Chapter 44: One wound

"...for just a glimpse, I'd give anything, truly"

One wound on my soul keeps burning,
even I don't know how am I still living,
you're not here to kiss my fear away,
black dirt is now covering your face...

It was that dream again. She knew it was a dream yet she would wake up in sweat and tears every time... She was seeing all this for the umpteenth time, on the background of the doleful music. Yes, Cornelia Hale knew that this was no ordinary nightmare. It was a repetitive dream which she was having almost every night ever since her fiancé and his parents had vanished. It started with the music. Then she would start hearing the words...That voice...that voice sounded so much like Nerissa...

In her dream, Cornelia was watching a future version of herself. She would see a version of her future which muddled and appalled her at the same time...

Our son wakes up and asks about you,
he still doesn't know the truth, my sadness,
every morning once his eyes are open,
I know, he'll ask when will his dad come home...

Killian was about five years old. A striking image of the love of her life... He asked about his father every morning and Cornelia watched her future-self lower her head down each time. Forcing a smile. Fighting to suppress the tears. Going on with her pitiful everyday... It appeared as if they had moved to Meridian though. Maybe her future-self wanted to honor Caleb by doing that, or maybe something terrible had happened in Heatherfield, but it didn't matter. And to think that she had fought with the former rebel, getting jealous over his patriotic love for Meridian when he had still been around... Whatever it was, Cornelia knew that her life had taken a drastic turn for the worst. She could hardly recognize herself. Her beauty appeared to be withering at 30, but then again, she was taking no care of herself. She was no longer the same person with her shoulder-length hair and mangy clothes. Her friends were nowhere to be seen too. She was living on Meridian and Meridian was once again usurped by Phobos...

Yesterday I met your old mother,
she swayed on her feet and knelt beside me,
she took our little boy in her arms,
she kissed him, she bathed him in tears...

For the next part of her dream, Cornelia would see herself meeting with a very aged Nerissa near the poor people's town square. Near a set of terrible black thorns of Phobos that were once again draining the kingdom... Nerissa was now a poor debilitated milkmaid, perhaps as a punishment by the now-rulers, who have taken away everything she valued. Her Mage position, her powers, her beauty, and youth... With her wrinkles and long gray hair, she almost looked like she did when they first met her as teenagers...only even frailer. But no matter how much Cornelia would try to draw her attention, neither she nor her future-self ever noticed her. She knew; hence she didn't even try this time. She knew the script of this dream by heart after watching it play out so many nights, and everyone were sticking to it...

We cried for so long and long,
dear God, why so many tears for us?!
In the end, your mom sobbed and told me:
'My dear girl, take care of your baby-'

After that couplet, the blonde would find herself in the rustic bedroom again. As downhearted as always, sitting by her sleeping son's crib, the one that Caleb had made for him before his birth...

The dawn rises, my eyes haven't had rest,
I watch our son, he sleeps so peacefully,
oh, why are you not with us too, baby?!
For just a glimpse, I'd give anything, truly...

Our son wakes up, and asks about you,
like always when he opens eyes alone,
my dear son, how much more will I lie to you?
Your poor daddy will never come back home...

Usually, this was where she would wake up in tears and with a racing heart. Once her future-self rolled a tear and pressed Killian against herself, everything swirled and disappeared. That was the last scene, but not this time. This time, Cornelia was ready. She knew that she was dreaming. She had dealt with magical dreams before too... When everything swirled like water paint, she made her move, and with the help of the spell, and the mental serum which she had drunk before bed, she managed to take control even without the presence of her friends. Usually, their harmony was the most important thing to maintain while in the dreamworld, but now, as it was something personal that concerned mainly her, she had managed to dominate it on her own.

The scenes started going backward and, in the matter of seconds, Cornelia managed to pull Nerissa aside from the one in which her future-self was meeting her. Then everything around them became white and the song stopped.

