Hi again, everyone!
Terribly, terribly sorry that it took me ages to update! The complete lack of time and tons of everyday routine chores were the reasons. But I finally did it and updated! Yay! So, I know you all are intrigued to discover what happened to Cornelia after she had fainted. So, I won't torture you any more, just enjoy.
Chapter 2: An angel or a beast?
I still
hear your voice when you sleep next to me
I still feel your touch
in my dream
Forgive me my weakness but I don't know why
Without
you it's hard to survive
'Cause
every time we touch
I get this feeling
And every time we kiss
I swear I could fly
'Can't you feel my heart beat fast
I
want this to last
Need you by my side
'Cause every time we
touch
I feel this static
And every time we kiss
I reach
for the sky
Can't you hear my heart beat so
I can't let you
go
Want you in my life
Your arms are my castle,
Your heart is my sky,
They wipe away tears that I cry.
The good and the bad times
We've been through them all,
You make me rise when I fall…
Nobody knows how long Cornelia was in a fainting fit. When she finally regained, she had a strange unpleasant feeling in her head (this must have been because of the toxic substance she had inhaled). There was no more music sounding in her mind. Cornelia kept lying where she was, trying to remember everything that has happened to her last. It was not an easy task, everything was like in a fog, and somehow recollecting the events, the Earth guardian tried to stand up, but she couldn't. Cornelia finally opened her eyes.
She found herself in a half-dark room, lightened only with a strange light coming from nowhere. There was not a window in the premises, only a few strange-formed candles standing on the floor and on a small table, and the room's walls and ceiling reminded the cave's ones. Cornelia had a feeling she was under the ground. There was not much furniture in the room, just a small table and shelves all around, with different retorts standing on them. Cornelia herself was sitting in a corner on a small heap of straw. Her ankles and wrists were tied strongly with a thick rope, so she couldn't even move.
Cornelia didn't even manage to realize what was going on and get anxious, when she suddenly saw a figure moving towards her. She didn't notice it at first because of the darkness of the room. It was a fat, very ugly, 40-year-old looking woman. She was wearing a long black dress, which covered her feet and a pendant in shape of a seashell was hanging around her neck. The woman kept coming up to the Earth guardian.
«Thank God, finally you've came to your regain consciousness» the woman said to the blonde.
«Don't approach me! What do you need? Let me go immediately, I will scream! » Cornelia shouted paying no attention to the woman's words.
«Scream or not, it's useless. We are far away from anyone alive and nobody will hear you» the woman replied. But she said it not in that grisly tone of a villainess, which Cornelia expected, but calmly and even softly. This surprised the earth guardian.
The woman took a dagger-like knife from the table and started to approach Cornelia. The poor girl was frightened to death. She wanted to scream, but her voice was stuck in her throat from fear. Why does that woman want to kill her? What did Cornelia do to her? Cornelia tried to protect herself, but she didn't have her guardian powers, and couldn't even move, and was completely helpless.
The woman came nearer and nearer to the blonde and when she got face to face to her, she cut Cornelia's ropes and stepped a little back.
Cornelia immediately penetrated deeper into the corner breathing deeply and flattened her against the wall. She didn't understand a thing.
She kept sitting like that for some time, waiting the attack from the stranger, but the woman was standing beside her, doing no harm to her and waiting when Cornelia recovers.
«Why did you do that? » Cornelia finally whispered in a weak voice.
«Oh, don't be frightened, » the woman said softly «I only tied your arms and legs in order you not to harm yourself while you was in fainting fit»
The Earth guardian got completely involved. How did she get to that place? What relation does she have to this woman she doesn't know? The only way to find out was the woman herself.
«Who are you? » Cornelia asked after a pause «Why did you bring me here? » She tried to calm down a little, but her heart was still beating extremely fast.
«Trust me Cornelia, I am your friend» the woman said calmly «My name is Ursula. I know everything about you. I brought you here for your own sake. I need to warn you and prevent the trouble»
«The trouble? » Cornelia didn't get what the woman was talking about.
«Yes» Ursula confirmed. «Do you love Caleb? » she suddenly asked.
Cornelia totally didn't expect this question «I… I… Well, yes, but…» she didn't know what to say. «But what link does he have to this matter? » she finally asked.
«I know you are astonished to hear that, dear, » Ursula said seeing Cornelia confused «I need to tell you something. Caleb is not the you think he is»
«What do you mean? » Cornelia asked in a shivering voice. She had a very bad presentiment in her heart.
«I said I know everything» Ursula continued «I know he is your first love and happy now with him. You think he's just the one you've been dreaming for your whole life; he's the Earth and Heaven to you. Handsome, intelligent, courageous… A heroic warrior, who is fighting against the evil to give freedom to his fatherland. The top of perfection, isn't he? But it is not true. »
«What? » the earth guardian didn't believe her ears.
