Chapter 8

Musa sniffed.

She hated herself for crying over Riven again. Angrily she wiped a tear from her cheek.

"Musa?" That was Layla.

Musa leaned against the tree bark and sighed. "I came here especially because I wanted to be alone. The others would have found me straight away in my room." She said the others but meant Riven. If she had known that he hadn't come after her, she would have been even more hurt. So Layla sat down next to her and just said: "I thought so. Last year I hid here when Stella forgot to count me as one of the Winx. And you came after me."

The small forest behind Alfea offered protection from prying eyes and ears and Musa and Layla were often here when they just wanted to be alone.

Musa said nothing and Layla asked: "Should I leave you be?"

She was about to get up when Musa grabbed her hand. "Stay."

Layla sat down again and looked at her friend. She had changed. When Layla had met Musa, she had been a tomboyish buddy girl. Musa had always spoken her mind. It had never bothered her when others thought she was too loud or sounded mean. She was like music, sometimes loud, sometimes quiet, but always audible. For some time now, she had been behaving differently. She had swapped her casual clothing style for girly clothes. Her cheeky short pigtails were now two long ponytails and she was more reserved. She had always been the kind of girl who would sing along loudly at concerts. Now she just clapped quietly to the beat. She had also swapped her favorite soft drinks for tea and water and that was not due to Tune's influence, who was already wondering what was wrong with her bonded fairy.

"Can I say something," Layla asked bluntly.

"Do it."

"You're crying over a guy who isn't worth it."

"Wouldn't you cry if your partner was still mourning his ex?" she snapped venomously.

"If someone did that to me, I would have broken up with them a long time ago," Layla clarified matter-of-factly.

"Sure, if it were that easy."

Layla took a deep breath and squeezed Musa's hand. "What exactly do you like about Riven? I'm sorry, I just never understood. He's quick-tempered, always in a bad mood, a sore loser and..." ...and he treats you like shit. But she didn't say that.

Musa giggled, but she didn't sound happy. "That's true. Maybe it's this dark side of him that fascinates me so much. Riven is much more multifaceted than the princes with the curly blonde hair in the fairy tales I read as a child. He's not boring. He's interesting. I would love to explore his depths and abysses... heal him... make him better somehow. I know I can change him if I just show him enough love. Mom always said that with love you can overcome anything. That sounds cheesy, but I think she's right. I know I can fix him, no, really, I can."

"Sweetie, you're changing for him and not the other way around."

"Huh?"

"Have you looked in the mirror in the last few weeks?"

Musa ran her fingers through her long hair. "I thought if I was just a little more feminine for him, he would finally see me with different eyes."

"You realize how wrong that sounds, don't you? If love conquers everything, then things like looks and behavior shouldn't be decisive." Musa hid her face in her hands. "Oh, Layla. Is it really that hard to understand? I love that asshole and I don't even know why. I just want to be his girl, no matter what the cost."

"His girl who understands his dark side?"

"His girl who overcomes it and smooths it over."

Musa was shaken by sobs again and Layla hugged her. "I can do it, Layla, I'm sure I can make him a better person. I can save him from this darkness. But these constant setbacks hurt so much."

And what if he doesn't want that at all, Layla asked herself. What if he doesn't want Musa to smooth over his dark sides? What if he just wants her to understand him and accept him as he is? Musa wants to get the best out of him, but to do so she forces herself into a role that doesn't suit her. What if he doesn't want that at all?

Layla hugged Musa tightly, spoke kindly to her. It felt mean to think things like these in this situation, but it felt wonderful just to hold her in her arms.

I'm going to have a chat with the idiot, that's for sure. It's time for Musa to heal, not him.

Valtor gave them no chance to escape. For some reason he seemed to have noticed something. And it made Darcy nervous. As a result, her fingernails looked terrible. It had been so long since she had bitten her fingernails. But the whole situation was getting on her nerves and, to make matters worse, the nightmares were piling up again.

Liliss had never left her completely in peace, but there had always been phases when Darcy had been stupid enough to believe that she was gone. But she would not disappear any more than Valtor would, who cast a dark shadow over them all.

Since Icy had got him the Water Stars, no one had been allowed to leave their shelter. The only exception was Icy, but only to get them something to eat.

