Chapter 1:
(which is really chapter 2)
Will sat in her cell. Despite the fact that she may very well die soon, she was actually starting to get bored. God, this is so annoying, she thought, tossing a pebble against the wall. Suddenly she heard something outside the cell. She looked up, and yelped when she saw it was none other than Cedric.
"Why are you here?" Will asked, trying to keep her voice level and so far failing miserably. Cedric smirked at her fear. Stupid snake, Will thought darkly despite the circumstances.
"You have an audience with the prince, dear Guardian," Cedric smiled. Ooh, I so wish the others were here, Will thought glumly. She didn't notice the open cell door until Cedric grabbed her and hauled her out, the redhead protesting mightily. The shape-shifter had dragged her out of the Infinite City before she even considered putting her feet under her. When she did, she didn't see any point in trying to walk, since Cedric seemed more than capable of dragging her the whole way. This time, as they went through the town, not a soul was in the street. However, Will did on more than one occasion catch a glimpse of eyes peering at her from behind closed shutters. She wasn't sure if this was better or worse than last time. On some funny impulse, Will began to dig her heels into the ground. She managed to gain a little bit of leeway before Cedric tightened his hold, gripping her painfully hard. Will yelped as she felt his claws dig into the soft skin on the upper half of her arm.
"No tricks," he hissed in her ear. Will suppressed a shudder. She didn't know which was worse, Cedric dragging her through the streets. Or not knowing what was going to happen to her once they reached the castle. The redhead didn't have long to worry. Though she had expected a group of guards, Cedric himself took Will to the throne room.
"Hello, Guardian," Phobos said in a perfectly conversational tone. To Cedric he asked, "No trouble, I trust?"
"Very little," Cedric answered with a withering glare in Will's direction. That gave her some satisfaction, at least.
"Still haven't given up?" Phobos asked her, amusement edging his voice.
"No, and if you expect me to, you're going to be sorely disappointed," Will growled. Suddenly there was a bright pink flash as something very much resembling a comet with a place to be shot into the throne room and headed straight for Will. She yelled when the thing slammed into her, knocking her out of Cedric's grip. Will was dizzy for a second. When she was able to focus, she realized with a start that she was in her Guardian form! Somehow the Heart of Candracar had found her here. Unfortunately, before she could use her wings, Cedric whipped his tail forward and wrapped it around her waist and forearms, rendering her pretty much helpless.
"I was wondering when that would happen," Phobos said.
"What? Wait, you knew that would happen?" Will said, still a little disoriented. Her head swam as Cedric dragged her forward so she was only about a yard away from Phobos.
"You still don't fully understand the Heart. If it senses that the Keeper is in danger, it will sometimes go to them on its own," the prince answered, coming to stand directly in front of her. Will felt her stomach swirl with him standing so close. She managed to keep a cool air, but inside she was aware of her fear growing in increments.
"The Heart's protection is the reason I had Cedric bring you here in the first place," Phobos continued, a dangerous smile touching the edges of his mouth. Will felt her stomach drop to her feet. She had the feeling she knew where this was headed.
"If you think even for a second that I'll give you the Heart, you are highly mistaken," Will said, struggling to keep her voice even. Phobos's smile widened at that.
"I know you wouldn't." His voice softened ever so slightly. "I'm going to take it from you."
Will's eyes widened slightly. Her fear reared its head like a terrified horse.
"You...you can't," she said breathlessly. "I have to give it to you."
Phobos really did smile then, and it made Will seriously consider trying one more time to break free. She already knew that would be useless. Cedric was holding her way too tightly.
"There is a spell that will force you to give up the Heart," Phobos continued. "Whether it goes quickly or slowly is up to you."
Will, going against what her voice of reason was telling her, started to ease her arms slowly upward, hoping to be able to jump free should the shape-shifter's coils provide some slack. No such luck. The red-head winced when Cedric tightened his hold on her, causing a strand of her hair to fall into her face. Phobos gently tucked her stray locks behind her ear, surprising Will slightly. The prince's fingertips rested lightly on the back of her jawbone for a moment, then traced a vein in her neck until they came to rest just above her heart. Then the pain started. Will grit her teeth at first, then cried out as the pain deepened. It felt as though someone was driving a knife into her chest and twisting, hard. She could feel the Heart in her, but the spell Phobos was using was causing the magic that bound it to her to weaken. With a start Will realized it was also causing her to weaken. She could feel her energy draining away, and withheld as much of it as she could. Suddenly Phobos drew his hand away. The pain vanished, and Will had to resist the urge to go completely limp, she was so exhausted.
"Take her back to the Infinite City. You know what to do," Phobos ordered Cedric. "Get back here as quickly as you can. I believe it would be to our benefit if you were here when the others arrive."
"Others?" Will managed to say. Phobos smirked.
"Guardian, don't you know? Your friends are on their way to save you. Unfortunately, they think you are being kept here, and are not prepared to fight the warriors I have waiting."
Will understood in a second. Her friends thought she was being held in the castle dungeon. Phobos had used that against them and set a trap.
"Leave them out of this," she said as fiercely as she could manage.
"Too late for that," the prince answered. At that point, Will was too weak to put up a fight as Cedric dragged her out of the throne room.