It was a strange sight to see Nevers attempt to waltz. Nevertheless, as clumsy and bashful as they all were, there was some sort of happiness in the air.
At first when news got around of what was in store for them in Evil Hall, Nevers recoiled and pretended to be disgusted.
But slowly, one by one, students began to fill the room. All used the same excuse when they got in ("I just want to look around."), but none of them left.
And soon, some Never boys even summoned the courage to ask Never girls to dance.
Ravan had his bunk mates play some music using the reed violins they were provided with and though hesitantly, Never couples began to make their way to the dancefloor.
Lyra couldn't help but smile seeing how Never girls unconsciously tried to groom themselves. None of them had pretty dresses so they were stuck wearing their uniforms, but it was comfortable in some way. Some tried to comb through their hair, in an attempt to tidy themselves, and some tried their best not to slouch.
Never boys tried to look confident by puffing their chest, but in the end just settled with a meek smile.
Although everyone was instinctively trying to hide it, they were all having fun. They weren't perfect, but they were themselves. And that was what the No Ball was all about.
"What got you smiling like that?" A voice asked from beside Lyra, nearly making her jump.
"C-Colten. You're actually here," Lyra said, slightly surprised.
"How could I miss it?" Colten said, staring at Nevers clumsily trying to not step on each other's toes. "I bet if the Evers saw this, they'd laugh themselves silly."
Lyra turned towards him. "Instead of worrying about how others would think, I think it's better to just enjoy ourselves. When else would we be able to have a ball of our own?"
"We look stupid," Colten muttered.
"Maybe we do," Lyra agreed with a small smile. "But it's just us right now, isn't it? Just us, Nevers. If we can't even be real among ourselves, when will we ever be able to? After all, those who matter don't mind and those who mind don't matter."
Colten cocked his head to a side. "Since when did you start using quotes?"
"Since just now," Lyra replied, biting the inside of her cheek. "Plus, I thought it was a pretty good quote."
Colten just stared at her for a long moment before he turned away. "You're a strange one, you know."
Lyra frowned. "I'll take that as a compliment."
"You don't act like a villain. You're not mean and you don't hate Evers. It's weird that you were placed into Evil," Colten said.
"Are you saying I'm more like an Ever?" Lyra asked, trying to hide the hurt in her voice. She knew she wasn't completely like a typical Never one would expect, but she was still trying hard to fit in. Plus, she always thought she was more of a Never than an Ever.
"No," Colten said instantly. Lyra could see his cheeks turning red. "I'm just saying you're better than a Never."
Lyra felt her heartbeat quickening and her cheeks turning red as well.
"You know," Lyra said, trying to sound casual. "Do you. . . Do you think we can start over?"
"Start over?" Colten repeated.
Lyra nodded, feeling more embarrassed. "As friends?"
Colten looked as if he was considering before he slowly responded, "I don't make friends with my ex-enemies you see. . ."
What were you thinking, Lyra?
Lyra quickly faked a smile, wishing she could crawl into a hole and die. "T-That's fine by—"
Colten smiled at her. "But you can be the first one."
Lyra felt her heart skip a beat. He said that right? Colten did just say we can be friends right?
Colten's smile vanished upon seeing her shocked expression. "Or. . . not. We could always stay—"
"No!" Lyra said so suddenly Colten looked slightly startled. She quickly returned to her normal stance, before offering him a genuine smile. "What I meant was, I'm glad we're friends now."
Colten slowly nodded, before he cleared his throat. "Um, so . . . you know. . ."
Lyra gave him a questioning look, motioning him to go on.
Colten averted his eyes before saying, "Since everyone's dancing, I guess we should dance too."
Lyra blinked before she suddenly realized almost all the other Nevers were dancing on the dance floor.
"I guess we should," She agreed.
As the two Nevers made their way to the dance floor, Lyra could practically feel her heart pounding out of her chest. She haven't danced since all the way back at Camelot when Tedros was taking waltz lessons.
Crap. I can barely remember anything. Lyra thought. But whatever. It should be fine. After all, it wasn't as if anyone in the room was good at dancing either.
She and Colten locked gazes, and Lyra couldn't help but feel envious at how relaxed he looked.
Or maybe he was hiding it. She wasn't sure.
She felt Colten place a hand on her waist, while she placed a hand on his shoulder. Finally, their free hands met and soon, they fell in step, letting the rhythm control their movements.
Lyra kept counting the steps in her head, praying she wouldn't mess up until she realized. . .
"You're good at dancing," She stated.
"Just because most Nevers can't dance, doesn't mean all of them can't," Colten responded. "Plus, it's not that hard to learn. I just watched the Evers dance and I memorised the steps."
"Gosh, I know you're smart. No need to show off," Lyra said jokingly.
