Thanks again for the sincere reviews :) And no, I'm not leaving this story, I'm just giving myself 6 days break after each episode so I can concentrate on other things (well y'know, I've a life too :P) and for future episodes, writing and possibly translating. So relax :)
Disclaimer: I don't own WITCH.
PART 7 / THE STRANGER
Meridian. Elyon's palace.
Noah is walking around the library. He sees a strange looking book on one of the upper shelves...
He uses his telekinesis to get the book. He's about to open it when...
Elyon: No!
Her mother, queen Elyon, quickly comes and takes the book from him. He puts the book back on the shelf firmly.
Elyon: Honey, what did I say about this part of the library?
Noah: But mom, I'm bored. I've already read half of the books here, and you prevent me from reading the others, and I don't even know why you don't let me!
Elyon looks up at the book, a shadow passing over her face. Then she gets to herself and smiles down at her son.
Elyon: Okay, your boredom ends now. A friend at your age comes here. His name is Johnny.
Noah: Oh great! When will he come?
Elyon: Today afternoon. Now go to your room.
Noah: Okay. Hey mom... Won't you say anything about uncle?
Elyon stops abruptly and turns to her son.
Elyon: Honey, you don't have to worry about that right now.
Noah: But you seem so frightened when you saw him. If he is my uncle, why can't I see him?
Elyon: This is a long story, I'll tell you later. Don't worry about him now. I won't let him hurt you, like he did to many others.
Noah seems puzzled. Elyon smiles to him, but doesn't say anything further...
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Will: Johnny, are you ready?
Johnny: Yeah mom, I'm coming.
Eve: Mom, where are we going?
Will: To the palace, Eve.
Eve: You mean Meridian.
Will: Yes. Oh, and your friends are also coming.
Eve: Sweet. Mom...
Will: Yes honey?
Eve: Did you... as a guardian I mean... Have you ever had to fight off with someone you know?... Someone you care for...
Will: No, never. But...
Will stops abruptly and looks at her daughter suspiciously.
Will: Wait a sec... Do you have to, now?
Eve quickly evades her mother's eyes.
Eve: N, no, just for caution, y'know.
Will: Well, be prepared. You don't know what will happen in Meridian at anytime.
Eve rolls her eyes.
Eve: Oh yeah, tell this to Abby. She's the most suspicious of us all. She acts like anything can happen at us anytime.
Will: Well, she's right for some reasons.
The doorbell rings. Johnny rushes to open it.
Johnny: Mom, Evy, they are here.
Will: Welcome!
Group witch: Hello!
Taranee: When are we going?
Will: In a minute. You want something to drink?
All: No, thank you.
Cornelia: Will, is there a problem?
Will: No, it's just that Elyon had invited us for lunch. The matters to discuss is another part of the story.
Johnny: Haven't they found that silver head yet?
Will: No dearest.
The girls look sideways at Eve. Eve is not sure if she should say something or not. Then, with a slightly shaky voice, she speaks.
Eve: Mom... I think we have to tell you something we should have told you a long time ago.
Their moms stare at them.
Will: What do you mean? What is that?
Seeing that Eve cannot continue, Abby steps in.
Abby: We think Phobos may have an assistant.
All but the girls seem shocked.
Irma: You... have a proof?
Leanne: Well, a dark boy likes messing up with us nowadays.
Gina: And... a new boy in our class has an uncle called Phobos. We think maybe he is the boy fighting with us.
Taranee: How did you come up with this?
Nami: It's just... he acts so weird. When Abby calls us to that river, he left the Silver Dragon right after us, using the so called back exit, but nobody had seen him. This dark boy can perfectly disappear at will. And he was there by the river that day. He could have got the time.
Eve: And you've told me that Phobos isn't a common name, remember?
Will: Yes, but...
Abby: This kid knows what we are doing and what we will do. Weird, isn't it?
Cornelia: That boy in your class, is he so close to you to know what you are doing?
The girls look at Eve again. Eve bows her head.
Eve: Yes, he is close.
Will looks at her suspiciously.
Will: Eve...
Eve couldn't even look at her mother.
Eve: We... I... kinda go out with him...
Will raises her eyebrows in wonder.
Will: With a boy you don't even know?
Eve: Not like really going out, mom, we just toured around the city for one single day.
Abby: Anyway. He knew that we will be partying after Gina was choosen as a cheerleader, and nobody would have known other than that boy.
A moment passed in silence.
Will: Okay. So this is just a doubt.
Abby: Yeah, kinda.
Haylin sighs.
Haylin: Girls... It is of course great to trust your senses, but you shouldn't blame people off. We did the same mistakes, too.
Will grins tenderly and Eve looks at her mother. The girls seem a bit taken aback. Cornelia tries to take their attentions to somewhere else.
Cornelia: Anyway, now we are waited for a lunch. Abby...
