POV Narrator:
Friday 14 February 2020, Leeds, England
The days passed since the revelation that Finnelan had about the kinship with Diana, that shocked her a lot for always believing in something that was the opposite, it even made the teacher lose her composure from time to time while she was giving classes, soon would come miasm an event for the students, Valentine's day was coming and for that commemorative date, it was called the presence of the Luna Nova students going to the Appleton academy, since the last event was where Paul showed a great dissatisfaction and wanted to change the place, what the headmaster Holbrooke accepted the conditions given by Hanbridge. With the imposition made, they were forced to comply with Appleton's dress code, so there wouldn't be many guests, besides the fact that Luna Nova's representative would have to be dressed up for this event, in this case Diana would have to show that she was up to the mark with the other students.
POV Diana:
Honestly I hate tae be like this, I just wish I dinnae have tae go, but it's the last year and I'm again forced tae represent my class, what the hell, we're already landing in Appleton, at least I could take my friends and give dresses tae her, even Amanda came which is rare, she would refuse tae wear a dress anyway, when we landed there were the Appleton students waiting fae us, we walked tae the inside and we saw the lads walking with the suits with all the cordiality, some of the lassies were even getting impressed and I honestly dinnae give a shit, this place always passes a heavy atmosphere tae me, I dinnae like here.
"Welcome Luna Nova students, this is our Valentine's Day ball, to mark our alliance of so many centuries we have come here to Appleton for the first time, make yourselves at home," Paul said.
"And remember girls, behave yourselves, Appleton is a place for students of respect and class, we don't want to hear about you acting like someone out of your league, so remember your etiquette lessons and talk nicely to the boys, nothing more than that" said Miss Finnelan, who even now is feeling the thud of knowing she is my great grandmother.
We go deeper into the place, I walk with Akko, until we reach a more comfortable corner, honestly I dinnae want tae be in front of a lot of lads, even more hitting on me, just imagining it makes me tense, but I couldn't even go there tae get something tae eat that I soon hear my name, the director calling me.
"Miss Cavendish please come here" said the headmistress I even rolled my eyes.
"I'll be right back Akko" I tell her who nods in agreement.
I walk among the people, feeling a little bit pressured and ashamed, I get tae the headmisress and the teachers, we are being watched, I already have a strange feeling, then Paul invites Andrew, he goes up the stairs of the Hall until we are together, I already have the feeling that this is going tae be another push from them.
"All right, you two do the opening dance and show Luna Nova and Appleton how to seize the day with class" Andrew's father said.
I look atAndrew and he looks at me, we are a little bit disgusted, but we decide tae do it, he takes my hand and kneels down kissing it, in front of everybody, I try tae keep the pose, but I am melting with shame, everybody looking at me and I have tae pretend tae be that person.
He goes down the stairs and the waltz starts tae play, he dances very close tae me and I have tae do it this way too, I'm already kind of used to it, it's not the first time that they force me tae waltz with Andrew, I hope that it will also be the last one, I knew that going here would be a shit.
"And look at what a respectful couple they are" Paul said and he's going tae force this.
"This is the way to behave, they are really beautiful together" said the headmistress and this is already getting to be a bit of a stretch.
"Observe that the two dance as one should do" Andrew's father said.
"Come on Appleton and Luna Nova show more of this respectful alliance, a high class witch with a high class boy, a couple that represents what we most stand for in this environment" said the headmistress forcing the issue.
We were showing some discomfort, but let's continue here, we have tae act as they ask or else it's up tae us or my friends later, what the hell, at least the waltz is ending and I can play myself finishing it, his face is very close tae mine and everyone claps their hands, then we move away because honestly I can't stand it.
"Very well now we can officially start the ball" Mr Hanbridge said and I am already relieved.
"Diana, Andrew, be sure to demonstrate what an example couple you are" said the headmistress.
We were just moving away, now I can be free, I go back tae where Akko is and with that we are getting closer, but I could see her look of a bit of anger towards me, I think she was jealous of Andrew, sae much that we really danced close together, there was nae reason tae stay like that, but it was that or get a bad name.
"'Come on Diana, I knowAndrew is gay, but that?" She said.
"I had tae, ye have nae idea I'm as disgusted as ye are, I hate all this, but it's my duty, now come on Akko, let's seize the day" I try to comfort her.
"I'd like to enjoy it, but honestly I won't be able tae kiss ye or anything, besides they're all looking at us, they remember the last years, especially last year, how tae forget he" Akko said.
