In Between Episode 2 - Episode 3
◇Shadows and Rage◇

▪︎Verena▪︎

I finish combing my wet hair and head back to the bedroom. Opening the bathroom door I see Saul sitting on the bed looking nervous. When he saw me he breathed a sigh of relief.

"Are you alright honey?" I apply a towel to my hair, removing the excess water.

"Uhum" agreed, calling me with his hand. "I thought you left"

"Yesterday you asked me to stay" I sit next to him giving him a kiss on the cheek "So I'm staying"

He takes my hand and brings it to his lips.

"Come have a coffee while I change your bandages"

He grimaced in pain as he stood up and with each step his body tensed.

I help him to the table and go get new bandages along with the Zambaq Ben brought earlier.

I try to be as gentle as possible. And I discreetly use a little magic to ease his pain. In a moment Saul stopped eating and stared at me.

"Stop looking at me like that!"

"Can't I look at my beautiful girlfriend anymore?" He smirked at my face.

"Your beautiful girlfriend is getting embarrassed"

I put on the gauze and start bandaging his body. His eyes didn't leave me for a second.

I pull his shirt down and start cleaning the other injuries. When I'm done, I get up to clear the table. With everything cleared I go back to sit next to him.

"Did you sleep?" He asked me worried "you can't stop yawning and you look sleepy"

I hesitate before answering, wondering if I'm telling the truth or not.

"Not much" I decide to be honest "You moved around a lot at night. Every sound that came out of you worried me. So I didn't sleep so much"

He assumed a guilty expression and squeezed my hand.

"Don't even think about apologizing" He closed his mouth and drew his eyebrows together "I don't mind taking care of you"

I smile bringing my face closer to his. Before our lips touched my phone started ringing.

I curse and Saul made the face he always does when I curse like that.

It was Dawling.

I end the call without saying anything.

"She wants us in her office" I say getting up and helping him to do the same.

"Will you try to stay calm?" Saul asked holding my arm.

"I'm a calm person" I peck him with a smile.

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▪︎Author▪︎

When Verena entered the office, she saw Dawling sitting at her desk. Ben was standing beside her with his hands behind his back. Besides them there were two more people in the room. A man and a woman.

After a quick glance she identified them as Marco and Noura, former students of Alfea.

Saul sat down on the couch with difficulty, trying not to show the pain he was feeling. Verena stood behind him with her arms crossed and her face irritated. Anyone who looked would see rage bubbling in her eyes.

After half an hour of talking trying to come up with a plan, they heard Callum's voice on the other side, along with heavy footsteps that didn't stop despite the assistant protests.

The door opened revealing four men and two women. All apparently about the same age as Verena.

None of them bothered to greet anyone, they just threw a tablet at Verena and mimicked her position. All exposing the same tattoo that the brunette had on her right forearm. A thin dagger that started at the elbow and went up to the wrist.

Saul recognized them as her teammates.

After looking at the files for a few seconds Verena went towards the door pushing them out.

"Go on without me" she said closing the door without looking back.

Those present in the room looked at each other before returning to their conversation.

Saul was left wondering what was on that tablet. And what were they doing here.

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▪︎Verena▪︎

"You have to tell him soon" Laurent repeated for the fifth time making me roll my eyes.

We were sitting on the lawn, waiting for the meeting to end.

I look at Octavian beside me. The noise of the machine buzzing in our ears since he started touching up the tattoo on my arm. Also adding some more details.

"I already told you that it's not possible. If he finds out about Cassian before the time, everything will go down the drain" I answer, already impatient with his insistence.

"Actually, you should have told him when you met again at the palace" Alina, who was braiding my hair, decided to give her opinion on the conversation.

"When the bomb explodes, things go downhill anyway" pointed out Maia

"And you two, aren't you going to say anything?" Octavian asked turning off the machine.

Dorian and Nicolai exchanged a quick glance before answering.

"We agreed that yes, Silva should know, especially after they started a relationship." Dorian started looking at me intently "But we can all imagine his reaction. He's going to want to go after Cass, and that would jeopardize everything Verena's been working hard to achieve."

"And she doesn't like messing with people's memories. She won't want to erase his. And we all know what is happening and Verena's reasons" Nicolai continued giving me a smile "We as a family have to support and help with whatever she needs"

I smiled at them gratefully. The others agreed too, smiling at me. I don't know what I would do without them.

"They're out" I say turning around just as the door opens.

Everyone that was in the room was surprised to see the soldiers outside the school.

In addition to Marco and Noura's team, the camp had fifteen soldiers. Armed and ready to go.

Saul's eyes came straight to me.

