There will be some heavy editing to this story soon. Hopefully I could fix it as I am very preoccupied with other important things. Hope you all enjoy this chapter and let me know what you think of it in the reviews section below.
"You will never amount to anything!" A decrepit voice sounded. The blackness all around blinded the senses as the shrill voices accompanied the deafening isolation.
"Do you think you're worthy of serving me?" It beckoned once more. The hairs upon the skin stood on ends as the chilling sensation pulsated from within. Breaths come up short as the inkling abyss bore its omniscient eyes upon the poor unfortunate soul.
"You're a disgrace to the Gods! Murmurs resonated from the emptiness as the listless voices and hexing whispers rocked back and forth within thine consciousness.
"You should be ashamed." Those words… she heard them over and over again. She didn't want to believe them, nay, she absolutely refused to acknowledge them. But sometimes, she wonders if they hold a bit of truth, after all, an adoptive child can never amount to one that was born pure and true.
She hesitated once, or twice if she was truly worthy of bearing her family's name upon her shoulders. The mantle she carried with pride was teetering on its edge by the wicked torments of a full-blooded descendant.
It wasn't fair, she thought.
Why did she have to suffer like she did? In the hands of him, no less. She was taught to accept love in all its forms and give it out just as much in return. She faintly remembers a time before the degrading words and harsh remarks started. A moment when her heart was still whole. A memory, of when she used to call him her friend.
"Cupid, huh? That's a cute name." Oh, how she missed those times, before the compliments became insults and his words were sincere. She fondly remembers smiling at the recipient of the gentle voice.
"Wanna be my friend?" Her younger self immediately jumped at the chance for his companionship. They fit together like the last two pieces of a puzzle.
"Can I call you Cupie?" She asked why. Never expected the answer that followed, which both surprised and made her feel abashed.
"I don't know, it just fits. Kinda like you and me!" She recalled giggling after her initial state of embarrassment. Her lithe hand gave him a playful shove before fleeing, with him boisterously chasing after her with wide smiles on their faces.
Her time of reminiscing was cut short as she felt the void trembling. It shook violently as her transparent form shook from the encompassing vibrations. Hollow groans and faint blurs swiveled around the abyss. She tried to keep a hold of herself, but something made her spine tense as her being froze up. Her head swiveled, her body spun as she desperately sought what made her feel so… insignificant.
Then, everything stood still. The blank space and herself turned stiff as an eerie feeling crept upon her skin. She found herself gazing into nothingness, the dull expanse of absence felt overwhelming. Her eyes were unmoving as she stared deeper and deeper into the abyss, but then, when she felt it staring back at her.
She blinked.
With a gasp, Cupid bolted up from her bed. Her breaths ragged as her chest heaved outward as if possessed. A cold sweat dripped from her brows, the darkness of the night provided a somber setting as she recalled what caused her distress.
A nightmare, another one. As if every night, they waited for her to fall into their constricting embrace. Dawn broke beyond the horizon, the morning glow barely lit up the despondent chamber as Cupid hugged her knees to her chest, letting out a few silent sobs.
It's okay, she thought. Everything will be okay, repeating the phrase in her head, desperately trying to prevent her doubts from lingering further. Wiping away the few years that stained her pale cheeks, she heard rustling from the other side of the room.
"Hey, Cupid," Blondie said within the confines of her bed, she sat up before resuming the conversation. She wanted to speak with Cupid about Haze and the slew of strange events that students began to meticulously report since his arrival. Her MirrorCast was depending on her to shed light upon the shady affairs happening in Ever After High, she wanted – no, needed, to know the truth.
"So, I overheard some interesting rumors the other day. Is it true you're planning a party soon?" A simple question, one without ill intent nor suspicions, but one that managed to catch Cupid off guard as she hesitated.
"Terrific!" Blondie exclaimed while pulling out her MirrorPhone. "Then can you tell my captive audience what the angel of love has in store for us today?"
Cupid gulped, a sweat rolled down the side of her face as she struggled to answer the prying teen. "Well, I don't have anything planned, yet. But rest assured that it is going to be a big one." She smiled, hoping to avoid Blondie's suspicions as she narrowed her eyes on her.
