Chapter Nineteen: Hell Hath no Fury like a Hale Scorned One
"Thanks for coming, girls. All of you."- Halinor said meaningfully.
Not all, Hay Lin couldn't help but think as she passed her eyes over the other three guardians.
The Orchid room was one of the many beautiful places in the Kandrakar Fortress that Halinor and her elders had restored after the events from the last year. The girls had been here before, many times with Yan Lin and the previous elders.
It was like a large covered garden. Vibrant ferns, orchids, and creeping roses grew alongside strange flowers and plants lovingly crafted from brightly colored glass, copper, gold, and precious stones.
Among the plants were statues of birds and animals - some of them were so life-like that it was strange that they did not move or breathe. An ibis, a peacock, an intricately carved figure of a fox, and over the main lofty gate - a golden phoenix with wings like flickering flames
"We've located Irma; she's living in a small house near the shores of lake Winnipeg in Canada."- Halinor spoke as if having read the other girls' minds. "With... well, Martin Tubbs and his mother. She ardently requested her new living situation and the details around it not to be revealed, given she had put great effort into shielding her and her close ones from Kandrakar's eye and your magic, but I could only respect her wish as long as the Eye were still a threat to Martin. Now that they're dealt with, you deserve to know. After all, you're all guardians together."
Hay Lin, Cornelia, and Taranee exchanged glances.
"Figures."- Cornelia murmured. "Figures she didn't want us to know where she's at, she's lost her mind!"
"I can understand wanting to be with Martin despite everything and wanting to give him a chance, but cutting all of us off just like that after that one fight most of which was initiated by her?"- Taranee shook her head.
"That's not like Irma at all."- Hay Lin agreed. "We said bitter words to each other that night but it's not like her to build a wall of ice around herself and just shut out everyone- "
"Maybe she just needs time."
Everyone looked over at Will, who stood a few feet away from her friends. Yes, she was here too.
And her relationship with the other guardians was more strained than ever before.
"No offense, Will, but she nearly drowned me that night."- Cornelia reminded sourly. "So, no. Time is out of the question; we should go to Winnipeg right after this audience is over and give her a wake-up call."
Will couldn't hide her irritation. She didn't need to say it out loud, she just pulled the Heart out of her tunic for everyone to see, instantly reminding Cornelia that her temporarily keeping ward of it was over.
She didn't have the final word anymore.
Cornelia got the message and just looked down.
"Wow."- Taranee remarked coldly, shaking her head at the redhead.
She would never understand her stance on all this.
Yes, Will had been hurt. Repeatedly. Yes, she was fed up with them but none of them were truly at fault for the main reason everything had gone south as it had.
"Girls, it's not the time."- Halinor said, having caught wind of the hostile, mostly unspoken interactions between the guardians.
A few elders, as well as Yan Lin, Nerissa, and Kadma were in the Orchid room with them.
Everyone was either sitting on the grass or standing on their feet but they were still waiting for someone, and Halinor, who was standing in the center, dressed in a long green robe with a fallen shoulder, knew that if the guardians failed to keep their emotions in check now, things would only get worse once they were joined by the Earth party.
The Earth party walked through a portal that opened in the room soon enough; all four of them.
Taranee's mouth hung open.
Lillian had actually come with her three Knights, who were in their magical forms. Including Matt.
"Wow."- she repeated. "Just..."
"Isn't that awfully quaint."- Nerissa ridiculed from her side, only for Yan Lin to make her an irked sign to stay put.
Nerissa threw her hair to the back and crossed her arms on her chest.
Lillian looked calm and collected in her dark casual goth clothes, something a little more universal today. And of course, her black and gray heavy eye makeup.
"Elders of Kandrakar, you've summoned us."- the young Hale spoke in a collected fashion, looking over at Halinor expectantly.
Absolutely unbothered by the fact that she had once again stirred the spirits with her arrival.
Why would she be bothered?
That's exactly what she wanted.
Cornelia could only look down, wanting to disappear into the ground in her shame.
Will tried to hide it but she was affected as she saw Matt, obediently behind his mistress.
Their eyes met for a moment and the man was thankful for the Shagon mask because he knew that he wouldn't be able to hold the gravity of those red-brown eyes that sparked his way...
"As Heart of Earth, I trust that you will not put your personal conflicts with the rest before your duties and obligations to Earth and Kandrakar, child."- Kadma stated, her tone imperious and cold.
She looked down at the blonde somewhat galled.
Lillian smiled:
"I'm not the one giving more importance to those conflicts, Queen Kadma."- she replied. "When we're talking business and Earth, I'm talking strictly business and Earth, I don't mix things like some other people here do, I think I displayed that in the clash with the Eye when I single-handedly took care of the problem with little to no help from your all-mighty guardians."
The guardians sent glares her way. Lillian was past bearing at this point. It was impossible to work with her after everything.
"What happened during that clash is however severely affecting all of you, your harmony and efficiency."- Halinor noted. "I want-"
"I wouldn't say so."- Lillian shrugged. "The Eye of God were handled despite our differences, weren't they? I-
"I'd appreciate it if you didn't interrupt me, Lillian."- the older blonde cut her off. She looked strictly at her: "You think that this is fine? What your actions have led to, how you've cornered your sister and your family and how you're exploiting what happened between you and Matt? This-"
"I'm sorry, Earth may be under Kandrakar but my personal life hardly is. Unless you're just pretending to have found a different Council than the one that had your lives ruined?"- Lillian interrupted her again.
"How dare you!"- Kadma exploded. "You-"
"...Even, in that case, correct me if I'm wrong, but even the previous Council of Kandrakar didn't dick around too much about who you slept with and who you fought with in your free time."- Lillian continued non-abashedly. "That is of course after your collective incompetence killed one of your team... Mainly thanks to Nerissa here, of course."- she turned to the Mage with a sour smile.
Nerissa glared daggers in response.
"You're going to face serious reprehensions if you don't close your mouth!"- Kadma yelled again but Halinor caught her hand and shook her head.
She, like most of the present, was shocked and didn't even know how to react and process all this.
Lillian and her way of conducting herself and who she was made things so much more complicated, painful, and unpleasant.
"If this meeting was for me and the others to just shake our hands and move on for the sake of the "higher good", you can forget about it."- the young Heart declared. "Because that's impossible as long as your guardians and your friends disrespect and devalue me, repeatedly. I have no doubt in my heart that your hearts remain with your friend and them."- she smirked at Halinor and Kadma. "You have their back and view me as the one in the wrong here, that's a given. But I don't care. I care about Earth, me, myself, and I. Then come those who choose to stand by me and treat me fairly for a change."
"Nobody but you had the genius perception that we've been called here to kiss and makeup."- Will interfered. "Why don't you just shut the fuck up so that we can all be on our way faster?"
Lillian turned to her almost surprised.
Then she smirked:
"Of course, Will. You're right. After all, I'm sure that being away from the man you've wanted with all your heart ever since you were put together in that castle last year feels tedious and just wrong."
