SECRETS | Fate: The Winx Saga ~ Alternate Season 2

Chapter 9

"Bloom...Meet you at the Stone Circle tomorrow at nine."

The young fire fairy thought back to Rosalind's words that had echoed in her mind last night. She had an hour before the appointment and, as luck would have it, she was starting classes at ten, and Sky at eight-thirty. She smiled, satisfied. Finally, everything was working out for her, because she felt like her boyfriend was spying on her, and he would most certainly have prevented her from going into the forest. But Bloom was in such need of answers, which only Rosalind could provide, as Farah had decided to remain silent.
She quickly got out of bed before her roommates, got ready and ate her breakfast, before slipping away discreetly. At this hour, the sun was still quite low in the sky, leaving the forest in a heavy darkness.
As she had been doing for the past few months, she walked towards the meeting point, where Farah sometimes used to give a class. Except this time, it was to know more about herself.

"Bloom, it's good to see you," a mysterious voice behind her back rejoiced.

Immediately, the fairy turned around to face this little blonde lady with severe features, a piercing gaze and hair pulled back into a ponytail. Just like in her dreams.

"I hope you've been keeping a low profile," she continued, stepping forward with a chuckle.

The teenager nodded and took one step back, wary.

"Don't worry, I haven't told anyone."

The mind fairy approached again, her impressive aura literally crushing the novice.

"It's for your own good," she acquiesced sternly. "I wanted to see you because I have the answers you seek regarding your presence in Aster Dell during the battle."

Unable to utter a word, frozen with apprehension, Bloom encouraged the fairy to continue with a glance.
With disconcerting aplomb and ease, Rosalind planted her vicious eyes in the student's with emphasis.

"Aster Dell was a village full of Blood Witches, and the reason you were there was the Dragon's Flame. They kidnapped you and we were able to track you down through the Burned Ones. I then destroyed the village to save you from the witches before taking you to the First World. Your adoptive mom had just given birth to a little Bloom, and as she didn't know yet that her baby had died shortly after birth, I took the opportunity to replace her with you," she explained in a soft voice.

The fire fairy was shocked for a moment, not knowing what to think. She had such a violent past that she should have died, but she only owed her life to this woman.

And yet, only one question came to her mind:

"You know my parents, don't you? What happened to them?"

"They passed away."

Her interlocutor's voice had slammed sharply, as if it were all a distant memory.

"The Blood Witches killed them when you were kidnapped," she added, her face quite expression-less. "The important thing now is to focus on your future, because the Burned Ones will always hunt you down."

Disconcerted by this sudden change of subject, the girl wanted to ask another question about her past, but Rosalind had already disappeared.
She was a little disappointed not to know more, but at least she had gotten the answers she had been waiting for, and that the headmistress would probably never have given her. And yet, Farah was Sky's mom, her boyfriend, she could still have made an effort. But she had chosen not to do so. And despite what this fairy had put Farah through, Bloom could not fear her. She was the one who had saved her life, the one to whom she owed her life.

Not Farah Dowling.

***

Farah opened her eyes, very agitated. In the distance, the screams and other sounds of the bloody battle could still reach her ears. Freezing, the fairy placed a hand under her thigh, hoping to warm it up quickly. Just this small movement wasted a lot of energy. She had given so much against the Burned Ones that she could no longer stand up.
She glanced at the green mixture in the glass beside her cot. Everything now seemed blurred and distorted. How long had she been there?
Her whole body was aching like that one time Rosalind had beaten her to death. Violent spasms were twisting her stomach, but she was unable to vomit. What was happening to her? Why was she feeling so terrible?
She felt a heavy weight gradually oppressing her chest, preventing her from breathing properly.

And she recognised her.

Her ex-partner was leaning over her face, a sadistic smile stretching her lips.

"My dearest Farah, you're gonna pay for your betrayal. You see, it's silly, if you had stayed by my side, you wouldn't be dying now. You preferred to marry that idiot Saul and you will regret it. You're mine for all eternity," she assured her wickedly.

At that moment, the fairy felt all the coldness and resentment of this woman who had once shared her bed. Rosalind had a heart of stone, she had wanted to make her her own and had failed. Now she was taking revenge by killing her.
Frightened by the tightening grip, Farah tried to call her husband by thought. Their bond was so strong that she knew he would hear her.

"Farah! Please stay with me!" he shouted in the distance, running to her. "I'll help you, I'll get you out of this!"

He was there, he had heard her, and would soon come to her rescue.

***

In the bedroom of their suite, the headmaster of Specialists jolted her for the umpteenth time.

"Sweetheart, wake up, she's torturing your mind but I'm here, listen to my voice," he whispered, increasingly worried.

His wife was probably in the grip of a terrible nightmare from which she was not waking up, and he had been trying to get her out of it for several minutes, in vain.
He had used the gentle method, dotting kisses and caresses on her skin, tenderly wrapping his arms around her so that she could feel his reassuring presence. But nothing could improve the situation. Saul was sure of it: something was wrong, Rosalind had surely gained in power and was holding her prisoner in her dreams.
Helplessly, feeling the tears coming on him, her husband left the suite to seek help from his best friend. Ben was his last resort to bring Farah back to their astral plane. He might have an herbal treatment that could help her.

When he knocked on the door, his friend opened it, still sleepy, before stiffening in deep anguish. If the Specialist was knocking on his door in the middle of the night, alone, something bad must be happening. Especially since this time he sounded panicked.

"Saul, calm down, is something happening with Farah?" he asked, taking him by the shoulders, concerned.

His friend nodded his head frantically, still as agitated as ever.

"She's trapped in a dream and I can't wake her up, I think Rosalind has tricked her...she's going to kill her!" he exclaimed, on the verge of tears, upset.

His friend let out a cry, in shock. The situation was more than critical.