｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆ Map of the Solarian Realm ｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆

Octavia

"Oh- Kay" I sing, bustling into the infirmary. "I've got waffles, bacon, sausage, egg-"

"Pancakes?" Riv, rasps.

"Pancakes." I lift a plate up in indication. "-and orange Juice, apple juice and water."

Placing the two enchanted heating trays onto a side table in a rather impressive looking acrobatic move that actually covered up my near stumble. I feel a small bubble of anxiety fill my chest but I quickly push it aside in favour of giving a tired Riven a grin.

"Oh." I make a soft noise of realisation. "And a bowl of strawberries."

"But that's for you." Riv murmurs softly, looking up at me with a gentle expression.

"That's for me." I blush, ducking my head down to use my hair as a shield.

"Hmmmm..." Riv mockingly hums.

The covers shift and move as Riv shuffles along the bed, I rush to his side and ignore his muffled statements of being fine in favour of helping him sit up. That tightness is still in my chest so I quickly busy myself fluffing up the pillows and fussing over the covers.

He could get cold or develop an infection. Maybe I should get him an extra pillow so he can sit up better. My hands begin to shake as I sit down on the bedside chair and continue to fuss over Riven's covers, folding, unfolding, then smoothing them out again.

"Pix- Pix" Riv murmurs, lifting his hand up to link his pinkie through mine. "I'm okay."

Taking a ragged breath I look up at Riv through teary eyes.

"Oh Pixie." He coos, clenching his hand.

"I know, I know." I scoff, hastily rubbing at my eyes. "I just got a fright is all."

He hums. "Nothing I can't handle."

"Well I can't handle seeing my friends in pain." I snap and look away, irritation at his lack of care seeping in.

How can he be so flippant about his life? Yes, we're fairies and yes we have healing powers but we are not gods. We don't trifle with life and death. What would have happened if Stella wasn't here. I freeze. What would have- how could-

"So we're friends?" Riv asks, tugging on my pinkie to draw me back to the present, I jerk slightly but look over at him.

His abdomen is wrapped in bandages and I can see bruise cream seeping through. Pale skin peaks through the gaps and I see his upper body littered with scars that has my mouth water in appreciation. Even injured Riv's body is toned and corded with muscles and prominent veins.

"Well if you wanted to see me in bed I would have picked a more convenient location for us." Riv drawls, a grin sliding on his tired face. "Though I'm sure I could make it work here if-"

"Riven." I roll my eyes and grin as he lets out a dramatic sigh, flipping his head back to look up at the ceiling in mock despair. I blush as I realise where my thoughts had begun to turn. Stupid, stupid Tavi.

"What food do you want?" I ask to distract myself.

Riv rolls his head to the side, looking at me with something soft in his gaze. "Have you eaten?"

"I- yes, I have eaten." I say in shock. "I asked-"

"Are you sure? Because I saw a certain fairy stumbling drunk through the dark last night."

I playfully swat at his arm, laughing as he fakes an over-dramatic wince before turning away from me with a pout.

"That is none of your concern." I huff.

He hums and turns to look at me again, eyes sparkling with a familiar mischief. "I'll have the sausage sandwich."

I sigh and give him a warning look which he merely raises his brows too. I turn to the trays and begin piling on two sausage sandwiches, a glass of orange juice and a bowl of fruit onto one tray while hastily pushing the other bowls and plates onto the counter.

"How much do you-" I cut Riv off with a sharp glare.

Don't challenge me on this, boy. You scared me shitless so now you have to endure my fussing. My shadows hum in agreement but remain hidden and silent, allowing me to care for Riv on my own. Riven remains quiet as he shuffles up straighter and I bring over the tray on one of those bed table things that rest on the bed below you on either side of your legs. I remain standing, fussing over Riven until he swats my hands away and picks up a sandwich.

You're such a mother hen. Asmodeus chuckles.

I snarl at him. Go back to being silent

I glare at Riven until he finishes the first sandwich and has drank half the orange juice, only settling down properly in my chair once I'm content that he's eaten enough to not collapse. We sit in comfortable silence, Riv eating while I dig through my bag to distract myself with this week's paper work that Lýkos sent through in preparation for tonight's meeting. Unfortunately, Dowling didn't adhere to the Queen's request and made it public knowledge. Just more security threats for Lýkos and I to handle.

We'll scan through all the guests and take up posts in the hallways.

No need to alarm the students with visible guards. Darkling adds.

We could always ask the specialists for their support. Belial comments. They're so young and eager to prove themselves that they would stay loyal and do the job well.