"Miss Kagari come here, we have found a match for you" Said the headmistress and I already get a bit of a weird look on my face.
"Pair?" We talk together.
"And now what do we do love?" she asks.
"Try to avoid calling me that around here, they might end up pressuring us, but come on Akko, just try nae tae give the boy any room, it looks like we'll have tae go by appearances today" I say, snorting.
"Miss Cavendish don't leave Mr Hanbridge alone" Professor Lukic said.
We hug each other, and we're kind of content, today won't be a day with a ball that we can be together, I'll have tae go fae Andrew or things will get worse and she'll have tae go fae that lad, but anyway, what can I do, always having tae give in tae other people's impositions.
"Later come to my room" I whisper in Akko's ear.
"I would go anyway, let's enjoy a lot heh, one thing they can't take away from us and that is our love" whispers myAkko, all cute.
POV Akko:
I just wanted to kiss Diana at this hour but these pressures for her to be perfect always get in the way, well at least we'll be able to be more at peace, I separate myself from my Cavendish, I walk to the boy, I just hope he's at least nice, as I get closer I see he has a bit of a beard, he's shorter than the others, a bit taller than Diana.
"Sup" he said with his hand on the back of his head.
"Let's just appear to be getting along, I'm doing this for my girlfriend" I tell him who shrugs.
"It's not like I want too, I'm gay, I have to make some concessions because my boyfriend is forced to keep up appearances" He said and now I was happier.
"Oh that's better, at least I won't have to deal with a guy flirting with me, gee I hate that we have to see our loved ones submit to this, even after years and my girlfriend already being of another class, they still insist on pushing her into something that doesn't belong to her" I tell him.
"Oh I say the same, I hate that, by the way I'm Michael" Oh that name, Andrew has already told me of a Michael is his boyfriend.
"Pleasure Atsuko Kagari, but you can call me Akko, you're his boy..." He puts his finger in my mouth.
"Don't complete that, yes it's me, if someone finds out about my relationship with him... I can get in a lot of trouble, but anyway, enjoy the dance, we can pretend to get along, I know who you are, Andy's friend, he told me you're dating his cousin, you two are really cute together" he said and I nodded my head.
"You have no idea how good it is, but it is still full of prejudice in Luna Nova, but we do it our way, we do everything in secret, outside that on the outside of Luna Nova, Diana assumes me, she kind of already lost what she had to lose, it was the biggest battle to conquer what we have today and we still have a huge way to go" I tell him.
"The witches' revolution, I don't believe in that so much, but I admire your fight, I really wanted to wish you good luck you will need it, the world and the system are not the most inclusive things there are, I don't even know how I got here, Andrew must have already told my secret right?" said Michael.
"Secret?" I'm even confused and he soon shows me a bracelet with the trans flag on it.
"Ah you're like my friend Brooke and Chum, I didn't know" I tell him.
"I'd rather not say for safety, I'm scared to death of the shredding I'd suffer just for being like that" Andrew's boyfriend said.
Meanwhile in another part of the ball...
POV Diana:
Once again here with Andrew, he is sitting drinking some cognac, I would even drink some, but I hate alcohol, I dinnae know how I would take it, but seeing Akko talking tae the boy and getting along is eating me up, I even see that Andrew is laughing which makes me look at him with all the internalized anger.
"What is it Diana? Jealousy?" he asks.
"Nae, I'm nae jealous, nae" I say half embarrassed.
"And I have four legs. Are you really jealous of Michael? He's so cool" he said and I'll show you who's cool too.
"Mah haun in this michael's coupon is aff tae be bonny wheesht tae" I say shuffling my accent.
"Michael is gay Diana" Oh now I'm reassured.
"Really?" I say relieved.
"I'd rather not go into details, but you're a bit clueless about things, I guess Akko must not have told you yet, but let's just say I have a pretty intense friendship with him" Andrew said and now it all makes sense.
"Ah now I get it, it looks like ye've finally decided tae get attached tae someone" I say laughing.
"He is fantastic you have no idea, he has a few little secrets, but that never bothered me, will you want a dose to get through this day?" I'll just deny it.
"I want tae be sober tonight, I dinnae function well in bed when I'm drunk" I tell him who even gives a mischievous little smile.
"So it looks like you've got one today," he said teasingly.
"That's all tae make the day better, I'll even convince Hannah and Barbara tae sleep over because it's going tae get really loud" I say even getting a bit excited just thinking about it.
