Chapter 8

Stupid. That's exactly what she was. Stupid. Icy kept repeating that in her head over and over again. She lost control over her emotions and therefore over her magic. Now they were going to get thrown out of the only place the ancestral witches couldn't get into.

After Addy neutralized her attack and the summoning coin exploded, everyone started talking at once. She didn't understand what they were saying, she was in shock that she accidentally attacked Bloom. Because that's what it was. An accident. She didn't mean to direct her magic against her, but Darko made her so angry in that moment that she, when Bloom spoke up, just lost control.

Icy was currently sitting outside of Faragondas office. She knew Bloom and Addy were talking to the headmistress. She wasn't certain where the others were. Problaby in the winx suite.

Griffin was in the school as well. Faragonda informed her about the destruction of the summoning coin and asked her to take a look at it. The coin was supposed to react when the ancestral witches used their magic . That's how they wanted to trace them. There definitely was a reaction when Icy attacked Bloom. Was there a connection?

Icy was lost in her thoughts. She was going through all potential places she could go to, once they had to leave Alfea. She couldn't think of a single one that was safe enough. A voice brought her back to reality.

'You know, I fully expected Stormy to be the first one to attack one of the fairies. In fact I thought you would be the last one to start a fight.' Griffin walked down the hall and sat down next to Icy who was visibly nervous.

Icy didn't answer.

'Your little friend is an Elementalist, right? Thank god she didn't help you with the dragonflame. That would've been a quick fight.'

'Please tell me you were able to fix that stupid coin.' The white haired girl asked her former headmistress and changed the topic.

The short pause was answer enough.

'No, I wasn't.' Griffin breathed out.

'What broke the coin? Was it my fault?' Icy looked at the older witch. 'Is it me? Do the ancestral witches have some kind of control over me. Am I the spy without knowing it?'

'I can't say for sure.' Griffin said. 'It's possible.'

Icy buried her face in her hands. Both witches continued to sit in silence when the office door opened. Addy came out.

'Hey.' Addy said quietly and looked at both witches.

When Icy didn't look up, she turned to Griffin.

'The coin is still broken, right?'

Griffin nodded 'There is no way to repair it. It's useless now.'

'Are you in trouble?' Icy asked Addy. 'You probably had to tell Faragonda you're an Elementalist. If she didn't figure that out on her own.'

'Relax, I decided to tell her when Darko and I told her about the potential spy. And it was only a matter of time until the Winx found out. I knew I couldn't keep it a secret.' Addy told the ice witch.

'I must say I have never met an Elementalist. Controlling all elements. That is a very rare ability.' Griffin stood up and looked at the girl.

' It comes in handy from time to time.' Addy said ' Unfortunately we are not allowed to attend schools. We are considered too dangerous. Faragonda promised me to keep it a secret. I hope I can trust you not to tell anyone either.'

'Of course.' Griffin promised

'Thank you.' Addy replied

'I hope it wouldn't be too much to ask, but maybe I could ask you some things about your powers someday.' The older witch asked

'I am sure that can be arranged' Addy answered.

With that Griffin turned around and walked away.

'Faragonda wants you to go inside now.' Addy looked at the ice witch.

Icy didn't move. She just stared at the wall and started tapping her foot nervously

'Icy, you need to relax, Faragonda didn't seem too angry. I don't think she is going to kick you out. But you need to go inside or else you are going to make it worse.' Addy tried to calm the witch down.

'Why did you help us? You let us stay in your apartment.' Icy asked. Addy was visibly confused at that question.

'I consider you three as friends. And you needed help. It was an easy decision for me. Why?' Addy was curious.

'It's just….something Darko implied….he apologized for how he talked to me. Not because it was rude but because of who I am..or was…whatever….and I…well…. I was wondering…..' Icy stuttered.

'You were wondering wether I helped you because you're noble.' Addy finished her question for her. Icy nodded ' I was five. I don't remember you as a princess, I remember you as a girl with white hair that used to play with my brother. It didn't bother me then and it certainly doesn't bother me now that you are noble. And I promise I am not going to treat you any differently. Does that answer your question?'

'Yes…thank you' Icy looked at her and nodded before standing up and walking into the office.

When she walked in she saw Faragonda sitting behind her desk. The headmistress motioned for her to sit down on the chair infront of her. Icy obeyed. When she looked to her side she saw Bloom sitting on the couch.

'Just so we can rule out a misunderstanding, you do understand the concept of not threatening someone?' Faragonda asked.

'Yes.' Icy answered.

' Then I would like to know what made you think attacking Bloom was not a threat.' Faragonda continued.