"And I'm sure that the last time I checked, the kid who opened her legs for the guy who practically raised her isn't to point the finger or moralize me. An adult."- Will didn't remain obligated and glared back at the young Hale.
She was getting on her last nerve. She wasn't going to put up with this girl's shit.
"All this will be discussed again, whether you like it or not. Because this is madness. Sheer madness!"- Halinor took the word again before it could get even uglier. "We have another reason for you to be here today, that is right. And because I'm sure that none of you are in the mood for a party, especially not together, let's just get this over with."
She clapped her hands and the Orchid room was practically invaded by a group of elders, dressed in Kandrakar robes, led by a middle-aged man with short blonde hair, fair eyes, and dimpled cheeks.
"Elders, guardians of Kandrakar; dear guests."- he spoke in a clear voice. "Please take standing positions as we welcome a new member among us. As we embark on a new era. With a new Oracle in charge of the Fortress of Infinity!"
Everyone was surprised. More than surprised as the elders joined them in forming a big circle. The girls had known that Kandrakar's finally recruited a seer but his inauguration ceremony wasn't something they had imagined would be so... casual.
But then again, with how low on harmony they were, Halinor was probably right.
"I did want Kandrakar and all its loyal allies to celebrate this day but some of you have just ruined it..."- she spoke with undisguised disappointment. "Thank you for the introduction though, Leo. Oh, yes. Some of you haven't met him, this is my brother. Leo Clarkson."- the mature blonde nodded towards the blonde man who gave the younger generation a small reverence.
"Leo is a Light Bearer, a guide for Earth witches, who became mortal and hence started aging a few decades ago because he met and fell in love with a witch from Earth."
"Your brother!?"
Hay Lin and Taranee exchanged glances. That was the first time they were hearing about this.
"That is right."- Yan Lin chuckled. "We still have secrets from ya, you know, the old guardians have their long history."
Nerissa waved at the man:
"Nice to see you again after 50 years, darling."
"Right back at you."- Leo grinned.
"Wait, I thought that most Earth magic vacated Earth when Lillian recognized her powers as Heart of Earth first-"
Will and Matt had said that almost simultaneously and now obviously regretted it. It was awkward and bad, and everyone stared at them.
Lillian included.
"That is true, but there are always exceptions."- Leo explained. "The forces of evil that my witches fought even after the climatic change a few years post the birth of the Heart of Earth, usually spawned from other dimensions. And my witches, well; they have always been charmed to do what they do. Like no one else. But that's a whole other story. Please, everyone, welcome our new Oracle!"
They were no fanfares or anything. No grandiose introduction that one would expect from a ceremony like this, but then again, it wasn't like any of the other times an Oracle was being chosen.
Still and all, it felt special because of the way it was spoken about by Halinor, her brother, and Kadma.
Everyone just watched a new face enter the Orchid room, dressed in the Oracle garments. Oracle garments they had seen on Himerish. The new boy did resemble Himerish, actually, in a way.
He looked very young. Around 25 but that was most probably just an outer façade like Himerish's 'eternal' youth.
The new Oracle was tall. Quite handsome, with knowing green eyes, chiseled face, and a bald-shaven head.
"Everyone, it's a pleasure to introduce Thalesis!"- Halinor exclaimed. "Our new Oracle, recognized as the worthiest one out there, out of many seers; the worthiest one to fall heir to Himerish. He was designated by the Heart of Infinity and unanimously elected by the vote of all the elders. It took us some time but we're certain - no one out there is fit to be Oracle more than Thalesis!"
"That's exactly why we took so much time; we wanted to find the best."- Kadma agreed.
Thalesis let out a hearty chuckle as he was given the word:
"Please, dear colleagues, you flatter me too much. I am just a humble seer who has been privileged enough to be able to serve Kandrakar and you all."- he went on in his deep but clear voice. "How can I describe the feeling to you all? To all of you respected guardians, elders, and allies of the Fortress? I've only listened about Kandrakar; my name is Thalesis. My age is about 52 human years."- he said to Taranee's surprise. She hadn't expected for him to actually be...relatively young, especially compared to most elders from Kandrakar that they were used to.
"I've been a part of the Seven Sages ever since I was born. A group of wise men who've always conversed with Kandrakar. Unsurpassably wise men who've helped shape the universe as we know it today."- Thalesis continued his own introduction. "They've taught me well in every aspect of mankind. Helped me advance in very science and non-science. The Seven Sages helped me master my seer powers like no one else could've done, and that is evident since the Heart of Infinity itself recognized me of all people as worthy to become the next active Oracle of Kandrakar. I am humbled and honored to stand here today and tell you my story as I embrace the opportunity to help lead the Fortress of Infinity toward new dawns despite the ostensibly tragic fate of the previous Council, which we're all aware of. It's because of brave and capable people like you, venerable Halinor, and you, guardians, that Kandrakar will continue to watch over the Universe and maintain the balance in harmony between the dimensions. This is a new era. I am a new Oracle; not a master or teacher to any of you but a friend and an ally."- Thalesis smiled at the sight of everyone listening, forgetting to even breathe; he was able to capture the attention quite immaculately.
"I am not the change; we are! Together! Together we will keep Kandrakar dignified and useful once more."
The Orchid room erupted in applause. They liked him. Everyone liked the new Oracle which could only mean one thing - the Council had succeeded.
Once almost everyone left through portals, even most of the elders left, returning to their tasks around the Fortress, the Orchid room was almost completely empty and quiet once again.
Halinor, Kadma, Yan Lin, Leo, and Thalesis being the only ones left, the ex- Fire guardian turned to the young man once again:
"Thalesis...you already have a clear image of all our allies that were here today, correct?"
"Indeed, venerable Halinor."
"Very well, and do you happen to sense anything different around one particular girl...also known as the Heart of Earth."
Thalesis nodded somewhat bitterly:
"Regrettably, your insight is infallible, even in this case. Young Lillian Hale's being plagued by darkness."
"How exactly?"- Yan Lin asked.
She and her friends exchanged glances. That's what they had all feared. What Nerissa had seen coming. She had said that Lillian was being corrupted by the darkness just like her back in the day...
But this time the odds were different. This time they would know what to do before it was too late.
"I see dark magic. A dark entity has made her their pray."
"An entity?"- Kadma repeated. "An actual malevolent one, not just her own sanity and emotions playing havoc with her?"
"Indeed. This is not just her. You said it perfectly, honorable Queen Kadma. A malevolent entity that desires to benefit from the Heart's destructive behavior."- Thalesis predicted. "She is not going to be able to resist all the ways of the darkness. It's been tempting her in silence for many months. I'm afraid that the power of the Heart of Earth is no longer safe with that girl."
"But neither is somehow snatching it away from her."- Kadma murmured, remembering once again the tragic turn that events had taken for them when Nerissa was deprived of the Heart all those years ago. "What should we-"
"No, your Majesty."- Thalesis shook his head. "We should not. Lillian Hale's only hope is if she fails to control her power herself. Which she will. We just have to tip the scales in favor of that."
