CHAPTER 2: THEIR SAFE HAVEN

She's walking swiftly over colorful flowers and yet her feet are not touching the ground. The floral kingdom is in full bloom, hence the flowers where she's trailing automatically withers as she passes over them. As she saw what she had done, she was pleased.

Her entire body is adorned with withered vines, with large brown leaves covering her bosoms. Her long hair is braided messily, adorned with a rare black rose that glimmers through the sun's rays. Her pair of eyes is the only one in Fayvallea. It looked similar to that of a cat, yellowish and yet symbolizes authority to whatever she wishes to rule. Her long eyelashes were covered with silver pixie dust that glimmers whenever she'll blink them. She has a queer pointed nose and thin, black lips. Her long, pointed nails are painted black as well.

She's holding a wooden scepter with a transparent star on top of it. As you look closely, there's seemed to be flashes of lightning that's trapped, ready to let loose if given the chance.

"Dhara...no more hiding sweetie, I know you're here." She said as she grinned, her voice is like that of a lioness roaring like a threat to those who are around her. She is smiling so confidently not caring about the peril that will come for her.

"Bellezza...what brings you here?" A flash of light suddenly appeared in front of her, showing a beautiful witch all dressed in white. Her hair is adorned with white flowers glimmering as the rays of the sun touches it. Her white hair is wavy and it follows the breeze of the wind to any direction it wants. The innocence of her face can be compared to an angel's. Her eyes speak tranquility and compassion. Flowers are automatically filled with vibrancy as she gazes at them all.

Bellezza folded her arms as if showing impatience to someone in front of her. "I just want to see you today." She said as she's raising both of her eyebrows as well. She smiled as her way of responding to her actions. Dhara can't help but to shake her head.

"And what is that? How many times did I tell you to never touch that Luminastia. You are always breaking the rules of the Fayvallea." She is referring to what Bellezza is holding right now.

"Oh, this..." She grinned as she caressed the wand that she got. It's like, she's very proud of what she has done.

"I'm bored. I got nothing to do." She added as she smirks, looking at Dhara from head to toe.

"Are you aware that what you have done is prohibited? How could you break some of the important rules so lawlessly?"

"You're taking everything seriously. It is also good to break the rules sometimes. It is fun."

"You really think so? Please put that into its rightful place." Dhara said to Bellezza with humility. She held out her hand to her as if encouraging her to surrender the Luminastia to her. She was able to stare at her face and she switched to her palms that are open in front of her.

She sighed impatiently as she surrenders the scepter. Dhara smiled and nodded.

"I don't want you to touch this again." She said as she examines the Luminastia closer, with all its details.

"Can you stop me? I am just enchanted by its power."

"Bellezza, please don't put yourself to the things you might regret later, or shall I ask if you felt that before?"

"What is that?"

"This is a serious matter. If the queen will know someone breaking her rules of Fayvallea, we are doomed."

"Wow. Will it really happen if I break the rules? That sounds really scary...hmm." She said as she grinned in a meaningful manner, looking directly into her eyes. Dhara is aware that she is becoming sarcastic to her but all she knew is to humble herself for the sake of the wand of Fayvallea.

"Do not ever do this again. Remember to avoid any actions this kingdom forbids. You might get yourself in trouble if you do."

"Oh please, I don't need any concern coming from you," Bellezza said as she frowns. Dhara walked past her, trailing where she started walking, trying to revive the flowers that Bellezza killed along her way. When Dhara felt that Bellezza is following her, she stopped and turns her back at her. She smiled as she taps Bellezza's feet with the scepter. It gave her a tingling sensation, and as she steps forward, not a flower is harmed again.

"Ugh. Here we go again. Can't you let it pass?" She said, half-amazed, half-annoyed at what Dhara did. She raised her eyebrows because she doesn't like the idea of Dhara reviving what she already killed. Dhara taps her shoulders.

"No. You're in my place and I don't want to see any of my flowers harmed or withered."

"Dhara, you're really boring as usual."

"Many living creatures will be scared if I will let them die here."

"Well, if that's the case, you can go to my place. I will show you what's the meaning of fun." She said as she winked at her.

"Thank you Bellezza. I surely go there. Thanks for the invitation.We should return this scepter as quickly as possible before the queen finds out that this one is missing already." She said as she pulled Bellezza's hand by her left hand while tapping the flowers that wither a while ago with her right hand by the use of the powerful scepter.

They are the witches of the Fayvallea kingdom. They are tasked to take good care of the whole place. The three are responsible for protecting the equilibrium of the whole kingdom. The place is equally divided into two parts, including the part which is quite dominant because this is where the queen resides, and that is Floreal. It represents the highest place in Fayvallea that represents authority and power.

Withermoor represents the underworld and everything in it. It is protected by Bellezza Scyther, the black witch. Blossomcrest for life and the beauty of the world where people live and this is under the care of Dhara Rose, the white witch.

