[A/N] The name of Cornelia's grandmother was never given, nor a mentioning of her grandfather's name. So for the convenience of the story, they'll be Gerald and Adriana Hale.
R is for Relentless
Part 1
Hay Lin took a deep breath, digging her toes slightly into the wet beach sand. She could finally take a break and quit worrying, even if it was for only a day. Why would she worry anyway? Well, she would have worried a lot less if the Heart hadn't come to a shocking conclusion about Nerissa. Hay Lin hadn't quite understood it when the Heart said Nerissa had made an Altermere. The only Altermere Hay Lin could remember, was the one Nerissa had made when Will had made an Astral Drop to do her laundry. But that meant Nerissa needed a base to create an Altermere, or so she thought.
According to the Heart, Nerissa was capable of creating an Altermere who was instantly obedient to her, because she was in possession of some hairs of Kadma. Apparently owning something of the one you're trying to make an Altermere from will give you total command. It didn't matter if you had a hairbrush or a bitten pencil. Anything could work, as long as you were in possession of it before you would create the Altermere.
And that meant that Nerissa did not only get another Heart, she also added a Kadma to her collection of former Guardians. Which meant she was aiming for the last remaining ex-Guardian, her grandma!
A new sigh escaped her. Nothing could go wrong. She had made a schedule where everyone would keep an eye on her grandmother per day, so someone was with her no matter what. Nerissa couldn't jump her even if she wanted to. And besides, Kadma was also with her. The Heart had said that there was still a possibility that Nerissa wanted Kadma.
The sounds of steps in the sand caught her attention. She turned her head, afraid of seeing Shagon or any of the other Knights, but she found it were her friends. Before relief could settle a new wave of panic overflowed her senses.
"Guys...Wait." Hay Lin said, stopping them in their tracks. "If we're all here, who's protecting grandma?"
Without waiting for a response Hay Lin already put on her boots and hopped towards Shell Cave, which lay nearby on the beach.
"But Hay Lin..." She heard Taranee say.
"No buts!" Hay Lin interrupted, fastening her last boot. "One of us has Wednesdays and it's not me, so it must be one of you!"
The others looked slightly surprised at each other before Irma attempted to calm her friend down.
"Hay Lin, chill... Everything's..." Irma said to an already running Hay Lin.
She stopped when smoke came out of Shell Cave.
"Is that smoke?" 'Will' asked concerned.
The others gasped and rushed after Hay Lin, who now jumped over a stone ledge. Hay Lin landed in a fighting position, though what she saw made her lose her composure in confusion. The other girls were quick to follow her and landed beside her in a fighting pose as well.
"That smell...It's...It's..." Cornelia said before everybody slumped.
"Lunch special number three. Sizzling scallops and shrimp." Yan Lin answered.
The girls looked into the cave, seeing Kadma and Caleb enjoying a bowl of the lunch special while Blunk was getting his own from Yan Lin, who was sitting next to a cooking pan.
"Smiley girl should try spicy noodles. She smile again." Blunk said nicely before planting his face in his bowl.
"Especially when they're so good." Kadma added with a nod. "We... I mean, I'd almost forgotten how fish tasted."
Hay Lin walked to her grandmother and hugged her, sighing relieved.
"I don't need noodles as long as you're alright." She said with a smile at her grandmother. "So Caleb, Wednesday is your day?"
Caleb looked up from his bowl, smiling relaxed at her.
"Yeah, why?"
"Cause I may have overreacted but..." Hay Lin said, giving the girls a apologetic and uncomfortable smile.
"No buts." Taranee replied, slightly annoyed as the reflection of fire appeared in her glasses and having the other smirk at her.
"Ah granddaughter, you worry too much." Yan Lin said calmly. "Nerissa's crew will never find me here. So relax. Have a number seventeen."
She gave her granddaughter a bowl with food, though the food did not remain long in it.
"We'll take ours to go." A sneering male voice said, gaining everyone's attention.
