The Twilight Children//The School for Good and Evil

35 ~ Loyalty

. : Laura of Neverland : .

Laura dug her fingers into the dark blue cloak that was pulled around her uniform. She supposed they had the advantage there. A blue uniform would be much harder to spot in the Blue Forest than the boys' red and black uniforms. 

She dug her fingers into the sword she had been given. Laura had never been good with a sword. She hadn't been allowed near them as a kid. Her brother would give her small lessons when their parents weren't watching. Since he died-- and she had discovered her magic-- she hadn't touched a sword. Her defence against boys class was the first time she had used one since she was a kid. 

At least she had the daggers tucked into her waistband. She knew how to use those, and usually with deadly accuracy. There was always her magic as well. She could feel it thrumming in her blood, ready for a fight. 

The cannon sounded and the gates opened. Laura broke into a jog as the girls cheered. 

The sun had already set, leaving the Blue Forest dark. Shadows stretched between the trees, chasing her as she dodged bushes and streams, heading deeper into the woods.

Laura had decided last night-- while at Agatha's bedside-- that she needed confirmation of Sebastian's loyalty. It had been nagging at her for days. Although he seemed dedicated to the Council based on letters and face value, he was still the Prince of Havfrue and a loyal friend of Tedros. She hadn't told him enough about the balance for him to truly understand. 

Laura was going to find him and confirm his loyalty. Once she had it, they either needed to find a way to close Agatha and Sophie's story, or they needed to run. Evelyn was up to something dangerous, and the entire Council of Magic would be compromised if they stayed. 

Laura lept a stream with ease, her body taking over the motions. It brought her back to Neverland, hunting the Havfrue soldiers through the forest, like a cat with a mouse.

Laura paused and tilted her head back to look at the boards high above. From the boys school, Filip (Sophie), Tedros, Sebastian, Kendrick, and Aric were in the forest already. 

Laura focused on her magic. She could feel the water magic in the forest, nearing her. 

Laura gripped the branch of a nearby tree and tugged herself up into its branches. Once she was high enough, she peered down, tugging the hood of her cloak up to cover her hair. She had the perfect vantage point of the clearing below.

She waited for a moment, keeping her grip steady on the rough blue bark. Below her, Sebastian jogged into the clearing. 

He was wearing the black and red uniform of the boys. She noticed that his hair was longer than she remembered, and it was dangling into his face. He scanned the clearing, eyes tight. 

Laura suppressed the smile. The Havfrue soldiers had made the same error on Neverland. 

They didn't look up.

Laura loosened her grip on the tree branch. She plummeted through the air for a second, until she hit the dark grass silently. She rolled herself up as Sebastian whirled around. 

Two quick moves and she had him pinned, a dagger to his throat and her hand blazing. His heart pounded against her arm, and she could feel the way he suppressed his magic with panic. 

"What are you doing?" He asked, his voice tight. 

So he did trust her. Or at least he wasn't expecting this.

Laura dug the dagger into the skin at his throat, noting with a hint of satisfaction that they were the same height. "Are you working with the boys school or Evelyn Sader?"

"What the fuck?" Sebastian grabbed her arm, trying to tug it away. His accent was thick. "Gods no. I'm trying to help restore the balance between good and evil. Why would I be working with the boys?"

Laura opened her mouth to respond but stopped as two boys stalked into the clearing. She would've recognized Kendrick anywhere. The other boy she had yet to meet.

"I told you we couldn't trust him, Aric," Kendrick spoke, his voice slimy. "He'll do anything to save his own hide." 

The new boy-- Aric-- focused on Sebastian-- who Laura was still holding tightly, her fingers ablaze. "Interesting. I wonder what the King of Havfrue will have to say about his son's new alliance."

Laura could feel Sebastian's heartbeat quicken in his throat. His magic pulsed against his cold skin, jumping out at her. Still, he didn't attack her, didn't try to prove his loyalty to Kendrick or the boys.

Laura didn't know who the new boy was, but judging from Sebastian's reaction, it was not a good idea to trust him. 

Laura lowered her voice, so only Sebastian could hear her as she whispered in his ear. "When I let go of you, hit the ground."

Sebastian stiffened against her, his back pressing into her chest. 

Laura waited until the two boys stepped closer before she moved. 

In one fluid motion, she let go of Sebastian, sending her dagger flying at Kendrick's face. Sebastian hit the ground and she spun, unleashing her magic. 

Flames flew across the clearing at Kendrick and Aric, soaring over Sebastian's heads. Orange light exploded in time with bone-melting heat. The two boys let out shouts and took off, running back into the Blue Forest.

The flames dissipated and Laura let out a breath as her eyes readjusted to the darkness. Her magic swam happily in her veins, content to finally be used again. The overwhelming heat that she had been experiencing ebbed off a bit. 

Sebastian pushed himself up, his eyes blazing. "What the fuck was that?" 

Laura took a step away from the angry prince, slightly suprised by the rage on his face. The smell of fire still echoed around the clearing. 

"You think, after what this fucking magic has done to me, that I would ally myself with the people who are both trying to get me killed and trying to destroy the balance?"

Laura could sense his magic rioting, and in turn, him pushing it down as if it were second nature. 

Laura pressed down the slightly unsettled feeling, and gestured to him. "Forgive me for double checking, you don't exactly have the best reputation."

Sebastian frowned, his steely eyes narrowed. "Communication isn't exactly a strong suit, is it?"

Laura let a thick breath out her nose. "We don't have time for this. We have to get out of the forest. I don't know what Evelyn is planning but it's not safe," She tugged her cloak tighter around her. "Come on, let's get out of the forest."

Sebastian huffed, but stepped forward. "Where are we going?"

Laura opened her mouth to respond, but froze as the ground began to rumble. Above her head, red and gold fireworks shot into the air, unlike anything she had seen. Blue butterflies soared ahead, flying toward the castles.

"Come on!" Laura began to run. "We have to help them."