Caged in fear-part 2
She hovered a few inches off the ground, her cloak oscillating from side to side due to the wind that seemed to follow her.
Matt felt like an idiot. Why hadn't he been more alert? You could never be safe in battle. There was no time to regret anything now though. He had to protect Will. That was his main and only priority at that moment. He didn't fear for his life. Heck, Matt wasn't afraid of death.
But he was afraid of losing Will.
Even the mere thought of it pierced through him like a bullet would. She meant everything to him. Their relationship was unbreakable. It was like welded iron; almost impossible to break apart. He'd truly be lost without her.
She loved him back almost as much as he loved her. If it wasn't for her love, maybe he'd still be trapped as Shagon, and would still be under Nerissa's control. But Matt broke free because of Will. They'd been through so much together. There wasn't anyone else he wanted. No one at all.
The panicked, frightened, and weak Matt vanished. He stood up, tall and strong in front of Will, whose body lay limp and cold.
"I'm glad to see you haven't forgotten me," she spoke in her usual dark and low voice.
"What do you want?" Matt spat, rage emitting from his heated face.
"Oh, I want the girl." Nerissa replied, trying to get around Matt so she could get to Will.
"Never." Matt stood strong, staring at the vulgar woman in front of him. Her dark and cold eyes withered into him. Her attempt was to try to get Matt to run in fear; she needed him out of the way. "Wait."
Nerissa furrowed her brows. Was Matt going to give in?
"Will's not what you really want is it?"
Nerissa sighed. "You know me too well. That's why you should joi-"
"You want the heart of Kandrakar!"
It was true. Nerissa needed the heart to stay in the world. Coming back from hell had taken a lot out of her and Phobos. Having the heart of Kandrakar's power and the power of their own black heart they'd created would make them immortal, meaning that even if someone did defeat them, they wouldn't die. They'd be indestructible.
"Yes. And I will get it from that pathetic guardian. If she couldn't protect herself from me, what chance do you have?" Nerissa held Matt's chin in her palm. "She's not going to come back to life. Just give me the heart of Kandrakar, otherwise I'll have to end your life and get it myself. Either way, I will have it."
"She's not dead!" Matt roared, causing Nerissa land on the ground.
Nerissa was taken aback. Surprised at Matt's self control, she decided to toy with his emotions. That was the only way he'd give in. With a hand firmly supporting her back, she stood up.
"But I will kill her. Do you want her dead or are you going to give me the heart of Kandrakar? I'll give you 10 seconds. Don't underestimate what I can do."
Matt's knees trembled. He felt heavy, like he couldn't move. Giving the heart away would mean being selfish and ruining the chances of winning against the evil. But if he didn't give it to her, she'd end Will's life but Meridian might survive.
"Ten."
The thoughts swam in his head like sharks swim around their prey. He had to do something, he couldn't just stand there.
"Nine."
Will meant a lot, but so did each and everyone in Meridian. If he gave the heart away, Meridian would be destroyed and would be under the rule of Nerissa and Phobos. The creatures and people would have to lead miserable lives once again, just like they did when Phobos ruled. No signs of happiness would be seen. The town's sparkle and joy would disappear. The pair would attack many other worlds in order to gain more power. They would starve for more authority, hence, destroying every world until they were the true leaders of it all. Did Matt really want to live with the guilt of causing all of that? Did he want to be held responsible for all that pain and suffering?
"Eight."
He swallowed.
"Seven."
On the other hand, losing Will; the thing he loved most in the world would be torture for him. Just knowing that her life was in his hands and he'd chosen to end it, would kill him. He wouldn't be able to live with himself. Her friends would lose such a great friend. Her parents would lose their only child; their precious daughter. Everyone who knew Will would mourn for her. And how would he be able to explain anything? How could he say that Nerissa, a former guardian who was now evil, killed her? No one would believe him. He couldn't fake her death either, there would be no proof, and nothing would justify it. They'd end up assuming that he killed her. Did Matt really want to live with the guilt of causing all of that? Did he want to be held responsible for all that pain and suffering?
