The Twilight Children//The School for Good and Evil

36 ~ Choices

. : Sebastian of Havfrue : .

Sebastian stared at Laura's back as she broke into a run, heading towards the castle. Why did it hurt so much that she hadn't trusted him? He certainly didn't have the best track record, but he had been trying his best over the past two years. 

Sebastian huffed, shoving his shaggy auburn hair out of his face. Laura was speeding ahead, not looking back to see if he followed. The hood of her cloak had fallen, and her chocolate hair was braided against her back. 

Sebastian ran a hand over the hilt of his sword. The hilt had been emblazed with the symbol of his kingdom and the sword itself had once belonged to his father, long before Sebastian was born. Everything he was meant to be was resting at his hip.

He could sense he was at a turning point. He had to choose. Running ahead was the Council of Magic, a role he had been given without his consent, and the Igni girl he had believed to be his nemesis. Next to him was his kingdom, his parents, and everything he had been raised to be. Behind him were the past loyalties, boys who he had been loyal to once upon a time, boys who-- if they won against the girls-- would likely let him go home. 

Sebastian sighed, his heart plunging with guilt, as he broke into a run to chase Laura through the Blue Forest. 

She was fast and had many years of experience in the terrain. Sebastian tripped over hidden roots and plunged into icy streams, silently cursing his training. He had only been taught how to fight in the sand. If he ever returned home, he would arrange training for forested terrain. 

In front of him, Laura leaped logs and ducked branches effortlessly, her dark cloak bouncing behind her. 

Laura burst through the barrier of the forest, and Sebastian followed, only to slam into her back. She had skidded to a halt, staring in front of them. 

Sebastian separated himself from her back to look ahead, and his eyes widened. 

In front of the two council members, Sophie was standing alone, and Tedros and Agatha were holding each other, staring with menace at the blonde girl.

"What happened?" Sebastian murmured to Laura as they joined the crowd facing the three figures. 

Laura shook her head, and responded in an equally low tone. "I don't know." 

"What do we do?" Sebastian whispered. "When I last spoke to Tedros he was planning on beheading Agatha."

Laura's dark eyes flickered between the three. "I don't know, but it seems as though Sophie was the villain all along." 

Tedros and Agatha kissed and Sophie screamed, her cry piercing the dark sky. 

Their storybook rose above the assembled crowd, light bursting out of it as the Storien penned the final page. A prince and princess embraced while a witch cried in agony. 

The last two words were penned out:

The En-

Sebastian stiffened when Laura inhaled sharply next to him. He could feel her magic radiating off of her. The water magic thrashed, sensing a disturbance in the balance.

Evelyn Sader-- the Girls' dean-- stood underneath the pen, blood dripping from her hand where the Storien pierced her skin. The final letter in 'the end' stood unwritten, Sophie and Agatha's story not closed.

Sebastian drew his sword, gripping the leather handle tight. His other hand sparked with water. 

"What can I say?" Evelyn's voice boomed around the silent clearing. "I have a love of good endings."

"Let the pen finish the story!" Tedros brandished his sword and broke into a run, heading for the dean. 

Evelyn waved a hand and Tedros flew back, heading straight for a tree that would kill him. 

Sebastian didn't think. His hand snapped up, surrounding Tedros with water to halt his flight. The boy hit the ground gently, and let out a heaving breath, his eyes frightened and wide as he looked at Sebastian. 

Sebastian could feel guilt in his stomach. Tedros knew he was keeping secrets now. Sebastian opened his mouth to say something-- anything-- that could explain the magic. He froze however when Evelyn began to move again.

Evelyn scanned the clearing, her steely gaze memorizing each student until finally, she landed on Sophie, crumpled to the ground. "I do believe you made a wish too, Sophie."

Sophie's green eyes tilted upwards, damp with tears. "I wished to see my mother again."

Evelyn nodded, an evil smile stretching her face. With a wave of her hand, a phantom version of what Sebastian assumed was Sophie's mom appeared above. She had the same golden hair and green eyes.

"Kiss me, Sophie," The phantom whispered. "Bring me back to life."

Sebastian flinched as Laura grabbed his bare forearm, nails digging into his skin. "It's a trap. You can't bring people back from the dead, not without disturbing the Cardinal Balance and setting the world towards its death."

 "So what is she doing?" Sebastian responded. "I don't understand."

Laura's eyes darted between the phantom and Evelyn, and Sebastian watched as puzzle pieces clicked together in her brain. 

"Oh shit," Laura breathed out. "She's going to bring back the schoolmaster."

Sebastian stood paralyzed, watching as Laura began to run toward Sophie. 

"Sophie, no!" Agatha screamed.

It was too late. Sophie kissed the phantom, and a bright light flashed through the clearing.

The figure melted away, revealing Sophie, connecting her lips with a white-haired, blue-eyed young boy.

Sebastian could feel his heart pounding, the water magic rioting. Laura stood a little way in front of him, as still as a mouse. 

"Thank you, Sophie," The boy had a deep voice, smooth like butter. He scanned the clearing as Tedros and Agatha began to vanish in golden light. "Never return to this world, Tedros and Agatha."

The rest of the students stood on the damp grass, staring shell-shocked at the returned school master. 

"We will have a new world!" The School Master proclaimed, his eyes probing as he took Sophie's hand, holding her tight to his chest. "Evil will be in charge, and villains will get their way!"

The balance inside Sebastian thrashed. Good and Evil were supposed to always be in balance. There couldn't be one without the other. 

Laura appeared next to him, her fingers once again digging into his arm. Sebastian flinched. He had been so focused on the School Master that he hadn't noticed her moving. She certainly had a penchant for silent unnoticeable movement.

"Sebastian we need to go." Her voice was sharp, as she tugged him away from the crowd. 

"But the students," Sebastian protested. "They'll be harmed."

Laura shook her head. "We can't help them if we are dead. We must go. We cannot risk the School Master finding out about the Council, or else he will learn to control it as well."

Sebastian paused, staring at Sophie embracing her new lover.

His heart sank. He had no choice.

And for the second time in one day. 

Sebastian turned, and followed Laura into the Endless Woods.

~~~ 

Hello lovelies!

Here is the last chapter in part two! I'm hoping to have part three started and out within the next few days, so stay posted and follow me for any updates.

Until next time

~ Indigo