They all glanced outside and found all five Knights of Destruction standing outside the cave, ready to attack the Guardians and kidnap Yan Lin and the real Kadma.
"Oh and, throw in a side of grandma Lin." Zafyra added. "For Nerissa."
"Let's make this quick and painless." Shagon said as the Guardians walked out of the cave to protect the two elderly.
"Or better yet, just quick." Ember said darkly, lighting her hand on fire.
"Couldn't agree more." Taranee muttered, remembering the foul trick Zafyra had played during their last fight and glaring at the Knight in question.
"Guardians Unite!" The Heart exclaimed, transforming the girls in an instant.
"Water!"
"Fire!"
"Earth!"
"Air!"
"Quintessence!"
Ember started the attack, throwing a fire beam at Yan Lin. Yan Lin automatically protected her face and if it weren't for Kadma, she would have been toasted too.
"Nice safe Kaddie." Yan Lin commented.
"I like my friends when they're not fried." Kadma replied with a grin of her own.
Both Hay Lin and 'Will' reacted by throwing their attacks at Ember. Though Ember dodged the lightning of the Heart, the air slash hit her full, making her stagger in the air. Irma was quick to throw a water ball at her, only for Tridart to freeze it before it could hit her.
Meanwhile Khor was trying his best to pound Caleb, who dodged the attacks with some ease. He ducked and kicked at Khor's legs, knocking him down. Cornelia then created a hand of stone, trapping him inside of it. She flew in front of him, clearly angry, when she realized that that might not be the best approach.
"Remember, they thrive on negative emotions." She said loudly for the others to hear. "No feeding animals."
"Got it!" 'Will', Taranee and Irma replied.
Blunk did hear the warning, though his fear was pretty great. The clever idea of placing his hands before his eyes, so he would see no evil, popped up in his mind and he blocked himself from seeing the battle, though he continued running in the hope to end somewhere safe.
"Got it!" He yelled as well, but at that point, he tripped over a stone.
Ember had seen him running and launched a fire beam at the ground, heating it to a level that the ground melted. Blunk's hands had left his eyes when he'd tripped and he was looking right at a lava floor. More fear filled him, but luckily for him, Irma was on the watch. She quickly doused the lava, though she hit Blunk in the process, soaking the poor Passling as he collided with the now stone floor.
Hay Lin didn't seem to hear Cornelia and already hurried to her grandmother and Kadma, checking if both were alright. Unfortunately for her, this action was fuelled by fear, which was Tridart´s favourite dish. He created two ice clones and all three of them landed on the ground.
"Please, there is enough fear in this cave to gloat three of me." He gloated.
Hay Lin spread her arms in front of her grandmother, looking angrily at Tridart and his clones. The Tridarts rushed at her but Taranee landed in front of them and started shooting fireballs in a rapid fashion. She only managed to take one down before the other clone slashed at her with his axe. Taranee dodged it, but found that she was surrounded.
"Hay Lin!" Taranee blamed, slightly worried about her position.
"We have to protect my grandma and Kadma! Nerissa's gonna..." Hay Lin said, though the worry was clear in her voice.
"Channel that fear kiddo. Right now it's doing more harm than good." Yan Lin said, interrupting her granddaughter and reassuring her a bit.
Kadma watched silently. Hay Lin closed her eyes and visibly calmed down, which in turn made Tridart visibly weaker. Though Taranee was still dodging the two axes. Kadma nodded impressed when Hay Lin flew up and destroyed the last clone with a compressed air funnel. Which made Tridart first look up, before turning his attention to the Fire Guardian, who was now grinning cockily and sending him flying with a fine fire blast. Meanwhile, Zafyra, Shagon were getting their butts handed to them by 'Will' and Cornelia. Kadma noticed that the two dark Angels seemed to be less eager to hurt the Guardians than back on Zamballa. She even thought she saw Zafyra cringe a bit when she'd hit the Heart. But in the end, both Cornelia and the Heart blasted the two dark Angels to the ground, near their fallen teammates.
