I'm back with the 14th chapter! Now, we finally return to Will, Irma, and the gang so read on!
Chapter 14: Real Monsters!
Eva's POV
"You can't possibly be serious!" Eva said as she walked with Wei and Will later that day. "You think that there's a possibility that we might have magic like you and your friends! Tell Will how absurd that is, Wei!"
"She's the one who suggested it!" Will explained. "And it actually makes sense. Yes, there is no way to know if it's actually true at the moment, but it also ties in with this mirror thing. You had to be right, right Wei?"
"Please, just forget everything I ever said about that and lets just keep focusing on getting our friends back, huh?" Wei said abruptly. She started to hurry down the hallway to get Rachel and Irma, who were saying goodbye to Erika, so that they could go somewhere and think of a plan. Will turned to Eva.
"What's her problem?" she asked. Eva just shook her head with a defeated sigh.
"She is caught between the two things that she would never admit. It is either that we really are dealing with magic and the supernatural, or that she was wrong."
Wei came back irritably with Irma and Rachel exchanging glances behind her.
"Come on, let's go." Will said. They all walked out the school doors and started across Cradd's front lawn. They walk without speaking for a few minutes until they reached the end of the street and had no choice but to come up with a destination.
"Where should we go?" Irma asked.
"Phoebe's house?" Rachel suggested.
"No, the bookstore." Will told them. "That's where it all started. There might be some more answers there."
Eva nodded. If there was anywhere where there would be more clues, it would be the place where the four girls went through the mirror. Eva was still freaked out about it and didn't really want to believe it, but what choice did she have? Her friends were missing somehow. Irma and Will might be a little nuts, but she had to believe them if they were ever going to find Ona and Phoebe.
"Follow me." Wei told them as she started heading off in the direction of the following street. Ooh, still cranky are we, Eva snickered in her head as everybody started walking behind Wei. Wei turned around quickly.
"I am not cranky, Eva!" she snapped back. Eva blinked in surprise and Rachel giggled and elbowed Will playfully in the stomach.
"Sure she's not." She whispered and they and Irma fell into quiet giggling. Eva looked back up at Wei, whose shoulders were hunched up in anger at the girls behind her laughing.
"Why would you assume that I thought you were cranky?" Eva called out. Wei turned her head a little bit to retort, but then thought better of it.
"Never mind," she said quickly. "It's all in my head." Eva looked back and saw Will glancing atWei weirdly before shaking her head.
"Come on, let's keep moving." Eva interrupted and they made their way after twisting through many streets. Eva couldn't help glancing around and admiring all the lights decorating the houses. Standings of Santa Clause, reindeer, snowmen, and Jesus's birth were on almost every lawn. It was near evening, the sun hadn't quite set yet, but it was low enough in the sky for all of the bright, sparkling Christmas decorations to be seen and Eva sighed when they left the neighborhoods and into busier streets where they'd have to press a button and wait until cars stopped and it was safe to cross past the traffic.
"There are too many cars out." Irma moaned as she instinctively shut her eyes as the bright headlights of a truck moved over them.
"Everyone's doing their last minute Christmas shopping." Rachel explained.
Eva sighed and for a moment, felt longingly for her comfortable apartment with her Mom bustling about trying to settle down the twins, Jess and Jamie, while her older sister, Tiffany, talked nonstop to her boyfriend. Okay, she admitted to herself. It's not exactly picture perfect, but it's still home, where it's not cold. Where I'm sure the biggest fights I would have would be getting in trouble for being past curfew, fighting over the remote with Tiffany, and dragging the twins out of my bedroom. But who knows what kind of fight we might get into, Eva thought with a shiver. If there was going to be some sort of battle, Eva wanted absolutely no part in it. That's what the Guardians' job was, right?
"We're almost there." Rachel assured them as she pointed ahead to the bookstore filled with lights. They didn't really hear her though as they all looked at each other in panic as a scream came ahead of them.
"Uh oh." Will whispered as she bit her lip worryingly. They started running and Wei talked to Eva through breaths.
"Is it just me or are these girls starting to seem more like Ona and Phoebe?"
"Oh, so is that what you meant by figuring that we might have powers?" Eva called back as they sprinted closer to Barnes and Noble. "I thought you of all people, Wei. Just drop it, okay?" Wei nodded and gasped as people started running put of the doors. Rachel, being the fastest, reached the doors just as an old man was running hysterically out through them. He grabbed Rachel by the arm and attempted to steer her away from whatever was in the store.
"This is no place to be headed toward little lady." He said kindly, but with much fear in his eyes. Rachel yanked her hand back as Will caught up with her with the rest of them right behind.
"I think we can handle anything that is in there." Will said as she and Rachel ran through the doors.
"But-" the man pleaded. Wei, Eva, and Irma ran through the doors past him.