"What happened at the fancy pants ball then?" Riv asks with a sigh as he leans back in his bed to munch on the fruit pot.

"I'll tell you about the ball if you tell me who hurt you."

He rolls his eyes at me but I see a flicker of some sadness there. Someone he knows then.

What did you learn?

You didn't send us away. The malevolent shadow makes a reappearance. We can only really do what you command of us

Fine. I snarl. For future reference, keep an eye on Stella, Beatrix, Sky and Riven. Don't give me constant reports, I don't need to know every aspect of their lives but tell me if they're hurt.

Yes, mistress. He coos darkly.

I grind my teeth. Musa and Terra too, but I'm not as concerned about them. Stay hidden from Terra but let yourself be known to Musa.

"Are you asking the shadows?" Riven asks curiously.

I pause, holding my breath as Riv eyes the shadows who had begun to float around me during the conversation. I wait for the judgement, the anger at the invasion of privacy.

"No," I say hoarsely, and he raises a disbelieving brow. "I asked but they weren't keeping tabs on you. They could find out but I'd rather hear it from you."

Yes, because Riven better give me a name. I'll make their lives miserable. Sadly, if it was a petty drama I'll have to suffice for ruining their day to day lives till they drop out of Alfea. Using my shadows to make them hear voices, moving their stuff, unlocking their door, stalking them. There's so many mind games I could play. Maybe Sky would help. If it's a specialist he could make their training painful, could probably convince Silva to work them to the bone. Scratch that, all I need to do is whisper a name in Irene's ear.

"Stop planning murder." Riv complains. "There's no one to murder."

"Isn't there?"

He sighs. "Didn't Sky tell you?"

He did but I wasn't exactly in my right mind to hear what he was saying past 'Riven is hurt'. I hum noncommittally. Not really giving him an answer. I did kind of know what had happened but then there was the whole, Riven's hurt drama and then the wanting to kill my sister and one of teachers drama and then there was the winx girls drama. So you can't really blame me for forgett-

"It was a horse."

FINAlly, a name. Who... A- a horse. It was a horse.

I'm really confused.

I feel my forehead tighten as I frown. What does he mean by horse? This happened last night, didn't it. Why was he riding a horse? Did he fall off.

"I got trampled." Riv confesses with annoyance, clearly displeased at having to repeat this ridiculous tale. "I fell asleep in the stables and when morning came the horse tried to leave the stall and well..."

He trails off and I just stare at him incredulously. He got-

"YOU GOT TRAMPLED BY A HORSE!"

Riven winces at my tone.

"WHAT WERE YOU THINKING."

He gapes at me. "Well I wasn't exactly thinking since I was asleep-"

"YOU HAVE A DORM! A REALLY SPACIOUS ONE RIVEN..." There's a pause where we just stare at each other, Riv looking guilty and me looking no doubt pissed. "USE THE DORM FOR HELIOS' SAKE."

"Helios, fine. Fine! Just stop shouting." He complains, raising his hand to flap at me in irritation and dismissal with a wince.

I send a shadow out to whip at those fingers, "OW" he yelps, glaring at me.

"Don't flap your hands at me Riven" Everson. " EVERSON"

I calm down as he winces again at my use of his full name. I huff, crossing my arms and we remain in silence as Riv slowly finishes off the fruit bowl. I refuse to look at his stupid face, still very much irritated at him but I quickly clear off his plates from the tray and swap it for the waffles and pancakes that are thankfully still warm due to the heating charm.

"Pixie I'm full-"

I glare. He continues to eat.

"Do you want me to get rid of the horse?" I ask finally.

"NO." I jump, whipping around to face Riv in concern and shock.

I quickly leap to his side fussing the blankets and scanning for any sudden injuries. I ignore his protest of being fine, only pausing when he links our pinkies to grab my attention. Riven stares at me with adoration, clearly enjoying having me care for him despite his protests. A blush rises to my cheeks as Riv brings up our joined pinkies to place a kiss on them, holding my gaze the entire time.

"I'm fine Pix," He gently pats the side of his bed with his free hand. "Sit."

Cautiously sitting down, fearful of causing him pain, I look at him in confusion. What was that outburst?

"I just meant..." he pauses and struggles to find the right words. I wait. "Don't get rid of the horse."

I raised my brows, surprised that this was about the horse.

"Okay." I agree with a smile, happy to do anything if the alternative warrants such a reaction. Even if I wasn't being serious about the horse early.

