Hey Yo! Welcome to Chapter 10! Thanks again for your lovely reviews, your advice, and your support. Irma Rokz, you get a cookie for being my most consistent reviewer! And let's all give a great big Fanfiction welcome to my new reviewer KiiroKrazyXD, aka MysteriousReviewer (raises hands in front of chest and wiggles fingers). Milord/Milady (places right hand over heart and bows deeply), I am honored…welcome to our fold (and I really do mean I am honored…). Also to Ladytaurus (claps loudly and waves), welcome Milady!
Disclaimer: You know I'm actually getting tired of writing this same disclaimer on every single chapter; so I think I'll quit writing it. Please let me know if anyone actually misses the disclaimer. Everyone already knows I don't own W.I.T.C.H. otherwise the show would have a life-long contract, Irma would get more storylines, and Cornelia would stop talking about Caleb ALL THE DAMN TIME! Ok, now I have that out of my system…we can proceed.
Chapter 10
"NOOOO! NOT YET…IRMA, IRMA!" Hay Lin was screaming and thrashing as she felt herself hurtling back towards the land of the waking. She lashed out and felt her hand connect with something. She heard an audible, "oof," but still she didn't open her eyes. From somewhere far away, she could hear someone calling her name. She knew it had to be Irma; Hay Lin had to get back to her…NOW!
Hay Lin felt her arms and hands being restrained; she felt her body and legs being tied down. No, I have to go…I have to go!
"FOR THE LOVE OF GANDHI WOULD YOU PLEASE SHUTUP!"
The screamed command suddenly brought Hay Lin out of her dream completely. She blinked in confusion and looked around. Thick green vines had wrapped themselves around her body, effectively pinning her to the bed. The bedclothes were scattered around the room and the pillow lay near the door. A lamp lay smashed on the floor, and the bedtable was overturned. Elyon was just picking herself up off the floor and Cornelia, standing by Hay Lin's bedside, was just lowering her hand, the tips of her fingers still glowing green. Hay Lin's eyes narrowed as she gazed at the carnage around her.
"Wha-what happened?" she asked.
"Hurricane Hay Lin, that's what happened!" Cornelia replied. "You suddenly started going berserk! You tore the sheets off your bed, you smashed the lamp, dumped the table. Elyon figured she had better try to wake you. And look what it got her…"
Hay Lin looked at Elyon, "Oh no, what did I do?"
"You back-handed her in the chest," Cornelia replied. "Sent her flying across the room. That's why I restrained you."
Hay Lin winced and gazed at Elyon apologetically. "Sorry about that…"
Elyon grinned and waved her hand, "It's okay Hay Lin; no worries."
Cornelia folded her arms across her chest and raised an eyebrow. "Quite the destructive little Guardian aren't you?" she smirked.
Hay Lin stuck out her tongue and pulled at her restraints. "Think you can let me go now?"
Cornelia tapped a finger against her lips thoughtfully. "I don't know…what do you think Ellie?"
"Cornelia, stop teasing Hay Lin and let her go," Elyon replied with a good-natured stop-teasing-the-Air-Guardian look.
Cornelia snapped her fingers and the vines receded. Hay Lin flexed her fingers and toes, then sat up. Immediately she hunched over and gasped in pain.
"Hay Lin!" two voices exclaimed in unison. Four knees hit the ground as Cornelia and Elyon dropped down beside Hay Lin's bed.
Hay Lin clenched her teeth and closed her eyes, willing the pain away. After a minute she opened her eyes and looked at her friends. "It's okay," she gasped, "It's just Irma's back…well okay it's mine, but it's Irma's fault…or actually, it's the Knights of Veng…"
"We get it…what's wrong?" Cornelia was always a little impatient.
"Sorry," Hay Lin squeaked, "it's just the effects of my last "visit" with Irma. I feel what she feels…or at least I feel as much as she allows me to feel anyway."
