SECRETS | Fate: The Winx Saga ~ Alternate Season 2

Chapter 28

At lunchtime, while sitting with her friends, Stella decided to check her school email box, as she used to do every day. Her attention was quickly drawn to an email from Rosalind. It was in fact a summons for the end of classes, the subject of which was kept secret.

"Did you get some bad news?" asked Musa, concerned.

The fairy shook her head even though she suspected that the headmistress wanted to see her about her mother.

"No but Rosalind is summoning me to her office after school. She wants me to come alone."

Aisha frowned suspiciously.

"That seems to be doubtful, I think she really doesn't have good intentions, you should decline," she warned her.

"I have my doubts too, but she may have important things to tell me," the girl protested, confused.

Bloom placed her hand on hers to reassure her. She knew Rosalind was dangerous, and she didn't want to leave her friend alone with that bitch.

"We'll go with you, if she's in good faith she'll agree, if not, that means she has bad intentions towards you," the fire fairy decided, determined to protect her.

"Yes, I think she has something to do with your mom's disappearance, and we have to all stick together if we are to find her," Terra added.

"I could also ask Beatrix to help us, I've got a pretty good connection with her," Bloom suggested enthusiastically.

The young light fairy winced, unconvinced.

"I don't know if that's a good idea, but it makes me happy to see that you're there for me," she admitted, blushing, moved.

"We'll always be there, Stella, and so will Professor Harvey," Musa assured. "We need to find your mom as soon as possible before Rosalind hurts her."

The princess of Solaria sighed, completely distressed at the thought of her mom being at the hands of this psychopath, she who had suffered so much from the death of her toddler. And as long as no one had collected any clues, it would be almost impossible to find her.

***

A few hours later, the five fairies knocked on the office door, and the headmistress' features seemed to freeze as she opened it, most certainly disappointed to realise that Stella had not fallen into her trap.
She suddenly looked both grave and falsely tender.

"Stella, I'm sorry about your mom, I heard she disappeared last night in the middle of a crime scene and I feel bad about it," she murmured, shaking her head. "You know, if you need support, my door is always open."

Terra clenched her fists in anger. She had seen her dad's pain and grief this morning at the news of Luna's disappearance, and Rosalind was still trying to trick them. However, Stella was not fooled either and replied coldly:

"No thanks, I have the unfailing support of my friends."

The fairy continued to stare at her strangely, as if caught off guard, and eventually let them go.
Deep down she was angry with herself for asking her to come alone. This had aroused the girl's distrust, and she had preferred to come accompanied. She could not use her to extract information from the Queen, she had to come up with another plan to find Farah.
She had to find a foolproof way to make her confess, but how? Physical and psychological torture didn't work on her, nor did threats to her children, and she hadn't managed to capture Stella. The only alternative left was Professor Harvey. Not to blackmail Luna, but to get him to confess. Rosalind had known Ben for many years, having taught him. He was an extremely gentle and thoughtful man, but would do anything to protect his loved ones. Moreover, he carried the weight of guilt over Rose's death, which he had failed to protect. He would not repeat the same mistake, for he had fallen in love with the light fairy.
The headmistress smiled sadistically. When he heard the heartbreaking cries of his tortured beloved, failing to fly to her rescue himself, he would reveal Farah's whereabouts. Her aim was really to put him back in the same situation as a few years before, to make him relive the same nightmare, because his love for her would lead him to betray his best friends.

***

Back in his suite, Ben was worried sick and glued to his radio, television and computer, hoping for news on the investigation. He had had an awful day, trying to look natural and hide his discomfort, but teaching had been a terrible ordeal for him. Searching for Luna would surely have been more beneficial but he had no semblance of a clue apart from Rosalind. He knew that soon the police would arrive at Alfea to question everyone, considering them suspects, including him, and would waste more time. That was why he could not phone them to ask about the investigation, as he was not considered to be the Queen's partner.
What could he do? Nothing, except wait. In any case, that was all he could do. It had only been a few hours since Luna had disappeared and yet he felt as if he had been waiting for eternity. The lack he was feeling was simply frightening. The botany professor had gotten used to seeing her very often, even texting her, but today he would do none of that, because she wasn't there.
Stunned, sitting alone in his chair, he allowed himself to shed a tear. If he had lost his beloved woman forever, if she was dead, he would never forgive himself for not having answered her call.