The Guardians assembled in front of their fallen enemy, glaring them down. Their gazes gave them the fair warning to stay as far away as possible from the two remaining ex-Guardians. Shagon, however, didn't seem to be all too happy with the outcome of the battle.
"You won't be able to protect old Yannie forever!" He sneered while getting up.
"Hey! Who you callin' old?" Yan Lin said, heavily offended while Kadma smirked at her old teammate's behaviour.
Shagon did not answer the obvious rhetorical question and slashed in the air, creating a fold in front of the Knights. As the Knights followed him one by one, Zafyra halted before entering. Her eyes went to the Heart, who again felt a strange sensation.
"Nerissa has turned the other ex-Guardians to her side." She said, before seemingly glancing around to be sure she was alone with the Guardians. "Make sure you won't be next."
With that she disappeared as well, leaving everybody in the cave in utter surprise.
"Did she just...?" Irma asked, clearly out of words.
"Warn us?" Cornelia finished, also looking flabbergasted. "What's wrong with her?"
Kadma was silent and looked at how the Guardians looked both surprised as well as lost at each other. If she didn't know better, Kadma would say that Nerissa's grip on Zafyra was loosening, but that meant Zafyra had a different personality than from what she's showing.
"Anyway, she is right!" Hay Lin said, snapping everyone's attention out of their own thoughts. "This cave is so no longer safe!"
"Ah, Zafyra just having a permanent bad hair day." Yan Lin said breezily. "Now, who wants to eat?"
Kadma shook her head. Yan Lin had always been so laid back and with the current situation, it was actually worrying Kadma as well.
"Of the floor?" The Water Guardian replied to Yan Lin's question, sounding sarcastic.
"Blunk got it covered!"
Kadma raised her nose in disgust as the Passling started to lick the food of the floor.
"Better than Sheffield cafeteria." He said, making Kadma smirk again. Apparently the food hadn't gotten any better in the years she left the school. "Maybe even better than Sheffield cafeteria dumpster!"
"That's it!"
Everyone's attention, except that of the Passling, went to the Heart, who's eyes were bright and who had a smile on her face.
"That's how we keep Yan Lin safe." She said determined.
"We hide her in the dumpster?" Irma asked, making Kadma growl inwardly. The Water Guardian could've been Cassidy's granddaughter if she hadn't died.
"No!" 'Will' said, perhaps slightly annoyed at the jokester. "We hide her in plain sight."
Now the others were catching on, all grinning at their leader's substitute's idea. But then their eyes went to Kadma, wondering what they should do with her.
"And what about Kadma? We can't send her back to Zamballa and according to grandma, she can't even cook beans!" Hay Lin said.
Kadma glared at Yan Lin, who smiled innocently at her.
The others all looked at her, wondering what to do. Suddenly Cornelia gasped, gaining the attention of the others.
"Oh! I got an idea!" She said.
"What? Miss Cornelia Hale has an idea?" Irma retorted, already gaining a glare from Cornelia. "Didn't that hurt you?"
"I'm about to hurt you." Cornelia growled darkly, resulting in the Heart standing between them.
"Okay, no fighting. We get enough of that from Nerissa and the Knights." She said, glaring both down. "Now Cornelia, what is your plan?"
"What if Kadma stays at Hay Lin's place? I mean, she'll be in the restaurant and in plain sight. Fat chance for the Knights to catch her."
While the others nodded, impressed by the suggestion, both Hay Lin and Yan Lin shook their heads.
"No can do." Hay Lin replied. "Caleb is taking the basement and we've got no more rooms to spare."
"And I doubt Kadma would sleep on the dusty mouldy bunk bed in the basement." Yan Lin added, getting a shudder from Kadma.
"We've got no room either." Both Irma and 'Will' said with a shake of their heads.