«I know it is hard to believe, but Caleb has been deceiving you all the time» thee woman said in a firm voice «I have known Phobos, he's a real beast, but I say you, Caleb is even worse, much worse! And I know who to compare»
Cornelia was boiling with anger. How could anybody say such things about her beloved! «No! How can you say that! » she shouted in indignation «If you captured me here to tell such awful nonsense, it won't work, 'cause I will never believe you! Release me immediately! »
«I know it's hard to believe» Ursula continued «You think you know everything about him, but it's not like that. Please, listen to me and you'll understand. Caleb just plays with your love and pretends being a hero, he headed the rebellion against Phobos only because he wanted to take the power over Meridian and he still wants it. But Elyon took the place of queen and his plans were spoiled. But he won't give up, he won the trust of the guardians and he needs all your team only for his own interests. I know what I am talking about. This may have terrible consequences and I'm warning you now. He knows are an innocent and naïve young girl, he manipulates your feelings and wants to make you do everything he says» the woman concluded convincingly.
«I don't believe you» Cornelia said in quite a confident voice, but a germ of doubt oppressed her heart.
«You need proofs? » Ursula exclaimed «then you'll get them. This evidence will be enough for you to make sure his words of you are his only love are lies» she looked at the Earth guardian screwing up her eyes «Remember Elyon, your best friend? You still consider her your friend, don't you? And after everything what happened after she had found out she was the princess of Meridian? She repudiated you and denied everything you said. She considered you and the girls her enemies, she better believed her evil brother than all of you. She even fought against you when Phobos inspired her with his tales of you were evil… But the old is forgotten now and you are on friendly terms again, right? Then what is she doing there with your only love? »
With those words Ursula extended her arm to the black mirror in a carved frame, which was hanging on the wall of her den, and an image appeared in it immediately.
That struck Cornelia like lightening. What she has just seen nearly broke her heart. The mirror was showing a mild and peaceful corner of Meridian, and there, under a big tree her love, her boyfriend Caleb was sitting next to Elyon; they were kissing gently and passionately. The way he has so much times kissed Cornelia and has told her about his endless love he was now doing that with her best girlfriend. A large pure teardrop fell on the floor and hundreds of others followed it. Her star-like crystal eyes were pouring streams, like fathomless heavens during a downpour. How could Caleb betray her and her love? Cornelia's feelings to him were true, she didn't look at any other guys, she thought she has finally found her happiness; and now… now everything turned out to be just an illusion, which was broken with the sight of that image. How could he? How could he be so unfaithful to her? and with who? with her best friend! And Elyon? The girl, whom Cornelia has known for all her life, with who she could share all her joys, sorrows, her thoughts and feelings, how could she treat her so badly? Or maybe Ursula was right and Elyon has never considered her a friend? And what if Caleb will now deceive Elyon like he, as Ursula says, has been deceiving Cornelia? The poor Earth guardian buried her face in her hands, sobbing with grief. She was so emotionally staggered that she couldn't think if all Ursula's words were true, and even if the vision in the mirror was true or just a relay. And it's not difficult to understand her feelings…
The mirror went out and the terrible image disappeared.
Ursula stooped to the Earth guardian and looked at her with sincere sympathy. «I know how hard it is for you to accept all of this» she said mildly to Cornelia, who couldn't help crying. «But I have to open your eyes now. You have seen everything; Caleb doesn't appreciate your feelings. He is so cunning and sly and will do everything to reach the power. If I haven't warned you, he would have made you suffer even more. Bu there is a way out» she concluded and strange gleam shone I her eyes for just a moment.
«A way out? » Cornelia raised her radiant, wet from tears eyes on the woman.
«Yes, wait here» Ursula ordered and went away in the dark depth of the room. Cornelia stayed sitting in her corner, broken and despaired, and didn't even try to escape.
Ursula soon got back, carrying something in her hands. The woman approached Cornelia, who was still sitting on the floor, and hold out a strange document, which reminded an ancient scroll, to her. The paper was very old; it got dry and yellow with time and even was torn a little in some places. On the paper were written some strange inscriptions in an unknown language and the earth guardian was not able to sort out unusual letters. In another hand Ursula was holding a golden bird's feather.
«Look, this is a very ancient spell, which contains a great power» Ursula said «All you need is just to sign this paper and you will get the power, which will help to fight with the evil. I kept it for your own sake. Take revenge, and you will save meridian. You will get the power, now you will be the main guardian. Will have always been wounding you as a guardian, she thinks she can command anyone since she's the guardian's leader. But it's you, who must be the leader; the powers of Earth are the most important. You don't have any friends; you can't believe anyone, except me because I wish you well. Just do what I say and put the end to all your sufferings. Punish the evil, which really deserves it. Only your signature is needed for the justice to be recalled» she went on instilling the blonde.