Halinor frowned ever so slightly. That was very much easier said than done...
There was a tense silence in the Orchid room.
"That might just work. If..."- Leo murmured thoughtfully in the end, meeting his sister's eyes.
Cornelia barely had the time to wake up and start her morning routine before the doorbell spoiled her day.
Right from the start of it.
She growled under her nose and hurried to go and open before either Caleb or Killian woke up.
Killian was still recovering from some nasty cold, and Caleb had worked late again and finally had a free of the detested-Crossnic-firm day.
She wasn't going to let that slide right between her fingers.
First, he was going to get his rest. Then they would spend a day together in bliss for the first time in forever. That was the plan, and Cornelia was sticking to it.
Giving her sleeping boyfriend's cheek a little kiss, the blonde wrapped herself tighter in her silken violet robe and hurried down the stairs.
She hated how she had to let Deja go for a while because of not having enough money.
Finding someone reliable, presentable, and smart she could trust, and a good maid all in one, had taken her forever, and she could as well lose that if she took more time to call the woman back. Now they had more money thanks to Nerissa, but Deja had other jobs, and it would still take her more time to return.
Cornelia hated that. She was actually attached to Deja too. She was the Dorotha to her inner Blair Waldorf.
And Lillian's just a vile psycho version of Jenny Humphrey, Cornelia thought. Wait? That's exactly who she is! Jenny was a goth too, wasn't she? Ugh!
"Good, Cornelia, good morning. Hurry, we don't have much time!"
"Grandmother?!"
Her grandmother spurred her back into the house before she could say anything else.
Vera Hale was not on the young side at all; she was 80, but that didn't slow her down. Ever.
She took a minute to apply hand sanitizer then sat around the coffee table in the living room with her granddaughter, slamming her Lou Vuitton handbag and the briefcase she carried next to herself.
"Okay, okay, okay."- the redhead chanted to herself as she took folders out and pushed her hair back. "I've brought it all here."
"Grandmother, what is this all about? Why are you here at 7 in the morning?"- Cornelia asked, standing up to pull the curtains and let some sunlight in. "Unannounced...and did you drive yourself here?"- she exclaimed, not seeing a driver in the car in the driveway.
"There's no time for that, Cornelia!"- Vera scolded her. "Sit down here! Why did you pull these damn curtains!? This is supposed to be a secret operation!"
"What is?!"- the blonde snorted but sat down.
Her grandmother could be insane, she knew. But what she had come up with this time was a new level:
"Listen, my dear, we should've really seen this coming. I mean your sister going berserk; ruining this family out of jealousy because she's primarily talentless and a tiresome rebel!"- Vera narrated pedantically. "But enough is enough; she has dragged the name of this family through the mud! She's sunken your brand, she's sunken us! Enough is enough. We're going to hit back! We're going to get rid of your sister!"
"What!?"
"I've been meaning to do this, my attorney found loopholes; we're going to snatch everything from her, even her inheritance!"- Vera snapped, irked that her eldest granddaughter wasn't just wrapping her mind around it. "We're going to put that brat under control!"
"Are you out of your mind, grandmother, you know that it took Taranee and the other attorneys super long to even settle for all this! Now you want to trick her? She's just going to drag us to court again and-"
"No, no, no!"- Vera interrupted again. "Listen to me, Cornelia, your father is the only reason we settled for this crap. But Lillian is constantly humiliating us, ruining our name on the social scene despite promising not to! Just look there and sign here and here; We will get all our money back. I've sold the condo in LA too. We will pay her lawyers and buy off her evidence and your father is going to go into hiding just in case, as long as we manage to put that brat in the doghouse where she belongs!"- Vera took a second to catch her breath and Cornelia's head was spinning before her eyes from all she had just heard. "I swear, I can't fathom how your sister even got to all that evidence in the first place! You know your father isn't a conman, but he has made small mistakes over the years. Mistakes that were thoroughly covered, none of our people understand how she did it, honestly, it's like sorcery..."
Honest man, yeah, that was one way to describe her money-hungry father whose greediness would be the end of them.
But this... These ideas of Vera's.
All this skimming and plotting and her grandmother's ideas...was she crazy!? How long had she thought about all this?
Cornelia was overwhelmed and irked.
"Stop, grandmother, stop!"- she snapped, shaking her by the hand. "This is crazy! It will never work! Stop, you're just going to get all of us into more trouble!"
"More trouble? Cornelia, we've hit rock bottom!"- Vera cried angrily. "Your mother walked out on Harold! She says she can't be a part of all this, and I despise her for it and many other things, but he loves her too much to just let her go. She'll only be back if he 'fixes this mess' as she put it as if it's that simple!"
"And you think that putting Lillian in the DOGHOUSE will 'fix' things?"
"She's out of her mind!"- Vera defended and it was kinda true. "Your sister...she...she sunk us all, not just your brand and hard work! She destroyed all of our hard work! Hit us in the ground! I talked to her, what do you think she said? Many times... she doesn't care, she just doesn't! She keeps spinning the same idiotic narrative about how we all disregarded and put her down. As if! As if I didn't want her to have a bright future like you, as if I didn't tell her that she's running her life with that Chris boy and this crappy college."
Cornelia huffed and closed her eyes. Now her parents were about to separate because of all this. Great. Just great.
"Drop this nonsense with the documents and dad hiding, just drop it! Don't make matters worse."
She knew that her grandmother was concerned, even if in her own way. She knew she thought that she was right all the time but what could she do now?
How could she tell her that there was much more to all this than just what she knew?
"Oh, put a sock in it! Fine! I'll drop everything. I won't do anything at all, it's seeming that's the only way it can be with that brat around, right?"
"Chris loved her she just betrayed him. And it's not the dumb college, it's not even because of you, or the family. Not entirely, at least."- the Earth guardian sighed. "She's mainly like that...because of me. Because I-"
"Because of you!?"
Because I wasn't a good Guardian or sister. I didn't protect the Heart of Earth from everything, I thought I did, Cornelia finished in her mind. But I only protected her from immediate dangers not for what's invisible to the eye...I didn't train her. I didn't tell her, I didn't help her feel included, I didn't help her feel loved...Matt was there for her more than me. And now this...repulsing story happened. I've been selfish and self-absorbed and I didn't make her feel loved and complete as a person. As a woman...
"I...wasn't a good sister."- Cornelia sighed instead. "I neglected her. She's mad at me. That's why she rebelling like she does."
"Oh, for Pete's sake, Cornelia, you weren't a good sister, why? Because you pursued your dreams? Because you lived your life?"- Vera exclaimed. "That's a wrong thing to do now? Don't be foolish, my girl, we may be at fault for a lot of things, but that's not one of them. You're not at fault. You're not obligated to look after her-"
"I am at fault, grandmother, you don't understand."- Cornelia bit her lip but Vera waved her hand.
