Woohoo! I'm finally out of school now, but I have some college classes I'm taking this summer so that I can graduate early (and get the heck out of this high school). Don't worry because it won't take as much time out of writing as real school does. I'm also working on the W.i.t.c.h. Podcast with my friend (go to my profile for more information) and that has been a LOT of fun! Alright, the best news is that I got a new laptop! Now it will be even easier to get my chapters done, so I may be getting my stories out quicker than usual. Okay, it's time for another chapter of Princess of Darkness!

Chapter 12: The Other Side

Taranee's POV

Taranee and the other three girls began to follow Ron and Harry up the staircase when they all looked up at the sound of hurried footsteps.

"Move along, Weasley, Potter. I am supposed to take Lin, Lair, Hale, and Cook from here," Professor McGonagall told the group. Taranee stopped and looked around. Professor McGonagall was standing sternly and Taranee recoiled.

Are we in trouble already, Taranee thought in panic. Is it just because we're new here?

Harry nodded and motioned for the girls to go with the teacher. Taranee took it as a sign that they should go.

"But how are they going to find their way to the common room, and where are they going?" Ron asked.

"I think, that being Head of House would lead me to know the weareabouts of my own house's common room," Professor McGonagall answered. Ron's ears turned pink and Irma giggled. "And that is none of your business where they are going. I might add that either way, you weren't chosen as a prefect, Mr. Weasley, to go showing off new friends," she barked.

Ron scowled and muttered something under his breath as he and Harry began to walk up the grand staircase.

"And you, Miss Vandom," Professor McGonagall called out somewhere to the left of them. "You will need to come with me as well."

Taranee finally saw Will and noticed her surprise as she was stopped from walking up the stairs with all the other students. Will slowly walked toward the group without looking at anyone but Professor McGonagall. Taranee glanced back at her sadly before they were being made to walk.

What had happened to Will? She used to be one of Taranee's best friends and she had been a great leader of the Guardians. She was caring, shy, and dependable, and Taranee had always respected her.

Taranee still remembered the day that they had met each other clearly. Taranee had been new to the Sheffield Institute just a few days earlier and she still hadn't mastered her way around the school's many hallways and had gotten lost on her way to history class. It was then that a girl with red hair ran through the front doors in a hurried panic. The girl looked in all directions in frustration and had yelled out about not being able to find her classroom.

Taranee started to stop being so nervous herself and had started talking to the girl. She introduced herself as Taranee and the girl answered that her name was Will. Taranee had been enjoying this great new friend moment when Principal Knickerbocker discovered them and pointed them out to their classes. Taranee wasn't worried though. She knew that she would see her new friend again.

It didn't take long for the two girls to meet Irma, Hay Lin, and Cornelia and together, with their friend Elyon, the girls went to Sheffield's Halloween party that night. Weird things had been happening to all of the girls and when the huge pumpkin outside had exploded with fireworks, even Taranee felt like she had the ability to move the fire! She helped Irma escape from a firecracker and had saved Will from the deadly flames that had surrounded her with just holding up her hands and wanting the fire to go away.

The next day, all of the girls except for Elyon went to Hay Lin's house for some tea and cookies and to discuss all of the strange things that had been happening to them. They had had a dream about a mysterious pendant and it was a shock for Hay Lin's grandmother to come in and show them the real thing. Not only that, but Yan Lin had also told them an ancient story about the Veil. A world named Metamoor had turned evil with a powerful tyrant named Phobos took over the world and was trying to breach the Veil and come to bring destruction to Earth. It was then that the Oracle of Candracar created the Veil to protect everyone from Phobos.

Over time, rips in the Veil created portals in which evil could pass through, so the Oracle appointed Guardians to protect the fragile Veil. The girls found out that they were able to control the power of the elements with Will, as their leader, controlling energy and being Keeper of the Heart of Candracar. The Guardians were some powerful team, and they had beat villain after villain and had even helped restore Elyon, the true ruler of Meridian, to her throne. The group could do practically anything as long as they worked together and believed in their friendship, but that had all changed once Will left them, abandoning her Guardian duties and her friends forever.

And now, Taranee thought as she stole another glance at Will as they walked. What's going to happen to us? Is it possible for us all to be friends again, or is Will lost to us all forever?