Cornelia shook her head; she wasn't even going to try to understand what that was about. She knew Irma didn't have telepathic powers, and that Hay Lin couldn't interact with people in her dreams or visions. Sure, the Guardians had once taken on an ugly old hag during something Taranee had called "Lucid Dreaming," but that was totally different from the current situation. That withered old bag of bones had recently been responsible for battering the Guardians with some pretty intense, not to mention potentially lethal, nightmares; but the Guardians had managed to team-up in one of those nightmares and defeat the old woman. But what Hay Lin was doing now was completely different from Lucid Dreaming; she had the ability to foresee certain events at certain times, but she couldn't interact with them in any way. Needless to say, Cornelia didn't understand why things had suddenly changed; and she hated not understanding something. But it would have to wait……the current circumstances required her full attention. She turned her attention back to Hay Lin.
"So are you actually hurt?"
"I don't think so…it just hurts; that's all."
"Even so, maybe we should take a look, just to be sure." Elyon suggested.
Hay Lin nodded and allowed Elyon to lift the back of her shirt to check for injuries. Elyon gently pushed all over Hay Lin's back, asking occasionally if "that hurt." When the queen was satisfied that the Air Guardian was indeed just fine, she lowered Hay Lin's shirt and shrugged to Cornelia.
"I don't see anything Cornelia; Hay Lin looks just fine."
Cornelia nodded, still looking at her friend in concern. She didn't know what Hay Lin had been through, but it must have been pretty significant; she could see the worry and horror in Hay Lin's eyes. Cornelia was about to speak, when the door opened. Will and Taranee walked quickly into the room.
"Hey you're back! Did you find Irma?" Elyon asked hopefully.
"Yes, we think so," Will replied, "what happened to Hay Lin?"
"What happened to Taranee?" Cornelia asked at the same time.
"Nothing happened to Taranee; Taranee's fine." Taranee replied. She hated being the center of attention.
"Right…and I'm Barney the Purple Dinosaur…" Cornelia retorted.
"I'll try not to hold that against you…" Taranee replied.
"Taranee was using her telepathy to try to locate Irma and she got some monster psychic feedback. It knocked her for a loop." Will explained.
"But I'm fine now." Taranee said firmly.
Cornelia looked skeptical, but Taranee's expression told her it wasn't open for further discussion. So the tallest Guardian decided to answer Will's question concerning Hay Lin.
"Hay Lin was dreaming when she suddenly started trashing the place. She threw bedsheets, lamps, tables, pillows, even Elyon. So Ellie woke her up. Hay Lin says her back hurts."
Will looked at the Air Guardian in concern, "Your back hurts?"
"Yeah a little…"
Will's eyes narrowed. Hay Lin's expression turned sheepish, "Okay, a lot," she corrected herself. "But I can handle it…I'm okay."
"Can you walk?" Will asked.
"Of course I can walk!" Hay Lin leaped out of the bed, cried out, and collapsed to her knees. Cornelia immediately rushed around behind the fallen Guardian and eased her friend into a sitting position. Cornelia knelt on one knee and placed it against Hay Lin's back. Then she planted both hands firmly behind the Air Guardian's shoulders. Will and Taranee rushed to Hay Lin, kneeling on either side of their friend. Elyon dropped to her knees directly in front of Hay Lin and took her hand.
"Hay Lin!" the queen exclaimed
Hay Lin was surprised at all the attention…especially from Cornelia; the Earth Guardian wasn't exactly the touchy-feely type. Nevertheless, she was grateful, as she leaned back against Cornelia's supportive knee and hands. She squeezed Elyon's hand and grinned goofily. "I'm okay…just wasn't expecting the pain to still be around, now that I'm awake." She winced as a sudden spasm shot up her spine. "I just need a minute…that's all."
Will locked eyes with Taranee; the latter's expression was unreadable. Will knew Hay Lin wasn't prone to exaggeration, but she wondered if her asian friend wasn't trying to downplay her condition in order to get to Irma faster.
"How is she?" Will asked Hay Lin.
"She's getting weaker, but she's hanging in…for now." Hay Lin answered. "She let me carry a lot more of her pain this time……………not too sure how I feel about that at the moment…"
Will's eyes narrowed; "That's not a good sign. If Irma's letting you have it…"
"Then someone over there is really letting her have it." Hay Lin finished.
Will nodded grimly. "Did she say anything that could help us get her out?"
Hay Lin thought for a moment; the pain in her back was making it hard to remember their conversation. "She mentioned a machine that blocks her powers…she seems pretty sure it will block our powers too."
