If anyone found it strange that Endarno's wife was walking through the palace towards her chambers with the King of Metamoor, no one said, partially because Phobos was casting memory spells after every few paces. They slipped into Will's chambers and Phobos blocked out the fact that Will shared them with another man. When Will grabbed Phobos' hand to lead him, she realized that he was sweating. "It'll be fine," she attempt to reassure him. Phobos shook his head, "Do you really think Endarno would hurt you?" Will thought for a moment, "If you were any other man, then I'd say no. But his hatred of you clouds everything, I don't know if he'd forgive me, attack me, accuse me.." Will's voice tailed off, not finishing her sentence.

"Then why did you agree to bring me here?"

"Because you need to see her, even for only a moment." Phobos had never thought that a child could frighten him, but he had never imagined this situation in his wildest dreams either.

As they entered the three year old's room, Will let go of Phobos' and walked over to Persephone's bed. Her daughter had huddled under the covers, so that only one splash of red hair could be seen on the white pillow. "Persephone?" Will called, her voice soft, "Wake up honey." Out from under the blanket popped two eyes that were the colour of summer skies. "Huh?"

"I'd like you to meet someone, sweetheart." Persephone sat up and looked around. When her eyes rested on Phobos the king felt a jolt. Was this the effect his own eyes had on people, that they felt utterly transparent and helpless? Will lifted Persephone out of the bed and onto her hip. As Will walked her daughter over to Phobos, the girl let out a yawn and a slow smile. "Persephone, this is Phobos. Someone very dear to me."

"I thought he was king of Met-ah-moor?" Persephone commented between yawns. Will laughed,

"Well, he's that too." Phobos smiled at her,

"Hello Persephone," his voice was soft. If Phobos had to pick one of the most meaningful moments in his life, this would be one of the highest.

"Hello."

The king's chest swelled with pride. The small girl who was staring at him was a part of him. Had either of his parents felt like this when they saw him? Probably not. But this is what they must have felt towards Elyon. "Persephone, Phobos wants to get to know you," Will said softly, "do you mind spending some time with him?" Persephone thought this over, the corners of her lips twisting, "Nope." Will set her daughter down on the floor and sat down beside her, motioning for Phobos to do the same. Phobos couldn't think of anything to say and felt awkward as the two year old watched him expectantly. Sensing that the silence could go on for some time, Will said, "Persephone, why don't you tell Phobos something about yourself?" Biting her lip, Persephone considered this suggestion, "My favourite colour's blue," she said uneasily, as if she wasn't sure if it was right to say that. Realizing that Persephone was uneasy about talking to a stranger made Phobos feel a rush of warmth, so he cast his own forebodings aside and smiled, "Mine too. Nearly all my clothes are that colour." Persephone grinned as if sensing a kindred spirit.

"All my clothes are, mama says I should wear other colours." Phobos laughed at that,

"Don't listen to her. She mostly wore boys clothes until she reached her late teens."

"I liked to be comfortable!" Will mock screeched, as if Phobos had said something offensive. Persephone giggled and edged closer to Phobos. "Besides, my guardian clothes were girly."

"Yes," Phobos winked at Persephone, "but you didn't get to choose them, did you?"

"I certainly didn't," Will replied, "or else I would have made them more practical, do you know how hard it is to fight in that skirt?" The mock argument was entertaining Persephone, who looked back and forth at both of them, her smile getting wider each time.

…

"Can I ask you something?" Persephone said to Phobos.

"Of course, what is it?"

"What's Metamoor like?" Phobos was taken aback by the question, but pleased none the less. He smiled down at her, "It very bright. Even in winter the sun shines. It sets and raises on my palace, so every where is covered in light." Phobos was relishing the chance to tell his daughter about his world, which he discovered he was proud of, despite all evidence to the contrary. "It's sounds pretty!" Persephone sighed, "do you have gardens like the ones here?" Persephone crawled over to Phobos and sat beside him.

"Bigger," Phobos told her, putting an arm around her, "they're filled with every flower you can imagine."

"Are there-" Persephone debated about what to say, "are there roses?"

Will sat silently, watching them. This was how her life should have been. Watching Phobos and Persephone together, marvelling at how she and Phobos had created something so beautiful. For a moment, Will pretended that this was her life. That they were in the palace in Meridian, and that this was just one of the many afternoons they spent together as a family. Any moment, a servant would come and announce that dinner was ready in the great hall and Persephone would jump up and say that she hoped that dessert was going to be ice cream with fruit sauce, her favourite. Then Will would tell her that too much sugar would rot her teeth and Phobos would mutter a quick "Your mother's right," but would slip Persephone some of his food later. Listening to Phobos and Persephone was like hearing a lullaby. For a moment, Will thought she heard someone at the door, but realized quickly that it was just her paranoia, as it had been a hundred times before.

