This'll the last chapter that I'll be updating for a while due to me being busy with my Thesis and stuff. Please accept my apologies in advance and enjoy.
"What are you doing?" Cupid heard Haze ask in his usual grim and antagonistic tone. She felt herself freeze under his scrutinizing gaze. The pressure from his stare made her legs weak and her mind struggled to form a coherent reply.
"I-I…" Her throat clamped shut, preventing her from answering his question, whether it stemmed from bravery or foolishness.
Haze grew impatient at her hesitation. The prince hurled a ball of fire at a nearby wall, destroying it as civilians screamed and fled the scene. "Well? I'm waiting…"
Cupid gulped, fear twisting through her veins and tying her stomach into knots. She glanced back at her friends for solace. They were still huddled together behind her, half fainted from pain or exhaustion, while the others did all they could to protect the incapacitated. Cerise caught Cupid's eye, both unsure of what to do next.
Haze's patience thinned further. He summoned a wall of fire, separating Cupid and himself from the onlookers. Cupid had to reel back as the flames singed the tips of her wing feathers.
"I'll ask you one more time." Haze drew closer to Cupid's terrified form. She tried to back away, but the wall of flames prevented her from retreating further. "What made you think it was wise to defy me?" The distance between them shortened, and Cupid began to dread her fate.
"B-Because what you're doing is wrong!" she accidentally blurted out, horror washing over her face as she quickly covered her mouth.
"Wrong?" He let her words linger before a manic grin spread across his pale lips. Haze laughed, the sound trembling and deafening, muddling the minds of those who heard him.
"You foolish girl." He grabbed the cloth on Cupid's chest, lifting her off the ground. Her legs dangled in the air as she grasped at his arm. The son of Hades forced the adopted daughter of Eros to look into his eyes. "Why do you say that?"
Tears leaked from her eyes as Cupid struggled to answer. "You're hurting people!" She tried to free herself from his grasp but to no avail.
"And? What's so wrong with toying with these peasants? They should be grateful for being of use to me." His toothy grin returned, stretching the cloth of Cupid's dress.
"They are not your playthings, Haze! They are my friends!" she boldly replied. Haze's face contorted with complete detestation.
"You forget your place, you worm!" He slammed Cupid's lithe form onto the ground with enough force to shatter the surroundings, spiderwebbing the floor. Just when she thought her life was over, Haze's familiar hexing grin returned.
"Keep up that strong façade of yours." He drew closer to her ear, his proximity unnerving. Cupid could feel his lifeless, chilling breath upon her skin, causing her to shiver slightly. "All the better for me to see you break."
Haze finally released Cupid, and she took a deep breath from the cold, hard ground. Her body ached all over, bruises forming and bones breaking. She felt herself teeter on the edge of consciousness but summoned her last bit of strength to remain awake.
"Please…" Cupid muttered, barely audible. Haze's sharp ears perked as he deigned to look over his shoulder while Cupid shakily propped herself up with her arm.
Her body screamed from the pain, but something kept her going. Every breath felt like stingers poking her lungs, her tarnished skin and blemished hair the least of her worries as she lifted her head to see Haze standing over her pitiful form.
"My friends…" Cupid wheezed from the lack of oxygen. "Please spare them…" She uttered out before she lost all strength and fell back to the floor, praying her pleas would be answered as the world slowly faded from her sight.
Cupid felt a rush of memories as she lay there, teetering on the edge of consciousness. She recalled the moments of laughter and camaraderie with her friends, the bonds forged through trials and triumphs. The warmth of their support had always been her anchor, and now, in this dire moment, she clung to those memories as her lifeline.
Haze's laughter echoed in her ears, a haunting reminder of the peril they all faced. She remembered the first time she had encountered him, the malevolent aura that surrounded him even then. She had always known he was dangerous, but she had never imagined it would come to this. The pain in her body was nothing compared to the agony of seeing her friends suffer.
"Why do you care so much for these weaklings?" Haze's voice cut through her thoughts. He crouched down, his face inches from hers, eyes gleaming with cruel amusement.
"Because they matter," Cupid whispered, her voice barely audible but filled with conviction. "They are worth more than you can ever understand."
