Against the Flow
Summary: Six months after Will vanishes, her heartbroken friends try to move on. However, when Matt nearly dies, she suddenly reappears. By Phobos's side. PhobosxWill?! What is next for the guardians and how will they manage this new challenge? Modern-day witch-hunters target the girls and new problems are brewing around the Heart of Earth. Is there really no going back once you go against the flow?
Book 3, sequel to "The Dark Descendant" and "Heart of a Mother". The events of the previous books are somewhat connected to the new story, but they will be properly illustrated and explained along the course of "Against the Flow" for the sake of making sense of what's happening with the characters. (when needed)
Still and all, this is an entirely new book with a new plot that can be understood even without reading the first two books, which I still encourage you to do, just because I feel like you will love them!
Arc. 1:
Chapter One: A Heart's Cry
January 19, 2021, Heatherfield
"Happy Birthday, Will!"- Susan Vandom- Collins's cheering was at its highest volume when the young redhead blew the candles on her big Birthday cake. A beautiful work of art specially ordered by her mother as well as the entire party. Everything was Susan's merit and she couldn't be happier with the outcome.
As everyone drowned her with applause, Susan smiled through tears and enveloped her in a tight hug.
"Honey, you have no idea how happy I am for you, for this party, letting me organize everything just like back in the day and everything... everything's just perfect, Will. I hope you are happy too!"- the dark-haired woman exclaimed as she held her daughter with a big teary smile on her red lips.
Will's lips coated in an identical shade of red lipstick stretched in a big smile as well:
"Of course, mom. You're the best. This party is really it, I am serious, you do event planning better than me and you're not even in the business like I am! Thank you."
"Oh, nonsense!"- Susan blushed and held her daughter's hands in hers for a little longer, beholden. They had both been through a lot over the years but they had always been together and that made them strong. That made them happy. "I am proud of you, my baby. And my wish for you is to always stay happy and well like you are today. You're glowing. I missed you these last three months and I'm glad you're back in Heatherfield. But let's drop this now."- Susan wiped the corners of her big brown eyes. "Let's enjoy tonight. Love you!"
"I love you too, mom."
And so they parted and did. Will accepted congratulations and mixed with her guests, who had all gathered in Simueltech's big rooftop party hall to celebrate with her. Susan had been thrilled to organize this party for her daughter after months of her being away for work.
The decorations were spectacular and so was the view - Heatherfield's weather was great this week. Not too cold nor too warm for the season. It had been sunny all day but now, during the evening, the coastal city was being caressed by a light snow shower that fell ever so tenderly and brushed over the big windows of the party hall like an ethereal mist.
But not all of the guests shared the uplifted mutual mood. Those of them who were aware of the truth, nevertheless, didn't:
"Three months. Three months and this is the best we could do. It's Will's Birthday, for fuck's sake. Not her freaking Altermeere's. This makes me sick to my stomach."- Irma Lair ranted quietly, poking at her cake. She was glum but she was still dressed well - a pale blue skintight short dress paired with high boots and an oversized denim jacket. After all, they all had to keep this façade of happiness and everything being just peachy together. When, in fact, nothing was even close to that:
"You're real bright as usual. This is not the place to discuss this, everyone's here. And at least try to smile more. Will would've wanted that."- Cornelia attacked her friend as usual when it came to this. She huffed feeling Taranee's eyes on herself and looked down at her diamond watch. Only one more hour before they could respectfully leave this cruel circus show. Deep down, she knew Irma was right. Watching Will's Altermeere celebrate their friends' birthday and knowing the truth was hard to digest. Hard to even look at, what was left for smiling.
"No, she wouldn't." - Irma spat bitterly and glared at the blonde who refused to look at her. "Will hates her birthday and you always throw her stupid parties against her will. Well, guess what, nothing will make it work this time. No matter how much you lie to yourself and fake it. You even helped Susan throw this party, so, how does it feel, Cornelia? Are you happy with the outcome?"
Cornelia closed her eyes to stop the tears but it was too late.