"I suppose I've got a room to spare...But I don't know if mom will agree to it.." Cornelia muttered.
"Your last name is Hale?" Kadma said.
Cornelia nodded.
"Any connection to Gerald Hale?" Kadma then questioned, making Cornelia gasp.
"How do you know my grandfather's name?" She asked, her eyes wide.
Both Yan Lin and Kadma chuckled.
"How would she not know? She and Gerald were a couple back in the day." Yan Lin said with a grin.
"Grandfather and you?" Cornelia asked flabbergasted.
Kadma nodded with a grin.
"Oh yes. But we broke up on good turns. And a few months later he got together with a friend of us, remember Yan Lin?"
Yan Lin nodded.
"I still can't believe he went and dated Adriana! She was so stuck up! She actually beat Halinor in that."
Cornelia paled a bit.
"That...That's my grandmother's name." She admitted, getting laughs from the two elderly, while the other girls were just wondering what was going on.
"They married!" Kadma said, both delighted as well as humoured. "You didn't tell us...me Yan Lin."
"How could I know? You and Halinor were my main source of gossips. When the two of you were gone, the only thing I heard was: 'What do you recommend?'" Yan Lin said with a shake of her head.
"Sorry for the interruption." Taranee said, stopping the two women from reminiscing. "But what has that to do with anything?"
Kadma straightened her face while Yan Lin continued to giggle.
"Oh, yes. Well, what we...I mean, I meant was." Kadma said before silencing Yan Lin with a glare. "Why don't you let me call your grandmother and we'll see what we can do."
The Guardians looked at each other, but in the end they complied. What was the worst that could happen anyway?
Sheffield cafeteria, Heatherfield, the next day
There was a line. A line which had never been seen on Sheffield Institute before. Because it was a line in front of the cafeteria. Practically the whole school decided to eat there when Irma had announced that Yan Lin would be working there. Which wasn't surprising at all. Everyone knew the normal quality of the food in the cafeteria and everyone knew the quality of the food made at the Silver Dragon and let me tell you this. That is an enormous improvement.
'W'.I.T.C.H. were standing in line, thought they were one of the first. Only a handful of students and Knickerbocker were standing in front of them.
"So...How'd you get Knickerbocker to go for it?" Cornelia asked the Heart, both clutching their trays and waiting.
"Please. Even she knew how Blunk-worthy the food was here." The Heart replied with a grin. "When Yan Lin volunteered to be a guest chef at no charge, Knickerbocker jumped at the chance."
"Orange chicken!" Knickerbocker exclaimed delighted. "Smells delicious!"
"We've turned the cafeteria into the most popular place on campus!" Taranee exclaimed while looking at the line behind them.
"And we can keep constant watch on Yan Lin." Irma added with a grin. "No more worries!"
"I'm worried." Hay Lin said, making Irma sigh as well.
"Yeah, me too." She then said sarcastically. "They're almost out of Mu gu gai pan!"
Hay Lin glared at her best friend, who returned with a cheeky smile. Hay Lin then grabbed her out of the line, which caused a quick shift and a quick closing of the gap.
"Hey! I haven't had thirds yet!" She said annoyed, getting a deadpanned look from Hay Lin.
"Not that!" Hay Lin said before pointing at something passed the line. "That!"
Irma followed her finger and saw Matt, or better said, Shagon glamoured as Matt talking to Eric Lyndon.
"What's he doing talking to my Eric?" Hay Lin asked, sounding a bit desperate.
"Your Eric?" Irma noticed, getting a blush from her nervous friend.
"Maybe...Someday..." Hay Lin said, blushing furiously. "Look, that's not the point."
"I know. I know." Irma said, throwing her hands up in defeat. "I'm just glad he didn't have the guts to glamour as Will, cause then I would have been throwing a fit."
"We all would, but this is reality. In which Shagon is glamoured as Matt." Hay Lin said.
The two nodded and walked over to the two boys, pulling Matt along as they went.
