Octavia

"Rosalind, is a devious woman with plenty of tricks up her sleeves" I announced as I stepped out of the shadows and into the light.

As they should well know. One of the more... malevolent, shadows whispered

Silva jolted as he turned around but his face remained calm. Soldier's training I suppose. Downing hand moved a muscle, perhaps she knew I was there all along. I doubt it.

"Does it really surprise you that she's still screwing with people beyond her- what was it again" stasis mistress "ah, yes. The stasis confinement. Does she listen in on these conversations Miss Dowling? She seems awfully close for comfort." 

I pouted haughtily, a family mask creeping upon me. Stay cold. Stay strong. Don't show fear - don't show weakness. They were friends with Rosalind. Even if they aren't now I can't take the risk until I know more.

"Rosalind is secure" Dowling proclaimed, head raised as she walks around to the front of the desk.

Silva shift back to stand by Dowling's side but I hear his phone buzz slightly. He shifts, Silvas clearly expecting important information if he's suddenly become distracted.

I let out a hum.

Secure. Really. Does she think I'm stupid. I couldn't help but demand of the shadows.

She's scared,mistress. She's hiding behind a mask of confidence. Little shadow reassured me

... much like you mistress. I tense at the malevolent shadows words, that one never liked me. Never liked anything, haughty bastard.

"What was that" Dowling questions. She smiled curiously but I could see the burning desire behind her eyes. Silva stands tense beside her, moving his hand away from his pocket where his phone rests. Maybe he's waiting for Sky to text. He might want to make sure his son found his room safely.

"What was what?" I questioned, schooling my face into a mask of innocent confusion.

"I have been practicing magic for a very long time Octavia, I can feel the hum in the air when it is used"

Can she really? Funny, my shadows aren't my magic. Perhaps she is bluffing.

Or she knows something we don't. Darkling snarled

I thought you knew everything. I questioned, annoyance seeping into my words.

Silva glances between the two of and his phone buzzes again and I see the brief flash of alarm in his eyes. Who is waiting on? 

"You must be mistaken, headmistress. I was not using any magic. Perhaps it was one of your little trinkets"

I held her stare as she settled back against her desk. In the corner of my eye I could see headmaster Silva glance between us.

He looks like a tennis spectator. Little shadow giggled quietly as I fight the urge to join him.

Eventually Silva interrupts , coughing politely but neither of us break our stare. When that doesn't work he awkwardly leaves the room pulling his phone out as he goes. I wonder if he was seeking to avoid the oncoming conflict or looking for an excuse to check his messages. 

I continue to stare at the Headmistress. I don't know what Dowling was thinking when she challenged a traumatised teenager to a battle of wills. We'll either roll over and go to sleep out of avoidance or- you'll go to the ends of the earth to prove you're the Alpha? Malevolent asked. You know what Maleficent wannabe, why don't you shut it while I win this fight, yeah?

Leave her be, Asmodeus. It's the only dominance fight she'll probably win. Darkling sniggered in the back of my mind with the other shadows.

I-, what on earth are these buffoons talking about? I forgot how annoying it is having shadows that know all secrets yet won't share them like spoilt toddlers.

"Hello?"

Bloom.

Fire-fairy. From the first world.

She came with Stella.

"Ah, Bloom - welcome. Please come in." Dowling said as she walked further into the middle of the office to greet Bloom.

"Bloom this is Octavia. Stella's twin"

Bloom looked comically shocked.

"Twins?" She asked incredulously. Her eyes dart between Dowling and me. "They look nothing alike." I fight the urge to scowl as she doesn't even bother to address me.

How very American of her

"My sister and I decided to change our appearances to match our personality instead of each other. It gets tiring being mistaken for someone else. Even when we are fraternal twins." Bloom makes a noise of acknowledgment before turning to Dowling.

"I want you both to think of Alfea as your new home." Dowling smiled kindly at Bloom. "I'm sure it must be overwhelming for you Bloom being in an entirely new world."

Bloom chuckles as she moves away from the globe she was study.

