Pyromaniac-girl- Sorry I didn't mention you. But Fiona was the more loyal one first. I had to tell you to r&r, so it ain't my fault. I'll dedicate the next chapter to you, ok?

Xakinera- Yes, blame Arethusa for everything, lol. Glad you liked it, and I wondered how Nerissa got the knife, maybe she just went to a magic shop or something…yeah, okay, I'll shut up now. But thanks for the review! And yes, quotes have finished because I don't wanna give something away. Sorry!

Btvsfifi- I love that song too, and I love ya too!!

Juliette- Glad you like it so much! CxC are gonna be fine… I think. I dunno. So sorry it took so long to update! I've been so busy and I didn't really have time to write it!

Bla8- Thanks for the review. My SATs did go pretty well. In my Maths (level 6-8) I got a level 6, but Maths is SOOO not my strong point. In science (level 3-6) I got a level 6 for that as well, so I'm happy. We don't know our English ones yet, but thanks for wishing me luck! Corny does not die again, so you don't need to worry about that!

5 reviews… cool! I am sooo sorry it tool so long to update this, but I just had nothing to do! Oh well, I'm up and running now, so I hope you like chapter 9! Also, I would like to dedicate this chapter to Xakinera, who gave me all the ideas for the chapter and helped me out a lot!

Chapter 9: Truly, Madly, Deeply (Cascada)

Cornelia heard footsteps approaching her doorway, but lie down flat in case Khor was back. Her door was kicked open as she scrunched up her fists, dragging the dirt along with it. She shut her eyes tightly, tears threatening to fall.

Cornelia was suddenly swooped up by someone. They were hugging her, rocking her gently back and forth. Cornelia knew who it was and the tears fell, happy to know Caleb had saved her from this place. But she forgot that they weren't safe yet…

Cornelia was holding on to Caleb as if she would die if she let go. Caleb was doing the same, tears spilling out from both of them. It was a sweet, but intense moment and neither wanted to know what was going to happen next. Unfortunately, Nerissa did.

The room shook as Nerissa, Khor and Shagon appeared at the doorway. Nerissa was tightly holding onto the knife, ready to use it again. (Just so you know, I know the knife was used to make Cornelia's powers go bye-bye, but it's a knife that, every time you say a different incantation, it can be used for different things. I should've said it before, but I didn't know)

Caleb and Cornelia stared at the trio; Caleb holding Cornelia so close and protectively she thought she would die from lack of oxygen before Nerissa even touched her. Caleb saw this and let go a little bit, but still held her protectively.

"Aww, how sweet. My dear son is risking his life to save the guardian. Touching, but I do not wish to harm you, Caleb. My power has been saved for Cornelia and Cornelia only! This time, no one is butting in!" Nerissa shouted and held the knife up towards the sky. She mumbled something incoherently, the noise around them was so loud they couldn't even hear themselves think.

Cornelia looked at Caleb's determined face. He was not going to let her go again, she could tell. His eyes were filled with so much hate for the old hag it was obvious he was prepared to die for Cornelia.

I'll be your dream
I'll be your wish
I'll be your fantasy
I'll be your hope
I'll be your love
Be everything that you need
I'll love you more with every breath
Truly, madly, deeply do
I will be strong I will be faithful
'cause I'm counting on
A new beginning
A reason for living
A deeper meaning, yeah

The noise and Nerissa's mumbles suddenly stopped. The couple looked at each other, and then at Nerissa, who was smirking at them. The mystical knife was now glowing a strange purple. Cornelia and Caleb looked at each other; they could tell this wasn't gonna end good.

"Don't worry. With your precious Cornelia's powers missing, it'll be quick. Enjoy your last moments together. It's all you have. Bye!" and with that, Nerissa blasted the cute couple across the room. Nerissa, Shagon and Khor teletransported away, leaving Cornelia and Caleb in the slowly collapsing room.

Caleb tried his best to block the attacks for Cornelia, but in the end he couldn't. He lay beside his blonde beauty, staring at each other, thinking it was the end. But Cornelia couldn't let that happen again. She sat up; dodging some of the bigger rocks, and threw her hands out, knowing that there was a 99 percent chance that nothing was going to happen. But it did.

