Chapter Fourteen

By: Sokai

Disclaimer: I, Sokai, do not claim ownership to the workings of W.I.T.C.H. -- I leave that honor up to Elisabetta Gnone. However, I can and DO claim to own this story and its inspired ideas FROM said series, as well as the original character, Sitara Vandom/Amandella Ember.

Note: I knew it. "Chaos" HAS ensued with chapter thirteen. I've gotten a lot of angered responses about it, but in e-mail versus review. Reason? "So I can write as much as I want and not run out of room," explained one of the angry readers. LoL I TOLD you guys there'd be an uproar. But it's funny to me, because I'M the one who wrote this, and what I HAVE written is just so "powerful" that it's caused ANYone to react so strongly, period. So, honestly? I'm flattered. LoL Dunno what to say about this chapter, so just read. LoL

P.S. I'd love to hear from MORE of you, besides JayxKay and DayDreamer9 in my forum for this story, so please feel free to go in and tell me your thoughts/opinions on how the story's going or even how it SHOULD go!

P.P.S. If you haven't yet, PLEASE go to my forum for this story, as JayxKay has posted the link to her WONDERFUL and AMAZING comic strips FOR this story (the two strips featured are the end of chapter 6 and beginning of 7, by the way)! I am STILL blown away by it as WELL with the fact that someone out there is willing to make one of my stories into a comic b/c they like it that much. So, again, JayxKay, thanks SO much!

Warning: Mild cursing, as well as references to serious life issues/matters like: starvation, self-mutilation, etc. No flames, no disrespect period for this, please, as you HAVE been warned . . .

This chapter was created/written in April 2006.

". . . Any ideas yet?" asked Irma, an ice pack rested over her forehead to soothe away her aches as she sat upon the couch. They'd been sitting or standing about the dilapidated room for more than an hour now, trying desperately to come up with a plan to find Sitara for Wilhelmina (who'd thankfully calmed down a bit), however with no luck.

"No . . . but this crazy weather's giving me the idea not to travel anywhere for a while . . ." said Taranee as she looked out of the darkened living room window and Hay Lin turned on the small television within the kitchen to catch the weather report at the same time, as though on cue.

"-- Which is having everyone in great duress . . . Cities across the entire globe are submitting reports of environmental disasters: earthquakes; tsunamis; volcanic eruptions; tornadoes -- anything that can come to mind as a natural disaster appears to be happening all over . . .

Needless to say, it is causing vast concern worldwide, with the majority of its occupants believing this, quite possibly, to be signs of the Apocalypse . . ."

All five girls turned their attention to the television upon hearing this, within the same instant that the window suddenly burst open, causing rain to spray inside everywhere.

"Ahh! A-at least we don't live near any volcanoes, but we might have trouble with immense flooding!" said Hay Lin as she rushed to the window to help Taranee close it up.

Maybe what's going on outside all over is why I and everyone else suddenly look -- and presumably feel -- so ragged? Cornelia reflected mentally of the remaining women who each progressively looked depleted of energy -– Wilhelmina especially . . .

". . . I don't know what's going on out there, but we need to continue focusing on how to find Sitara . . ." she said, frowning at the television before moving to turn it off.

". . . How do you know that that monster isn't behind this?" asked Wilhelmina in a low, accusatory tone from where she sat at the kitchen table, brown eyes downcast and hallow.

All eyes gazed curiously upon her, as that had been the first time she had spoken since her outburst an hour before.

Cornelia looked physically wounded at this as Wilhelmina made insinuations against someone who obviously meant a lot to the blonde.

". . . Will . . . we don't know that for sure . . . I mean, we don't know what she's capable of, and --"

"-- If she's capable of killing my family, Cornelia, she's capable of bringing about the end of the world if she really wanted to," countered Wilhelmina, slowly looking up to meet her stunned gaze.

"Besides, who designated you the group's new leader -- our mother hen? We're not even a group -- friends anymore, so why are you wasting ours and your time?"

"Wilhelmina, Cornelia's just --" began Hay Lin weakly after having finished blocking the window with Taranee, before Cornelia raised a hand to silence her.

"No, Hay Lin. It's all right. Since we're not getting anywhere with ideas on how to find Sitara just yet, I think this is the perfect time to finally try to fix this cataclysmic group," she said, staring down Wilhelmina with delicate eyes, before veering her attention onto the rest of the leftover girls.