Nerissa turned around, astounded, but before she could say something:

"What the hell, Nerissa! Why do you torture me like that?!"- Cornelia demanded, shaking the frail woman. "I knew that you're sending me these terrible dreams, you've done it before too! Conveying your messages through music and dream spells...but why?! Why are you showing me that horrifying reality in which Caleb...in which Caleb is d-dea-"

"I did not create any of this."- Nerissa interrupted her.

In the next moment, she was neither frail nor aged anymore. Cornelia, who was dressed in her long blue chiffon nightgown, with thin straps and immodest cleavage, looked like an angel next to Nerissa in her maxi black leather dress that barely covered anything of her big breasts. It was yet another head-turning, gothic queen-goddess type of outfit, she was a big fan of those.

"But I needed to talk to you."- the older woman added. "This was the only way. Thankfully, you figured it out."

"Why?!"- Cornelia insisted. "What really happened between you and Leonida, Nerissa? Where are you? Where are Caleb and Julian!? Do you have any idea how hard this is on me-"

"I can't answer any of your questions."- the ex-guardian interrupted her hastily. The white nothingness around them twirled with the mystic sounds of the dreamworld. Nerissa sighed heavily and looked into the wet blue eyes in front of herself: "I do realize that it's not easy for you, Cornelia, but do you think that I'd be allowing this if it wasn't mandatory?"

"No."- Cornelia shook her head. "That's exactly what terrifies me; at least let me know if he's OK... And what can I do? What can be done to fix this, whatever it is, which forces him and you to be away from us. From Killian..."

"If you put your mind to it, you will find a big amount of the answers you seek."- Nerissa began grimly. "That dream which you've been having. It's not just a dream, Cornelia. It's a possible consequence."

The blonde felt the blood leaving her face:

"Oh, my God...this means that Caleb will die if he gets reunited with us, doesn't it?"- she whispered, stupefied. "That's why you took him away. It's not...it's not because of your power, I knew it. Leonida lied to us again."- but her somewhat relief was short-lived. Suddenly, Cornelia had a thought that sent new sickening chills down her spine: "Is this forever?! Did she curse him or something? What did she do to him!?"- she kept asking, forgetting that she couldn't really be given any answers. What the ex-princess had done obviously hindered Nerissa from giving them to her. It made sense, but she didn't care. All Cornelia knew was that what was happening was horrible and unfair.

"No, Cornelia. Nothing is forever."- the black-haired woman assured her in a low voice. "You and your friends must defeat Leonida and Phobos. Defeat them for good. Once Will's plan is complete, the cult is annihilated and that conniving bitch is dead, we will be able to return home. I'm looking forward to that day!"

"God knows how long might that take!"- Cornelia protested, but then stopped and just stared at the other woman. "Wait what? Leonida...she has to die?!"

"Oh, yes, and that from your hand."- Nerissa averred with hatred. "You have to kill her, Cornelia. That's the only way to restore everything to working order."

"But, I've never- "- the other woman shook her head. She was hesitant, but one thing was for sure, and that thing was the fact that she'd do anything for Caleb and their future. Nerissa knew that and that was her main hope:

"You and I are very different yet very similar at the same time, and I know that regarding this, we are on the same page. There is no other way, Cornelia. Do it for the family. Kill her for your son!"

"Wow, if Leonida stooped so low in order to get rid of Nerissa, I can only imagine what she'll do to us."- Irma growled the next day, when the girls met up for lunch in the empty Silver Dragon.

It was a foggy day out in Heatherfield. The restaurant offered them the coziness and serenity which they needed to talk through everything. From their everyday joys and struggles to the guardian duties.

"Nerissa was probably the greatest threat to her plans."- Will shook her head, spinning her glass of pink wine between her thumbs. "She could've easily eliminated her. In fact, that's what she has wanted to do, but Leonida obviously took precautions earlier by playing that nasty trick with Caleb."