At first glance, Valtor still didn't seem to concern himself with Darcy and Stormy, but it was evident that he was not letting them out. Could he really have noticed something?

Impossible, thought Darcy. The circle of protection was absolutely tight and he had been so busy with Icy that he couldn't possibly have paid attention to me and Stormy. But what if he had?

"I can't take it anymore," Stormy kicked her legs under the kitchen table. One of the few pieces of furniture that was there in their improvised kitchen. "If I'm not allowed to break something soon, I'll blow up."

Icy just said hmm and chewed on the chopsticks that had come with the meal that she had gotten them today. Fried noodles, probably full of carbs. Melodian street food was enjoying great popularity in Magix at the moment.

"But it's strange, isn't it?" Darcy looked directly at Icy. "We haven't done anything since we got the Water Stars. No new magic spells, no attack on Alfea..."

Absentmindedly, Icy rubbed her neck and drew her sisters' attention to two new love bites. She was only too happy to show off the marks of Valtor's supposed affection for her.

Stormy snorted. "The poor guy can't seem to get enough of you."

"Jealous?"

"Disgusted," Stormy wrinkled her nose.

Icy slammed her noodle box down on the table harder than she intended. "I think you're being unfair. You don't even try to understand his plans."

"Because they're bullshit. Icy, the guy - "

"No Stormy, the guy's name is Valtor and he will give us what we've always wanted. Power."

"Have we always wanted that?" Darcy asked quietly.

Icy paused. "Of course, that was the plan from the beginning." The lie tasted bitter but Icy would not be dissuaded. Her original goal back then had been to restore her family's honor. The whole thing with the Dragon Flame had only started thanks to Lilith, a classmate and later close friend at Cloud Tower. She had been the first to be burned by the Dragon Flame. Literally. After that, everything happened very quickly... and before they knew it, she and her sisters were outcast criminals. They couldn't go back. Valtor was their only chance for improvement. For a new beginning. Once they had all the power...

"Once Valtor has finally defeated the Winx and the Company of Light, everything will be different," Icy insisted. "You didn't want to hear it, but he loves me." It felt strange to say that. She felt like a fourteen-year-old trying to convince her parents about her boyfriend with the bad reputation.

"Are you sure he's not lying to you?" Stormy said what Darcy was thinking. She said it uncharacteristically calmly.

"I'm not stupid, Stormy," Icy hissed angrily.

No, you're in love, and that's almost the same thing, Darcy thought. But she held back her answer. She wasn't out for blood. And those words would have drawn blood.

"Is he really that important to you?" she asked instead. "More important than us?"

Icy turned her head towards the ceiling and closed her eyes. Then she said tensely, "You just don't understand. I'm not just doing this for myself, but for you too. It's our last chance, you know that."

Darcy gnawed on her lower lip and Stormy listlessly poked around in the noodle box with her chopsticks without answering.

We can't convince her, the thought flashed through Darcy's mind. He has her firmly in his grip and as soon as he no longer needs us, he will throw us away. First Stormy and me and eventually Icy too. Because he doesn't love her. She is his tool, nothing more.

But Icy was so blinded that she didn't realize that she was already so entangled in Valtor's web of lies that she couldn't get out. But Darcy could see through Valtor's facade. She didn't dare venture far into his mental realms for fear that he would notice something. But what she had seen on the surface, whenever she had carefully felt around, had been enough for her. Valtor was cold. Colder than Icy. And he was ruthless. He was charming and seductive and at the same time selfish. And he would not share his victory. Never.

There is no point in this, he will have to toss her to the side before she will ever notice. And before that happens, Stormy and I have to be sure. We have to separate, there is no other way.

So Darcy carefully initiated the split from her sister, even though it tore at her heart. "We would certainly trust Valtor more if he finally did something. He just broods and at most lets you share his thoughts. We have the Water Stars. Even if we don't yet know how to use them, we can risk an attack. The Winx's wings will fail in fear."

Icy looked at her and raised an eyebrow. "What good would that do?"

Darcy shrugged her shoulders and smiled: "Mind games. You'd be amazed at what you can achieve with them." You don't even notice what Valtor is doing to you.