"What has happened to us? I mean, seriously? Because, before I'd moved away, we were extremely tight, celebrating our victory over Phobos and helping Elyon reclaim her rightful throne . . . I don't know . . . it's like, because I'd left that we broke apart . . ." she began, feeling her heart jerk as she reflected upon her best friend for the first time in a while, it seemed, wishing she was there to back her up in this trying time.

Irma rolled her eyes as she lightly scoffed from her place upon the couch.

"Oh, please. Are you trying to say that we grew apart because the star of the show split? Figures that you'd try to make this about you," she said, turning her body away from her.

Surprisingly, Cornelia didn't retaliate heatedly as she'd expected, but merely continued on delivering her theory calmly.

"Actually? That's exactly what I'm saying. I mean, think of it: on the magic side of things, when was the last time any of you have used your powers? When was the last time you'd even thought of it? I know my powers have definitely gotten weaker over time, for sure, and I'm almost positive that yours have as well . . .

I think it's because I left, that our bond didn't survive . . . because we were no longer all together physically . . . and as a result, it's broken our 'W.I.T.C.H.' bond and weakened our powers," she hypothesized, beginning to pace the room.

Everyone could instantly feel the tension greatly increasing within the room as each girl speculated what would be coming next from out of the blonde's mouth . . . something that some, more than others, were not at all thrilled to nose dive into.

"Apparently, Cornelia's acquired a degree in Analytical Psychology or something while she's been away, you guys. Spare me the psycho-babble, okay? You don't know what's been going on within our lives, I've told you once before already -- so back off," said Taranee piercingly, approaching Cornelia, who at last reacted the way the old Cornelia they were more familiar with would have.

"You know, Taranee, I'm pretty sure that I speak for everyone here when I say that your sour attitude over just about everything is getting old, very fast! I've been tolerant of your bitchiness for too long, in my opinion, but not anymore!

It's great that you're apparently super popular now, and have a wonderful boyfriend, according to what Hay Lin's filled me in a bit over the phone, but it doesn't mean that you have to lose who and how you used to be in the process!" she exploded vehemently, glaring daggers at the slightly taken aback erstwhile Fire Maiden, who clearly hadn't been prepared for (or perhaps even used to) any sort of retaliation -- from Cornelia or anyone else, period.

"Now, wait just a --"

"-- No! No waiting! I know a 'front' when I see one! Sure, you're more confident than before -- I'm pretty positive that all of us have acquired a bit more of that trait in the last few years. But, when I'd first met you, you were super shy, a bit insecure, and -- let's face it -- a big chicken. And regrettably, I'll admit that I was usually one of the first to call you on it, whether I was joking or not.

I should have been more sensitive to your feelings and realize that not everyone can be a 'Cornelia Clone,' with oodles of confidence and pride or whatever -- although, it kind of seems as though maybe you could be a clone of my old self, hands down . . ." interrupted Cornelia, her blue eyes and body relaxing as she continued to hold the stare between herself and Taranee, who looked increasingly uncomfortable.

"Look. I don't think I'm ever going to get this 'emotional moment' crap down pat for as long as I live, but I'm willing to work on it . . . and apologize to you for how I'd sometimes treated you. But, I'm especially sorry that you felt that you had to alter yourself -- your nice and 'one-of-a-kind' personality -- into a more on edge and volatile person, just so stupid people like me wouldn't dare take a shot at you . . . I can't speak for everyone else, but I definitely miss the old Taranee . . ." she finished, smiling faintly at the speechless Taranee, who then abruptly turned her back on her and went back to the window where Hay Lin remained, looking tired and very worried.

Irma suddenly sat up from her seat and threw the ice pack down upon the coffee table before her as she limped slowly towards the door.

"And where do you think you're going? I thought you said you were going to help us find Sitara?" asked Cornelia curiously, eyes still locked upon a flustered looking Taranee as she spoke.

Irma, who also began to appear greatly perturbed herself, tried to put on her usual unaffected demeanor as she shrugged.

"Exactly. But since you've decided to stop with that and turn it into some impromptu slumber party, I've decided that my services clearly are no longer required," she said as calmly as she could, although her insides were churning with great discomfort.

She'd just barely managed to regain her composure over reflecting upon the loss of her father and the continued hurt of it before the girls had arrived -- and although a part of her kind of did want to talk it out to someone, Irma knew that if she didn't leave right then, that would exactly be what Cornelia was obviously gunning for her to do.

True to form, Cornelia immediately rushed over to the door and placed herself against it, blocking Irma's only chance of escape.

