Hi people! Great, I got tones of reviews again. Sorry that I never let Caleb and Cornelia finally confess their feelings. Well, I have to torture you a little more to see if they will finally be together. So, anyway, enjoy!
Chapter 9
The group was going along dark, scary tunnel. On its dirty mould walls appeared and disappeared the shadows of the girls and Caleb (and Blunk who was trudging along after them) from the flares' light. The further they went, the more darker and scary it got.
They were walking for quite a long time and they went far enough that the plain light, which came from the opened tunnel door, became completely invisible.
«Guys, look out! » Will suddenly cried.
A big flock of bats flew straight to the travelers' faces. Will, Irma, Hay Lin and Taranee screamed and bent down. Cornelia, who was going next to Caleb in front of other girls, grabbed Caleb's arm, nestled up to him and they both bend down.
«Oh, again those bats! Why there always must be bats in dirty disgusting tunnels!? » Hay Lin grumbled standing up when the bats were gone and stamped her foot.
«Oh yeah! » said Irma, but she was mostly looking at Caleb and Cornelia than talking about the bats.
Cornelia realized that they were being watched after so she quickly let Caleb and they both blushed.
«OK, guys, we must continue our way» Caleb said trying to change the theme.
And the procession continued its way through the tunnel. It was horrible and even Caleb, who was very courageous and brave looked around with fear at every rustle. They have been walking or a very long time and started to feel exhausted, but there were only walls, walls and a long way forward. Like the tunnel was endless. The girls even started to despair, but they needed to do this to the end and finally to return back to Heatherfield.
Suddenly Hay Lin stopped so suddenly that other girls following her crushed in her back.
«Ouch! » said Taranee rubbing her head.
«What's there? » Will asked looking at the Air guardian in surprise.
Hay Lin stood speechless with her mouth opened. She could only point at the wall straight in front of her.
«What? A dead end? That can't be so; there must be a way out! » Will said breathing nervously.
«We're in a trap! That's the end1 I don't want to die so young! » Irma started to panic.
«Calm, girls. There must be a way out of here» Taranee tried to calm everyone, but she hardly believed in what she was saying.
«You guys, look up there! » Cornelia pointed just above her. There was a closed wooden manhole in the 'ceiling'.
«We are saved! Hurray! » Hay Lin cried with joy. That's amazing how rapidly her mood could change!
Caleb tried to push the manhole door (I don't know how it is called in English).
«People, it's locked! » he informed the girls after trying for a several seconds.
The guardians' faces changed immediately. Again the hope was lost.
«But this cant be» Cornelia whispered «Caleb, you must try. Please»
Caleb looked at his only love. For her he could do anything, he could do much more than just open a manhole if she only asked. Just her sight, her speech, her smile gave him force and he started to try again and again. She hoped for him and he couldn't let her down.
Cornelia, seeing his efforts came nearer and held her flare to light the manhole. The girls looked at them with intense faces. Caleb tried to open the manhole really hard. He put all his force in it and drops of sweat appeared on his face.
After a several attempts, the guardians heard a loud crush and the manhole door raised a little.
«Yes! » the girls were cheering; optimistic Hay Lin was even jumping with joy, though it was not very comfortable in her long medieval dress.
«You did it! » Cornelia's face lit up with joy. She even wanted to hug Caleb, but held her emotions.
«Now we must get out of the tunnel, I wonder where it led» said Caleb throwing the manhole door away. A little hole appeared in the tunnel 'ceiling'. «Ladies first» said Caleb looking at the Earth guardian «Shall I help you? »
«No, thanks» Corny smiled «I'll o that myself» and she tried to get out of the tunnel through the opening, but she failed, because it was too hard.
«Need a little help? » Caleb asked seeing her unsuccessful attempts.
«Yeah, I think» Cornelia said softly.
Caleb came nearer to her and put his hands on her waste. He felt totally happy when he touched, when he felt the only he loved. Cornelia also wanted this moment to last forever. But getting out of Verona was more important that those sentiments (although Cornelia and Caleb didn't think so), so Caleb lifted the blonde up and she managed to get out of the tunnel. Back on earth! It was great to feel soil under feet and finally see the light and breathe fresh air after that horrible endless tunnel.
«Hey, don't be sleepy, give me your hand» Cornelia heard Will's voice from under the earth. Cornelia gave her hand to the guardian and with little Caleb's help (but don't think he also lifted her by waist, he could do this only to Cornelia) she finally got out from the tunnel.
Than the girls helped Irma to get out, then Hay Lin and Taranee. Blunk also thought that he will stand on ceremony too, but Caleb simply took him by collar and threw through the opening. Then he climbed out of the tunnel himself and stood next to the girls…
That time in Meridian
While the guardians were solving the mystery of Capulets' library in medieval Verona, Phobos was sitting in his throne in the dark castle of Meridian. Cedric in his disgusting snake denunciation was standing near his evil master.