Before Icy could answer, a deep voice from behind her interrupted her. "Well, that sounds like a plan from my devious Darcy as I know and love her." Valtor leaned against the entrance to the kitchen and grinned casually.

When he said my devious Darcy as I know and love her, Darcy felt a chill run down her spine. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Icy's eye twitch almost imperceptibly. Don't you notice how he's playing with you? It hurt so much to see her big sister so exposed.

If Stormy had noticed, she didn't let it show. She made big, round eyes and looked at Valtor longingly. "That means we can finally break something again, right?"

Valtor laughed quietly. "I think it's time for the first hammer blow on the Winx's coffin. If we knock them out psychologically first, fighting them will be much easier. We don't need the Water Stars except for Bloom. Let's scare them, divide them. We just need to give them a little push. Their panicked little minds will do the rest themselves. That way we'll have time to work on the Water Stars and finally knock out Bloom."

"You said we," Stormy remarked, looking at Darcy, who had also noticed.

"You see, he's not as terrible as you always think." With these words, Icy threw her chopsticks into the box and stood up.

I'm much more terrible than you think, my sweetheart, thought Valtor and smiled at his favorite tool.

Darcy didn't like the look in Valtor's eyes. As if he had noticed her look, he now looked at her and his eyes seemed to be holding hers. It was like a test of strength. Darcy suddenly felt numb and weak. She lowered her gaze and the feeling disappeared.

"Come on Darce, let's go," Stormy touched her shoulder as she stood up and hurried after Icy.

Damn, I have to talk to her somehow, thought Darcy. Had Stormy recognized the idea behind her suggestion? It was her chance to escape. But Stormy was probably just thinking about how many Alfea fairies' necks she could break.

How can someone be so reckless, she asked herself and wanted to follow her sisters. And I have to warn Riv-

A firm grip closed around her wrist as she tried to leave the kitchen. It was just tight enough that it only hurt a little, but her hand felt like it was in a vice.

Darcy looked up and Valtor's stormy grey eyes looked into hers again.

"You know, Darcy, I've been worried about you lately." His voice was a dark rumble. Like the first clap of thunder from a storm that is still far away. A threatening harbinger of destruction.

"Oh yeah?" She tried to make her voice sound insignificant, but it escaped her as a croak. And she hated herself for this weakness.

I am the queen of black magic, but next to him I feel like a child.

Valtor noticed Darcy tensing up. For a long time, she had been a closed book to him. He hadn't been able to see through her. That had changed recently. He didn't know what the trigger was, but Darcy had been afraid for some time. Afraid of him. That was certain. He feared that with her calm disposition she had seen inside him. That she had seen through him. He could deceive Icy. Her infatuation made her weak. But Darcy was dangerous. He had no idea how far her mental magic extended, but he was afraid of what she might have already seen and discovered. And that was not good.

She doesn't trust me. Ever since the beginning, and even less so recently. Actually, he had wanted to use her. Her magic was useful. But if she used it against him, she was a threat. And if that was the case, she had to be taken out. He wouldn't let anyone venture into his mind and read him. And he wouldn't let Darcy warn her sister. He needed Icy. At least for a while. But he would get rid of Darcy today. The fight was the perfect cover.

He let go of her wrist and smiled at her like a predator. "You haven't been acting like yourself. I missed your mind games a lot. I'm glad you seem to be feeling better."

Does he mean my suggestion to take out the Winx, or has he gotten wind that Stormy and I are going to run away?

Darcy's heart was racing. If he knows something, then we're finished.

She smiled, said something irrelevant and slowly entered Valtor's thoughts. Carefully, always trying not to bump into anything, not to touch a nerve and not to give him away her presence. Then she came across a thought and froze. Enjoy your last hours.

She emerged from his thoughts as if from water.

Valtor did not like the haunted look in her eyes. Had she tried to read his thoughts? Without him noticing? If so, then she was now warned.

But before he knew it, the expression in her eyes disappeared and she smiled at him. Shy but apparently sincere.

"I'm always happy when I can be of use, Valtor." She pushed past him and he did not stop her.

What does she know?

But no matter what she knew, how much she suspected, she would never have the opportunity to tell anyone about it.

He would make the Trix a duo today.