"Don't let your emotions make you lose the point, Irma, you know that we're only doing all this for Will and her life. We lied that she's traveling to work for months, to spare Matt's feelings, to win time to find her but we...couldn't. We all know that since we never found the real Will we had to conjure her Altermeere. It is what she would do."- Taranee scolded her friend in a low voice, looking around herself cautiously. "We're lucky that the Heart of Kandrakar managed to call a small part of her Altermeere that died all these years ago, and-"
"Yeah, well I'm sick of it. I'm sick of playing roles and failing. We failed, Taranee."- Irma said bitterly. "We failed at finding our friend and just replaced her. And this is not even the first time we're doing this, but this time we really are the shit. We failed at everything."
"Which is why we owe this to Susan and the others."- Cornelia gave her a pointed look through tears. It was good the lights in the hall were toned down. She was sure that otherwise, people would've immediately caught wind of their drama. "They deserve to live normal lives and not be burdened with Will's disappearance- "
"Wow, we owe them lies and deceits."- it was Irma's turn to interrupt. She just glared at Cornelia and then at the Altermeere in the distance. She was just casually talking to some girl from Will and Matt's bar. "That's real-"
"Would you rather we just did nothing like Nerissa's friends when she went "missing"?"- Taranee breathed heatedly giving Irma's leg a shake under the table. "They couldn't do much, but we can, Irma, we failed many times but we haven't given up on Will, drop this topic already! This is the best we could do-"
"Then we really are the worst guardians to exist."- the Latina stood up abruptly and just grabbed her purse. "I wish I knew this would happen before it did, I would've quit long ago was it going to save my best friend from this ridiculous disappearing..."
"Only you would make the sacrifice, indeed."- Cornelia crossed her arms coldly.
"...because this is not it, it is not worth it and I'm not going to spend another fucking minute in this theatre play!"
"Girls."- Hay Lin hushed in a low voice. She had just come to their table and stopped Irma before she could storm off. "It's Matt...I think."- she made an awkward pause that only made Irma even crankier.
"What is it, Hay Lin?"- Taranee ushered her, dreading the answer.
"He's high again. And he's not well. I think... I think he's at the edge of an overdose shock. We have to take him out of here before someone sees him."
But when they frantically made their way to the restrooms on the floor, together with Nigel who Taranee had fetched, Matt wasn't where Hay Lin had left him.
"Where is he?!"- Cornelia was breathless.
"I don't understand!"- Hay Lin exclaimed. "I left him here, he was having a seizure, I tried first aid on him but he still needs a hospital. He couldn't have just walked out and- "
"I took care of it."
They all turned around to see Lillian Hale walk into the restroom in her trendy black mini dress. She looked spooked but determined:
"You took care of it as in you took him to the hospital or what?"- Nigel exclaimed. "Because Matt is seriously abusing drugs during these last months, I think we have to admit him in a- "
"As in I used magic. And blocked his. Matt's not suicidal, he's just upset and in a bad mental place. But he will pull through. "- Lillian glared at the young male redhead. "He doesn't need a clinic-"
"That's not for you to decide, Lillian."- Taranee glared back, standing in front of her husband. "Nigel actually talked to Matt's therapist. Doctor Chandra also thinks that- "
"And Matt thinks he needs a new therapist."- Lillian interrupted her and walked closer to the group that just stood there, still bedazzled by the latest events. Taranee and Nigel could just exchange glances as the younger woman went on:
"Doctor Chandra is a couple's counselor, not a grief and PTSd specialist-"
"Where is he?"- her sister asked icily, cutting her pointless reasoning short.
Cornelia wasn't that taller than her little sister anymore, given they were both in six-inch "Sophia Webster's". The younger Hale had grown into a beautiful young woman and was very notable at the social scene at just 19. But her attitude had only gotten colder and more dangerous with the realization of who she was. Young, beautiful, extremely strong as the full-fledged living Heart of Earth... And Cornelia, her sister? Despite her wanting to always shield her from the limelight and everything she was born to be, the chips had fallen where they were meant to, and the elder Hale could now only watch as her sibling blossomed. And watch spitefully.
"Where's Matt?"
Lillian didn't retort at once. She just gave them another testing glare.