"No! No, you don't! We're going to put all of the cards onto the table tonight, before anything else goes further or is left unsaid -- and that includes what's the matter with you," she said, lightly pushing against Irma's chest with her hand to back her away from the door.

"Cornelia, please . . . I-Irma doesn't want to talk about it, s-so let's just drop it," murmured Hay Lin as she looked at the two women with extremely upset brown eyes.

But Cornelia merely frowned deeply, shaking her blonde head.

"No, way, Hay Lin. If anything, you should be thankful that we're finally talking this out. And if Irma will not talk about her qualms for herself, at the very least I'll hope she will for your sake -- since it's clear that your life depends upon it . . ." she said gently, although her blue eyes stared firmly into Irma's turquoise ones.

"W-what are you talking about, her life depends upon it? Get off it, Cornelia!" said Irma as sharply as she could, despite the great quivering that underlined her words.

At this, Hay Lin stood from her spot and shook her head vigorously before beginning to rush towards the hallway, her body quaking and gaunt face contorted with despair.

"N-no, it isn't true! Don't listen to her! I'm fine, Irma -- honest! I swear!" she stammered, her extremely pale visage brimming with tears and thick denial, just as Taranee unexpectedly advanced from her place and caught her by the wrist.

". . . No. No, you're not, Hay Lin . . . Cornelia's right, and she hasn't even been here long enough to know, but she's noticed just the same . . . I mean, look at you! You're nothing but skin and bones! You never smile anymore -- at least, not the way that you always used to; your creative style has definitely diminished in the past few days as though you just no longer care about yourself or life any longer, even; and -- are these . . . have you been cutting yourself, Hay Lin? My God, what's happened to you?" she accused heatedly, already faint traces of the old Taranee seeming to appear within her now concerned face.

Hay Lin wrenched her wrist away from a gaping Taranee as the tears began to fall from her vacant brown eyes, and she slowly backed away and into the wall, hiding her bruised appendage from view.

"Y-you don't know what you're saying, Taranee! I'm still the same old Hay Lin that I've always been! P-please don't worry about it! Or me! I'm just --"

"-- Trying to find some way to cope with all of the drama that's happened between all of us? Starving and mutilating yourself while you sink deeper and deeper into denial about it, and putting your physical -- in addition to mental -- health at major risk in the process?

C'mon, Hay Lin -- this isn't you, and none of us are worth it to subject yourself to this kind of treatment," said Cornelia as she remained at Irma's side, whose breathing became curiously shallow as her eyes glazed over.

"You . . . I had no idea that you were doing all of this to yourself . . . that you were taking our falling out so hard . . . apparently the hardest, even . . ." whispered Irma softly as her feet took on a mind of their own and effortlessly led her over to the smallest girl despite the physical pain it caused, who'd by then curled herself into a ball onto the floor and shook her head repeatedly as the tears continued to fall.

Irma felt her heart break as she stared down at her once close friend -- her best friend -- physically look how she felt inside on a day to day basis, her own tears then forming.

". . . Hay Lin . . . you're so much stronger than this . . . stronger than I or anyone else have ever given you credit for," she said weakly, her knees giving way as she then crouched before her and gently seized the smaller girl's hand.

"Cornelia's right . . . We're not worth losing yourself over, in addition to having lost us . . . I'm not worth it, especially . . . I mean, all you wanted to do was to help me after . . . a-after my dad died . . . to stop me from heading down the path of drugs a-and alcohol and . . . a-and b-basic prostitution minus getting paid for it . . .

It was just too hard . . . too p-painful for me to face . . . it still is . . . I j-just m-miss him so damned much! I-I didn't know how to deal or who to turn to . . . But . . . I-I see now -- too late, it seems -- that you were all that I needed to get by . . . Jesus, Hay Lin! You were my best friend! You still are! I am so sorry that how I've been acting has led you to slowly kill yourself . . ."

The remaining girls could only watch in surprised shock to see both women at last break down after holding in all of their ongoing pain and hurt for so long, the tears finally freely falling without shame as Irma generously wrapped her arms around Hay Lin and squeezed her tight.

Hesitating a moment, Taranee gently placed each hand upon both girls' shoulders.

"I . . . I'm not trying to say that I agree with how you chose to deal with your father's death, Irma, or how you chose to deal with the loss of us, Hay Lin, but . . . Cornelia's right again: I have been rather bitchy and heartless to you . . . I guess it is because of what she said: it is just some defense mechanism of mine, because I was getting pretty tired of being labeled the 'hesitant, scared' girl all of the time, when that wasn't the only thing I had to offer but was the only thing that the majority of people would instantly take note of . . .

