The Other Fairy

Ch. 6

"Bloom!" I cried out as I fell to my knees struggling to keep the barrier going.

"Drop the barrier!" Andreas ordered as my white eyes met his cold unfeeling ones. "Unless they face a Burned One they won't learn!"

"They aren't ready!" I spat not caring about angering Andreas at this moment. He took quick steps towards me grabbing my neck harshly.

"Drop it now!" He said again his voice detached. I felt my power waning but then I felt Bloom's grow. She was standing there with the same wings I had seen the night Rosalind was freed. Bloom's magic rushed to each Burned One circling its cinder obliterating one after the other. Within a few minutes they were all gone and I let the barrier drop. I breathed heavily as the world spun but I managed to stay conscious despite the intense magical exhaustion I was experiencing. Andreas released me shortly after Bloom transformed but I knew he wasn't done with me. I would be punished when we got back to the school. After Bloom had stopped channeling her magic Andreas ordered us all to walk back to the school. Bloom and I leaned heavily on each other as we made our way back through the woods. I only hoped we didn't find anymore Burned Ones as there was no way either of us could make even a small spark at this moment.

We arrived back at the school just as the sun was peaking on the horizon. The first years were quick to take off. Bloom and I were not given that luxury.

"Bloom you are dismissed but Alira you are needed in Rosalind's office," Andreas said as I nodded weakly. I followed Andreas straight to Rosalind's office and I knew whatever punishment I received would be compounded by my magic fatigue. The moment the door opened Andreas shoved me inside roughly.

"Ah, you all are back early," Rosalind said as she glanced at me before her eyes locked on Andreas. I sat on a chair while Andreas stood beside me.

"Yes we are. Alira ignored a direct order and prevented the group from fighting Burned Ones. Only Bloom fought Burned Ones," Andreas growled as Rosalind's polite demeanor faded as her eyes drifted to me.

"You know I don't like when you disobey us," she said coming over to where I was sitting. I only had enough magic left to keep my mental walls up I couldn't even feel Rosalind's feelings as she struck me across the face with her palm. I gasped touching my pink cheek seconds before she sent a jolt of electricity through me. I yelped before clamping my mouth shut. I wouldn't let her hear the pain she was causing me. When she let up she put her lips close to my ear to give me a warning. "Next time you disobey us this punishment will look like child's play." She whispered as a shiver ran down my spine. I nodded while Andreas watched me with a vicious grin on his face. She glared at me one last time before letting me leave.

I stumbled through the school with my entire body screaming in pain. I was tired and in pain and I just wanted to curl up on the floor but that wasn't an option. Instead of giving in I leaned against the wall as I made it the rest of the way to my room. I stepped into the suite not glancing at any of the girls as I fell onto my bed. It didn't take long for darkness to swallow me.
—
Over the next three days, I stayed in the suite and the girls took turns bringing me food. None of them knew exactly what happened in Rosalind's office but my cheek had bruised so they were aware it wasn't anything good. I had missed two days of classes and was glad Rosalind and Andreas hadn't come to punish me for that.

"Hey Alira," Aisha said as I sat up. She placed my food down before staring at me.

"What?" I asked softly when she didn't make a move to leave.

"You are just like Bloom. Keeping secrets from all of us and trying to handle everything on your own," Aisha stated.

"Look, I'm just," I trailed off knowing that there wasn't a good reason why I wasn't consistently open with the girls. I wasn't even fully open with Farah. I tended to avoid Farah at times going days between each visit to her. I hadn't realized that I had been doing that to Farah until Aisha pointed out I'm closed off. "Okay, I don't have an excuse." Aisha smiled slightly grabbing a chair to sit next to me.