Haze's expression darkened. "Foolish sentiment," he spat. "In this world, strength is all that matters."
"No," Cupid countered weakly, mustering the last of her strength to speak. "In this world, love is what gives us strength. It's what makes us human."
Haze stood up, his face twisted with contempt. "You will learn the hard way, then. Love is a weakness, and I will ensure you remember that."
With that, he turned away, leaving Cupid on the cold ground, her body wracked with pain but her spirit unbroken. As darkness enveloped her, she held onto the hope that her sacrifice would not be in vain. For in her heart, she knew that love, true love, was the strongest force of all, capable of overcoming even the greatest of evils.
Her mind became silent. She was alone once more, with nothing but the encompassing void for company.
Cupid sat down onto nothingness, wrapping herself in her arms for a small semblance of comfort. This had become a pattern for her. Whenever life became too overwhelming, she always ended up back here in the void. Initially, the black space clouding her senses had startled her, but now she found an unusual sense of ease in the unsettling isolation.
"At least nothing can get to me here," she thought hopelessly. She pulled her knees up to her chest and hugged herself closer. The barren blankness dulled her senses as she mindlessly drifted into space.
However, she noticed something strange about the blank space around her. Rather than the chilling coldness she had become familiar with, the air was surprisingly warm. It was a peculiar and unprecedented change in the barren landscape.
What brought forth this comforting change? Cupid wondered, her loneliness no longer at the forefront of her mind. The mystery of the surrounding space deepened, as this small but significant change piqued her curiosity.
She pondered the difference in the air. Her intangible self floated aimlessly yet with sudden purpose. Her initial fear of this space seemed nonexistent, as she found the new atmosphere calming and peaceful.
Then, something appeared in the abyss. Cupid froze as she quickly turned to see a small ball of light in the distance. She felt drawn to it, as if it was calling her. Before long, she moved closer to the blinding sphere. The beckoning calls echoed in her mind as the once black and inky space morphed into a pure and vibrant atmosphere.
"Cupid…" She heard a voice call her name. Her head swiveled all around before her attention settled on the glowing orb before her. She wondered for a brief moment before shaking her head.
It seemed impossible, even in a realm as strange and mystical as this. A talking ball of light was a bit far-fetched. But she couldn't help but entertain the possibility that it was the one calling her. She reached out to touch the shining ball. The light wrapped around her fingertips as she inched closer. Just as she was about to unravel the mystery surrounding the strange orb, she felt her form being tugged by an invisible force. Pulled by an unknowable entity, she tried to reach for the blinding orb once more, but the strange pull prevented her from doing so.
"Wait!" she yelled, her voice echoing in the bleak silence.
"Just a little more!" she cried out, but there was no one to answer her call. All she could do was stare wistfully at the shrinking orb as the light slowly dimmed from her sight.
The air around her felt cold. Her body shivered from the chilling temperature as her eyes slowly blinked open. She was greeted by the sight of a marbled ceiling and an intricately bejeweled chandelier glimmering above her. Cupid felt the soft, spongy mattress beneath her and the silky blankets draped around her form, offering a semblance of comfort in this strange setting.
It was dark outside as she peered at the window across from her bed. The moon was still far from reaching its peak. She groaned, her muscles ached, and her joints stung with phantom pain. Her head felt fuzzy as she tried to recall what had happened to her and how she ended up in this unfamiliar yet oddly homey room.
"Ah, good, you're awake, dearie." She hadn't noticed the door opening until she heard the soothing voice. Cupid turned her head from where it lay on the fluffy pillow to see a familiar, comforting face.
"Mama Goose asked me to check in on you while she tended to the young ones." Mama Bear closed the door behind her with a basket in hand. The furry matriarch sat on a stool beside Cupid, who lay on what she presumed to be a bed in the nurse's office.
"Miss Bear, what happened to my friends?" she wheezed out, her voice barely more than a whisper.
"They're probably back in their dorms, dear. They stopped by earlier to check in on you before they had to return under the Headmaster's orders." Mama Bear plucked a thermometer from her basket and gestured for Cupid to open her mouth.
"And Haze?" she asked. Worried not for him, but rather for what he could be doing to others.
