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Ella looks down at the shell in her hand, letting a forceful breath out as she attempts to calm herself. Dark magic, she was going to be using dark magic, it was the only way to save Bridget from what she'd overheard.
Walking silently saving not just herself for once as she silently walked just out of Uliana's crews' sight, stopping behind a pillar the moment they'd mentioned Bridget's name. They were planning to use her kindness against her, to give the girl a cursed cupcake as 'revenge' for an incident that Uliana had brought on herself.
It was disgusting and ever since Ella had been on a hunt to figure out which cookbook the recipe could be from. As soon as she'd had it the girl had rushed to find some sort of thing to help, an antidote of some sort and she'd found it.
Thumb rubbing against the shell as she prepared her dress, Ella knew something was going to happen tonight besides the prank. A grin pulling at her lips as she picks up the dress Bridget had given her, it was pink, not a colour Ella would usually go for but Bridget had said she'd be wearing blue, so it was only fair to go along with whatever the other girl had planned.
The pink-haired girl refusing to let Ella see, excitement glitter in her eyes, rapidly explaining that they would be matching, hands flying everywhere in a way she'd grown familiar with. It was cute, everything about Bridget was cute, the two knew each other in a way that nobody else could. A warmth spreading in her chest as she remembered the look on Bridget's face when she'd told Ella she could sew anything she wanted on it, eyes all fond and sweet and so... Bridget. Grasping onto Ella's hand and squeezing it before kissing the girl's cheek and rushing off.
Rubbing the shell once more the girl smiles down at it, maybe, just maybe this would get her more than a kiss on the cheek. A skip to her step as she got ready for the dance, quickly reading the instructions the witch had given her. Eyes squinting as she read the first line, put it on your neck. On her neck, that couldn't be right, but as she read and reread the instructions, she couldn't help but hum in agreement.
Physical touch was required, her body would become a conduit for the magic and act against whatever magic befell the harmed. It sort of made sense, Ella finds herself wishing she had paid more attention in dark magistry instead of listening to Bridget rambling about what they were going to bake tonight.
Maybe afterwards they could sneak into the kitchen? Ella could prepare something beforehand, and they could- taking a deep breath the girl shakes her head walking out the door. Save Bridget, then ask if she wants to bake afterwards. Grin turning feral as the blue-haired girl imagined the look on Uliana's face when nothing happened.
It would be great, payback for everything that the squid maiden had ever said. Nobody else would know if all went well but, in her heart, it would be a silent victory.
The shell shines around her neck in a way that relieved Ella's nerves, the music was playing, and Bridget was in front of her. Everything weas going right and the princess would be safe. Relief flooding through her as suddenly the world began to dim, eyes falling shut as Bridget's voice was all Ella could hear.
It was nice, the way her body seems to move by itself, Bridget laughing away as they glide across the floor, "I have a gift for you after this," her voice whispers. Waking Ella up, eyes flying open to see a red-faced Bridget staring back at her, a drink in her hand. "Oh? You didn't have to get me anything El," she looks shy, shy and really happy.
Everything that Ella wanted to make her feel, body refusing to move as she could feel something emanating from that shell. She couldn't move her body; someone was in control of the blue-haired girl's body, and they wanted something with Bridget. No, she screams, the words never leaving her mouth as some smug emotion rolls through her mind. This wasn't what she wanted; this was- it was a trap.
Horror rolling down her spine as whoever was in control pulled the pink-haired girl closer, "I hope you like it." Pressing a kiss against the other girl's cheek in a way that would normally have made her jealous, instead though, all she felt was terror.
Terror at what they wanted, why they had chosen Ella for this. What they were going to do with Bridget, pulling the girl over to the table as her body twirled the pink-haired girl around. Giggles falling from her mouth as she looked at Ella as if she had hung the stars. It's not me, Ella yells, hitting against the glass before her.
It was like she was trapped in a room with a screen, fists pounding against it as she had to watch her friend interact with a total stranger bearing her voice. Bridget run, no sound coming out as the girl takes a hold of her hand, falling against Ella's chest with a sigh. "I'm glad you asked me; I really don't know what I would have done." There was something on her face that made Ella's heart race, wanting to lean in and kiss her but she couldn't.
"Really," Bridget's arm wrapped around her neck the pink-haired girl pulling herself closer and kissing the corner of Ella's mouth, "you saved me from coming alone." Head falling into her hands Ella tried to close her eyes, to ignore what was going on. Why didn't Bridget know it was her? Why, why, why.
Tears falling as she watches Bridget take a sip from her drink, the stranger jerking away suddenly as she felt a grin pull at her face, "don't worry Bridget, it's my honor." Something flashed in the other girl's face, a seriousness that was quickly masked by a too bright smile as her fingers play with the shell on Ella's neck.
"You're so... sweet tonight, El." Fluttering her eyelashes in a way that made her want to fall apart. Please, Bridget's smile never faltering as she put her drink in the trash, "I think we should dance some more." Mischief coloured her voice as she dragged her along, Ella trying to pretend this was her wooing Bridget, her dancing with her friend, her-
Taking a deep breath, she hits her head against the glass, the fight leaving her the longer she was forced to watch Bridget be with this person. The night ending as the stranger pulls apart from the pink-haired girl, "I'll be right back." Not even looking back as she stalks off.
As soon as they exit the hallway Ella's blindsided by a pain in her head as the stranger's fist knocks against their skull, "Gods above do you ever shut up?" Uliana's voice rang out, turning mocking as she mimicked her, please, "Bridget please."
"She doesn't even like you, why do you care it's not like she's going to kiss you for it." Uliana pauses, a sick pleasure rolling through Ella's mind as her body stops in the hallway. "Do you want her to kiss you for it?" A flash of emotion rolling through her as Uliana just cackles, "oh you do!"
Leaning against the wall practically out of breath, "the little peasant wants to get with the princess, who knows with how fucking crazy she is she might actually like you back!"
The laughter stopping, Uliana going eerily silent before a wicked grin pulls on her face, "well she could have... too bad for little street rat that she just had to be pinkies only friend." Fist banging against the glass, Ella screams the girl in her body wincing slightly, slamming her head against the brick wall before continuing to walk.
Hand flying to her head as the world turns slightly blurry Ella wishes she could stop this, the door opening as Uliana quickly grabs something. "It's not too bad, who knows just maybe one day she'll forgive you!" The villain stops talking for a moment, letting the blue-haired girl stew in it before tacking on, "probably not though."
Walking down the room with a cupcake in hand, all smug as she approaches Bridget with a grin. Ella couldn't see her face but the emotion she could feel from the squid-maiden was similar to a predator finally catching her prey. The pink-haired girl giving her a silent "thank you" as she takes a bite, unaware of the Ella's screams.
Before her very eyes Bridget started to change, skin turning green and veins throbbing black. Hunching in on herself as the girl let out a blood curdling scream, curling in on herself as Uliana reaches up and smashes the seashell around Ella's neck. The blue-haired girl frozen in place as her friend changes before her very eyes.
She'd done this, Ella was the reason for Bridget's suffering. Mouth opening to apologize as the other girl bolts outside the room, sobs echoing as villain and royal alike started laughing. Why were they laughing? Why were villains congratulating her on dumping the crazy fuck, Bridget wasn't crazy, Bridget was sweet and kind and too many things to count.
It felt like she was back in that mental room, body frozen in place, not listening to her as she just stared at where the other girl had run off to. Ella needed to fix this, needed to do something, but how could she when everyone had seen her do it?
Tears falling down her face as she just stands there, frozen in time and wondering what they had done to deserve this.