"Leonida may still want to divide and conquer."- Taranee said. "We should stay alert and plan our next step, because, girls, come on. How much more do you think that the mini veil will manage to keep her and Phobos locked?"

"It's going to collapse any day now."- Will agreed, pulling the hood of her sport's top instinctively. "And that makes me uneasy because once they're out, chaos will engulf everything for real. For real. We have to have something ready because we can't afford people dying until we wait for the 'perfect moment' to put an end to the Dark Descendant thing."

"Without Caleb and the rebels in general, it won't be easy to come up with a very impressive strategy."- Hay Lin pointed out dismally, setting her long pigtails aside. Yes, she had tied her long locks in two pigtails, which made her look even younger today.

Cornelia didn't say anything, she just looked down at her risotto. She had given herself a blow-out and had nice clothes on again. Ever since getting some closure on what had happened with her close-ones, she was slowly, but surely returning to her usual self and habits.

Primarily, she felt great relief, especially after talking to Nerissa. Caleb and his parents were fine as of now and Nerissa hadn't betrayed them. Her friends knew that; she had told them everything. However, a certain part of her talk with the ex-guardian, which she had chosen to keep to herself, was keeping her on the ball. Quite literally...

"To fight and conquer in all our battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting."- Yan Lin said wisely as she approached their table with a warm smile and a big plate of cookies.

"Huh?"- Irma exclaimed, her mouth full of fried vegetables as the other four looked at the old woman, deep in thought.

"Yeah, Yan Lin, you're right."- Taranee exclaimed. "We've started doing that, we're going interrogate everyone in the Coronian palace. But we need to do more..."

"Exactly."- the former Air guardian sat on the empty chair and faced the five women seriously. "I mean to say that maybe there is a way to make our enemies weaker. Are they the only ones who can divide and conquer, ah? No. If we can spoil their relationship, we can create great hindrances for their main plans. Those of Leonida's helpers too."

"Yeah, but how are we going to do that, grandma? It's not like one of us can charm Phobos and steal him from Leonida."

"Yeah, besides, none of us is that good at acting, anyway. Actually, I don't think that anyone is."- Cornelia snarled. "I'd rather take a poison shot than trying to seduce Phobos, any day."

"I have almost no gag reflex, but that's too much for me too."- Irma crossed her arms on her chest attracting curious, amused, and impressed glances all at once.

Yan Lin shook her head and chuckled:

"Ah, girls, it's not like he'd fall for anyone of you if we were to try that. At least not easily."

"OK, now I'm insulted- "

"There is an urban legend."- the former guardian began. "According to that legend, many years ago, when he was still very young, Phobos had a working harem in the Palace. A harem which he closed after the accident which this legend is to speak of..."

"Wow, I just hate him."- Irma declared as Taranee made a face of disgust as she pictured what it was like to be a part of Phobos's harem.

Hay Lin just squalled in surprise as Will cocked an eyebrow, but Cornelia had an entire speech:

"OK, ew, as if being an evil, crazy, sociopathic, power-crazed, obsessive, twisted-ass homicidal freak wasn't enough, he's also a complete pervert who views women as objects? Wow, he's a prize for sure, congrats, Leonida- "

"I can't believe you sound surprised."- Will rolled her eyes. "After all we've seen from him, plus bearing in mind that he's a "prince". Did you expect him to be a monogamous gallant or something?"

"No, but-"

"Let's not pity Leonida, she's no better herself. She fucked a worm who almost destroyed her kingdom, then killed her husband, father, and God knows who else, and after she broke Phobos out of prison, she committed a shit-tone of crimes on the go- "

"Guys, let's hear the entire legend, then we'll have time for discussions."- Taranee ushered and Yan Lin went on:

"Phobos had many concubines. Each time he would spend the night with one of them, his staff would prepare a special tonic which would make sure that the girl would not end up with child after going through the royal bed...One of the concubines, however, had a vicious plan which she somehow managed to execute. She did not take the contraceptive tonic before spending an entire weekend with the prince and hence, conceived his baby. Some say that she wanted to blackmail Phobos, others think that she loved him. Whatever the case was, Phobos showed her and her unborn child mercy. He sent them away, far, far away, breaking all contact with them and erasing the concubine's name from all Meridian registers as if she never existed..."