Well that sounds like a problem…Will thought. "Did she tell you where this machine is located?"
"It's in the same room as Irma; I saw it earlier. I don't know how it works; I didn't notice any dials or knobs or anything. I don't think Irma knows how it works either…"
"Ok, looks like we're going to have to find a way to neutralize the machine before we can affect a rescue." Will sighed. "What else did she say?"
Hay Lin thought for a moment, "She said this whole setup is a trap."
"I think we already figured that out," Cornelia piped up.
"She also said that Nerissa is there." Hay Lin shuddered as she remembered Irma's overwhelming fear of the old woman.
"Who's Nerissa?" four voices asked.
"She's the old woman from our nightmares."
Cornelia made a face, "You mean that walking fashion disaster actually has a name?"
"Yep, and she freaks Irma out big-time."
"Also not a good sign," Will muttered. Irma was so stubborn and hard-headed that she would never admit to being scared of anything or anyone. Will knew Irma had fears just like everyone else, but her spit-in-your-eye, devil-may-care attitude didn't allow Irma to show those fears much. If she was openly afraid of Nerissa, then the Guardians had a real problem on their hands. Will was brought out of her musings by Taranee.
"Well that might explain the mental stuff going on with you and Irma. If Nerissa can manipulate our dreams, she obviously has mental powers of some sort."
"Maybe, but how is Irma tapping into them?" Elyon asked.
"I doubt she could, unless Nerissa is letting her." Taranee mused.
"But why would Nerissa do that?" Cornelia asked. "Doesn't she know that Irma would try to contact us for help?"
Will cocked her head…Yes; she does know that…"She wanted Irma to contact us; or rather she wanted Irma to contact Taranee, specifically."
Will continued. "Think about it; why would Nerissa want us to know where Irma is?"
"So she could lure us into a trap…" Taranee replied.
"Exactly! That's why she's been torturing Irma…she's trying to get her to call out to us!" Will pounded her fist into her hand as she imagined all the awful things Irma may have endured.
"But why not just allow one of the Knights of Vengeance to be spotted and then followed back to the hideout? Wouldn't that serve the same purpose?" Elyon asked.
"Yes, but it probably wouldn't be as much fun!" Cornelia explained, her eyes hard as steel.
Elyon covered her mouth with her hand and tried not to be sick. What kind of monster thinks like that!
"And this whole time…………Irma's refused to…." Taranee let the rest of the sentence hang as a realization finally struck her. She slapped her forehead. "Of course! That's why my telepathy has been on the blink! If Irma has been using Nerissa's mental powers, then she could be blocking my abilities so I wouldn't pick up her location!"
""Why would Nerissa let her do that?" Elyon asked.
"Nerissa may not know Irma's doing it…" Hay Lin said.
"Okay, but why would Irma intentionally hinder our efforts to help her?" Elyon was getting a little exasperated.
"Because she doesn't want us to get hurt," Will explained quietly. All eyes focused on the Guardian leader as she took command of the room. She stood up and walked a few paces away, her back to her friends. After a moment, she turned back around; she lowered her brown eyes to the floor as she spoke. "Of all of us, I think Irma has the greatest sense of duty. I don't think any of us can deny that at some point we all considered this Guardian business to be a curse we didn't ask for. Maybe Irma's considered that too, but she's never actually voiced it aloud. She actually seems to be having fun being the Water Guardian. I know she takes her duties as a Guardian very seriously even if she seems less than serious by nature. She's always been the most loyal friend you can possibly have, and being a cop's daughter has given her an overprotective streak that's unmatched by all of our parents combined! Irma would never consent to lead us into a trap…not if she could help it." Will raised her eyes and locked her gaze with each Guardian in turn and her voice became firmer. "I'm not prepared to let her sacrifice fall by the wayside. I know this is a trap; I know things could go horribly wrong; I know I may not come back. But I will be damned if I'm going to leave Irma with those animals; I have to try!" Will clenched her fist in front of her chest. Her eyes smoldered with resolve. "It's my duty as a Guardian of the Veil…………and as a friend. Who's with me?"
The Guardians shouted as one and raised their fists in the air. Hay Lin stood up and nodded to Will.