"Six."
A bead of sweat slid down the side of his face. His eyes darted all around the place.
"Five. We're halfway."
He looked from his girlfriend to the alley way that exposed the battle scene.
"Four."
Maybe there was hope? What if he gave the heart away and Will woke up, and helped destroy Nerissa and Phobos? Then everything was sure to be alright.
"Three."
But that's what Matt thought. He had no idea that Nerissa wanted the heart in order to become immortal. He knew nothing about that sort of stuff.
"Two. You better hurry up."
Hurriedly, Matt turned on his heal and grabbed the heart from Will. His movements were swift and nimble.
"One!"
"Here. Take it." He breathed. Luckily he was just in time; otherwise Nerissa wouldn't have hesitated in destroying the guardian for good. She wasn't one to give second chances.
"That's a good boy." The woman smirked, pleased with her results. The heart was firmly encased in Matt's hands, luring her to take it off him now that he'd willingly given it to her. She admired its beauty. The reflection of her face in it made her smile. It represented so much power, the sense of immortally that Nerissa wanted.
She stretched her wrinkly hand out. Her eyes sparkled as much as the heart of Kandrakar did. It was truly beautiful. What was once hers would be hers once again. She could smell it now; it was that close to her.
Nerissa put her palm out, wanting Matt to drop the heart in it. Then she'd never give it to anyone.
The string slid further down Matt's grip. He was ready to let it go, though still doubtful about his decision. He didn't really care for the heart. He just wanted Will safe at any cost.
Nerissa's jaw dropped slightly as Matt dropped the heart and it cut through the air, ready to fall into her hand. It was hers now. Her fingers were ready to clasp it.
"NO!" the screech echoed through the forest.
Before Matt knew it, he had landed on the ground with a thud and someone else was facing Nerissa.
"That belongs to me."
"Will!" he cried hoarsely, tears streamed down his face.
The guardian had grabbed the heart just in the nick of time. All Nerissa clutched was thin air.
"You're awake?" she whispered in shock. The former guardian was sure she'd put Will in a coma.
"Yes. And I'm ready to take you out!" Will jumped into the air and was followed speedily by Nerissa.
"I hope you don't forget that I once had your same power. I know all your tricks, guardian."
"We'll see about that!" Will threw some of her strongest attacks at Nerissa. Sadly, she managed to dodge them easily.
It was one on one now. If anyone dared interfere, they would be knocked out. Whoever survived, survived. This fight was going to last until one of them was down. Would the good survive like always and easily defeat the evil? Or was there going to be a change?
Xxx
The indents in the stone wall were of four guardians. Their failed attempts to try and knock out Phobos after he'd freed himself landed them in this position. Even with four against one, the Prince was much stronger. He'd thrown the guardians against the wall and now they were quivering against the earthy ground.
"Ow..." Cornelia sobbed. She felt as if her back was broken. The forced at which she'd landed against the wall was huge, even her thick hair hadn't protected her a bit.
"I-I don't...know how long I can keep this up." Irma struggled with her words. She was drained and in pain. Her chest trembled, her whole body was weak.
Taranee clutched her stomach as she tried to prop herself up with her elbow. "What I don't understand is how he resisted my fire and didn't even get harmed by all our attacks?"
"Don't ask me." Cornelia replied as a few more crystal like tears splashed onto the ground.
The girls heard a soft moan from behind them. Slowly, they turned their heads around towards the sound. It was Hay Lin. Her head rested lopsided against the wall and her eyes were closed.
"Hay Lin!" Irma gasped. As fast as she could, she crawled her way to her best friend and embraced her. "You'll be alright. It'll all be okay."
"Irma, we can't do anything. He has immense power." Taranee admitted, frowning.