«That was a brilliant idea to entice the guardians in the trap using Elyon's power» said the villain rubbing hands with pleasure «A portal that can't be controlled and no one knows where it leads. I'm a genius! So where are our little girls captured now? In Middle Ages? Or maybe somewhere even further? They are lost in the history torrent and nothing will prevent me from ruling the world now! » Then goes evil laughter as it is usual in films with villains.
«Certainly, sir» hissed Cedric «That was very clever of you»
«But it isn't the solution of everything» Phobos continued to think aloud «My magic mirror can't show exactly what happens to them and I don't know what they intended. There are rumors that they got involved with that rebel leader, that insignificant urchin, who imagines himself a hero and only interfere under legs! Together they can have a plan and find a way to return back. And that harridan, grandmother of one of the guardians, will definitely try to help them. And she does, all plans will be ruined and I'll have to start everything from the beginning. So I won't get calm while they are alive»
Cedric understood that he had to do that mission and tried to convince his master not to do that. «But, sir, they will never get out of here» he said «And they do not have their powers, the energy of Heart of the Kandrakar is blocked and your powers will be enough to capture the world. They are absolutely nondangerous. There is no need to kill them»
«No, I need to be overcautious. You must go through that portal and kill those show-offs» Phobos ordered.
Cedric was afraid of this. He completely didn't want to go through an unknown portal, where he could stay forever. So he had a tiny hope to get rid of that task.
«But maybe…» he tried to mutter.
«Silence! » roared Phobos standing up «If I ordered you to do something, you just go and do it! Take a few warriors and go and kill those girls! I don't need any problems with you»
«But when we get through the portal, our powers will also be blocked» the snake tried to object.
«You are nothing more than an insignificant coward! » was the answer «Look at you, you are brainless, but huge and who are they? Just little girls without guardians' powers! Won't you cope with mere humans? »
«But when I get through the portal, I may never return back, it is a very dangerous portal» Cedric tried to extricate.
«And I don't care what may happen to you! » shouted Phobos. He was very irritated. «You are completely useless, why do I need you? Do just something useful in your miserable life! Now get you hence and do what I ordered! You annoy me»
Cedric's plan failed and he had to do that task. So he went away to take some warriors and go to kill the guardians.
Back to Verona, Middle Ages
«Hey, I can't see anything here, it's so foggy! » Will said looking around.
«But it can't be just an empty space, the tunnel must lead somewhere» Irma said.
«I know it's hard to believe, guys, but…» Taranee whispered «but there really is nothing here! »
«That can't be true» Cornelia said in broken voice «If it is, then… then we did everything wrong and it was not the door which was said in the riddle»
«Oh, no » Hay Lin gasped «Then it's too late to correct it. We lost too much time. There are only a few hours left before sunrise and the duel between Mercutio and Tybalt is on the next day! Everything failed! »
Cornelia's eyes filled with tears. Is everything really ruined?
«Guys, you can blame me on this» Will said «I'm the leader of the guardians and I must have done something to help us get out of here. But I did nothing! »
«No, Will, it's all my fault» Cornelia said «This was my idea to try the door and I didn't have a right for a mistake, I didn't! »
Cornelia closed her eyes and let her head a little down. Everybody was sad. What will happen now? Will the girls ever see their parents again? Will they ever have their powers again? Will Phobos rule the world?
The guardians looked at Caleb and Cornelia and asked themselves another, more important question: could Cornelia and Caleb ever be able to be together?
Everyone was silent. Suddenly they heard Hay Lin's voice «Hey, guys, I think I can see something»
Everybody lifted their heads and looked into the fog. Maybe there still was a hope?
«I also can see this» Will said screwing up her eyes «It's something dark, but I can't understand what»
«What are we waiting for? It's our chance» Hay Lin screamed and ran to the object.
«Wait for us» shouted Irma, but the Air guardian was already far enough and the rest of the team followed her.
Soon they arrived near not a big building. It was made of stone, also medieval styled and it looked like a strange summer-house. It had a pointed roof.
«Corny, maybe you were right, maybe this is what is told in the riddle? » Irma tried to cheer the Earth guardian.
«Oh, no guys, it's locked! » Taranee gasped pointing at a huge medieval padlock on the huge doors of the building.
«And is there a way to open it? » Caleb asked worriedly. Even he hadn't enough force to tear the padlock off.
«People, don't panic, there is one» Hay Lin said calmly as an expert. «I did it a thousand times; I hope it will work now»
With those words, she pulled a hairpin out of her hair. The girl put it into the keyhole and started to move it inside. The other girls and Caleb, everyone looked amazed. (Everyone, except Blunk, who was just loitering around, not understanding all the importance of what was happening.
