The Twilight Children//The School for Good and Evil

37 ~ Headquarters

. : Laura of Neverland : .

The sun was melting. 

Laura focused on the horizon, the sun on her face. Her eyes narrowed to track it as it began to dip below the water. It almost seemed to be dripping into the water, and she half expected each drop to send up a small splash. It shouldn't have been happening. The fairytale world was entirely out of balance, relying on the storybook being closed. 

Although it could be worse. 

Laura had yet to hear anything from inside the school; she could only assume that evil was plotting something.

They were only a day's travel from the Council of Magic headquarters which was located in the desert city of Shazabah. The dark forest they had trekked through for weeks had descended into golden sand dunes, stretching as far as they could see. The rest of the Council were on their way as well. Laura was trying to keep her thoughts elsewhere, yet the closer she got to the city, the more she thought of Lexus. 

It had been over two years, and sometimes, when she was least expecting it, traces of him slipped into her mind. Hints of smiles or his eyes or his scent. It had only gotten worse as they approached Shazabah-- Lexus' home city. He had spoken about how one day they would end up here when she could cross the barrier and he could return home. Laura had only been to the Council headquarters once, and it was long before she had met Lexus and before she had even been to Neverland. Either way, it didn't feel right to return without him. 

It certainly didn't help that his killer sat only a few metres away, filthy from weeks outdoors, and tugging his shirt off.

Laura turned her gaze from the sun to Sebastian as he dug his fingers into his breeches to pull them down. Laura averted her gaze to the East in search of Shazabah on the horizon. "What are you doing?"

In her peripheral, she could see him looking up at her. His red hair appeared to be on fire in the setting sun. He didn't answer immediately, instead diving into the lake in nothing but his undergarments. He gave her a dorky smile when he rose to begin treading water. "I haven't bathed in weeks. Forgive me for wanting to be clean."

Laura rolled her eyes, but sat, tucking her legs under her on the loose scratchy grass. She could feel sand creeping into her shoes-- still the impractical blue slippers from the School for Girls-- and tugged them off, digging her feet into the cool sand. 

Sebastian dove back under and Laura waited a few moments, curious how long he could stay under for. 

The evening light glistened over the crystalline water, creating waves of light that bounced off the sandy terrain. Behind them, the endless woods stretched, oaken trunks reaching towards the emerald leaves, which in turn stretched towards the darkening sky. 

Laura rested her chin on her knees, staring off into the distance. She hoped the rest of the Council were on their way. She hadn't heard anything from anyone-- including Clarissa, who was likely trapped at the school.

She was unsure whether to inform Sebastian who the members of the Council were. He would meet them eventually, yet she was unsure if briefing him was necessary. 

A splash sounded and Sebastian emerged. He focused on her, freckles glowing in the evening light. 

"The water is fine."

Laura hummed in response. She had no interest in going in the water. Growing up, she had never liked the feeling on her skin, and it had only increased with her magic. Of course, she still bathed, but she never looked forward to it, nor sought out water for recreation. 

Laura glanced back at Sebastian, and he was grinning. He raised a hand and a spray of water came towards her. 

Laura flicked a finger that was wrapped around her legs, and the spray dissipated into the air, sending orange light scattering.