You were totally going to kill that horse. Darkling mutters

I wonder what Bea would say. Asmodeus murmurs with humour.

Riv smiles at me but I see the way it's more sleepy than last time.

"Get some rest." His eyes widen with slight fear so I quickly add, "I have some reports to go through so I'll be here the whole time."

Riv hesitates but mumbles out a fine and I help him shuffle down and remove the extra pillows to get more comfortable. I wait by his side, pulling the seat so it's up against the bed and placing my reports on the spare mattress room. Riv is out like a light in seconds and I can't help but grin at the stubborn specialist.

Keeping my left hand pinkie locked with Riven's while reading reports is fine, it's when I have to do anything else that it's hard. But I don't let go, Riv's hand clenches whenever I accidentally tug away, anyways.

Mistress...

Yes?

The teachers are inspecting the body.

I pause, glancing at Riven's sleeping form.

Show me.

"It's fresh." Silva comments as he looks at the mangled body, his stance tense and arms crossed. He looks so similar to Sky, it's easy to see where the younger boy got his characteristics.

"Maybe a wolf?" Dowling supplies, her face hard and struggling to stay emotionless.

I see Irene glance at Dowling from her place by Silva's side, she rolls her eyes slightly before stepping forward and crouching next to the body.

"Or a bear." Silva adds after glancing at Dowling's worried face, before looking over at Harvey when the fairy's movements catch his attention.

"Could have gone out to protect his herd, got surprised." Silva says with a stern expression but it's obvious from his tense stance that he doesn't believe what he's saying. Irene looks up at him with raised brows.

Well she doesn't agree with Dowling. Azazel comments

When does she ever. Darkling adds

"Well, I'm happy to continue the guessing game." Harvey comments from his crouched position. Silva's eyes track his mate as she leans forward to scrape at one of the villager's wounds. I watch fascinated as the normally stern headmaster looks tense at the sight of his mate near the body.

He looks like he wants to pull her away. Azazel murmurs.

Irene shows the others the scraped off flesh. "Crystalised char residue."

There's a pause. Dowling looks to Silva in confusion but he only has eyes for his mate as the two stare into each other's eyes, clearly having some form of conversation.

"You suspect they've evolved?" Harvey whispers, his tone horrified and face fearful as he looks between Irene and Silva for confirmation.

"I saw it on my travels when I was... travelling." Irene states, her tone implying something different happened.

"Are you sure," Harvey asks, looking at Dowling and Silva in hesitation. "You weren't exactly-"

"Animals have better senses than fairies and sometimes better than Dumaris depending on the form." Irene turns to face her mate. "I'm certain."

Silva nods and Dowling's expression flickers, I can see the light die from her eyes as she grasps how truly bad the situation is. Silva finally glances back at the headmistress, his body tensing at her worried face before turning back to his mate.

"How long since the last sighting?" Silva asks Irene.

"About two decades." She supplies, tone withdrawn and resigned.

"16 years." Dowling corrects sternly, glancing in dismissal at Irene. "Rosalind was relentless."

"Could have been hiding in the mountain-"

"She killed all the burned ones." Dowling cuts Silva off.

"You thought she did." Irene replies, gaze fierce as she stares down the headmistress.

"Irene, what we think is irrelevant." Dowling's gaze casts to the floor, "The barrier is doing its job."

The headmistress sighs, clearly tired with all the stress,"Until we know something for sure, let's get this cleaned up before the gossip starts up again."

Dowling strides away from the others, heading back to Alfea. Silva remains tense as he glances at Harvey in command. The earth fairy quickly gets the hint and scurries away from the couple.

"You haven't mentioned your... sabbatical before." Silva comments, curiosity and grief shining in his eyes.

"I don't like to bring up the reminder of how weak I was." Irene states bitterly, standing from her crouched position to walk towards her mate.

"Irene-" Silva disagrees.

"I left you Saul, I left Sky." Tears fill her eyes. "What kind of a mate does that, what kind of a mother."

"You were grieving. We all were." Silva reaches up to cup her face.

"But I left you to raise Sky on your own." She mumbles.

Silva shakes his head. "You couldn't control the shift, my love. It was a response to your grief, to keep you safe."

Irene shake her head,

"You came back." Silva snaps, "That is what matters. You came home to us, safe."
"Sky-"

"Sky doesn't remember. He's happy to have you, you know this."

"I missed 7 years of his life, Saul. Not to mention we could only visit before that."

Silva brings his shaking mate into a crushing hug. Clinging to her as if to keep her safe from the past.

