Fairies of The Black Circle

25

Roxy shivered.

She watched the golden flecks dancing on the surface of the silvery water as the sun began to peak over the horizon.

The rhythmic crash of the waves on the sand was the only sound amongst the group, waiting for an Eraklyon ship to emerge from the halo of the glowing sun.

Roxy kept her eyes cast out to the vast sky, hoping she would be the first to spot Riven returning to her.

Nothing yet.

A strong wind flew through her hair, as if trying to push her away from the water's edge. As if warning her to turn back before it was too late.

She shivered again.

But then she saw them. Two riders appearing in the distance, skimming over the calm sea on their hoverbikes. Sunlight caught on the spray that flew up behind them, leaving momentary rainbows in their wake.

Her heart jumped with happiness at the sight of their return. But then she felt it sink back down.

Two riders.

But no ship.

Bloom heard Stella's breath catch and turned to meet her eyes. She could see the conflict in Stella's expression. The mixture of disappointment and relief.

Bloom flushed with guilt as she realised, she felt the same way.

Support from Eraklyon meant greeting its king. Meant facing Sky again.

The sound of engines drew closer, and Bloom felt flecks of sea spray patter against her face before the engines died out and Riven and Helia dismounted their bikes.

The sand crunched under Riven's feet as he marched over to the group, wrenching off his helmet to reveal the darkness in his eyes.

Musa felt her heart pang with pity for him, watching as he stopped just outside their circle, an angry resignation painted on his face.

His mouth opened as if to speak, but closed, and he just shook his head at them, too tired to form the words.

Musa let out a long breath.

No one was coming to help. They were on their own.

"The king of Eraklyon is not prepared to fight in a war that doesn't concern his people." Helia joined his defeated friend, an equally resigned look marking his features.

Bloom took a deep breath, trying to process the sheer numbers they would have to now face alone.

"It's okay. You tried." She whispered, looking to Ogron for confirmation.

He gave her a curt nod and Bloom mimicked him, nodding to herself as her mind reeled.

"You both did," she continued. "And there are still plenty of us here. We'll find a way to make this work."

Riven let out a bitter laugh, his frustration boiling over. "Eleven of us against a whole army of fairies? Wow, great odds, Bloom."

Bloom bit down on her lip.

He was right, of course.

"It doesn't matter." Ogron cut in, his tone sharper than Bloom had expected. "I was going to finish what I started army or not."

Bloom looked up at him. She could almost feel the heat of his determination pulsing through his skin.

Through the haze of stress, all she wanted was to reach out and touch him.

For him to reach out and hold her. Anchor her. Like he had done that night in the training room.

She wanted those glacial eyes to pierce into her, his commanding voice tell her to breathe.