An hour or so later, Will and Phobos conceded to each other that they tempted the fates enough, and that it was time for Phobos to leave. "Awww!" Persephone moaned, clinging to Phobos. Phobos lifted her up, "Don't worry, I'll see you again soon," he promised as he gave her a hug. The look on his face was clear, if Phobos had his way, he would never have to let the child in his arms, who was a part of him like his hands or feet where, go. Will told Persephone to wait in her room while she and Phobos left. "I'm sorry."

"It's alright," Phobos answered, his voice quiet. "She's so beautiful," he breathed.

"I know," Will answered, throwing caution to the wind and wrapping her arms around him.

"I've missed everything. Her first cries, seeing her open her eyes, her first steps, her first words, I'll never forgive myself for that."

"It's my fault," Will told him. Phobos shook his head and looked down at her,

"No, it's not. We talked about this earlier. This can't be blamed on you." Will knew that behind his sharp eyes Phobos' mind was working at light speed. Maybe that was the real, selfish reason that Will brought Phobos to Persephone, so that he would stop at nothing to have them both with him. Will discounted this, her mind didn't work that way. "What will we do?"

"I don't know." Whatever Phobos was thinking, he wasn't sharing it with her. Will's heart fell at thought that this situation was out of even Phobos' hands.

Endarno waited outside for almost five minutes. He had heard everything. Everything. Love towards Persephone had turned to confusion. Respect for Will had turned to a burning anger. Sheer hate for Phobos had turned to black, endless loathing. Endarno knew that he would have revenge on Phobos. For everything. As always, the king had proved himself to an enemy of Candracar, and the leader of the guardians had proved foolish. This was enough to justify the plans that had formed in Endarno's mind. It never occurred to him, as it sometimes did to Will, how alike he and Phobos actually were.

….

Taranee smiled as she saw a small mass of red hair coming towards her. "Auntie Tara!" The fire guardian opened her arms to Persephone who crashed into them. "Hello little flame," Taranee laughed. It was a nickname Taranee had given her, referring to the girl's red hair. Persephone looked around the reading room she and Taranee were in. Her father had told her to leave because he wanted to speak with her mother. So Persephone had gone to find Taranee. "Guess what, auntie Tara?"

"What?"

"I met someone today!" Persephone said excitedly.

"Really?" Taranee laughed at the girl's enthusiasm, "who was that then? Anyone I know?" Persephone smiled, "It was Phobos! The king of Metamoor." Taranee stared at the girl for a moment. Will had introduced Phobos to Persephone? Gathering her wits, Taranee kneeled down in front of Persephone and drew close. "Persephone," she whispered, "You mustn't tell anyone else about this, alright?"

"Why?" Persephone asked, puzzled.

"You'll understand when your older, just promise you'll never mention this to anyone, even if they ask you. Not even your father," especially not your father, Taranee thought mentally. Something was wrong, it niggled at the back of Taranee's mind, she just couldn't place it.

…

"What?" Will asked, shockwaves crashing over her like a tsunami. Endarno glanced up at her. He was idly standing at his desk, pretending to scan some papers. Will felt like she was a mouse and he was a vulture. She had had this feeling before, with Phobos, Cedric, Nerissa and countless others. It was the quiet before the storm. "I said, did Phobos and Persephone get on well?" Endarno repeated. Reaching out for something to hold onto, Will leaned on the back of a chair. "I have no idea what you're talking about," she tried to lighten her voice, but it came out cracked. The lie sounded feeble, even to her. "Don't you?" Endarno answered. His voice was conversational, but it scared Will. "Just when were you going to tell me," Endarno asked, his voice sharpening like a knife blade with each syllable, "that the King of Metamoor had fathered Persephone?" All Will's breath left her. As Endarno walked closer to her, all Will could do was thank her lucky star that Persephone wasn't here. "Endarno, I-"

"I don't want to hear one more lie come from your mouth," he snapped at her. Will was forcefully reminded of the arguments her mother and father had had when they lived together. The arguments which had ended in violence, ninety-nine percent of said violence falling on her mother. "How long did you think you could fool me?"