Caleb laughed as the rocks all around them stopped. They were all in mid air. He was looking around happily until he noticed how much power Cornelia was using to try and prevent them from dying. Caleb picked Cornelia up in panic and ran towards the door. Cornelia stopped using the 1 percent power she had left and fainted in Caleb's arms.

As Caleb escaped the cave, he watched it collapse before his eyes. He looked around; the other guardians were nowhere to be found. When the noise ended, Caleb looked at the fainted Cornelia and a small smile spread across his face. He soon wiped that smile off as he remembered that he needed to get Cornelia somewhere safe.

I wanna stand with you on a mountain
I wanna bathe with you in the sea
I wanna lay like this forever
Until the sky falls down on me

Caleb was running, or more like walking quickly due to the extra weight, through Meridian, desperate to find Blunk so he could fold out of there and get Cornelia to safety.

"Dum Dee Dum Dee Dum!" Caleb could hear Blunk's horrific singing from a mile off, so ran in that direction. Caleb spotted Blunk singing and dancing while playing with some strange flowers. He shook his head and walked towards the smelly green thing.

When Blunk noticed Caleb was standing there, he jumped right out of his skin and fell over a log that was behind him. Once his sight went back to normal he saw Cornelia in Caleb's arms, all battered and bruised. Her outfit was ripped and dried up blood ruined her once blue shirt.

"What happen to Blonde girl?" Blunk asked innocently, trying to forget about what had just happened. Caleb sighed and explained.

"Well, Nerissa kidnapped Cornelia, as you know. I found her in a room, on the floor, badly beaten up. Then…"

Caleb told Blunk about all that had happened down in the cave and why he needed an urgent fold to take him back to the Silver Dragon. Blunk nodded right away and grabbed the Tonga Tooth.

"Yes! Blunk help best friend and blonde girl right now!" Blunk shouted and opened a fold that surprisingly led to the Silver Dragon basement where the other guardians were.

Will almost jumped out of her skin when Blunk, Caleb and Cornelia arrived. Cornelia was still unconscious in Caleb's arms, and he immediately ran over to his bed and placed her gently on it. Caleb turned around to see a very confused group of friends who had no idea about what was going on.

"Caleb… what-" Hay Lin started, but Caleb interrupted her and told them the story like he did with Blunk.

"Ohh. Sorry we didn't wait outside like we said we would. Taranee didn't have enough strength to keep us all warm, so we thought we'd come back here to get our powers fired up again and, well, get warm." Will explained after Caleb finished telling the story. Caleb shrugged it off.

"Don't worry, ok, I was a bit panicked at first, but then I was more focused on getting Cornelia to safety.

"Speaking of, do you think she's gonna wake up?" Hay Lin asked the dreaded question that no one wanted to think about. Caleb turned to see his blonde beauty sleeping soundly.

"She has to, for us. Don't worry, Hay Lin, she's going to be fine. She's strong." Caleb told the frightened air guardian, but he wasn't even convinced himself.

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Cornelia's POV

I hear people's voices. I think I know them, but I'm not too sure. I try to give them a sign- any sign- to tell them I'm alive, but nothing happens. I try moving my arms, opening my eyes, speaking; nothing.

"She's strong." I hear a boy say, and my brain automatically registers that voice; it's Caleb! I try even harder to wake up, to escape from the darkness, but it becomes harder when Nerissa's face appears before me, standing in the darkness, barely visible. I look down. I can see myself. I must be in a dream, or nightmare. I walk slowly towards Nerissa, not knowing how much power I have, not knowing if I am alive in reality, not knowing if Nerissa's dancing on my grave.

Nerissa smirks at me. I already know that I'm not dead, otherwise she wouldn't be here. She would be enjoying the paradise, not hanging around in a dead persons dream. It makes me happier to know that, but also worse. If I'm not dead, she's here to kill me.

