Chapter 2: Prince of the Ball Part Two

"You pathetic miscreant, did you really think that you could lay your dirty hands on my grandson and abduct him under my nose?"- Nerissa raised her chin with malice aforethought. "Tonight is not your lucky night."- she stated as she let the swinging man fall to the floor. The sword which she had brought to life, dashed, ready to cut his head off.

Only a sharp telekinetic wave saved his life. The sword got stuck in the wall. The man looked around himself in distress while lush roots sprouted out of nowhere and immobilized him completely.

"I knew I'd find you here."- Kadma said as she walked in the spacious, but old nursery. She looked at her feet and saw the unconscious governess near the biggest cot. "Is she alright?"

"She's just knocked out."- Nerissa snorted as she pressed her grandson closer to herself. "This rat you just reprieved hit her on the head when he came to kidnap Killian. Thankfully, I saw him go out of the ballroom when Phobos attacked. I followed him here and prevented the worst thing. Is Phobos..."

"I see you had to act fast, Rissy. Yes, he's down, he was overpowered way too easily, if you ask me. I fear the danger is only seemingly passed. Do you think that he had some sort of a plan complied? Other than taking Killian for ransom... Who is this?"- Kadma asked tensely, nodding at the man tied up with roots.

"I don't know."- Nerissa admitted. "He could be a rebel, although if so, I don't see why would he agree to work for Phobos. Unless..."

"We should question him."- Kadma decided. "It's much better than killing him, this way we'll get to know more about Phobos's intentions. We should take him to everyone else and..."

"You didn't let me finish, Kadma, he's unresponsive, he might be under some sort of influence, look at his eyes."- Nerissa shook her head. "Phobos must've hypnotized him while putting up that show in the ballroom. You're right, his defeat was too easy, he was outnumbered to begin with. That is so because the fight upstairs was just a diversion. He wanted to kidnap my grandson meanwhile and have a thing to blackmails us with.-"

Kadma eyed her friend with a skeptic expression.

"Is that the best Phobos has to offer? One would think that after breaking free he would just flee and go into hiding until he gains more power. Why would he risk getting captured again if he doesn't have a bigger plan to buttress him."

The former keeper looked down. Kadma's words made sense, Phobos was indeed way too sure in himself and his chances for success, and it wasn't just because of his insanity. She herself had observed that disturbing fact. But on the other hand, the prince was a prideful fool, perhaps he had been aiming for Killian, putting all his hopes on his abduction. He had openly threatened her and her son with that.

But why would Phobos reveal his intentions to us, that cannot be all he plots, Nerissa clenched her teeth, terribly upset by everything that was happening. This was supposed to be her celebration. Her ball. Elyon had ruined everything.

"Nerissa, we have to make sure that all prisoners are secure. If Phobos already has a plan to take over Meridian, eliminating his supporters' chances to escape will be the easiest way to cease him."- the former Earth guardian said.

"You're right, Kadma."- the other woman nodded. "But that I've already done. Ever since reclaiming my old jurisdictions, I can maintain a mental link with the Infinite City. The dungeons, the trenches, all the secret places - everything created with this very talisman opens up in front of me like a book on it's most frequently opened page."- she revealed as she showed the Mage ring off. "No one can escape from there while the ring is on my hand. Unless, of course ...I don't get distracted and the Queen doesn't take advantage of it-"

Kadma leaned on her staff giving it all another hard thought. There had to be a way to uncover at least a fraction of Phobos's plans, the idea of which rightly terrified everyone.

"We need to get out into the open, let me make contact with the Meridian soil."- she finally said. " If I can contact the environment, we could guarantee greater security for the castle and the capital, the very least."

Nerissa estimated her words and nodded distinctly. She once again thanked the Universe for reuniting her with her old friends in moments like these.

"As for the others, we will talk to them once we get a clear picture of the situation."- Kadma said right before they teletransported.

"Once again, I agree with you tonight."- Nerissa retorted. "The only way to defeat Phobos is to keep the guardians unacquainted with our actions."


"Phobos, I SWEAR, if you hurt my son, I'll kill you!"- Cornelia yelled throwing herself like mad in Matt and Irma's arms, as they were trying to stop her from attacking the prince. "And that's the only oath you'll get from me, you stupid ass!"