Will's eyes narrowed and she nodded back. "Okay then; we're going to need a plan, so here's what we're going to do…"
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Nerissa turned to face Irma. The Water Guardian glared at the old woman. Nerissa raised an impressed eyebrow.
"Now that you believe your friends will rescue you, you've suddenly found a little more defiance. It will do you no good child; soon your friends will join you in this pit of Hell I've created. But let's make things a little more interesting, shall we?"
She reached out her hand and grasped Irma by the forehead and left temple. Irma gasped and tried to wriggle out of the hag's grip, but she was far too weak. Nerissa intoned words in a language Irma didn't recognize. As she spoke, the old woman's hand glowed purple. Irma screamed as she felt her brain begin to boil. Her good eye rolled to the back of her head, but she didn't lose consciousness. As quickly as it had begun, the sensation passed and Nerissa let Irma go.
"There, now that should be fun later on; although I'm afraid you won't remember any of this in a few minutes."
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Raythor stood near the entrance to the system of caves that served as Nerissa's hideout. He calmly watched the skies and waited for the Guardians to appear. Nerissa had said the Guardians had arrived, but so far they hadn't shown themselves. His companions were getting a little restless, and Raythor couldn't really blame them; the hardest part of waiting was……………all the waiting. Even Tracker, who was used to hunting prey sometimes for days, was shifting around nervously. Only Miranda seemed oblivious to the tension in the air; she hung near the ceiling and waited quietly.
Presently, Tracker pointed to a small speck in the distance…could it be them at last? Raythor squinted; that one speck soon became four. It had to be the Guardians! Finally…Raythor thought.
He turned to his companions. "Nerissa's orders are clear; not one permanent mark of damage to any of them until she has the Heart!"
Raythor turned back to stare at the specks, gradually growing larger and more defined as they closed the distance. He kicked a stone into the lake that guarded the cave entrance; at least the Guardians will be forced to do battle inside the cave…that should limit their flying abilities.
"Okay, everyone hide!" Raythor ordered.
The Knights now moved to pre-arranged hiding places. With any luck, the Guardians would never know what hit them...
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The four Guardians landed gently in a huge cave. From what they could see, it appeared there were several smaller caves leading off the big one.
"Alright everyone stay alert…the Knights are here somewhere." Will warned.
As if on cue, Taranee was blasted by sticky webbing. She was thrown against the wall and pinned. She tried to burn through it, but her powers weren't working...
"Uh guys! We have a problem here!" she shouted, as her friends moved to assist her.
Cornelia was cut off by Sandpit. He engulfed the unsuspecting Guardian completely and held her fast.
Hay Lin extended her hands to conjure a whirlwind to blow Sandpit away, but nothing happened. She looked at her hands in dismay and never saw Crimson coming. The huge beast, minus his Master, dove upon the Air Guardian and pinned her to the ground.
Will stood in the middle of it all; confused…she didn't know what to do. That's when Tracker released his minions. They flew at the Guardian leader. Will raised her hand and pointed at the bat-thingys; a little lightning would pick them off nicely. It was a good idea; there was just one problem…her powers weren't working. The minions kept coming until they collided with the redhead; Will was momentarily blinded by all the bat-thingys and she raised her arms to cover her head and face. In this position, she didn't see Sniffer circle around behind her. He dove at her back and knocked her prone. As Will struggled to get up, she felt the tip of a sword underneath her chin. She held her breath.
"Nice and slow Guardian," Raythor commanded, "unless you want Gargoyle to smash your friends to little bite-size bits.
Will stood up and turned slowly, her hands raised to her shoulders, palms facing out. She could see the huge monstrosity Gargoyle brandishing his club-like appendage. She couldn't take the chance that her friends would be hurt, so she cooperated with Raythor.
"What do you want Raythor?" Will demanded.
"It's not what I want Guardian; it's what she wants. Now move!"
Will obeyed and started walking. Silently, she communicated every twist and turn to Taranee; hopefully her telepathic abilities weren't blocked. If they were, then this was gonna get real ugly real fast.
After several minutes of walking, they came to a larger cave. Along one wall was a grey boxy-looking thing that had to be the machine Hay Lin had talked about earlier. That means Irma must be here too...Will thought. And sure enough, there was the Water Guardian, shackled between two stalagmites.
