What About Us?

Chapter Twelve

"...no."

Agatha rolled her eyes, then snatched the chocolate Mal had brought, grinning. She unwrapped it and took a rather large bite.

"Woke up with silk restraining me." She said between chews.

"What? Surely that's not allowed!" Mal cried, rocketing to her feet.

"'S fine, Teddy-kins took 'em off."

Mal stared at her. "What?"

"Did you just call him Teddy-kins?"

"Beatrix calls him that, and it's childish. Funny, though. Go and get Benny-boo, he spends his entire day staring at you."

"Ew."

"Sì."

Mal sat down again, and hugged Agatha tightly.

"Thought you'd another one of your... episodes." She said, voice cracking.

"M, I'm okay. I promise. It just... I don't know, reminded me too much of the Isle, and became less about getting Sophie out, and more about proving something. I don't know what, I just wanted it gone." Agatha was horrified to find tears rising. She squashed her fear down, blinking furiously.

"Aggie I'm so sorry. I want to help you, but I don't know how, and- and we got dropped in Good, Good! Us! Mother's going to kill us..." Mal got up and started pacing, but when Agatha tried, she found her legs numb and she fell to the floor.

"Mm. 'Kay, so I was apparently drugged. That explains why they were only on my wrists. Uhh..." Mal hoisted her up, and the both sat down together on the infirmary bed.

"Are you... okay? Now?" Mal asked carefully, putting her arm around Agatha's shoulders.

"Yeah."

"Agatha!" Carlos, Evie, and Jay all barged in, followed by Sophie and... Tedros. Again. Why was he here?

"Told them not to come, they didn't listen." He said, as if he'd read her mind. She rolled her eyes and wriggled away from Mal as her friends ran over.

"Okay. You can go now." She said, not looking at anyone, her eyes fixed on the sheets.

"See, I have the feeling this'll be interesting, so I don't think I will, actually." Out of the corner of her eye she saw Tedros grin slyly.

"You're infuriating. What are we, a piece at a museum for you to gawk at?" Agatha leant over and picked up a glass of water, still refusing eye contact. Tedros pulled a chair from across the room and sat down, smiling sarcastically at her as she drank. She glared back, putting the glass down. "Why are you lot here, anyway?" She asked, turning to her friends.

"I don't actually know, since the lady outside said you could leave now. Ooh, we're here to... uh... escort you back to your rooms," Jay bowed far too low, his loose hair falling over his face and hitting the ground. Agatha brightened.

"Let's go then." She got up, stumbled, to which Mal responded by holding her by the wrist and practically dragging her out.

———

The timetable was definitely beyond her greatest nightmares, Sophie thought as she stalked back to her dormitory, only to be refused access. According to the wolves, she'd been sleeping in Good the entire time, while the Evil dorms were being built. She was sent to Malice 66, on the other side of schoo;. She opened the door and found the Coven on the floor in a circle with playing cards. She rolled her eyes and slumped on the unclaimed bed.

As soon as her hair touched the manky pillow, she jolted back up. She needed to get out of here, and fast. She would not be pathetically defeated by some Evil school. Her mother had known Sophie was made for more. A fairytale life, all for her. Tedros as her prince, her the future Queen of... of Camelot! She would not be denied that chance. A small smile touched Sophie's lips, and she turned to the three witches on the floor.

"What." Hester grumbled, glaring at her.

"Help me out of here. Please." Sophie went straight to begging.

"Why should we?"

"Because... because-"

"Exactly. Ani, give me another card." Hester turned away, taking two cards from one of Anadil's rats.

"Please! I'll do anything. I can't stay here, just help me to Good. There's been a mistake!" Sophie blinked back tears, begging her voice not to crack, "I'm not Evil..."

Hester stared at her. "If it gets rid of this noise, I'll... dispose of you myself." She inhaled, letting out a low chuckle. For some reason, Sophie found it more sinister than if it were a full cackle.

"I just need to get to Good. No disposing, just gone. Please, I'm begging you."

"You know what happens to filthy beggers in fairytales, don't you, sweet, sweet Sophie?" Hester grinned like the Cheshire Cat, burying her knuckles into Sophie's hair, and roughly yanking her to the floor. "They end up begging more. For their life." She bared her teeth and let go, leaving Sophie to scuffle and wail about her 'ruined' hair.

"You beast!" She yelled, rising to her feet. "You horrible hag!"

———

Hester was caught surprised at Sophie's retaliation, though she was loath to admit it. She stopped, turned around, and lunged. Sophie dodged, and Hester slammed into a moldy dresser next to Sophie's bed, growling.

"Not the hair." Sophie spat. "Never, the hair."

Hester pulled out a dagger as Anadil and Dot watched, Anadil stroking her rats, looking on calmly, Dot chewing a chocolate notebook, the corners of her mouth curling.

"How will you do without that soft hair of yours in Good? How will you survive?" Hester advanced on her, Sophie opening the door to the balcony their floor had. The witch gripped her hair again, tighter this time. She sniffed Sophie, "You may smell like an Ever, look like an Ever, but we'll have to see, won't we. If the fairies catch you, we'll help you out." She paused, grinning slyly. "And if you crash to the floor in a bloody mess, you're Evil."

Sophie kicked her, "I warned you! NEVER THE HAIR!" She screamed, flipping them over so Hester was against the balcony edge. She groaned as her back dug into the rigged railing.

The dagger fell to the floor, near a bridge that Sophie hadn't seen on the way here. She let go of Hester, staring. "What's that?"

"Halfway Bridge. Stops people from either side crossing through to their... desired side of school. If you haven't seen it, then you came through the Clearing to get here. We have lunch there. You can plot with your friends then, just leave us out of it." Dot answered as Hester rubbed her shoulder blades and spine, groaning miserably.

"Wait, lunch? Together? Both sides?" Dot nodded, "Yes! Oh thank God!" Sophie flounced to her bed in good spirits, and dreamed of a specific blonde prince.