'It was an honest mistake. I didn't mean to.' Icy avoided looking at anyone. ' I was in an argument with Darko and lost control. I am sorry.' The witch directed the last part directly at the fire fairy. It took all her courage to say sorry to her.

The old fairy nodded and grabbed something from the drawer. It looked like a bracelet and somehow familiar.

'You have seen something similar before. The templars and monks from the fortress of light use the same method to keep someone from using their magic.' Faragonda stood up and walked around the desk. 'There will be new rules. First of all, from now on you will be wearing this bracelet. You won't be able to use your magic for a long as we deem necessary.'

Icy nodded and Faragonda put the bracelet on. The witch immediately felt how her magic got weakened.

'Secondly, you and your sisters won't be staying in the same room anymore. I have been notified that you are arguing a lot and we don't want any unnecessary accidents. Bloom will be keeping a close eye on you, she will be your new roommate.'

Icy would have liked to say her opinion about that, but she didn't.

'And finally, until we know that your attack and the summoning coin breaking aren't connected, you won't be informed about any plans. You will be left in the dark. Griselda is informing everyone about that right now. I want you to be aware of the fact that I would have had every right to throw you out. If you do anything like that again, all three of you are on your own.' Faragonda waited until Icy nodded and signaled that she understood what she said.

Faragonda dismissed both of them. Icy and Bloom made their way back to the dorm room.

The witch had no plans to make any conversation on their way. The fairy had different plans.

'Soooo, you and Darko…..?' Bloom started 'What exactly is going on between the two of you. Are you…?'

'Can we please not talk about that. If I get upset again, this thing ...' Icy held up her wrist with the bracelet '...will make me implode because my magic can't get out.'

'Alright.'

They walked in silence again until they arrived at the dorm room. When they opened the door Sky marched right towards them.

'How dare you attack her.' Sky said angrily.

Bloom stepped forward and put a hand her boyfriends chest. 'It's alright. It wasn't on purpose. We have established new rules.'

Sky calmed down again when he saw Icy was wearing the bracelet. They walked into the living room where the others were. Darko and Addy weren't there.

'Griselda just left. She told us some of us will be switching rooms.' Flora said.

'We know.' Bloom answered. 'Who's going where?'

Bloom and Icy already knew they were going to be roommates. Flora and Tecna were going to move into a room with Stormy. Darcy was going to be roommates with Layla and Musa.

'I have never been more grateful for having a single bedroom. Isn't it enough that we see them during the day.' Stella spoke up.

'We are not thrilled either.' Darcy replied and she could here Stormy mumble 'Speak for yourself.'

'What was that?' Darcy looked at her younger sister.

'At least now I don't have to sleep in the same room as you two anymore.' Stormy said louder.

'Here we go again.' Layla sighed. She was certain they were going to start screaming at each other again.

'You two will have to reschedule your fight. Griselda said we are supposed to be in the library in ten minutes.' Tecna said

'Oh. Faragonda didn't mention that.' Bloom looked confused. Icy already had a suspicion about why she didn't tell them.

'You two are not going. Icy isn't allowed to be there and you have to stay with her, sorry.' Stella told her best friend. 'But I promise we will tell you everything afterwards.'

It was late in the afternoon and Bloom and Icy were still alone in the Winx suite. None of the girls or specialists came back or informed them about any progress. That left the two girls bored. Icy excused herself and went to take a shower. Bloom decided to read through the books they had. Maybe she could find something useful. She didn't know when but at some point her eyes must've closed and she fell asleep. She knew it wasn't for long, because it was still bright outside when she woke up again. But something was different.

'Icy! Icy, where are you?' Bloom shouted.

'Why are you yelling like that? I told you not even twenty minutes ago that I was going to take a shower.' Icy came out of the bathroom in a bathrobe. Her hair was wet and to Blooms surprise not in her high ponytail. The ice witch quickly stopped walking when she noticed what Bloom meant.

'What the hell happened here?' Icy asked.

'I wanted to ask you the same thing!' Bloom replied.

The whole room was a mess. A most of the books were ripped apart and loose pages were laying around. All the bedroom doors were open and it looked chaotic in there as well. Someone was looking for something. The balcony door was wide open.

'I was in the shower! You were in here! How am I supposed to know what happened ?' Icy picked up some of the pages. Bloom didn't answer her and just gave her a look. 'You think I did this?! What have you been doing?'

'I was reading in one of your books and closed my eyes for a few minutes. When I woke up again it already looked like this.'

'Who ever did this was looking for something. If I had done this, why would I be ripping apart my own books?' Icy asked.

Bloom had to agree, if Icy would've done this she wouldn't have wasted time in destroying her own books. Whoever did this came in and out through the balcony door.

Both girls started to pick up the pages of the books and tried to sort them.