"I never meant-"

"No, you did," Endarno was getting closer, part of Will wondered if he was approaching so slowly deliberately. "Don't put words into my mouth," Will replied. It was terrifying, Endarno was liked and respected, but Will didn't think anyone had ever seen him like this. The upper corner of his lip curved upwards, one eyebrow was raised and his scar which Will had hardly ever noticed suddenly looked monstrous to her. She had seen him like this before, but Phobos had been in his body. "You know nothing," she told him, calling on every inch of defiance she possessed to help her form the words and meet his eyes. They couldn't be classed as blue, more like odd coloured stone. Cold, hard stone.

"Don't I?" One metre away.

"Out of curiosity-" Half a metre.

"For how long exactly have you been Phobos whore?" He was in front of her. How could someone who was clearly furious keep their face so-so clear? Some people's foreheads creased, or their faces became red when they were angry. Endarno's face was the same cream colour it always was, only voice gave Will any indication that he was angry. "I am not his whore," Will snapped. She looked up at him, trying to predict what he'd do. As always, she had no idea. Will had to admit, they had never been that close. "Really? What do you think he wants from you? Or better yet," his arm flashed out stopping Will as she tried to duck around him, "Let me tell you. Maybe the Heart of Candracar?"

"Don't talk about matters you don't understand," Will replied, "he's never asked for the Heart." Endarno laughed. His laugh was as it had always been loud and slightly upbeat. But their was an edge to it that Will didn't like. "Fine then, your looks. It's a well known fact that Phobos is attracted to beautiful things. You're just another on of his possessions." Will's mouth hung open,

"Do you really think I'd be stupid enough to demean myself like that?"

"You were stupid enough to sleep with him," Endarno countered. "You are aware," he went on, "that infidelity on Candracar is punishable by imprisonment? Or better yet, on Ballisade, my home world, who's laws I could enforce on you if I wanted to, it can be punishable by death? I could take Persephone from you, I could have Oracle take the Heart, you'd be left with nothing."

Will's eyes widened, then with mountains more confidence than she felt, "You wouldn't. You're a lot of things Endarno, a tyrant isn't one of them."

"You're right. That's your lover." His voice changed on 'your lover' it sounded like a growl. Comprehension dawned on Will. "This isn't about punishing me," she said slowly, "it's about getting revenge on Phobos." It didn't make her feel any better, if Endarno wanted to take out his frustration and hatred of Phobos out on her, then she might as well kill herself to save him the trouble. Reaching out, Will cupped his face with her right hand, "You're better than this," she told him softly, "do you really want to lower yourself like this?" By way of answering her, Endarno covered her hand with his, then twisted her arm around so her back was turned against him. Breath left Will as pain shot up her arm. Who is this? She asked herself. Was this the man who had led the council in kneeling before the guardians? No, this was the dark soul that lurked inside everyone, Will, Taranee, Oracle, Phobos and Endarno. She had seen the process go the other way, Will had seen Phobos reign his darker nature in and control it. Phobos transformation had been much easier to watch, in comparison to Endarno's. "I'm not going to have you imprisoned," Endarno told her. He yanked her arm further up her back, making her utter a small cry of pain as she felt her muscles try to stretch to accommodate the position Endarno was forcing her arm into. "I'm not going to have you killed either, I'll even let Persephone stay with you, for now." His breath was hot in her ear, Endarno's presence, his voice, his warmth, his smell invaded Will's senses, like mustard gas. Unintentionally, she jerked her head a few times, as if trying to rid Endarno from her mind. "But you'll never see or speak to Phobos again."

"Endarno-"

"If you even speak his name again, I'll inform Oracle about your affair. You'll be locked up forever,"

"Please-"

"Phobos will be executed, Oracle will never forgive him again. He's on his last chance. If you ever try to contact him again, or let Persephone contact him, you'll have signed his death warrant." Endarno released her and she fell, hitting her cheek off the chair she had previously been leaning against on her way down. As he walked away Will said the only thing that had stuck in her mind throughout Endarno's speech. Letting out a coarse laugh, she half smiled, half cried, "You know? You sound so like him. That's the way Phobos talked to me when he was Oracle. Exactly like that." Whether or not he heard her was something Will was left to debate as Endarno strode out of the room.

….

Taranee passed Endarno as he walked towards Oracle's chamber. "Are you alright?" she asked.

"I'm fine," he sounded tired, "why?"

"You just seem stressed," Taranee answered.