"Hey, girl, what's your problem?"- Irma burst out. "You've been acting all weird lately as if we don't have Matt's best interest? Is that it or are you on some Socialite crack yourself- "
"Do you have his best interest, Irma?"- Lillian didn't remain obligated. "Because bringing that Altermeere to life wasn't a smart thing to do, you just pushed him over the edge."
Irma was taken aback. She was about to try to word something out but Taranee grasped her arm, showing her that she should drop it.
"He's at home, if you must know, Cornelia."- the young blonde added and pushed her sister's gripping hand away from herself. Their blue eyes met and Cornelia just tightened her fists.
"He's resting."- Lillian went on. "I will go to check on him as soon as I can, but I eliminated the toxins, the drugs from his system and put him under a sleeping spell, so he should be-"
"No, you are stuck here because grandmother Hale dragged you to this event as a part of your Socialite training. You're stuck, we're not."- Cornelia looked down at her from her high horse. "Now go back to grandmother and let the actual adults deal with the issue. Come back to Earth! We're Matt's friends before you. We will always have his best interest."
"You're welcome."- Lillian sneered after them as they walked towards the exit of the restroom. "I would like to see your healing magic try to help anyone the way mine helped Matt tonight! You're his friend as much as you have ever been a caring sister."
Cornelia stopped dead in her tracks as if someone had just slammed a door in her face. But Taranee put a hand on her shoulder:
"Let's go."- she said in a low voice. "This is not the time."
"Yeah, you better go!"- Lillian's yells from behind hit her somewhere in the chest. "You got away with not going to a good school, you do whatever you want and impose your decisions on and over everyone and everything, while some of us have to suffer through life, dealing with things you were too privileged to understand and try hard, only to be reprimanded by your grandness, the Cornelia Hale! You treat me terribly, and that's nothing new. But taking care of Matt is not something I will let you do your way. Nerissa."
Cornelia turned around in shock and her friends followed. And as their eyes met again, her younger sister cold-bloodedly shook her head and confirmed:
"You're just like her and you know it. And you both take that as a compliment. But in my book, the names Nerissa and Cornelia are synonyms for narcissism and arrogance at their finest."
"I don't know why you have to stick with me, Caleb, I told you I'm fine. I just had... a little too much last night. I was overwhelmed, you get it. Her birthday and all that... But now I'm rolling, thanks to Lil."- Matt shrugged the next day, keeping his hands in the pockets of his big gray hoodie. "You can attend to your own business; I don't need a babysitter."
"I'm here as a friend, not a babysitter."- the taller man replied, eyeing him cautiously. He couldn't hide his distaste for that 'I had a little too much' part though:
"You don't need to inebriate yourself with that... Earth shit poison, Matt. Don't do it again, you will only do yourself bad and no one wants that for you. Will sure doesn't-"
Caleb sighed as he watched his face drop even behind the sunglasses.
"I'm sorry."- he said in a low voice. "We're just concerned about you. The girls and I, my parents...I want- "
"It's not that easy."- Matt brushed his hand and the topic off. "Will was the only thing keeping my shit together after everything...after my family fell apart and tried to kill each other. My grandfather, he is really old now and I have to take care of him even more than before, after his accident last year. All this pressure is driving me insane. I'm not taking anything serious, it's just some numbing stuff."- he watched the other man cringe but he didn't care. "Numbing stuff for my fucking crying heart...And I have enough pain burning in me for the entire missing Council of Kandrakar. Even your mother enthralling me all these years ago couldn't fuck me up like Will's disappearance did, Caleb."- Matt finished bitterly before walking past him.
Caleb was taken aback for a hot moment but then sighed and followed him. He was accompanying him while the other man was running errands in the Heatherfield City Mall either way. Not that he knew what to say or do to make him feel better. What Matt was going through was too sensitive and too unfair for the sake of that. Three months with his closest person missing.
Will had just vanished during one particularly harsh battle last fall. Ever since then, her friends had done everything in their power to try to find her but to no avail.