But I don't know why I took it out on you guys of all people . . . When we were closer, you guys were my support system; you saw all of me, and not just my former apprehensive side . . . I guess the popularity has gotten to my head . . ." she struggled to say, a deep rosy hue flushing her mocha tinted cheeks in embarrassment as all eyes locked upon her.

Irma looked at her in astonishment, slowly wiping away her tears.

". . . I honestly never thought that I'd live to hear you apologize to me like that, Taranee . . . I've frankly gotten so used to you being my 'new Cornelia' that it never had occurred to me . . . And, speaking of, who would've thought that it'd be her of all people to act as our therapist for this 'dysfunctional family' -- just don't expect the check from me for a while though, Corny, as I'm kinda strapped for cash at the moment," joked Irma for the first time in ages, genuinely smiling softly at Hay Lin, to Taranee, and then at last to Cornelia, whose own smile lightly faded as Irma's choice of words struck a nerve and made her think of Sitara . . .

Back when she was still "Amandella" to me, and we "didn't get along . . ." "I'm kinda strapped for cash at the moment . . ." was what she said to me when I'd first found out that she was my new neighbor . . .

Now, she's God only knows where, doing God only knows what, while thinking of me as her enemy . . . I don't care how long it takes -- we've got to find her . . . she thought morosely, rubbing the back of her neck in frustration as Wilhelmina, as though reading her thoughts, at last spoke up.

". . . I hate to break up this love fest, but we're losing time by gossiping the night away like this! You can stay here, but I'm going out there to find Sitara," she said, great fatigue and bitterness within her voice as she wearily rose from out of her seat at the table and began to head to the door.

Every girl within the room instantly swerved their attention upon her in affect as Cornelia quickly shook her blonde head and placed herself within the red head's direct path.

"Cornelia, get out of my wa --"

"-- No, wait, Will! I get it! Okay? I do. I truly do. But it isn't just Sitara we have to worry about now! You heard the news! Something isn't right within the world, and I have a very strong feeling and am willing to bet anything that it isn't just by nature, but by magic!

Now, I'm not saying that it's Sitara's doing, but it just might be something we'll have to deal with as well . . ." interrupted Cornelia, looking at the disgruntled young gentlewoman with pleading eyes.

"Besides . . . All of the elemental chaos outside has given me an idea on how to find your sister . . ."

-- End of Chapter Fourteen

(A.N. I KNOW! SUCH a cop out! LoL I was going to continue after that, but honestly? I hate this chapter. A lot. A LOT A LOT. I really do. But there it is. I'm SO embarrassed about it, actually. But once again, this was a more social than magic focused chapter, and I didn't want to wedge in magic drama at the very end. Besides, what I have in mind next I have to make sure it'll work. For once, I have nothing more to say in my usually long "A.N.'s" so yeah. Bye. LoL

Oh, wait, no. One more thing. I don't want you, the reader, to think that this chapter was "awkward." That is, read them FINALLY talk out their issues, and think that now they're resolved and they're together again. Nope. Think of it as just grazing the tip of the iceberg. I'd bothered to have them do this, because, again I'd dragged it out too long and wanted them to TRY to talk it out before going to battle with Sitara, etc. That way, it'd be more believable, versus suddenly talking it out DURING battle or whatever, you know? But yeah. I REALLY hope it came off as them just ACKNOWLEDGING that they've got issues they have to work through, and not them actually succeeding in it. They're no where NEAR that yet, in my opinion. And yes, I'm aware I didn't include Will's pouring her heart out in this chapter. So no pointing it out to me. LoL It's just funny to me that of them all, Cornelia pisses the sht out of me in the books, and in this story, I kinda feature her the most and made her the most "evolved." I didn't do it on purpose when I'd first written this, in all honesty, but it works. You'll see by the end when I explain it/why.

And again, sorry if I've offended anyone with Hay Lin's cutting reference. Again, I am in NO way promoting OR making light of it, as I've had/have friends who engage in that. So no flames, please. At least, not for that. For anything else, I'll just laugh it off, but for this, you'll be in for the fight of your life. Mmhmm. LoL Still love you though. LoL

Oh, dang it! Forgot! I won't be updating this story for a while – two days max, I believe? Busy, busy busy! Plus, I'm going to Atlantic City tomorrow morning for the entire day, and my laptop's being fixed, so yeah. Sorry! Miss me! LoL And I guess this WAS a long "A.N." LoL)