"You'd do well to keep to your own mind every so often," Endarno replied, walking on without waiting for Taranee to answer. She had left Persephone with a maid and had been going to see Will. Slowly, Taranee pieced together what had been annoying her. Oh gods, she broke out in a sweat. Endarno had been going to see Will. He saw her with Phobos and Persephone, that's why he told Persephone to leave! Breaking into a run, Taranee navigated the familiar route to Will and Endarno's chambers. She had never thought Endarno violent, but if he had discovered Will's affair, her friend could be in hysterics by now.

…

Phobos surveyed Endarno as he entered the chamber. His robes billowed about him as the door shut behind him, something made Phobos think of a sea monster rising from the depths. Oracle's clear voice rang out across the chamber, "Your wife was supposed to attend, where is she?"

"Unfortunately, Will has taken ill. All the stress involved with the King of Metamoor's coming," here he inclined his head to Phobos, "among other things, has made her unwell. At my recommendation she's taken to her bed." What? It took Phobos five seconds to figure out that Endarno was lying. Will was at her best when she had multiple tasks to do, her desire for success and to please others made it second nature. And she was fine when he had seen her only half an hour ago. It took him another ten to decide that he'd either find Taranee, or go to Will himself and find out what was going on.

….

"Will?" The Keeper heard the door open, but made no attempt to move herself from the floor. Tears were flowing silently down her cheeks, some curved all the way down her neck and across her chest. Each line of water was like a chain, binding and imprisoning her. It had taken her five minutes to realize that Endarno had lied when he said he wouldn't have her imprisoned. He had locked her up in the worse way possible, in her own life, using her daughter and her lover as the key and padlock to her cell. "Oh Will," Taranee sighed as she saw the red head. Kneeling down, Taranee pulled Will into her arms. Taranee never had children of her own, but this is what she imagined it would be like at times. The small child (Will seemed to have shrunk by several inches) in her arms, needing her to tell her that everything was going to be okay. Seeing the tears, the bruises caused by Endarno and her fall, Taranee whispered, as if speaking too loudly would make the conversation more painful, "What happened?" Will didn't look at Taranee and merely said,

"You're telepathic, find out if you want to."

Using her Candracar given gift, Taranee slid like a swimmer into Will's mind. Her pain was immense. Taranee watched as Will and Phobos argued, then comforted each other, saw Phobos and Persephone as they talked and she heard Endarno's words. They flowed from Will's thoughts to Taranee's leaving an aura so strong and full of hurt that Taranee couldn't tell were Will's anguish ended and her own began. Her grip on Will tightened as the whole encounter with Endarno emerged from Will's turmoil. The memory was so strong, so fresh and vivid that Taranee had to struggle not to lose herself in it. Taranee lived for a moment through Will's eyes, feeling how every bruise wound up on her leader's body. Will was always a passionate person and her emotions became so strong that Taranee had to use immense mental force to extract herself form the silently sobbing woman's mind.

"I'm so, so, sorry," Taranee breathed, "I encouraged you, this is my fault." Will spoke for the first time, her voice sounded dry, as if she hadn't used it in years, "Don't be stupid." Shaking, Will removed herself from Taranee's embrace and turned to look at her. "I would have gone to Phobos anyway, if you hadn't helped we could have been caught on our first night." The tears didn't stop, but Will knew what she was going to say to Taranee, the words flowed from her mouth as easily as her tears did from her eyes, "If it hadn't been for your help, I would never have had five days with him. No matter what happens after tonight, I'll have had those times, I've fallen asleep in Phobos arms again, I've kissed him, seen him laugh, heard his voice. Because you helped me."

"Helped Endarno practically enslave you more like," Taranee muttered. Fire flared inside her, raging against Endarno and herself.

"Maybe," Will admitted, "but it could be worse. I still have you and the girls, and Persephone." Will was thankful that Taranee was blaming herself. It sounded wrong, but it meant that she could deal with someone else's suffering rather her own. Using Taranee's guilt, Will hoisted herself back to the position of leader, ignoring that she needed someone to lead her. "Endarno's doing this to hurt Phobos," Will explained, her voice catching in her throat, "he wants Phobos to think that I've abandoned him, that I've chosen Endarno over him." Taranee nodded, not even needing to read Will's mind to know what she was thinking..

"You want to write a letter to Phobos, and then I can give it to him." Will nodded in ascent.

"I know what Endarno said-"

"You think he won't go through with it?"

"I don't know," Will swallowed, hoping that the lump of pain, fear and who knows what would move from her throat and down into her stomach. "But I won't let Phobos walk away from Candracar thinking that I've abandoned him," A few stray tears fell from Will's eyes.