Her eyes were wet though. Cornelia hadn't seen her like that in a long time. Her grandmother was always strong, determined, successful...
She rarely allowed herself to show such moments of weakness, but obviously, the overwhelming situation they were all in was affecting her:
"Let me tell you something. She can say whatever she wants about all of us; she can be mad at all of us for being demanding or high maintenance; she says she didn't want a life that's high maintenance because that's the easiest thing to say when you've never done anything on you own."- Vera said bitterly.
Now that she had dropped her insane talk about skimming and snatching money away, Cornelia could actually hear the bitter wisdom of her lifelong experience in her words.
She was used to seeing her grandmother as a diva but she often forgot that Vera had been through a lot to achieve all she had.
Seeing her sitting on the tabouret now, legs apart, in the high heels and the vintage Versace jeans, looking so very real, Cornelia remembered why she had always respected her grandmother despite her sometimes being a snob and too much to take.
A bad marriage that had ruined her. Health issues post pregnancy, lots of years of trying to stay afloat before that...
Trying to stay relevant even as a socialite, trying to do the very best for her son, for his family, and for their future as a single mom in times when it was taboo to be a single mom and a social figure altogether...
Her grandmother had done it all hence now she took every opportunity she could. She had good intentions, even when the execution of them wasn't right and that was something they were both aware of.
"Your sister does something that none of us has ever done; she's going against the family. In a way meaning, she wants to hurt the family. Every one of us. She doesn't care that your parents might never be together after this."- Vera went on. "She is senseless but she knows she is hurting us. She wants us like that. In pain! That's what no one has ever done before, not even your deadbeat grandfather. He at least had the decency to walk away! Lillian wants to torture us, and for what?! As if we haven't loved her despite all she's so unsatisfied with? No, Cornelia..."
"She's just a child, grandma."- Cornelia sobbed. "I...I love Lillian but all that she does just kills me, and I know that she doesn't completely understand the impact of her actions, I just know it..."
"No."- Vera was categorical. She pushed the documents she had brought away. They were all for the paper cutter anyway. "After I talked to her so many times and I saw with my very eyes how cold and heartless she is, I don't buy that. She's heartless to those who may have been harsh on her on some occasions, but God darn it, didn't we spoil her most of the time? She was a princess for so long! Maybe that was our mistake. But she's not unaware of what she's doing. She's no child anymore, my dear, she's a sadist! Or possessed! Nothing else can explain her disgusting behavior toward her closest ones!"
Vera was shaking from her emotions that had gotten the better of her but she quickly forced herself into control again.
"I thought that we can teach her a lesson through the money thing but you're right."- the old lady snorted as to suppress her bitter tears. Even her naturally vainglorious voice trembled for the next part: "It's pointless. Everything is. She has some wiz lawyers that are just going to kick our arses in court. She has this impeccable aura of a winner around herself!"- Vera noted angrily. "Too bad she didn't put it into something useful, like having a successful career instead of her own family's downfall!"
But Cornelia's mind was still on the possessed part. Could she? Could her sister be not simply corrupted by darkness but somehow possessed by it?
Possessed by someone!?
"Cornelia? Are you quite alright, my dear?"- Vera stood up to sit next to her granddaughter who looked pale and pensive.
"It's alright, my girl, don't worry; you have your man, your family. Keep them close to you. Keep tabs on that company, you will not struggle financially soon, I'm sure of it. Money always finds a Hale. And isolate that vampire sister of yours as long as she doesn't understand that she's good for nothing as long as she acts like this."
"I'm not worrying about the money or my life, grandma, I know that I will manage all that."
"Then what? You're worried for her?! Oh, please, Cornelia!"
"Think about it."- Cornelia insisted. "You're angry with her now, we all are, but she's one of us. She's a Hale. I said this to her when she found out that she's pregnant; this baby is not going to help her or Matt, she's going to fall deeper into the pit because I feel like she has something for him...and he doesn't...he never will and I-"
"I told her the same."- Vera said, crossing her arms on her chest. "And she was rather pissed; but you know what, I don't care. I'm right. You're right! Of course, that older boy doesn't want her like that. I know him and I know her! What is she going to do, magic on him? What future will she give either of them? This is just pro-lifers' crap and bulshit. If men stayed with you because of a baby, we would all be living in LaLa-land."
Magic on him, Cornelia thought. Could she...why would she? Then again, settling for that thing with Matt, even after spending a night with him was strange on its own for Lillian.
"It's only as obvious as it could get."- Vera said to herself, arms still crossed. "She had a crush on him forever. It wasn't coincidental. Your crazy sister planned this, I'm telling you."
"Wait, what?"- Cornelia exclaimed, startling her grandmother next to her. "What did you say? She had a crush on Matt? Like she liked him, is that how you mean it?"
"Have you not seen how she's been looking at him?"- Vera cried. "I sure have! For years. I've always known that she'll try this, the minute he and that redhead friend of yours have a bigger fight. And she succeeded. Stupid boy couldn't handle a naked female, no wonder there."- the mature redhead snorted again. "Now she's ruined his life too."
Cornelia nearly recoiled in her seat. How had she not known anything about this!? Obviously, she really was not involved enough with her sister's life enough.
A growing crush. A forbidden love. And lots of magic...
A recipe for corruption and desire.
All the solo trainings with Matt post-Lillian's 18th Birthday because of her powers...
Cornelia shook her head to herself. The truth had disguised itself in all the hurt, anger, and resentment Lillian had provoked in her up until now, and the more she thought about it, the more she believed Lillian was doing all this exactly because of that.
Because it was serving as a veil between them and her real intentions...
"Don't pity that reckless sister of yours, Cornelia."- the eldest Hale spoke again, almost demanding her granddaughter's full attention as hard as that was with the newest realization that had somehow just hit her.
Vera fixed her butterfly-shaped glasses on her nose:
"Take this from me. Lillian's already done more than enough in damage; she hit us harder than any enemy before! She's becoming our blood enemy! And that is terrifying on its own but especially to you, as her immature wrath and unfulfillment seem to be aimed primarily at you. I had a sister like her once; she envied me. Tried to sabotage me with dirty tricks for years. One day I had enough of her. I kicked her out of my life for good and I've never regretted it, alright? Because I couldn't thrive as long as her jealousy and malice were there to poison me!"- Vera admitted bitterly. "Do whatever you have to do but don't allow your sister to ruin your life just because of your love for her, my dear girl."
Cornelia's heart sank at her grandmother's warning because she knew she had a point.
I can still do more than that though, the blonde decided. I can still stop my sister from destroying everything, herself included. I have to at least try...
Phobos brought the golden mazer closer to his lips and smiled at her.
It was a pleasant evening in the Meridian Capital; they had one of the smaller dining rooms in the Palace to themselves; as usual.