«Just a moment, now, now» Hay Lin whispered to herself as she was turning the hairpin inside the keyhole. «Voila! » she cried after a crash noise from inside the keyhole, and the padlock fell on the ground.
«Wow, you did it! » everybody cheered.
«Thank you, thank you! » the Air guardian started to bend down, as on the stage.
«How did ya manage to do that? » Will asked in amazement.
«Well, » Hay Lin shook her shoulders «Once my grandmother lost her key from the cupboard, where she kept important spices, and then I could open my ability»
«Wow, you could probably be a burglar and make business on that» Irma smiled. But felt silent immediately when realized it was not time for witting.
«We must open them, and we should better hurry» Caleb said and he and the girls started to open heavy doors of the summer-house.
«I guess, these are the doors, which are meant in the riddle and in the summer-house must be the magic book we are looking for» Will supposed.
But when the doors were opened and everyone looked inside…
«Oh my gosh! » Irma whispered.
There was nothing inside the building, except some weapons hanging on the opposite wall. There were a few swords, daggers, shurikens and iron three horned weapons (I know it is not typical for Middle Ages, but these are only types of weapons I can think up)
Silence. Everybody was speechless.
«How stupid we were hoping» Taranee shook her head bitterly «Lord Capulet just made that building to keep weapons in it, and the tunnel to lead to it under the ground. And now there is no way back…»
Did it mean that all hopes were broken? Their last hope, last chance, it failed! What will happen to them now?
All the girls were shocked and had terrible feelings. But Cornelia was upset most of all. Tears were rolling down her cheeks, and not only because her destiny was already decided and she was going to be forced married Paris. Her heart was about to tear.
Caleb felt the same. He put his hand on Cornelia's bare shoulder. That was such a moment when his skin connected to hers! He wanted it never to end. Caleb looked at the blonde angel, his angel; he couldn't imagine that Cornelia could belong to somebody else. But now it was very possible.
«Cornelia, hold on. I understand how hard it is, but you must hope» he said to support her a little.
Cornelia turned and looked in his eyes. Her ocean blue eyes were full of tears, the most pure tears ever. When she looked at her only love and realized that she was going to lose him, her heart ached sharply. She was glad to do everything Caleb would say to her, fulfill every his order, but she couldn't do what he told her now.
«Caleb, that's impossible» she whispered bitterly «There is no hope and no way back now. There is nothing in my power that I can do, the Capulets will marry me on Paris by force, I don't have any choice. Everything is already decided for us…»
And there really was nothing they could do. The more Cornelia looked at her first and only love, more she realized that she couldn't lose him, she wouldn't bear that. «Il est mon songe, il est mon amour, ma vie, je l'aime trop pour vivre sans lui. Il vaut miex mourir» (He is my dream, he is my love, my life, I love him too much to live without him. I'd better die. French) she thought breathing heavily.
« À quoi bon faut-il que je vive dans ce monde sans elle? Comment vivrai-je quand je sait qu'elle soffrait d'être mariée à qn, qui elle n'aime pas, et quand je va souffrire de mon amour à elle? Il vaut miex mourir » (Why need I live on Earth without her? How will I live knowing that she is suffering being force married on someone, she doesn't love and suffering myself from my love to her? I'd better die. French) Caleb thought with pain in his heart.
The girls were standing nearby looking at their two best friends. They knew and understood everything and were also suffering in soul. They knew what will happen in they don't get out of Verona. They knew that their lives will be manipulated by Capulets and Montages, who they knew only from the book. They knew that they will never return the power of the Heart of the Kandrakar and will never be guardians again. They knew that without barriers, which made the Guardians of the Veil, Phobos will take power over Meridian and perhaps Earth and the reign of eternal evil will begin. But for the girls, who were witnesses of the strongest and most pure love ever between their two best friends, all that was not important. For them, the separating of two loving hearts was much worse than the destruction of whole universe.
Caleb and Cornelia knew they won't be able to live without each other. They both would better die. So what was better: death or miserable life with somebody you never loved far from your true love? Will they ever be happy? Or this was going to be a story of Romeo and Juliet, who chose death? And must Cornelia and Caleb choose death when their lives only began? Do they have choice?
They couldn't answer those questions; they were just standing and looking at each other. Maybe in the last time ever…
So will this story have a happy end? Or it will have the sad final of Shakespeare's play? You will discover this in the next chapters. I don't promise anything! So, sorry, guys that I leave you hanging and suffering from what will happen next, I'll try to update as soon as possible! And now, go on and send me a tone of reviews, I miss your praise so much! See ya later:)