POV Narrator:
And the time of the ball went by, Diana was talking to Andrew and from time to time pretending to dance together, Akko was doing the same with Michael and even getting along well with the boy, even making a parallel between the couples. The organizers were even happy, they expected a revolt from both sides, but incredibly it was a peaceful strike between them.
But things would still heat up as the hours went by in the ball, in that night that was falling in Appleton, some girls were enjoying the couples, but they missed the freedom of Luna Nova, where they could dance among themselves, even if they were students of the same gender, something that they couldn't in Appleton. Until
the time came for The Council to show up, the people were very distracted without giving a damn about what was going on around them.
POV Diana:
I'm about tae drink some more, my head is full, drunk Andrew is unbearable, I had forgotten how he keeps talking shit after shit and I have tae take care of this idiot, the worst is that Akko is another drunk and she gets too weird like that too, by the nine witches, what do I do, two children to take care of, luckily Michael is managing tae manage.
"Hey Diana, let me go to Mike" he said and I went holding him.
"Hold on, it'll soon be over" I tell him.
Out of nowhere the lights go out, in the automatic I let go of Andrew and I went towards Akko, I couldn't see anything, but I could feel her, know where she was before the lights went out, then a reddish light goes on, still leaving everything dark, we could hear loud screams coming from the speakers, as well as a mist forming on the floor, which I was already paying attention.
"Akko stay with me, ye are nae at the point tae face these lads" I tell her.
"I love you Diana" said Akko all drunk.
Out of nowhere I look at the ceiling and a rain of blood starts, it's falling right on top of us, leaving us in the dirt, it seemed that it wouldn't end, I'm scared, I even checked and it's really blood, real blood, how strange, the rain continued and some laughter started to come out, as well as some Latin words.
"Ad Exstinctionem Maleficarium! Ad Exstinctionem Maleficarium! Ad Exstinctionem Maleficarium! Ad Exstinctionem Maleficarium! Ad Exstinctionem Maleficarium! Ad Exstinctionem Maleficarium!" It was repeated all the time from some of the speakers which is kinda scary, give me some goosebumps.
"Ye want tae extinguish the witches? What is this Paul? Ye sent us into a trap?" I say it out loud so he can hear me.
The focus of the red light appears and a guy wearing a bull skull appears, what a cliché cult thing tae do, then another two appear, they were walking with two people, they look familiar, at least one of them, they are reaching the stairs and the middle one opens his arms, the rain of blood was over and I see that the two people had a gag in their mouths.
"The Council is back!" Said the lad in the middle.
On the spot the two members take the gags off the people and then slit the throats of both of them, throwing them down what everyone is getting scared and walking backwards, I'm even getting traumatized, they killed two people in front of us. I hope it's fake people and fake blood but the scent is very blood like.
"Let this be the beginning of our witch extinction, let you witches know who you are dealing with" Said the lad in the middle.
I aim my hand and start tae make a glyph, when I look to the side and see my sis going up tae them with everything, but when she get close it ends up punching a magic barrier, I already imagined that they wouldn't be sae exposed, sae much that my sis ends up being thrown back, but has the fall dampened thanks tae Mari's help with some glyphs that helped tae contain the fall.
"Don't try to challenge The Council, this is only the beginning of our journey, I've already finished with the message around here, let it be clear where I stand" he said, and then began to walk simply in the air being helped by the others tae go down.
Everyone was kind of dispersing, while the headmistress and the teachers remained on the defensive, I was surprised that Mrs Holbrook kept a firm hand, as he approached the teachers were afraid tae the point that they were already distancing themselves and only the headmistress was left and she kept her face very serious and closed, until the lad approached and stood face tae face with her.
"Go ahead what do you intend to do with me?" Mrs Holbrook said.
"You really underestimate our power witch leader, but we came here to deliver a message and let that be made very clear" He points the staff and I see the headmistress as I have never seen her before, she did nae feel one bit of fear.
"Good luck trying to defend yourself and your friends, you are in a place surrounded by several witches and there are only you three here" Lady Holbrook said until the leader nods upwards.
Out of nowhere several men appeared around us pointing rifles right in our direction even on me I could see the laser on my forehead, what the hell, they came well prepared and came even en masse, which I actually swallowed saliva, this could be the end of me here, these lads are nae kidding.
"So what now? We didn't come here to play games, surrender to The Council now or else you will face the consequences" he said and I quickly appear to shout at them.