"And yet I saw no less than three people updating their insta stories" Bloom nervously crosses her hands in front of herself.

"Octavia is in a slightly similar situation, she has been travelling around the realms for some time."

Bloom looks at me in curiosity and I internally curse. I didn't exactly get to travel far before the ambush.

"Perhaps the two of you could talk, swap stories. Octavia can tell you more about the fairies of the Otherworld."

Bloom nods and smiles hesitantly at me. I force a polite smile back but I have no time to be making friends that will require so much support and guidance. I need to learn more about my powers and finish my research as soon as possible. I can't just leave her in Rosalind's clutches while I get to relax and roam free.

 "I was half expecting a school full of tinker bells zipping around"

I scoff, "Disappointed?" I question with a raised brow

"I'm just bummed I didn't see a single pair of wings" She jokes. I smile slightly, we might have been friends once upon a time. Still could if I move on. If I finish the mission. 

And you will mistress. You just need time, we cannot rush this or will risk it all. 

One shot remember?

"Well, we had wings in the past." Dowling says as she walks back around to her desk carrying a leaflet of papers. "As we've evolved, transformation magic has been lost amongst most races, particularly the more technologically advanced ones."

Has it though. Has it reaaaallly been lost? Little shadow asks

Hush. I command. She is referring to fairies not fae.

"Also, tink was an air fairy. You are a fire fairy." Dowling indicates for us both to take the seats in front of her desk.

"Yeah that much I know." Bloom says meekly, glancing around nervously as I slowly drift into the background.

Trouble there. Lots of trauma too. The little shadow reports sadly.

"You'll both start your classes tomorrow. Start with the basics. Learn to use your magic slowly but safely." Dowling looks down as if she is going to work on the papers in front of her. That's a bit disrespectful if you ask me

"And when you say slowly" Bloom asks hesitantly, clearly wanting to learn about her powers sooner.

No, not knowledge of her powers. She wants control of them.

Huh. I guess there really is some trauma there.

"I mean it. Magic can be dangerous. That goes for you too Octavia. I know you have excellent control but with your heritage your magic is growing faster than we anticipated."

So that's what lies Stella and Mother spun. Ancient family magic is building up inside me. It makes sense, it's believable. Believable enough to convince Dowling. Bloom looks at me in surprise and, comradeship? Like she recognises me in some way as an equal. Perhaps she was told a similar story about her own magic. 

She feels old. Her magic must be truly ancient if it's managed to envelop her essence in such a way.

"Alfea's curriculum is built with your safety in mind. Trust the process." Dowling says somewhat condescendingly. "Alfea's graduates have ruled realms and lead armies. They have forged powerful relics, and rediscovered long lost magic" she continues on, glancing at me. Helios, could she be more obvious that she suspects my "hereditary magic" has links to the dragon flame. Dowling settles back into her chair and she indicates to the world around her. "They shape the other world. If you succeed here, you will too"

Funny sales pitch. Inviting kids in with the promise of power and crowns.

"Well, this place, the other world, uh... Alfea" Bloom stutters hesitantly. It seems amazing. It...." She trails off, eyes glistening with tears "This isn't my home" She looks at Dowling, eye pleading. For a second, I feel like I shouldn't be there. Like I'm intruding. It feel as though they have forgotten I am here. I gently fold the shadows over me in a slight mist, as much as I will risk around Dowling. I silently drift into the background, using my powers to mute my presence.

"I don't need to rule a realm or lead an army. I'm here because you said you would teach me control"

Dowling stands up, clearly agitated with the way the conversation has gone.

"No Bloom. You're here because you knew you had no other choice" Bloom looks down. Swallowing tightly.

I feel a familiar panic clawing at my throat as I see Bloom begin to crumble. The sight is so similar to Stella. So similar to Ricki and-

Standing hastily, I ask. "Did you have anything to tell me? Mother said you had plans for my training and something about guards."

Dowling and bloom look startled. Huh, I guess they really did forget I was there. The downside of living in the shadows - you always seem to drift into them.