"Excuse us, we need a word." Irma said, smiling friendly at Eric.
They took some distance between Eric and themselves before halting. Hay Lin pointed angrily at Matt, hoping to look intimidating.
"Listen Shagon." Hay Lin said threateningly. "Get scares or..."
"Or what?" Shagon interrupted. "You reveal who I am? Who you really are?"
He laughed tauntingly, getting glares from the two girls besides him.
"Here's the deal. I keep an eye on you, you keep an eye on me." He said while freeing himself from Irma's grip. "Get used to it."
He then walked away, leaving the two girls behind. Irma muttered something before crossing her arms and walking to the table where the other girls were sitting.
"You alright?"
Hay Lin looked up, seeing Eric walking to her. She noticed Irma had left and felt a blush creeping up as Eric went to stand next to her.
"Uh... Eric." She said.
"Yeah...It's Hay Lin, right?" He replied. "Chocolate covered fortune cookie? You look like you could use one."
"It's...My grandmother." Hay Lin said carefully. "She's having some difficulties...?"
"Oh, I so get it." Eric said reassuringly. "I live with my gramps and stress over him all the time. Course his answer: 'Worrying about the future never solves anything, young man.'"
Hay Lin grinned at the impression Eric made, making Eric smile as well.
"So I get all hung up on what the future might hold, when you can crack that sucker open and know." He continued.
Hay Lin did as he asked her, but she found it was empty inside. Eric scratched the back of his head embarrassed while Hay Lin sighed defeated.
"Ugh. Oh great. Empty. Like I needed another bad omen." She said sombrely.
Meanwhile, Shagon was leaning against a window, looking over the cafeteria. He saw how Hay Lin returned to the table where the other Guardians were seated and he grimaced. Perhaps they were talking about where Kadma was, but he couldn't walk up to them and ask. His eyes then fell on a girl who was standing suspiciously close to that group. Once she noticed he was looking, she smiled at him and walked towards him. Great, he didn't want to handle another student today.
"Hey Shaggy." The girl said brightly, surprising Shagon badly.
Only when the girl temporarily shifted her eye colour did he realize it was Zafyra. He'd never thought it was her, seeing that she was glamoured as a girl with long, flowing black hair and a rounder face. Her eyes were a shade of green, where Will's eyes would have been brown.
"What are you doing here?" He asked a bit grumpily.
Zafyra punched him lightly on his arm.
"Nothing much. Tricking Nerissa in having me spy as well was pretty easy." She said before glancing at the girls.
They had not seen her and hadn't even bothered to keep their eyes on Shagon.
"Are you sure you want this?" Shagon then asked quietly.
Zafyra nodded.
"Yeah, if I want to find out what Nerissa meant with her comment on Zamballa I have to speak with her alone." She said.
"But she will be with us, hunting Yan Lin." Shagon countered.
"I know, that's why I go and search for Kadma, while you keep the Guardians out of harm's way." She replied coolly. "Once I've found her I can return and talk to Nerissa, hoping to get some answers. If she doesn't destroy my loyalty, I'll tell her where Kadma resides. If not, well..."
"Then we'll find a way to get away from her." Shagon said with a nod.
A smile graced his face.
"Did you ever guess that we would actually create an alliance with our hosts?" He asked.
Zafyra bit her lip and shook her head.
"Not really." She said, almost afraid. "But you never told me how you and your host got on good terms."
Shagon shrugged.
"It was nothing really. He kept on pointing out obvious things I didn't see that made my loyalty waver. And when you admitted to be wavering as well, I knew that he was right, though I don't really like to admit that."
"So he was a smartass?" Zafyra asked with a grin.
*Hey!* Matt glowered from within Shagon, making both Shagon and Will laugh.
*Will!* He said shocked at his girlfriend.
Will shrugged.
*Well, sometimes you are.* She admitted, making him pout a bit.
She walked up to him and kissed him on his cheeks, while he enclosed her in his arms.
