Breaking the Spell: A Diamond Castle Fanfiction

Chapter 10: The Enigma

"You....loved me?" Phaedra was shocked.

"Yes, I did. But my feelings faded over time," Lydia admitted. Dori was surprised as well, as was Melody.

Lyra's surprise faded as quickly as it had come to her. Lydia had told her, after all, that it had something to do with Phaedra. And it had. She suddenly remembered that voice they had heard not long after she had started her apprenticeship here at the Diamond Castle. That mysterious enigma that had seemed impossible to understand.

The sweet music which brought you together shall tear you apart...

She now knew what it meant.

How Lydia had loved Phaedra so much that she had turned on them because of her broken heart and unrequited love.

How Lyra had freed Lydia, with her music.

How the Muses had been furious with her for doing so.

And finally, how Lydia was now being hunted for her actions.

It all made sense to her now.

"I'm in love with someone else," Lydia said, surprising her. Lyra's heart began beating quickly in her chest. She brought her hand to rest there, which went unnoticed by the others.

"Another Muse?" asked Melody.

'No," Lydia replied. She was finally willing to admit her feelings for the apprentice. To herself, at least. A confession would take some time. but she now knew for certain that she had fallen in love with Lyra.

But she would tell her when the time came. She wouldn't make the same mistake as she had done with Phaedra.

"Lyra? What is it?" asked Melody, seeing their apprentice deep in thought, the look of realization upon her face.

"I just figured out what that voice meant," she replied.

"What voice?" asked Lydia.

"Something we heard a few days ago," Lyra explained. "It said, 'the sweet music which brought you together shall tear you apart'. I didn't understand what it meant until now." She then explained her thoughts, and Lydia and the Muses seemed to understand.

"You're right," Melody said, "I never thought of it that way before."

"Yes, I agree," added Phaedra. "And, Lydia, I feel I should apologize to you. For being so blind and oblivious to your feelings for me. I'm sorry."

"It's alright," Lydia said. "I'm finally willing to admit I'm partially to blame for not saying something about it. And that it doesn't excuse the things I've done."

"That's good," said Dori. "However, it will take a bit of time before we can trust you again completely."

"I understand," said Lydia. "I just needed you to hear me out."

Lyra decided to let the four of them talk, and she went out onto the balcony for some fresh air. She felt as if her heart wanted to explode out of her chest, though she felt Lydia wasn't referring to her when she said she loved someone. She couldn't be...after all, how could someone like Lydia ever love someone like her?

But she loved Phaedra once. And you and Phaedra are a lot alike, the little voice in her head tried to convince her. But Lyra refused to believe it. She continued to watch the snowfall that had begun, as the wind played with her hair once more and her amber eyes eventually closed as she continued to swim in the ocean of her own mind. She allowed her thoughts to wander to Lydia once again. It was true she had made mistakes, but in Lyra's eyes, she was perfect.

Her hypnotizing, jade green eyes, which were once filled with a bitterness that was now long gone, her fair skin, and her reddish-brown hair...everything about the former Muse was beautiful to Lyra. She needn't play an instrument to mesmerize the apprentice, she was able to do so automatically. Her looks alone could accomplish such a feat. The possibility that Lydia could love her was everything Lyra was hoping for now, but she doubted it was true. No, her heart must lie with another, she finally decided. But this thought made her heart ache.

Lydia noticed Lyra by the balcony, and she went to join her. "Mind if I join you?"

"Not at all," Lyra replied, attempting to hide the blush that made its way onto her face. Thankfully, Lydia didn't notice. "The snow is really pretty."

"It is," replied Lydia. She brought her arms to rest on the balcony ledge as she leaned forward. Just like you are, she thought. The Muses had gone into the library to do some research on the group Gideon was a part of. Lydia was surprised that the three of them had actually listened to her side of the story. But she was glad for it. She also felt safer here, knowing Gideon was after her, and that Slyder was gone. She tried not to think of that, feeling as though she was to blame. She put it out of her mind for now, instead focusing on Lyra. Her beauty was beyond compare, with those innocent amber eyes of hers, matched with a perfect smile. Her dark brown hair fell over her shoulders as it always did, a bit longer than it was when she had first arrived here. Lydia couldn't help but smile to herself when she thought of the apprentice.

"I think I should return the book Phaedra gave me," Lyra said suddenly, interrupting the silence. "I no longer need it."

"Alright," said Lydia. As Lyra walked away, Lydia gazed after her, trying to determine when she would speak of her feelings. She decided to do it soon, rather than wait a long period of time. And that voice Lyra had mentioned...Lyra was right about what it had meant. But most of those events had already come to pass. Gideon, however, still remained a problem for them. Lydia needed to persuade the Muses to let her have--or at least borrow—a magic gauntlet to protect herself with. She couldn't walk around defenseless. She continued to watch the beautiful snowfall outside as she continued to contemplate everything that happened. And everything that was going to occur.