The girls couldn't give up but they couldn't do anything either. They tried to defend themselves as best they could but Phobos got them every time. If it carried on, the girls' lives would come to an end.
"Come on. Let's try and use our powers together? It's about the only thing we haven't tried," Cornelia suggested. She stood up, setting aside the feeling that she was about to collapse. She helped up her friends and together, they took flight.
"What if this doesn't work?" Irma asked, feeling pessimistic after all their shots.
"It has to work. There's nothing else we can do." Cornelia retorted. The blonde brushed the hair out of her face. Sometimes she wished it was shorter but she didn't want to take the risk and ruin her perfect appearance.
"Yeah, Cornelia's right!" Hay Lin nodded.
"Of course I am!"
"Still as arrogant as ever," Taranee huffed with a dull expression covering her face. She got an eye roll from Cornelia in return.
The guardians hurtled through the air towards Phobos, who had found enough energy to start attacking the people of Meridian from the air.
"Are we going to attack him from behind or face him?"
"Don't you think attacking him behind would be cowardly, Hay Lin?"
"Yes, but Taranee, think of it this way. If we attack him from behind we might have more chances of defeating him and he won't be able to do anything in his defence." Cornelia pointed out.
"I see Taranee's point though. If it's a battle then at least fight by the rules," Irma shrugged. She was sitting on the fence of the decision.
"Since when do you see anything?" Cornelia laughed.
"You can talk!" Irma bit back sarcastically.
"Guys." Hay Lin interrupted sternly. The last thing they needed to do was fight. If they did, they might attract attention from Phobos and be knocked out again. Everyone had had enough of that already.
Cornelia and Irma switched glares, "Sorry," they muttered flatly.
Hay Lin shook her head like a disapproving mother. Taranee on the other hand was more focused on Phobos.
"We have to hit him on the spine." She stopped a few metres away from the Prince midflight.
"Huh?" her friends turned to her, snapping out of their little argument.
"Our attack has to hit him on the spine. It's the most delicate part, which means it'll have more impact."
"Oh, right." Irma grinned sheepishly.
"Let's do this then?" Cornelia prepared herself. The girls then start summoning their powers with most of the energy they had left.
"On the count of three?" Hay Lin said. She got a nod from her friend since they couldn't speak with the weight of their power.
"Too bad...Will isn't here," Cornelia managed to get out. The other girls' eyes saddened.
Once their powers were busy combining, they were able to have a quick conversation about the keeper of the heart of Kandrakar.
"Where is Will though?"
"Yeah, the last thing we heard was her scream." Hay Lin pursed her lips and glanced at Irma, who looked equally worried.
"I'm sure she's okay. Will is very strong, you know," Taranee answered after a brief pause.
"We'll look for her after we've dealt with Phobos." Irma stated. Her mind was concentrating on controlling her power.
Hay Lin agreed silently. "Ready? Three. Two..."
The guardians swivelled to the Prince's back and took aim. "One!" They shouted above the sound of their attack racing through the air.
At that sudden instant everything went white.
Xxx
"Say goodbye to the world, guardian." Nerissa hissed as she raised her hand.
Will hovered in the air, looking dumbfound. She literally froze and her eyes widened. There was no reflex action when the clouds hit her with lightening. The shock paralyzed her.
Her back was arched as the lightening penetrated its way into her body. There weren't any screams. The pain numbed her; it was as if she was dead.
She was dead.
"WILL!" Matt shouted up into the air. His hands tugged on his hair as he fell to his knees.
His heart stopped beating as her body floated to the ground.
Nerissa waved her hand and a small puddle appeared on the ground, directly under Will. Matt didn't know what its purpose was until Will's hand disappeared into it.
It was a pool which sealed a person in. There was no way to escape from it. Will's body fell into the puddle. It was the same as falling into a lake; only the puddle was much smaller, but big enough for her to fit in.