They liked to have at least their dinner in private. {if it were up to the prince, they wouldn't mingle with the rest of the inhabitants of the castle, or what was left of them (many had left in a sign of protest for him being around), but Wilhelmina insisted. She said they had to claim a normal life, respect, and diligence if they wanted to be treated with such.}
Will smiled at him too but he could see that she was distracted, her mind traveling elsewhere.
It was not the first time he noticed that in those last two months; as idyllic as they lived for the most part, as many adversities as they overcame and the undoubtedly strengthened bond they now shared, he knew she wasn't completely over the last severe turn in her life before the decision to move to Meridian with him to start over.
Phobos knew, and he couldn't say that he loved it.
"Wilhelmina."
"Huh?"
She almost blenched but focused her eyes on him again:
"A penny for your thoughts?"
Will sighed; lying was pointless because he could read through her pretty darn well by now.
She didn't want to lie to Phobos either; what she wanted was to just spare him some thoughts of hers that could rub him the wrong way:
"Everything's still a mess, Phobos. On Earth. The other girls and...all that happened between us in just one night as we fought the major enemy. We became more hostile than we should've and now-"
"They became hostile towards you."- Phobos corrected her, jaw tense. He pushed his plate aside and rested his elbows against the table. "They didn't support you. They lashed at you, what is there to be regretful for on your part? An apology is required on their- the very least..."
"I know and I am not inclined to just forget it all."- Will assured him. "They did hurt me back, I guess it was buildup from my behavior post-Avani hijacking me, the Eye breathing in our backs, and my brother and his friends adding fuel to the fire but-"
"No."- Phobos interrupted her again. Their eyes met and she bit her lip. She could already imagine what he was about to say but it still made her insides swirl:
"Your guardian colleagues collectedly decided that you're at fault for what the Angel of Malice did and took his side. The Earth one included, is that not what spurred you into claiming the Heart of Kandrakar back and making an exit from Heatherfield?"
"Yeah, the fact that Cornelia was more willing to stand by Matt than by me hurt me, Phobos."- Will sighed, getting frustrated again.
"Then what tortures your mind and soul?"
This conversation was pointless. He would never see things from her perspective and rightfully so because the more she dwelled on all that, the more it pulled her away from him and he was possessive.
He didn't want to share her let alone lose her at this point.
Will couldn't imagine parting from the prince too; not anymore at least.
If she had been willing to just let everything die down and overcome what the sidereal bond pushed her toward with just the power of her will, after Matt's decision that was no longer possible.
Because he had told her that she should leave off with Phobos.
He had said that he has to take responsibility for fucking sleeping with Lillian Hale.
He had thought that he was setting Will free and she loved him and hated him for it at the same time.
Because she had wanted the change; a part of her had wanted Phobos but the rest of her being had been willing to fight it and be the winner.
Will had been willing to turn the arms of time for her years with Matt and what they had shared.
The most beautiful of relationships in her life.
Even if she needed Phobos to breathe, she wouldn't betray the man who meant so much to her.
Matt Olsen.
She had needed time to make up her mind but all that stalling was due to two reasons. The first one was wanting to test the new waters with this new connection to Phobos that had begun against her will. She had been violated on so many levels, fuck it! She hadn't wished for this to happen to her and it had been new, scary, and intrusive at first but it had changed inside of her and she couldn't help it...
It was a feeling. A planted one indeed, but a feeling like any other, an emotional connection that she couldn't break anymore.
But the second reason?
The second reason why she had gaslighted everyone and created a bubble beyond reality to live in for months was that she had never wanted to leave Matt, what was left for Matt to give her the boot, which he had done at the end of all ends.
A part of her knew it was only natural; she had put him through enough. Tested his patience more than enough. Matt had resisted up until he had tripped and fucked his stupid protégé and "Earth Queen".
But he was a guy who had suffered enough.
Will was willing to forget that but obviously, he couldn't.
Obviously, he couldn't take it all any longer. He was a man and he acted out; he couldn't be her trained love-sick puppy, her pet waiting on her every command and whim, and quite honestly, she didn't want that.
That was what Lillian obviously wanted.
That fucking little bitch. Then again, what was she? Who was she to be mad at her? She wasn't the reason for this. She was just a consequence. She was insignificant to the big picture...
"Obviously, you often feel out of place and can't forget it all, can you, my Nymph-"
Will closed her eyes and sighed:
"Maybe I'm just a fucking whore and I deserve to feel like shit, Phobos. I can't help it-"
And just like that, the tears started.
Will hated herself for it but she couldn't stop them.
She just stood up from the table and fled the dining room.
Phobos was taken aback at first but he had the prudence to quickly follow her and catch up with her before she was far down the corridor:
"Wilhelmina, wait-"- he caught her arm. "I shouldn't have subjected you to such...intrusive questioning again so soon."- he murmured as he made sure that she faces him, despite her soft crying and trying to look away.
He looked right at her and eventually she met his pale green eyes. There was something in them that made her feel better but worse at the same time:
"No, it's only natural; you want something from me and this relationship but I'm unable to just pick myself and move on because of how unnaturally it all happened."- the redhead shook her head. "Don't you see, Phobos, I was unfair to Matt for months. Now I'm being unfair to you too-"
"What was unfair was how you were forced to recognize the bond with me...the way you were put in my company, snatched from the Earth Knight..."- the prince corrected her in a soft voice. "Your life was altered beyond the pale; beyond you, your needs, your will, and your abilities. Mind you, you're also a sentient being, no? How is everything you've been through in the last couple of months not to affect you? You're allowed to feel this way. You're allowed to take time. You're not a... not a whore, for the love of all Gods."- he muttered, struggling with the right way to put what he wanted to say. "You're... you're the purest most loving person I've ever been associated with like so."
Will stared at him not knowing what to say. Still, she was grateful for the understanding. Phobos actually understood her somewhat and that was at least a little bit encouraging.
And his words of praise for her were definitely...something else.
She would still feel like shit. She'd probably never fully recover from how her relationships were invaded and changed, how her heart was toyed with, and how chaos had swept her off her feet, but encouraging things made her try harder.
Will was a fighter. She knew that she could fight it as long as at least someone had faith in her.
She didn't blame anyone for not being able to though. She was way too heavy and daunting for herself too... But if Phobos could at least partially put up with all that, she was grateful.
"I...I don't want to make you feel any worse."- the prince spoke again. "If you're not hungry anymore, perhaps some rest may do it."
"It's not you."- Will shook her head and wiped her tears away. "It's the fact that I can't fully give you what you crave so much, Phobos. A true relationship without second thoughts."
His eyes gazed into hers seriously for a while, then he managed a somewhat sly little smile:
"That I've never truly had in my life, Wilhelmina. It's worth waiting and trying with you, where there's at least a glimmer of a chance for something of the sort to ever be."
Will couldn't help but chuckle. He had made her better as fast as he had submerged into her dark ponderings with just a few words.
"Well, that's fair."
Phobos smirked and added with a trace of mirth:
"Now what? More supper or wine, or another rendezvous-"
"How about we spend some time with your sister? Come on,"- Will made a face at the one he pulled. "You promised to do something about that ridiculous, at this point, hostile relationship of yours. Don't go back on your word-"
"If she's freed herself of Arel's company."- Phobos snorted under his nose.