"Well, that can't be good." Irma said, stating the obvious. Book shelves ahead were being thrown and bashing into others. The place was in shambles and there was much noise in the back. Will and Irma ran toward it immediately while Rachel, Eva, and Wei hesitated before following the two girls.
"What are we getting into?" Eva groaned. They turned around a shelf and Eva stood there stunned. Creatures were stumbling out of a mirror. They had weapons and angry faces. Real monsters! Real monsters, Eva yelled in her head. It was a couple of seconds that Eva's dizziness faded away and all she had creeping into her mind was pure terror. So she did something any sensible girl would do in this kind of situation, even if it wasn't the brightest thing to do.
She screamed.
The Metamoorians looked up at the sound and started walking toward them, cackling and brandishing their swords. Eva trembled and she, Wei, and Rachel slowly made their way behind Irma and Will, who she could tell were used to this.
"What are we having here, a party?" Irma asked with an inquiring look. "Why aren't your butts in Meridian? Hey, wait a minute!" Irma's eyes bulged with realization and Eva jumped about a mile when a huge, green lizard with a red mask over his wide eyes and large, sharp teeth came from their side with a very satisfied smile.
"Well, well," he hissed. "The two Guardians and the three friends of Phobos's prisoners." Will and Irma looked angry.
"Didn't we lock your scaly butt up?" Will questioned. Cedric laughed and Eva shivered.
"It's a funny thing, how easy it is to escape Candracar. We quietly left the tower unnoticed while the Council was gathered in a circle around a woman speaking about a mirror. I think you can figure the rest out." Cedric said slyly.
Something clicked in her mind. That woman must be Phoebe's great, great grandmother, Eva thought quickly. But that doesn't make sense. She's dead, isn't she? And what the heck was Candracar?
"Well now, before we go destroy this world, we'll be needing the Heart of Candracar, Will." His claws stretched greedily toward her and she recoiled with disgust.
"How many times do I have to say 'not a chance'?" Will yelled. She looked back at them and whispered. "Okay, here's where he gets really angry and tries to attack us so you may want to stand back." Will opened her fist and the Heart of Candracar floated above her outstretched palm. Eva wondered what would happen next.
"Hold on." Eva said, watching Will's determined expression. "Didn't you say that your crystal hasn't been working right here?" Will gasped and closed her hand again with a gulp and sinking feeling. She turned back to Eva.
"Okay, so what are we supposed to do?"
"First of all," Eva answered, frightened. "Duck!" The girls fell to the floor as a long tail flew over their heads. Soldiers were advancing on them and crowded around them in a circle as the five girls stood back to back, searching their brains for ways of escape.
"Any ideas?" Irma asked as her hand flew to her face as to prepare herself for a fistfight.
"We need to get to Ona and Phoebe!" Eva exclaimed. "We don't have time to deal with this! We're so in for it."
"How in the world did these dudes get here anyway?" Wei asked with a grimace. At any moment, they all would charge and Eva was all too noticeable of the fact that the madly grinning monsters had the capability to slice them bits to bits.
"I don't know!" Will said with exasperation. "We need something, quick!"
"The mirror!" Rachel suddenly exclaimed. The other four heads snapped in the direction at which she was pointing and at long last, hope was made by a glowing mirror in plain sight at the end of the store.
"Great! Once you figure out how to jump over all these guys, let us know, okay." Irma said sarcastically.
"We need a plan." Wei said desperately. Cedric loomed over them once again.
"Get them!"
"I'm sorry Wei, but making plans just doesn't seem to fit in this Guardian business!" Will yelled. She threw her arms over her and Eva was amazed as a small, pink force field came out of her hands and surrounded them as the soldiers banged against the bubble. They seemed a little too close for comfort, even if there was a shield around her.
"Irma!" Will cried with a pained voice. She was shaking as she strained to keep them protected as swords slashed furiously against them.
"Right." She answered. She held out her palms toward the Starbucks and swirls of water came storming in. Eva cheered as all the guards were wiped off their feet.
"Go, now!" Will yelled as she let her arms down and started sprinting across the floor. Everyone started running and Eva ran like she had ever run before in her life. She was very shocked when something grabbed her and yanked her back with a glaring smile.
"I've got one!" he called out as Cedric slithered his way over. Eva was horrified and tried to escape, but he held her tightly. It was just then that Wei turned around and screamed.
"Eva!"
"Get your filthy hands off me!" Eva yelled as she twisted in agony. "I may not have powers but you definitely don't want to mess with me!" the Guard laughed as if she was telling an amusing joke.
Eva felt suddenly something funny. Something from earlier had come to bug her now. No, I thought it was over, Eva thought wearily as her mouth opened and closed. I can't believe it! I'm still sick!