It was very painful for Cornelia to bear Ursula's words, she felt weak and her mind was occupied only by one thought, but she still realized what she was doing. She still loved Caleb and loved strongly, even in spite of everything she had seen, and didn't want any harm for him.
«Will you do it? » Ursula asked calmly, but her face had an intense expression.
«No, never! » the Earth guardian replied with the mix of hatred and grief.
«You still believe him! » Ursula cried «Then, look on again! » and she pointed at the black mirror, where again appeared the awful image, where Cornelia's only love and her best friend were together. Cornelia couldn't see that, her heart was tearing apart from pain. Large drops kept pouring down her cheeks and she turned her face away from the vision, sobbing bitterly.
Why did it all happen to her? Why did she get to that place, why was she captured by that woman, why did she have to suffer? And only some hours ago Cornelia felt totally happy. Now her happiness turned into a nightmare and everything became ruining.
«I can't see it. It's too painful» the Earth guardian whispered with pain.
Ursula made the image disappear. «I know how painful it is for you. But it's better to find out the bitter truth now then to live in sweet lies and let him ruin your life. You're not the first one and the last one he has deceived» Ursula said softly coming closer to Cornelia. «Many of us, young and naïve girls has swallowed his bait»
Cornelia looked at Ursula, still crying. She was astonished to hear that. She expected the woman to say anything, but not this.
«I know you are surprised to hear that» Ursula said seeing Cornelia's confusion «You think, how that woman can talk about youth when she's so old and ugly? Let me explain you everything» her face got a sad ad nearly suffering expression as if she had remembered something painful «I was an innocent naïve girl about your age when I first met Caleb. He seemed an idea to me, I tell you. I trusted him and he betrayed me, he just used me! I have magical powers and he just used them to make his way to the power. And then, when he didn't need me any more, he found an ancient spell and with its help turned me into what you see now. He threw me away like garbage and broke my heart. And now, so old and ugly, I have to hide away from everything alive. I want vengeance! He will do exactly the same with you, Cornelia. There is nothing saint for him, no love, no friendship, nothing. Believe me or you will have to go through my sufferings»
It was hard for Cornelia to believe Ursula, but her words contained something that manipulated the guardian's mind and feelings. Cornelia tried to resist that mysterious invisible influence on her subconscious but her mind was like in fog and it was hard to realize the whole situation.
«Cornelia, you will prevent all of this just by signing this document» Ursula tried to convince the blonde. «This will wipe away your tears forever, consent to do it»
Cornelia felt a great weakness and inside devastation, but her common sense was still with her. She lowered her head and whispered in a weak, hardly audible voice not looking at Ursula: «No»
The woman was not satisfied with the answer.
«Then I have to tell you all the truth. It's the last way to prevent the trouble. » Ursula said looking at the suffering guardian «I know it will be very painful, but Caleb has never loved you»
«Never, never…» this word was resounding in Cornelia's head.
«All he wanted was only your guardian powers» the woman continued in a cold voice «He just wants to use you and then throw away… like he has done with me»
Cornelia could hardly breathe from tears, which couldn't help pouring from her crystal eyes and falling on the floor. «Then everything… » Cornelia whispered in a broken voice.
«Yes! » Ursula understood what the blonde wanted to say. «Everything, which was between you, was not true! Nights under the moon, passionate confessions, oaths of eternal love, everything was lie, lie! »
Every Ursula's word pierced Cornelia's poor heart like a sharp dagger. She was completely broken down. Cornelia buried her face in her arms sobbing even louder. She didn't know and realize anything. She didn't know who to believe. She knew Caleb and still loved him, but… Ursula's words were so convincing and that terrible image in the mirror… Emotions entirely flowed over Cornelia's mind and she lost control over herself. Deep despair was aroused in her heart.
Ursula's face distorted with a malicious smile; that was exactly what she wanted. She turned to Cornelia, still sobbing from pain, and looked at her with great sympathy. «You see how much sufferings you have to go through because of him? He is a beast, I told you, and I'm the only one who you can believe. But not everything is lost. Just do what I say, sign this paper, take vengeance of yourself! You, guardians, fight against the evil, and Caleb is that evil, a fiend in angelic disguise. This will save you and the whole Meridian, which he wants to take over. Just do as I say, now! » she ordered in a firm voice and extended the ill-started paper to the blonde.
Cornelia didn't realize anything because of the grief, which enveloped her. All her thoughts, feelings mixed up with the pain in her heart and she couldn't sort out anything. The Earth guardian stood up from the floor and looked first at the scroll and then at Ursula. Large tear drops were still pouring down her cheeks.