He still didn't see why he should even talk to Elyon but the fact that Will advocated for it and that the so-called Queen actually showed her trust and respect, made even Phobos reconsider it to please the redhead.
Will laughed as they walked down the corridor with locked arms:
"They seem to be hitting it off, don't they? Good for both of them, if you ask me. Enough mourning for them and more romance."
"Quite twardy of them if you ask me but Que Sera, Sera-"
"Oh, shut up, as if ours is the epitome of exquisite taste, bud."
Phobos smirked again, walking like a swan in his simple yet royal garments.
Will had a harder time with royal garments hence for the most part she just went around in her casual Earth clothes.
They walked for a few minutes before reaching the royal saloon it was general knowledge Elyon liked to spend her evenings in.
Nerissa put a hand on the man's back.
She really didn't know what else to do; they had to wait for Cornelia to arrive, only that would do the situation any better.
Vera Hale was rushed to the hospital after a totally unexpected heart thing no one told them enough about.
She was not in critical care anymore but she wasn't completely out of danger either:
"She...she was alright this morning. The driver said she drove herself around town. She was healthy... I don't understand what is happening. I can't take mother being unwell too on top of everything that's piled up on my head. I will just fall and die, I swear."
Harold Hale was wearing sweatpants in public for the first time in a decade.
He was indeed overwhelmed and that was obvious by the way he looked. He was lean by nature but he looked like he had lost some weight from all the stress. Slightly aged. A few silver strands in his not-so-luscious no more hair.
The crisis spiraling in his family was taking a toll on him.
He just sat, hunched over in his seat, his legs apart.
His mother's condition was about to knock him out of the picture for good and he was openly admitting it:
"If something happens to her, I-I won't be able to take it, Nerissa."- he said in a thick voice. "I will not-"
"Nothing is going to happen, get a hold of yourself. She's going to be fine."- the ex-guardian assured him. "Vera is a tough broad, you know that; she'll pull through whatever-"
She sat in the seat next to the man and let him rest his head against her exposed chest but he didn't even have a natural lewd response, that was how overwhelmed he was.
Nerissa patted the side of his head with her hand and just waited.
Where was Cornelia!?
Two other blondes came faster than her; Elizabeth Landon turned to her husband:
"Harry, how are you? I am sure she'll be fine."- she began softly. "Harry, don't cry..."
She rarely ever addressed him as "Harry". That spoke volumes of how desperately she wanted to make him feel better.
At the sight of his wife, Harold perked up ever so slightly, sending her a tearful glance:
"Beth... I thought you wouldn't come."
Elizabeth left all of her anger, disappointment, and pride aside and gave him a hug.
"Of course, I came. I can't just leave you like this."- she murmured, holding him in her arms. "Nerissa, thank you for being by our side in this hard moment too. We appreciate it."
"But of course, don't mention it... I am positive everything will be better soon."
Nerissa's attention, however, was drawn by the other blonde that had arrived with Elizabeth.
She nodded at the couple reassuringly one last time before leaving their side to go deal with the standing Hale:
"What do you think you're doing here?"- she fired once they were farther away from the girl's parents.
Lillian frowned:
"Excuse me? My grandmother has been rushed to the hospital, what am I doing here?"
"And suddenly you realized you care more about your family than about your perverted desires?"- Nerissa mocked in a low voice. "You're laughable."
"Go to hell!"- Lillian hissed at her. "You're not fit to judge me! You...don't get to tell me anything about my family, don't you have your own to look after? Get off my back!"
"No, I am clearly not fit to judge your mistakes as harshly."- Nerissa admitted. "Yet I see through them and you, I see what you're made of, I see spite and darkness taking over your core! You're not fit to take control of that darkness you've adopted, foolish girl-"
"I'm the living and breathing Heart of Earth."- Lillian interrupted her. "I have no limitations."
And with that, she walked past her and headed for her grandmother's hospital room:
"Miss, you can't enter-"- one nurse tried to reason with her but Lillian nodded her head to the other side and she followed like a trained puppy, leaving for the direction that had been pointed at.
"Lillian?!"- her mother exclaimed. "What are you-"
"I just want to see her."- Lillian explained, looking over her shoulder. "Don't worry. She's going to be alright."
Elizabeth looked down hesitantly then nodded. Harold didn't say anything; what his daughter had done to him would forever have their relationship damaged.
Nerissa watched with arms crossed over her chest.
Just when Lillian was opening the door, another hand came in her way, pushing it back.
It was Cornelia.
She had finally arrived down the other end of the hallway.
She looked down at her sister, who was as tall as her, with icy determination:
"I'm going to see grandmother."- she declared. "You stay out of her room."
"You can't tell me what to do!"- Lillian argued, irritated. "I'm coming in."
Cornelia used force to keep the door closed but she knew that wasn't going to do it.
"Girls, this is not the place for more arguments!"- their mother exclaimed.
Cornelia got closer to the other Hale and said in a low voice, directly into her ear:
"If you have anything to do with grandmother's sudden poor health episode, I will not spare you. You will be sorry!"
"Are you insane, Cornelia, why would I do that to her?! I want to help her!"
Cornelia didn't say anything. Nothing surprised her anymore. That's why she wasn't unable to imagine her sister doing something as horrendous as this assuming she had somehow found out about her talk with their grandmother from that morning.
They both entered Vera's hospital room.
There was a doctor by her bed who tried to shoo them away but he couldn't argue with Lillian's power; she convinced him to walk out in silence and close the door behind himself with just a look.
Cornelia glared at her but didn't say anything. She sat on her grandmother's bed and concentrated.
"Wait."- Lillian suddenly stopped her.
"What is it?"- her bigger sister snapped, annoyed that she had been stopped just before unleashing her healing magic.
Lillian's face was unreadable. She made her sister a sign to come to talk away from the bed, but Cornelia didn't want to hear about it hence the younger Hale saw herself compelled to drag her there by the arm:
"What do you think you're doing, you shrimp!? Why are you hindering me from helping-"
- Because there is nothing to help her with; go ahead, try to heal her to see for yourself that I'm right, Lillian opened a mental link intrusively, giving her sister a sharp headache. This wasn't a connection she wanted in her mind but Lillian was too strong...
- Don't say I didn't warn you when you end up exposing yourself and your magic in front of grandmother. She's not ill, she's faking it, my magic determined it faster than yours because I am more powerful than you, oh, divine Cornelia...
- What? Cornelia glared at the girl in confusion. - What are you talking about? Why would she fake being-
"Nice show, grandmother. You even paid off the hospital staff."- Lillian commented out loud, walking toward the bed. "I guess I didn't leave you that penniless after all, huh? I know why you're doing this and I must say I am surprised by your dedication."
Cornelia could only watch in astonishment as it came clear to her; this was her grandmother's plan...