Matt bounced off the ground and sprinted towards her. Her peered into the puddle and he saw her face. Her eyes were blank, her lips slightly parted and her hand was reaching for the surface.
"Will, no!" he bawled in panic. His breathing was all over the place. The pools of tears from his eyes fell into the puddle, forming ripples in it. They made Will's face disappear. "Will, come back!"
This was too much for Matt. He wasn't able to handle it. Quickly, he rolled up his sleeves and plunged both his arms into the water for a frantic attempt to pull Will out of there.
But all he could feel was water, there was no Will. He moved his arms from side to side, realising the water went on further than he could see. It was as if the ground was on top of it all, revealing only the puddle.
He slowly withdrew his hands from the water. Now he could see Will, but she was sinking down.
Her hand reached up to the surface. It looked like it was pressed against glass. He slowly touched her hand and a small smile spread across his face. His smile was reflected in her eyes.
"They will pay for what they've done to you." He whispered gently.
He saw that Will was trying to say something but all that came out of her mouth were bubbles. They rose to the surface and popped. Matt listened hard. 'I love you,' was the soft sound the air inside them burst with.
His eyes gleamed with tears. "I love you more, Will." He bent down to the puddle and kissed the water where Will's forehead was.
Matt watched Will disappear further down into the puddle until no signs of her remained.
He whipped his head to where Phobos and Nerissa floated. They wore satisfied smirks on their faces.
"Just look at him." Nerissa's crinkly lips were turned upwards.
"It's over now. The guardians are dead. Meridian is ours!" Phobos cackled.
Matt raised his eyebrows and looked around in search for Will's friends. They lay on the floor in the middle of the battlefield. Their attack had backfired on them and they'd been knocked out by their own power. They were trampled on and covered with dirt. There definitely weren't breathing, otherwise their chests would be rising and falling.
His jaw was hanging with shock. It was truly the end.
Matt collapsed onto his knees. He buried his face in his hands. His chest was tight. He wasn't even able to cry or scream.
Phobos and Nerissa cackled extra loudly and went on their way. They had to start conjuring the spirits to become immortal now that they had everything they needed and no one was in their way.
Suddenly, someone grabbed Matt's collar and dragged him away. They were now deep within the dark part of the forest, leading up to the castle. Matt didn't even react to it. He just let the person drag him away. He couldn't feel anything. He felt dead. They'd been defeated.
Caleb dumped Matt by a tree and then knelt down. "You can't act like this."
Matt looked up with watery eyes as Caleb shook him. "They're gone..."
Caleb sighed. "We have to get their revenge. It's what they'd want us to do. I know how to stop Nerissa and Phobos!"
"I lost Will! How can you get over it so easily?" Matt shouted.
Caleb ran a hand through his hair. Matt couldn't see his face clearly through his tears, but Caleb was in fact tear stained. He'd just had a lot of time to get over it since Cornelia had perished a long time before Will. It wasn't that he didn't love Cornelia; he just wanted to give her soul peace. And in order to do that, he had to destroy her killers.
"It's hard, I know. I'm feeling exactly what you're feeling for Cornelia. But please. We have to do this for them, for Meridian, for ourselves."
Matt pushed Caleb away. He wanted to be left alone. He had given up.
Caleb stood up and started walking towards the castle. "If you don't want to join me then don't. Don't give Will's soul any peace. Sit and sulk for the rest of your life!" he called back.
Caleb was halfway up the steep rock which the castle was on top of when he heard footsteps running towards him. He didn't brace himself or get his sword out because he knew who it was.
"What do we have to do?" Matt asked instantly as soon as he'd caught up to Caleb. Caleb smirked, he knew what he said would work. He turned to Matt and explained.
The boys quietly crept behind a bush. There were three bulky guards standing by the main entrance. Matt and Caleb couldn't use another entrance because they'd be seen. All they had was the element of surprise.
