Ashes to Ashes

S3: Unavoidable Nightmares.

Unedited

           "You know, I've always wondered how the unicorns got their horns." I tell Stella as she pets the shimmering pink coat of the unicorn in question. The unicorn looks at Lydia with a blink of its silver eyes before looking away.

      "Mum always told me a fairy granted normal horses horns of magical power to protect the lands they reside in. Also that, if a unicorn appears to you; it's trust has been put solely in you and will guide you when needed." Stella finishes and I glance back at her before looking back at the unicorn. "You're beautiful, and I'm happy you found me when I needed you most."

       A couple days ago, I was sent out on a mission with Riven to retrieve an item needed to further provide protection for the school. That said item being a living, breathing, creature that is very rare, also incredibly hard to find. After the deaths of students from Valtor's attack the headmistress thought it plausible to better protect the school. "Headmistress Dowling told me to look after Bloom and I intend to do so." I tell Stella while the Unicorn reverts to lifting itself up on to two legs before freezing into stone. A soft glow emits from the statue encasing the school grounds in a more enhanced protective barrier.

         "Thank you." I say aloud and turn to follow Stella into the school. "Has Bloom been acting weird to you?" Stella questions and I glance at her before shrugging. "She seems fine to me, her usual brooding self. Her mom has been helping her train. So I get she might be more tired than usual." I reply before branching off from Stella after a goodbye to go meet Riven.

      "Riven?" Knocking on the door lightly, I enter to see both him and Sky asleep, snoring softly and I smile before closing the door and heading back to my room.

         "Bloom? Musa? Flora? Terra? Aisha? Stella?" I question only to receive silence. "It's a rare sight to have the dorm to myself." I say before going into my room. Laying down in bed, I feel the sleep wanting to overcome me and I let it.

         I wake up seeing my surroundings with blurred vision. Blinking rapidly, I focus on the items around me. I go to sit up but I feel myself to be tied down on an alter. Fire ignited all around me. Leaving me in a ring of fire and a person standing in the shadows. Pulling tighter on the restraints; I look up to the person who emerges into the light. It's Bloom with dark eyes, and a sinister smile. "Thank you for your sacrifice." A male voice says standing next to Bloom and my eyes widen before I feel the Dragon flame engulf me and I scream.

       Thrashing in my bed, screaming, I sit up breathing heavily. Cupping my hands to my head, I swipe my hair away from my face and wipe my tears away after. Throwing the blankets off of me, I see it's dark out and I leave my room in search of Riven. I need his solace and comfort and I head to his room praying he's there.

     Finding his and Sky's room again. I go and slide into bed with him not seeing Sky in sight. Felling something sticky and wet I lift my hand and look at the blood covering my fingers. Turning Riven over, I see his lifeless eyes and blood covering his face causing me to fall out of his bed with a scream. Rubbing the blood off my hands and arms on my clothes. It doesn't do much as it sticks to me. I back up into the wall, crying hard, screaming again at the loss of my lover, whose dead-glossed eyes look back at me.

         Sitting up in bed with a blood curdling scream. I fight my covers to release me of their confinement and I fall out of bed, backing into a corner where I rock back and forth. "It's just a dream, it's just a dream." I say thankful I kept up the noise cancelling charm to hide Riven and myself due to our intimate activities from my roommates and neighbors. Standing up, I'm sticky from sweat and I go in search of Riven. Feeling like I'm losing my mind.

            The halls are dark and quiet, only illuminated by the soft glow of torches against the cement walls. I stop in front of Riven and Sky's room and I'm too scared to open the door. Taking a step back, I stop, feeling a hand grab my shoulder and I jump. Turning with my flame in my right hand ignited, Riven steps back and my flame dies down completely.

   Seeing my panicked look, Riven cups my cheeks and I begin to cry silently. "I had a nightmare, and it was bad, so....so much blood." I continue to mutter under my breath as if in a trance and Riven guides me into his room and he catches Sky's attention. "Nightmare mate." Riven tells him and he's standing up to get his friends attention. I ignore them both staring off with a distant look in my eyes. Feeling myself drifting off as I fall to the ground. Lydia!.....Lydia!....its just a dream! Wake up!"

             Sitting up in bed, Lydia screams scaring the girls group of friends. Sky holds her shoulders, while Riven is bitting at his nails after finding his girlfriend having night terrors. The girls found him on his walk back to his dorm. Getting food after missing dinner due to his nap after an intensive training day. They tell him his girlfriend won't wake and is screaming and he rushes back to the dorm with Sky seeing the commotion and following.

      Bloom watches in worry in front of the group but silently she's thinking it's all going to plan as Valtore predicted. They need Lydia at her lowest point, to help them release the witches. Her family ring, being the key that unlocks the cages; holding the three witches and Lydia's soul. Being the necessary end in bringing the witches back to life, assisted with her dragon flame. She's their puppet and they are Lydia's masters. It's the first part of the plan.

     Lydia mutters under breath holding on to Sky tighter as she looks at Riven before burying her head into Sky's chest. "So much blood, I couldn't get it off, it was everywhere." She whispers. "Whose?" Sky whispers before she slowly points at Riven. "He was dead, I found him dead in his bed, covered in blood. And Bloom lighting me on fire with her dragon flame." Lydia finishes before her weight grows heavy, falling back asleep in the protective embrace of her dearest friend. Sky looks back at Riven before he glances at Bloom who retreats out the door.