Seeing that it was no longer needed to put up a show, the older woman removed the oxygen mask from her face and sat in the bed:
"Are Harold and Babette together outside? Did she come?"- she asked excitedly, looking over at Cornelia rather than at the girl that had somehow exposed her.
Cornelia nodded.
Vera let out a happy guttural squeal before relaxing back against the bed frame.
"Good. That's good! At least one thing worked out the way I wanted it to."
Lillian watched her with a little smile:
"Wow, grandma, what a riot you are. Very befitting tricks to your age too, I have to say-"
"Why don't you put a sock in that immature bratty mouth of yours?"- Vera barked. "I didn't expect you to come here anyway? What's the matter? Thought I was finally dying? Oh, no, my dear. I'm not dying, I did this for your parents after your senseless actions made them fall apart as a couple! I know you don't care about us but I'm warning you. You better stay out of this!"
"I didn't do anything that dad hadn't already done on his own."- Lillian argued, even though she looked hurt by the fact that her grandmother thought that way of her. "I just used it against him. I'm sorry that mom doesn't exactly appreciate his fraudulent nature."
"What do you know about us anyway? You've never behaved like a Hale!"- the old woman snapped. "Your sister, for example-"
"Don't, grandmother."- Cornelia stopped her and shook her head.
She was relieved that Vera was alright but at the same time she knew that exactly this constant comparison between them was pushing Lillian toward new lows.
"I am glad that mom and dad are talking to each other again but I think that they will catch wind of this sooner or later."- she reasoned. "How do you plan to-"
"Don't worry about that, my dear."- the eldest Hale waved her hand in a managing manner as usual. "I will take care of it. You just take her out of here and make sure she doesn't rat me out."- she snapped, giving her other granddaughter a dirty look.
"No need for that. I know what to do when I'm not wanted."- Lillian declared bitterly right to the redhead's face. "I don't have time for nor any gain of debunking your soap opera-lies, grandmother. Be calm. I don't care to see your double-dealing son and naïve daughter-in-law separated. Have a speedy recovery."
"Evil! Evil brat!"- Vera fumed once the door was closed again. Thank God for soundproof hospital rooms... "Did you see her, Cornelia? She's a menace! I don't even want to lay eyes on her ever again!"
Cornelia excused herself and attempted to go after her sister, hearing their grandmother's words one last time:
"Don't tell your parents that I'm awake; tell them I'm still asleep! Don't let them split up-"
"Don't worry, grandmother. I won't."
When her older sister found her again, Lillian was sitting in a seat close to some vending machines near the hospital café, face in her palms.
She was crying. Or had been crying, nonetheless. The minute she felt the other Hale near, she sobbed, swallowing all that was left of her tears back, and just cleared her throat.
Cornelia approached her cautiously, pushing a strand from her long blonde hair behind her ear.
"What's the matter, Cornelia? You've come to gloat? My moments of weakness don't mean that I've given up or lost. I'm just letting all your poison out of my system."
"What are you even talking about is beyond me."- Cornelia shook her head. "Gloat? Over your pain? Lillian, I'm afraid you don't even know me anymore."
Her younger sister chuckled coldly:
"It's hard to know someone when they constantly cut off your attempts to be part of their life, isn't it?"
"OK, that's on me. I haven't always treated you the best."- the older blonde admitted. "And I'll admit that but-"
"It's not what you admit but what you've omitted for as long as you could. You never wanted to recognize the fact that I'm the reborn Heart or Earth. You never wanted to deal with me, what is there to talk about when all that's laid on the table?"
"Yes, because I didn't want you to be part of an entirely different reality that isn't as glamorous and fun as one might imagine, and it looks like I've been right; you don't exactly exude what a proper Light is expected to, do you?"
Lillian laughed again, this time even colder and more bitter. She stood up:
"Of course, you were right. You're self-righteous enough to believe you're always in the right."- she spat. "But you know what, Cornelia? No one cares. Especially not I; you're irrelevant and old news, quite frankly, you should've just let those moronic kids take over as the new guardians! Your team is exhausted, defeated, and disbanded anyway!"
In her desire to spite her sister, Lillian didn't realize the error she had just had.
Cornelia's eyes widened ever so slightly but she kept that in demurred fashion.
Caleb's path through the café diverged with the younger Hale's out. She literally walked right past him and was out of the building just like that, without saying a word.
Caleb looked after her in high dudgeon:
"You made her cry for a change?"- he guessed as he stood next to his girlfriend with his wet umbrella in his left hand.
It was raining out.
"Never mind. How's the situation here? How's your grandmother?"
Cornelia was immersed in her feverish thoughts of worry and fear.
Because what she had started to suspect had just been confirmed for the most part.
Lillian's role in all the bad things that had happened to all of them was bigger than she had initially imagined.
"Cornelia? Is everything alright?"
The blonde looked up at him and placed her hands on his chest:
"No."
"What!? Is she seriously ill or-"
"With grandmother Hale, everything's is more than alright. She's fine."- she explained to Caleb's cocked in worry brows. "My sister, however..."
Caleb snorted and gently covered her hands with his right one:
"Your sister is an impudent brat, never mind her, I told you"- he insisted."-whatever she does, don't let her get to you like that and she'll see she has to stop-"
"Yeah but what if she doesn't."- Cornelia interrupted him. "What if she no longer knows when to stop, Caleb?"- she finished darkly, her words turning more into a statement than a question. "What if what she did to us and the family is just the tip of the iceberg..."
Outside in the falling rain, Lillian Hale kept walking with dark makeup running down her cheeks and tears.
Lots of tears.
She was over everything. Everything that had happened to her, everything that she had done; she kept telling herself that she couldn't be broken again but all these people's collective efforts had succeeded.
Because she couldn't fight their unanimous reproach and resentment as she had imagined she'd be able to.
She couldn't live like that and be happy; as a villain, as an outcast...
Despite all the nefarious things she had done, she felt like she had reached the end. Nothing was worth all this anymore, especially after Matt had denied her yet again.
What had she expected? It made her feel like a stupid child, the more she thought of it.
Had she truly expected of him to choose to be by her side and raise a child together with her, falling in love with her in the end?
The conversations from weeks ago played in her mind again and again:
"Lillian, I take full accountability for what happened and I will be there for you. For that child, I will never let the two of you feel like you're missing something."- Matt's words made her hopeful at first. Then they made all her illusions pop like soap bubbles: "I will never be able to attain myself for what I did. What I did was wrong and criminal, and I feel disgusted with myself, not because of you; you're an amazing young woman, Lil, don't forget that. I'm disgusted with myself because I am an adult and you're a literal child that I've watched grow up, I shouldn't have ever touched you like I did that night, and I'm so sorry-"
His voice broke.
He was crying. She could see how hard all this was on him. Unfair, definitely. It was unfair what she had put him through but she loved him passionately and desperately... she couldn't help it.