"Why are you sure that he indeed showed her and the baby mercy and didn't just kill them?"

Will could feel the disappointment crawl in. At first, she had thought that they finally have something big to work with. But Yan Lin's silence was eloquent.

"We can't be sure."- she said in the end. "But it's what people have been saying for years. Now you see why I didn't say anything about the said urban legend until now. I have seldom imagined that we'd ever need to resort to such things, but alas, girls."

"But this means that there already is a direct heir to the throne, that child which the concubine had."- Hay Lin exclaimed. "If they're alive, they can help us take all the power which Phobos and Leonida usurped, back, when the time comes."

"Don't put too much money on that, it's still just gossip-based."- Irma snorted.

"We have to start somewhere."- Taranee murmured and the others nodded. They had a new mission. They had to start looking for more information on the mysterious concubine before the two villains were out. It was a wild, unsure, and questionable idea and plan, but it was something.

Will remained thoughtful, but nodded:

"I guess you're right...We should at least try..."

Cornelia was distracted. She could feel a headache coming in her temples. She needed a latte or something. But before she could voice her thoughts out, her phone indicated the arrival of a new message.

"Oh, crap!"- the blonde groaned once she took a look at her iPhone. "I totally forgot about this..."

"What is it, Cornelia?"- her friends wanted to know.

"Yeah, tell us?"

"Is it bad?"

The Earth guardian scoffed, feeling everyone's eyes on herself, and just sighed loudly:

"Well, you'll be there to judge whether it's good or bad. Although I so hope it would go fine. More problems are the last thing I need right now."

Meridian, the Royal Palace

Phobos woke up to the sound of crying in the distance. He rubbed his eyes and looked around himself- the bedroom was empty, but the crying he could hear definitely had to be his daughter. Who else could it be? After all, they were still prisoners. Loaded with power yet - prisoners.

But where were Leonida and their daughter?! He stood up from the bed and started wandering around the castle he knew like the palm of his hand. This castle had always been his home and Elyon's "interior changes", as well as the rest of the changes which it had seen over the years, didn't bother him as he passed through the corridors. In fact, Phobos could say he loved this building. A twisted, but sustainable type of love for the palace, which was he had turned into his own port in a storm.

"So, you finally woke up."- Leonida snorted under her nose. She left the needle aside for a second and stopped embroidering without turning to look at the man who stood behind her.

They were in one of the parts of the royal courtyard, near a row of massive hedges. There was almost no sun in the sky, but Leonida didn't seem to mind. The inner courtyard was the only open space that they had access to because of the horrid veil that the guardians trapped them with.

Phobos looked down at the woman, who sat on the grass and continued to sew.

"What the devil are you doing?!"- he growled, trying to suppress the crying that Leonida seemed to be deaf for. How could she endure it!? It was so bothersome!

"I'm making some changes on this royal coat of arms."- the princess responded. "I found it in one of the long corridors near the nurseries. I wanted to put our daughter's image on it. I can't wait for the royal tailors and artists."- she snorted. "Who knows when will that happen; besides, I have to do something with all this spare time-"

"Do you not hear this intensive crying!? Where is she?"

"Where is who, Phobos, you're hurting me!"- the woman hissed as he pulled her up by the wrist, looking around frantically.

When she didn't receive an answer, Leonida released herself from his grip with a hiss.

