Chapter 24 — A Compromise

Elara’s voice trembled with frustration as they stepped into their dorm room, the door clicking shut behind them. “What the hell are we going to do?!”

“Fuck if I know,” Quinn muttered, pacing the space between their cribs, her feet scuffing against the stone floor. Her hands flexed at her sides, restless energy pouring off her.

“I don’t understand, how did we drop so quickly?” Elara asked nervously, her eyes darting to Quinn as she leaned against the wall, arms crossed tight over her chest.

Quinn’s lips pursed, a shadow crossing her face. “I think I may know why.”

“Spill it, why?” Elara pressed, stepping closer, her heart thudding harder.

“Daddy was explaining the Cup points when we first arrived,” Quinn started, her tone clipped as she stopped pacing to face Elara. “He said the points came from a few sources. Your professors, obviously—grades and all that shit. Then the rest comes from your caregiver’s report.”

Elara’s throat clenched, a cold realization sinking in as she stared at her friend. “You mean…”

“Yeah,” Quinn said with a grimace, rubbing the back of her neck. “If we don’t want to get expelled… We’ll have to do something.”

“Mommy already said she wouldn’t do anything,” Elara said nervously, her fingers twisting together in front of her. “She said we were stuck on our own.”

“Well, do you want to leave the school?” Quinn shot back.

Elara shook her head quickly, almost frantic. “No, of course not. Despite the hell we’re being put through, I do love learning magic.”

Quinn sighed heavily, her shoulders slumping as she ran a hand through her hair. “Then I suppose we need to go talk to them. We have to come to some agreement.”

Elara bit her lip hard enough to sting, glancing between the door and Quinn, uncertainty gnawing at her insides. “I suppose…” she murmured.

Quinn didn’t wait for more hesitation. She strode to the door, yanking it open and holding it for Elara. “Come on, we’ll do it together.”

Elara nodded faintly, though every step toward the doorway felt like wading through mud. Her stomach churned with dread at the thought of facing Mommy again, especially after that icy promise to let them flounder on their own. But Quinn was right; they couldn’t just sit here and wait to be dropped from Littlewick like dead weight. Swallowing hard, she followed Quinn out into the corridor, the faint crinkle under her skirt reminding her of how vulnerable she already felt before even stepping into whatever confrontation awaited.

The halls of House Ruby were quieter now, most students still lingering in the dining hall or scattered across the school for early lessons. Their footsteps echoed as they made their way toward the upper-year dorms where Mommy and Daddy usually lingered between classes or duties. Each corner turned ratcheted up Elara’s nerves further; she kept imagining Mommy’s smirk waiting around the next bend.

“You think they’ll even listen?” Elara whispered as they neared Mommy’s door..

“They’ll listen,” Quinn replied grimly, though doubt flickered in her eyes too. “They have to know we’re not just gonna roll over and get kicked out without a fight. We’ve got dirt—they can’t ignore that forever.”

Elara’s heart pounded as they stood before Mommy’s door. She took a deep breath, her knuckles rapping against the wood several times, each knock echoing in the tense silence of the hallway. They waited, shifting awkwardly on their feet.

“Maybe she isn’t in,” Elara murmured, a flicker of hope in her voice as she glanced at Quinn. “Maybe—”

Her words were cut off as the door swung open with a creak, revealing Mommy standing there, one hand gripping the frame. Behind her, Daddy sat on the edge of a bed, his broad frame still and silent, watching with an unreadable expression. Mommy’s gaze flicked between the two girls, cold and assessing, before she started to push the door shut without a word.

“Wait, wait, wait!” Elara yelped, lunging forward to catch the door with her hand. Quinn mirrored her movement, both of them pressing against it to keep it open.

“I thought I made myself clear,” Mommy said, her brow furrowing as she fixed them with a hard stare. “You two want to play adult? Fine, you can. We’ll have no part in it.”

“Well, that was before we realized your report was tanking our house standing,” Elara grumbled, frustration seeping into her tone as she met Mommy’s eyes.

Mommy’s lips curled into a slow, knowing grin. “So you did make the connection…”

“Please? Can we come in?” Elara asked, her voice softening into a plea, desperation creeping through.

Mommy seemed to ponder it for a long moment, her gaze flicking over them as if weighing their worth. Finally, she sighed and stepped back, opening the door wider and motioning for them to enter.

Quinn and Elara stepped inside cautiously, standing awkwardly near the wall as the door clicked shut behind them with a finality that made Elara’s stomach twist. The room felt smaller than she remembered. The faint scent of lavender and old parchment hung in the air.

“What is it you want?” Mommy asked sharply, crossing her arms and fixing them with a stare. Elara noticed how Daddy remained silent in the background, his presence looming but deferring to Mommy to lead this dance.