"You mean that frightening fellow? No clue. He disappeared before the guards or the professors found you all in that shop, unconscious but thankfully unharmed." Cupid bore a bemused expression.
What did she mean by unharmed? The last thing she remembered was her friends suffering from varying degrees of injuries and burns, especially Hunter, who was barely holding on to life as she faced off against Haze before her memories became hazy. Cupid checked herself for the bruises and cuts caused by Haze but found none. She raised her arms to inspect herself further, only to see her dress intact and her skin undamaged, pale still but unblemished nonetheless.
"What? But this is impossible! There were scratches and burns! What about the store? It was ruined beyond repair before any help arrived!" Cupid began panting, disbelief and shock plastered all over her face.
"Oh, dear, the fever must've gotten to you. Now you're beginning to imagine things." Mama Bear placed a paw over Cupid's forehead as she began sweating profusely. "Not to worry, darling, it was all in your head. Everyone's fine, and no buildings were destroyed. The heat probably got to you, which made you see some unsightly things." Mama Bear finished Cupid's check-up before packing her things.
"Thank Godmother no one was hurt much. Seeing as your fever is going down, I think it's safe for you to go back to your room. Run along now, and remember not to overexert yourself. Rest whenever needed." Cupid could only nod absently as Mama Bear politely escorted her out of the room with some sweets in hand.
It didn't make sense. Mama Bear spoke as if nothing disastrous had happened earlier. Her mind was in disarray as she tried to come up with a reasonable explanation, fearing she might be going crazy. Her feet moved on their own as she walked, conflicted by the strange events that had occurred, with her at the center of it all. Haze had been wreaking havoc earlier, her friends were in peril, and she had been reckless with her own life. Yet things seemed resolved in the end.
How, though? Cupid thought.
Before long, her feet led her back to her dorm. She tentatively opened the door and peeked inside, breathing a sigh of relief upon seeing Blondie sleeping peacefully in her own bed.
Things felt too surreal to be true. She had so many questions but could find no answers to any of them. Then she remembered the very person who had caused her state of distraught and unease.
Haze…
She had to confront him about what had transpired earlier. Both her friends and she needed to know the truth as the mystery deepened further down the rabbit hole they went. But for now, her body was demanding rest. Her brain was beginning to feel numb, and the rest of her body became unresponsive. She forcefully drew the last bit of her strength and threw herself onto her bed as her eyelids grew heavier by the second. Soon, she closed her eyes and allowed sleep to take hold.
However, unbeknownst to the pair of sleeping girls, a lone figure stood just outside, above the rooftops, gazing into their open window with a sinister grin as he relished the misery and despair he had sown in the unsuspecting mortals.
He would have enjoyed tormenting the girls in their sleep, but he didn't want to overdo it if he wanted this game to last a little longer.
" Cupid… " he whispered as the cold evening air grazed against him. It looked like he was about to say something else, but he stopped himself and simply stared at her sleeping form. He grinned, having seen enough, before vanishing into the night.
Raven hated the rain.
She was never fond of it; the pitter-patter of droplets brought memories of some of the worst days of her life. So when the telltale signs of rumbling clouds above gave way to the inevitable downpour, she closed her window and lay dejectedly on her bed.
Just raising her hand and using a bit of her magic made her wince. Her body ached and stung as if her insides were being ruptured from within. She had tried every remedy in the book to ease her pulsating pain, but nothing seemed to work. She tossed and turned, dreading what the day might bring. Thankfully, it was the weekend, giving her some hope that she might recover before classes started tomorrow.
Raven let out a groan, her body restless yet exhausted. She thought back to yesterday, her friends at the forefront of her mind. She wondered if they were safe and resting just as she was.
"Haze…" She whispered his name in a hushed, fearful tone. Just the thought of him made her whole body quake and shiver. She began spiraling out of control until a dainty and gentle voice brought her back.
"Raven," her roommate, Apple, asked with great concern, "is everything enchanted and well?" The daughter of Snow White was already prepared for the day ahead. Dressed in her usual pristine and elegant attire, adorned with exuberant and sparkling jewels, she was about to head out and meet with her friends. But one look at her fairytale counterpart derailed her plans.
