7 ~ Dovey

. : Laura of Neverland : .

When Laura awoke, she was drenched in a cold sweat. Her limbs quivered, she was piled with blankets, and wrapped in thick clothes. It felt as if her body were on fire and freezing at the same time. She hadn't felt like this since she first discovered her fire magic, and forgotten how much it hurt.

It had taken so much work to force her magic to overwhelm the uncontrollable magic of the wildfire. It was always harder to control fire that wasn't of her own making. Fire of her own making came from inside her, and was made of her magic and was hers to control. Any other fire was unpredictable-- that made it dangerous.

Agatha stared at her across the room, holding a stack of parchment and a book on her lap. She straightened up at Laura's groan.

Laura braced her hand underneath herself and pushed herself up, shuddering at the cold room. Her throat was dry, and she could feel the way the cold pulled at her skin. Somewhere, deep in her belly, she could feel the faint warmth of her magic. It had curled up, protected deep inside her. At least it still lingered. She had heard stories of one of the first council members, who had exhausted their magic to such a point that it took their life force with it.

"How long have I been out?" Her voice sounded scratchy to her ears. She swiped a hand under her nose, and it came away with dried blood.

Agatha's eyes were wide, and she looked at Laura with such genuine concern that it made her attempt a smile.

"Almost two and a half days."

Laura groaned. "I usually don't use up my magic like that," She began to prop herself up on her elbows. Blood ran up to her head and began to pound at her temples. "My head hurts."

An old instinct had her reaching for her necklace almost immediately, but her hand came away instantly. "Where is my necklace?" She breathed out.

Agatha narrowed her eyes. "That vial? It wasn't on you when you were brought back from the nursing wing. I noticed it missing too. I asked if they had it, but they said it was gone when they got to you."

Laura's heart began to pound, despite the fact she couldn't risk panicking. She wasn't allowed to panic, hadn't in over thirty years. That necklace had been gifted to her by Peter. It was a failsafe, in case her magic ever gave out. A method of protecting her from it taking her life force. She needed it back.

She thought back, to the fire. If they didn't have it in the infirmary, then there was only one person who could have it.

Sebastian.

Laura let out a growl and pushed herself up higher. She was going to kill the prince. Throttle him and deliver his body to his parents' doorstep.

She fumbled with the blankets. Her hands were shaking from the chill in her body. Her teeth chattering, she swivelled her body. She gripped the post of her bed, and pushed herself up.

Agatha stood, attempting to help her. "Where are you going?"

"To kill the heir to Havfrue." Laura gritted her teeth with resolve. She was so cold.

Agatha had just reached her and pulled her back to the bed. "You can barely move, I think you should stay in bed and let yourself get better first."

Laura grumbled as Agatha forced her back into the bed. "Did you at least manage to get away from the stampede?"

Agatha's face darkened. "I almost did, and then one of the gargoyles made a move for me. I almost managed to turn it back into a human, but Tedros killed it."

Laura frowned. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay," Agatha responded. "I gave him a black eye."

Laura let out a laugh and made a move to stand again when there was a knock on the door.

Laura focused on the door. Her gaze was swimming, and it appeared as though there were four doors. Agatha's warm fingers dug into her skin, holding her steady, and reaching out with her other hand to pull the door open.

Her vision suddenly focused when she took in the figure at the door.

"Clarissa,"

The aged woman at the door smiled. "Laura, my dear, it's lovely to see you again, and alive."

The woman strode into the room— her posture ramrod straight— and placed her hand on Laura's shoulder.

Agatha stumbled back onto her bed, and Laura almost missed the fear in her eyes. Her heart sank. She hadn't thought about what might happen to her friend. Agatha had nearly destroyed one of the towers and set fire to the school.

Laura didn't know what happened to students that failed, but she didn't want to find out.

Laura inhaled sharply. Clarissa's magic sank into her skin, replenishing her. Almost instantly, her body began to warm. Council members were able to transfer magic from their own stores to other members, in turn depleting their own. It was safe in situations like this, where Clarissa would easily replenish, and it would give Laura enough to feel slightly normal.

Laura could still recall the first time she had met Clarissa. They had both been young at the time, and Clarissa had become the Soul Sage only a year before Laura knew she had become the Fire Sage. Laura had been taken to the council meeting by the Water Sage and had grown to love the woman's uptight and calm personality.

"I will come back to speak to you," Clarissa spoke to Agatha before speaking to Laura. "You and I must speak."

Laura nodded, her body no longer shivering. "Yes, we should. I'll be back soon."

Laura followed Clarissa through the door, ignoring her loose pyjamas that were grotesquely out of place in the pink glass corridor. She caught a glimpse of a few girls— including Beatrix— peeking through the doors.

"Let's go somewhere more private, where we can speak without being overheard," Clarissa murmured, pushing a thin pair of glasses up her nose. She was wearing a plum gown, and it accented her eyes.

Clarissa led the way down the staircase and ensured they were in the massive hallway that led to the staff offices.

Once they were inside Clarissa's office— a cozy and warm room with a fireplace and comfy couches— the door was closed. Clarissa let out a sigh of relief and pulled her into a hug.

"It's wonderful to see you again, even if it is this situation."

Laura smiled, hugging her back. She smelled like fresh baked goods. "You look lovely, I've missed you."

"Speak for yourself, you haven't aged a day," Clarissa joked, a gleam in her eyes.

Laura laughed, taking a seat on the couch as Clarissa slid her a hot cup of something sweet. "Thank you."