A second passed, and then another, before Blondie ultimately shrugged in acceptance, making Cupid sigh in relief. "Alright then, I suppose I can ask you about the party at a later date." She put down her MirrorPhone as Cupid wiped the forming sweat on her brows before throwing the silky blankets off her form.
The two performed their morning routines, sharing a bit of gossip and casual conversation as both got dressed and ready to challenge the day ahead of them.
"Oh, Cupid, I forgot to mention that I'll be going to Maddie and her father's tea shop later, maybe you'd like to join me?" Cupid thought it over a second before giving the would-be journalist a nod. "That'd be great. I still have some things to do, so I'll catch up with you soon, Blondie." With a thumbs-up, Blondie closed the door behind her, leaving Cupid alone in their dorm.
Cupid sat on her vanity. A strange look on her face made her aware of how pale she'd gotten over the weeks. Raising a hand, she brushed her cheeks where her rosy blush once was.
She hadn't lost this much color on her skin since before transferring to Ever After High. She compared how her sickly look fitted her last school better than her current one, as she used a bit of make-up to provide a bit of life to her appearance.
As she busily applied her foundation, something in the corner of her eye caught her attention. It gleamed ever so slightly, her eyes became captivated at a picture which sat in a corner. She reached out to it, noticing how beautifully crafted the frame was, but her sights focused on the contents of the image. It was herself, perched atop a marble column, as an expanse of clouds filled the background. She wasn't alone in the picture, sitting next to her with his arms around her shoulder was a lively and felicitous teen. His clothes looked brighter as did his demeanor as both of them looked at the camera with broad smiles.
Cupid looked at the picture, examining it as if she doubted it ever happened. Her dull, listless eyes contrasted with that of herself in the picture, which was colorful and vibrant. She grazed the picture with her fingertips, a look of longing adorning her face as a stray tear landed on the picture, splattering over the protective glass.
She sniffled, her shoulders sagged as her wings drooped. Cupid pulled the picture closer to her chest as a pained expression made its way to her face while letting out an anguished cry of regret.
Something disturbed him, Haze figured, as a peculiar tinge traveled his nerves. He shook it off, paying no further heed as he walked down the steps of the school. He could still feel the many scornful gazes and wary eyes aimed at him. At first, he found them amusing and a little pitiful, now he just viewed them as incredulous and annoying.
He continued to march forward until he stumbled upon a stone bridge. An ignorant troll was about to pounce on him, but he simply snarled at it, scaring the creature back into the crevice where it belonged. He hummed, his eyes scouting his surroundings as he reached the quaint little village of Book End.
It was Chapterday, which for the students meant they had the leisure of spending the day in however way they saw fit. Be it by hanging out with friends, attending pop-up parties somewhere in the village, or going home and spending quality time with their families.
Haze had nothing planned, so he decided to wander the streets for anything that could entertain him. He doubted the possibility but was left with little to no other options. Even though he was far from the school's premises, many passersby and citizens looked at him strangely, both wary
and fearful for their safety. Seems that the rumors about him have already spread far and wide, although it was something he would usually be proud of, he found himself not in the mood.
Which is strange, he thought. He should already be sowing the seeds of chaos wherever he went, spreading despair and fear into the hearts of innocent souls. Yet he found himself… discouraged? No, it was more akin to being unmotivated.
What's wrong with me? Haze contemplated as he resorted to subjecting only minor inconveniences to the populace. Such as getting frisky felines stuck in trees, hiding other people's belongings, or holding up a busy line, which is where he soon realized he was situated as the barista drowsily waited to take his order while the other teens behind him urged the front to hurry up. He brushed aside their pitiful cries as he scanned the menu for anything that could entice him.
Figuring that he held the line long enough, he ordered a simple black coffee, no sugar, no cream, or any other frivolous toppings that would ruin the already perfect brew. He was gobsmacked at how people desired their beverages to be as tooth-achingly sweet as possible, but it was nonetheless better for him since he could rule over their souls faster the quicker they wished to perish under the effects of artificial flavor enhancers.
