Vertia

I hate to admit it, but Violet kinda Turing out to be a good leader.I never said I can't do better, but never mind, the past is the past, I'll put it behind me just fir now. I returned to where the others were and I cihldnt see them. Then I saw these..... Cottages...... Loads of them....... So that was where they were! I saw a small cottage at the end, which its windows were open and so was the door. It seemed uninhabited."For ME?" I breathe, and skip inside. Someone must have transformed it inside. The hall is creamy white with a huge banner saying:" Welcome home, Vertia!"

A sudden flash if memory comes flooding back to me, of Mom and Dad hugging me and welcoming me home after my first day of high school. There's a BEAUTFUL white and blue sponge cake laid out on a marble white table in a gleaming white kitchen. Just like the cake Mom and Dad made for my birthday. This cottage seems to be a library of memories I share with Mom and Dad. No, correction; I SHARED with Mom and Dad. Those happy times were all before the Ferry sinking. I figured out then I was a mermaid,but I couldn't save them, it was too late...

I flop onto a large blue and white four poster bed, with silky blue curtains and pictures and paintings of the sea covering the walls. I don't want to think about thr sea. That's when my life turned downhill.

My eyes brim with tears and I try to go to sleep but I cant...

TAC

Elle knows that grey was what I had wanted. Grey clothes, okay, but this house...
I should have known. My bedroom is completely grey.

"I'm sorry," whispered Elle. "I didn't have enough power-"

"I love it!" I beamed, and I do. Rainbows, and bright colours are amazing, but grey is my element. I snuggle down into my duvet in my four poster, and instantly, my joy leaves me.

"Don't worry, you didn't do anything wrong," I whisper, as joy can only very rarely take hold of me, and when it does, it can last no longer than ten minutes. Soon, I am no longer conscious...

Midnight

I see the others happy faces, smiling, rejoincing, happy.
I allow them this moment of happiness.
But I cannot feel their happiness.All I feel is raw, empty fear. A feeling that is so horrible and disgusting it cancels all other emtions out. Apart from hope, of course. But all but a tiny smidge of that seems to remain in me. I can't tell them yet. I just can't. I have a secret, and I intend to keep it that way. Secret.
I realise that Elle isn't here, and go into her house; the door is ajar. I see her in bed.Asleep.A smile on her face. She looks nicer , asleep.I think so anyway. Her features are softer;she looks like an angel.
I leave, hope starting to blossom in my heart.
I will allow them this day of happiness.
I?- I'm not the leader, Violet is. I guess I'll never to be able to get over that.
I go back into my house, realsie they have forgotten to furnish it.
I call them over. They happily decorate it to my liking. I thank them for all they high tech furniture they have layed out for me.
Suddenly all the happiness that I had gained over the last 5 minutes disappers, and I gasp with shock. The others barley notice, but I see Emma glance my way. I shake my head and tell her I'm good.The sensible part of me knows I should go, unless I want to be known as anger lady or cry baby. I tell them all I'm shattered. They all go outside, with calles of "goodnight!" " see ya!" and " have a good sleep!" ringing in my ears. But I can't sleep. Surely, someone knows my type of condition? Surely, someone has guessed it? But if so, they haven't told yet, and that is what is important. With a troubled mind, I eventuly get to sleep.

TAC

There's something wrong with Midnight.

At first, I thought it was nothing, but there is something. There must be, and I intend to find out. Shortie, Tenner, call me what you will. In mental fights, I can outwit a grown man. I'll discover Midnight's great secret, you see if I don't.

I'm back. Mid's not the only one with secrets. When I looked in a mirror in my new cottage, I realised something. A TINY TINY TINY bit of pink, flowed through my cheeks! And a TINY TINY TINY bit of blonde, flowed through my hair! I turned around, to see if it was a trick of the light, but when I turned back, it was gone.

I do hope that if I manage to create that kingdom in Echo, with my new (Sort of) friends, it will uplift the dreadful curse that binds my immortal life with pain.

Everyone may think I'm mad, but I hope I will d*e if the mission is complete.

Midnight

I wake up in the middle of the night, screaming.
A nightmare. I've been having them all night. The mostly likely thing is that they are memorys from my old life.
If so, then maybe it's better to stay here then to try and go back. I can't remember much from the dreams now, but what I do remember I dont want to think about.
I'm surprised I havent woken anyone up yet.
I try to sleep.
But I can't
I just, CAN'T!
I try and calm down. It's ok, I whisper to myself in a shaking voice.
Then I see Emma fairy coming in. Of course!
Her cottage is next to mine at the end of the row.
'Are you ok?" she asks.
I dont see the point in lying.
"No, I've been having nightmares I admitt ruefuly.
"do you want me to stay?"
"Yeah, ok"
She conjures up a separte little bed, all rainbow coloured.
"sorry if I woke you up," I say, a little guiltily.
"No, its fine. Now sleep." She awnsers, the last bit firm but gentle.
And with that, I drift off.....

Violet

I toss and turn but I can't get back to sleep. I woke up thinking I heard screaming, but I think it was probably a nightmare. But still...

I give up. I get up, grab my wand and go outside. Time for a bit of midnight spell-making. I go outside and realise that at night everything goes black. I wonder... I make a hole in the "floor" and grin. Just as I thought- a brilliant white. I go back to the "street" and decide to improve the outside...

Half an hour later (according to the grandfather clock that I created out of thin air) the street has a kerb, grass, flowers, a road (well, all kingdoms need roads!), a couple of street lights and a book. I'm surprized when I see that it's not blank, but is one of my favourites by Enid Blyton- Valley of Adventure! I go back inside and sit down on my pink, super-soft sofa that you sink into with ease and, creating a cord-less lamp, settle down to read.

Elle

I wake up. It's extremely early dawn.
I tell myself to get up. I sleepily spread some butter onto some ready-made toast. I dont notice the note from Midnight till I rach for a plate.

"Dear Elle,
This evening, I saw Violet prepare the street." I pause and look out side. The 'street ' has now turned into a proper street.
I continue.
"I woke up early and wanted to know if you could come to min? I've got a secret to tell.. and i'd lve it if you could.
Love Midnight xx"

I'm sprinting out of the house. I see Midnight on a swing she's built in a little garden she's built. When she sees me appear, her face lights up.
"Come inside, come inside!" She leads me through the door.
"Look, Elle. Your great and I just wanted to tell you this.
I can't feel happiness. My emotions are just blocked out"
She says from the bedroom as she fiddles with her clothes.
I tilt my head and walk into the bedroom myself. I hear sniffing, and realise she's crying.
I hug her gently. She's burrowing her face into my dress.
Ideally, I'd help her with a powerful spell that I could do ages ago.
But since I came to echo, I cant do it any more.
I try my hardest.
But no sound comes out of my mouth, and before we can take another breath, we are whisked into an extremely powerful whirlwind.

Midnight

"what the flipping %)_) :'() '(£ have you done?" I yell, my voice barley breaking through the roaring wind. I see Elle's mouth moving but I can't hear a thing. What? I can barley breath now, the wind is going so fast. Is starting to black out......

Elle

I'm screaming, but I know Mid can't hear me.
"Lesmanti CORIFISO!!!!"
the whirlwind stops, and we're safe. but Mid is unconscious on the floor...