“We don’t want to be expelled more than anything,” Elara said, shifting nervously from one foot to the other, feeling exposed under that piercing gaze.

“Yeah, we don’t want to leave Littlewick yet,” Quinn added with a firm nod, her voice steadier but still edged with unease.

“And?” Mommy prompted, her hands sliding to rest on her hips, an eyebrow arching expectantly.

Elara squirmed uncomfortably, feeling like a child caught misbehaving under her own mother’s scrutiny. “And… your caregiver reports have us dragging the bottom of the score charts,” she admitted quietly. “We’re looking to come to a compromise.”

Mommy’s grin widened, sharp and predatory now, sending a chill down Elara’s spine. “We haven’t submitted any reports,” she said casually, watching their reactions with obvious amusement.

Elara looked up in confusion, blinking rapidly as her mind raced to catch up. “What?”

“We have them incomplete, ready to be submitted,” Mommy continued, savoring every word as if rolling a sweet on her tongue. “Your scores are as low as they are because they’re completely missing our reports.”

A lightness bloomed in Elara’s chest despite herself—a fragile thread of hope cutting through the dread knotting her insides moments ago. “So… you can submit them whenever, and it’ll bring our scores back up?”

Mommy chuckled low in her throat and nodded slowly. “That we could.”

Elara glanced at Quinn, hope blooming in her chest.

Mommy crossed her arms, a smirk playing on her lips as she watched the two return from their little sidebar. “So, have you made up your minds? Or are you still playing at being grown-ups?”

Quinn stepped forward, her voice steady. “We’ve decided. We’ll play by your rules for the reports. Whatever standards you’re held to, we’ll meet them. Just make sure those scores reflect our efforts.”

Daddy raised an eyebrow, leaning against the table with a casual air. “Bold words. But you understand what that means, don’t you? If we’re signing off on your reports, you’ll need to prove you’re up to the task. No half-measures.”

Elara shifted uncomfortably but kept her gaze firm. “What exactly do we need to do? Lay it out for us.”

Mommy’s smirk widened as she exchanged a glance with Daddy. “Oh, it’s simple enough. You want good scores? You’ll follow our lead, step by step. We’ll be... guiding you through every detail of what ‘caregiving’ entails in this little arrangement. Think of it as hands-on learning.”

Quinn narrowed her eyes slightly, catching the undertone in Mommy’s voice. “And if we don’t meet your expectations?”

Daddy chuckled, his tone low and almost playful. “Then I suppose those reports won’t look so shiny after all. And you’ll be right back where you started—under our thumb, with no leverage to wave around.”

Elara swallowed hard, her fingers brushing against Quinn’s for a moment of reassurance before she spoke. “Fine. We’ll do it. But we expect results.”

Mommy tilted her head, her eyes glinting with amusement. “Results come with effort, sweetheart. And trust me, we’ll be very thorough in making sure you put in the work.” She took a step closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “Starting tonight. No time like the present to get acquainted with the rules of the game.”

Quinn’s jaw tightened, but she nodded. “Tonight, then. What’s the first step?”

“Tonight, we’ll draft a series of instructions from the report, stuff that we’re graded on, and we’ll get it to you before lights out,” Daddy had said, arms crossed. His eyes had flicked between the two of them, assessing their reactions.

“You’ll both adhere to it and report—accurately,” Mommy emphasized, her tone sharp as a blade, “what progress you’ve actually made. We’ll pick it up the following night along with a fresh report. If we think you’re lying, we’ll submit reports that suggest exactly that.”

Elara had gulped, her throat tight as she nodded. “We’ll be accurate,” she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

“And you’ll keep quiet?” Mommy asked, her piercing glare pinning Elara in place.

Elara nodded again, quicker this time. “We’ll keep quiet.”

Mommy stared at her for a long moment, her expression unreadable before she finally nodded toward the door. “Out,” she said simply, her voice cold.

Elara didn’t hesitate. She scrambled from the room, her heart pounding in her chest as she nearly tripped over her own feet in her haste to escape the suffocating atmosphere. Quinn followed behind at a more measured pace, exuding a calm dignity as she shut the door with a soft click.

Once they were a safe distance down the hallway, Elara let out a long, shaky breath. “Well, that could have gone worse.”

“It could have,” Quinn replied with a playful edge to her voice, giving Elara’s shoulder a light shove. “But if you’d kept quiet, we might’ve come out even better.”

Elara’s cheeks flushed pink as she ducked her head. “Sorry…” she muttered under her breath as they stepped into their dorm room. “I’m just done with this, Quinn.”

Quinn paused just inside the doorway before stepping closer. Without a word, she wrapped her arms around Elara in a firm embrace. “I know. Trust me, I know.”

