The girls frantically left the gym after defeating the cyclops. Their hearts pounded in their chests as they hurried through the halls, the reality of what they had just faced sinking in. Coach Lockwood, still reeling from the encounter, stumbled after them, shouting their names in confusion.
"Madison! Wait! What was that thing? How did you—" he called out, his voice echoing through the corridor.
Hughley, sensing the need to intervene, appeared suddenly and placed his paw on the coach's leg. A soft blue light emanated from Hughley, and Coach Lockwood's eyes glazed over as he fell into a trance.
"Coach Lockwood, you will remember nothing of the creature or the fight. You will believe that you simply fell and hit your head," Hughley whispered, his voice soothing.
The coach nodded slowly, his mind accepting the false memory. "I... I must have fallen," he muttered, dazed.
Hughley turned to the girls, urgency in his eyes. "Whoever is conjuring these creatures is in the school and knows you personally. This is why the attacks are so targeted."
Madison, April G, and June looked at each other, their fear mingling with determination. "Who could it be?" June asked.
Before Hughley could respond, the bell rang, signaling the change of classes. The sudden noise startled them all, and Hughley sighed.
"We'll have to continue this later. Stay together, and be vigilant," he said before disappearing into the shadows once more.
The girls made their way to the school pool, their minds racing with questions and fears. Swim class was next, and they needed to act as if everything was normal. They couldn't afford to draw any more attention to themselves.
As they entered the pool area, the familiar smell of chlorine greeted them. The other students were already in the water or sitting by the edge, chatting and laughing as if nothing had happened.
"We need to keep an eye out," Madison said, her voice low. "Whoever is behind this could be anyone."
April G nodded, her face set in determination. "We'll figure it out. But for now, let's just get through this class."
They changed into their swimsuits and joined the other students by the pool. As they were about to dive in, a voice rang out, filled with anger.
"Where is Jerome?" Roxy yelled, storming over to them. She had a bandage on her face from where April G had hit her during their last confrontation.
April G stepped forward, ready to defend herself. "I don't know where he is, Roxy. Back off."
Roxy's eyes blazed with fury as she lunged at April G, pinning her to the ground. "You're lying! What did you do to him?"
June and Madison rushed to pull Roxy off, but before they could reach her, Roxy's body began to change. Her legs fused together, transforming into eight long, powerful tentacles. She had become an eight-foot Cecaelia, her once-human form replaced by a monstrous sea creature.
The other students screamed and scrambled out of the pool as Roxy used her tentacles to wrap around April G, dragging her toward the water.
"No! Let her go!" Madison shouted, using her telekinesis to try and pry Roxy off her sister.
Roxy's grip was too strong, and she continued to pull April G into the pool, intending to drown her. Thinking quickly, June manipulated the water, creating an air bubble around April G's head to keep her from suffocating.
"Hang on, April G!" June called out, concentrating on maintaining the bubble.
Madison focused her telekinetic power, lifting Roxy off the ground and away from the pool. But Roxy was incredibly strong, and she broke free from Madison's spell, launching one of her tentacles at April G.
Instinctively, April G's time magic kicked in, allowing her to move at superhuman speed. She evaded Roxy's attack, her movements a blur as she dodged the deadly tentacles.
"I would say I hate to kick your ass, Roxy. But we all know I'd be lying," April G said, a fierce grin on her face.
Roxy roared in frustration, her tentacles flailing wildly as she tried to capture April G again. But with her enhanced speed, April G was too fast for Roxy to catch.
June and Madison joined forces, their combined magic creating a powerful barrier that held Roxy in place. The Cecaelia thrashed against the magical prison, but she couldn't break free.
"We need to revert her back to human form," Madison said, her voice strained from the effort of maintaining the barrier.
"Let's do it together," June agreed.
The three sisters joined hands, their magic intertwining and growing stronger. A brilliant light enveloped them, and they directed the energy at Roxy. The Cecaelia's form shimmered and distorted as their magic took effect.
With a final, deafening roar, Roxy's monstrous form began to shrink and fade. The tentacles retracted, and her human features slowly reappeared. When the light faded, Roxy lay unconscious on the pool deck, back to her normal self.
The girls collapsed, exhausted but relieved. They had managed to defeat another fae creature and protect each other in the process.
"We did it," June said, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Yeah, we did," Madison replied, looking at her sisters with a mix of pride and exhaustion.
April G knelt beside Roxy, checking to make sure she was still breathing. "She's okay. Just unconscious."
The other students, who had been watching from a safe distance, began to cautiously approach, their faces filled with confusion and awe.
"What happened?" one of them asked.
"Is she going to be alright?" another added.
Madison stood up, her body aching from the exertion. "She's fine. She just... fainted. Let's get her to the nurse."
The students nodded, still in shock from what they had witnessed. As they helped carry Roxy away, Madison, April G, and June exchanged worried glances. They knew that the danger was far from over, and they needed to stay alert.
Hughley's words echoed in their minds: Whoever is conjuring these creatures is in the school and knows you personally. The girls were determined to uncover the identity of their enemy and put an end to the attacks once and for all.
As they left the pool area, they could feel the weight of their mission pressing down on them. But they also felt a sense of unity and strength. They had each other, and together, they would face whatever challenges lay ahead.
For now, they would return to their classes and try to blend in, all the while keeping a watchful eye on their surroundings. The battle was far from over, but they were ready to fight. Together, they would protect each other and uncover the truth, no matter the cost.