SKY SHOULD HAVE FORESEEN that Viperine, that manipulative viper, would manage to infest Riven's mind with its fatal venom. He was his best friend, always had been, no matter how complicated, so Riven should have known Sky wouldn't lie to him.

    Viperine had kissed Sky.

    He hadn't been drunk enough that night to believe it was a scene created by his troubled mind. Viperine's lips were still the same—cool and soft and inviting.

    Sky shook his head frantically, pushing those thoughts—or memories—out of her sight. He was now, more or less, with Bloom and not with Viperine.

    Oh gods! Bloom or Viperine? Viperine or Bloom?

    Everything with Bloom was easier and more peaceful. That's what Sky wanted, right? He ends his years in Alfea with a beautiful and possibly powerful girlfriend, as well as graduating as the best specialist after Silva and his father.

    But there was still something missing from her.

    Viperine had that something. She was beautiful, sexy, nothing like the other fairies she'd met. She was aggressive, fierce, not afraid to break out of the ordinary and do what she wanted. But she would do anything to achieve her goals—even get rid of those who got in her way.

    Sky was sure Viperine was there for some dark and macabre reason, but she still didn't know what it was.

"Bastard!"

He became terrified. She was pretty sure he was alone in the locker rooms after practice. Shit! Sky had nothing on her body but a towel around her waist.

    "What the fuck, Viperine!" he yelled back, his hair dripping from the shower. "You shouldn't be here."

    "And you shouldn't have told my boyfriend you kissed me," she pointed out.

    "You were the one who kissed me!"

    Viperine crossed her arms. Without noticing, Sky's eyes dropped to Viperine's breasts, which were extremely accentuated by the plunging neckline of the thin tank top she was wearing. Sky wondered when her body had changed so much. He wasn't like that from what he remembered.

    "Do you realize the trouble you've caused me?" she asked. "I never thought I'd see Riven looking like a lost dog." In fact, it was almost comical.

    "You're a damn snake. Did you know that?" he exclaimed, trying not to stutter. "Do you happen to really like Riven?" Or is he just one of your little toys?"

"Does it make a difference?" She shrugged. "And what if he's my new little toy?"

    Sky gritted his teeth, clenched his fists angrily.

    "Riven's been through too much shit," she squeaked. "He doesn't need to add you to that list."

"But, why?" She prompted, grinning evilly. "I like to imagine that when I break up with someone, I've left a big mark on them."

    "You leave people traumatized and in need of therapy."

    "Like I said, big mark," Viperine repeated.

    Sky was unprepared for when Viperine advanced towards him. She didn't try to stop either. Viperine ran her cold hands over his bare torso, stoking him. Then, in a sudden act, she slipped onto the towel whose knot was already loose.

"Did you think about me?" she whispered, her lips close to his skin. "I missed you."

    Sky bit back a curse. Her towel fell to the floor. Viperine gripped his hard, throbbing cock that throbbed, craving her touch. Damn, those hands around him...

    "Viperine," he moaned.

"Sky," she hissed in response.

    He opened his mouth to try to stop her, but the impulse for her touch was stronger. Sky threw his head back, savoring the steady ebb and flow, slowly but forcefully.

    Viperine smirked, delighted to see the reactions she got from Sky, the golden boy.

    "Does that fire fairy do what I'm doing to you?" she asked, squeezing him. Oh Gods! "She's just a child."

    "Bloom?" he managed to say.

    "Have you figured out why I'm here yet?" She changed the subject, picking up the pace. "What if I told you I came back for you?"

    "You're lying," he hissed, feeling Viperine's lips come to the corner of hers. "We shouldn't be doing this."

    "But it's so good, isn't it?"

    Viperine kissed him, locking their lips together. In the next second, Sky's tongue demanded mastery. Viperine relented, letting the pleasure take her. With his hands free, Sky grabbed her waist, groaning her name.

    Suddenly, Viperine pulled away, and Sky realized what had happened. White liquid trickled between her fingers and down her abdomen. Was he that fast?

    "Sky," she whispered seductively. "You were mine once. You were always mine. And this is how it will be until the end of our lives. Me and you for ever. Even if I have to get rid of Bloom and Riven."

◈

VIPERINA WAS SMILING like a psychopathic maniac. She had Riven in the palm of her hand, managed to scare Sky and instill fear, and created doubts in Bloom's head... Everything was going according to plan.

    She was walking back to her shared dorm with Beatrix, but to get there she had to go through the greenhouse.

    She knew that the body she had left near Dowling's office was there. At that time, she was probably looking to make an antidote for petrification. Ingredients were rare and expensive, but not impossible to find.

    The windows were closed, but the door was ajar. It was the voices coming from inside that caught her attention.

    "We can't arrest anyone without evidence," Verena said.

    What were they talking about? Her?

    Viperine heard footsteps coming. She quickly ducked behind a pillar, just in time to see Terra walk towards the greenhouse.

    "Maybe I can get it for you," she said, not noticing Viperine there.

    "Terra, you shouldn't be here," Harvey said.

"Not at all, father. I'll tell you," she replied, too confident. This angered Viperine. "There was a snake hurting Mr. Silva. And I tightened it with my beams. And then I saw Viperine with some brands. And I've seen her walking around with a snake in her hand."

    Anakin. Was it hard for people to remember his name? Viperine gritted her teeth angrily.

    "The same snake that was in the forest."

Motherfucker. Terra had nothing else to do. Viperine thought how unhappy she must be trying to stand out from the crowd. It was the attitude of an attention-seeking idiot.

    "Yes, but like Celeste said, we can't arrest another student without evidence," Silva said, sighing.

    "Then let's test it," Dowling decreed. "Let's get her snake and test it to see if anything happens."

    Even if Viperine had to awaken Hell on Earth, they wouldn't get Anakin. Now, thanks to Terra... Viperine would deal with Terra.

━━━━━━
9.22.22

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