Apple sat on the edge of Raven's bed, taking her hand in her own for comfort. "You can talk to me if something's bothering you. Just because you're the villain in my destiny doesn't mean we aren't friends." There she went again, with her wide, flawless smile and welcoming, joyous demeanor. It was hard for anyone to be mad at the perfect princess or even reject any of her offers.
Raven let out a deep sigh, holding Apple's hand to calm herself. Apple was right; she was her friend first before anything else. Even though she didn't agree with Apple's beliefs, Raven was still willing to make things work between them as BFFAs.
"Apple, do you think I'm crazy?" Raven asked, her voice tinged with desperation.
"Why, of course not. Evil? Absolutely! But you are most definitely not crazy—that's more like Maddie's thing." Apple giggled briefly, but Raven's eyes shifted downward.
Apple noticed Raven's immediate change in demeanor and continued comforting her. "What brought this on?"
Raven took a moment to gaze into Apple's crystal blue eyes. "Didn't you hear about what happened yesterday?"
"Hmm, oh! You mean that disturbance at Hocus Latte?" Raven nodded. "I heard some bits and pieces, but not enough to get the whole picture. I believe Haze had something to do with it, judging by how often his name keeps popping up."
Raven sighed, rubbing her temples to ease her growing headache. "Well, the rumors were right. Haze was causing problems for our friends."
"Is there more to the story, Raven?" Apple prodded gently.
"I guess you could say that." Raven groaned before continuing, "I can vividly remember him destroying the entire building. I recall the place crumbling down, patches of fire burning the integrity, as our friends scrambled for safety."
Apple raised a brow. "Are you certain about that, Raven? Because I heard that Hocus Latte was still in one piece after the whole debacle. The knights came after hearing about a student causing a ruckus and stated that everyone was fine and happily ever after."
"Did you hear anything else from the knights?" Raven asked, genuinely curious to hear another side of the story she was doubting.
"Only that a few people were left unconscious, and they couldn't figure out why. All they saw was Haze standing in the middle of the passed-out students." Apple's explanation only continued to confound Raven. Her memories seemed to be playing tricks on her, but the scars on her soul were still present. She needed to find out what truly happened yesterday.
"And what about Haze? What did the knights do to him?"
"Nothing, really. They didn't have any proof he was responsible for putting the other students in an unconscious state, so they let him go." Apple finished, and Raven became inanimate, her silence heavy.
"Then why did it feel so real?" Raven muttered, her voice barely audible but still heard by Apple.
"What felt so real, Raven?" Apple tilted her head, confused by her counterpart's statement.
Raven shifted her eyes to meet Apple's curious and concerned gaze. She hesitated. Should she tell Apple the truth about the events that unfolded yesterday? Or should she allow this lie to unravel further if it meant sparing her dear friend's innocence and astonishingly naive nature?
The words stuck in her throat as Raven's features scrunched up in worry, her mind carefully weighing her options. She stared at Apple's wide, clueless crystal blue eyes.
"I-It's nothing, Apple. Just forget I said anything." Raven made up her mind, but Apple wasn't convinced.
"Raven, I know something is troubling you. If you just tell me, I promise I'll do everything I can to help you." Apple's worry about her friend grew by the second.
"I know you will, Apple. But trust me, it's better not to tell you." Raven gently held Apple's shoulders, making eye contact with the surprised princess. "For your sake, more than mine."
Raven pulled Apple closer, embracing the stunned princess. They paused for a moment before deepening the embrace and entering a comfortable silence. Their fears intensified, and their questions multiplied. They could feel their days counted in this fantastical world, but their hearts remained full of hope.
Soon, they broke the hug, each giving the other a gentle smile. A flash of lightning pierced the sky, followed by a deafening roar of thunder as rain continued to pelt the land from the heavens above.
"I better get going. Briar's hosting a study party in her dorm and wanted me to help prepare the room for tonight. Will you be joining us, Raven?" Apple asked with hopeful eyes. Raven chuckled slightly, unable to say no to any of Apple's requests, especially with those shimmering eyes.
"Well, who am I to turn down an invitation? Count me in." Apple clapped her hands, hopping gleefully in excitement for tonight.
"Fantastic! Meet us at her room at the final stroke of six, and don't be late!" Apple gave her friend a wink, and Raven responded with a thumbs-up.