Abby holds the heart. As lights pour from the heart, a portal opens. They go through...
----------------
Elyon's palace.
Elyon and Noah are at the doors to greet them.
Elyon: Welcome you all! Why were you late?
Will: There was a problem, Elyon. Let me introduce the kids. Here is Abby, the leader of the guardians. Nami, the guardian of water. Gina, the guardian of fire. My daughter Eve, the guardian of earth. And Leanne, the guardian of air. And my son Johnny.
Elyon pushes Noah forward.
Elyon: And this is Noah, my son, and heir to the throne of Meridian. Noah, why don't you take Johnny to the game room?
Johnny smiles slightly to Noah. Noah beams at him too. They go upstairs.
Elyon turns to the others.
Elyon: I'm sure you are hungry. Let's proceed to the dining room.
They begin walking through the hall...
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Outside the palace.
A blond, grey eyed kid carrying a huge bundle is approaching the palace...
---------------
Elyon: This is why I think Noah is in danger. Years ago my brother tried to hurt me. He's gonna do it again - trying to use Noah this time. I can't let this happen.
Will: We can't either. This is why we are here. We think Phobos is in contact with someone...
Elyon: Cedric?
Abby: Who is Cedric?
Elyon: He used him the last time. He was a huge, snake like giant in the guise of a handsome, polite man.
Nami: Well, this boy doesn't transform into a snake. He has black hair, dark grey eyes and fully black clothes. Well, he's at least not handsome.
Elyon: This might be a disguise.
Eve's voice reflects heartbreak when she speaks.
Eve: No, his other guise is, (she hesitates for a moment) a handsome, blond, blue eyed boy at the age of 14. Well... at least, we think so.
Elyon: You know him?
Gina: We suspect him. He's at our school. We hold him under suspicion.
Elyon: You have any proofs?
The girls are getting a bit frustrated by the time.
Leanne: The boy knows what we are doing, and only someone who knows us would have known those stuff.
A moment passes in silence. Then shoutings come from outside the doors.
- No! You! Freeze!
They rush to the doors...
-------------
Noah hears the shoutings coming from the doors and becomes quiet.
Noah: What is that?
Johnny looks at him.
Johnny: Dunno. But if it's important, my sister will take care of it.
Noah smiles weakly at him...
-------------
Elyon and the others had reached the door.
Elyon: What is all that noise about?
- Your majesty, this kid was trying to get in.
They look at the boy. This is the blond boy. Elyon approaches him.
Elyon: Okay, I'll deal with him. What's the problem?
Elyon had asked this question kindly to the boy. He raises his head. Eve notices something familiar, but she couldn't place it.
- It's nothing, your majesty, it's just... I haven't been eating anything for days!
Elyon's and the mothers' expressions immediately change to one of mercy.
Elyon: My God... Okay. Then you are our guest. Bring him inside.
The guards open the doors and let the boy in. The boy quickly kneels before Elyon and tries to kiss her hand.
- I'm so grateful, your majesty... I'm honored...
Elyon: Okay, okay, you don't need to kneel down. What is your name?
- Just call me the stranger.
Elyon: A guest must have a proper name. It's rude to call him that.
The stranger was about to reply when a voice is heard.
Noah: Mom, what is that all about?
Noah and Johnny had come downstairs. Noah looks at the newcomer with a raised eyebrow.
Noah: Who is he?
Elyon: Honey, he is our guest. What was your name again, dear?
- The stranger. Call me that.
Elyon: How old are you?
- Fourteen.
The girls look at each other, unsure if they should say something or not. For some inexplicable reason, Noah had become quite fond of the stranger.
Noah: Why don't you come with us?
Elyon: Noah, I'm sure he's a bit...
Noah: No mom, I think not. Are you?
The stranger bows before him.
- I'm at your service.
Elyon: Oh okay, but he should at least eat something first. And don't get him too tired.
Abby whispers to the others.
Abby: Say that I'm exaggerating if you want. But something about that really bugs me.
The others nod.
Eve: Yeah, same with me.
Nami: Maybe we should go and do some patrolling.
Abby approaches her mom.
Abby: Mom, we have to check something out. Can you give us a second?
Cornelia raises her eyebrows at her.
Cornelia: Okay, we will cover you. But don't be late.
Abby: We won't.
As the others go to the dining room, the girls go upstairs...
---------------
An empty room upstairs.
Abby puts the heart of Kandrakar around her neck.
Abby: Guardians! Unite!
They wait. Nothing happens.
Leanne: Why didn't it work?
Abby: I don't know! It had to work! Guardians unite!
Again, nothing happens. Abby is terrified.
Abby: This is impossible!
Gina: We have to consult to Mrs. Olsen.
Abby: But... it can't be! I... just can't explain it!
Eve: Don't worry, I'm sure my mom has some answers.
-------------
Downstairs.