They quickly tiptoed from the kingdom of Blossomcrest to the boundary of Floreal. They are in front of the two enchanted mountains standing tall in front of them with a small hole at the center of it.

"Look what have you done!"

"Can you blame me? You're even holding that Luminastia too, this time. Now we're even!"

Dhara sighed as she looks around, with a worried look on her face.

"Now, give me your hand," Dhara said as she pulled Bellezza's hand and she held the Luminastia too. Dhara is holding the scepter on her right hand, while Bellezza is holding it on her left hand. They look at each other and nodded at the same time.

They close their eyes and held the Luminastia very tight. With equally joined forces, the thing suddenly disappeared from their hands. As they open their eyes, the hole at the center of the two enchanted mountains was sealed with a shiny rock. It is the shape of the star with a flash of lightning trapped inside of it. It's as if sealing the two mountains and keeping it together.

Dhara sighed with relief while Bellezza is looking at her as if she's the main reason for her ruined day.

"Look at that Luminastia. Has it come into your mind to at least own it as you rule Blossomcrest?" She whispers these words to Dhara as she walks around her. Bellezza is not letting Dhara's eyes avoided hers.

"The queen has the full authority of it, let me remind you of that."

"Well, I hope not, for me. Withermoor deserves that power too, Dhara."

"Let me correct you, the three parts of Fayvallea equally needs the Luminastia. Let not evil overpower you, Bellezza."

"I am evil, Dhara. You always know me."

"I always believe that there's good in every bad, Bellezza." She softly answers Dhara as she looked into her eyes, too, with a smile.

"Oh well...carry on, my dear. Carry on."

'Your kindness will betray you someday, Dhara. You'll see.' She kept the other words to herself as she smiles back at her.

----

Caily rushed to the bench under the large tree at the back of the library. This place is their official hangout if they want to meet for a snack, talk or study. As soon as she saw Nolan, she grinned from ear to ear.

"Nolan! Don't wait for me anymore." She gasps as if she's out of air while saying these words.

"Who is chasing you? Why are you running so fast? Are you okay?" Nolan held her hand and tapped her forehead. She pouted her lips as she looked at him.

"Yes, I am totally fine. Please don't wait for me after your class."

"Why?"

She looks at him as she moves her lips from side to side. She started moving her gaze sidewards, too, avoiding his eyes.

"You will not support me either if you'll know where I will be going so I decided to go there myself."

"Don't tell me you will go to that Ethereal Venus's modeling tutorial with press conference included?"

"Y-Yes." She said as she avoided his gaze.

"But the ticket for their fans are quite expensive. I think it will be my whole month's allowance." Nolan answered as he held both of her shoulders with both of her hands. Caily slowly removed his hands from her shoulders. She jerked her shoulders as if trying to get off the straps of her knapsack that's on her shoulders. As she unzips her bag and pulled the ticket in front of Nolan, she can see that his eyes widened with shock.

"Where'd you get that?"

"Of course if you're very passionate about something, you can do everything."

"Is Axile Wiles coming, too?"

"Well of course, being Venus's close friends, it's a guarantee that he will come."

"Is that so?" Nolan said, looking so disappointed.

"Yes, I am more than excited."

"What time will you go home?" He asked. When he shifted his gaze at Caily's face, her smile eventually fade away.

"I can't be sure about that. It is much better if you're not going to wait for me. I'd be coming home very late tonight."

"Where does she live?"

Can you not ask too many questions? I have to go now. It will start at 6:00 pm I have to be there early. Bye!" She kissed his left cheek and before he can even answer, she's gone from his sight.

Nolan sighed as he shook his head. He's looking at the path where Caily disappeared instantly.

'Why do girls have endless insecurities when it comes to themselves?'

Nolan slowly sits on the bench and look down.

'Am I not good enough? Am I not too convincing enough for her to believe that she's beautiful in her way? Or maybe, was I that ugly to not put her confidence in me?'

He slowly fixed the things inside his bag which he had on his side. A while ago, he's excited for his class to end because he will invite Caily to that fancy restaurant that she's been dreaming to go to. They both didn't have the money to eat there last month because this restaurant is quite expensive for them.

He bitterly smiled as tears poured down on his cheeks. He looked at the road to where Caily ran away. She can't see her anymore since she's very excited to go there. Looks like he can't even stop her at this time no matter what he do.

Without Caily knowing, he has a strong disgust and intimidation towards Axile Wiles. Who is he compared to him? He's more of this boy version of Venus Hughes. If Caily Mcfisher has this great admiration for Venus's life, how much more him to Axile Wiles?

Well, who is he when compared to him? He knows many girls will definitely flock to see him tonight. That complete boyfriend material that everyone at the campus is dreaming of having for her own. He's thinking that maybe Caily is not yet accepting his love for her because of Axel. He hopes he's not right in what he's thinking right now…