"You planned this, dinnae ye, Paul? Ye were so weakened by us witches that ye wanted tae call us into a trap with The Council Revival" I tell them who turn their gaze tae me.
"Not at all Cavendish, he has no involvement with this he is just a mere pawn for us" He said signalling and pointing at Paul.
"It doesn't matter, either you leave my girls alone or you will suffer the consequences" said the headmistress and he signalled with his hand.
"Do you think we are joking? I'm just going to test it here" he said, and immediately we heard the sound of a gunshot.
"Like I said, I can protect everyone, I'm not just any witch, you who underestimated us" I see there was a glyph right in front of Paul, they're nae really with Paul on this, but I get scared anyway.
The headmistress raises her staff and magic goes around it, which turns all the weapons into simply broomsticks and with that the lasers disappear, already the leader of The Council himself shrugs, seeing that, he just goes tae turn around.
"Are ye really going tae run away? Get him!" I say to all.
I see that my sis at that moment goes tae the leader and without hesitation, but when he gets close he creates another barrier, me and the lassies dinnae waste time, we push her with even more force, tae the point that she crosses the barrier and barely hits the member of The Council that crouches and simply hits with the staff in my sister's stomach and then teleports giving her another beating throwing her with everything on the ground.
"Hellene!" We said worriedly.
"This is a warning, next time I will kill" he said tae my sister who realised she was bleeding from the belly.
She heals herself and with our help too, then he simply creates a thicker mist, at the same time the lights go out, I was just trying tae use a more sensorial magic and I could see that he and his henchmen were leaving, I noticed that my sister does the same thing, we chase them until we feel something stinging us.
POV Akko:
What a strange thing, I can't see anything then the lights come on and I see that Hellene and Diana were on the floor passed out and with tranquilizer darts in their waists and I walk over to the two worried, still half drunk I would swear that all this was just a trip, but it was really something that happened.
"Diana!" I say worriedly.
"What was that?" Everyone wondered.
"Love wake up, love!" I say worriedly.
Screams start to echo, I think it was from seeing the bodies on the floor, Marianne and I can't stop thinking about anything else but the state of the two, so much so that the teachers come to us, teacher Lukic starts giving some potions to the two who wake up soon and with that the concern is diminished.
"It looks like they tried to put them to sleep" said the teacher while I'm worried and drunk.
"Love! - I say hugging her.
"Love? What depravity is this? Well I will not question, now is not the time to judge this good now go out of here and let's investigate this" said the teacher oh for fucks sake she's gonna be on homophobe mode now.
We get up, I still half unaware of things, I could notice the bodies on the floor and saw that Avery was devastated, I went to her, wanting to know what was the reason of so much crying, I could notice that the woman was very familiar, we were just scared, the floor is full of blood and I'm soaked here too.
"Avery?" Diana asks her while she's crying a lot.
"Diana... They killed Mary's parents, they killed them, that's not a good sign, what do we do?" I'm even in shock.
"What bastards, I knew it was someone familiar, now what?" Diana said and this time I got my mouth widely opened and being shocked.
"Now we will stay here until the police arrive and decide what to do" said the headmistress in our midst.
I only know one thing, I see that Diana is walking towards Paul, she stares Andrew's father right in the face as he wiped himself with the blood and I'm still half dizzy from the drink, but slowly passing well.
"Cleaning up the blood ye caused isn't it?" Diana said.
"What's that Diana Cavendish? Making accusations? You do know that your class of now can't afford to leave quietly, don't you?" He said and I see that Diana is still annoyed.
"What is yer involvement with The Council?" She asks.
"I don't owe any satisfaction to a poor girl like you, now leave me alone, I'll only talk to my lawyer, if you don't want trouble for your side stay away from me" He said, fixing his tie and we went to pull Diana.
"It won't stay that way Paul, ye and the Council will pay dearly fae what ye did tae us" Said the angry Cavendish who we soon pushed back.
"We don't want to see you arrested for the accusations you made, you know how rich people can do everything in their favour," Hellene said and she was right.
After that we even sat on the stairs, soaked with blood, we were waiting fae the police to come, I honestly dinae know where this is going tae end, things are going tae get really complicated, I dinnae expect the prom day tae end like this, even Andrew came tae sit with us bringing his boyfriend and we were kind of nervous, they're going to come back tae finish the job.
On the arrival of the police and with everything explained...
The director and Paul have just explained everything, I hope they can now take such an investigation seriously, because there are two dead people on our side that they have even picked up and taken away from here, which is going to screw us, I don't know.