Before Apple could leave, she gave Raven one final glance. "Hey, Raven?"
"Yes, Apple?" Raven answered as she began to prepare for the day, still feeling a bit drowsy.
"You know you can tell me whenever a pea's under your mattress, right?" Raven smiled somberly, touched by Apple's willingness to go to great lengths for her friends.
"Yes, I know, Apple, and thanks… for everything." Apple shared a gentle smile of her own.
"Anytime, Raven. See you tonight!" She waved goodbye before softly closing the door, leaving Raven alone in their shared dorm.
"Y-Yeah, tonight… I wish on a shooting star that nothing goes wrong." Raven shook her head, trying to dispel the brooding thoughts that had been occupying her mind lately.
It was a bad habit, but she couldn't shake the feeling that trouble was always lurking around the corner, waiting for her to let her guard down. The sensation was dreadful, sending shivers down her spine as damning thoughts plagued her endlessly.
"Enough!" She shouted, using her magic to forcefully rid herself of such thoughts. It worked for now, but she knew it wouldn't be long before they returned. She needed to get her bearings in order as she got up from the comfy confines of her bed and into her bathroom to freshen up.
Leaning against the grandiose sink, she splashed cool water on her face. It helped relieve some of her fatigue, but not enough to clear her mind. She groaned, her hands propped on the edges as she turned to look at herself in the mirror—thankfully not enchanted like Apple's. The rain was clearing up, and the clouds parted to reveal the glorious morning light shining down upon the lands, but all Raven could focus on was how disheveled her appearance was.
She looked like she hadn't had a good night's sleep in days. The faded bags under her eyes were a clear indication. Her hair was a mess, as she had been neglecting it lately.
This can't go on any longer , she mused, annoyed and agitated. Her mind wandered before locking onto the sole reason for her problems and strife.
Haze , she seethed his name with venomous disdain.
Ever since he arrived at Ever After High, there had been nothing but complaints and problems. She recalled the pigs screaming in fear whenever Haze crossed their path. She didn't know what was up with that, but she was sure it was Haze's fault. Who else had been terrorizing the school from the moment they showed up, even when no one wanted them to? Who made the other students scream and scramble away just by entering the room? Who else had others saying their name in fear and cowering before them? Who was dressed in dark gothic clothing and had a rebellious streak to them?
Wait…
Raven took a long, hard look at herself in the mirror before resisting the urge to smack herself in the face.
"Ugh, I'm such an idiot." She berated herself, feeling a headache coming on, forcing her to massage her temples.
Almost everything she listed about Haze had an astonishingly close resemblance to her own experiences—from the screaming to the inexplicable terror she "presumably" incited, and even their style of clothing. Raven shuddered, uneasy about sharing anything remotely similar with Haze.
"Maybe I should change my wardrobe." She looked herself up and down before turning to her dresser. She opened it, scanning her selection of dresses and clothing, stroking her chin as she contemplated how to combat her current conundrum.
"Hunter, I've been looking for you!" Daring's voice rang out as he approached the son of the Huntsman. The dashing prince's confident strides carried him quickly to Hunter's side.
Hunter sat alone in the Castleteria, a tray of food before him that he only occasionally poked at with his fork. His mind was elsewhere, lost in troubling thoughts. He forced himself to look up as Daring arrived and stood beside him.
"Hey, Daring. Nice to see ya'." Hunter's greeting was flat and dull, a stark contrast to his usual lively demeanor. Daring noticed the change and took a seat across from him.
"I dare say that I do not condone this foul mood of yours, but I can understand where it's coming from." Daring's attempt at understanding sparked a hint of agitation in Hunter, whose expression darkened.
"Do you, Daring? Because from what I remember, you weren't the one on death's door multiple times, then suddenly everyone thinks you're crazy when you try to convince them you almost died at the hands of a madman, only for them to say none of it ever happened!" Hunter's emotions burst forth as he slammed his fists on the table. The outburst drew glances from other students before they quickly turned back to their own activities.
Daring was taken aback, not expecting such an intense reaction. But as he processed Hunter's words, a look of understanding and shared pain crossed his face.