"Dear child, I think it's time I taught you a lesson you won't forget!" Nerissa shouts and holds the Seal of Nerissa in my direction. I do nothing; just stand there, waiting for the hit. Nerissa reacts to this- I know she wants me to be scared and run away, but I'm not. This confuses the hag long enough for me to try out my powers. I soon notice I have them back as Nerissa is knocked off her feet by some vines. I smile victoriously; I can't give in, no matter how bad it gets. Something tells me it's a fight to the death, and if I win, I can wake up and be free.

Then, as if out of nowhere, Caleb appeared in between us. I gasp loudly as he startles me, but I regain control. Nerissa growls and stands up, launching an attack at Caleb, but with my powers back, I just simply move him out the way, leaving the blast to come at me.

Oh can't ya see it baby
You don't have to close your eyes
'cause it's standing right before you
All that you need will surely come

I'll be your dream
I'll be your wish
I'll be your fantasy
I'll be your hope
I'll be your love
Be everything that you need
I'll love you more with every breath
Truly, madly, deeply do

"Cornelia, what are you doing!?" Caleb shouts, but I tune him and the rest of the world out, getting ready for the moment.

A fraction of a second before the Quintessence hits me, I hold my hand out. The blast stays in front of me like a puppy dog awaiting instructions. I push slightly on the ball of lightening, and it redirects and shoots Nerissa in the stomach before she could move out the way.

"Agh!! You'll pay a high price for that, guardian!" Nerissa shouts louder than before and takes out the mystical knife. This time, it's glowing blood red.

"This time, I will show you what your little boyfriend here has been doing while you were…let's say, busy." Nerissa explains and holds the knife to Caleb. A sort of strange clear thing came out of Caleb's head, making him crouch on all fours. I don't respond, I'll wait until she's finished.

"This may upset you, guardian, but mark my words, some day, you will thank me!" Nerissa throws the clear thing in front of me, and it swirls. Suddenly, a picture of Caleb and Will appear in the thing, it must be a memory. I think to myself, but I'm getting kinda worried as I look at Caleb's expression on his face before I look into the memory. He looks… sorry for me?

I wanna stand with you on a mountain
I wanna bathe with you in the sea
I wanna lay like this forever
Until the sky falls down on me

I wanna stand with you on a mountain
I wanna bathe with you in the sea, yeah
I want to lay like this forever
Until the sky falls down on me

I think it's weird, but I cast my eyes in the direction of the memory. I can see Caleb talking to Will. He looks distressed about something; this must've been after I was kidnapped. Nerissa watches in amusement, probably knowing what's going to happen.

"I just… I don't know how to cope." Caleb tells Will in the memory. She looks sympathetic, and a bit flirty. My eyes widen slightly as I realise that, but I can't take my eyes off of it.

"I'm sure it's gonna be ok, Caleb. You just have to have hope." Will tells him in the same kind of voice she uses with Matt. Don't tell me she's hitting on Caleb! Oh my god! At least Caleb wouldn't fall for it. I tell myself, but the reaction on Caleb's face tells me differently.

Will leans in to Caleb, but Caleb doesn't react. He edges back a bit, but other than that, nothing. "Just have hope." Will says and kisses Caleb on the lips! I stare in horror but comfort as Caleb tries to pull her off him. But then I am on the verge of tears as I watch Caleb give in, succumbing to Will's lust.

I can't watch anymore, yet my eyes refuse to tear away from the memory. It's only when Nerissa gets rid of it that Caleb can see my face. Still beaten up from Khor, but my eyes are full of sadness, tears spilling down my cheeks. I'm still looking at the place where the memory was, as if I'm frozen to the spot.

"Cornelia, I am so sorry! I tried to make her stop, but she wouldn't. I-"

"How many times?" I ask, my voice trembling viciously. How could he do this to me?

"Cornelia, I-"

"HOW MANY TIMES?" I shout, finally facing him. He looks sympathetic, but I don't care. Nerissa fades into the background. I know she's still here, I can feel her.

"It was just the once. She thought I felt something, but I don't. I never did. I love you, Cornelia, not her! Please, you have to believe me!"