"Irma!" Will cried. Forgetting about Raythor and his threatening sword, Will rushed to her friend. A purple shield suddenly encompassed Irma. Will plowed into the shield, unable to stop her momentum. She pounded on it with her fists for a few seconds before sinking to the floor. Pressing her hands against the shield, she surveyed her friend's condition.
Irma hung limply between the stalagmites, her arms at approximately a seventy degree angle to her torso. She was dressed in a blue bikini that tied around her neck and her Guardian uniform below the waist. Her torso was covered with bruises, cuts and blood. Some of the bruises were an angry red color, others more black-and-blue; many of the cuts appeared to be fairly fresh, as they were still bleeding. Her right knee looked swollen, and something about it just didn't look quite right. Her neck was covered in bruises as well; the cruel finger marks quite evident to the naked eye. But it was Irma's face that made Will gasp. The right side of her face was badly swollen and bruised. Her right eye had swollen shut, and blood streamed from a cut at her temple. Smaller cuts were evident around her right cheek and along her jawline. Her lips were swollen and cracked, and blood dripped down her chin from the left side. More cuts and bruising were evident on the left side of her face, and Will could see that Irma's nose had been smashed. Her chin rested on her chest and she appeared to be unconscious. Will could hear the uneven breathing; how it rattled in her friend's chest.
Suddenly Irma opened her left eye and peered at Will. There was no mischievous sparkle, and even some of the blue appeared to be gone. The eye that gazed at Will was almost lifeless; certainly not like the Irma Will knew and loved.
"W-w-will…………I…I'm………s-s-s-sor……ry….."
"Irma…" she whispered, close to tears. "What have they done to you?" Will clenched her fists and stood up. She faced Raythor and shouted, "You MONSTER!"
Raythor only grinned and pointed to his right. Will, shaking with rage, turned to face……………Nerissa. The old woman was standing near the back of the room and grinning evilly at Will.
"Welcome Will. I have been waiting for you child."
"What have you done to Irma you hag?"
"She brought it all on herself. It was always within the Guardian's power to end it. She chose not to."
Will could feel her fingernails cutting into her palms, but she didn't care. How dare this evil woman claim this was Irma's fault! "Release her and I'll consider letting you live!"
Nerissa laughed. "Oh the Heart of Candracar chose a feisty one this time. I used to have that same fire…but things change."
Will was thrown for a loop; what did this hag know of the Heart of Candracar? "Who are you?"
"I am Nerissa, former Keeper of the Heart of Candracar! You have something of mine and I want it back!"
Nerissa was a Guardian? No way…it can't be! How could a former Guardian be this evil and vile? How could a former Keeper do this to another Guardian? "What happened to you? How could you do something like this?"
"The Heart corrupted me, as it will corrupt you in time. You cannot fight it Will; give it to me and save yourself."
"Never! You'll have to take it from my cold dead hands!"
Nerissa laughed; a cold, heartless laugh. "Oh Will, that's not how it works. You must give it to me willingly. So I will ask you for the Heart one more time." She held out her withered old hand expectantly.
Will stood her ground defiantly and glared at the former Guardian. "In your dreams!"
Nerissa sighed and lowered her hand. "I can see that you need the proper incentive. Frost!" Will turned her head and only just now noticed Frost lurking in a darkened corner. He glowed with a white light and he had an eager look on his face that Will most definitely did not like. He walked right through the purple shield that surrounded Irma and brandished his huge fist. Suddenly, Will knew what was about to happen! Panicked, she pressed her hands against the purple shield.
Nerissa held up her hand. Frost waited. "Well Guardian?" she cooed.
Will looked at Irma, and Irma gazed back at Will.
"D-d-don't………d-do…….it……ch-ch-chief…" Irma gasped.
Will closed her eyes, and rested her head against the shield. She couldn't give up the Heart, but she couldn't doom her friend to further torture either...What can I do?
As she pondered, she suddenly heard the telltale sound of skin-on-skin contact. She jumped and her eyes flew open. Frost had punched Irma in the back. Will saw Irma clench her teeth and throw her head back, her eye closed. A grunt escaped her lips and her back arched. She dropped her head back to her chest after a few seconds, breathing hard.
"Stop it!" Will shouted, punching the shield with her fist.
