Episode 1 part 2
◇DEAD BODY◇

▪︎Verena▪︎

The first time I saw Bloom, I was sixteen and she was six. My mission was to keep an eye on her until she was ready to find out the truth. But when I laid eyes on her, I felt an obligation to care for and protect her. I felt a connection as if she was a part of me. I hope that with her here in alfea the answers start to appear. For some reason I feel like she's connected to my past. A past I don't remember.

The day of the fire, I woke up with the need to be close to her. So I spent the day watching her. I saw the argument with her parents and felt her anger. During the night I used my magic to connect with her and saw her sitting on her bed as if trying to meditate. But she ended up letting her rage consume her and she lost control. It was like she was stuck in the middle of her feelings and couldn't find her way out. With my powers I managed to guide her to wake up. But when I did, her house was already covered by flames. Hearing her and her parents' screams, I couldn't take it long and entered the house.

Ever since I was little, fire has never bothered me. It made me feel comfortable like I was home. It was like he was part of my body. So it was no problem for me to walk around the burning house.

When I found them, they were huddled in the corner of the room screaming for help. Bloom was the first to notice my presence. She looked at me like I was a dream.

I walked through the fire towards her as I took off my coat.

"I'll help you" I shouted so I could be heard.

"Get my daughter out of here" Mike asked me

I'll get you three out of here. Can you carry your wife?” I asked him as I covered Bloom's head with my coat.

"Yeah" replied already preparing himself

"Great. Get up and follow me. I'll go ahead with your daughter"

He did as I asked and then we left the room.  Without them noticing I put a small protective field around them. That would ward off the fire.

As soon as we managed to get out of the house I saw that the neighbors were on the street and were looking at the house with fear.

I turned to Mike and Vanessa

"Did any of you get burned?" I ask

" My wife" he replied crouching down and placing her on the floor.

"Let me see" I say taking off the blanket that was around her and I saw her burns.

"Oh my God mom" I turned around hearing Bloom's scream.  She was on her knees on the floor. Her eyes filled with tears and her hands over her mouth. Hearing her cry made my heart sink. I go to her and put my hands on her face.

"What's your name?”

Her eyes were locked on her mother.

"Look at me" I shook her head startling her a little. But her attention was now on me.

"What's your name?” I repeat the question.

"Bloom" She whispered

"All right Bloom pay attention to me okay? Your mother will be fine. It's going to be okay"  I say caressing her face trying to calm her down.

She did something that took me by surprise. She hugged me tightly. And soon her body started to shake and I felt my shirt getting wet. I wrapped my arms around her trying to make her as comfortable as possible.

I come back to the present when I hear a body falling into the water. I looked around realizing that I had arrived at the specialists training area.

I kept walking until I reached Saul who was with a group of freshmans. As soon as he noticed me approaching he turned his attention to me.

"You took too long" he looked me up and down analyzing me.

"Sorry about that" I avert my eyes from his

"Are you all right?” he asked.

"Yeah?"  I answer not understanding his concern

"Do you think I didn't see that you've been a little Iight- headed? You've been very thoughtful lately,” he explained seeing my confusion. “And you're almost always messing with your necklace. You do this when you're nervous. You're doing it now" I look down seeing that he was right. I hadn't even noticed

"It's nothing to worry about. I swear" Sometimes I could be the perfect liar. But there were times that no matter how hard I tried to hide, Saul could see that something was wrong with me.

He sighed turning his attention to the students who were standing and watching us. Well, all the newbies were looking at me wide-eyed. I'm used to this reaction from people.

"Students this is Verena Neith. She trained Solaria's army and will be your instructor along with me" he introduced me

They were surprised to see me here.  Over the years, the attention Luna drew to me became tiring.

"Hello everybody. Welcome to Alfea. I hope headmaster Silva wasn't a bore to you on the first day" With this joke I manage to make some of them laugh and Saul look at me with a straight face and raised eyebrows. But I saw in his eyes that he was also amused. I winked at him before turning around and taking off my coat leaving only a shirt with sleeves up to my elbows. My clothes were tight to the body and I noticed the looks of some boys. Unfortunately for them Saul noticed too.

"So, after your classes, you are all mine. And I like the things I own to work well. So you will train every day. Find your skill. Hone your skill. And eventually even you.." he pointed to a student in the corner before continuing "Can fight like him" he finished throwing one of his swords to Sky who had come over to get his things, and another to me in a silent order for us to fight.