The Heart of Kandrakar had come and chosen Cornelia as a temporary holder but the more time passed the more it looked like it would never be back with its original one. Will was nowhere to be seen but she wasn't the only one. The entire Council of Kandrakar was inexplicably absent as well - the Fortress had been sealed and under the siege of seven magical plagues due to one of the elders' secret agenda and dark curse for months, but when Matt and Lillian had gone back there to seek help for Will's case, there was nothing. No elders, no plagues, no fights. Just ruins and - the Aurameeres. And while Will's vanishing remained a total mystery, the fate of the Council was beginning to look grimmer and grimmer- perhaps Himerish, the Oracle, hadn't been able to stop the final plague or combat it. Perhaps it had sent him and all of his elders to Oblivion...
Caleb frowned at the thought and pulled his phone out. It was going to be another long day on Earth.
Three months later (present days)
It wasn't a day that differed really. It had started like any other. Time felt surreal ever since last fall, but they had to move on. They had to, given she might as well never be found again. And they had searched everywhere. If even the Heart of Kandrakar couldn't locate its chosen one...then their chances had always been slim.
Cornelia fastened the belt of her pale pink satin robe and took down the stairs. She had to start breakfast and she knew she was late already. It was around 9. Caleb had already left for work and she could hear their toddler son giggling from the living room area.
"Glamma! Glamma!"
Cornelia furrowed her brows in puzzlement but then she saw that the big TV was on and one of Nerissa's music videos was being broadcasted. Her music career on Earth had prospered even more over the last year and she was the leading face of "Cobalt Blue's" music label as well as a face for many, mostly Heatherfield-based, but also some national, beauty, and fashion campaigns. Thanks to her superior looks, talent, and presence on the social scene, she had gradually and successfully achieved her goals (like always) in less than two complete years ever since she was free of Weira's jewel.
Two years, Cornelia just said to herself, zoning out for a moment. When had these two years gone by? But then again, half a year without Will was also hard to digest...
"Ms. Cornelia, I start breakfast already. Coffee is ready. Forgive me, I know you like to do that on Wednesday but Mr. Caleb asked, said he in a hurry."
Deja said and obediently stood in front of the tall blonde, waiting for further instructions.
Deja was a tenderhearted French housemaid in her late 30s, who had started working for Cornelia at the beginning of last winter, given the young mother could use a little help around the big house with all her new commitments. The French lady had brown hair kept in a tidy bun and caring, smart green-blue eyes. She was a little bit on the plump side, though she liked to dress in traditional maid uniforms.
"It's OK, Deja. I have some things to do anyway."- the young mother retorted and picked her son in her arms. He gave her the sweetest smile and snuggled in her at once. Cornelia kissed the top of his head:
"Nerissa is actually coming to pick Killian up this morning. You know she just got back from the Maldives after ten days there, and she can't help it... Please, bring me my breakfast in the office? I'll take Kil with me until she comes."
"Bien sûr, (of course *French*) Ms. Cornelia."
The home office was a big room with eastern exposure and a Kardashian-worthy interior in white and neutral hues with a bit of color-pop accents here and there. The furnishing of this room had seen quite a few changes of style over the last year as Cornelia had been trying to make it as comfortable and aesthetic as possible. And her vision varied from time to time.
Ten minutes later, with her breakfast next to her open laptop, and her son busy with his toy set in front of the desk, Cornelia started her usual daily routine. Going through emails, sorting different events in her planner, and making new plans on the go. She was chaotic yet pedantic in her working process but that was how she functioned best when it came to work. If she was to take advantage of her Socialite status, it would be for meaningful things.
"Hey, Taranee, morning, how are you?"- she smiled as she joined the video call that her friend had invited her to. "Are you at the counting-house?"
"Good morning, Cornelia, yes, I'm filling in for dad this week. He's traveling and my mom is busy with cases."- the other woman smiled back in full soft-glam makeup and business-casual attire, significant for Taranee when she was carrying out one of her many qualifications. Lawyer, notary, or professional dancing coach, it didn't matter, she somehow found some time for everything. That, with the list of hobbies she had on the side, was more than impressive.
"I'm good, I actually wanted to remind you that we have to pick Matt from rehab today. I think it would be good if we all went together. He's been there a month but, unfortunately, we can't forcefully keep him there any longer. I just hope...I hope he's doing better."
Cornelia's face was immediately overtaken by concern and bitterness as she heard that:
"I hope so too, Tara. It was hard enough admitting him there against his will...hopefully it wasn't in vain."