*But you're my smartass.* She said with a grin.
*Would you two mind? We aren't kissing in public to save your faces, so please have some respect.* Zafyra grumbled at the two, which made them split up.
*Fine, fine.* Will said.
*Will, did you two find out where Kadma is?* Matt asked, getting a nod from the two women.
*Yeah, well... Sort of.* Will admitted sheepishly.
*Sort of?* Matt and Shagon repeated.
*We only heard the sentence: She'll be playing bingo at 5 P.M.* Zafyra said with a shrug. *But there aren't many places where she could go and play bingo, so I've got time.*
*Now it's important that you play the role of Nerissa's favourite spy.* Matt said seriously.
Shagon sighed and nodded.
*Yeah yeah. Though the next time the Guardians talk to us while in public, I get to talk to them. That was low of you to get me while I was thinking about something else.*
*Well, to be fair, you did hit me with your powers for it.* Matt defended. *And I didn't raised any suspicions.*
Shagon sighed annoyed and his eyes glowed again, making Matt shrink in response. He chuckled lightly before stopping his attack, receiving another chuckle from Zafyra while Will and Matt glared at him.
*Bye bye.*
The two dark Angels broke the contact with their hosts, looking slightly concerned at each other.
"I hope they are wrong." Shagon muttered darkly.
"I don't know..." Zafyra replied. "Anyway, see you later."
With that she turned around and walked away, leaving Shagon looking slightly lost at her. Where could they go if Nerissa would betray them?
The classes resumed and things seemed to be normal. 'Will' and Cornelia went for their lesson history while Hay Lin, Irma and Taranee went to chemistry. They had to do a practical assignment in partners, thought Hay Lin's was ill so she had to do it alone. Not that it really mattered. It was boring anyway. They had to do some fluid with another one and place it on a burner.
Hay Lin stared absentmindedly at her concoction while their teacher walked by. Hay Lin sighed and started to stare outside, but something quickly caught her attention. Matt was sneaking on the campus, while Hay Lin was sure he had classes, thanks to Will keeping tab on him before she and him were actually an issue.
" Now once these beakers heat up to the correct temperature, you kids should see a colour change that would blow your minds!" The teacher said before a sudden gust made several papers fly up. "Somebody close the windows!"
"Uh...But professor, they are closed." Taranee remarked, though she gave Irma a meaningful glance. This could only mean that Hay Lin had noticed some danger to Yan Lin and they had to get away as soon as possible.
No one noticed how a door randomly opened and closed.
As for Shagon, he was spying on Yan Lin through the kitchen window, watching her every step. He placed his hand on the window, thinking of jumping the woman for fun, when the reflection Hay Lin appeared in the window, looking strangely calm. He turned around casually, smiling at her.
"Just seeing who's on the menu." He said with a grin.
"Yeah. Well, enjoy detention, Shagon." Hay Lin said as she turned around and invisible.
"Yo, Knickerbocker! Classes are for losers!" Hay Lin yelled with a heavy voice.
The action had an immediate effect. The windows of the principal's office flung open and a ticked off Knickerbocker glared down, only finding Matt standing there.
"Matthew Olsen." She said angered. "In my office! Now!"
The principal closed her window and Shagon grimaced. He hadn't thought Hay Lin would do that and it would diminish his chances to get one final good talk with Nerissa before their missions forced them to separate. Now those chances had been halved and all he could do was curse the Air Guardian. He didn't prefer having mind talks with Zafyra, seeing that their hosts could listen in as well. But as things seemed now, he didn't have much of a choice.
[A/N] End of part 1. Loved the first part? Well read on! And for those who still have troubles understanding. The Kadma who went with the Guardians in "Q is for Quarry REWRITTEN" was and is the real Kadma. So the Kadma who was eating in the cave with Yan Lin is the real Kadma. The Kadma who is enthralled is an Altermere.
Well, review and read on!