"Um, ma'am," Cornelia started. "If you don't mind my asking, where exactly are we going?"

"I am taking you to the Headmaster, Miss Hale. He has some things to talk to you five about," Professor McGonagall answered.

She stopped in front of the group so suddenly that Taranee almost ran into her. She looked up to see a stone gargoyal. Looking at Irma and Hay Lin, Taranee saw them each shrug their shoulders. It seemed that she wasn't the only one who had no clue what was going on.

"Acid pops," Professor McGonagall said clearly.

"Acid whatey?" Irma asked.

The girls gasped as the gargoyale came to life and leapt aside, revealing a circular staircase moving upward.

"Whoa!" Hay Lin breathed as they followed their teacher up the stairs and to a door. Professor McGonagall knocked twice.

"You may come in," a voice answered.

The door was opened for them and Taranee stared around the mysterious room in awe. There were so many mystical items sparkling, puffing smoke, making light noises, and doing a variety of other things. Taranee gazed around the walls and jumped back in surprise as a man winked at her and then chuckled. All the pictures were moving!

"Good evening, girls," said Professor Dumbledore from behind his desk. "Please, have a seat."

He picked up his wand and waved it. Five squishy armchairs appeared out of thin air in front of his desk. Taranee looked at Cornelia, who nodded and they all sat down.

"Well, you five sure are special," he started, his light blue eyes twinkling. "Not many students here are transferred. I wanted to tell you that arrangements in your classes have been made. The other Sixth Years are five years ahead of you in learning the magical craft, but the teachers will try to catch you up on some basics that you need to be aware of."

"Sir, about that," Taranee started. "We've kind of been wondering-"

"Why you were accepted into this school?" Dumbledore asked kindly.

"Yes," Cornelia said. "And why now?"

"Well, besides the fact the fact that we normally don't accept Americans at this school, we didn't even know who you girls were for a couple of years," Dumbledore explained. "A source tipped me off and helped locate you five at your home in Heatherfield and it was decided that you all receive a magical education."

Dumbledore leaned forward and held her fingers together and stared at the girls seriously.

"These are dark times and having five girls who have magical capabilities out unguarded and uneducated in the Muggle world is a dangerous thing for me to allow to happen."

"Don't worry, we can take care of ourselves," Irma said.

"And I'm sure you can, but then that brings us to the fact that you can broaden and strengthen your powers through this school," Dumbledore told them. "Hogwarts is one of the safest places to be at this moment. While Death Eaters and Lord Voldemort are out killing and terrorizing the world, I was thankful to have located you girls before evil forces did."

"But Professor, who is that Voldemort guy?" Hay Lin asked.

Will shifted uneasily in her seat.

"Lord Voldemort is a powerful dark wizard. He had disappeared fifteen years ago when trying to murder your classmate, Harry Potter, and he was revived two years ago and has been killing more and more people every day with the help of his faithful servants, the Death Eaters," Dumbledore told them gravely.

"He tried to kill Harry?" Taranee asked in shock.

"Oh? I see you've met him?"

"Yeah," Hay Lin answered. "In Diagon Alley when things called Dementors came and attacked us-"

Dumbledore made a sudden movement and stood up.

"Dementors attacked you?" he asked sharply.

"Yeah, but then Will..."

Cornelia trailed off and every single one of them glanced at Will, who was staring at the floor silently and didn't seem to be aware of the sudden end to the conversation. She glanced up and let out an intake of breath as she realized that everybody was staring at her.

"What?"

"You made the Dementors go away," Hay Lin said. "Back before we met on the train."

"No, no I didn't-"

"Interesting," Dumbledore said quietly. "That you were able to produce a patronus..."

"I just said that I didn't," Will said in annoyance. Dumbledore raised his eyebrows curiously and Will instantly dropped her gaze back toward the floor, fuming.

"Yes...but there was something else I have been meaning to talk to you girls about," Dumbledore stated. "That is, if you are all indeed the magical women with wings who helped fight the battle in Heatherfield two years ago when Death Eaters invaded the city."

"Hey, how do you know about that?" Irma asked in surprise.

"As I said earlier, a reliable source tipped me off. So you are those girls with elemental powers who helped fight off the Death Eaters?"

The girls all glanced at Will.

"Yes, we are," Taranee said defiantly.

