---

"Ellie... wake up." The soft loving voice of the young girl's father awoke her senses, almost immediately a pounding sensation filled her head as she struggled to move her hand in an attempt to soothe it. Opening her eyes, the young seven-year-old fought to try and adjust to her surroundings, she was initially met with the darkness despite her efforts to look around the room she found herself in. "Ellie? Are you okay?". Her father's voice grounded the young girl again, this time trying to search the darkness for the man she adored. 

It only took a few moments for her eyes to finally adjust and what they were met with sent chills down the young girl's spine. In front of her, strapped to a round concrete column opposite her was her father bound in ropes and chains. "Daddy? What's going on?". The seven-year-old questioned, frantically looking around her as she struggled to move - quickly realizing she too was tied up and connected to a metal pole. 

"I need you to stay strong for me Ellie. Whatever happens, know that I love you and I will always be with you." Her father's voice trembled despite how much he tried to hide his frightened emotions. "Daddy?". The young blonde girl tried to question him, unsure as to why her father had seemingly stopped trying to escape and was saying some kind of goodbyes. "Close your eyes, Ellie." 

The older man instructed, sending one reassuring nod to his daughter as the sound of metal doors opening rang through the building. "Close your eyes." 

---

"El! What happened?". Tahmina's voice pulled the ice fairy from her memories with a gasp. Immediately diving to her feet, the blonde girl found herself looking around Andreas' office in a desperate search for her father-figure or best friend. "He's not here. How long has it been?". The ice fairy enquired, panic in her voice as she realized how bad things must have gone. "I just finished my lesson so probably like forty minutes?".

The news of the short amount of time caused the blonde girl to let out a small sigh of relief, realizing her father-figure probably hadn't even made the trade yet. "What's going on?". The red-headed specialist questioned, glancing wearily towards her ex-girlfriend as she tried to figure out what had happened that morning. "Andreas... he called me here to say goodbye. He plans on making a trade to get Bea back." 

Speaking as she walked the blonde girl reached into her pocket and pulled out her mobile phone, dialing both Andreas and Beatrix in any hopes of finding them safe. "Wait a minute, a trade?". Tahmina asked once more as she followed close behind the ice fairy. "It's a long story and honestly, I don't want to tell you anything that could get back to Rosalind." 

With no answers from either of her loved ones Elmira let out a frustrated sigh, making her way towards the Fairy Hall in hopes of finding them there. "Do you seriously think I'd snitch?". The redhead scoffed as she continued to survey the area around them both whilst following the blonde. "I didn't say that." The ice fairy responded, storming past the dozens of guards that littered Alfea as she made it towards her suite - once again being met with disappointment at the room's emptiness. 

"You didn't deny it either." Tahmina challenged as she ensured the double doors were closed behind them. "I can't do this right now Tammy. Please, leave it." The blonde ordered, running her hands through her hair as she tried to handle her frustration without freezing her room or her ex over. 

Silence passed between the pair as it became clear nobody would be joining them in the room. "Look, a group of the Specialists were talking about heading down to the pub - letting loose with everything going on..." Tahmina began, stepping closer in an effort to stop the blonde girl from pacing the room. "Riven is going to be there too." 

At the mention of the blonde girl's boyfriend, she found herself letting out a sigh, knowing she would attend just to ensure the boy was okay under the circumstances. "Fine. Let's go." Without another word the ice fairy did one last check of the suite before making her way out the room once more and in the general direction of the village with Tahmina close behind.

---

"Okay ladies, figured you for an IPA kinda girl. Yeah? Crisp, packs a punch. Stout for the mind fairy. Smooth, take your mind off all the emotional shit. For you Terra, cider. It's got a bit of alcohol, but basically just a fizzy glass of apple juice." Elmira overheard her boyfriend explaining, following his voice the blonde girl found herself narrowing her eyes in jealousy as she watched him flirting with the fairies he knew disliked both her and Beatrix. 