He only snickered as he continued to be threatened by Julian's blade, but he wasn't all that nervous because of it any longer. Upon hearing what he had to say, the veteran rebel had lost all his composure. The Evil Prince was gloating. On the inside, Julian could only wait and hope that his son would get to Killian before Phobos's people.

Phobos had dropped the bomb just like that when Raythor and his men had arrived to take him back to his cell. He had proclaimed that Killian was with his confidant and that if they ever wanted to seem him alive again, they had to step back.

Naturally, Will and Caleb had unanimously decided that before the child was seen again, alive and well with them, none of this would happen. But the situation was a little more delicate. Now Phobos was demanding an oath, and the redhead was torn. This was a decision that had surpassed all her expectations in relation to her misgivings. She had to decide: Phobos's freedom or Killian's life.

"But if you kill me, who'll reunite you with your infant son, Earth guardian?"- the light-haired man snickered evilly from the floor. "Be smart and take the offer while I'm still well-disposed."

Will looked down with a grave frown. Cornelia screamed in despair and just fell into Matt's arms, refusing to rebel any longer and surrendering to her tears. Halinor, whose tears also flowed, approached them and offered her shoulder to the young mother.

She still couldn't contact Nerissa or Kadma, who had now vanished as well, and that, combined with the sudden turn of events with the kidnapped baby, only further fueled her anxiety. She could only pray that her two friends were fine and meaning to do something faster.

"This is ridiculous, take him to Kandrakar at once."- Aketon spoke. "The Prince is the real threat, we can handle a group of men, trust that Caleb's son will be fine, but only after this dangerous man is away from our homeland!"

"Are you listening to yourself?!"- Halinor could not help but scream. "We're talking about a child, sir, a child threatened by this gruesome person's evil nature, not about a bunch of lands! How can you suggest that we leave a child to its fate just like that, when you know Phobos will show no mercy to Caleb's son in particular!"

"And I'm talking about an entire realm filled with many children, ma'am. Many children who aren't much more secure when that bastard's mercy is in question."- Aketon fired back. "Trust me, I deeply care for Julian's flesh and blood, but we must think on a larger scale in a moment like this. Once Phobos is away from here, nobody will be able to hurt neither Caleb's son nor any of the other children. You weren't listening, clearly."

"Oh, I listened and I heard you full well."- the former Fire guardian shook her head. "You should be glad that Nerissa didn't hear you, because if she did.-"

"Woman, this is not about me or you, it's about Meridian! I mean nothing in comparison to that, and damn fine I'd die for my land. Would you?"- Aketon spat. "Julian, tell her, she's not trying to understand.-"

But Julian didn't even seem to hear their argument, he was too overwhelmed. Instead, Cassidy joined in, as she and Halinor continued to shout at Aketon, who didn't give up either.

All this jolt, apparently amused Prince, as Will angrily found out, noticing with the corner of her eye that he was laughing almost out loud at the suffering of others. What a low creature and soulless pest, Will could not even look at him. She couldn't even stand breathing the same air as that man. That was how disgusted she was with him, though by drawing energy from Elyon, the tyrant had almost regained his former appearance.

"Father, stop this, they are right!"- Aldarn finally yelled. "We're not going to take any actions before Caleb orders us to."

"I'm afraid that would be a bad choice."- everyone turned to Phobos as he spoke. "I'm getting bored with all of this."- he announced in an unscrupulous tone. "If you're going to be waiting for the rebel leader to return and confirm what I've already said, my offer will expire and you will be getting that little boy of his in a coffin."

"Hurt that child and I'll personally throw you down into the Abyss of Shadows, filled with lead and with a bag on your head, in spite of that insufficient sentence your sister gave you."- Raythor got dangerously close to the royal, only the blade of Julian's sword being a septum between them.

Phobos smiled coldly, despite the shrieks of his sunken ego.

"Suit yourself, Raythor. I have nothing to lose, unlike you."

"But you do."- Phobos turned his eyes away from the captain and focused them on the redhead.

Will was looking right at him, a look of pure odium written all over her face, as she spoke firmly:

"To give your life away is just something that would hurt you a lot, Phobos. You're too selfish and self-centered, don't deny it. You are also a coward - death still scares you more than imprisonment, even though you've spent a decade behind bars."

