and then the two take my tray and throw everything away in front of me, this way I could never eat, I barely touched the food and now this, they are taking me through other corridors, including handcuffing me, they were not guards, but other prisoners, I was passing through a very different corridor, I never walked to these corners of the prison, when I arrive I see that there are guards in it, but they were just dressed as prisoners, until the doors that are luxurious open, which reveals a huge hall.
"What is it?" I ask them.
"Feel honoured Croix Meridies, big sister never calls anyone into her room, she wants to talk to you because she is seeing some importance in this" Said one of the prisoners.
I am led amidst the hall, even surprise, it is like a mansion in here, where I come to a room, in it was a lady in a prey outfit sitting in it, white hair, green eyes, a few good wrinkles, a lady, I wonder what she must have done, she stayed here for quite a while, I am sure I will be quiet around here.
"You can uncuff her and leave us alone" said the lady who is extremely polite.
"Oh thank you so much" I say with a smile on my face and seeing the other two prisoners leaving.
"You can make yourself comfortable, here there is real food, not the bad quality prison food, there is also a good tea" she said and I was getting some biscuits.
"Why did you call me here? Why are you called big sister and why all this?" I ask her who politely puts her cup on the table.
"You must be full of questions, I imagine, a newbie prisoner, Croix Meridies, arrested for stealing magic from what I heard, didn't get to commit anything that serious, anyway that's the system we're in, I decided to wait a while before calling you so you could get used to the place, I know you have a lot of important stuff and connection, I'm Margaret Ford, pleasure to meet you, I'm the oldest prisoner here, you're having your first contact with me and I might be able to make your time here a peaceful one, the guards have no control over you, if you have my protection" she said.
"What about the director?" I ask Margareth and she seems very nice.
"Ah, she won't come close to bossing you around, as long as you have my protection the guards can't hurt you, but anyway, I have valuable information, you have valuable friends, together we can help each other, I've been waiting for someone like you, your little friends have a good knowledge in magic and can fetch things for me" she said and I knew this would get a favour in return.
"And what am I supposed to do? I do everything so that my life here is not hell" I tell her.
"Ah it's not that easy girl, first of all you need to gain my trust, you'll have to get yourself tattooed with the symbol that represents who you are, so you'll be part of the Alliance, that guarantees you the protection from everyone here, from the prisoners and the guards, by the way I'm directly contacted by an outsider who said he'd pay a lot for your head, in case a friend of yours opens her mouth, so I think the best thing to do is to join the Alliance, I can give a good lie and hide that you're still alive, what do you think?" The proposal sounds very tempting.
"Let me think about it for a moment" I say a bit nervously.
"Have all the time in the world, you can eat as much as you like, I imagine you're hungry" she said.
At least this witch is all kind, but I get scared, she seems to have a whole intimidating aura, even being a lady all kind, honestly I don't know what to do, she gets up, I'm still feeding myself, there's also bread, some cookies, I never thought I would eat so much, I haven't eaten all that since I was free, I've lost a lot of weight because of this prison.
She left and went to get something that I don't know what it is, well at least I think I can say yes, maybe I have more chances to get out of here and have my life with Chariot, or anything else, being neutral will only bring me down, she soon appears with two glasses, one blue and one red, I'm just finishing eating.
"What is it?" I ask her.
"The red glass you accept if you join the alliance, the blue glass you don't accept, you have to drink the liquid of one of them to be authorized and so your destiny around here will be defined" said Margareth and I already imagine that it will be another moment where I have no choice.
"And what do I get for being in the alliance? Do I get a chance to leave here?" I tell her.
"Not only that, you have the chance to feed with the alliance food, besides being protected by other prisoners, I will give you the privilege of having a position close to mine so you don't have to go through any initiation, just the tattoo, you are free from the alliance as soon as you are freed, you can rest assured, when you gain my trust, I can ask you to start missions, as well as provide future information, I know well what you want, Croix Meridies, I know why you were arrested here, I know your reasons and I have all the answers, I'm here 82 years, I have 120 years, an experience until very high, a knowledge that you have no idea, including with things that you want, have my help and you will be able to get rid of prison" She said in a way that I felt motivated, I take it and without fear I drink the liquid.
I end up feeling a neutral taste, it was water, very strange that, then comes a relief, followed by a smile of her own, it seemed kind of mean, even more with the aura that came to proceed, well at least I'm ensuring myself with security, I would already want to gain confidence of the preys here anyway, then she snaps her fingers and two others appear.