Haze smacked himself in the head, wondering why he spent so long thinking about unnecessary inquiries when he could have already solved more pressing matters. He sat at a table alone, much to his delight, as he took a sip of the dark and bitter blend. He sighed in contentment as he felt the caffeine rushing into his system.
"I guess Ever After does come with its charms after all." He admitted before taking another sip and relaxed into his chair without a worry. The tranquil ambiance settled as Haze delved into his own little world, ignoring anything else that never mattered to him.
The serenity was broken when he heard a loud and obnoxious laugh from the other side of the café. His eyelids creaked as they opened, eyes darted in the direction of the horrid sounds as he saw three males idly joking around and having an overall merry time.
At any other time, Haze would've simply left them be and moved along. However, not this time, as Haze stood abruptly with a murderous look. The dark prince of the Underworld was fully prepared to smite the rambunctious teens before something inside made him hesitate.
Which was odd.
He found himself at an impasse as he faltered ever after so slightly from culling the rowdy bunch. But he then remembered the warning Madam Yaga hexplicitly stated if he ever crossed the line with any other student. Though he already crossed one line and many more with a few unfortunate mortals that piqued his interest the other day, those instances were kept in the dark due to the lack of evidence against him.
But now?
Out in the open, surrounded by watchful eyes, inside a particularly popular store at that, he didn't have the advantage of discretion this time around. But he wasn't going to give them the satisfaction of being a nuisance to his sought-after break.
So he did the only sensible and mortifying thing he could… he went over to talk to them, determined to give them a piece of his mind. Hopefully the problem could be resolved peacefully without any to no complications.
"Now that was something." Blondie fixed herself from being surprised at the enlarged butterfly head which startled her. Cupid helped out her roommate as they were finishing up with their review of Maddie's family's tea shop.
Although both were initially disappointed at the dullness and lack of wonderishness when they first arrived, it was revealed that Maddie and her friends had tried to hide the crazy and extraordinary aspects of the shop to prevent a bad review from one of the toughest critics in Ever After. But the facade didn't last long as the daughter of the Mad Hatter had enough and reverted the plain and boring tea shop back into the Haberdashery and Tea Shoppé she came to know and love.
She openly declared that she didn't care if her family's shop gets a bad review or not, cause in her own words, "This place is Hattastic!"
Prepared for a negative response from the famed Blondie Locks, she surprised everyone by admitting that the tea shoppé was ever after awesome! Saying that it was just right!
Now, the group settled into a table and enjoy a wide selection of delectable confectionaries as they began chatting about their day so far. Cupid was placing the final touches on the recording before handing the MirrorPhone back to Blondie who appreciated her help.
"By the way, Cupid," Cupid perked up as she noticed Raven talking to her.
"Yes, Raven?"
"I have to ask, has Haze been bothering you lately?" At the mention of his name, the atmosphere darkened as an unpleasant disposition weighed upon the girls' shoulders.
"Why are we even talking about that jerk?!" Cerise spoke, agitated and disgruntled.
"I can't lie, I'm not entirely comfortable about discussing about him of all people." Cedar supplied while rubbing her wooden arms in comfort.
"What? I was just asking." Raven shrugged, but she understood where her friends where coming from.
"K-kind of?" Cupid faltered, "I mean, he hasn't called for me since the other day and I'm worried that something might've happened." She let out, looking exhausted and a little frail. Her current
state sprouted a look of concern amongst the girls as Blondie gently rubbed her shoulders for solace.
"Maybe Headmaster Grimm caught wind of what he did and finally got him expelled?" Cerise loudly gnawed on a dessert, her hatred towards prince plainly obvious.
"Maybe, if it weren't for the fact that we had the same class yesterday." Raven confessed which made the other girls react in a fit of panic and worry.
"Girls, calm down. Haze didn't do anything to me."
"He better not, cause if he ever after as much as touch a single hair on my BFFA's head then he'll see just how mad I can be." Maddie pulled out a bat from her hat with the help of her pet rat – "Mouse!" – mouse, as the girl had a crazed look in her eye.
"Okay, slow down there miss crazy," Raven quickly grabbed the bat from her friends grasp as she threw it away into a corner, making Maddie pout with Raven rolling her eyes.