Caleb turned around to tell Matt what they were to do but his breath got caught in his throat as he laid his eyes on him. Matt had transformed into his regent form, also known as his Shagon form. It was very sudden and Caleb wasn't expecting it.
Caleb shook himself out of his state of shock. "Do you see those guards over there?"
Matt nodded.
"Right. We need to distract them so one of us can get inside and get to Elyon. Since you can fly now, how about if I fight them and keep them from following you into the castle? Then all you have to do is battle anyone else in your way and rescue Elyon. You know the rest. Just don't wait for me. Okay?"
"Sounds great. Just don't end up getting killed."
Caleb gave Matt a quick nod and eyed his enemy. He got is sword out and pushed back is longish hair.
Matt placed a hand on Caleb's shoulder just as he was about to jump out and attack. "Good luck."
Caleb smirked before charging up to the guards. One of them was quickly made unconscious as Caleb kicked him against a pillar. He fought the other ones with ease. They obviously weren't used to this after so many years.
Matt huffed and then took off. He hid behind a pillar and then flew over the little fight, remaining unseen. Though Caleb felt the breeze caused by Matt's wings and he knew Matt had made it.
Once Matt was inside the castle, he paused hoping to hear distressed cries from Elyon. After a few seconds of listening, he figured that she must have been silence by a piece of cloth or had given up after she'd realised no one was coming.
The palace was like how it was when Phobos reigned, dark and eerie. The place sent shivers down Matt's spine.
He swallowed before racing down the spiral staircase to where the dungeons were. He had been told that Elyon would be imprisoned there. Caleb didn't tell him how to free her though. Apparently it was impossible for anyone to escape from the cells. So how was Matt going to be able to break the lock if the prisoners couldn't? And obviously Phobos had the key and there was no way of getting that.
He tip toed into the dark room and checked every cell until he found Elyon in the one furthest from the entrance. She was cuddling her knees. She stared out of the barred window, her eyes mesmerised by the moon. Matt could see that she'd lost hope.
Matt touched the lock of her prison, careful not to startle her. If she screamed then surely someone would hear her and find out what was going on. "Elyon." He whispered softly. She didn't react. "Elyon, it's me. Matt." Still nothing. She looked possessed.
If he couldn't get her attention by trying to talk to her, then he'd get her attention by freeing her.
He stepped back and looked at the lock. It could be unlocked without the key if the person had regent powers. Matt's eyes glowed green and he took aim. His fists were clenched as the beams of hot light emitted from his eyes. They were like huge green laser beams and they destroyed the lock in a matter of seconds. Matt didn't think it would be that easy!
When he looked up, Elyon was finally awake and was staring at the jail bars with shock. "Matt?"
"At least I know you're not possessed."
"What's going on?"
"I'll explain on the way." He replied.
"I don't understand. On the way? Where are we going?" she asked as she ran alongside him. His answers weren't making sense.
"To end this."
They were making their way to the throne room. That's where it was hidden.
Elyon went stiff with a mixture of fear and shock when Matt revealed what was hidden in the throne room. Without Matt's gentle push, she'd have remained glued to the spot, bearing her eyes into the enormous ignited object.
She breathed short and sharp breaths as she drew closer to it. "Wh-what is it?"
"The black heart."
"What?" Elyon walked around it. It was literally a black heart. It wasn't heart shaped, it was a human heart just much larger and it was black, as if it was rotting.
"It's what keeps Nerissa and Phobos alive. It's the bank of all their power."
Elyon reached out to it. It radiated heat and was very bright.
"Don't touch it." Matt grabbed her wrist. "Caleb told me that you had to destroy it without touching it."
"So...I have to destroy it with my power?"
"Yeah. Let's not waste time, hurry."
"What's the hurry?"
"Nerissa has the heart of Kandrakar and she'll fuse it with this heart and become immortal if you don't stop her." Caleb answered. He knew about this since he'd served Phobos and lived in Meridian for so long.