'Darcy is going to freak out.' Icy quietly talked to herself.

'You think if we show her the ripped apart books she will singlehandedly find out who's responsible?' Bloom jokingly said.

'Maybe. She is very resentful.' Icy smirked.

An hour later they had cleaned up almost everything. They were certain nothing was missing, but they were going to ask the others to look through their things nevertheless. Both of them talked about potential people that could have done this. It must have been someone in Alfea.

'Bloom? Icy? Sorry, it took us longer than expected…What is going on here?' Flora stepped into the room.

'Someone broke in. We don't know who. Where are the others?' Bloom looked around.

'What! How?' Flora said confused.

Bloom only shrugged her shoulders and told her they didn't know. They were going to find out about that later.

' Faragonda asked me to come and get you two. Her, Griffin and Saladin are about to start the press conference. You are supposed to be there as well.' Flora informed them.

'You should put up a protection spell around the rooms. If we leave they might come back.' Icy told them and both fairies agreed. Bloom and Flora immediately started, while Icy went into her room to change into some clothes.

When all three of them were ready they left the dorm room together.

'It is a pleasure that you all turned up in such a large number.' Faragonda was standing on a podium. Griffin and Saladin were next to her.

Large number? That was an understatement. Neither of them had seen so many reporters at the same time ever before.

Not many other students were currently in Alfea. Most of those who stayed at school during the holidays were picked up by their parents in the morning.

When Bloom, Icy and Flora arrived they walked over to the rest of the group. The fairies went over to their boyfriends. Icy saw her sisters standing far apart. She decided not to walk up to either of them.

'Faragonda just started.' Addy told the three girls.

'As far as I know everyone is already aware of the Trix staying in Alfea.' Faragonda spoke up. A few of the reporters turned towards the group. 'There is a reason for that. After the Winx Club traveled to Obsidian, the realm of darkness and former prison of the ancestral witches, they destroyed the planet and therefore were able to resurrect Domino. As it turned out, the ancestral witches survived the destruction of their prison.'

As expected the reporters immediately interrupted the headmistress. Everyone started to ask questions at the same time. Faragonda tried to calm them down again.

'Please, let me finish.' The talking subsided and Faragonda continued ' We believe the attack on the outskirt of Magix a few days ago was an attack by the three old witches. In contrary to public believe the Trix had nothing to do with it. They are staying in Alfea to help us find a way to destroy them once and for all.'

'How are you planning to find them?' A male reporter shouted

'Are we in immediate danger?' A female voice asked

' You think the Trix are trustworthy?' Someone else wanted to know.

'We have come up with different strategies to locate the ancestral witches. But we won't be talking about them today.' Griffin lied. They had absolutely no strategy, but they couldn't tell the public that.

Saladin continued 'So far the three witches haven't attacked anywhere else. We believe they are hiding somewhere. It is important that we all are careful. So far we don't know when or where they will strike again.'

'What about the Elemental ist? Addyson Black. Why is she back in Alfea?' A female reporter asked. She looked directly at Addy.

Silence. Both Griffin and Faragonda didn't know what to say for a second. How did she know?

Chaos errupted. Everyone suddenly wanted to ask a question. Faragonda motioned for the group to go back inside. They immediately went back into the school.

'Do you remember her?' Darko appeared next to his sister. Icy didn't even notice he was there.

Addy nodded. 'Yeah, she was the reporter from the news last night. She knew my name. We need to go back outside and talk to her.'

'Wait, what?' Musa asked.

'I don't go around and tell people about me. There is a reason for that. Some people hunt Elementalists and try to recruit them. Until yesterday I could count on one hand who knew about me.' Addy explained.

'Then how does this woman know?' Layla wanted to know.

'I bet she could help us with our little spy problem.' Darcy thought out loud. Someone must have given her information. And that someone could be the spy.

'That's exactly what I thought' Addy said.

They went back outside again. Apparently Faragonda, Griffin and Saladin had just finished the press conference, because they weren't on the podium anymore.

The Winx and the rest of the group scanned the crowd and looked for the reporter.

'There she is.' Stella pointed in the direction.

'Do we just walk up to her and question her?' Flora asked.

'Why not.' Icy answered and made her way towards the woman. The rest of them followed her. Halfway there the reporter turned around and noticed the group walking to her. Instead of looking surprised or confused the woman just smiled at them. It was like she was expecting them to come to her.

'Íç bērîon, ålvūros ñemple šurîmî. Tørrś perîdon. Ræla mínry bõlremø' The woman spoke in an unknown language. Her words were directed at Icy.

Something about that made the ice witch stop walking. Before anyone could ask a question the reporter started to laugh. Her eyes turned blood red before she disappeared.