"What is wrong with you?"- she questioned. "What crying are you hearing? No one is-"

"Our daughter, of course, who else might be crying like that in the Palace?"- Phobos snapped and removed his palms from his ears, looking at the woman disbelievingly. "No one is crying? Are you deaf or-"

He closed his mouth when the princess shifted his attention towards the cradle nearby. He hadn't noticed it...The baby in it was indeed sleeping peacefully. Not crying by any means. Peaceful as an angel. But if she wasn't crying, what was he hearing?!

And as if when he realized it, it stopped. Everything was silent again. His distressed mind was silent, but not at peace. He knew what he had heard and if it wasn't his daughter with Leonida then...

"Are you awake at all, or maybe you're still lost in dreams? Now that you see our baby sleeping, can I be left alone to continue my coat of arms?"

Phobos nodded roughly and said nothing more. This experience was going to haunt him. His thoughts started traveling towards a direction which he hadn't thought of in years...It wasn't for good. It wasn't for good, and he knew it.

Meanwhile, having turned her back on the man, Leonida took the needle again and hissed hatefully under her nose. Now he was hearing things that weren't actually around to be heard. Oh, they were alike, they had a lot of things in common and she hated it. Because, unlike Phobos, Leonida believed to have her goals set straight and could make sense of their achievement. He, on the other hand, was a ship destined to sink.

Heatherfield...

"Your Majesty, please have tea with us. Please, I can't help but feel that something is bothering you."- Miriadel said in a soft voice as she approached the woman, who sat by the big window, deep in thoughts. "Maybe try to deflect, I know that it must be even harder for you, as Queen, but you deserve at least a little distraction."

Magana blenched and focused her eyes on the redhead. It was a gloomy day in Heatherfield. Ever since she was free of the black rose curse, the sun seemed to refuse to shine above her ways. As a matter of fact, darkness had been looming above since much earlier...

"Thank you, Miriadel."- the Queen nodded and stood up from her seat to come and join the Meridian Army Captain and her husband.

The Rudolph house wasn't too big and yet her majesty Magana was currently living here with her son, Elyon, Dua, the Browns plus Orube and Galgheita. Yes, they were quite the household, and even though they weren't together all the time, for the most of it, they shared living spaces. It was what they had to do as for the moment. Before they had their kingdoms secured, they had to lay low... At first, Magana had been against that by all means. She had hated the guardians' idea to just leave things to the flow, but the more the days passed, the more she saw herself forced to consider it. Maybe, just maybe there was a certain dose of sense and purpose to their plan.

Miriadel, however, wasn't at all acquainted with these ideas and sought answers every day. Why? Why were they waiting? What was going on? Why weren't they and their daughter, the new Queen of Coronia, staying at the Coronian Palace?

"Your Majesty, forgive my curiosity, but are your inner bothers somehow connected to the Auerate Edifice?"- the redhead began after she seated herself in the chair next to her husband who watched her tactic closely.

Magana didn't seem to hear her at first, so Miriadel had to repeat her question:

"Queen Magana? Is there any specific reason as to why we're not going to the Palace on Coronia? We couldn't help but notice that you and Andan seem to disesteem the idea."

The hazel-haired woman just blinked rags at her as if she had just asked her a pro question on physics.

"Miriadel, leave her Majesty at peace."- Alborn interjected when the woman remained silent. "Perhaps returning to Coronia now is not essential-"

"Not essential?"- Miriadel repeated, indignant. "I'm sorry, Alborn, then when will it become essential? Once Phobos and Leonida are on the loose and it's too late to secure the Palace? Prepare armies and defenses against their attack? I apologize, but I just feel like we're doing all these wrong things ever since Elyon's wedding. We're wasting time and one day soon it will really be too late to stop the two monsters. That's what I fear!"

And while Magana seemed too dumbfounded to reply, Orube, who had just entered the living room area, had an answer ready:

"Captain Miriadel, you ask this every day. Look, all of us completely sympathize with your ideas, and even support them, but our current battle strategy requires for us to keep a lower profile."- the Basilidian said, walking in behind the Queen's chair.