"Of course."- Taranee backed her up. "And what else can we expect? After he has felt the pungent taste of power and the life force of other beings, once, the idea of giving this ability up will scare him more than anything. You are neither ready to die nor will you ever be, Phobos, do not pretend."

Phobos remained to stare at them, filled with hatred, the thirst for revenge, and the desire to punish them as soon as possible for their audacity and all they had done to him. The blasted Guardians ...

"That's it. I've officially grown tired of you, horrible peasants."- he announced loudly as he finally stood up, pushing Julian's blade aside.

In a moment of distraction, the man was unable to respond in time, Phobos had teletransported himself before anyone could reach him.

"No, no, no! No, that was it! My son is doomed."- Cornelia cried. "K-killian is still in his claws, Will, why didn't you do anything! How could you all just let him escape, knowing that my baby is with his people!"

By the time the blonde's despair had turned into hostility, the redhead had already given new instructions:

"He's not going anywhere, Cornelia. He needs that oath more than you think, trust me, Killian will be alright. Irma, Taranee, go see what's taking Caleb and the other men so long."

"How can you be so sure!"- Cornelia raged, but Will ignored her. She couldn't take the time to explain it all to her right now.

"Matt, take Mrs. Lin and go to Earth. We'll need our full power potential, hence we need Hay Lin. Once you find her and enlighten her on the case, get to Lillian and have her fold you back."

"Will, just say that you don't know what you're doing!"- Cornelia hissed as she pulled away from Halinor. "Lillian is new to her powers, God knows if she will be able to open a fold at all!"

"Cornelia, I do know what I'm doing."- Will sighed tiredly. "I asked you to trust me. It's the only way for us to be able to go through this crisis!"

"NO!"- the Earth guardian looked daggers at her. She was relentless, and she wasn't going to follow anything and anyone. Not anymore. "I'm going to find my son on my own, you've all showed just how capable you are already!"

"Cornelia, Caleb said..."- Aldarn began, but she didn't even give him a chance to finish.

"Out of my way!"

Will sighed once more as her friend hurled above her head, exiting the ballroom with thunder and crash. She was trying to fetch more power, but Cornelia was refusing to be a part of the harmony and it would hardly give any results. Just wonderful. Remaining the last active guardian in the room, Will nodded at Matt, once again assuring him to follow her lead. Once she folded Yan Lin and him to Heatherfield, she turned around and gave Raythor the signal. It was time.

Although impromptu, the plan she had been able to come up with, with the captain's help, was good. Once, they had succeeded in the past, and now, they would succeed again. If it had not been for an extremely unforeseen condition that suddenly called from the other end of the ballroom:

"I accept your conditions, Phobos, show yourself."

Miriadel and Galgheita flinched. How long had the Queen been awake? Apparently she had heard enough, because as she stood up with an effort, she repeated once more:

"I'm ready to do whatever you say. Just let Killian return to his parents."

"Elyon, no, what are you..."- Will began terrified, but Elyon had already fired the fatal shot:

"I swear on my crown and power, that if you leave Killian unharmed, I will grant you freedom!"

There was a grave silence in the room. Will genuinely wished that she could just take a hold of the other woman's hair and just sweep the floors with her. She had just trashed everything that Will had hoped to achieve.

How could she be so stupid ...

Phobos came to light with a smug smile, teletransporting so close, that Galgheita lost balance and fell back.

"Girls!"- Blunk irrupted in the ballroom, followed by the rebels. "Baby not in crib, baby not in castle! Bad guy working for Phobos is in cage!"

"Will, I have high reasons to believe that Killian is with my mother."- Caleb confirmed the little passling's words. "The man sent by Phobos to do the job was in an electrical cage...Where's Cornelia?"

How could she begin to explain everything to him? Will moved a helpless, angry gaze from the young rebel to Elyon, who was suddenly in dismay by her own words. How could the keeper of the Heart tell everyone that she herself had predicted this turn of events? What she hadn't seen coming was the Queen's cowardice. Everything else she had foreseen, but this...

"What the hell is going on again?!"- Caleb raged. "Why is he standing there freely? Get him! Where are the other guardians?! Will, the hell is going on? Didn't you hear me, Killian is with my mother, he's out of danger!"

"Too late."- Phobos grinned evilly, describing the situation in the best possible way.


Kadma kept her arms widely spread as she chanted something under her nose.

