Ever After

☾Chapter Twenty Eight☽

"So what's the plan now?" Wyll asked as the three of them found their way back into the Oracle's room.
Wyll turned to Ever.
Ever since they had gotten back to the castle she had been stone cold silent.
"Ever."
"I don't know. There is no plan as far as I'm concerned."
"There is a plan." Haven interrupted. "The plan is to get Hex out of your mind."
"I don't think that's going to happen." Ever replied.
"And why not? Ev, you have a dangerous creature in your head, we need to address this."
"Up until a couple hours ago you wanted to die on an island."
"Let's just look past that right now."
"Besides, I don't think there's any way to get rid of him."
"And why's that?" Wyll butt into the conversation.
"I made a deal with him and apparently it hasn't ended."
"That's... not good."
"You think?" Ever snapped.
"When I met him," Wyll began, "he seemed to want to turn me against you."
"I wouldn't doubt it." Ever sighed.
"I'm worried about you." Wyll smiled softly as he placed his hand on Ever's shoulder.
"You wouldn't be the first." She laughed. "I don't know if there is anything to do but wait."
"That's even more dangerous. The best course of action would be for you to get rid of him."
"And how do you propose I do that exactly?" Ever asked nonchalantly as she leaned back against a table.
"I-... You know dark magic, don't you?"
"Yes, but it is illegal."
Haven glanced at Wyll.
"Just this once." He sighed.
"The Prince has spoken."
"Haven. I'm not going to use dark magic."
"You've had no problem using it before."
Ever crossed her arms and scowled at Haven.
"Just get rid of him. Didn't you do that before for some voices?"
"I have, but the problem is that he isn't just a voice. He's almost tangible. That's more than the voices have ever been. And besides, he can hear everything. I don't think he'd take kindly to this talk of getting rid of him."
Haven sighed. "We have to do something."
"And that something is to wait this out. I'll talk to him and get rid of him."
"Ever, I'm with Haven. We have to get rid of him. I don't think talking to him is such a good idea." Ever glanced at Wyll then down at her folded arms.
"Listen, you have to trust me. Okay?"
"I trust you, but-"
"No buts. I'm going to head back home."
"You're just going to leave?" Haven argued. "What if something happens?"
"I'll be fine." Ever snapped as she swung open the door to the hallway.

There was the familiar jingle of Ever's truck keys in her hand as she started the car. She swept back her hair with her hand and sighed.
"So you want to get rid of me?" Hex mused.
"We will talk about it later."
"How sweet, you think I'm one to talk."
"Shut up. I'm not in the mood."
"That's the Ever I know." Hex chuckled.

Ever felt so distant from her small swamp hut lately. It's not that she thought of the castle as a home, even though she was welcome there, it was the fact that this year alone she seemed to never be around.
Ever unlocked her front door and pushed her way inside.
She then sighed as she noticed the purple fairy sitting on her counter. "Aubergine. What are you doing here?"
"Waiting for you." She pushed herself off and onto the ground. "The Prince got a hold of me. Me? Can you believe it?"
"What did he tell you?" Ever flung her bag onto the dining table.
"That I needed to talk to you."
"About what, exactly?"
"He couldn't explain the exact details to me. But he said you were in a bad mindset. I never thought you'd be the person to be in a bad mindset." Aubergine laughed.
"Auber, I don't need your help."
"Well, Ever, you do. I've been your best friend for as long as I can remember. I can't just leave you alone if you're in need."
"I'm not in need."
"Besides," Aubergine ignored Ever and continued, "We haven't spoken much since Rosenfelle. You know, I remember when I first met you. It's crazy how you've never changed." She laughed.
"I've changed."
"Not that much. You prance around in this whole badass attitude but I can see through it."
"I don't do that."
"Yes you do, but I remember when you were wandering around the streets of Siral like you a ghost with no purpose." Aubergine continued. "I let you stay with me and all you had to do was water my plants. In return I gave you a place to sleep and food."
"Yah I remember."
"Then there was that one time where I came home to find that you had overwatered all my flowers for the third day in a row. Do you remember what you had told me?"
"Don't remind me." Ever rolled her eyes as she plopped down onto the worn armchair.
"You said the craziest thing. When I asked why you kept overwatering them, you looked me dead in the eye and said it was 'because pretty things are supposed to drown' I knew from that moment on that you were insane." Aubergine laughed.
"Aren't you supposed to be helping me?" Ever questioned.
"I am."
Ever sighed, "Besides we both know the only reason I kept watering them was because I was drunk on cheap beer."
"I guess, maybe that was the reason you started crying afterward."
"I didn't!"
"You totally did. You then also said you were only trying to give them a happy life."
"By drowning things?"
"Sounds like you, doesn't it. Ever, I don't know entirely a lot about you. Since that day though, I've never really cared. That day I learned you had a heart and you were capable of being a good person. Just for, you know, the wrong reasons." Aubergine shrugged.
"That's not a very good reason to trust someone."
"No it's not, but I did and I haven't regretted it yet."
"That's stupid of you." Ever chuckled with a smirk.
"Yup. Look at you now though. You've met all the royalty of Ethelia. You've got the hots for Prince Wylliam."
"Auber!"
"I'm not wrong. Come on, Ev." Aubergine grabbed Evers hands and pulled her up from the arm chair. "You're literally all over every newspaper and tv channel. 'Mysterious Lady courting Siral's Prince.' You're practically famous."
"Once they figure out it's the witch from the swamp they won't be too interested. Trust me. I went to jail for it." Ever mumbled.
"You what?"
"Never mind, Besides..." Ever sighed, but she decided not to finish her thoughts and instead shook her head. "I don't need the company."
"Obviously you do, Ev." Aubergine reached out towards Ever. "Why don't we go do something?"
"I'm good." Ever said, turning away from Aubergine to pick up a clear glass vial. 
"You can't shut yourself up in here forever."
"I know that."
There was a silence that was interrupted by the shatter of glass.
Ever sighed as she bent down to pick up the broken shards.
"I'm really worried about you." Aubergine said as she tried to help pick up the pieces but Ever shooed her away.
"I'm fine."
"I don't think you are."
Ever threw the glass shards into the trash and took a deep breath in. "I'm fine."
"Evie..." Aubergine sighed.
Ever looked down at her hands, which were now bleeding and covered in cuts. She curled her fingers into her palms.
"Why don't you just leave." Ever snapped.
"I'm not going to leave Ev until I know you'll be okay."
"LEAVE." Ever yelled as she casted her hand upwards, causing the front door to swing wide open. She then summoned a strong gust of wind that picked up on Aubergine's wings, causing her to fling out the door.
The door then bolted shut behind her.
Ever shook her head. She uncurled her fingers to see that the crimson blood had stained her hands.
Ever looked over at the mirror on the wall. It had somehow cracked during her tirade.
Ever glanced away, but then quickly glanced back at the mirror when she realized something was wrong.
The white half of her hair had turned a mix of grey and white.

****oof. Trying to finally get back into writing and finishing this story so I can start some new stuff. Thanks so much for sticking around lovelies! It means so much to me!💕💕💕💕****