They exchanged quick glances and that didn't go unnoticed by Miriadel, who squinted her eyes:

"Some battle strategy for a period of time when our enemies are supposedly blocked."- she growled. "I am really interested in knowing more, Orube, did the guardians decide on something we're not familiar with?"

Magana looked a little too uncomfortable at that. She had never liked keeping secrets, especially when eye to eye with someone asking, even after she spent years lying about her daughter's death...

"We should go now, Miriadel."- Alborn's voice took his wife out of her ponderings as she observed the two women before herself. "We have to get some things bought before Elyon and Andan return."

The woman nodded reluctantly, getting ready to leave with her husband and go to one of the bigger supermarkets in town. They needed to shop for groceries for the week.
After all, they were back to their identities as the Browns now. They hadn't lived life like that in a while, but they had a long-year experience behind them, thanks to having spent so much time here with Elyon. And suddenly, after a decade on Meridian, living as regular citizens in Heatherfield was their duty again.

"It was a close call. I do not understand though."- Magana began once the couple was finally out of the house and about to run their errands. "Why do we have to keep the strategy shrouded in secrecy? I know that the guardians made this decision on their own, but at the end of the day, we're all in this together... Sooner or later, each and every one of our allies should get to know that-"

"You're not wrong, your Majesty, but Will specifically asked me to protract things a little more."- Orube interrupted her respectfully and bowed her head a little bit. "At least until she and the other girls get the chance to explain everything to Queen Elyon. She is also still unaware... The circumstances under which it all happened are quite...specific. You and I both know they did it in order to catch the two usurpers by surprise and to set feet on the right tracks leading towards the end of this nightmare. You know this Dark Descendant story turned out to be much bigger than any of us expected. It even petrified Kandrakar..."

Magana nodded thoughtfully and closed her eyes for a second. She needed to rethink everything again. A few days ago, she had been complexly against the idea to lose on purpose and allow their enemies to gather speed. It seemed reckless and terrifying, but the more she thought about it, the more it looked like the only option to eventually save Coronia. Especially after the guardians had proven to her that there were indeed supporters of the cult in her Palace...

*Flashback*

"Interrogation isn't working for our case. But there are supporters of the cult in the Aureate Edifice, and today, we will prove that once and for all."

"How?"- Magana and her son stood near the five women with distrustful expressions. They still found it hard to consider the opportunity of someone so radical being a part of their royal court without their notice, for years...

Will turned to her friends in their guardian uniforms and smiled confidently:

"With a little help from your mother, Queen Magana."

"Huh?"- the Queen was certain that she had misheard, but Cornelia dispelled that:

"No, you heard us. Why are there no portraits of her or anything around the castle except for that we found in your hidden room?"

The hazel-haired Queen winced at the mentioning of her mother, but Andan replied fast:

"Not many people were fond of her. My grandmother has always been perceived as a peculiar woman."

"You don't say."- Irma murmured under her nose as Taranee clicked her fingers and smiled at Andan:

"Exactly. That's why we're doing this. We already know that Icona wasn't well-liked. Not at all, actually. Someone in this Palace murdered her 28 years ago."

Andan and his mother looked stunned.

"We think that someone is still here."- Hay Lin added.

"We're not sure how yet, but we think that your mother and the Dark Descendant cult are somehow connected. That's why her ghost was so ardent about stopping it. She was ready to do anything to erase this society and all connected to it from the face of the universe."- Will locked eyes with those of the Queen. "It's only logical that was the case during her lifetime too. It might be what got her killed."

"Secretly putting a portrait of Icona in one of the not so-focal parts of the palace will prove our point. But remember; no one should suspect that we've hung it there. No one. Only then will Icona's enemy, the secret supporter of the Dark Descendant cult that lives here, give will to their hatred and unwittingly confirm their presence."