"The way he looks at you" Alina lets out a happy sigh behind me. I look at her and she has a silly face.

I don't know how Laurent put up with her. This girl has a fixation on romance that is unbelievable.

And he wasn't looking at me in a cute way.

"How many did you feel?" Octavian asked, pointing with his chin at the team of former students Dowling had assembled.

"Everyone except Marco" I mutter, feeling the guilt hammering.

I feel Octavian's hand on my leg in comfort.

"Did you mark them?" Dorian whispered

I nod.

I feel a pinch and turn to see Saul almost falling to the ground. Dawling and Ben help him to sit on one of the benches.

I run towards him crouching in front of him.

"I'll get the Zambaq" Ben hurried off towards the greenhouse

"The Queen said she wouldn't send soldiers" Dawling muttered looking around "Why are they here?"

"I talked to Luna and she gave me permission" Lie. I look at Marco as he approaches "That's only half of them. The rest will meet you on the way. They'll be scattered around if you need backup"

"You don't trust us" he stated crossing his arms

"I don't know you. And I don't trust anyone I don't know. They're a precaution of mine. Plus they're extra help if you need it."

"Celeste" Saul scolded me despite the pain

"What?" I look at him without understanding

Before he could answer Dawling's phone beeped. Her face went pale and when I was about to ask, mine beeped.

I open the image Ben sent. I'm sure the color in my face is gone too.

The greenhouse was destroyed. All dead plants.
Including Zambaq.

I text him to get the bag from my room. There was a small amount there, but enough until I got back.

"Farah take him to our room" I ask getting up "After lunch I'll go out to recover what we lost"

I walk into school listening to my friends following me.

I also text Beatrix, asking her and Viperine to meet me at lunch.

"Where are you going to get all that?" I stop walking when I hear Maia. My silence was the response "Verena not him. Please"

When everyone understood who she was talking about, they started to protest too.

"You're not going to look for him and that's final" Nicolai stopped in front of me looking at me with his hands on his hips."You don't know where he is and we'll keep it that way."

I smile guiltily at them. Now it looked like they wanted to jump on my neck.

"We thought you stopped years ago. You promised you wouldn't use it anymore"

"And I'm keeping my promise. I'm not using anything. I needed someone I knew who could keep a few things for me. He's good at it."

"Are you serious that you asked him Verena? Honestly I'm starting to think you're crazy"

Uau. Thank you Octavian.

"Can you guys stop. I'm fine. Trust me" I walk again and this time they didn't follow me.

"Okay but we'll go with you" Dorian yelled not bothering to draw attention

I missed them.

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▪︎Author▪︎

In the deepest part of the school's labyrinth, Viperine and Beatrix were waiting for the eldest. What they didn't know is that Verena was already there. In silence. Watching them from within the shadows.

"Why does she say a time if she won't even be here?" Beatrix rolled her eyes in annoyance.

Verena always held back to never take it out on them. In all these years she never used her magic against them. But they crossed a line, and now they're going to see the worst side of it.

The two began to feel a pressure in their throats leaving them out of breath. It increased until they were completely suffocated. They tried to struggle, but couldn't move. When they looked down at their shadows, there was a third along with them. As if someone was holding them from behind. Arms around their necks. But there was no one with them.

The space around them darkened as if it had turned to night. Verena appeared in front of them. As if it had formed from the shadows. The girls widened their eyes seeing her face. Her eyes were completely black.

They were lucky they didn't look too deep. If they did, they would see their biggest fears, their biggest nightmares.

Beatrix tried to call out to her. Wanting to ask to stop. But no sound came out.

Verena realized she'd been holding on for too long. If it continued, they would soon lose consciousness.

The dome of darkness crumbled, leaving them to feel the heat of the midday sun.

The pressure was gone, allowing air to enter their lungs again. The two fell to the ground holding their necks, coughing trying to breathe normally again.

"What the fuck was that?" Viperire growled hoarsely

"I hope you can explain the shit you've been doing" Verena ignored "You disobeyed me and released The Burned One. And now, Viperine, you've ruined the greenhouse and with it, Silva's Zambak"

"It's easy to get Zambak" she claimed getting up too fast, making her head spin "I'm sure you guys got more by now"

Verena crossed her arms, her lips pressing into a line.

"It might be easy, but it won't come cheap" she replied through gritted teeth "I'm the one who has to go through trouble of chasing after everything you've destroyed"

"Alfea has earth fairies, Verena" Beatrix's voice came out as husky as Viperine's.

"Newbie fairies who don't know how to recover things on a large scale" she stated trying to control her anger.