"You can make it stop Will; just give me the heart." Nerissa replied gently.
Will shook her head and Frost punched Irma again; this time in her ribs. Irma cried out and Will noticed tears in the Water Guardian's eyes. She was trying so hard to hold it together; but Will knew even the proud Irma Lair wouldn't be able to pull that off.
Frost grabbed Irma by the hair and wrenched her head back. Will's eyes widened as he smashed her friend's chest. He laughed heartlessly and dropped Irma's head. She moaned in pain. Frost raised her chin with his fingers and glowered at his captive. Irma, breathing hard, her one good eye filled with pain, glared right back. Suddenly, she spit in the big man's face. Will smirked; she was proud of the Water Guardian's spirit. Frost wiped the blood from his face and slapped Irma hard across her mouth. Irma cried out and began to moan again.
Will pounded on the shield; begging Frost to stop hurting her friend. Nerissa held up her hand again; Frost held still, awaiting orders.
"Well Guardian? What will it be, the Heart or your friend? Choose carefully…"
Will's looked back at Irma; the Water Guardian's face was a mask of agony, her eye filled with pain. She was breathing hard, but still she strained to offer her leader one of her trademark grins. Even though she didn't quite pull it off, Will appreciated the effort.
"D-d-d-don't…..l-let……the f-f-fos….sil…b-bully……ya……R-r-red…" she gasped. "I-I'm………n-n-not…….w-w-orth…….it…."
"I think Hay Lin would disagree, and so would I," Will replied quietly, placing her fingertips against the shield.
Suddenly a bolt of lightning struck Irma through the shield. Will was blown back a good ten feet and Irma screamed loudly. Her back arched, and she threw her head back again. Will scrambled to her feet and raced to her friend. She pounded on the shield with her hands. "STOP IT! PLEASE…STOP IT!"
The lightning attack ceased. Slowly Irma dropped her head back down to her chest. Shaking uncontrollably, she tried to look at Will; but her eye rolled to the back of her head and closed soon after. Will could feel intense rage building in her chest.
She stood slowly and turned to face the sorceress; her face was a portrait of anger. She clenched her fists and thought of everything she was going to do to this woman when she got her hands on her! Easy Will…hold it together. Will heard Taranee's soothing voice in her head.
I don't want to hold it together…I want to rip this woman apart with my bare hands!
All in good time, but remember your job!
Will took a deep cleansing breath; she did have a job to do. She glowered at Nerissa.
"This is what your friend can look forward to as long as you continue to defy me Guardian! Do you want to be responsible for her agony?" Nerissa exclaimed.
Will took a step forward and produced the Heart. She moved closer to the machine, the Heart held out in front of her. "No, I don't." she finally answered. "Will you promise to let Irma go if I give you the Heart?"
"Yes."
"Will you let the others go as well?"
Nerissa's eyes narrowed. "Yes, but you must remain my prisoner forever."
Will's eyes narrowed now. "Done!" she said. Then she raised the Heart above her head and smashed her fist into the machine. A pink glow surrounded her fist, and Will smashed the machine again.
"I will never allow anyone like you to possess the Heart of Candracar! I will see it destroyed first!" Will shouted.
Instinctively, Frost charged at the Guardian leader. Will saw him and dove to her right at the last second. As she did so, she stuck out her left foot, catching Frost's left ankle. At the same time, she rolled and extended her right leg to hit the back of Frost's left leg. Yes; perfect drop-toe maneuver! Frost stumbled and crashed with all his considerable weight onto the machine, smashing it completely.
Nerissa watched in horror! "NOOOOOO!" she shouted.
Taranee…………NOW!
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Taranee had been monitoring Will telepathically since Raythor had marched her away. So far, so good; the plan was working. Three Guardians appeared helpless and confused; Will was marching to Nerissa all by herself. The three "helpless" Guardians were making a good show of it; struggling futilely and occasionally cursing their bad luck. Taranee surveyed her enemies; Tracker wouldn't be hard, and Miranda posed no threat at all. Sandpit…maybe; Gargoyle, definitely. Sniffer and Crimson shouldn't be any trouble either.
Taranee waited until Will was finished relaying directions, then she mentally contacted Cornelia and Hay Lin.