"Will-"

"Taranee, if I don't explain myself, if I never see him again, I'll be left wondering what he thinks of me for the rest of my life. I'll see his face, but I'll never know what expression it will hold. Hate? Love? Sadness? I have to know." Strands of Will's hair were sticking to her face and the sleeves of her robe had slipped off her shoulder, Taranee needed all the strength she possessed not to pull Will into her arms, not to run her hands through Will's hair, not to press Will's lips against her own.

"I understand. I just want you to know that there are others who love you and they'll stand by you." Will beamed at her friend through her tears.

It wasn't fair. You shouldn't desire someone who you would never be with, you shouldn't love someone who you know will never return your feelings. You know this because you can read every sliver of emotion they emit and you see that their love burns for another. Taranee decided over a decade ago that Will would never be hers and that she'd do anything to see her leader and friend happy. But greed lurks inside everyone, even guardians of Candracar. For a moment Taranee knew that if she wanted too, she could refuse Will, Phobos would leave, and Will would be more likely to give in to her. Gods, am I that twisted? Taranee thought. She couldn't do it. And part of her knew that Will had given her love to Phobos and would never retract it. "I won't give him a letter," Taranee told Will. Instantly, the red head's face fell.

"But," Taranee went on, her mind cursing her heart and mouth, who had betrayed every ounce of reason she possessed, "I will find a way for you to meet him."

"I thought you regretted helping us? That it helped Endarno trap me?" Will answered, her brow creasing in confusion. "I still do," Taranee sighed, trying to word it so Will would understand how she wanted her to be happy, without deducing that the fire guardian was in love with her. "You can't put something like this on paper. You have to see him."

Will closed her eyes, she highly doubted if she'd ever see Metamoor's king again. She wanted to. Every bone in her body, every drop of blood, every shred of skin was drawn to him like a moth to the flame. But it was selfish. If she went to him, she'd be putting Phobos, Persephone and herself in the firing line. Her life seemed to be turning in to a warped version of Romeo and Juliet. Except Romeo wasn't a passionate hero, he was a former tyrant, who was famed for his temper and trickery. Will could hardly claim to be the innocent Juliet, when rather than being the young girl bewitched by love, she had been the woman blinded by lust, who only realized that love existed afterwards. Endarno, not a human but the knife that had made Juliet it's sheath. He was poised at her breast, ready to pierce her heart if she dared move forward. Daring to go near Phobos would be the equivalent of Juliet's "O unhappy dagger!".

"I can't, Tara, Endarno would find out in an instant," Will answered. She didn't look at Taranee, because she knew that fire would have leaped in her friends eyes. If she looked around the room, she'd see Phobos. Phobos smiling at Persephone. Phobos as Endarno, pacing the room, waiting for the Heart to be delivered to his hands. "No, he won't," something had crept into the guardian's voice. An edge that meant Taranee had thought of something brilliant. "Because you will be here."

"How will you manage that?" Taranee gave a strange smile,

"What you don't know can't hurt you."

…

"There's a woman here to see you, lord." If the man who gave the message to Phobos found it strange or improper that there was a woman at his door he didn't give any sign of it. "Who is it?"

"I-I don't know, lord," the man answered, "she won't remove her hood." Will? The hope flew through him like a racing pigeon. "Send her in."

Phobos got the shock of his life when Taranee pulled off her hood. However, his was beginning to understand that coming to people at unexpected moments was the flame witch's prerogative. Phobos' usual question was, "What are you doing?" but now it changed to, "What's going on?" He watched as Taranee quickly thought out her answer. She should have thought this conversation out before hand, but the danger of what she was doing hung over her. "Endarno knows," she said simply, not doing her famed cleverness justice. Phobos breath should have stopped, his heart should have skipped several beats. It didn't. After years of plots, prison, murder, battles and Candracar knows what else, crisis was like a pair of old slippers that he could slip into. Mentally, Phobos thought of three rules he had always followed, don't panic, think out all possible ways of acting before you act, don't let anyone know what you're doing. Fear and worry would take minutes, maybe hours to sink into his system. "Is Will alright?" In times of crisis, talking about yourself only made the situation worse. Taranee seemed to agree with him, "She's been better. She wants to see you."

….