Just then there was a soft knock and the ajar door of the office revealed the figure of a tall woman, who had casually curved her body along the frame of the door in her high wasted ripped jeans, green silken blazer, and striking heels. She was always beautiful, but now, with her intensified golden tan from the Maldives? Goddess material.
Cornelia made her a sign to enter as she exchanged last words with Taranee and decided to meet up in front of the Cook family counting house together with the other girls at 6 pm. They would all go to pick up Matt after that:
"Morning, do you want anything?"- the blonde shifted her full attention to the other woman in the room, who picked up Killian before sitting on the chair in front of the desk. "I can ask Deja to-"
"Don't bother, darling, I had breakfast and coffee hours ago. Though that looks appetizing."- Nerissa smirked as she stole a piece of mango from the tray on the desk with her long-manicured nails. "How's your latest project unfolding?"
"Yeah, well, I can't ever catch up with you and your son's early awakening."- Cornelia commented sarcastically. "Slowly. But I'm getting there. I want to have the launch in two weeks but we'll see."- she added.
"I'm sure you'll manage, my beautiful girl."- Nerissa pursed her lips and patted the top of her head making her roll her eyes in amusement.
"I couldn't help overhear that Matt is getting out today."- the ex-guardian then said, rocking her grandson in her lap. "What are our thoughts on that?"
The blonde's face glommed. She could barely hear her own thoughts. Everything was a mess in her head:
"Well...we mainly have hopes. That he won't turn to any such substances again in his...grief."- she muttered. "Matt refused to get help over and over again, and he was only sent to that rehab center because he was caught among dealers...it was not a small action, he almost got convicted...But Taranee managed to trade jail time for rehab time. I know he was mad at us but he was also so disturbed... He talked about those dreams again. Nightmares of Will that drained him. Physically and emotionally. I know he just wanted to numb the pain and anguish."- Cornelia sighed and finished her coffee. "We all had nightmares but his are more vivid. And the fact that he's been shutting us and the help we could offer him out for so long and we tolerated it-"
"Well."- Nerissa began as Killian played with the rings on her hands. "At least you agree that you've given him enough time to grieve on his own. I think that perhaps it is time a more influential method was used to make Matt have a better life without Will."
"He doesn't want to forget her, magic can only do that much."- Cornelia rolled her eyes. They had already discussed this. "And with the emotions and memories he shares with Will, I doubt that anything can burn her from his mind."
"I'm not talking about memory-altering spells."- Nerissa argued and threw a look over her shoulder as to make sure that Deja wasn't sneaking up on them. "I agree that it would be harder to achieve that, keeping in mind their colossal magical auras and all that bounds them to one another. All these months I kept my distance from the matter and let you deal with it, but as time goes by, I must share this advice with you. Even I can't bear to see him like that anymore."
"And how could you."- Cornelia sighed as she stood up from her chair. "Matt's been nothing but loyal, good, and supportive. For all of us. For years...He's an amazing person and he doesn't deserve all this pain."
"He certainly is. So, let me help him."
Cornelia gave the older woman another testing look and finally gave in:
"Fine. If it's a reasonable idea I will talk to the girls and let you carry it out."
Nerissa smiled and stood up as well:
"Very well. Then I shall present my idea in front of all of you this evening. 6 PM, Cook family counting-house, correct?"
Cornelia opened her mouth to say something but the former guardian had already flashed her a big white smile and left for her day out Killian.
Groaning, she closed her laptop and headed for her room. It was high time she got ready.
"Finally. What took ya?"
"Don's ask, Irma. Eric's mother is...a menace."
"Say no more."- the water guardian nodded in understanding as Hay Lin puffed and sat on the bench next to her.
They were both in front of Taranee's family counting office- a polished building with a small green zone in the front despite being located on a busy street.
"Not that Cornelia Malfoy is here either. She's running late as usual."- Irma snorted under her nose and gave her friend a reassuring smile.
But Hay Lin just looked strained and didn't even appear as if she had heard the new nickname for their friend.
"Oh, God, do say more, you look depressed, what did that bitch say to you this time, Hay?"