"Aacchhhhhhooooooooooo!" It was a huge sneeze that knocked the wind out of her as she was dropped to the ground. Wow, was it that powerful, she wondered. She gasped when she saw that a potted plant on a nearby counter had burst to life and stretched further than possibly imaginable and twisted as to block the monsters' path. She felt her mouth and eyes being a gape before her arms were lifted up by Wei.
"Get moving!" she yelled. The other girls had just past through the mirror and Wei and Eva jumped through together. Eva looked around quickly, taking in their disgraceful surroundings. She didn't notice anything until a voice shouted out from somewhere along a wall.
"Oh my God! Eva, Rachel, Wei! Ona, look!" Eva jumped up and ran to her friends with a squeal. She was so happy to see them, yet so worried. What has happened to them, she wondered. They look like they have been suffering a lot of distress.
"Never mind the get together. We've got to get them out of here and away from that mirror before Cedric and his army get through." Will called out she undid Phoebe's binds quickly while Irma did Ona's and they both stood on the floor gratefully, but not quite stabilized.
"Why can't we just shut the mirror?" Rachel suggested.
"Hello? Do you know how?" Wei asked as though it was a stupid question. Phoebe shifted uncomfortably.
"Um…I think, I might be able to." She said shyly. She held out her fist and Eva noticed that a ring that she had never seen before was fastened on her finger. It started to shine brightly and then five colors started swirling out of it, towards then mirror. With a swooshing sound and a pop, it disappeared.
"Uh, wow!" Will mumbled, definitely dumbfounded at a quick end to their troubles. "Okay, that was unexpected."
Phoebe shrugged and then almost toppled over as Rachel, Ona, Wei, and Eva ran to hug each other, more into which became a dog pile on the ground. They giggled and Eva noticed sadly that although Will and Irma were trying their best to seem happy for the five of them, that they really missed their own friends. Eva pulled apart from the giggling and the others did too. They needed to realize that they weren't alone and now needed to help Will and Irma. Phoebe walked up to Will and grinned.
"So, I'm guessing the Heart of Candracar will work now that you're not in my world." She told her.
"How did you know-?"
"Trust me." She responded. Will nodded and opened her fist once more. The Heart of Candracar sparkled with a beautiful light and Will smiled. Eva wondered how Phoebe knew.
"Oh my gosh!" Wei suddenly cried out. "By closing the mirror, did anybody else notice that monsters are locked inside our city?" Eva's eyes bulged and Phoebe sighed.
"Of course, I managed to screw it up again." She mumbled, kicking at the dirt. Will looked back at her.
"How did you even close it?" she asked. Phoebe fingered, well, her finger.
"This ring. My great, great grandmother Amelia gave it to me. She was once a Guardian and Keeper of the Heart of Candracar. She made the mirror and found the world we live in now. She told me her past and that I needed to read a message, but couldn't tell me more because she feared Luba would find her out somewhere in Candracar."
"She was a Guardian and the Keeper of the Heart!" Will yelled.
"Luba!" Now that was Irma and Ona, obviously.
"Made the mirror!" Rachel exclaimed.
"Found our world?" Eva asked with a strong and confused voice.
"Wait, you mean this message?" Six head swerved in Wei's direction as she dug for something in her pocket. Eva shook her head. Of course it would be Wei not asking a question but trying to give a solution, that know it all. A scrap of paper slid into her hand and Phoebe reached for it curiously when a big bang was heard from behind them. Phobos entered with an astonished look on his face. It then smoothed into an easy grin. Eva didn't like the look of this guy.
"Um, I think we should get out of here and try to get your friends." Eva told Will as she tugged at her arm. Will shook her head and stole an angry glance at Phobos before they ran around a corner to save some extra time.
"Why go try to find them when we can bring them to us?" she announced. The Heart of Candracar brightened and pink magic was glowing around Will. Eva was sure that something amazing was going to happen.
"After all, we're going to need all of W.i.t.c.h. to defeat this guy."
"And P.o.w.e.r.!" Ona exclaimed, putting her arm around Phoebe's shoulder cheerfully. Will glanced around at the five girls for a few seconds, and then smiled, for real this time.
"And P.o.w.e.r." she whispered.
As Will's magic blinded her eyes, Eva thought back to Ona's comment and smiled. Everything was chaotic, but Eva felt calm and at ease with herself and with her best friends around her. She started thinking that W.i.t.c.h. wasn't that different from them after all. They had connected through different universes, through different worlds, and as Eva watched three forms take shape in front of them and then fully appear with bewildered looks on their faces, she realized that fate had brought her here. Now faith in her friends was going to lead her on a path where she would gladly go, with them by her side. There might be bumps and forks in the road, but Eva wanted to understand everything that they had been put through, and everything that was about to happen. But she knew from that moment on, no matter what ever happened, there was no turning back.