"Matt, I'm not blaming you for anything."- Lillian said in a small voice. "Look, I'm at fault just as much as you are, yes, we got drunk together but I shouldn't have been so...I don't know, I guess provoking? I..."
"No, Lil."- he chuckled through tears. "You weren't. I don't know what got into me that night, but I've made my mind now. I will take accountability. I will do everything in my power to fix this as much as possible and I hope that Chris can forgive you and me one day and you two at least can move on..."
Lillian's heart stopped. Had he just...had he just said that he wouldn't be with her like that?
Chris? What the hell did he want with Chris? He was a pointless ex, just a rebound, a lifebelt she had used for a while as to get to her initial goal.
Matt...
"But...you and Will broke up, I thought that we could."- she mumbled. "I thought that we could...you know, be something more now and take care of our baby together?"- it was so humiliating to say it like that but she had no other choice.
She wanted this more than anything. She had wanted it for so long.
Matt, however, looked at her as if she had just said the most atrocious thing:
"Lil, you didn't...I'm sorry, now you might think that we could be a couple..."- he almost laughed at it nervously and her heart broke. "-because of that night but that's not possible, you know that. We're not two equal adults here."- Matt nearly stammered again, looking at her with concern now.
Concern in a different form. Now he was concerned about himself also...
"I'm an adult."- Lillian argued. "I'm almost twenty, what if you're a few years older than that? Come on, Matt, this isn't like that, you didn't groom me or whatever, don't even think of it like that. What happened between us was just...sparks being unleashed between a guy and a girl, I don't see why not now when we're both alone..."
Matt was speechless for a while.
"This is my fault."- he just shook his head at the end. He looked like a trainwreck. He sounded like one too. "I made you think this with my dumb actions, fuck why did I do this to you!?"- he cried again. "Oh, God..."
She just watched him sit down in his chair and cry, not knowing what to say or do.
"I let Will go because I owed it to her; I couldn't put both of you through this because of my inability to control myself in a situation. Alcohol, drugs, it all had the better of me and I lost control in the worst possible moment, Lil."- Matt said in the end, taking her hands into his. "I need to refine myself and heal after all this in order to stop hurting those who are dear to me like that, that's why I let Will go. Maybe it was a dire mistake, maybe she'll be with Phobos now and they'll be happy ever after but I don't deserve to hold her hostage like that when I'm this dysfunctional version of myself now, OK? The same applies for you, I will support you and your decision to have our baby, and I will make sure you both have a good future but I can't possibly be in a romantic relationship with you, Lil, I-"
"Oh, please, Matt, stop being like that!"- she snapped, pulling her hands free.
"L-like what?"- he blinked in alarm.
"Too good to be true."- the blonde listed. "Too hard on yourself! And stop treating me like a child. I wasn't a child when you put your dick inside of me, so how come I'm suddenly a child now?"
He cringed but she didn't care. The young Hale went on:
"Stop treating this accidental hookup like such a vile thing! Yes, it was a mistake because we were in relationships with other people, but not anymore! Besides, everyone knows how much Will wanted to be with that creep, Phobos, she hurt you so many times because of it! What you did for her was more than enough, she failed to appreciate it, it's not your fault!"- Lillian insisted in a loud voice. "You "letting her go" now is also good for her, because she fucking wanted that, Matt, stop it for fuck's sake! Learn to love yourself again and think of yourself."- Lillian knelt down and took his hands again. "Think about us."- she added. "The future we can have now when nothing obstructs us, the Heart of Earth, her Knight, and their future heir! Don't you see, Matt? Maybe this is just fate's doing after all? Maybe we were meant to be together!"
She had gone overboard. She had let her deepest desire be free in front of him and that had the worst possible effect and aftermath:
"Lillian! You can't seriously think all that, this is insane!"- Matt jumped on his feet. "I can't even imagine what you're saying, how can you? We are not meant to be, Lillian, I don't love you like that!"
*end of Flashback*
Lillian sobbed and let out an angry cry.
She kept walking down the streets of Heatherfield in the heavy rain, heartbroken, desperate, and alone.
That had been the worst thing that could've happened to her.
Matt had officially denied her and her love for him.
The man she had always been ready to do anything for, the man she had given up everything for...
He didn't love her.
He would never love her.
He had apologized about the way he had put it many times after that one conversation; after she had gone rogue, after she had sued her family, sunk Cornelia's brand, and officially became the 'villain' in everyone's eyes.
Matt desperately wanted her to keep her 'victim' status and feel like shit about himself but she couldn't take that.
She was no victim and she knew it.
And the more she realized it, the more she lost hope that anything would ever be alright again.
Then, the previous day after Kandrakar they had gotten into a semi-serious fight again because of how she treated everyone and how she presented herself.
He didn't like how she was letting herself go because of his 'mistake.' He wanted her to think about her future but she had told him he just reacted like that because of her confrontation with Will.
It was a low blow, Lillian realized. She realized that she had started hurting Matt too, after hurting so many people, even though he wanted the best for her in his mind.
In her mind, he had betrayed her but that was just a perverted reality of the truth and she herself was aware of it too.
It was sad, everything she had done for this dream.
Had she really done all she had done for such a fabled, child-like illusion?
No, she hadn't.
Once she had bigger goals but she had been misled by that idiot seer.
Lillian clenched her teeth; yes, he had advised her to go through with this plan once he foretold Will would choose Matt over Phobos.
He had set her to fail.
I will find you and I will take all my anger, frustration, and revenge on you, you useless creep, Lillian vowed in her mind.
Just then a car came out of nowhere in the rain. Or rather, she had crossed a semi-small street without paying attention and had gotten in her way? It didn't really matter, because the car was about to run her over.
It couldn't stop; it was too wet.
The vehicle flew towards Lillian who had little to no time to scream and raise her hand up instinctively.
The next thing she knew, she had stopped the car with her brute force, magnified by her powers...
She dented the vehicle and just nailed it in place without thinking about it...
"Oh, my God, are you alright?"- the woman who drove the car exclaimed, getting outside of it with a look of terror written on her face. She had platinum blonde hair and managed to carry a big umbrella, despite being in a rush to check on the girl she had almost pushed over:
"I'm s-sorry, I didn't see you and maybe you didn't see me, I thought that something fatal will happen there for a second. I'm sorry-"
"Yeah, whatever."- Lillian interrupted her, smoothing the dent as much as she could with a quick spell, trying to keep a low profile in front of the woman.
There was something familiar about her but she didn't care right now.
She just wanted to get away from everything and everyone.
"Can I give you a ride somewhere?"- the woman suggested. "I'm sorry but you don't look OK, can I at least call someone for you, or-"
"I said that I'm fine, lady, leave me at peace!"- Lillian snapped and just walked away on her.
"Wait-"
She ignored her, clenching her teeth. As if she had time for this too.
Lillian walked away, disappearing from sight at the next turn of the sidewalk as the woman who had almost run her over kept looking in her direction.
She then looked down at the front of her car and ran her fingers against the barely visible dent or what was left of it.