For a moment, Elara froze under the warmth of Quinn’s hold. Then she melted into it completely; tears prickled at the corners of her eyes as exhaustion and frustration bubbled up inside her chest. “I’m just so tired, Quinn,” she whispered against Quinn’s shoulder. “I hate this game of not knowing what’s coming next… I hate feeling like I’m strung out all the time… I hate all these lies and deception—I just want…”

Quinn’s fingers threaded gently through Elara’s hair; she guided Elara’s head down to rest fully on her shoulder while rubbing soothing circles on her back with her other hand. “I get it—trust me.” Her voice was soft but steady now. “I’m here for you okay? We’ll figure this out together... I’ll keep you safe alright?”

Sniffling quietly against Quinn’s shoulder, Elara managed only weak nods of agreement while pressing one cheek deeper.

“Good.” Warmth laced through Quinn’s voice, who tightened her hug briefly once more, reassuringly saying: "Why don't we get your diaper changed so we can head off towards class?"

Suddenly hyper-aware of sodden weight hanging low between legs forgotten entirely earlier due to nerves running rampant, Elara blushed deeply.

She gave a small, embarrassed nod, her cheeks flushing as she shuffled toward the changing table. She sat down on the padded surface, avoiding Quinn’s eyes as the other girl stood beside her.

“Lay back,” Quinn said softly, her tone matter-of-fact as she reached for the supplies. “This won’t take long.”

Elara complied, staring at the ceiling as she felt Quinn’s hands work with practiced efficiency. The sound of the diaper tabs ripping open was loud in the quiet room, and Elara bit her lip, trying to ignore the vulnerability of the moment.

“You’ve been holding up better than you think,” Quinn said as she worked, pulling the soaked diaper away and setting it aside. Her voice was casual, like they were discussing something mundane over breakfast. “I know this sucks, but we’re in this together. We’ll get through it.”

Elara let out a shaky breath, still not meeting Quinn’s gaze. “I just... I feel so stupid sometimes. Like I’m not even in control of my own life anymore.”

Quinn paused for a second, grabbing a fresh diaper from the stack and unfolding it. “You’re not stupid. This whole setup is messed up, but we’re playing their game to win. Lift your hips a little.”

Elara did as instructed, feeling the cool material slide beneath her. Quinn’s hands were quick and steady as she secured the tabs, making sure everything was snug without being too tight.

“There,” Quinn said, sitting back on her heels and giving Elara a small smile. “All done. Feel better?”

Elara sat up slowly, adjusting to the fresh padding between her legs. “Yeah... thanks. I don’t know how you stay so calm about all this.”

Quinn shrugged, standing up and offering a hand to help Elara down. “I’m just good at faking it. Inside, I’m as pissed off as you are. But losing it won’t help us get out from under their thumb.” She tugged Elara up. “We’ve got class in twenty minutes, let’s get there early.”

Elara stood, smoothing her skirt, “I don’t even want to go to class right now.”

“I know,” Quinn replied, already grabbing their bags from by the door. “But skipping isn’t an option if we want those reports to look good tonight.

***

The rest of the day passed in a blur of lectures, the monotonous drone of professors blending into a haze that Elara couldn’t quite grasp. She tried to focus on her classwork, scribbling notes and staring at the blackboard, but her mind kept slipping away. The sharp edge of Mommy’s unspoken threats no longer pressed against her, but a different weight had settled in its place, the suffocating uncertainty of the unknown. What would that report consist of? Would it drag them back into humiliating, babyish scenarios, stripping away any semblance of control? Would it be a straightforward guide on how to care for each other, something manageable? Or would it be something darker, something her imagination couldn’t even touch without shuddering?

Her thoughts spun in relentless circles, each possibility tightening the knot of tension in her gut. Lunch came and went in a haze of half-eaten finger foods and distracted conversation. Afterward, the two girls headed back to their dorm for fresh diapers. Elara, still rattled but wanting to take some initiative, offered to change her friend. Quinn’s eyes lit up with a playful glint as she accepted with an eager nod.

Elara hadn’t known what to expect as she stood beside the changing table where Quinn lay back, legs parted casually. Peeling away the soaked diaper, she revealed smooth skin and the faint sheen of moisture glistening between Quinn’s thighs. A jolt of heat surged through Elara, catching her off guard. Her breath hitched slightly, fingers pausing mid-motion as she took in the sight. Quinn noticed—her lips curled into a knowing grin.

“Caught your interest, huh?” she teased, voice low and suggestive.

Elara’s cheeks burned as she fumbled with the fresh diaper, trying to keep her hands steady. “Shut up,” she muttered, though there was no real bite to it.

Quinn just chuckled softly, then leaned forward, pressing a quick, soft kiss to Elara’s cheek. “Later,” she whispered, before sliding off the table to adjust herself.