Okay guys, Will's on her way to Nerissa. If everything goes according to plan, Will should be able to disable the machine. Then it's up to us to trash the practice squad and get to Will as fast as we can. I'll burn this webbing off of me and blow Crimson back. Hay Lin, you blow Sandpit away, Cornelia you take care of Miranda. Hay Lin, after you get rid of Sandpit, take care of Sniffer and then you and Cornelia run like hell! I'll distract Gargoyle and follow you. I'll take the lead at that point and we'll run to Will. Once we get there, you two assist her with whatever she needs. I'll stay back and guard the tunnel. Got it?
Got it!
How's Will doing Taranee?
Okay for now Hay Lin; I think she's reached the room where Nerissa is.
Taranee "listened" for a while…nothing doing so far. She only hoped Will could hold it together enough to outwit Nerissa and find the machine. Hold on…something was wrong.
Taranee gasped…Holy cow! Nerissa is in the same room as the machine and Irma!
Cornelia and Hay Lin gasped. That's a good thing isn't it Taranee?
Only if Will can keep her emotions in check Cornelia.
Taranee winced as she felt Will's growing anger. She grunted when that anger turned to all out rage. She had to do something before the whole plan fell apart. Easy Will…hold it together.
I don't want to hold it together…I want to rip this woman apart with my bare hands!
All in good time, but remember your job!
Taranee felt Will calm somewhat; good…that was better.
Taranee contacted her two friends. Any minute now I think…get ready.
Sure enough; just a few minutes later, Taranee "heard" the signal, Taranee…………NOW!
NOW! Taranee mentally shouted to Cornelia and Hay Lin. Her hands ignited and burned through the webbing that held her captive. She shot a fireball at Crimson and blew him back, snarling. Hay Lin reacted immediately and created a whirlwind to blow Sandpit into the lake. Cornelia rolled and caused thick vines to pin Miranda to the wall where she perched. Taranee shot fireballs at Tracker and knocked him down. He started rolling around, desperate to extinguish his burning coat. Hay Lin blew Sniffer into the lake, and followed it up by blowing Crimson into the lake as well. As Taranee fired off fireball after fireball at Gargoyle, Hay Lin and Cornelia raced for the back of the cave.
"The one at the far left!" Taranee shouted, backing away from Gargoyle's deadly swipes. The three Guardians hurried to the far left cave and raced as quickly as they could towards Will.
Taranee led them through numerous twists and turns until they finally emerged onto a scene none of them thought they would ever see.
Will was straddling a very dizzy-looking Frost and beating him about the head. She was screaming at the top of her lungs and pounding him again and again. Occasionally, she would slam the back of his head into the ground, and then resume beating him with her fists.
They spied Irma; Taranee turned to head back into the cave. "You two get Irma. I'll go watch for the Knights."
Cornelia and Hay Lin rushed towards Irma and set to work unshackling her. When they were unable to undo her bonds, Cornelia blew the stalagmites apart. The unconscious Water Guardian fell into Hay Lin's waiting arms. At that moment, Gargoyle made his entrance, smashing the roof of the cave as he barreled in. Taranee retreated back towards Cornelia, still throwing fireballs at the huge rock monster.
"This whole place is coming down!" she shouted. "We have to get out of here now!"
Cornelia helped Hay Lin haul Irma towards Will. "Will," she shouted, "it's time to go! Will! WILL!"
But the Guardian leader wasn't listening; she had gone totally berserk. Her anger and rage had finally overcome her judgment. She was unleashing it all on Frost, who looked just about dead. There was no sign of Nerissa.
Taranee stepped forward and heaved Will off of Frost. Blinded by bloodlust, Will fought her friend. Taranee bodily dragged and shoved her leader away from Frost. Looking around, she saw no way out.
Cornelia had seen it too and was even now making her own back door. The ceiling continued to collapse at an alarming rate. Taranee had to dodge falling rocks; which was no easy task with Will fighting her all the way.
Finally, Cornelia succeeded in making a hole big enough. With Taranee still fighting an enraged Will, and Hay Lin bearing a severely injured Irma in a classic fireman's carry, the Guardians dived for safety as the entire roof collapsed on top of them!
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Oh no, another cliffy! Let me know what y'all think. Hit that lovely little Go button…come on, it doesn't bite!