"Let's not do anything drastic here. I mean, Haze is a bully and single-handedly the worst person I've ever met, but it doesn't mean that he actually hurt anyone, much, right?" The other girls gave Raven a deadpanned faces filled with disbelief.
"He literally set fire to the Castleteria on his first day." Cerise started.
"Well, maybe it was just a misunderstanding?" Raven argued.
"He keeps belittling others and always saying those hurtful words to everyone he meets." Cedar continued.
"Perhaps it's his way of showing that he cares?" There was a twitch in her smile.
"I heard from Kitty and Lizzie that he almost burned their heads off for reprimanding him about burning her private garden." Maddie was appalled at how much her best friend was trying to place that monster in a better light.
"Um, okay, that is a little hextreme, but stil, we should not judge a book by it's cover." Raven insisted.
"Raven, why in the world of fairytale are you trying so hard to defend him? We all know hexactly what happened, we were all there! Does it even matter to know why he did those things in the first place?!"
"I don't know, it's just that, maybe he's just a little… misunderstood?" Silence permeated the air as the girls turned to stare at Raven in a mix of shock and severe disbelief.
"That is so unlike you, Raven, and you're supposed to be the evil one" Blondie pointed out which sparked another argument between the girls. About how one's parents actions doesn't necessarily reflect on their offsprings. How Raven isn't really evil just because her mother was and the fact that they can choose their own paths in life. The conversation devolved and
intensified, however Cupid could only sigh and mood drop as she could only hope for something that no longer exist.
"You know what, let's stop talking about our destinies at the moment. It's such a beautiful day today and I'm not letting this feud ruin it for me." Cerise stated with a serious tone of voice.
The rest of the girls exchanged looks before nodding in a synchronous fashion. "I can't lie, and I wholeheartedly agree." Cedar added as the girls resolved the overlying tension between the two sides for the moment.
It was nice for them to get along, Cupid inwardly thought as she bore a smile at the temporary resolution to the conflict. Soon, both she and Blondie began to pack up and was about to head off for a day of fun and wonder.
"Really wish I could join you girls, but I have a Tea Shoppé to run." Maddie said as the girls understood.
"It's fine, Maddie. I'll tell you about all the hexciting things we'll do today when I come back." Raven said as she gave Maddie a hug. The daughter of the Mad Hatter bid the girls farewell as they exited the shoppé and headed elsewhere.
As the girls strolled along the street they started discussing anything that might have been important or interesting,one topic came up which caught their attention.
"Hey, you girls started on our Muse-ic Class assignment by any chance?" Blondie said as they all remembered the task their professor had given a few days prior.
"Oh yeah, I honestly almost forgot about it."
"What did Professor Piper made us do again?" Cerise asked, hoping that the assignment wasn't anything embarrassing and actually doable by her standards.
"Oh, he wants us to write a song about something we like and sing it in front of the class." Raven answered, somewhat nervous about performing a song in front of her peers but wasn't about to risk failing the class.
"Oh what fun! I guess it'll be just right for me. I do fancy a little song and dance number every once in a while." Blondie giggled as she already started imagining what favorite thing of hers she should sing about. Her thoughts were filled with porridge, comfy chairs, and even comfier beds. Far away, a family of three shivered at the thought of someone thinking about them.
"About something we like, huh?" Cerise stroked her chin in deep thought. Although the idea of singing in front of people made her stomach churn, something else inside of her felt warm at the prospect of singing about the things she holds dear, or rather people, in her case.
"How about you, Cupid? Any idea what you'll sing about?" Cupid flinched from Raven's question before composing herself to answer.
"I… don't know yet. I'll need some time to think about it." Raven nodded before patting Cupid's shoulders to comfort the crestfallen girl. "Take all the time you need, Cupid. We'll be there to help if you want."
She placed her hand over Raven's as she felt her modd brighten at such supportive friends. "Thank you, Raven. It means a lot." With a quick nod, the group continued walking down the street before a distinct craving stirred inside them. Thankfully, the solution was apparent as they passed an all too familiar store.
"Hey, Hocus Latte! You girls want some Monarcha? My treat." Raven said as her friends felt drawn to the offer before graciously accepting.
