SECRETS | Fate: The Winx Saga ~ Alternate Season 2

Chapter 31

After many minutes of effort on Ben's part, the door finally gave way thanks to the thick vines that were compressing it. His heart pounding with fear, he rushed into the dank cell, the ceiling just high enough to stand. It was pitch black, a foul smell of mould and probably bodily fluids were whipping through his nostrils, and apparently there was no trace of Rosalind. She had probably vanished before the professor arrived in front of the door. Eventually he found the switch that lit up the whole room with a cold light. It was then that he had a vision of horror. Luna was lying on the floor, dressed in light nightwear, motionless, in a putrid puddle of reddish-brown fluid, source of miasma.
For Professor Harvey, however, the pain of seeing her in this condition was greater and he got closer to her, prepared for the worst. She had grown thin and her grey face was donning the mask of death, but she was still breathing. On her bare limbs he could see the bleeding through her porcelain skin.
Devastated, he ran his fingers gently over her cheek, watching for a reaction.

"It's over, angel, I'll get you out of here, I'll take care of you," he murmured, trying to convince himself that she was going to be okay.

The light fairy groaned and found the strength to mutter.

"Thanks, Ben..."

She was so soiled that she was shivering. Suddenly he stood up and began to undress, first removing his jacket, and then his shirt, leaving him shirtless. He didn't mind being cold, and he used his clothes to gently wrap her to warm her up a bit.

"Come on, Luna, stay with me, we all need you. I need you," he said as he carried her, holding her close to his heart. "We'll go to my office, Rosalind is teaching, we can call for help."

Brushing aside all his panic, apprehension and pain, Ben ran through the maze of underground passages, the dying Queen lying in his arms. At that moment, he didn't care if he shocked the entire school by running upstairs shirtless, with Luna in his arms, almost lifeless. Only one thing mattered: keeping her alive. His arms were torturing him, but he didn't want to let go of her under any circumstances.

***

After a few minutes, he went back up through the door in the hallway and rushed towards his office to lay her down in a quiet place.
In his frantic race, he came across Bloom, accompanied by Aisha. Immediately they ran towards him, alarmed to see him shirtless, carrying a human form in his arms.

"Professor Harvey, what's going on?!" exclaimed Bloom, worried.

"Call the paramedics now, I've found Luna locked up in the underground, she's dehydrated and suffers from internal bleeding. I'm going to lay her down in my office, if we do nothing she'll die within the hour," he explained hurriedly, caught up by the time.

It didn't take long for the girls to understand the gravity of the situation.

"Okay, we'll phone them right away," Aisha decided, grabbing her mobile.

Ben thanked them quickly and rushed to his office, where he placed the fairy on the couch in the side position.
She was still shivering with cold and pain, but she had opened her eyes. The professor crouched beside her and stroked her face tenderly.

"Stay with me, my love, I beg you," he whispered, fallen apart.

He had never given that nickname to her, but it was his deepest feeling. He couldn't lose his love. Not a second time.

"Stella... please take care of her," she told him painfully. "Tell her I love her."

He shook his head in disbelief, denying himself the evidence of her dire fate.

"No, not that..."

As if to stop her from leaving him, distraught, he wildly took her face into his hands and took hold of her lips to kiss her while there was still time. She had to know what place she had in his heart. In her semi-consciousness, she approved of the kiss by running her hand up the back of the neck of the one she loved, squeezing it tightly, expending the last strength she had.

"I love you, Luna, and having to tell you so in this situation is a nightmare," he admitted, bursting into tears.

The light fairy's lips stretched into a thin smile and slowly, after transferring her last reserves of energy into the ring she wore on her middle finger, a ring adorned with a crystal, she took it off.

"Rosalind..." she breathed, pointing to the crystal with her index finger.

Despite the grief that was tearing him apart, he seemed to understand what she was trying to tell him.

"You want me to imprison her in the crystal?"

She nodded and answered simply:

"Bloom..."

She closed her eyelids and opened them slightly.

"I love you Ben, promise me you'll never forget that."

He placed a soft kiss on her hand, hoping to hold her until help arrived, even if she was starting to pass away.

"I promise you, angel," he affirmed, his voice breaking with a sob. "I will avenge you."

When she heard these words, her eyelids closed, never to open again. She had waited for the declaration of the man she loved to take her last breath and go in peace.
Seeing that she was no longer breathing, the botany professor collapsed beside her in tears, his fingers buried in her tangled ebony hair. She was gone forever. He had not been able to prevent this tragedy from happening. First Rose, then Luna, both murdered.

***

Help arrived a few minutes later and he watched them helplessly. His beloved fairy was declared dead, and then taken away by stretcher bearers to be put in a freezer. Her body would be autopsied, he was told. The police had been called in to help, but Rosalind was much stronger than they were, as well as being treacherous.
Ben closed his hand over the ring and held it tightly, determined. He had to avenge his queen, imprison her murderer in the crystal, and above all destroy it. She had to be counteracted, for it would end in bloodshed.
But for now, he needed to be alone to mourn Luna, his other half who had passed away far too soon.