Will's heart shot up to the ceiling when she heard the door open. If Endarno walked in and saw her still crumpled on the floor, her pride would never recover. Hurriedly, she scrambled to feet, standing on the edge of her robe in the process. Running her hands over her cheeks in an effort to remove any trails of water from her skin, she arranged her face into an impassive expression. Will ran her hands through her hair to try and remove the tangles that had worked their way into it, vowing to get the red mess cut.

A cloaked figure walked towards her. It wasn't Endarno, whoever it was was about her own height. "Oh my gods," Will breathed, "Tara?" The woman in front of her didn't look like Taranee. She had red hair and brown eyes. Will stood looking at her own image. "What do you think?" Taranee answered. A smirk forming on her (really Will's) face, that the real Will would never make.

"How did you do this?"

"Brains, ingenuity and a glamour spell courtesy of the king of Metamoor." Will gawped, it was all she could do. While she was speechless, Taranee pulled of her cloak an wrapped it around Will. "Go to the Hall of Meditation, it's in the north wing of the palace, now."

"What about Endarno?"

"Don't worry. I'm your best friend, I know how to be you." Will blinked a few times in quick succession.

"Taranee, I-"

"Hurry up, Phobos couldn't work out how long this spell will last for."

The cloak was secure, but Will imagined it was slipping. She saw Endarno around every corner, looming over her like a shadow. Such thoughts wouldn't help her. They were a path to insanity. It was the same tactic you adopted on the battle field. Don't think about the person your sword pierces, don't think as you stab him again, just to make sure he's dead and whatever the hell you do, don't think about the life you've just destroyed. The man being stabbed could be Phobos, she stabbed him once by daring to fall in love with him, twice by waving their daughter in his face like a piece of meat to a bear.

…

Persephone was sitting cross-legged on the floor. The maid who was supposed to be watching her was standing a few metres away, gossiping. Dragging her nails across the floor, she strained to hear what they were saying. The maids voices where high and girlish, flying around in the air like starlings.

"Maybe he already has a lover?"

"So? Why would that stop Phobos? He used to sleep with several women at once.""Well, he isn't like that now."

"Huh, all men are."

"I still say he has a lover."

"Maybe he's secretly married!""With children!""You're both idiots."

It would be a little over ten years before Persephone would think back to this conversation and finally attribute it to herself. But as she was, Persephone barely understood it and went back to wondering when someone would come and play with her.

…

Will pressed her hand on a marble door and let a brief surge of power flow out of her body and into it. Candracar had many such doors, doors that you had to have some magical ability to open. They were handy, because you could always tell when someone was coming in, giving you time to hide something or someone.

Phobos' mood darkened at the sight of her. Even though she hadn't removed her hood, it was obvious that she had been crying and her way of walking screamed defeat. Will looked like she'd lost weight in the few hours since he'd seen her last. She all but fell into his arms. Phobos felt her shudder against him, which told him that she was fighting back tears.

"What happened?" He asked, his voice low and gentle. Taranee had only told him the basics, that Endarno knew, but wasn't planning on telling anyone. Ever cynical, Phobos found this hard to believe. There was catch. There was always a catch.

"He heard us talking to Persephone and he saw you leave. Afterwards he confronted me." Phobos noticed that she was talking to his chest, rather than looking at him. "Then?"

"Then he told me that I wouldn't be imprisoned and that Persephone would stay with me, for now. But I'm not supposed to so much as mention you again, if he finds out I'm here…" Will shivered, "He threatened to imprison me, send Persephone away and-"

"Kill me? He has a high opinion of Candracar's power over me." Phobos let go of her for a moment and looked at her. As he did her hood fell, exposing her cheek that had become home to a long purple bruise. Sucking in his breath, Phobos took off her cloak, exposing her arms and wrists, and the bruises that adorned her right side. Immediately, the familiar feeling of cold, murderous anger flowed through him. Endarno would pay, whether it was tonight or thirty years from now, he would pay.

"Don't," Will warned him. "Killing Endarno won't solve anything." Reaching out with one hand, Phobos stroked her cheek and pulled her against him again with his other hand. Phobos repeated the question he'd asked her when he'd arrived in Candracar, "What are we going to do?"

"There's nothing we can do," Will replied, her voice heavy with her tears that her eyes refused to cry.

"You and Persephone could leave," Phobos suggested.

"No, we couldn't, and you know it," Will answered, this is one thing she was certain of, they couldn't run, not from this. "If I go to Metamoor the war for Meridian will start again, Oracle will raise the Veil and call on the guardians to stop you. The girls won't fight against me, but all Oracle has to do is give our powers to another group of five unsuspecting girls, who will be prepared to destroy us. Even if we won, Metamoor would be destroyed, it couldn't survive another war."