"That truthfully sounds lovely," and many other similar comments were made. The girls slowly approached the shop, looming ever after closer before they heard a commotion nearby.
"Does anyone else hear that?" Cedar inquired to the rest as they soon picked up on the noise.
"I think it's coming from inside." Cerise said as her ears twitched under her hood. Her senses were tingling, as if warning her of the danger that lurked beyond. She started reaching for the knob before hesitating slightly, to which her friends noticed her lapse of apprehension.
"Cerise, you okay there?" Raven worriedly asked. Cerise shook her head and responded, "Uh, yeah. Just had a weird feeling is all… Here we go." Turning the knob and pushing the door open, the girls were greeted with the sight of Haze gripping the neck of Daring Charming. Hunter held one of his arms that looked broken in multiple places as he leaned against a wall for support. One of the more rowdy students of Ever After High, named Sparrow, was screaming obnoxiously and panicking at the chaos unfurling, doing all he can to call for help.
Other bystanders were frightened and hid themselves from Haze's wrath as he held a look of sheer bloodlust aimed towards the dashing prince kept in place in his vice-like grip.
"This is your last chance, puny mortal." His other hand burst into blue flames as fear reflected in Daring's eyes.
"Either you submit… or die." Haze's deathly voice pierced the thickened tension of the room as the girls looked horrified at the events happening before them. Daring choked for air as tears smeared his cheeks. Words were lodged in his throat, and even though he was staring death itself in the face, he still would not yield to this monster.
"Never!" He choked out, his voice came out raspy but the message was clear as his glistening teeth.
"Then perish." Haze bore a look of murderous intent, and just as his flaming fist was about to connect to Daring's charming face something prevented him from moving. His eyes shifted to his extended limb and noticed a mystical purple magic encasing it, hereby halting any movement.
"What sort of trickery is this?" Before he could figure out the cause of his inaction, his own strength was used against him as his fist changed target and struck the owner instead. Haze became stunned as he staggered backwards from the unexpected turn of events. The blow was powerful enough to blur his vision and sense of thought as his mind swirled in confusion.
As Haze busily recollected himself, Daring was released from his hold and fell to the cold, hard floor, gasping for air as he sputtered and coughed all the while.
"Daring!" The young prince heard someone calling his name. He found just enough strength in him to look up and thank his saviors. Cerise was the first to reach his side as she began checking him for any injuries he may have sustained.
Cedar went to Hunter's side and immediately noticed the extent of the damages the son of the Huntsman has incurred. His left arm was bent in impossible directions, multiple scratches and burns riddled his body as most parts of his clothes wore either torn or burnt off.
The daughter of Pinocchio couldn't hold back the tears from flooding out. She has never witnessed such severe cases violence dealt to someone she knew, just seeing the blood seeping out of the wounds was enough to make her stomach churn and head swirl. Cedar slapped herself a few times to calm her nerves, right now helping Hunter was priority, she could just stomach the nauseating feeling from surfacing and assess Hunter's condition.
"Hunter, speak to me!" She drew her ear closer to his mouth and was relieved to find him breathing, although barely, but was still evidently alive.
"Stay strong, Hunter! We'll get you out of here and you'll be better in no time. I promise!" Cedar could hear him gasping.
"Hunter, what is it?" She asked, hextremely worried. The downed Hunter writhfully grasped the wooden girl's shoulder and weakly said, "Run."
His hand fell limp as Cedar quickly panicked. She then checked for a pulse by placing her fingers to the side of his neck and was very relieved to find one, albeit weakly. Cedar got to work and wrapped the arm that wasn't bent out of shape around her shoulders and used all her strength to lift Hunter up from the ground.
Blondie immediately pulled out her MirrorPhone and began filming the chaos when they first entered the scene. "Hello, people of Ever After, I am here reporting live inside Hocus Latte and the devastation that was caused by none other than the Prince of the Underworld, Haze himself! Stay tuned for more as I unravel what hexactly happened for such destruction to befall on–" "Blondie!"
Blondie was pulled out if her reporter character by Cerise's shout. "A little help here?!" She motioned at Daring and Hunter as Cedar gently placed him down, careful to not deepen his wounds and worsen his bruises.
