Chapter Text
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x- Farah -x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
First day of term and Headmistress Farah Dowling has only gotten a few good hours in before something has gone wrong. She loves the first day back, always excited to see faces new and old and it brings the campus back to the life it so lacks over holidays. She’s already had a morning meeting with new student Bloom who she discovered and enrolled all her senses telling her that Bloom belonged with them. A fairy from the human world these days was practically unheard of yet it's happened.
Settling in to do paperwork at her desk her phone had rung and had turned out to be the headmaster.
Saul Silva was headmaster of the specialists, a team of warriors who fought beside fairies and provided security. An army. He along with Ben Harvey (botany teacher and medic) had been her best friends for decades. Attended this very school together, fought together and had fallen in step with each other to teach the next generation. Today his message had been clear as his gruff voice snapped “Training ground now Farah.” Before he’d clicked off. His tone having set off alarm bells she had pulled on her coat, informed Callum her assistant and followed Sauls instructions. Now they are standing outside the barrier that circles and protected the school, looking at a rather dead body.
“Its fresh.” Ben states, his interest on the body below him as he moves around them.
“Maybe a wolf?” She suggests glancing at Saul.
“Or a bear?” He adds helpfully. “Could have gone out to protect his herd, got surprised?”
“I’m happy to continue the guessing game but-“ Ben scrapes the black substance from the wound and wipes it on the tissue he’s holding. “This is char residue.” Saul shuffles on his feet next to her, her eyes widening this is not good.
“How long since the last sighting?” He asks the botanist, but her own words tumble out before Ben can answer.
“Sixteen years. Rosalind was relentless.”
“Could have been hiding?” Denial slams into her like a truck at Sauls words.
“No she killed all the burned ones.”
“We thought she did but-“ Ben is eyeing her, probably concerned with her naivety.
“Ben what we thought is irrelevant the barrier is doing its job. Let’s get this cleared up before word spreads.” She looks away from the pair then, tightening her blue coat around her she takes a few steps away from them. Anxiety crawls across her skin, it's not possible, not today. Not ever. Yet she knows from the horrifying sinking feeling in her stomach that it’s happening whether she likes it or not. Taking a few deep breaths she can feel the headmasters eyes on her back, knows that it’s him without looking, without her magic. She’s close to Ben, godparent to his children, but her and Silva have always had that extra closeness, he's her friend, perhaps one day more than that, but he’s also her specialist. They have a bond.
“Farah?” Taking one last deep breath she turns and moves back towards them, ignoring his voice she goes to Ben still crouched over the dead shepherd.
“What do you need me to do?”
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Standing face to face with Saul outside the fairy building she's trying to alleviate his obvious concern so that she can isolate herself in her office. It had taken less than twenty minutes to call the relevant people and move the body over the barrier to wait for someone to come.
“Well Headmistress?” Her eyes meet his and realises he’s been talking to her. She smiles apologetically at him.
“Sorry what?” His dark eyes narrow, trying to read her.
“I asked if you’re sure you you’re okay, all powerful one.” His tone is playful and she secretly loves it.
“All powerful did you say? That’s quite a compliment.” She smirks at him, not for the first time startlingly aware of how handsome he is. Easy Farah, she reminds herself, don’t go there.
“A fact.” He always gives her too much credit, she doesn’t deserve it, not really. Doesn’t feel very powerful at the moment, just bone weary and she wants to be alone so she won’t have to hide her emotions anymore.
“Perhaps. I need to go Saul, I’ll see you later?” Before he can answer she feels a presence close by. Closing her eyes her magic hums and she reopens them, now blue instead of brown as she seeks out the person with her mind. A door opens to their left and without looking she speaks to the boy. “Alexander, I do believe that your classroom is IN the building. Return to it.” Saul smirks at her as they turn towards the boy in one mirror movement, her eyes returning to brown. His face pales noticeably realising he has been caught skipping class by not one headteacher but two. “Now.” Scurrying away the door swings shut behind him.
Saul chuckles “Not going to lie, I love it when you scare them like that.” Rolling her eyes she moves towards the same entrance.
“I’ll talk to you later?” He calls after her.
“Of course.” Making it to her office at a brisk pace she promptly ignores Callum and moves through to her desk, removing her coat on the way. Despite her indifference to him he appears a few moments later with a tray of tea.
“Thank you Callum, why don’t you take a long lunch?” He nods, secretly (or not so) thrilled and leaves her to her thoughts. Sipping her tea she ensures he is gone before raising her hand to magic her door shut, her fingers bending has her bookcase sliding to the right. Hesitantly she stands and moves to the opening, at a glance nothing seems out of the ordinary and some of her anxiety begins to dissipate. Closing the entrance and returning to her desk, the unwelcome thoughts she’s trying to suppress bubble to the surface. If the attacker is truly a burned one, everything is about to get very dangerous, very complicated and she isn’t ready for it.