"I can understand perfectly, Hunter. For I also looked into the eyes of death and lived to tell the tale." Daring took a sip from the glass of milk he had brought with him before continuing.
"But moping around isn't the answer to combat your woes. We may lack the power or the strength to actually face Haze and prevail, but if you let him get into your head like this, then it's no better than giving up your life to that vile, despicable fiend." Daring's words, filled with unexpected venom, shocked Hunter. It was rare to hear such strong emotions from someone as charismatic and noble as Daring.
"So what do you suggest we do? No one else believes us about what transpired yesterday. The professors can only reprimand him when he's bullying other students, and even the Headmaster seems powerless against Haze, considering we haven't heard an announcement from him yet." As Hunter finished speaking, a chime rang through the school, followed by a loud announcement.
"Haze Underworld report to the Headmaster's office. I repeat, Haze Underworld, report to Headmaster Grimm's office, please." The announcement ended, and Daring gave Hunter a smug grin.
"You were saying?" He flashed a girthy smile, his teeth shining.
"Go kiss a princess, Daring." Hunter retorted sarcastically, shaking his head while Daring chuckled at his friend's plight.
Before the announcement was broadcasted, Haze was lounging somewhere around the school to avoid mingling with those he deemed beneath him. The sight of these mortals was enough to dampen his mood on the best of days, which for Haze usually meant the worst of them all.
He thrived on misery with a side of chaos, and a little despair for dessert. He was situated atop the rooftop of the highest peak in all of Ever After High. Furthermore, he gazed blankly toward the clear blue skies from where he lay; it was such a beautiful day that it would be a shame if someone were to ruin it once again for anybody else.
Just when Haze was considering changing the weather to make it rain, the news reached his ears. Begrudgingly, he got up, dusted himself off, and then went up in flames, disappearing from the rooftop only to reappear in front of the doors to Grimm's office.
"He better have a good reason to disturb me; otherwise—" Haze snarled, pushing the thick doors open without bothering to knock, startling the sole inhabitant of the office, Headmaster Grimm.
"What is the meaning of this, young man!?" Headmaster Grimm demanded, his voice firm as he glared at Haze.
"You were the one that called for my presence, old man. Or are you already growing senile with age?" Haze mocked, his tone dripping with condescension.
Headmaster Grimm clenched his fist, taking a deep breath to prevent himself from doing something he'd regret. Good call.
"Haven't your parents ever taught you any manners? Like knocking, for hexample?" Headmaster Grimm's voice was calm, though laced with irritation. Haze, however, conjured a cryptically crafted throne and sat down without permission, leaving Grimm to gawk at his unruly behavior and the frightening chair that appeared out of nowhere.
"The Gods have better things to do than educating their spawns about something trivial such as manners." Haze quoted nonchalantly, conjuring a drink in his hands and slurping up the worm he added for flavor.
The act disturbed the Headmaster greatly, but he decided it was best to get to the point and end this meeting quickly.
"Mister Underworld, do you know why I called you here?" Haze shrugged, taking a sip from his glass. Milton Grimm was growing increasingly annoyed with his crass behavior. One step at a time.
"It has come to my attention that there's a rumor revolving around you, recently, in fact." Another shrug from Haze as he finished his drink, getting rid of the glass before straightening himself. It seemed the Headmaster had finally caught wind of what he did yesterday. It was expected, but surprising how quickly they connected the dots if they were simply going by rumors.
"And what does the rumor entail, hexactly?" Haze crossed his arms, his eyes reflecting his insurmountable fury.
This is going to be a long day, Milton Grimm thought as he started to reconsider this meeting.
However, beyond the school, beyond the lands, beyond the skies, and even further beyond the realms. A being of immeasurable power quietly observed Haze's story unfurl.
Their eyes held a longing, almost parental look. Although their face was shadowed by darkness, there was still a palpable shift to their expression. A mix of anguish and shame riddled the being's features as guilt carved itself into their heart.
They felt pity for those who had suffered from Haze's actions. Their heart beckoned for action, but the limitations set upon their title prevented them from intervening.
The shrouded being watched as the darkness in Haze's heart continued to corrupt him, an evident sprout of disappointment growing by the day.
Towards Haze – but above all – towards themself.
All they could do... was offer their regrets.
See you in a while!