She had finally succeeded in her endeavor after long, desperate minutes. She had finally established contact with the earth. Meridian's soil was shaking from afar. Scared. As if it could feel the danger hanging over it like an evil storm, ready to erupt in any following minute.

"I wonder why I can't contact Yan Lin or the others."- Nerissa stomped her foot nervously, as she rocked her crying grandson in her arms. Something was upsetting him too, and she knew she had to take him to a safer place as soon as possible. "We must hurry, Kadma, we need to know what's happening in the Palace...Did you detect something?"

They were out in the open, very near to the Palace itself, from this low point the former guardian had to be able to use her powers on the lands around.

"Miles from here, the earth is shaking ... It is shaking under hoofs and feet, and even the air above it is broken by powerful wings ... this is ... Oh, God, it's an army, Nerissa."- Kadma narrated hardily.

"What?!"- the other woman exclaimed in shock. "An army?! What army? Where is it coming from?!"

"I do not know. But they are approaching really fast, they are headed for the Palace. What's west from the capital? They are so many, their gallop is like an earthquake; the rocks bounce beneath them-"

"Cavigor..."- Nerissa whispered.

It was a terrible discovery, but there was a reason behind it. Cavigor was the only possibility in that direction and it made perfect sense... A prison established by Phobos, in which many rebels had found their death, was turned into a prison for his followers after his defeat. Apparently now they were coming to the castle, summoned by their master, ready for revenge. But how...

"How did he summon them."- Nerissa couldn't help but mutter. "How did he even manage to free them in the first place?! He's supposed to be weak!"

"I don't know, but we will need an obstruction."- Kadma replied as she broke the connection with the land. "Otherwise they'll be here in less than fifteen minutes. What am I saying, they're already near the borders of the capital! If we don't do something now, the damage they will do shall be enormous!"

Nerissa gave it a thought. She was still maddened by the idea of how the prince had managed to take all these actions, though he had only just left prison today. All of this seemed thought out for a long time ...

"Can't you grow a hedge around the city."- she finally suggested. "A very tall and strong one. You know what I mean. It will serve as a barrier-."

"I'm already doing that, but it will hardly stop every creature in this army. I saw shapeshifters, mudslugs, and whatnot other beings."- Kadma looked at her friend tensely. "And these flying creatures, how do we stop them?"

"Then we must create a forcefield above the entire region. There's no other way."

"Nerissa, you do realize what enormous acreage is in question, don't you."- Kadma gasped. "We can try, but it will drain the Heart of Zamballa almost entirely... it will take days to restore the amount of energy which I'll use...that's not a problem for me, though, I'm just reminding you that magic always comes with a price, and if you..."

"Don't forget that we have two hearts at our disposal, old friend."- Nerissa interrupted her mildly, as the heart of Aridia appeared in her hand. "I do know what you mean, but if this is the only way to keep my word to my son and protect the people of Meridian, then so be it. I'm ready to pay the price."

Kadma nodded with a weak but sincere smile and created a tall soft bush, wrapped in sturdy twigs woven in each other, to form secure walls, in which Nerissa would leave the baby.

Then the two women brought their Hearts closer to each other and raised their hands high, pointing at the sky, starting their heavy spell.


"No, I refuse to allow this!"- Caleb raged, as Phobos smugly made his way past the rebels and Rayhtor, who looked at him as if he was something dirty stuck on the sole of his shoes.

"I'm sorry, rebel leader, but my sister made up her mind. She granted me freedom for your well-being. A wise choice, if you ask me, now I can't kill your son, as much as that would've made me happy."- the Prince smirked. "But what to do."

"Elyon may have sworn on her crown, but we didn't swear on anything. Neither the heart nor anything."- Will spat as she stood in Phobos's way. "We will stop you, Phobos."

"Wilhelmina, weren't you listening?"- Phobos laughed in her face. "You can't afford to take me back to the dungeons. Not unless you want to see my sister losing all her power, which by the way sounds pretty fine to me. That's how oaths work when mystical forces are involved. You learned this from the sorceress, I learned it from you and now I used it on you. The student often becomes a better master than the teacher, but don't worry. Maybe one day you'll feel the meaning of that saying yourself."

"No, Phobos, you weren't listening."- Will glared back. "Your sister may have granted you freedom in the borders of her kingdom and authority, but I am taking you as my prisoner. I'm taking you to Kandrakar! This doesn't deny the oath, does it? You're history, buster."