*End of Flashback*

The guardians had been right. The next day, her mother's portrait had been brutally cut down and dumped miles away from the castle. Only the tracing spell that they had placed upon it prior to hanging it, had led them to its remains. Magana had been bewildered once again. There was no doubt about it anymore, Will and her friends had a point. But how was it possible...So many thoughts rocked through her head. Had she been living together with her mother's murderer for years?! What more truths was she yet to learn of and when. When would this terror finally end...

"I now agree and understand the decision to purposely lose to Leonida at Phobos at Elyon's wedding."- the hazel-eyed woman said at the end. "It's a rough game, but they have vast experience by now. I trust the guardians. I really do."

"As you should, your Majesty."- Orube smiled. "Eventually, their harmony and united powers will solve this fiasco of a case. I'm certainly sure of that. Now, if you'd excuse me, I better get going. I applied for a job at this bookshop and I am being called there today."

"Best of luck."

The two women bid their goodbyes with smiles. Orube, in her avatar of Rebecca Rudolph, headed for her first day at the new job. Queen Magana took a seat with her cup of tea in hands. Neither one of them was aware that the home phone had been left deliberately open the entire time. None of the two knew that they had just been eavesdropped on. Not even the catwoman's extraordinary senses could have tipped her off about that.

In her car downtown, Miriadel disconnected the call with a stone expression. Her suspicions had just been confirmed. Her anger was enormous. Yes, Miriadel, the Meridian Army Captain was many things, and one of them was a mother. No, she was not only that now, she was a whole entirely different person in this city. Eleanor Brown. A bitter smile took over her lips at that thought. True, maybe her Meridian identity couldn't really punish the culprits, but Eleanor could. And Eleanor, just like Miriadel, could never spare those who mistreated her only daughter.

"Matt, Will. I'm glad you could make it!"- Linda Olsen smiled at her son and his girlfriend, who had just walked in one of the big saloons of "Heatherfield Mega Hotel". "You look just darling!"

When the woman had called to invite them to a private dinner in one of the biggest hotels in town, Will had had more than mixed feelings about it. It was so out of the blue, that even Matt seemed uneasy at first. Especially knowing that his mother and his girlfriend didn't exactly have the best relations, he didn't feel like rushing things. And Linda was an expert on rushing... What was this formal dinner all of a sudden? Why was she inviting them so hastily, almost? Matt knew that his mother could be spontaneous at times, but she usually preferred to calculate things. Then what was this? Could it be a dinner that she had planned? And why? Eventually, Will had ended up convincing her boyfriend to accept the invitation and go. The last thing she wanted was to be the reason for alienation between mother and son.

Will wore a flattering red satin, sheen-length dress with a silver belt and lighter red feather details going down the skirt like willow branches. She also had silver pumps on to match the belt. Matt had chosen a classic navy-blue tuxedo that complimented his hair and complexion. Yes, they were definitely dressed up to the nines, but the ambiance of the expensive hotel only suggested that anyway. Linda also seemed to approve as she watched them walk in with a discrete smile in her Chanel outfit.

They walked into the long dining room. Will was rummaging through her tiny clutch purse when she almost bumped in her boyfriend's back. Matt had suddenly stopped abruptly, staring at the table before himself with a strange look on his face.

"Matt? What's the ma- "- the redhead began saying, but when her eyes fell on the man sitting at the table, she no longer needed an answer. She had seen his photo enough times and knew who he was darn well. Will nervously ran a hand through her straightened hair and then hesitantly placed it on her boyfriend's back.

"Mom, what is the meaning of this?"- the young man asked a little harshly, throwing a suspicious glare at Marcus Snowden, who stood in his place unperturbed. "What is he doing here?"

"Calm down, Matt."- Linda spoke before the older man could. "Sit, please. I know that this might come out as a shocker to you."