Will: What do you mean not working?
Abby: We don't know Mrs. Olsen, I've told what I have to - but we couldn't become!
The mothers look at each other.
Will: Only one thing can do that.
Haylin: Yes. When we were guardians, we couldn't become at one time. But there was a stone at that time.
Nami: A stone?
Taranee: Yes, the Threbe stone. But can it be here right now? At that palace?
Irma: And who is it searching now?
Will thinks about it for a moment.
Will: We should ask this to Elyon. But I think there is more to it.
Eve: Mom... What does that stone of Threbe looks like?
Will: It is a seven cornered stone which helps a lost person to find his home. When it becomes active, it will eliminate the powers of those who try to prevent that person from going home.
Abby: So we are trying to prevent that person - whoever he is - from getting to his home?
Will: Yeah, kinda.
Cornelia: I'll ask Elyon about it. It's weird...
Cornelia enters the throne room...
-------------
Elyon: The stone of Threbe? No... I haven't heard of it lately... Why?
Cornelia: Because the girls can't transform.
Elyon: They can't? Is there a problem?
Cornelia: They told us that... they just want to check out something.
Elyon: Oh. I'm sorry Cornelia, I don't know why it could happen.
Cornelia sighs...
--------------
Cornelia: She told me that. She doesn't know anything.
Haylin: What could it be other then the stone of Threbe?
Abby: This is not our problem right now. How are we going back?
Will smiles.
Will: I think we can go ask help from an old friend...
-------------
A few hours later.
Elyon: Take care of yourselves. And keep in touch.
Cornelia: You too.
Johnny: See you Noah!
Noah: See you Johnny.
The mothers, daughters and Johnny get out of the palace. Taranee asks Will.
Taranee: You know where he is?
Leanne: Where who is?
Will: You will see. Caleb knows, and we sometimes go see him Tara. Now let's go.
Eve: Mom, where exactly are we going?
Will turns to look at them.
Will: You don't know what a passling is, do you?
Abby: A what?
Will: Well, now you will see. Come on.
-------------
Somewhere near the palace in Meridian.
A familiar voice ring through the air.
Blunk: No no kids, not to the river! No! Now it take more time to get you dirty again!
When they hear the sound, the mothers smile. The girls look at each other. Not to the river? Getting dirty again? What kind of a thing that is? Johnny beams, too, he is relieved to know that there are still someone on earth who knows and values being dirty.
Will: Hello! Blunk?
A somewhat older flattened faced, greenish yellow colored little creature comes behind the trees. This is Blunk, still recognizable from the stink even if he had gotten older. He smiles when he sees them.
Blunk: Girls! Welcome - and other girls too - and the boy...
He looks at the others, puzzled. Will explains.
Will: Blunk - they are our daughters - the new guardians - and he is my son.
Blunk: Hey! Nice to meet you!
Blunk extends his hand to shake. The girls all reject - but Johnny does. Will turns to them.
Will: He is Blunk. He is a passling - he can find portals - which he will do for us now. Won't you, Blunk?
Blunk: Blunk will. But what happened to the heart? Why you not use it?
Irma: We don't know - but we need your help.
Blunk: You give Blunk what in return?
Taranee: Blunk we need you. Please!
Blunk: Okay okay. You lucky. I knows one near here.
They follow Blunk...
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Elyon's palace.
Noah: I never see you in Meridian before.
- You go out often?
Noah: Sometimes - when my mom gives permission. Can we play a game? Johnny is gone - he was a good player, but gone.
- Okay. What do you want to play? What about hide and seek?
Noah: Wow, that is my favorite. But you'll be the smee!
The stranger turns his back, leans against the wall, closes his eyes and starts counting. Noah rushes away to hide.
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- Ninety nine... A hundred! Ready or not, here I come!
The stranger opens his eyes and turns to the mirror before leaving...
Familiar raven black hair is seen...
------------
CHARACTER PROFILE NO:6
Name: Jack Summers (Darkbinder)
Age: 14
Sign: Scorpio
Power: Everything actually, but most basicly, he can create huge energy outbursts once he's transformed into his Darkbinder form.
P.A.: Jack - wavy blond hair falling to his eyes, turquoise eyes. 5'5".
Darkbinder - Black, shoulder length hair and black eyes. 5'8".
Family: He is introduced as the nephew of Phobos. But there's a certain mystery to his family history.
Personality: Jack is normally a very quiet and mysterious boy, but that fact changed once he knows Eve. He's a bit more relaxed around her. Later to discover he loves her very much. He has a very kind heart.
Darkbinder, on the other hand, is cold to anyone and everyone, and he is without any kind of mercy. He is only loyal to Phobos.
Crush: Emelyn Olsen.
F.C.: Black and blue.
Combat appereance: Very tight black leather pants and a black t-shirt as tight as the former. As said before, Jack is as dark as his name when he transforms.