"You made it!" Matt exclaimed, relieved. He went over to Caleb and wrapped him in a friendly hug. After all, he did felt grateful to Caleb.
When they broke apart, it was time to get serious again. "Elyon, destroy it, and make it quick." Caleb ordered.
"Okay. Stand back." Elyon focused on the heart. There was no time to waste.
The boys stood by a pillar which was once beautiful, surrounded by blooming vines and painted with a spiral pattern. But now it was cracked and filthy. If this was what Meridian looked like just after they'd arrived, it was hard to imagine what it'd look like if they two got full control.
"Um, should we take cover just in case that blows and we get covered in it?" Matt whispered into Caleb's ear.
Caleb gave his friend a side look screaming, 'I hope you're kidding.'
"Fine. Don't answer."
"Ahhhh...!" Elyon screamed in pain. She took a big breath as tears escaped her eyes.
The boys stood staring with wide eyes. Her power was being absorbed by the heart, cutting through it, but it caused Elyon a lot of pain.
The black heart glowed brighter and brighter until it was almost blinding to look at. The boys shielded their eyes.
"No...help...what have you done!"
"Will?" Matt looked over his arm. Where the heart should've been was fire. It was as big as the heart but wasn't spreading.
Matt ran up to the fire and reached inside it, though he felt nothing. "Will! Will!" he yelled as he tried to grab her hand.
The fire felt like air, there was nothing in it. He couldn't touch or feel Will. This wasn't fair to Matt. He'd experienced the same with the puddle. Why was it that every time he could see her, he wasn't able to save her?
It looked like someone was pulling her away. She was drowning in it and there was nothing Matt could do to save her. She screamed, tears were scattered all over her cheeks. She was in great pain. Her eyes held hate for the fact that Matt didn't save her.
"Will!" he cried again. All his crying and calling in vain.
She was fading; out of his sight and out of his life for good. The vividness of her drowning in the fire and disappearing tore him apart. Was there nothing Matt could do to stop it? She was dying; being taken away from him forever. He'd never see her again. Only ever in his mind.
"Will! Will! Will..." he sobbed.
"Matt? Matt! I'm here. It's okay!"
"Will!" he bolted upright.
A few tears had escaped her eyes. She quickly jumped on Matt and encased him in her embrace.
"Are you alright? You have no idea how worried I am!"
Matt breathed slowly, feeling his surroundings; the plumpness of his duvet, the sweat soaked in his shirt and Will, her flesh and body. The reality of her being sank into him. She was with him.
She always was.
He pressed her against him. Her essence filled his nostrils and he smiled. She was all he needed. "I'm fine now that you're here."
"But I didn't even go anywhere?" she furrowed her eyebrows.
"Just promise me you'll never leave me?"
"What?" she looked confused.
"Just do it." Matt insisted.
Will playfully rolled her eyes, and then sighed. "Okay. Matthew Olsen, I love you so much that I can't even put it into words and I promise that I, Will Vandom, will never leave you."
"Good."
She smiled, warming Matt's heart. "What's gotten into you? You are so unpredictable, Matthew!" she giggled, knowing how much Matt disliked being called by his proper name.
"Uh, it's Matt."
"Whatever. I'm going back to bed now. When my mother gets back and realises I haven't got any sleep, she'll be suspicious. So good night!" Will buried herself under the covers and closed her eyes.
Matt bowed his head. He was an idiot to believe everything he saw. Of course it couldn't be real. Nerissa and Phobos were long gone and there was no way they'd be able to actually come back.
And most importantly, Will would never leave him. She couldn't die and leave him all by himself. He could hold her to it now that she'd given him her sincere promise.
She would always be his. Always.
Pretty long, right? Damn, that's probably the longest chapter I've ever written!
Well, I really hope you enjoyed it. I hope to be writing in the W.I.T.C.H fandom some more too.
Please leave some reviews and let me know what you thought of the overall story! They are much loved.
Until next time,
xxxMusarockz