"Yeah, sure. Of course I'd believe you after I watch you groping my best friend!" I shout, tears sliding down my face menacingly. Caleb sighs and walks over to me. He tries to hold my hand but I push him away.

"Do you know what was happening to me while you were with her? I was suffering hell. Khor was throwing me across the room until he got tired, and that wasn't often. But most of all, I was praying for you. I was telling myself that you were coming for me, that everything would be ok." I choke. It was hard telling this to him. And no matter how hard I try, I still love him. And he loves me. But after what he's done, I'm not taking him back.

"Cornelia, I wasn't groping her! I wanted to find you, and I want us to be together! Trust me!"

"How can I trust you, Caleb? While I was in danger, wishing that you'd come for me, you were off kissing my best friend, whether you wanted to or not! And you want us to be together? Well, you should have thought of that before you broke your promise." I say, I can't even look him in the eyes now.

"What promise? I still love you, that's a promise I'm never gonna break!"

"What about 'I promise nothing will happen to you, I won't let anything hurt you'? Because in case you haven't noticed, Caleb, I'm in more pain now than ever. Not even 10 Khor's could put me through this much agony." I can't say anything more, it hurts too much.

Nerissa appears again, walking up to me and standing in between me and Caleb.

"Dear, heart, I feel your pain. Join me, and you will feel no sorrow, no remorse, and no pain. You can forget about what my dreadful son has done to you, and you can have revenge. What do you say, Cornelia?" Nerissa asks me. I dread to admit that the offer is tempting, but should I? I could get revenge on what they did to me, but I would want to hurt anyone else.

"Just Caleb and Will?" I ask intensively, watch the expression on Caleb's face change from sorrow to regret and worry. Nerissa smiles politely.

"Whomever you wish. To harm, will be harmed." She tells me calmly and I can't help but agree. I stand up, facing the old hag, still damaged.

"I need to be repaired" I say in a freakish voice that even scares me. "I'm ready for vengeance!" I roar in a monster-like tone. Nerissa laughs evilly and walks off. I'm closely following.

"Cornelia!" Caleb shouts. During that I had almost forgotten he was there. I turn around to see his distraught face, his worried eyes staring right at me, tears spilling down his cheeks also. I give him an evil smirk and carry on walking through the darkness.

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Normal POV

A white light surrounded Caleb and the next thing he knew he was on the floor in the Silver Dragon basement with Will, Taranee, Hay Lin and Irma around him asking if he was alright.

"Nerissa got to her. Cornelia's not coming back." Caleb informed the others, avoiding eye contact with Will. He daren't risk telling the group why or how, there would be a good chance that he'd be skinned alive.

He sat down next to the unconscious body, taking her hand in his. He kissed it gently. "Nerissa will probably want her body as well. And now she has Cornelia's spirit, she's more of a threat to us." Caleb told the group.

"Well, we'll do shifts. Each of us will take turn to look after it. Make sure Nerissa doesn't get her hands on Cornelia's body. Simple" Will said, and the others agreed.

"You think she's dumb enough to come and get it? No, it'll most likely disappear into thin air." Caleb argued, looking anywhere but Will. He sighed and looked back down at the lifeless form of Cornelia. He knew the others were going to ask questions about how and why she was taken, but he would rather not divulge into that right now.

"I love you." He whispered and kissed her on the forehead, just as Cornelia's body started to disappear.

Oh no!!! Cornelia's gone back to the dark side!!! And to everyone: I AM SO SO SO SO SOOOO SORRY for doing that to those CxC fans!!! You know how much of one I am so you know that this isn't gonna change anything!! It is still CxC!!!!!!! It's kinda long, but I kinda dragged it out a bit. I didn't think I was going to do that. BUT IT IS CxC, I TELLS YA! So don't worry!! (Xakinera, CDR, please don't kill me!) You just have to trust me, this time because I actually know what I'm doing for the last 2 CHAPTERS! Yes, I have squeezed in one more chapter, but I can't do more than that. Only two chapters left and it IS still CxC. Anyone who hates me now can go and talk to Will!

Bye!!!

-x-Emma-x-