I attacked Sky. The only noises that were heard were our swords clashing. I turned my body landing a kick in his stomach but careful not to hurt him. Taking advantage of his moment of weakness, I attacked him again and then took the sword out of his hand. Realizing that he was unarmed, he took a dagger from his chest and when he went to attack me I made an X with the swords signaling to stop the fight.

I looked around seeing that our little show had attracted the attention of other students.

"He fights even better with a bit of advance warning" he said putting away his dagger.

"He did all right. Favored his left. But what else is new?" Saul praised

I winked at Sky who returned a smile.

" Sky's father was Andreas of Eraklyon. That made him a legacy admission. But he still showed up on the first day and did the work" I couldn't help but roll my eyes at that name and realized that Sky didn't like having his father mentioned either. He hated it.

"Well done" Saul reached out to shake Sky's hand.

I returned the swords before following Sky to have a little talk with him.

"I expect nothing less fom the the rest of you" those were the last words i heard before reaching Sky

"Hey blondie" I called

"Hi mom" replied with a small smile when he stopped to look at me

"What did I say about calling me that?" I scold him putting my hands on my hips and raising an eyebrow.

"Okay, sorry mom"

Hearing this I couldn't help but slap his forehead

"Ow that hurt" he said with hand in the place where I hit

"It was suppose to hurt to see if you learn"

"Come on Verena? Saul is practically a father to me. And you act like you're my mother. And after seeing you two making out last year I think I can call you that right?"

With that I gave one more slap harder than the other.  He complained but still continued to laugh.

"Keep your voice down you idiot" I look around to make sure no one heard

"Verena everybody sees the way you look at each other or the way he treats you"

"Okay, that's enough of this subject. Where's troublemaker?"

"Riven? Where do think"

"Fuck. When will he learn. If Silva catches him, he's screwed"

I sighed turning around and seeing Saul still talking to the newbies. I turned to Sky again

"I'll look for that being. But if you see him before, send me a message, okay?"

"Yeah, sure. Bye Verena"

"Take care little thing" He laughed at the nickname.

I approached the group again, listening to a part of the conversation

"Have you ever seen a Burned One?" Saul asked seriously

"Nobody my age has. But that's kinda my point. Isn't that all over now?" I crossed my arms, geting closer. Not liking this boy's attitude at all.

"What if It's not? Do you think you would know what to do boy? You don't even know how to hold a sword or defend yourself. What would you do if you saw one right in front of you? " I join the conversation

He didn't answer me and lowered his head in embarrassment.

"I was ten when I saw one for the first time. I was gathering firewood with my father and we heard it. It was like a rasp. A clicking. My father shot it twice. Once in its chest. Once in its head" Saul pointed his fingers at the boy's chest and then at the head "It didn't matter. Burned Ones have inhuman speed and strength and if they cut you, the infection that follows is swift and severe. I watched it happen. I watched the light dim from may father's eyes. And when he dropped his shotgun, I knew what I had to do. Be thankful you've never seen a Burned one. But it you ever do, pray that it kills you so the ones you love will not have to"

The air was awkward and heavy for a few seconds after the story.

"Pair up and practice. Now!" I command pulling Saul so we could talk

"If you're going to tell me I wasn't supposed to talk like that, don't even start. You were worse..." he was saying but stopped when saw me smiling at him

"You said what you had to say"

"So why did you pull me here?" He asked with a confused frown that made him adorable.

"You're cute when you're confused. You make a pout that makes me want to bite you" I say with a small laugh that got a little louder when he huffed and rolled his eyes "Now seriously, I need to sort something out real quick......" I interrupt myself when I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket. I answered as soon as I saw who it was "I was about to go looking for you, trouble"

"Come to the barrier now please" when I hear his voice of crying and fear I leave Saul and run to where I feel Riven is.

When I arrive I see him sitting on the floor with his hands on his head. His entire body was shaking.

"Dammit Riven what happened?" I asked crouching in front of him.

"The... there's a....." he couldn't stop stuttering and pointing towards the forest. I put my hands on his face making him look at me.

"First take a deep breath and calm down" He did as I asked and took a few deep breaths. It made me smell the cigarette in his mouth "Were you smoking again?" I ask getting angry again "My God when are you going to learn....."

"Can you give me the scolding later please?" I sighed seeing that it would be better to let this one go

"Fine. But tell me what happened"

"I found a body in the forest" my eyes widened at his words.