Of course, Will was right, Phobos knew it. But that didn't stop the pain he was feeling. Terrible heart wrenching pain. It was tearing him up from within, twisting his stomach, pounding his head. His grip on Will tightened. Because he was becoming aware of the fact that this would be the last time he'd have her in his arms.

"What about Persephone?" Phobos asked. Will looked up at him and sighed,

"She'll know who he father is, I promise you," her voice was fierce. Phobos understood, the only victory Will could take from Endarno now was to tell Persephone the truth. She wouldn't grow up believing that Endarno was her father, it was a small joy for Phobos, but a hollow one.

"Maybe, when she's older," Phobos ventured, trying his hand at optimism, "she could come to Metamoor, I could find a way to convince Oracle to send her."

"Can you wait ten years to see her?"

"I'll have to wait longer to see you."

After a few moments of silence Phobos said, "Did you ever think, at the beginning, when Elyon was princess, that you could love me? That this is what would happen?" Will looked up at him and thought back. She thought of her fear, of her determination to see good conquer. She thought of the prince, who with her trick of cloning Elyon she had bested, the prince who even though Meridian was crumbling, refused to admit defeat. "No," she told him honestly, "what about you? Did you think that you could ever love the girl who told you off for playing games with her?"

"Not in a million years, kill you with my bare hands for your arrogance maybe. I couldn't see that I was the arrogant one, that there was something more important than wealth." Phobos closed his eyes and said the terrible words that had lain in his mind for the better part of eight years, "Do you ever wish that we hadn't fallen in love, that you still hated me?"

Will looked at him. Her lover, her king. Was this her destiny? To love a man so completely, but be barred from being with him? She had given herself completely to someone else and could never take back what she had given and in a rush realized that she would never want to. Endarno could take her lover not her love. He would sour it and turn it into something that would hurt her. But it was love none the less.

"Never say that," Will told him, her voice almost angry. When Phobos let his blue eyes look into her brown ones, he saw passion burning there. "Those five years on Meridian were paradise," she told him. Will needed Phobos to understand this, that this was her life. "Despite the arguments, despite our bad tempers, I had five golden years, then I had a beautiful baby girl, then I had five days, all those things came from you. So no I don't wish I never met you," Will blinked back tears, "rather the opposite, I'm thankful. Thankful that I had a chance to love that arrogant prince in the throne hall."

He kissed her, it was all Phobos could do. When Will said that, he loved her with every ounce of life in his body. He had done something right. For the first time, he wasn't someone's mistake. Somehow, he had managed to give someone the one thing that mattered most. He didn't say this to Will, because Phobos knew that she understood him entirely. A long passionate speech wasn't needed, Phobos could put it into three simple words, "I love you." Then he kissed Will again, holding her so tightly that he could feel her heartbeat. After a few seconds Phobos couldn't tell which beat was hers and which was his. When you make love to someone, you temporarily join yourself to them. This was different, they were permanently giving a little piece of their souls to the other. It was all they could do. Will and Phobos minds made the kiss and the embrace last for an eternity. Each drank in the other's appearance committing everything to memory. Because it was crystal clear that this would be the last time. For everything. After tonight, part of their world would be blown apart.

In that moment of silence, a moment that was almost frozen in time, two hearts shattered.

And nothing would ever repair them.

….

Taranee spent her time reading. When Persephone returned, Taranee put her to bed. Endarno walked in briefly, but Taranee didn't look at him for fear that the fire of her hatred would flare in her eyes and she'd be exposed. He didn't even acknowledge her and left soon after. Taranee realized then something that Phobos, Will, even Endarno himself didn't know, that Endarno would kill Will. Maybe he wouldn't do it deliberately, but Taranee could see Will's life play out in her head. It might take years, but Will would crumble eventually. And she'd be one of the millions upon millions of poor souls who, over the millennia, had slimly wasted away, murdered by their own broken hearts.

Taranee didn't tell Will any of this when the guardian returned. After removing the glamour she hugged Will. Moving her mouth to Will's ear, she whispered an old saying that Yan Lin had told her once, "The mightiest people are those who hide their strength from view and let it turn from a spark to a flame." Will nodded and Taranee took her cue to leave. She didn't ask Will what had transpired between her and Phobos. Nor did she enter her friend's mind to find out. It was something private between the two lovers, something neither she or Endarno had any right to take away.