You don't say, Will thought irritated as she basically had to pull her boyfriend in order for him to sit. It was obvious that he didn't want to stay here another minute. His posture and all his muscles were alert and tense even after he was seated. Will had expected something unpleasant to happen tonight, given the fact that she and Linda were not on the best of terms after the forced miscarriage. She had braced herself for Matt's sake, but Linda had still managed to catch her off guard. Both of them, actually. And if Matt was usually in the worst of positions, having to fight with the constant tension between the woman he loved and the woman who had given birth to him, this time he was the main lead in the drama. And it wasn't much better.

Everyone from their circle, their family, and closest friends were aware that Linda and Marcus had had a very rocky relationship and separation. They hadn't spoken for many years, and Matt's own relationship with his father was not of the friendliest nature because of all that, if one was creative enough to even talk about a relationship existing between the two of them.

Then why is she creating such an awkward and unexpected setting by arranging these dinner preparations in the first place... Will shook her head ever so slightly as she watched the other woman smile at Matt who kept glaring daggers at his father. She really is a queer fish...

"...this might be a shocker to everyone, not just you, but I called you two here tonight because you deserve to know."- Linda's voice tore the redhead apart from her thoughts. "I am back in the game, Matt. I mean, in my campaign practice and PR. I will be helping Marcus with his election campaign."

"Election campaign?"- Will repeated as she and Matt exchanged glances. That was even odder than expected..." I was left with the impression that you're a senator somewhere else- "

"I was, dear. My mandate, however, is over."- his reply came fast and it was also the first thing they heard him utter that night. "That's why I'm now looking into new opportunities, you see. New opportunities such as Heatherfield. Do not worry, Matthew. This is strictly business."

The guardian couldn't help but feel weird at how he had said it. His voice was authoritative and cold, and Matt tightened his fist at the sound of it...

The rest of the dinner went on in the same awkward fashion. It was almost as if they were dining with strangers and not her boyfriend's parents. But Will knew a thing or two about mom&dad issues hence she would never even dream of judging Matt about it. Especially since both his and her parents seemed to be more than uncanny in many ways.

"Well, at least the food was good."- the young woman said in an attempt to lighten Matt's load when they left "Heatherfield Mega Hotel" about 90 minutes later.

"Amazing."- the man muttered as he reached for the keys of his car. "Let's go."- he added and playfully slapped her ass.

When they got back to her apartment, where they usually liked to hang out, they immediately started making love. Just like that. Spontaneous, wild, and passionate. They both needed it to be able to distress from everything around them and forget about the cringe-worthy dinner that Linda had invited them to earlier. What an odd evening that had been...

As Matt sent her dress flying towards the other end of the bedroom and tackled her down on the bed with his weight, Will couldn't care less about his parents. Sure, they would have to deal with that oo, but later. Right now they only had eyes for each other. She wanted him and he wanted her. They needed to be together. She pulled his pants down together with his boxers and his hand quickly invaded her skimpy panties...

About an hour later, Matt was giving her gentle hickeys and she was just lying there, happy. Satisfied after a rocking orgasm. Thinking how precious sex with one of your first real crushes is, a big crush, who was now her boyfriend of many years. And then Matt's mobile rang in distress.

Will instantly got out of her idealistic daze when he stood up from the bed. Who could be calling at this time?

"Matt?!"- the redhead exclaimed when he grabbed his boxers from the floor and proceeded to get dressed in a hurry. "Who was it? What happened?"

"I have to go to mom's place immediately."- the man explained with a look of worry on his face.

"What? Why? Is she alright- "

And just like that, the problems invaded their alone time and reminded them. They were waiting to be dealt with and they weren't going anywhere before putting them through hell...

"The neighbors called, Will, there was a break-in in the house. There's a...t-here's a body."- Matt stammered as he struggled to utter his words without falling apart. "The neighbor s-said that it might be grandpa."

A/N: I'm back again! Hopefully, I will be able to wrap up the last arc before the start of summer...😶 wish me luck, and stay tuned! Lots of love!