Shit.  Shit.  Shit.  Shit.

"Can you take me to him?" He shook his head again, shivering.

"No no I won't go near that thing again please"

"It's ok calm down. Explain to me how to get to there"

After he told me how to get to the body, I sent him to his dorm to take a shower and calm down before the orientation party that will have among the students.

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I'm leaning against a tree outside the barrier waiting for Farah to arrive with Saul and Ben so they can look at the body.  After Riven went to the dormitory I called her to explain what happened.

When I saw the body I knew what had done it.  And what that meant.

"Celeste" I come back to reality when I hear Saul calling me "No more running like that without giving explanations. Why did not you call me? And can you stay inside the barrier please" he said pulling me and handing me the coat I left behind.

"I called Farah. You are here and that's what matters. And I know how to take care of myself. Let's go" I guided them toward the body. Feeling them very close to me. Mostly Saul. "I know you love me but you don't have to cling to me" I roll my eyes.

Arriving at the place I leaned against another tree letting them focus on the poor man's body.

After a few minutes Saul was the first to say something.

"It's fresh" Oh, really?  I thought it was a mummy

"Maybe a wolf" Are they going to play a guessing game?

"Or a bear" It looks like they will

"Or maybe a carnivorous swan" I couldn't help myself. The answer is in their faces and they try to run away. With my little unnecessary comment they just looked at me and decided to ignore it.

"Could have gone out to protect his herd and got surprised" Saul returned to speculate

"I'm happy to continue the guessing game but...this is char residue" Ben said after being silent until now. Saying out loud what I've been thinking for the last few minutes.

And by the looks of the other two they didn't like the idea very much.

"How long since the last sighting?" Saul asked after exchanging a look with Farah.

"About two decades"

"Sixteen years" Farah corrected Ben "Rosalind was relentless"

"Could've been hiding at the mountains waiting..."Saul tried to say but Farah stopped him

"She killed all the Burned Ones" said irritated.

"We thought she did" Ben joined the discussion

"Ben, what we think is irrelevant. The Barrier's doing its job. Until we know something for sure, let's clean this up before gossip starts" But how stubborn this woman is. My God. She was already turning to leave.

I let out a laugh catching the three's attention. But my laugh was humorless.

"Dear Farah, you've been the headmistress of this school for years and you don't seem to know your students well. While we're here worrying, the whole school already knows.  They're already all creating theories or even making clueless comments"  I say looking at her with a not very friendly smile. But soon he disappeared "Now speaking of Rosalind, are you going to tell me what you left out last time?" I ask making the three of them look at each other.

Saul came to me and took my hands, pulling me a little so that I got off the tree.

"We'll tell you when the time is right Celeste, I need you..." I pulled my hands from his, making him stop talking.

"Need me what Silva? Wait a little bit more? I have been patient with you for the past year. I should have arrested you the moment I heard about the people you killed in Aster dell.  But no. I decided to listen to you and trust. And I've been waiting until you guys answer my damn questions. But so far nothing. Nothing. You always get off the fucking topic. And you still demand of me. And the worst thing is knowing that the queen covered you up" I kept my voice low but loaded with anger.

"We'll tell you everything but not now. Please Verena wait just a little longer" Farah tried to calm me down but her words only made me angry for real.

"A little longer? How much is a little Dawling? Until another body appears? I want my answers. Where's Rosalind? What did they do to her? What really happened to Andreas? Do you think I believe the story that he was killed by a Burned One?" She just let out a sigh and didn't answer me. I could feel the guilt the three of them carried. But it was Saul's feelings that had the most effect on me. He was afraid that if they told me I would walk away or give them away. In his mind he replayed the memory of when he'd killed Andreas. And with that several images of me calling him a murderer. I would never do that to him. With none of them.

Feeling this I decided to wait and let things flow. If a Burned One is already here in Alfea, then more will arrive soon. And they'll have no choice but to tell me everything.

"Fine If you want to continue with this bullshit be my guest.  But if there really is a Burned One in this forest, I'll call the Solaria Guard and then I want to see you guys dealing with Luna"

With that I left them and headed towards the school.

"Celeste waits" Saul tried to call me

"Leave me alone Silva." I was one of the few people who called him by his first name. So he knows that if I call him Silva, he'd better stay away.

Sometimes I think I should win an award for my performances. I just hope that when they find out the truth, they'll understand my side and forgive me. Especially Saul.

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kisses and I hope you like it♡♡♡

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