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Farah glances up at her window, the light is beginning to fade and she stretches letting out a small moan. Tilting her head up at a knock of the doorframe she meets her assistants eyes and nods to him, indicating he’s done for the day. Sighing at the little paperwork she’s actually managed to get done, she decides that she’ll visit Ben to stretch her limbs and then attempt to do some more; She’s eager to discuss a student with him anyway and it will give her a reprieve. It only takes her a few minutes to make it to the greenhouse and as she pushes the doors open she’s immediately comforted by the smell of earth and flowers.
“Ben?” She looks around between the planters, listening out for his voice.
“Farah!” His loud voice brings a smile to her face instantly, he’s so jolly all the time and she’s glad she’s come down from her tower. He appears to her left, moving away from a desk he’s clearly been working at and pulls her into a gentle hug. Allowing her ‘boss’ defences down she wraps her own arms around him, he squeezes gently and offers her tea.
“Please.” Heading over to the desk he’s abandoned as he makes tea at the table, her heart sinks slightly as she notices a bunch of vials, she knows that substance well and a shiver runs down her spine. “Been busy Ben?”
Joining him at the table, he momentarily looks sheepish. “Well it certainly won’t hurt to have some on hand, just in case. So I made some when I got back.” He’s smiling warmly at her.
“I just can’t believe we are going down this road again, I’m not naive I just really hoped.” Picking up her cup she takes a long draw from it, it’s her favourite strawberry herbal brew. Of course, she won’t get caffeine from him caffeine is bad for you, so he always gives her herbal. He tries with Saul too but he’s far too much a coffee addict.
“Well the way I see it the burned ones don’t know that they’re up against the most powerful fairy the world has ever seen.” She roars with laughter, almost choking on her tea. This is what she loves about the man, his humour and familiarity.
“I’m glad to know you and Saul BOTH think too highly of me.”
“Better power up princess.” It’s an inside joke that has her laughing so much her sides hurt, a reminder from the good old days and it makes her miss them slightly. “Anyway much as I love having you here, are you going to tell me what else is bothering you?” It’s official, the men around her know her entirely too well.
“There’s a student-“ he interrupts her before she even finishes that statement.
“Uh-oh, praying on the young now Farah?” He winks at his highly inappropriate comment and she slaps his arm.
“A female student.”
He roars “Are you making this sound worse on purpose?”
She laughs too then, the delicate sound escaping her lips before remembering what she’s trying to say. “She’s an air fairy.” His laughter stops abruptly and she knows then that he probably knows where she’s going with this. She stands and begins to pace, the anxiety she felt before she entered has crept back into her chest, the air in the room is tense, all laughter and joy gone. She feels terrible for making it like that but she needs to talk to someone. “She makes me feel oddly uneasy.”
“Okay, what’s her name?” Ah Ben always so understanding, he pushes his glasses back up his nose as he watches her move around.
“Beatrix.”
“Ahh yes, I saw her today at the induction.“ She nods at him but her pace doesn’t falter, she’s trying to keep her emotions in check. Doesn’t need to add ‘destroying the greenhouse’ to her check list today.
“Yes.” There’s a part of her that longs for Saul to appear because he has always had a talent of helping her control it. Ben helps her, more than she could ever thank him enough for, yet her magic doesn’t respond in the same way to him. But Saul doesn’t know, has no idea that the topic they are about to discuss has even happened. A burden that she has refused to place on him for decades, a story, a secret she knows will hurt him.
“Talk to me.” Realising she hasn’t said anything and that he’s patiently waiting, she turns to him and forces herself to stand still.
“She reminds me too much of her.” Doesn’t need to speak the name, he knows exactly who she means.
“Farah, your hands.” With a mind of their own her hands are now vigorously rubbing invisible scars, one hand across her abdomen and one down her thigh. She raises up just a touch of her magic, eyes flashing blue as she draws from Bens calm. Deep breath.
Meeting his eyes, now swimming with concern she pushes herself back into her seat with tremendous effort and drains her tea, hoping it will calm her frazzled nerves. “I apologise Ben, I came in here for a happy chat.”
He doesn’t relax, it shows in his posture and his eyes. She regrets mentioning it now, he’s not going to drop it and he’s the only person she can discuss it with. “While I appreciate the thought, you clearly need to talk about it. It’s perfectly normal to feel this way.”
“It’s not, it’s childish.” Shes on her feet, temper flaring once more. Her fury is turned in on herself, she hates feeling this way, finds it pathetic. “I’m a grown woman for goodness sake. When does it stop?” Her powers and emotions are such live wires, she has complete control until it comes to fear and anger and then it can dissolve in seconds. Just the way she knows Rosalind wanted it.
