The Beginning of The End |•|•| Fate : The Winx Saga

Chapter 8

"You did what?!" Elara hissed, her voice low but sharp as a blade. Her hand shot out, grabbing Bloom roughly by the arm. Without giving her a chance to protest, Elara yanked her toward a more secluded corner of the bustling cafeteria. Students milled around them, laughing, talking, oblivious to the storm brewing just a few feet away.

Bloom stumbled slightly behind Elara's determined steps but didn't resist. Once they were hidden between two large support pillars near the far wall, Elara spun around, her hazel eyes blazing with fury.

"I freed Rosalind," Bloom said, standing her ground despite the obvious anger radiating from her friend. Her voice was steady, but her fingers fidgeted with the hem of her sweater. "I know you don't agree with it, but I have to know the truth."

For a moment, Elara just stared at her, completely speechless, mouth opening and closing like she couldn't believe what she was hearing. When the words finally came, they were practically molten with fury.

"You are so stupid, Bloom!" Elara whisper-yelled, the volume restrained only because she didn't want to draw attention. Her hand shot out again—not to hurt, but to punctuate her point with a sharp smack to Bloom's arm. Bloom winced but said nothing.

"If my mother had her locked away, it was for a good reason! If Rosalind was imprisoned in a place barely anyone even knew about, that means she's dangerous!" Elara continued, her voice trembling with the effort to stay quiet. Her whole body was vibrating with anger, and magic sparked faintly at her fingertips, her emotions barely kept in check. "And now, thanks to you, you've just put all of us in danger!"

Bloom looked down, biting her lip but remaining silent. Her shoulders were squared, but it was clear guilt weighed heavy on her.

Before Elara could lay into her further, a familiar voice cut through the cafeteria noise.

"Elara!" Terra called, her voice tinged with concern. She'd spotted the intense exchange from across the room and was now making her way over quickly, her tray of food forgotten on a nearby table.

Elara stiffened, shooting Bloom one last furious look before spinning on her heel and storming over to Terra. Her boots clicked sharply against the stone floor, each step filled with restrained fury.

"Are you alright?" Terra asked as they fell into step together, sensing the tension rolling off Elara like heat waves. She glanced nervously over Elara's shoulder at Bloom, who lingered awkwardly by the wall.

Elara took a breath, trying and failing to calm herself. Her hands were still shaking slightly as she tucked them into the pockets of her jacket.

"Bloom let Rosalind out," Elara said stiffly, every word clipped and tight. "I don't know why she was imprisoned in the first place, but it had to be for a good reason."

Terra flinched as if Elara had physically hit her with the information. Her gaze dropped to the floor, and she began anxiously picking at her nails, unable to meet Elara's eyes.

That small action didn't go unnoticed. Elara narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

"Did you know about this?" she demanded, her voice quieter now but no less intense.

Terra's shoulders hunched in guilt, and she gave Elara a small, sheepish glance that said everything she didn't dare voice aloud.

"You helped," Elara breathed, stunned. The words left her lips in a whisper, full of betrayal and disbelief. She took a sharp step back, as if Terra's confession had physically pushed her.

Elara exhaled sharply through her nose, her face hardening. Without another word, she turned on her heel and stormed away, needing—desperately—to put distance between herself and both of them before her magic or her temper exploded.