"They can tattoo her" Margareth said.
I go feeling in my neck a pain of the tattoos, kind of the symbol of the alliance was being made, a pentagram with a numbering, as I could see in the necks of the others, funny that Margareth doesn't have any, but that must be an age thing, then I was finally tattooed completely, looking at my neck in the mirror, the day I finish all this I'll erase this tattoo for good with magic.
"Welcome to the alliance, now you can wander around the corridors of the alliance as much as you want, you can go back now to where you were, I'll call you to talk another time, for now get used to your new life" Margareth said.
I went back through the corridors, now I don't feel so tense, luckily now I know I can have some protection, but I'm still scared, this Margaret doesn't give me confidence, but it's either that or stay in jail forever and if it's to stay forever in jail I prefer to live safe, soon I arrive again at the canteen, I'm received by the guard Jones.
"Croix Meridies, you have a visitor, come with me you..." She must have gone pale at the time when she saw the tattoo.
"Oh a visit that's very nice" I tell her.
At that time she just handcuffed me, at this time I was supposed to get the biggest beating for all this, but I didn't, I walked calmly to the visiting room, being searched even without any care, I didn't even need to take off all the clothes as they always do, since then I noticed a huge change, just by the tattoo on my neck.
As I pass I see agent Morris and April coming to see me, I hope they don't ask too many questions, on the spot I go with the two to another room, where we are again searched and as we enter a spell surrounds it, as always a room where sound is inhibited.
"What is this tattoo Croix?" Question April.
"Have ye joined the alliance?" Rosemary said and I nodded in agreement.
"What is the alliance? Is she in a criminal faction?" Jordan said and I was even getting a little embarrassed.
"Aye it is April, but dinnae worry, it can be useful in our investigation, the alliance is the strongest group in this prison, it can guarantee a protection tae Croix, she wasn't stubborn like Naomi, she was supposed tae be with us already because of that, but anyway, how was all this? What did they tell ye?" asks Rose.
"I talked directly to the leader, a 120-year-old witch called Margaret Ford, she said that she has information that I want and that you may also want, but that to do so I have to win her trust, I still do not know what proposal can be this may be useful for us to find out who is behind all this" I tell them.
"Possibly, Margaret really knows a lot of things, she is too valuable a prey" Rose said.
"It's not the same Margaret that..." I have no idea what they are talking about, but Agent Morris nodded in agreement.
"Take all the care in the world Croix, this witch is practically responsible fae a lot of misfortune, remember Laura's case? She's the one who invented the recipe fae metal spheres. Ye know the story of the Du Nord? Chariot was supposed tae be a Cavendish, but Margaret killed Diana Cavendish III, in the name of a stupid motivation, this woman is intelligent and quite manipulative, she is intelligent above all, I imagine that we will have tae yield some favours, but also from my investigations I could notice that she has also been paid by the same person who also paid ye tae do what ye did. I dinnae doubt that Daryl must also have something in the middle, sae we will need to catch her and who knows maybe find out the identity of this person" Said agent Morris and I will just nod my head in agreement.
"Then it will work out, I believe we can unmask the bastard behind all this backwardness in magic, it's someone who's been around for decades by the looks of it" I tell them, it must be an old witch.
"Someone must be breaking the rules of magic, someone of power on top of that, it must be some witch who has been rejuvenating herself, we have tae be smart, since at this point it is impossible tae be a normal human, it could be both a witch and a witch, worse ye told me ye have nae voice of any gender isn't it" Agent Morris said.
"I know it's hard, but all you're thinking about is finding the real culprit," April said.
"We have tae find April, this person must be behind a lot of dirt, the boss behind all this will be revealed one day, anyway, tell us how yer days have been lately" Rose said and I'll be honest.
After Croix tells all...
I even cried, this place is a terror, I feel more and more relieved, I'm even hugged by April who comforts me, honestly I don't want to be stuck here, I just want to get rid of this place soon, not having to go on in this hell, but it's a price to pay, I ruined childhoods, I stole magic from children, I did it in the name of a cause that I thought was right.
"Really Croix, that's too bad, I will try tae shorten yer sentence, if ye do some services fae the magic council, ye might get it" Officer Morris said.
"Anyway, we have to go now, we wish you good luck Croix and take care of yourself" April said.