“You’re reacting to a memory Farah, a trauma. We’ve been through this before, it’s nothing to be ashamed of so if you want to be angry then be angry. Let it out.” And she does, the thin band of control snaps inside of her and she slams both hands flat down on the table, eyes blue, both cups and the teapot shattering. The red tea splashes everywhere and her eyes call the liquid to form a ball in the centre of the table. It hovers like a ball of blood and she can feel the words come up out of her throat without her permission, it’s been so long since she has vocalised them in front of anyone, but they are pulled from a memory and she has no power to stop them.
“I am NOT weak.” The words don’t make sense to anyone but her. The people that forced those words from her so long ago are long gone and she’s frustrated that they still haunt her awake and asleep. Her voice is poison even to her own ears and she takes a gasping breath, stumbling back from the table as her magic breaks, dropping the liquid everywhere and turns away from Bens intrigued gaze, only to find they are no longer alone.
Saul is standing in the doorway, his eyes are blown wide open, his gaze on her like he’s not sure what to make of her, she hates it but at least she can tell he’s not frightened of her. His concern seeps into the air, the taste of his worry on her tongue. He’s been feeling that so much for her lately that the guilt festers inside of her, unsure how she ended up with these secrets.
“What the hell is going on? What’s happened?” He approaches, slowly and his hand is raised as if he wants to touch her but isn’t sure. She needs to regroup her thoughts so she ignores him and turns back to Ben.
“Sorry Ben I didn’t mean to get so passionate. I always take it too far.” She forces a laugh past her lips and smiles widely at him. Her hand flicks and reconstructs all the broken china, the liquid disappearing and she picks up her cup to look at it. “Imagine how annoying it would be if I couldn’t do that.” Calm is settling into her now and it’s because her magic is humming happily, she knows it’s because of his presence, has never understood it but knows it as a fact. He always calms her.
Bens picked up on the change in her so he laughs too “It would certainly cost me a fortune.” He turns to Silva properly. “Saul! What an honour to have both busy heads in my greenhouse today. Come join us, we were just discussing Zanbaq.” It’s not a total lie but both of them know there’s no way he’s buying it and it’s confirmed when she blinks, eyes blue; he’s confused and wary. Reaching for him seems like a good idea for both of them, so she does and his mood lifts almost straight way. Her magic loves it when they’re touching, with her hand now wrapped around his arm she’s genuinely back to her good mood. Pulling him to the table she waits for him to sit next to her and when he does she beams at him, rewarded when he smiles back. There’s a tightness in his eyes that tells her he won’t forget this but as Ben draws them into an amusing tale of Rose and Zanbaq, she realises that may not be such a bad thing.
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She only lasts another half hour before she excuses herself back to her paperwork. It’s only early evening and the thought of doing more makes her rub her temple, but she heads back anyway, students greeting her as she passes them. Her door clicks shut behind her when she reaches her destination and she pulls her work off the desk to the coffee table so she can fold herself into her armchair. It’s comfortable and she regrets it immediately, she’s exhausted and in no time at all the pen is hanging loosely from her fingers, her eyes shutting of their own accord. Allowing it, she reaches for the blanket draped over the back and figures a power nap won’t hurt her if she can get it.
It’s bliss for a whole minute until her office door flies open, bouncing against the wall, she’s on her feet immediately heart pounding, already in a defensive stance. Surprised when she realises it’s her goddaughter standing on the threshold, she relaxes her body and puts a hand to her chest.
“Terra?! What in the heavens?” The young girl is out of breath, panting as she meets her sudo aunts gaze.
“It’s Bloom.” Her heart, still beating wildly from the fright, threatens to come out of her mouth. It’s the first day how has it become so crazy?
“What’s happened?” She reaches for the fairy, pulling her in and to the couch she notices the two other girls behind her and beckons them in as well.
“She was feeling homesick so Stella gave her the gateway ring. She’s crossed the barrier and gone to the old cemetery.” Farah takes a deep breath.
“How long ago?” Trying to squash down the absolute panic. Bloom is a wild card, so stubborn and its one of the things that drew Farah to her. Though she would never admit it, she reminds her of herself when she used to be care free. Crossing the barrier at night and going into the first world though was risky at best, downright dangerous when she didn’t know how to fight and there was a potential monster out there. For a brief second she wonders if Stella’s past year is catching up and whether she’s done this deliberately, she hopes not.
“A while we think. We weren’t in the suite when she left.”