The young Asian didn't need to be prompted again. She just went into ranting mode at once, feeling an urge to get it off her chest:
"You know how Eric spent a month with me in China during the winter because my parents needed help with sorting out all of my maternal grandfather Chou's affairs after his death? There were a lot of things to take into consideration and Eric helped me a lot by being by my side, keeping me company during these hard moments when Will's disappearance made me weaker and weaker, and overall, just did what a good partner does, you know?"
Irma nodded in approval, waiting for the outraging part she was sure was to come. There always was an outraging part with Louise Lyndon.
"Well, there is an important conference and festival that will take place in Nebraska next month, and Eric has to attend, but the whole thing is two weeks and I said that unfortunately, I can't spend two weeks away from Heatherfield right now. It enraged Louise. She started fuming about how Eric could do anything for me and spend all the time I requested away but I didn't even care about his career, or his future, or their family in general... I felt super bad because she has a point, she has a right to be mad because that is how it looks like on the outside... Then she said that she'd never bless any future marriage between me and her son and things got even uglier."
"Oh, boy."- Irma sighed and wrapped a reassuring hand around the other woman's shoulders. "Don't pay attention to her, you know it isn't worth it, Hay-Hay."
"Yeah, I know but I don't want Eric fighting with his mother about me and my secret identity. Stuff she doesn't understand because she doesn't know...how could she know or understand."- Hay Lin sobbed. "I want to support Eric but how can I leave the restaurant when my parents are still out of the country? How am I supposed to leave you guys who need me now, when everything has changed? I am scared of leaving Heatherfield. I am scared that if I leave, when I return again, another thing will be missing and I won't be able to take it."
Irma was speechless for once. But she understood. Oh, boy did she understand what her friend meant and what she was going through. They were all more troubled and dysfunctional than ever after her vanishing...
But the two guardians didn't have time to continue their conversation about the Lyndons and Hay Lin's inner conflicts, because Cornelia and Nerissa joined them and so did Taranee, who came literally a minute after the tallest guardians.
"Hey, when did you come back from your exotic getaway?"- Irma exclaimed, surprised to see Nerissa. "Having the time of your life as usual."- she snorted in addition.
"Just yesterday."- the other woman retorted with a playful smirk. "Oh, come on. Surely you and your little boyfriend could go somewhere too if you wanted to."- Nerissa shrugged. "I just... wanted to make a dream of mine come true. Going to the Maldives. I had never been there before. And it was quite pleasurable, Julian loved it as well."
But Irma's face had already changed at the mention of her boyfriend.
"If he ever resurfaces from all his work."- the Latina snorted again. "He's away so often it feels like he vanished with Will too."
"Speaking of Will."- Nerissa began but Taranee interrupted her, glancing at her watch:
"Guys, we have to go, we want to be there when they discharge Matt. We have less than twenty minutes to get there!"
"Just a minute, Taranee."- Cornelia said and then nodded at Nerissa. "Nerissa wanted to make a suggestion regarding Matt's recovery. Maybe she knows how to make him...move on, as bad as it sounds."
It was time for the other three to exchange glances before Irma and Taranee said almost in unison:
"No, you can't try erasing her from his memory-"
"You never fail to assume the worst about me."- Nerissa sighed dramatically and jingled the keys to Cornelia's white Mercedes in front of Irma's face: "Come on, I will enlighten you on our way. We shouldn't be late, now, should we?"
It was a warm April evening in Heatherfield. Spring was beautiful and always hopeful in the city, making everything glisten with the hope for a happier future...
Cornelia's expensive car sped up on the highway, heading for one of the less urbanized parts of Heatherfield.
"Will's little Altermeere, parts of whom you managed to bring back-"- Nerissa talked to the other four.
"Wixy."- Hay Lin, who had named her helped.
"-whatever. She's here to stay. Everyone else already thinks that she is Will. Everyone but us, our closest ones and Matt."
"Who is also very close to us."- Irma cocked a brow from between Taranee and Hay Lin on the back seat. "Your point?"