"How do you know about that battle, Sir?" Cornelia asked.

"Simple, I was there as well," he answered.

Taranee noticed Will's hands tighten on her chair.

"You were?" Hay Lin asked in surprise. "Why?"

"More or less, for the same reason you were there: to protect people from getting killed. Although we may try, not everything turns out as planned...I knew that Lord Voldemort was going to be there. He was searching for something that he needed. My only hopes are that he never found it," Dumbledore said with a heavy sigh.

Dumbledore got up and stood directly in front of the girls.

"As a small favor, I need to know exactly what happened in that terrible event, from your point of view."

"Ask her," Cornelia said impatiently with a hint of anger as she pointed at Will. "She knows all about it."

For the second time, Taranee watched as Will struggled to lift her gaze to Dumbledore.

"Yes, Will, what happened just before all of the people in the building were killed?"

Will stared at him and then gazed at her hands. Taranee saw an emotion creep across Will's face, but it was one that she hadn't seen since her friend struggled understanding the mysteries of being a Guardian: confusion.

"Are you alright?" Dumbledore asked in concern.

"I-yes. I need to go to bed, I'm tired," Will responded.

"Yes, I understand that, but please. I need to know everything that happened during that battle. What do you remember?"

Will stayed silent and didn't move.

"See, now she doesn't even want to talk about it," Cornelia said with a roll of her eyes. "Come on, just tell him!"

"Shut up! I don't know!" Will yelled.

"You don't know what? What happened before the deaths?" Dumbledore asked seriously.

"I DON'T KNOW!"

Will kicked the chair aside and walked quickly out the door in anger.

Dumbledore sighed gravely and leaned back against his desk.

"You four need to keep an eye on her and watch out for your friend," he said.

"Do you know what the heck's gotten into her?" Irma asked in irritation. Dumbledore didn't say anything, but he walked back to his chair.

Taranee couldn't take it anymore.

"Excuse me," she said as she quickly got up out of her chair.

"Taranee, but what-?"

Taranee ran out of the room with hurried footsteps. She ran down the staircase and looked down the halls. She couldn't be far.

She finally spotted her. Will was just turning left from the long hallway in front of her.

Taranee sprinted down the hall. Will wasn't ahead of her by much. In fact, she was getting closer and closer.

"Will!" Taranee yelled.

Oops, big mistake, Taranee thought as Will started to run too.

"Wait! Stop!" Taranee cried out in desperation. She couldn't think of anything else to do but aim a small fireball which soared over Will's head and hit a suit of armor. Will finally stopped and turned around. Taranee stopped a few feet away and tried to catch her breath.

"I'm sorry, but-"

"Never thought that you'd try to use your power against me," Will stated. Taranee was surprised to not even hear any shock or even anger in her voice. This Will was so different from the person she once knew.

"Or maybe I did. After all, apparently I'm the evil person here, aren't I"

"No! You're not. You're just confused and-"

"Please save your breath, Taranee," Will said. "I don't think I can deal with this right now."

Taranee stopped talking and looked into Will's eyes. The warmth from her eyes that had always reassured Taranee and kept her going was gone.

"What happened to you, Will? I've been so worried and I missed you."

"Ha! Don't kid yourself. You guys couldn't wait until I was gone because of whatever went down in that battle," Will said in frustration.

" 'Whatever went down'?" Taranee repeated. "So you mean you really don't-"

"I'm sick of living in the past," Will said. She sighed and began to speak with great difficulty. "Look, I'm not going to fight you, but I'm not going to become all warm and fuzzy ever again. I'm done with my past life, done with being a Guardian and a normal girl in Heatherfield."

"Come on Will!" Taranee exclaimed. "We're not normal either way! We're at a school of magic! What do you mean by that?"

"I mean I think it's best for you to go to your House, and I'll go to mine, and for any of us not to cross paths besides classes," Will said as she turned around and began to walk away.

"I'm done with caring."

Taranee began to run after her again, but when she turned the corner, Will was gone.

Along with her heart.


Well that was chapter 12! Chapter 13 is everyone's first day of classes, and some rough times are ahead. Check out my profile for some new stuff like the W.i.t.c.h. Podcast: lightofmeridan./index.cgi?boardpodcast&actiondisplay&thread487 and don't forget to Review if you're nice!