For a second, Colten looked genuinely flustered but then he quickly returned to his normal aloof face expression. “You're not too bad yourself.”
Lyra opened her mouth to respond but just at that moment, her right foot chose to step on Colten’s foot.
She couldn't stop herself from flushing as she muttered. “S-Sorry.”
Colten looked as if he was biting back a laugh. “It's alright.”
“No insult? I'm shocked,” Lyra joked. “Last time I remember, you were desperate to insult me every chance you get.”
“Same goes for you,” Colten responded. “But we're friends now, aren't we?”
“Last time I remember, Nevers aren't suppose to have friends. We're suppose to like solitude,” Lyra couldn't help but say.
This was a thought that had been occupying her mind for some time. Nevers were supposed to like being alone. Evers were the ones with friends, love and all the other mushy stuff.
“Well then, you need to stop remembering useless things,” Colten said. “For the record, you were the one who asked to be friends in the first place. Honestly, you think too much sometimes.”
“Are you worried about me?” Lyra said teasingly.
Colten opened his mouth to respond but all of a sudden, the doors were thrown open.
Instantly, every Never in the room turned.
Agatha stood there, staring at the the transformed Evil Hall in shock. Then tears began to fill her eyes, and Lyra knew she understood how much the No Ball meant to them.
However, the other Nevers were horrified. The music stopped and Never couples broke apart, face reddened with shame. Even Colten took a step back, his eyes hardening.
“What is she doing here?” spat Vex.
“She'll tell the Evers!” Mona cried.
“Get her!” shouted Arachne.
Lyra immediately stepped in. “Guys, don't—”
“I'll handle this,” A voice said.
Lyra turned to see Hester. “Hester, listen—”
Hester put up a hand. “I'll handle this.”
Hester then stepped through the crowd.
Agatha reeled back, obviously expecting the worse. “Hester, I—”
“This is a villains' party, Agatha.” Hester skulked towards her. “And you're not a villain.”
Lyra's stomach churned as she wondered if she should stop Hester before it's too late. But her gut told her to trust her friend.
Agatha cowered against the wall. “Wait— Don't—”
“I'm afraid there's only one thing to do,” Hester said, shadow swelling over her.
Agatha shielded her face. “Die?”
“Stay,” Hester corrected.
Agatha gaped at her. And so did the other Nevers.
Lyra meanwhile could have hugged her roommate.
Vex pointed. “B—But—she's—”
“Welcome as my guest,” Hester said. “Unlike Snow Balls, No Balls have no rules.”
Agatha shook her head, tears spilling from her eyes.
Hester touched Agatha's shoulder. “This was how we found the Hall,” Hester's voice was breaking. “I think she wanted us to have what she couldn't. Maybe it's her way of saying sorry.”
Agatha burst into sobs. “I'm sorry too—”
“I helped Sophie throw you into a sewer,” Hester sniffled. “We've all made mistakes, but we'll fix them, won't we? Both schools together.”
Agatha was crying so hard her body was shaking.
Lyra couldn't help but feel concerned as a dreadful feeling formed at the pit of her stomach.
Something in her told her Agatha wasn't crying just because she was so touched.
“Agatha, what is it?” Lyra asked.
“I tried. I tried to stop them,” Agatha weeped.
“Stop who—”
“KILL THE VILLS! NEVERS DIE!”
Lyra froze, heart thundering.
Slowly, Nevers massed towards the giant windows and looked out into the night. Down the steep hill, the Good Army marched around the moat, weapons glinting.
Lyra felt her breath hitch.
Leading the army was none other than Ted.
Not like she should be surprised. But that didn't stop it from being any less painful. She thought their friendship was more than this, and that who knows, they might still be friends despite them being on separate sides.
But now it was apparent that a witch and a prince could not be friends.
Good and Evil could never be friends.
It was just set in stone.
All the glow in any of the Nevers' faces were gone. Wind swept through the windows and blowed up the candles, leaving the hall dark and cold.
“So you come to warn us. And your prince comes to kill us,” Hester said, gazing outside. “So much for love.”
“You don't have to fight them,” Agatha pressed, desperation lacing her voice. “Let them see what I have.”
“Ha! Like that'll work,” Colten sneered, his voice echoing through the hall. All warmth had left his face, and for a second, Lyra thought he was returning to the blank-eyed boy he used to be but now there was a new emotion in his eyes: anger.
“Are we suppose to just stand here and let them laugh at us? Let them remind us of what we are? Ugly. Unworthy. Losers,” Colten continued.
Lyra flinched upon hearing his last words and she was sure everyone else did in the room.
“That's— That's not what you are!” Agatha said.
“Well then, you know nothing about us,” Colten snarled, voice ice cold.