"Exactly."- Nerissa declared as if it was a very obvious matter. "This is an insufferable truth to know. Knowing that someone you love so deeply and truly is replaced by a cheap copy... But I must admit, Wixy is a quite well-made Altermeere. Especially after she merged with Will herself all these years ago."- the ex-guardian paused again. "It's a hard task for almost anyone to find significant differences between her and the real Will, we only know because we summoned her from the Heart. But, if we were to forget that insufferable detail."- Nerissa stressed deftly. "If Matt was to forget he knows about Wixy he'll think that she is his Will and his life will get on the right tracks once again-"
The protests and exclamations of indignation began before she could even finish her thought:
"That was your idea?"- Cornelia snapped. "That's ridiculous! Matt knows Will like the back of his hand, he will always know that something's wrong with her, Wixy is not even half of the person Will is!"
"Yeah, Nerissa, this is just disgraceful to both of them. To the three of them, actually."
"You're crazy! This idea is nothing but your idea from twelve years ago all over again! Replacing Will with Wixy, very rich-"
"And what about Wixy? She's not in love with Matt like Will is."- Hay Lin finished. "Even if he believed in this lie, what about her? How would she live like this when she has already embraced her own identity?"
"As if we're not lying to everyone already! You talk as if the real Will is reachable and we're going to replace her for no reason."- Nerissa defended herself and gave them all cold looks. She knew they'd react like that. How well she knew them... "But she's not, we've been trying to find her, going out of our way for half a year. Half a year of efforts to no avail! That's a lot of time! Don't you understand that this is the only left sensible option?"
"No."- Cornelia insisted, tearing eyes on the road. "It's not. It's-"
Her voice broke and the others just kept silent, overtaken by the sad reality that they couldn't face. No matter how much time passed. They had to believe she'd be back otherwise the world was a terrible and unwelcoming place and their lives were darkened forever...
"If Will's still alive, she's not coming back. She obviously isn't."- Nerissa concluded darkly and looked at the crestfallen guardians. She knew it wasn't easy on them. God knew even she despised the turn of events. Nothing was the same without the redhead. Not anymore.
"Either we use Wixy to our advantage and combat the pain of Will's loss or we continue to live with it. The anguish. And yes, I can do that."- Nerissa went on. "You can probably do that too. But Matt? Don't you understand, WITCH? He cannot live a decent life without her. He needs a Will."
Taranee's phone rang before anyone could think of a proper reply to the hard to swallow but sincerely served statement:
"Yes, Nigel."- she sobbed. "We're going to the rehab center to pick up Matt right now. We- "
Taranee closed her mouth and listened to her husband's distressed voice from the other line. Her friends all witnessed her initial bedazzlement grow into horror as she opened her mouth again and screamed at the phone:
"What!? How did it happen, how did... where is he now?!"
"What's happening?!"
"Matt..."- Taranee managed to say. "He was shot in front of the clinic...the police think it's the drug dealers that got charges because of his admission there. He's in s-surgery right now, Heatherfield "Mercy" Hospital."
And just like that Cornelia made a sharp turn, recklessly getting into the other lane, heading for the hospital, driving even faster than before.
Epilogue
"This is all my fault."- Lillian Hale cried inconsolably in front of the operating room. "I...I b-blocked his magic so he couldn't hurt himself with it and he couldn't defend himself when he most needed it. This is m-my fault..."
Cornelia had a hard time deciding what to do. She just paced in the hospital corridor, tapping her white medical face mask with her finger. She couldn't even get herself to comfort her crying sibling but thankfully Hay Lin had already replaced her in that. Even if it didn't help much.
"Hey."- Irma returned after talking to her father about the investigation that would go on now. She looked beaten but hopeful:
"Two of the three suspects are in custody. They're currently after the third offender but they'll catch him! I'm sure they will. Hey, Corny."- she whispered. "Try your healing powers again."
"She already did and so did Lillian."- Taranee updated her. Nigel was holding her and two cups of coffee. "His body is healed but he's not waking up. Even the doctors are puzzled. He's just not waking up-"
"I told you."- Nerissa interfered, stepping into the tight circle that they had created with their bodies, her sharp heels making a prominent sound in the white hospital tiles. "This is a post-magical physiological effect, a result of everything he's been through. He needs Will to wake up."