"Oh, right, sorry!" Blondie put down her MirrorPhone and went to her friends side, intending to help wherever she can. She passed by Raven who was concentrating her magic to keep Haze
restrained to prevent from harming anyone else. However, Haze's own powers clashed against her own, the contrasting forces clashed and resisted each other,but it was clear that Haze was winning as Raven felt her energy draining and feeling lethargic.
"Guys, I don't know how much longer I can hold him!" Her magic began flickering, her mind felt fuzzy as her vision turned blurry.
"It's over man. It's all over! All is lost!" Sparrow screamed brazenly as he continued to panic and not help the situation.
"We gotta get out of here. Daring, can you stand up on your own?" Cerise asked as wrapped some bandages over some of Hunter's more serious wounds.
"I, I think so." Daring replied with a raspy voice. It was clear that Haze's grip damaged some parts of his throat. He was lucky that his head was still connected to the rest of his body.
"Good enough. Cedar, help me with Hunter, we need to leave before Haze gets back up." Both Cerise and Cedar carefully picked up Hunter's body as the rest began to head for the door as Raven felt her magic waning.
During all this, Cupid remained frozen from her spot. Was it out of fear? Shock? Or something else? Whichever it was, her body was unresponsive to her pleas. She wanted to go over and help her friends also, but the scene triggered something within her. Something she thought she had buried deep down and hoped would never resurface. Something that traumatized her entire being so much so that she could only blankly stare off as the chaos ensued her every move.
"Cupid!" Cerise shouted at the unmoving girl. "What are you doing?! We have to get out of here now!" Her words had no effect as Cupid continued to hold that soulless look in her eyes.
Cerise became hextremely concerned for the state Cupid was in, but before she could figure out what the problem was, she saw her friend Raven being blown away from contesting against the overwhelming power Haze possessed.
Realizing that nothing was holding him back anymore, the group of friends turned around slowly in sheer terror as Haze floated up from the ground and landing on his feet. They huddled together as they inched away from Haze's terrifying form as he began exuding an aura of death and despair.
He never expected to be held back for as long as he did. It was surprising that these teens managed to temporarily incapacitate him, but he figured as much from his own strength. What was unexpected however was how far that spawn of the evil queen resisted his powers with her magic.
"It seems I underestimated you mortals, as fragile as you all are." He wiped away the dust and grime that stuck to his clothes before subjecting the frightened teens with his full attention. "But now you die." Both his hands ignited with a red inferno as the teens shielded themselves from the heat.
Haze shot out fire from his palms towards the vulnerable teens. He relished in their looks of despair and hopelessness as the fire inched closer to their frail forms. Nothing could have saved them in time, as sure as Haze was in his victory, but someone intervened which left Haze flabbergasted.
Before the fire could reach its target, Cupid jumped in between her friends and certain death, unsure of what she can do to save them as well as herself. However, something inside her screamed for her weak self to brave the tribulations endangering her dear friends. She didn't realize what made her act so differently and foolishly put herself in hextreme danger.
Was it from great concern for her friends? Or the rebellious side of her to stand up in the face of evil?
She failed to realize it herself, but something in her changed the moment she saw her friends in great peril. Although she lacked the power and strength to face off against the likes of the prince of the Underworld, the weight of her heart was greater than any magic.
"Cupid?!" Her friends yelled in surprise as she went and raised her arms, using her own body to block the torrent of fire heading toward them. Her friends shed tears at her selfless act and unwavering resolve in the face of adversity. Cupid herself was fully prepared to sacrifice her entire being in order to protect her friends, her mind steeled and her body braced itself as she waited for the fire to torch her skin.
But it never happened.
Before the infernal torrent could reach Cupid and her friends, Haze quickly retracted his attack. Stunned and confounded at this faux godling's foolhardy act. He doused out his own flames and stared quizzically at the quivering teens, more predominantly towards Cupid who was shocked at being alive and still whole.
"What are you doing?" Haze uttered, his voice came out cold and harsh as he waited for her answer.
I also uploaded a chapter to one of my initial releases, "Ever After High: The first Son".
Go check it out if any if you are interested, explanations will be present in the publication as well.