Agatha swirled, looking at Hester, Anadil, Lyra and Dot hoping to see at least some sort of support on their face. . .
All four of their faces remained stony.
“We're all the same!” Agatha pleaded. “Let them see the truth. It's the only way!”
There was silence in the room for a moment.
“Yes,” Hester said quietly. “There is only one way.” She bared her teeth. “Free the witch!”
“No!” Agatha cried. “It's what she wants!” She turned towards Lyra, eyes begging her to help. “Lyra, this isn't the way. I know you know! Evers and Never can be—”
Lyra slowly shook her head. “I'm sorry, Agatha.” The look Lyra then gave Agatha sent chills down her spine. “I was wrong.”
Agatha's eyes widened in horror as she took a step back.
“A little reminder for our princess of what happens when fair maidens go where they don't belong,” Hester sneered.
Agatha's screams were the last thing Lyra heard bedore shadows of villains overwhelmed the princess.
✎﹏
Lyra hated regretting.
Regret was just such an awful feeling which she always tried to not feel.
But as she stared at Sophie, a shriveled, hideous hag, and Agatha sealed in a glass coffin, she was beginning to regret her actions.
She tried feeling better by telling herself it wasn't as if there was anything she could have done anyways, but inside, she was trembling.
From beside her, she could see Hester, Anadil and Dot gawking at Sophie. Apparently, they still haven't gotten over how horrifying Sophie looked, but Lyra could sense some regret in them too.
Her eyes traveled to Colten who was still staring out of the window, arms crossed. His eyes had barely left the Ever Army outside and although one would think he was observing, Lyra couldn't help but wonder if he just didn't want to look at Sophie either.
“Where is she?” Sophie asked quietly, her voice echoing through the room. Those simple 3 words were enough to send chills down everyone's spines.
Lyra didn't know why she bothered asking since the glass coffin which contained Agatha was clearly at the center of the room.
She bet Sophie just did it for the dramatic effect. Goodness, even as a witch she was still dramatic as ever.
Lyra internally sighed. She couldn't decide whether their decision to let Sophie out was for the better or the worst.
She tried to hear Sophie's heart intention but the only thing that filled her head were disarrayed thoughts all muddled together.
They'll— suffer. . . Agatha— die. . .All of them— plan. . . Where—Happily Ever After. . .Kill. . .Good wouldn't do this. . .But I'm not Good, am I?
Lyra stopped listening, her head beginning to hurt. It was evident the witch had a plan of her own only Lyra couldn't figure out what it was.
The only thing clear was that Agatha was definitely dying. She wasn't sure how, but it seemed to be the unpreventable fate.
Even if there was an Ever army marching up to the door right now. . .
Lyra bit her lip. She'd be lying if she said she wasn't feeling super guilty right now. But at the same time, she had to remind herself she was a Never.
She should be siding with Evil. The death of a princess should be nothing.
Yet, somewhere in her still wanted to save Agatha. No matter how much she wanted to avoid it.
You're a Never.
You're a Never.
You're a Never—
“Ah! There she is.” The delight in Sophie's voice was obvious. Lyra watched as Sophie began walking towards Agatha, a smile growing on her face.
It took Lyra a moment to suddenly notice the Doom Room axe in her hand.
Why in the world is Sophie holding a freaking axe???
Lyra's blood ran cold. She knew Sophie was going to kill Agatha but not this fast.
Inside the coffin, Agatha woke up only to be met with Sophie smiling down at her, running her fingers over her entombed face. . . before lifting the axe.
Agatha opened her mouth to scream—
The axe smashed through glass, shattering the coffin and stopping a few centimeters from Agatha's face.
Agatha plunged to the wet floor, heaving for breath.
“Freezing a poor princess?” Sophie sighed. “That's no way to treat a guest, Hester.”
She. . .did not kill her? Lyra's brain was already starting to try making sense of it all. But that doesn't make sense! Her thoughts. . . her heart intentions. . .
“The arrow— it was you—” Agatha stammered, crawling back. “You brought me here— to kill me—”
“Kill you?” Sophie looked hurt. “You think I can kill you?”
Her acting was so good Lyra almost believed her.
Almost.
Lyra could see Agatha's eyes trailing across the room until it landed on her and her roommates.
“Truth is I want to hurt you, Agatha,” Sophie said, making Agatha's eyes snap back to her. “But I just can't.” Instantly, she melted the axe away with a glowing finger.
She then studied her rotted face in a balloon. “My behavior last night was poor.”
Lyra had to resist the urge to snort. Poor? The girl nearly killed everyone for goodness sake!
Agatha seemed to had the same thought as her as she exclaimed, “Poor? You pushed me through a window!”
“Wouldn't you have done the same?” Sophie said, inspecting Agatha from head to toe. “If I took everything that was yours?” She spun, her pink gown glimmering. “But this is your fairy tale, Agatha. And either we end it as enemies or we end it as friends.”
