The Twilight Children//The School for Good and Evil

52 ~ The Queen of Villeneuve

. : Sebastian of Havfrue : .

"Neverland is coming."

Sebastian's eyes snapped to Laura. Her voice was quiet and she stood next to her father-- who insisted on coming, despite the cane. Her hood was pulled up and her face was partly covered, her eyes darting around. Sebastian could see the faint glint of the evening light bouncing off the small daggers strapped to her thighs. 

"How do you know?" King Alard spoke, glancing down at his daughter. Sebastian bounced between them, suddenly aware of all their similarities. They stood in a similar manner, hands braced and legs apart. Eyes sharp

Laura paused for a second, and Sebastian glanced at his father-- his mother having returned to Havfrue. His father's face was calm, but Sebastian's stomach dropped at the twinkle of interest in his eyes. What if Melody came? Was she going to tell their father?

Sebastian gripped his sword tight. Their tiny army of aging heroes and mighty sages was all that stood between the School Master's villain army and the reader's world. Havfrue, Villeneuve, and Camelot had sent what knights they could spare, but with the war threatening their gates, they couldn't spare many. Sebastian had never fought with such awful odds before, yet, as he looked around at the people he knew-- through tales and meetings-- he was proud to be fighting with them. Even Cinderella had her long grey hair up and was prepared to fight. 

He and Tedros made eye contact. Tedros gave him a roguish smile, but Sebastian noticed the hint of fright he kept mostly hidden. Sebastian smiled back. They would be okay. They would all be okay. 

Merlin had vanished-- to where Sebastian didn't know-- and had left behind his hat. 

Sebastian met Laura's eyes-- he liked her eyes-- and followed her gaze to Merlin's hat, which was now quivering. She grinned.

Darkness split through the forest, and the Celestium quivered, exposing a portal covered in stars. There was a moment of silence, where everyone stared at the darkness.

And then a large crocodile stalked through.

Sebastian let out a sigh of relief at the sight of the Crocodile King. The king wore basil-coloured metallic armour, with spikes down his back. Behind him, an army of smaller crocodiles fell through, lining up in neat rows behind him. Sebastian lowered his head in respect-- the only two who didn't were his father and King Alard. 

"The Mermaid Queen has armed us with her magic," the Crocodile King spoke, his voice low and hissing. "She will join us from afar."

Sebastian watched Laura step forward, taking control as the most experienced council member. Merlin was gone, and Clarissa was presumably under the School Master's thumb.

Sebastian turned to his father as the Crocodile King and Laura began to engage in low whispers. The dense forest pressed in around them, towering pine trees leaning in, their trunks gnarled. The sun was nothing more than a tiny ball of light, hovering faintly over the horizon. Long shadows stretched between the trees, aiding the chill Sebastian could feel on his spine.

Sebastian opened his mouth to speak to his father, but stopped as the Celestium shifted,, and Emrys stepped through, wearing a dark cloak and face covering. If it weren't for his eyes, Sebastian wouldn't have known who he was. 

Sebastian stiffened as his father inhaled sharply. The Twilight Children began to walk through the Celestium, armed to the teeth with various weapons and armour.

Sebastian grabbed his father's forearm, gripping it tight. His father's eyes darted to him. 

"Dad, trust me, these are not the people you want to fight."