"You will be training with the specialists as well. You'll take classes as normal but some of the lessons will be swapped out for training and you'll be expected to take part in the before and after school training sessions." Dowling straightens up. Her face smoothing away any previous displeasure at the conversation with Bloom. "The guards are unnecessary, you are safe here."

"Good, I'll be on my way then"

I hastily stride out of the room eager to get rid of the growing tension in my body.

｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆

I stride into Stella's room, plopping down on her bed.

"What are you doing! You're sitting on my dress." Stella snaps, her eyes alight with incredulous anger. She could never get truly mad at me.

I laugh rolling of the thrilling top as Stella playfully snatches it away. A few errant shadows cling to the top, pulling against her slightly. Stella's gaze drop down to them and I tense.

"How many times have I told you, you pesky shadows. Stay off. My. Clothes" she grits out, tugging away the top. I burst out in laughter as the shadows giggle along with me. I watch as Stella walks towards the floor length mirror, lifting the top against herself.

The top would look good with her blue jeans and white heels. One of the more shy shadows whispers. Sometimes I think that one has a crush on Stella. It's always the shadow with a hint of blue flowing through it that whispers compliments to her in the dark. The one that always dances with her light.

"It would look good with your blue jeans and white heels, Stel" Stella turns around to smile at me before glancing at the door.

"Can we help you"

Bloom was standing in the doorway holding a wash bag.

"Yeah, eh. Are you changing?" She asks hesitantly, looking baffled at what Stella was doing.

"I am." Stella replies bluntly. Looking down at a shimmering piece of rainbow fabric

Absolutely not. Don't let her wear that

"I thought the orientation party was a casual thing" Bloom questions, clearly doubting herself.

"Not that one Stel." She smiles back in thanks. I turn to Bloom and say "It is."

I begin to sift through the clothes on Stella's bed, seeing if anything catches my eye.

"A casual thing your changing for." Bloom asks quickly

"People have seen us in these outfits already. They'll expect something different." Stella replies. Trying out a different skirt in front of the mirror as she ignores Bloom. I wonder why Bloom hasn't got the hint yet.

"People expect you to wear multiple outfits in a day?" Bloom questions incredulously with a slight nervous laugh.

"People expect us to care how we look." I snap, getting sick of her prodding. If we weren't confident in our looks and decisions we might have taken her words as an insult. Is she socially awkward or trying to make us uncomfortable?

I stand up next to Stella holding out a blue dress for her try. I snap fingers making a light ball hover above us. Bloom flinches back in shock. She truly has never seen magic before. Not used in everyday life at least.

"Something else" Stella asked tiredly

"That light. That's magic-" Blooms voice sounds almost reverent. Her eyes lighting up as she points hastily at the glowing orb and then glances at me. "How- how exactly do you do"

"I'm a mentor, not a tutor." Stella replies bluntly, finally turning to face Bloom.

Bloom looks down defeated, eye brimming with unshed tears. I watch as she glances down the hallway as if looking for an escape. Pity washes over me and I feel guilty for being so standoffish. I tense up, shaking with guilty adrenaline filled confidence. I hate talking to new people, no matter how confident people think I am, I always have done. Putting aside what happened with Rosalind, I still grew up in the world. Bloom didn't. I open my mouth to explain but Stella beats me to it.

"Look, this is something you'll learn on your first day in class, fairy magic is linked to emotion." Stella forces a smile. "It could be good thoughts, could be bad," Her voices drops to a sultry whisper before rising, "Love, hatred, fear. The stronger the emotion. The stronger the magic." I watch as a genuine smile lights on Stella's face as she nods to bloom before turning back to where I was standing by the mirror. I relax a little at the happiness on my twin's face.

"So, do you.. do you hate me or fear me?" Bloom chuckles slightly in question. 

My head snaps round before titling slightly in surprise. A spike of rage shoots through me at her comment. I'm too strung out on adrealine from today's roller coaster of dealing with my mother, finding out the Headmistress was in cahoots with Rosalind to dealing with a first year. Irritations flashes through me, causing my hands to curl into fists. Does she have any idea who we are - royalty. Never mind that but her comments are getting intrusive for anyone. 