I've seen enough. I command

Riven's steady breathing sounds beside me. I look around the room, taking in the late morning light. Well that was interesting to find out.

I wonder what that last part was about. It's none of my concern but it's hard not to be curious. Sky mentioned Irene came into his and Silva's lives when he was 9 but she just said she missed 7 years of his life. So she was there for the first two?

She was in the baby pictures you found of Sky. Darkling adds.

She was. I concede with a nod.

There was none after Sky's birth, the photos started from around his 2 month mark. I read one of Silva's reports to find he had been born during a mission gone wrong. Or rather an attack on a base gone wrong. His mother is only ever referred to as Andreas' mate, perhaps she was Irene's sister? It would explain why she feels obligated to raise him but doesn't push to be referred to as mother.

If there was an attack on base then Sky's mother could have died during childbirth. Darkling adds. I don't know about the sister claim, a shifter's scent, genetic composition and magic is constantly shifting and changing so you can't tell who their relatives are.

I shake my head and turn back to the reports. I'll have to puzzle out Sky's story later, and work out how to tell him about Drea. Or if I even should. Guilt fills me at the thought. I used to visit Beatrix and Drea when I was little but I went to live with them when I was 13. We traveled for a while, Bea and I, mother had the two of us taken on a trip around the sights of Solaria. Then we were sent to Rosalind at the age of 14, it was only once we turned 16 that we both moved permanently back to Andreas' cottage and I only met my sister properly when I 17, nearly 18.

I shake my head, turning away from the increasingly darker thoughts. I look at the reports on Burned Ones sightings. They're popping up along the mountain ranges of Solaria. Mercifully the sightings are limited to the area around Alfea rather than seeping into the sand dunes of the east or the ice caps of the north. Eraklyon has reported similar sightings but the main body of their land has been kept clear by the mountain range than curves around the land join to Solaria.

I'll need to discuss with Lýkos what plans are to be made for Eraklyon. Since Andreas'... resignation the Solarian Government has been ruling there in Sky's stead. This was all planned out of course, Andreas never wanted to rule and had in fact planned to marry off Stella and Sky to solve the problem of that. Luna could take power, Andreas would step back and our two nations would be united with two separate ruling houses as wardens.

They seem to have forgotten Sky and Stella in all this. Sky has never mentioned ruling and to be quite frank, he was never going to rule. His family tree is spread wide and distant, there is a multitude of cousins, uncles, twice removed cousins all ready to attack for the throne. And thanks to Andreas, Sky has no allies in staking his claim. If it wasn't for the Solarians he would have no doubt been assassinated as a baby.

It was also the reason Silva was given custody of Sky I read in one of the reports when I was stalking Sky after finding out he dated my sister. Which reminds me that I need to find out more about Stella's mystery man from last night.

I hum in thought. Anyways, Sky could have gone to one of the distant relatives and been raised as a puppet, or Luna could have raised him in the Siatra nursery and just controlled his life but none of them could keep him safe like Saul Silva. Like Irene, to be more specific. But there was something else that was redacted, no, not even redacted only referred to as a verbal discussion. Something Silva managed to use against the queen to keep his friend's child.

The reports from Eraklyon appear to have dormant burned ones that had hidden in the network of smugglers cave under the mountain range. A long and bloody history there of goods, people and magical creatures being smuggled to and from Eraklyon and Solaria. Apparently, one such smuggling crew had the misfortune of running into a burned one. They were nymph traffickers, returning from a delivery. Such a shame.

I drop the file to the side and move onto the next one. We need to discuss these traffickers more, I'm worried they're getting more bold.

"You seem deep in thought." Riven comments, voice croaky.

I smile at the sleepy brunette and pass him a glass of water.

"Just paperwork." I shrug.

"Sounds... riveting." He mocks.

"Well someone has to do it." I complain, with a grin. "Besides, it's important."

"Oh?" Riv asks, sitting up and shaking his head to wake up. "And all of that writing and filing ball gown receipts is important?"

He grins at me and I know he means it as a joke. Riven of all people it would seem understands what I do. Well, maybe not what I do but if the conversation I overheard is any indication he understands the impacts of what I do.

"Ha Ha." I mock

I glance down at the lab reports from various locations, hoping to see traces of moss, dirt or pollen so we can retrace their steps, pausing on the mention of crystallization.

"Oi." Riv, pokes my cheek with his pointer finger. "Give me attention, talk to me"

"And what shall we talk about, oh mighty one?" I ask in a false posh voice.

