Set In Stone | Fate: The Winx Saga

Chapter Four

There was a loud thud as the doors to the suite opened later that night. Amber lifted her head to see the girls back, the fire fairy with them. The blonde girl thought they would be happier to find her, but instead they seemed distracted and troubled.

"The headmistress will take care of the Burned One, Bloom." Aisha told the redhead, who remained silent as she walked to her room.

Amber immediately snapped to attention. A Burned One? That was not possible. Nobody had spotted one in years — they were practically considered to be gone. Until now, apparently.

"She won't leave it in the First World. Don't worry. Your parents are safe." Aisha tried to reassure, but it seemed to have little effect.

"Thanks." The fire fairy replied and left to her room.

"You saw a Burned One?" Amber asked, looking at the three girls.

"It was chasing Bloom," Musa told her and Amber frowned in confusion.

"To the First World? Why?" The Burned Ones never got close to the First World, almost like they were bound to the Otherworld. So why would it chase her there?

"We are not sure," Aisha answered, looking at the blonde with slightly narrowed eyes. She was still mad at her.

"Maybe it's because she's a changeling?" Terra suggested and Aisha shot her a look.

"The fire fairy is a changeling?" Amber didn't bother to hide her perplexity.

"She has a name," Aisha rebuked, and Amber rolled her eyes. "Besides, it's best that we don't mention it to anyone else outside the suite. If Bloom is willing to talk about it, then it's her choice."

"Where is Stella?" Musa asked, noticing the missing girl.

Amber gave her a shrug and simply replied, "She left. I suppose she didn't want to spend the night here."

As they were getting ready to go to sleep, the doors to the suite were opened once again. Only it wasn't Stella who came back, but Miss Dowling. She appeared calm and collected as if the night events didn't affect her at all.

"Gather around, girls," She called loudly.

Bloom came rushing from her room. "Is everything okay? Did you stop that thing?"

"Yes, I've locked it in a secure place. Your parents are safe." Miss Dowling answered, but then her gaze hardened, "What happened today, should not have happened. The barrier exists for a reason, and for your safety, you need to stay inside. I don't want to think what could have happened had I not been there."

"If something like that happens again, I want you to tell me immediately." She looked at each girl before she continued, "I know there have been rumors around, but for the sake of not causing panic I'm asking you to keep what happened tonight in private until we have sufficient information to formally announce to the other students."

The girls took in her words, glancing at each other warily.

The headmistress sighed, "I know what you have seen must have been forbidding but I suggest all of you try to get some sleep. We have a class tomorrow morning."

With that, the fairies nodded and went back to their rooms.

~~~

The morning's sunlight blinded Amber as she woke up and she realized she had forgotten to draw the curtains the night before. Looking to her left, she saw that Stella hadn't come back from wherever she had run off to.