Vanessa has spent her life believing she was abandoned, shuffling between neglectful foster homes and haunted by strange nightmares. When her suppressed magic resurfaces, she is thrust into the mysterious world of Alfea, a school for fairies. There...
The days following Bloom's breakthrough in controlling her magic were calm but tense. Vanessa felt a flicker of hope each time she saw her sister practicing more carefully, the once-wild flames now steady in her hands. Still, the unease lingered-a quiet warning that things weren't as resolved as they seemed.
Vanessa sat with Alexander and Sky in the courtyard, the bond pulsing faintly with their shared contentment. Sky leaned back against the stone bench, his usual grin firmly in place, while Alexander studied a map of Alfea's grounds with his characteristic focus.
"You're quieter than usual," Sky said, nudging Vanessa with his elbow. "What's on your mind?"
Vanessa hesitated, her fingers brushing the locket around her neck. "Bloom. I feel like she's holding something back."
Sky shrugged. "She's a teenager. Secrets come with the territory."
"It's more than that," Vanessa said, her voice quiet. "I think it has to do with Rosalind."
Alexander's green eyes narrowed as he looked up from the map. "Rosalind hasn't been seen in years. If she's involved, it's not a coincidence."
Vanessa nodded, her chest tightening. "I just wish Bloom would tell me the truth."
"She will," Alexander said firmly. "Eventually."
The bond buzzed faintly, their shared resolve grounding her. But Vanessa couldn't shake the feeling that something was about to go terribly wrong.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
That evening, Vanessa noticed Bloom slipping away from the dorms, her fiery red hair catching the light of the setting sun. Vanessa's chest tightened as she followed, the bond thrumming faintly with Alexander and Sky's distant presence.
Bloom led her to the edge of the forest, where the shadows seemed to stretch unnaturally in the fading light. Vanessa hesitated, her locket glowing faintly as she stepped closer.
"Bloom," Vanessa called, her voice steady.
Bloom spun around, her fiery magic flaring in her hands. "What are you doing here?"
"I could ask you the same thing," Vanessa said, her gaze narrowing. "What's going on?"
Bloom hesitated, her fiery gaze flicking toward the trees. Vanessa followed her line of sight, her chest tightening as a figure stepped out of the shadows.
"Rosalind," Vanessa whispered, her voice trembling.
The woman's presence was as commanding as it was unsettling, her dark eyes fixed on Vanessa with a mix of curiosity and amusement. "Vanessa," she said, her voice smooth and melodic. "It's an honor to finally meet the Elemental Heir."
Vanessa clenched her fists, her locket glowing brighter. "Stay away from her."
Rosalind's lips curved into a faint smile. "I'm not here to hurt Bloom. Quite the opposite, in fact. She's been searching for answers, and I've simply provided them."