"No, Laura, thank you. If it weren't for you, I would have a destroyed school along with the animal memories I need to clear," Clarissa sat in her office seat. "Now tell me, how did you end up here?"

Laura frowned and gripped the cup close to her heart. The warmth was comforting, and Clarissa's transferring had left the magic low in her belly soothed. "You have been made aware of Havfrue's actions on Neverland?"

"I've heard that the king and queen are desperate to end magic after what happened with their daughter. I know that they were planning to attack Neverland."

Laura hummed, pulling her knees close to her chest and watching Dovey over the rim of her cup. "Yes, for the past year I have been dealing with their attacks. The crown Prince— who also goes to school here— was leading the charge with one of the pirates. The night that students were picked up for school, myself and the others were attempting a final push. They had gained a lot of ground earlier that year, and we were steadily gaining it back."

Laura placed the glass down before continuing. "I had exhausted most of my magic just before that to push them out of the forest, and that was my first mistake. I also underestimated the Prince; he's smarter than he looks. He figured out a way to shove me beyond the barrier. It was almost instant, the way the school masters magic came for me."

"I thought the barrier stopped him from knowing who you were anymore," Dovey responded. "Why did you not just reenter?"

Laura gave her a dry chuckle. "Peter's magic didn't work like that. Urla took me to Neverland when she found me in the northern forests and continued to return to train me. Peter realized who I was, and I was obviously prime material for this school. He put up the barrier on the condition that I stay in, and protect Neverland once he died. The barrier kept me safe from the schoolmaster. Once I exited, Peter's magic was useless."

Clarissa's face dropped into a frown. "Have there been many casualties?"

Laura let out a deep breath, her soul and eyes dampening. "We started with thirty, and when I was taken a few days ago, we were down to thirteen. They slaughtered the young recruits too."

"Shit,"

Laura's eyes widened at the swear, and she nearly laughed. "I know. Things are not good. The mermaids are finally on our side, which is helpful, but I don't know if they are going to survive without me. I am thankful every day that they got dragged to this school too."

"What of Lexus? Has he survived?"

Laura's heart dropped as she thought of the sunny boy. He had come from the same kingdom where Aladdin had ruled a century before. Lovely eyes and warm skin, and when he smiled, she found it easy to forget everything that was wrong with the world.

He had arrived about a year and a half after she had arrived, running from some people who were after his head. Peter had died some six months before when he left the island in search of a council member. In return for protection, he joined the Twilight Children.

It was the closest Laura had ever been to love at first sight.

It had taken almost eight years before anything even started to happen between them. It had been dark, and he insisted she come to look at the way the stars reflected on the water. One little kiss and Laura was gone.

Everything about him had been wonderful, from his soul to his personality to his laugh.

Laura could still hear her own scream in her ears when he died.

"Sebastian," She spat the name out to avoid the lump in her throat. "Put a sword right through his chest seven months ago. I destroyed all but one of their ships and burned innocent men alive because of it."

Clarissa remained silent, her eyes observant.

"I spent thirty years with him, only for a war that we didn't ask for to kill him," Laura took a deep breath to stop her fingers from shaking. "I know I'm supposed to be in the school for good, but I think, if I had the opportunity, I would burn him, his kingdom, and his people to the ground."

Clarissa let out a soft side. "I understand. Good always fights for love, even when that means killing other people. I wish peace upon you, Laura,"

Laura smiled at the traditional council greeting, and subtly swiped at her eyes, wiping away any tears that had managed to escape. "Have you heard from any members?"

Clarissa shook her head. "You are the first member I've spoken to since the meeting over a year ago. I suppose you haven't either."

"No, I haven't," Laura shifted on the couch to get warmer. "I don't suppose there is any way you can get me out of this school."

Clarissa sighed. "I wish I could, but you know what happened the last time the school masters fought. I don't think either of us wants to deal with the fallout of that."

Laura ignored the upset inside of her and nodded. "Bare minimum, at least I know Neverland will be safe while I'm gone."

Clarissa hummed, pouring herself a glass of the warm drink. "Yes, but I've noticed that something seems off."

Laura raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"I've been waiting for the next council meeting to bring it up, but I've been noticing that my magic feels strange. When it's full, it doesn't feel full, as if something is slowly sapping at it."

Laura blinked slowly at her. "I haven't noticed anything, other than I am far quicker to drain than I used to be. My magic hasn't been full in over a year. I attributed it to the war, but I suppose it is strange."

Clarissa nodded, and opened her mouth to say something more, but froze, staring at the door.

Laura raised an eyebrow and glanced back at the door. It was closed tight, but Clarissa stared at it. She raised a hand and Laura watched as she flung the door open.

Sebastian stumbled back from the door, his freckled face bright red. He was still wearing his uniform and obviously hadn't been expecting to get caught.

Laura pushed herself up off the couch and lit her hand on fire. She was going to kill him.

"Laura, please sit," Clarissa's voice took the tone of a teacher, not a friend, but Laura knew that was an act for the boy at the door.

"Sebastian," Clarissa spoke, her voice uncharacteristically cold. "Please note, I do not take kindly to eavesdroppers. If I catch you listening to conversations that are not your own again, I will be contacting your parents."

Laura watched his face blanch, and he bowed deep at Clarissa.

"I'm sorry, Miss. It will not happen again."

Laura watched him dart off, and as she reached for her cup, she couldn't help but wonder:

How much had he overheard?

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