94. Labyrinths and Flames

94. Labyrinths and Flames
The advanced training room was too quiet for an environment that used to echo with spells and the sound of accelerated steps. Persephone looked around, sharp eyes running along the walls that had automatically closed when the last simulation was finished.

"Great" she snorted, crossing her arms. "Locked. Alone. In a dark room. What else is missing? A cursed spirit chasing us?"

"It’s enough to have you snorting like the end of the world," replied Morgana, leaning on one of the columns. " It’s just a glitch in the magical security system. Someone will notice we’re stuck."

"That’s if they notice before dinner. I don’t want to miss dessert because of you."

"Because of me?" Morgana waved an eyebrow. "It was you who suggested coming early to 'practice in peace'."

"I thought we’d be alone in a good way" Persephone hit, rolling her eyes. " Not literally locked in the midst of living runes and combat puppets."

Morgana uttered a low laugh, her golden eyes shining.

"Are you going to say that you’re afraid?"

"I am angry."

"It’s always your first reaction to everything. Anger. Irony. Provocation."

Persephone turned to her, eyes glowing.

"You’re not exactly a garden of enchanted flowers either, wolf."

Morgana approached slowly, the tone of provocation fading as the silence stretched between them.

"Why do you avoid me?"

"Because you piss me off."

"It’s not just that."

Persephone’s heart took a small leap.

"If you’re going to start with this 'feelings' talk, better wait seated."

"I’m not saying you feel anything," said Morgana, her lower voice. "I’m just saying that maybe... she’s running away from something she feels."

Persephone looked away, but Morgana was already too close. The heat emanating from the wolf was intoxicating, like the fire that circulated in his restless soul.

"It irritates me as you always act like you know everything," said Persephone in a whisper, her eyes locked to Morgana’s lips for one second too fast. As if I was the only one to suffer, to feel..."

"I’m not the only one. But I’m the only one who doesn’t lie to myself."

And then, before Persephone could release another sharp answer, Morgana pulled her by the waist and kissed her.

It was intense. Hot. A lightning strike between two storms held for too long. Persephone resisted for a second. Half a second. Maybe not even that. Because soon her fingers entwined with Morgana’s dark hair, and she pulled her closer, as if pride had no more space between them.

When the lips parted, the two were panting.

"That was stupid," said Persephone, the trembling voice.

"Maybe." Morgana bit her lower lip, still too close. "But it was real."

"It doesn’t change anything."

"Change everything, Persephone."

The door to the training room opened, opening with a mechanical sound. Someone outside had finally noticed the problem.

Persephone moved away quickly, recovering with the speed of a princess who does not admit weakness. Morgana just crossed her arms and cast a glance.

"We’ll talk later," she said.

"We never talk," replied Persephone, leaving in a hurry.

But his heart beat so high that it muffled even his own steps.

╔══ ❀•°❀°•❀ ══╗

The silence of the dormitory was broken only by the light sound of pages being turned. Lysara, the platinum-haired shapeshifter, was lying on her face, reading an ancient grimoire about illusory art. When Morgana entered the room, she did not say anything immediately, just threw her coat on the back of the chair and stood still, staring at the mirror as if she hoped to find another version of herself reflected there.

“Did something happen or are you just in frowning wolf mode today?” Lysara asked without taking her eyes off the book.

Morgana sighed and threw herself on her back in bed.

"I kissed Persephone."

"Oh..." Lysara closed the library. "So the spontaneous combustion between you finally exploded?"

"Don’t start," said Morgana, covering her eyes with her forearm.

"I’m just surprised it didn’t happen before. Everyone saw the sparks... even the garden stone of the tower saw it coming." Lysara smiled. "What about her?"

"Ran away. As always."

Lysara sat down and looked at her friend with curiosity.

"And you? Are you sorry?"

Morgana hesitated.

"No, I don’t."

"So no problem. The pain only comes when we lie to ourselves."

Morgana turned her face to the side.

"I don’t know if I’m ready for this... whatever it is."

"She kissed me," she finally said. "And I left."

"Oh..." Lysara closed the library. "So the spontaneous combustion between you finally exploded?"

"Don’t start," said Morgana, covering her eyes with her forearm.

"I’m just surprised it didn’t happen before. Everyone saw the sparks... even the garden stone of the tower saw it coming." Lysara smiled. "What about her?"

"Ran away. As always."

Lysara sat down and looked at her friend with curiosity.

"And you? Are you sorry?"

Morgana hesitated.

"No, I don’t."

"So no problem. The pain only comes when we lie to ourselves."

Morgana turned her face to the side.

"I don’t know if I’m ready for this... whatever it is."

Lysara, with her almost feline calm, only replied:

"No one is ever. But if something makes your chest hurt more for not happening than for happening, maybe it’s worth the risk."

Meanwhile, in the dorm of the fairies, Persephone was sitting on the edge of the bed, fingers entwined on her knees, staring at nothingness. Amy entered the room with a mug of tea in her hands, but stopped when she saw the face of the friend.

"Persephone? What is it?"

"Nothing" she answered too fast.

"Persephone..."

"I said it’s nothing!"

Amy approached and sat down next to her.

"If it has to do with Morgana, you can tell me."

Persephone’s eyes narrowed, but she did not deny.

"She kissed me," he finally said. "And I left."

Amy raised her eyebrows, clearly surprised, but did not say anything immediately.

"I thought she would get angry," Persephone added, in a lower voice.

"Why is that?"

"Because... maybe I felt something."

Amy sighed, then took the friend’s hand.

"I don’t own your heart. And, honestly, it’s about time you stopped using anger as a shield. It won’t work with Morgana forever."

"I don’t trust her."

"Or maybe you don’t trust yourself when you’re with her," Amy said gently.

Persephone was silent. Amy stood up and left the cup of tea by her bed.

"You don’t have to decide anything right now. But Morgana doesn’t seem like the kind who kisses on impulse. Think about it."

Persephone watched Amy walk away and then lay down slowly, eyes fixed on the enchanted ceiling that mimicked the real night sky. A comet crossed slowly, leaving a silver trail behind.

She took her fingers to her lips. She still felt the heat of the kiss. She still felt the confusion.

But for the first time in a long time, I felt not only anger.