"So, I don't know, call little Luna and have more fairies brought here" Viperine complains and rolls her eyes

Verena couldn't take the petulance any longer, she tried something different. Viperine felt her body on fire. Burning inside and out. She bit her lip, holding back a cry of pain. She was strong, Verena couldn't deny it, but that was nothing compared to the things she could do.

"I'm already pretty pissed off" Verena growled "Then you better not tease me. Because believe me, I can make you see hell"

Beatrix, seeing that the blonde was almost fainting from the pain, begged her to stop.

"She got it Verena"

She was careful not to leave any marks. And she made sure to erase her magic trail.

"Viperine I know it was a tantrum, as she can't be mature and accept an order" Verena said heavily "Now you, Beatrix, what was your motive?"

Beatrix looked at Viperine on the floor, swallowed hard before replying.

"Because we need to act fast. In your way, we might take the whole year"

"In a few weeks, more Burned Ones will arrive at the barrier. That would be the distraction"

"And you didn't think to tell us that before?" exclaimed Viperine, regaining some strength

"I was going to, but unfortunately your stupid decision didn't give me time. And now I have dead soldiers and Silva infected. And to make matters worse, we don't have Zambaq in this school anymore"

Viperine tried to get up, but the best she could manage was to sit up before she had another jolt of pain.

"I can petrify Silva" she suggested "Theoretically, it should interrupt the Burned One's venom in his bloodstream"

"Maybe because then Silva won't even have a bloodstream anymore" retorted Beatrix.

Verena watched them carefully. Wondering how long it would take for them to stop acting like this.
If that would ever happens.

For now, one scare would be enough.

"I care about you both. And I hate hurting the people I care about," Verena said, not hiding how tired and irritated she was, "But I swear if anything else happens to him because of you, I'll kill you. And I'll make sure no one remembers that you existed"

Without giving any opportunity for answers, she turned and left leaving the two of them on the floor.

She smiled, satisfied knowing that after what had just happened, none of them would dare step out of line again.

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It was almost midnight and Verena still hadn't returned.

If Silva didn't need to sit, he would be pacing. Well, Sky was doing it for him. The boy refused to go to sleep until she returned.

"It's late Sky. What are you doing up?" the four of them jumped a little when they heard her voice.

Everyone sigh in relief.

"Ben, can you show them the greenhouse please?" she asked pointing to the people behind her "They are fairies. They will help restore the plants"

He agreed by guiding people through the school. Dawling decided to follow along.

In the cafeteria, only Sky, Silva and Verena were left.

She approached giving Sky a kiss on the cheek and a peck on Silva.

"What happened to your phone?" Sky asked "We were worried"

"The place I went doesn't have a very good signal. So I left it off"

"What if something happened and you needed help?"

"Saul, I'm fine. And I was with my team. Nothing knocks us down" winked at him.

"Your tattoo is different" Sky commented looking at her arm as she rolled up her sleeves.

Saul caught it also analyzing the drawing.

"Octavian did this while we waited earlier"

"What were they doing here? And what was on the tablet?"

"Information I needed" she shrugged, not wanting to get into the subject "Now you two go to sleep because it's past time. I'll be there in a little while" She gave another peck before getting up.

.................

▪︎Verena▪︎

"Here it is!" I throw the envelope full of money at him

He opens it and smiles satisfied with the amount.

"You're generous today. I have something for you too." He takes another envelope out of his pocket and tosses it to me.

I grimace when I see the content.

"You know I'm out. I don't want to know about this crap anymore" I throw back almost hitting him in the face.

"You'll want it back. And I'll be waiting" he smiled mischievously closing his window.

I watch his car drive away.

I get a little startled when I feel my phone vibrating in my pocket.

Unknown number

"Verena?" the girl on the other side asked.

"Bloom?" what is this girl doing awake? "Is everything OK?"

"Can I ask you something ?" her voice was shaky and i can imagine her biting her nails

"Of course. Go ahead"

"You know about me being a changeling. Don't you?"

"I was the one who told about you Bloom. I wanted you to know, but Dawling thought it would be too much information for you"

"You told me you don't remember your family. What's it like?"

I sure as hell wasn't expecting this question.

"I gave up on finding an answer a while ago" I look at the starry sky with a sigh "But sometimes I find myself wondering if there's someone out there who is looking for me. If they miss me or if they think I'm dead. Or if they're gone"

"But if you had any chance of finding out the truth, would you go for it?"

Now I understood what she really wanted.

"Yes. If I saw an opportunity, no matter how small, I would take it. And I wouldn't let anything or anyone stop me."

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kisses and I hope you like it♡♡♡

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