The blonde girl leant against the wall as he continued, freely flirting with one of the new students causing the ice fairy to roll her eyes before she made her way over to the group, heels clicking on the floor as she glared daggers at the three fairies. 

"And for your girlfriend? Apparently, I just get an extremely flirtatious boyfriend." At the sound of the ice fairy's voice the third-year specialist jumped back from the transfer student and spun his head towards the blonde girl. "Mira? I didn't think you were coming." The dark-haired boy tried justifying, standing from his seat as he walked towards her. "Tammy mentioned you were going to be here after training, I was surprised to see you didn't mention it yourself. Now? Not so much." 

Elmira shook her head at her own jealousy as she walked towards the bar, ordering a glass of bourbon for herself before she heard her boyfriend's justification. "You know it's not like that. Moore mentioned the fact you were with Andreas, when I heard he left campus I assumed you did too." As Riven spoke he cautiously moved his hand onto the blonde girl's arm, hissing slightly to himself as she intentionally froze her own skin. 

"Really Princess?". The boy questioned, refusing to move his hand despite the pain it was bringing him. His lack of reaction caused the blonde girl to smirk softly before she let out a sigh, picking up her drink and motioning her head towards the beer garden. 

After ensuring the beer garden was clear and Tahmina was inside occupying herself the ice fairy took a seat in the far-right corner. The wooden table/chair combination was as comfortable as she could've hoped for given their destination. "Andreas called me into the office this morning to say good-bye. Whatever deal he has made, he thinks he can get Bea back, but he knows it'll most likely cost him his life." 

The ice fairy spoke, letting out a sigh as she sat down on the table, Riven standing in-between her legs and within a moment he had moved his hands comfortingly onto her hips. "Andreas is smarter than that. He knows it's Blood Witches who took her?". The specialist tried justifying but seeing the unmoving look on his girlfriend's face he sighed deeply in response. "Bloody hell." The boy murmured, stepping closer and tightening his grip just slightly in fear of letting the blonde girl slip through his hands.

"Who was that inside?". Elmira distracted, not wanting to go into the details about her morning if she didn't have too. "It's Terra's cousin - Flora. She transferred at the start of the year, she's a cool chick if you get to know her." Riven slightly teased, knowing the blonde's jealous tendencies all too well. "Oh, you mean like you flirting with her? That kind of getting to know her?". 

The third year couldn't help but chuckle softly at his girlfriend's words, leaning in the boy pressed a much-needed kiss on the blonde's lips before he whispered softly. "You're cute when you're jealous." In a playful response the ice fairy pushed her boyfriend away slightly, causing the both of them to laugh ever so softly as Elmira shook her head in denial. 

"Let's go and dance. It seems like the both of us could use a bit of fun." The blonde fairy offered, pecking her boyfriend on the lips before going to jump down off the table, being haltered by her boyfriend's hands. "We could, but I have a better idea." 

Without another word Riven leant forward and placed his lips on the blonde girl's lips once again. His hands pulled the girl closer to his body with a slight abruptness causing her to gasp slightly, taking advantage of the opportunity the boy deepened the kiss with a smile. Despite their location the blonde girl didn't pull away, not immediately at least, savoring the moments with her boyfriend as best as she could. 

Wrapping her arms around the back of the boy's neck Elmira gladly reciprocated his actions, her legs winding around his waist as she couldn't help but smile. The specialist moved his lips down her neck slightly, placing tender kisses on her most sensitive spots and enjoying the soft noises of pleasure coming from his girlfriend's lips. The duo were aware they couldn't take it too far but the thrill that came with a slight potential risk of being caught only elevated their desires.

"Okay... okay... we better get inside before Sky and Tahmina arrange a search party." Elmira breathed out between kisses, reluctantly pulling away and playfully shoving her boyfriend in the process so he couldn't convince her otherwise. "Such a buzzkill." Riven murmured playfully before throwing an arm around his girlfriend's shoulders and leading them both into the bar once more.