They headed back to classes, but the second half of the day dragged even slower than the first. Midway through her fifth class, Elara felt a sudden, mortifying warmth spread beneath her. She’d lost control, pooping herself right there in the middle of a lecture. Her face flamed with embarrassment, but there was nothing she could do about it now—shifting uncomfortably in her seat, she prayed no one would notice the faint smell. All she could do was endure until the end of class.

Mercifully, the day finally ended.

Elara trudged back to the dorm, her steps heavy with the uncomfortable weight between her legs. Her face burned with embarrassment as she pushed open the door, relieved to see Quinn already there, sprawled in her crib with a textbook open but clearly not reading it.

“Hey,” Quinn said, sitting up as soon as she saw Elara’s expression. “You okay? You look like you’ve been through it.”

Elara dropped her bag by the door, avoiding eye contact. “I... I had an accident. In class. It’s bad.”

Quinn didn’t hesitate, hopping off the bed and crossing the room in a few quick strides. “Alright, no big deal. Let’s get you cleaned up. Come on, lie down.”

Elara hesitated for a second, still mortified, but the discomfort was too much to bear. She nodded and lowered herself onto the changing table, staring at the ceiling again as Quinn stood beside her. The familiar sound of the diaper tabs ripping open filled the small space, but this time it came with a wave of relief.

“Damn,” Quinn muttered under her breath as she peeled the soiled diaper away, grabbing a pack of wipes from the shelf. “You weren’t kidding. Hold still, I’ve got this.”

Elara bit her lip, trying to block out the embarrassment as Quinn worked. The cool wipes against her skin were a sharp contrast to the sticky mess, and she couldn’t help but tense up at first. But Quinn’s hands were steady, almost clinical in their efficiency, though there was a softness to her touch that hadn’t been there earlier.

“There we go,” Quinn said after a few minutes, tossing the used wipes into a nearby bin along with the ruined diaper. “Just gotta get a fresh one on you now. Lift up.”

Elara obeyed silently, feeling the crinkle of a new diaper sliding under her. As Quinn secured the tabs, her fingers brushed lightly against Elara’s inner thigh, lingering just a moment longer than necessary. Elara’s breath hitched, her mind flashing back to that unexpected spark of excitement from earlier when she’d changed Quinn. She glanced up, catching Quinn’s eyes—there was that same knowing grin from before.

“Feeling better?” Quinn asked, her voice low, almost teasing as she straightened.

“Yeah,” Elara mumbled, sitting up slowly and adjusting to the clean padding. “Thanks. I just... hate that this keeps happening.”

Quinn shrugged, standing up and offering a hand to pull Elara to her feet. “It’s part of their stupid game. Doesn’t mean anything about you. We’re just playing along until we can get out of it.” She paused, then added with a smirk, “Though I gotta say, you looked pretty cute all flustered earlier when you were changing me.”

Elara’s cheeks flushed bright red, and she ducked her head. “Shut up.”

Quinn laughed softly, stepping closer until they were only inches apart. “Hey, I’m serious. And... about that ‘later’ I mentioned? If you’re up for it, we could take our minds off all this crap for a bit.”

Elara’s heart raced at the implication, her earlier curiosity bubbling back to the surface despite everything. She swallowed hard, meeting Quinn’s gaze. “What do you mean?”

Quinn tilted her head, her voice dropping even lower. “I mean... we’ve got some time before lights out. Before whatever nonsense that report brings tonight. We could... explore a little. Just us. No pressure if you’re not into it.”

The air between them felt charged. Elara’s mind was still spinning from the day, but something was grounding in Quinn’s presence, something tempting in the escape she was offering.

“What do you think?” Quinn pressed gently, reaching out to brush a strand of hair behind Elara’s ear. “Wanna forget about all this for a while?”

Before Elara could answer, a sharp knock echoed through the dorm room. The girls froze, sharing a quick, wary glance. Quinn’s hand dropped from Elara’s face as she crossed to the door, her expression hardening with suspicion. She opened it just enough to peek out, revealing Mommy standing there, an envelope clutched in her hand.

Mommy’s gaze slid past Quinn, landing on Elara with an intensity that made her skin prickle. A sly grin curled Mommy’s lips as she held out the envelope. “Good luck, girls,” she purred, her voice dripping with something unspoken. “I’ll be back tomorrow to collect the report.”

Quinn took the envelope without a word, her jaw tight. Mommy lingered for a heartbeat longer, that knowing grin still fixed on Elara, before she turned on her heel and disappeared down the hall. Quinn shut the door with a firm click, the sound cutting through the tense silence of the room.

She turned back to Elara, her brow furrowed as she gripped the envelope, as if it might bite. Stepping closer, she held it between them, her voice low. “Ready?”

“As I’ll ever be,” Elara sighed, her stomach twisting into knots.

Quinn’s fingers hesitated for just a moment before breaking the seal. She pulled out the folded letter inside, unfolding it slowly as Elara’s breath caught in her throat.