Sparkle (KOTLC) {Completed}

11

Janessa woke up with a frown engraved on her face, but upon realizing she was still being cuddled by Biana and Ling, her lips twitched in a temporary small smile. 

Quickly, they stirred awake as well, smiling softly at her.

"Are you feeling better?" Biana asked.

Janessa nodded without speaking. Her face was still puffy from crying, but there was a slight spark in her eyes that had been dimmer the night before.

"Are you staying here with Sophie?" Linh wondered.

Janessa shrugged.

They lapsed into comfortable silence, although Janessa could feel their quiet spikes of worry.

After many minutes passed, Janessa spoke. "Mr Forkle said I would only be here tonight. I haven't heard about other plans though. I haven't even met G-Grady? That's his name right?"

Biana nodded. "Well, why don't we go introduce you?"

Janessa nodded hesitantly. As they began walking towards the mansion, Janessa grabbed them both by the hand, whispering, "I really missed you too."

They both squeezed her hands in reply, making her tense, small smile relax and widen.

Together, they made their way to the front door of the house and Biana knocked. A beautiful, familiar, auburn-haired woman opened the door with a shocked smile.

"Janessa! Sophie said you got back last night." Her smile softened in motherly concern. "Did you sleep well?"

Janessa looked at the two girls she was still holding hands with. "Yeah, once Biana and Linh showed up."

"Do you want to come in? I made mallow melt." Edaline said sweetly.

Janessa perked up at the thought of the heavenly dessert she'd never tasted. "Ok."

The three girls made their way in and sat at the table while Edaline conjured the cake and plates. Unashamedly, Janessa took two pieces and devoured them.

"I haven't tasted anything so good since you brought those custard bursts to Alluveterre!" Janessa exclaimed through a mouthful of food.

Edaline smiled at her again. "Thanks, that's very sweet of you. I'm sure that's not true."

Janessa shrugged. "I mean Fintan usually just brought me the same fruit every day so there isn't much to compare it to." An awkward silence fell. "I mean, it would still be the best thing I've had either way. It's delicious."

Catching the worried, pitiful glances of the others, Janessa scoffed. "Please don't pity me."

"We're not pitying you. You had something horrible happen to you that you didn't in any way deserve, and we wish it hadn't." Edaline said in a comforting voice.

Janessa glared at her hands. That's the problem. It wasn't all bad. That's why I'm so confused. If only Fintan- no. He's bad. If only Glimmer could be here. No, not her, we weren't that close. There's no one.

"Janessa. You don't understand. We all were really guilty when you were kidnapped, and then Sophie said she couldn't reach you anymore. We left you behind." Biana mumbled. "Every time I think about it, I just keep thinking I could have done something. We all feel that way."

Janessa's tensed shoulders lowered. "I guess. Can we talk about something else?"

"This is a big deal, we need to talk about it at some point." Biana pointed out.

"I said, can we talk about something else." Janessa gritted out.

"Of course." Edaline replied, reaching over to grab her hand. Janessa stared at their hands for a second then pulled away.

There was a silence. Everyone made eye contact with each other except Janessa who looked at her hands in her lap.

"Where's Sophie?" Janessa wondered.

"She and Keefe went to Ravagog to deliver a message to King Dimitar for Lady Gisela." Edaline said with pursed lips. Obviously she was not happy with this.

Janessa's brow furrowed. "I guess I missed out on a lot. Last I knew, we destroyed Ravagog and Lady Gisela was dead. What else has happened? What are you guys working on right now?"

"Well..." Biana began.

"The Neverseen took Sophie's human parents, and her human sister is here." Linh supplied.

Janessa froze. "They... they have Connor and Kate? Natalie is here? Where is she?"

"Amy, Natalie, whatever her name is, she's living with Physic in Atlantis." Biana replied.

Janessa didn't say anything. How could Fintan do this to me? He took the Freemans/Fosters? Why do I feel so betrayed? Why am I so surprised? He's the bad guy!! But... he's also the one who taught me control... No. He manipulated me. I can't keep thinking like this. He killed people. He's only hurt my friends and family. I can't keep thinking of him as a father figure. I can't keep letting him mess with my head. I'm not even near him anymore.

"I need a walk." Janessa stood up abruptly and walked out of the house. 

She wandered the grounds with long strides as if she had a purpose. She reached the edge of some cliffs and looked down. Hand shaking, she pulled out the leaping crystal to the forest where she and Fintan would practice. For a second, she held it over the cliff, but she couldn't drop it. The light hit it and a path of light was created; Janessa stared at it. Just one move and she could go back. 

Janessa let out a yell as she blocked the light, pulling the crystal to her chest. "NO!"

Breathing heavily, Janessa tucked the crystal back under her dirty tunic. Once her breathing steadied itself, she stepped back from the cliff's edge and sat down. Absentmindedly, she began calling flames to her. Making sure not to set anything on fire, she let various coloured flames surround her, making rings and blurry shapes of majestic animals, all dancing around each other. There was a flareadon in gold flying above her, a ginormous T-Rex inspired by the one she could see in the distance in dark green with neon coloured flames to represent the feathers, and a bright blue elephant with red flames around the torso to represent Ella.

"Wow."

Janessa jumped, but her fire remained constant. 

"You have so much control. I'm proud of you." 

Janessa's concentration wavered and she sighed, letting the flames dissipate. "Thanks, Biana. Where's Linh?"

Biana wrapped an arm around Janessa, who leaned into her. "She had to go home to Tam."

Janessa nodded. "That makes sense."

After that, they just sat in silence, Biana watching as Janessa made animals of fire play with each other, pulling out a smile or two from Janessa, surprising her. It was easy, and there was no pressure. They just sat.