“I want all three of you to return to your suite, I will return Bloom safely to you as soon as possible.” Immediately all three start arguing that they should go with her and she lifts her hand up to silence them. “Enough. Now please. Go, I will be back.” Shooing them out of her office she turns on her heel and snatches her coat back on. How best to do this?
Deciding to go via the greenhouse where she now knows Ben has Zanbaq, she sprints down the corridors, imagining the gossip tomorrow as the students still lingering in the hallways watch her pass. Its probably alarming to them honestly but she needs to be fast. Barging into the greenhouse unfairly disappointed that neither of the men remain, she snatches the vials from the table and pockets them, already out of the doors before she’s finished doing so. Barreling across the grounds towards the edge of campus a niggling voice in her head reminds her that she should call Saul, that she shouldn’t do this without him, that she should at least tell him where she’s going. Conceding as she passes through the barrier she checks her surroundings are clear before her hand goes for her phone only to discover it isn’t there.
An unwelcome, taunting image in her mind of it sitting on the corner of her desk. Furious at herself for not checking she closes her eyes and tries to throw some emotions at him, they always joke that they can feel each other so she tries to push her feelings into him, maybe he’ll seek her out. With no idea whether it works she continues towards the cemetery, it’s quite a distance and her legs are burning from the effort. She’s exhausted, sleep doesn’t always come easy to her and she starts to wonder whether she’s made a mistake before flooding herself with confidence. She is Farah Dowling, headmistress and soldier and she has taken down many burned ones before. She can do this. Entering the small clearing around the gateway she is furious to be greeted with the sight of a group of young girls. Musa spots her straight away and pales, feeling the fury radiating from her. Walking up to them they at least have the decency to look apologetic.
“Which part of my instructions did you not understand girls? Or have I missed the part where you all suddenly moved your bedroom to the woods?” Her voice is clipped, concerned. Now she knows she has four students to keep safe and she closes her eyes again trying to will Saul to seek her out. “When we all survive this I will be lucky if your father does not kill me.” Her eyes connecting with Terras.
A sudden horrifying raspy screech sends her blood plummeting to her feet, head snapping up in the direction the noise is from; she knows that sound. It's been sixteen years but it's not something you can ever forget. It’s coming from inside the building and she instantly holds up a finger to her lips, instructing the girls to remain quiet. Keeping her own voice no louder than a whisper she turns to them. “I am going inside to get Bloom, when I send her out you are all going to run as fast as you can. Do you hear me? As FAST as you can until you are back through the barrier.” Her heart is thrumming so fast she can barely think. “If you hear that noise you run faster and if you have to use your magic then you do so, more powerful than you ever had to but you do not stop. Do NOT wait for me. Do you understand?” The girls nod in response, all except Terra.
“And leave you here?” She whispers into the darkness, knowing that her dad is definitely going to murder her, for being out here and then for potentially leaving her aunt to die.
“Yes. Do you understand? Find your dad or Silva. Tell them where I’ve been and to give me ten minutes, I’ll be right behind you. Promise me?” She won’t be tricked again, not about this and this time the girls all whisper their promise. Closing the distance to the door, she pulls it open as quietly as she can. Her magic begins to crackle in her fingers, she can feel it spreading and she welcomes the security of it. Checking that nothing is about to jump her she rolls up her sleeves and walks into the empty warehouse, just as the young redhead comes flying through a door on her left. She’s clearly startled to see her headmistress there but Farah merely points to the door she herself entered through. “Don’t stop now.” The girl takes off running just as the burned one lunges down the stairs at her. Knocking it backwards with a wave of her arm she flicks her wrist so the door shuts, closing herself in with the beast but keeping the girls safe.
Her head now in battle mode rather than protective she dodges and spins away from the talons aiming at her body, throwing herself out of the way. Losing her balance she hits the floor hard, her arms scraping across the concrete but she hasn’t got time to worry about it. Immediately flipping herself over and out of the way as it lunges for her again, narrowly missing her. She needs to be quicker, she knows. They are inhumanly fast and she she is lucky to have caught this one of guard. Bouncing to her feet she moves objects in its path getting the upper hand as it jumps them and sends the beast flying across the room. It lands on its feet and growls menacingly at her but she’s no longer scared, her magic is pulsing through her veins. She flings a piece of wood at it from the side and it pierces the body, knocking it to the ground. Hurrying towards it, conscious she has only moments she pulls out the vials of oil and pours it all into its vile, menacing mouth. Stepping back she watches as it calms, it’s rattling breathing echoing around her she takes a deep breath. Watching and planning what to do next, it takes only seconds for her to decide and she knows what she has to do.
Despite it being all over in a minute or two, she fumes at her own tiredness, though it’s been years since she’s fought in battle. Get it done and head back to the barrier, that’s the plan. Well and hope there isn’t more chaos waiting for her there.