We get out of that most isolated cell, where after we kind of walk in the corridors, until we get to the farewell point, I hug each one of them, then I see them leaving by the door, one day I hope I'll be the one that will leave by the door and will be finally free of all this.
I walk past the guards and now I'm not bothered by them anymore, on the spot I'm approached by some of the ring witches, they had all my stuff in their hands, even the ones I hid in the false bottom, I couldn't believe it.
"What are you doing with my things?" I ask them.
"Now you will live in a new cell, much better than the ordinary ones" said one of them.
"Orders from big sister" said another.
I followed them through the corridor, where we were passing and I could see that the level of the cells really improved, until I got to mine where there was a normal door, it wasn't a grill, when I opened it I could notice the huge difference, it's like a normal room, I'm even surprised at that, the bed is really a bed, as well as I have some shelves and a proper bathroom with a shower, I'll never again have to bathe in front of the others, which is already a relief, everyone always looked at me strange and I was uncomfortable on top of that.
- Welcome to your new home, from now on as part of the alliance, you are in the room of an intermediary, you are very lucky, not having to climb up through the ranks, it already guarantees you an extra comfort" said one of the prisoners.
"Here are your things, now enjoy" She said leaving her things and then closing the door.
Okay, now this here is what I didn't expect, the luxury here is much more than expected, it even looks like a normal room actually, I go packing my things and even look excitedly at the surroundings, even though there isn't a TV or anything, it still has more stuff than I imagined, then I see on the table an envelope, I open it and see that it also has a card.
"Welcome to the alliance, as part of it you will be doing some services for big sister and in that you will earn some credit so you can buy food, just call this number and ask for something from the menu, someone will hand it to you and ask you to pay"
"Hello Croix, this is Margareth, I've come to say that this card has been put a pretty fat amount of credit on it for you to take advantage of, you are a valid prisoner and very trustworthy to my organisation, so enjoy the perks"
Wow, finally something good came here, I'm not staying in this shitty prison anymore, in fact I can have the privilege of staying here, on top of that, look at this room, a huge double bed, I can have my intimate visits with Chariot if she wants... I look forward to when I tell her I'm in a new room.
[Chariot you won't believe it, I've just got a new cell, the room is the biggest luxury, you can't imagine how things can get better around here] 10:31
Then I lay down on the bed, looking at the ceiling, there's everything, even a heater, gee, finally I'm not in the cold cells, I'll never go to the fridge again either, I just wanted to see the director's face at this time, then I hear knocking at the door and it being opened, I order to enter and someone enters with a tray and on it was with food, smelling here.
- Courtesy of the leader who let us pay, enjoy the banquet - said the girl and I just went along enjoying it.
She left and I was cutting the pieces of chicken, it was huge, at the same time I was mixing it with the rice, never before I ate so much, since freedom, the biscuits didn't even come close to filling me, here at least I'll have what I want so much, I'm enjoying the food, feeling quite privileged, then I see my mobile phone giving me a message.
[?: Enjoy your new home Croix, I will do everything I can to make you comfortable here, soon I will call you for some mission that I will do with your participation, I noticed that you had a visit from Rosemary Morris and April Jordan, they must have noticed your alliance tattoos already, I hope they will be useful for us, let's keep this good relationship between us both, by the way do you have more people you want to put on the list? I will be making a list of who can come here or not, the time of visit you determine]10:33
[Me: I want to authorise Chariot Du Nord to enter here, as well as Laura McLaren, April Jordan and Rosemary Morris, in case I have visits from others, I prefer to be warned and go in the common ward]10:33
[Margaret: Enjoy your comfort, I'll be putting them on the list, anyway just communicate with me, no guard will touch this place unless it's for something very serious, just stay behaved] 10:34
That's wonderful, I'm loving all this, I'll be behaved, I even stare at the window of my cell, which now finally has one and just think, I hope that Chariot is well now, I hope that this mission can be very calm, anyway it's much better than the cell I was...
Away from there, in Luna Nova, a time after the end of school...
POV Chariot:
Today was quite a day, gee, it's very busy having to teach these girls, I never thought it would be this much, even after revealing I'm Chariot, it seems the work has only doubled, I go with the various hanging books to my room, where I leave them on a table and go to my mobile phone, I check the messages and there's one from Croix, I see it even has pictures, she's in another cell.