"You were just looking at me when you did the... spell" Bloom snaps her fingers, mocking my earlier motion. "I'm pretty sure you don't love me, so.." Bloom continues to chuckle anxiously.

Does she have no sense of self preservation? Or social skills. This is embarrassing. Darkling mutters

"Well, I don't know you." I laugh slightly as I stalk towards Bloom with Stella closely following. Watching as she tenses up I stride confidently snapping my fingers again to shroud the room back into darkness, watching with predatory intent as she flinches at the move. 

"But I'm sure once I do, I'll find..." A slight pause as we stand just out of the door, "Something to love." Stella finishes off for me. With that I lift my hand up in the air and flick my wrist causing the door to slam shut behind me. Blooms jumps in shock as I brush past her.

Stella walks past me towards Terra as she lays out plants over the window sill.

Did she pack the amazon rainforest?

Hush, they're pretty plants. Full of light.

I ignore the shadows as I stride towards the armchair picking up my jacket.

"Shared space, Terra. Everyone loved the secret garden because it was a secret." Stel called out. I fought the urge to snigger at my sister's comment, forgetting how sassy she could be.

"Actually, that's not quite the message..." I walk away as I hear Terra refute Stella's comment. I'm in no mood to listen to anymore first year commentary.

Rushing down through the corridors I search around, eager to find a hide away spot to travel through. I should have just stayed in Stella's room and travelled from there. Then again, the girls might have questioned it. I pause as I find a hidden corner away from view. I lunge forwards folding myself into the shadows.

You're back again I see

Come to join us this time?

Leave her alone. She's had a long day.

I shake my head, trying to get away from their thoughts

We're in your head Octavia, you can't escape us so easily

I was trembling - couldn't stop shaking. Panic began to seep in as I loose control. This is just like in the beginning. When the shadows first spoke to me. I thought I had gone insane. I had gone insane. They just brought be back.

Are you okay mistress

Move, I need to move. I need air and light. Shaking, I reach out, connecting to the shadows around the school. I find one outside, far away from the buildings, in the shade of a tree.

I move.

Running and jumping through the shadows, crashing into the walls and objects providing me with shade. Faster and faster until I slam into the ground by the tree's base.

I can't breathe.

I'm still shaking and trembling. My hands won't stop tingling.

Breathe

I jolt forwards at the sound of little shadow.

You need to breathe. Inhale, hold it. Good. Now exhale.

I copied the shadows commands, sinking back against the tree as I did.

Good, again. Inhale. Hold. Exhale.

I don't know how long I was sat there but the once empty space, empty training ground, began to fill up with people.

Specialists. We're at the specialist training grounds by the pond. Darling answers for me. It's usually sneering voice is soft in a way I haven't heard before.

I look up watching as two pairs of specialists fight on one of the raised platforms above the pond.

A kick to the chest and the boy will fall in

I watch as just that happens. I laugh before I can stop myself, watching as the boy splashes into the boggy pond. I gaze around the training field as my heart begins to slow down. The specialists were good, better than I had expected.

Not as good as you. Little shadow whispered.

I blushed at it's compliment. Drea was never one for praise during training.

I know enough to survive in a fight. Overconfidence gets people killed. I reply.

True, but so does underestimation

I smirk slightly looking up as I catch sight of a family blonde and brunette sparring. I wonder what they are talking about. Sky seems tense and the brunette looks far too happy.

Shall we show you mistress?

I pause. The shadows have shown me things before. Allowed me to hear conversations I shouldn't have, that's how I got in this mess in the first place. I glance down at my wrists. Playing with the sleeves that cover my scars. But I can feel that heaviness's creeping in, that familiar crushing weight.

Go on then.

My vision goes black.

Tensing, i desperately try to look around.

Flashes of a familiar cell and rows of vials flicker into view.

The red-head tied down beside.

We're here, Sky and Riven.

Riven. That's his name. And then I realise that I'm watching them, from the shadows of some object.

A/N: Do you prefer long chapters less often or short chapters more frequently