"Very well, we can't solve anything here, you said hooded cultists with a bull skull? That's too much fiction, but since there are witches involved then we won't take the lead on this investigation, that's a matter for the WCI to solve, it's not our area" said the policeman.
"What? Two people died and ye won't help?" Diana asks in disgust.
"Let's just hand over the responsibility to those who know how to solve crimes like this, it's not our area, by the way, the two dead people are from a family of witches so it would no longer be our area, let the WCI solve it for you, we will transfer everything to them, now as for all of you, we want to hear your testimonies, from everyone, queue up and you will only be released as soon as you tell us everything" said the officer and what a cunt.
Hours later...
I can't stand to stay here anymore, the food is spoiled because they've smeared it with blood and it's still so late at night, to think I was going to spend the night next to Diana... Now it looks like we're going to arrive based on curfew.
"Good statements made, you can go home" said the policeman releasing us.
"Finally, I thought we were going to be here forever" Amanda said.
"We must cooperate with the investigation O'Neill, these lads will only be caught with our help" Diana explains to O'Neill.
"Now we're going to Luna Nova, but first" said the headmistress who was using a spell on us.
We got clean from all that disgusting blood in our bodies, it was like removing a layer of disgusting skin, even the smell was better, then we got the brooms and went towards Luna Nova, all in group, I even looked back, seeing Appleton and the whole place still with the remains of the blood, I imagine that must be Mary's blood, poor thing to have the blood used for that.
In Luna Nova...
"Go to your rooms, the curfew will start in 50 minutes, we'll give you as much time as you need to get to your rooms and return your fancy clothes to the Luna Nova administration, we had to make an exception for the participating students - said the director. Well I don't need to do that with mine, I just go to my room, but first I feel Diana's hand holding me.
"What we agreed is still standing, I'll be waiting for you in the bedroom, just sneak in" she whispers.
I get a little blushed, I enter the room and run to the shower, ripping off my dress and taking a quick shower, where I reflect about all this, it's been so long there that I'm not even drunk, I'm just feeling the side effects now, well at least now I can cuddle with Diana quietly.
I finish showering, put on a dressing gown and leave the bathroom now I'm ready to go on Diana's room and make some overtime.
"How quick Akko" Sucy said as I opened the window.
"I can't waste time today" I tell her.
"Ah so the Valentine's Day dance is going to remain intense upstairs" she said teasingly.
"Sure, I'll do a year with Diana" I say going out the window.
As usual I go kind of climbing Luna Nova, until I get to the top floor where Diana's room is, she even left the window open, when entering there I see that Careless Whisper was even playing, I see Diana with her blue dressing gown lying on the bed on her side with some petals around the bed and there was also a table on the side with champagne.
"Happy one year love" she said.
"Wow Diana, you really brought it all, I would have loved the champagne, but I'm a bit hungry" I tell her rubbing the back of her neck.
She snaps her finger and there appears simply a pot of cheese fondue with some pieces of bread and another of chocolate that she had living and this is my tongue and I'm looking forward to it, I lie down on the bed beside her and we start kissing, starting even to hold each other, feeling our skins touching, she's so hot and I'm so cold, it gives me a shock with our meeting, until we start eating.
"I wouldn't miss a date like that fae anything" Diana said.
"I say the same, I've waited a long time fae this, looks like our night is going tae be a long one" I smile at her.
Hours later, around 3 am...
I lost track of time, but it was so much love we made, I'm even smeared by the chocolate of Fondue on my body, I never thought that mixing chocolate with this would be so good, it seems that a hurricane passed through here, by the nine witches.
"Wow the chocolate idea was great" Diana said.
"I don't think I've ever stayed this long, love, we really must have zeroed out the list" I say breathlessly.
"I don't know, there's still one thing missing" she said lying on top of me.
"What's missing?" I tell her while giving a mischevous smile.
"Let's love each other all night Akko" At the time I just see her starting to run her hand around my waist and I goosebumps now this is what I was waiting for.
POV Narrator:
The Valentine's Day ball at Appleton was the one that ended in disaster, it didn't go as expected to the point that Paul revoked the decision to promote the event at his academy, wanting to do it back at Luna Nova, so that it doesn't occur again the appearance of The Council that made sure to do as they promised to do of causing terror, in months that they have been spreading terror to the witches that start to get scared by the presence of witches.
See you, cultist witches...