[Croix: Chariot you won't believe it, I've just got a new cell, the room is the greatest luxury, you can't imagine how things can get better around here] 10:31
[Croix: I got the trust of the leader of the Alliance, now I'm one of them, so much so that I have a tattoo on my neck indicating that, now at least the guards won't commit horrible things with me and if you want you can come here so we can talk more privately, anyway, I'm going to do this to find out something really big that you must already imagine what it is]12:45
[Me: That's very good Croix, I wish the best for you, I'm sure you'll get it, by the way, I want to know more, I will make this intimate visit for you, but don't expect anything, don't be a pervert, this is just to know the secrets you keep so much]16:32
I block the mobile phone screen, then I start correcting the lessons of the students, besides some books, gee, it's a lot, to think that I'm working much more than before, I thought it would be easy to do all this, but in reality, it's far from all this, for the nine witches, I just wish I could rest a little.
I reflect while writing, just thinking about Croix
's well being, after all this time, even with her doing what she did I still feel a little empathy with her, which I end up later receiving another message.
[Croix: As a matter of fact I have excellent news, Daryl's threats won't be that effective, I'm protected by the leader herself who said about my head being awarded, but that she was just waiting for the order and the money to be sent, which won't happen now, she'll fool Daryl, you can use that as a tactic]16:33
That's good, now I can talk to Diana, but I'll take in account what Laura recommended to wait, I wouldn't talk anyway, I kept on correcting each one of the tasks, but soon I was feeling a fog coming, I look back and eyes that looked like reptiles watching me but red, then a snake that came to give me a bite, but I covered the eye and saw that it was only Daryl.
"You're here! What are you doing at this hour?" I say the same one that kept laughing.
"Ahhhh, Chariot, I just came to pay you a visit and give you a good warning, the prison warden told me that your little friend has joined the alliance, ohhhh, this is very bad, very bad indeed, she is willing to accept my offer, if you open your little mouth to Diana, you know what can happen, you know... I don't think you're free, and neither is your little friend" she said, coming close to me, which gave me goose bumps.
"You are afraid, if Diana finds out that Laura is her mother, you will never get any power over her, she will never give up the leadership of the family to a bitch like you"
"That's up to her and not you, if you'd keep quiet in your own house none of this would happen" she said threateningly.
"You're lucky Agent Morris can't come in here without a warrant, because you should have been caught and arrested by now for what you've done, you wretched witch" I say angrily.
"Huh, what a fear, as if a witch with a revolver was going to intimidate me, she and her friends are nothing, you are the base of this power, you think you are going to change the world, but you won't, you are just chess pieces, that what you are, anyway warning given now I have to go, if you could help me who knows I might be able to reduce Croix's time in prison" She said and I just raised my middle finger.
"She has to pay for what she did, I don't care about that, now get out of here" I say as she went disassembling herself into several moths, going out the window, what a bitch, I get a huge anger.
Damn, I hope it all ends, for the nine witches, she can simply intimidate without even fighting, she has the guts to show her face, I hope one day Diana, Hellene and Laura take her to Rosemary, that curse has to pay for everything she did to us for the enormous suffering we all went through, anyway, I think it's better to go back to correcting the lessons that are missing, I'll just warn Croix.
[Me: Careful Croix, Daryl knows you're Alliance now, keep your eyes peeled so no one notices you're being watched by any guards or for some traitor, she said her power is in the hand of the guards, so anyway try to keep your eyes peeled] 16:51
[Croix: This will be easy to do, I'm not afraid, relax Chariot, the truth will come one day, I'm sure Diana will find out everything and you will bring Daryl to justice or else make her sit on the devil's lap, the important thing is to get rid of this bitch] 16:51
[I: Well I hope we make it, next week I'll be there to pay you a visit, but don't expect anything Croix Meridies, don't think we'll get back together, you have to pay for what you did, I don't think it's fair to come back after all the abuse I went through with you] 16:52
She sent three little dots as I imagined, but then she made sure to make fun and send a little face all begging, but I'm not going to do those things, this girl has to learn that now we have nothing, and that I'm not willing to go back after all that's happened, that's it, now it's better to think.
POV Narrator:
Things have gotten better for Croix, joining the alliance the abuse she went through these months can be reduced, but still she is in a very doubtful situation and not at all trustworthy, mainly because of the presence of Margaret Ford that can change everything, besides revelations that can come with this, around a control of a person that is causing all the delay in magic, for which they still have no idea who this witch would be.
See you, prison witches...