«Go on, do it» the woman ordered and practically by force inserted the golden feather in Cornelia's hand.
Cornelia didn't realize what she was doing. Scientists usually call that "the state of affect" in a dry language, but Cornelia's heart was whining. She was thinking only about Caleb. How could he betray her? She still loved him and didn't want to believe Ursula's words, but… She was completely lost and broken by the manipulations with her feelings. Some unknown power seemed to influence her subconscious, and this power was coming from Ursula.
Cornelia took the feather completely not realizing what a big mistake it was. Her shivering hand itself drew up the letters of her signature under the unclear text of the document:
Cornelia Hale
Just when the last letter was written, Ursula suddenly burst out in devil laughter and large black octopus tentacles let out from the flap of her dress, instead of legs. She was no human, but a creature of evil, a witch, who now showed her true appearance. Ursula didn't need to hide it anymore; she has already got what she wanted.
Cornelia couldn't realize what was going on and what has she just done, when the letters of her signature on the paper started to glow at first gold and then jet black. Suddenly, vigorous streams of black light flew out from the inscriptions of the document and started to spin around Cornelia like a hurricane. The flows of black wind continued to encircle the Earth guardian, till they enclosed her entire figure.
Suddenly, when the streams of power completely possessed Cornelia's body, a small cloud of white fog or even light broke out from her chest and flew up, higher and higher. It was real Cornelia, her soul, everything which filled her heart and made her a human. The good and the bad powers can't be combined in one person, in one body at the same time. That's why the powers of the spell, which were now turned to evil as Ursula wanted, forced out Cornelia's kind soul.
When the cloud hasn't yet flown too far, Ursula took the sea-shell pendant, which was hanging around her neck and hold it out in the direction of the cloud. Some invisible power attracted Cornelia's soul and it, with a strange sound similar to a cry, flew inside the shell. Now it was captured there forever…
Ursula took the shell and squeezed it in her hands with an ominous grin on her ugly face. «Now you are mine, Cornelia Hale» she whispered with a malicious satisfaction. «Since this moment the Earth guardian will serve the evil» And she again laughed evilly.
And that time, the powers of the spell were enveloping Cornelia more and more. Now, when her body was just a shell and was free for evil powers, the black steams started to penetrate into her heart. The awful transformation began. And Ursula was standing nearby and with an evil smile was watching how that blonde angel, the guardian, who defended the world, was now turning into a cruel beast, docile to her mistress.
As the powers penetrated into Cornelia's heart, her appearance started to change. Her whole figure became taller and found shrill features. Her gentle hands became arid with bony fingers and extremely long nails. The pink silk night gown, which the blonde was wearing, reshaped into long attire, black as ash. Her golden hair became jet black, as the darkest night, it was made into a high hair-do, hidden under a big flat hood of the black attire. The more black light came into her body, the more she changed and became beast-like. One could say she even still stayed beautiful, but that beauty was cold and frightening, horrifying everybody who saw that monster.
Cornelia's face also changed during the transformation. The beautiful gentle lines of her face became shrill and ominous. Her rose-pink lips, which were similar to petals of never-fading spring flowers, now were as bright red as pure blood. That made her whole face frightening and wild. But the most terrible on that face of a monster were the eyes. The eyes, which have always been so beautiful, those deep and ocean blue eyes did not exist any more. Instead, their place took terrible snake eyes. Even the eyes of the cruelest wild beasts weren't so frightening. Those eyes were full of wild hatred to the whole world. They were ready to destroy everything, which came out in that monster's way. A Wiseman said that eyes are the mirror of the soul. But the creature, the Earth guardian turned into, had no soul. Just power, evil power, which could cause death and destruction, and nothing more inside. Only one glance full of hatred and malice could probably turn people into stone statues, like Medusa Gorgon from ancient Greek mythology.
Her voice from tender silver turned to the most evil one and completely unfamiliar. Nobody could recognize Cornelia in this beast now, because there was nothing human left. Cornelia's true soul was captured by Ursula and her body became the vessel for a great power, unfortunately evil.
When this awful transformation was finished and all the power without rest was absorbed into the guardian's body, a monstrous creature ready to kill and destroy appeared in front of Ursula. She raised her wild eyes on her mistress and said in the most malicious voice «I'm ready to revenge! »…
Yes, really emotional and thrilling, isn't it? Hey, I bet you didn't expect such a turn of the plot, but I did it. Hope you liked the chapter. I'll definitely write more soon, but you know I tend to update slowly. Anyways, please leave a review for me; I need your opinions about it. Thanks in advance!
By the way, how do you like the lyrics?
