SECRETS | Fate: The Winx Saga ~ Alternate Season 2

Chapter 36

As night fell, Ben managed to gather his children in his suite, before creating the protective bubble to avoid any risk of being overheard. He had to tell them what he knew, time was running out, and they had a chance to get rid of Rosalind, to avenge Luna.
They sat down on the couch, and the botany teacher, happy to have his children with him, began to explain the situation.

"Well, I've found a way to weaken Rosalind so I can trap her more easily. It's the barrier she's created around the school. In fact, it's made up of her life energy, which means that if we damage this barrier without getting caught, Rosalind will weaken too. Farah's already started the job, but you have to keep that to yourself."

While Terra seemed to be pleased with this news, Sam gave him a questioning, sceptical look.

"How can you be sure that's the case?"

His dad's eyes lit up with a sudden sparkle.

"Luna told me," he answered ecstatically.

His children exchanged a puzzled look, concerned for his sanity.

"Dad, Luna is dead, you know that," his daughter murmured, taking his hand tenderly.

At these words Professor Harvey stiffened, still scarred by the terrible pain of having lost her forever. Even if she appeared to him in ghostly form and they exchanged moments of complicity, nothing would ever be the same.

"Don't say that, she's there, Terra, she's always with me and she guides me," he said, moved. "I can even see her as she was when she was alive."

At that moment he felt her very close to him, he could almost feel her fingers caressing his face. He turned his head. She was standing behind the back of the couch and her hands were leaning on the cheeks of the man she loved. She placed a kiss on his head and smiled at the family she should have been a part of if Rosalind hadn't killed her.

"She's here, she's smiling at us," he added, not realising his children were uncomfortable. "Above all, not a word to Stella, I wouldn't want to upset her any more."

The two teenagers nodded, doubtful. They were trying to understand their dad, his distress, and they couldn't know what he was really seeing or where it was coming from. They couldn't see it, but they needed to see it to believe him.

"You know, Dad, you can count on us, we'll always be there for you," his daughter whispered, confused.

Sam patted him affectionately on the back.

"Yes, and we know we all need time to come to terms with the loss of such a loved one...we're so sorry, you don't deserve this, especially after what happened to Mom."

Suddenly Ben silently burst into tears, overwhelmed with emotion.

"Your mom was an amazing woman, just like Luna," he admitted, sobbing. "She didn't have to help me save Farah and she did it at the risk of her life. She gave me the keys to getting rid of Rosalind, and I'd like to have that done by tomorrow at the latest, so we have to act tonight."

He took his children's hands in his and squeezed them tightly.

"And above all, take care of yourselves, kids, I don't want to lose you, I wouldn't survive it, I've lost enough loved ones."

"I promise, Dad," his daughter agreed with a knowing look. "We'll go tell the others."

They were about to get up from the couch when their dad held them back a little longer. He couldn't let them go off on an adventure like that.

"Wait a minute, we need a real plan, one team has to go and damage the barrier while another will have to stay with Bloom and I when we try to approach Rosalind. It would be nice if Musa stayed with us to try and get control of Rosalind's mind."

"If Musa stays with you, I'll stay too," his son decided firmly.

The last thing he wanted was to be separated from his girlfriend after what had happened last time.

"Okay Sam, but then, Terra, you'll have to go attack the barrier with Aisha and Sky to help Saul and Farah, and Stella will come with us, she's gained some power, which is not insignificant, and she dreams of avenging her mom," the botany teacher replied with determination. "We'll have to be careful with the other students, even if it's night, some of them may be hanging around outside, like Beatrix and her friends. We mustn't meet them, or they'll share their visions with Rosalind."

He bowed his head, still shocked by the appalling events that had taken place over the last few days.

"That's how Rosalind got to know about my relationship with Luna, and it cost her her life," he breathed, sniffling.

"We'll be careful, Dad, I promise," Terra assured with a confident look. "We'll give everything to help you trap her, she deserves to die after what she did."

"On the other hand, I don't want to be a wet blanket, but we have a problem: Riven," her brother grumbled, bothered. "He sleeps in the same room as Sky so, unless he's had a sleepover, it might be dangerous to warn him."

The girl winked at him.

"Yeah but you know him, he spends all his evenings in Beatrix's room, he'll probably stay the night."

Their dad nodded calmly. This time their plan was going to work, he was sure of that. It had to. To do justice to Luna. He knew that from where she was, she would help him, she would be there for him. Before his children left to tell their friends, he hugged them one last time, moved by the fear of losing one of them.

Never again...