…

It was so different from the last time Phobos had left Candracar eight years ago. Not even a decade had passed, yet Phobos felt as if he had aged centuries. Then he had been full of joy and hope for the future as King of Metamoor. Now he was downcast and he knew what his future held.

No matter what Oracle said, he would never marry. Ever. The idea of being with another woman was unbearable, he'd kill himself first. Nor would he father any children. Persephone would be his heir. The people of Meridian would cheer her as their Queen. They would call her the Light of Meridian. Phobos wanted her to be everything he, Will and surprisingly, Elyon hadn't been. She wouldn't be the guardian who was doomed spend her life as a prisoner, she wouldn't be the prince who had let his hatred and ambition spill from him in a wave of violence and blood, nor would she be the young, trusting Queen who had died before her time.

It was the only comfort he could give his heart, which wanted to simply stop beating under the weight of it's immense loneliness. That the hopes that the present had failed to realize would live on. Phobos understood that he was thinking like he was already dead. And, in a way, he was. There would be no more thoughts of a better future for himself. No thoughts of immensurable joy, just a long road that could last for decades but would ultimately end with an eternal sleep. Phobos' hopes no longer lay in his own life and in what he could do, but in Persephone's life and what she could do. She had the power of the Heart's of Candracar and Meridian, she could do anything.

Where as Phobos, for the first time, couldn't devise some scheme to get out of his situation. There was no way to wriggle out of this. He'd plotted and schemed all night. Every plan he came up with was either doomed to fail, or Will would never agree to it. So once again, Phobos found himself virtually imprisoned and once again, Endarno was his jailor.

As he walked through the portal, back to Metamoor his throat caught and one tear escaped, but Phobos wiped it away before anyone could see it, hiding any sign that he wasn't what he appeared to be. A king, majestic, untouchable, and completely and utterly alone.

…

Will was seated in one of Candracar's large dining rooms. She could have sworn that the huge hall was made out of crystal. The light that reflected off it cast pretty rainbows onto all surfaces. It was an undeniable fact that the entire palace of Candracar, the very Heart of Infinity was beautiful. So I'm privileged enough to be kept in the most beautiful prison in the universe, Will thought dryly.

About twenty of Candracar's residents sat around her. Oracle at their head and Endarno on her left. She'd been sitting there for over an hour, but Will had absolutely no clue what they were talking about. Phobos had left only hours ago, but time seemed to drag and minutes felt like days. Endarno's company was unbearable, simply because he pretended complete normality. And because he did, Will would also have to pretend. Everything suddenly felt awkward as if this was a play they were all taking part in and in minute or two someone would start booing the bad actors. There was so much friction and dislike between herself and Endarno that she was amazed that no one could pick up on it. The fact that Will was able to hide her fear and anger was a sure and final sign that the young guardian who had much preferred straight and honest talking to politics were you preached and act one thing and meant another was dead, completely absorbed by the woman she had grown into.

Will couldn't stand it any more. She knew that she would have to become accustomed to this life. But not this day. The wounds on her heart were too fresh. Tomorrow, the great masque that would last for the rest of her life (or at least until Endarno died) would start. Pleading a headache, Will left the room, careful to do so slowly, so that no one would see how much she wished that she was anywhere but the shining palace of Infinity.

As she headed towards her rooms Will felt the coldness that had set in ever since Endarno had confronted her take over. Her body was numb. She would never again be allowed to speak her own feelings, be her own person. That luxury had been taken away. If Will could not be the passionate, quick-witted, brave, some times sarcastic and slightly brazen woman she had always been, then she just couldn't exist. Endarno had replaced that woman with something else a spirit, a ghost, someone so insubstantial that she was only there to the few people who chose to see her. The only purpose Will had left was Persephone, her bright little daughter, her little light. Persephone would know who she was, Will didn't know when she would tell the child, but she would. Somehow Will would get Persephone to Metamoor. How she didn't know. But her despair and love of Phobos and Persephone would drive her. Every ounce of life she had left would be given over to seeing Persephone with her father. Because it was obvious that she would never have any kind of life with her mother.

This is what became of the guardian who had faced the prince in the throne hall. She had hated him, loved him and lost him. This was her reward. Now Will was no longer the guardian of absolute energy. She had become a guardian, no, a goddess of ice and stone. Cold, hard and always coming ever closer to breaking.

Fin.

Well, there you go, before you go off to review, bare in mind that as the author, I knew Endarno would be a little OC, but I wanted to use a character that already existed, and Endarno had the best reason to hate Phobos.

…Now you can go review.