“F-f-friends?” Agatha sputtered.
“The School Master said it was impossible. And perhaps both of us thought him right.” Sophie gazed into Agatha's eyes. “But how could he ever understand us?”
Agatha recoiled in disgust.
“I'm ugly now,” Sophie said softly. “But I can be happy here, Agatha. I really can. We're where we belong. You're Good. I'm Evil.”
Lyra couldn't help but feel baffled at the scene unfolding. She just couldn't seem to understand Sophie.
She tried listening to Sophie's heart intentions once more and that's when it hit her.
An Ever Army raiding Evil's ball. . . Why she was suddenly being so nice to Agatha. . .The plan she had planned all falling into place. . .
“But Evil can be beautiful, can't it?” Sophie said.
Before Lyra knew what she was doing, she felt herself shout, “Agatha, don't listen to her!”
Agatha's eyes tore away from Sophie and landed on Lyra's. The whole room seemed to be staring at her.
Crap. Why did I say that for? Lyra inwardly cursed herself.
But Agatha was staring at her now, face filled with uncertainty. It was clear the bug-eyed Reader had no idea what to do herself.
The expression on Sophie's face was hard to describe. It wasn't anger at Lyra's warning, more like disappointment. More like she expected more from her but at the same time she wasn't surprised.
“Guys,” Colten's voice sounded through the Hall, saving Lyra the embarrassment of continuing. “Evers at the gates.”
Nevers began to look at each other nervously, panic seeping in.
“Revenge,” Agatha said, quivering. “You said you wanted revenge.”
“How else to lure Good here, Agatha?” Sophie said sadly. “How else to show them all we wanted was a Ball of our own?”
“Sophie, they're coming!” screamed Dot. Beneath their feet, Evers rammed the castle doors.
“But now we'll end all of this, won't we?” Sophie said, drawing a gnarled fist from her pocket.
“SHE'S UPSTAIRS!”
The Evers had broken in. Yet Lyra found herself unable to tear her eyes away from Agatha and Sophie. She could feel her heart thumping loudly in her chest. She knew what Sophie was trying to do. She knew Sophie's plan. She knew she was supposed to let this happen.
“Agatha,” Sophie said, prowling towards her, hands clenched into a fist.
“KILL THE WITCH!” Evers cried storming up the stairs.
Sophie reached out her fist. “My friend. . .my Nemesis. . .”
But she also knew this wasn't right.
“Agatha, she's tricking you,” Lyra warned, stepping closer to the bug-eyed Reader. “Don't trust her.”
Agatha looked between Lyra and Sophie, unsure of what to think anymore.
Sophie unfurled her bare palm and sank to one knee.
“Will you dance with me?”
“Don't do this, Agatha. Please.” Lyra said. “It's what she wants.”
“And how would you know what I want, Lyra?” Sophie said with a sigh.
“Because I can hear your heart's intentions,” Lyra confessed. There was no point keeping it a secret by now anyways.
Sophie gave her a crippled smile. “Say what you want, Lyra. But you don't know me the way Agatha does.” Then she looked back at Agatha. “I'm still waiting for you answer, Aggie.”
Boom! Evers bashed the hall doors. Colten froze the doors, trying to provide another layer of defense.
“What are you doing, Sophie?” Hester screamed.
Sophie held out a withering palm. “We'll show them it's over.”
The Evers were breaking through the ice now.
“One dance for peace,” Sophie vowed.
“Sophie, they'll kill us all!” Hester shrieked.
The Evers had broke through the ice. Now there was only the doors.
“One dance for a happy ending, Aggie. One dance to save my life.” Sophie's eyes glimmered with tears. “Can't you see? It's me, Aggie. . .”
“She's trying to make you look Evil!” Lyra cried over all the noise. “Don't take her hand!”
Agatha shranked away from Sophie. “You're Evil—”
“And the Good forgives.”
Agatha visibly froze
“Agatha, don't!” Lyra said, eyes widening in horror.
But it was too late. The look on Agatha's face said it all.
“On three!” Tedros roared outside.
Lyra wanted nothing more than to drag Agatha away from her doom but she knew this decision had to be Agatha's. She couldn't force the girl to hate her best friend.
“Two!”
With a gasp, Agatha clasped Sophie's hand, mouthing a "Sorry" to Lyra.
Sophie wrapped her bony arms around her and pulled her in a gliding waltz.
“Three!”
And with that, the doors were smashed open, the Ever army barreling in.
With a beastly cry, Tedros raised his sword over Sophie's back—
“Death to the wi—”
Then he saw the waltz in full bloom.
Lyra closed her eyes. She had to remind herself there wasn't anything she could've done anyways.