Sky strides in at lunch, Riv has been awake for a couple of hours now and I've been regaling him with tales of the ball last night and the ones from last year. I had no clue he was so invested in our gossip and the meanings behind all the dresses and flowers exchanged. However, I lose his attention completely when he catches sight of the food trays in Sky's hands.

"Fish?" Riv asks

"And chips, with absolutely loads of lemon on the fish and no vinegar whatsoever on the chips- but the chips need to be salty." Sky adds with an eye roll before greeting me with a kiss on the cheek and a warm smile.

"Oh she gets a sweet kiss and I get an eye roll." Riv exclaims in irritation.

Sky sighs and places the trays on the table next to the breakfast trays. He grins and quickly strides to Riven, tackling him in a grappling hug that has Riven squawking in annoyance as he tries to wriggle out of it. A laugh bubbles out of me at the sight of the two stoic specialists fighting through a normal hug for once instead of a bro arm clasp.

I giggle as Sky plants a smacking kiss on Riv's forehead.

"Oh fuck off, Sky." Riv yells, swiping at his forehead with disgust but I see the way his eyes light up with warmth at Sky's care.

"I thought you were feeling left out, Riv." Sky mocks and spares me a conspiratorial grin.

I quietened down my giggles at Riven's seething glare. Turning my gaze away from the pouting patient so I don't burst into laughter. I watch Sky fuss over our food grabbing us some cutlery and a drink before pausing as he appears to stare at the breakfast food left behind from our feast.

"Did you even eat any of the food Riven." Sky demands as he turns to face his friend.

"Yes!" Riv shouts, clearly irritated by Sky and I ganging up on him, and points an accusing finger at me. "What you can't see, Sky, is the three plates she force fed me. The woman is trying to fatten me up for the slaughter house."

"Oh, shut up Riven." I snap, swatting his leg with a folder.

Sky places the bed table thing over Riv and hands him the food before handing me a tray of food and I smile in thanks. We eat in peaceful silence and I watch as Sky shuffles together my paperwork. Sliding the piles I have them in into folders. I don't comment when I see him reading a few, they're only burned ones reports, there's no direct harm in him having a look but I am curious to know why he was looking through in the first place. A smart specialist raised by Irene and Saul wouldn't just accidentally look through and get curious.

Terra bustles into the Infirmary just after we finish our lunch, thankfully distracting me from thoughts of Sky's spying. She's smiling and I can't help but smile back at her positive attitude.

"Hey Terra." I call and Sky nods in greeting, quickly sliding all of my folders into my bag. Clearly something is bothering him from his expression, I wonder if it was what was mentioned in the reports or something else.

Follow him when he leaves. I command, find out if tells anyone.

Yes, mistress

"I come bearing healing potions." Terra trills.

Riv sighs and flops back against the pillow. "Wonderful, is it the good stuff?"

Terra shoots him a disapproving look as she fishes out a purple glowing vial from her bag. "It's stuff, so there's that."

"You're no fun." he complains but downs the potion like a shot.

The three of us pause, all staring at Riven with expectant looks. I watch as Riv only stretches his arms over his head to crack along his back, the noise causing Terra shudder.

"The fact that my body cracks like a motherfucking glowstick." Riv pauses, inhaling dramatically. "But yet refuses to glow, is quite rude."

I burst into laughter, Sky chuckling beside me.

"Alright, Riv." Sky says softly. " Let's get you laid down."

"NOOooooooo." Riv whines, sounding like a toddler.

Sky looks to me for support.

"It's your turn to look after the toddler, dearest." I mock sweetly. "I have work."

Sky sighs and pushes against Riv's shoulders till he slumps into bed and immediately flops asleep. We pause. I glance at Sky in confusion, he stares back in shock. We look back at Riv, I glance at Sky.

Confused silence.

We turn to Terra. "Oh sue me." She snaps, blushing in guilt. "I put some sedative in because I knew he'd be unbearable."

I stalk towards the earth fairy, my face carefully blank of emotion. Terra looks to the floor guiltily, sagging further when I place my hands on her shoulders.

"Terra," I start in a reprimanding voice. "Next time you have an opportunity to get a video of someone you don't like making a fool of themselves... take it."

She jerks in shock, looking at me in surprise. I wink at her, smiling at her cute blush before releasing her from my grip and waving goodbye to Sky.

"See you at training." I call and stride from the room.

Damn, I'm still in my running clothes from this morning. I'll need to grab my specialist armor and I want to get the reports for tonight's security measures.

Sometimes I really hate having responsibilities.