Phobos moved his whimsical from the woman in front of him, passing the two cold green orbs around everyone else in the ballroom, looking back at him with hatred. Only his sister looked down, too ashamed of herself, standing all alone in the corner.

"How do you plan to do that."- he sneered turning to Will at a surprising speed. "When you scattered all the other guardians?"

As he said that, dark magic erupted from his palm, so sudden that it brought everyone to the floor, even Will, who found herself on Raythor, as the manic prince laughed coldly somewhere above them:

"I've always hated this ballroom."- he admitted with contempt, as he flew higher, aiming at his mother's coat of arms embroidered on the central wall. "But over the years, I forgot all about it. Now I finally have the opportunity to see it in ruins!

"GALGHEITA, NOOO!"- Elyon's terrified scream echoed in the walls, but it was too late.

Her nanny had already thrown herself in the spell's way, preventing it from destroying the coat of arms. She just couldn't watch Weira's favorite ballroom fall into pieces and that was it...

"Well that was an unexpected pleasure."- Phobos commented. "I finally punished the woman who stole my sister from the royal nursery all these years ago, saving her from me. How does it feel, Galgheita? Dying for a cause? I guess we will never know."- the man sneered from a top, but the old woman's eyes were already closed, as Elyon threw herself by her side in hot, bitter tears. Halinor gasped and hurried to them.

Phobos's gloating, however, was suddenly interrupted by the chains that suddenly flew before him, wrapping around his waist and bringing him to the ground. The same pair of chains that he had worn when arriving here.

"I'll kill you, son of a bitch."- Caleb growled with true hatred, as he and his father held the tyrant pressed to the floor, pressing the sword to his neck. "I'll finally kill you!"

"Not if I'm...faster!"- the Evil Prince hissed and in the next moment, after a bright flash, Julian and Caleb found themselves on the floor again. Will who had been flying in their way was sent flying across the room where she fell on Alborn this time, pushing Raythor down once again on the way. Phobos was too strong for them, even as it was...She cursed herself for sending the other girls out, but then again it was all Elyon's fault that this was happening...

"How I've dreamed of ending the two of you! "- Phobos pierced father and son with his evil gaze, as he flew close above them. Caleb pressed his back into Julian's, holding the sword to repel whatever the madman threw at them. But by the looks of it, it wasn't going to help much. The energy ball in his hand was getting bigger and bigger...

"Father and son of the rebellion, today I'm holding your funeral!"

The spell flew towards them. Caleb held the sword, brave to the very last moment...but the hit never came. Neither did the last moment.

The electric shield, which had suddenly teletransported in front of them, along with her, repelled both the spell and Phobos, sending him flying to the opposite wall where his back was slammed, leaving cracks all over.

"Maa!"- Caleb exclaimed as the electricity died down and Nerissa came into sight, standing like a tigress in front of the two of them.

"Nerissa, our grandson."- Julian managed to utter as he saw the image of her and her torn dress. The entire back trail of it was missing. "Is he..."

"He's safe on Earth. "- she replied shortly. "Why is he still here? Regroup the men, I'll neutralize him. Let's finish him once and for all. This ball is over-"

"We can't."- Will interfered as she finally made her way to the family.

Nerissa looked daggers at her, but there was also a hint of bewilderment, amid the reproach the guardian expected to receive any moment now.

"Excuse me? For what all I see, you can't do a single thing right. Where in hell's name is your team of guardians and why was that asshole just about to harm my son and my husband in front of your very eyes!"

"Elyon swore on her crown that she would give him freedom."- Will replied, knowing that they'd have enough time to talk about all the other things later. Right now they had to deal with Phobos.

"She did what?!"- Nerissa was speechless.

She moved her eyes from the prince, who was struggling to get back to his senses, to the Queen crying above Galgheita's body...Galgheita's body? Nerissa just shook her head:

"I don't understand how can you all be so brainless..."

"Unfortunately you're late, sorceress. You're way too late!"- before anyone could react, Phobos was on his feet firing a deadly strike in her way. The only thing that saved her was the dark pink dome which materialized above her and Will.

"She's not alone, you spawn. Nor is she late."

"Kadma!"- Halinor sighed with relief at the sight of the Queen that was swinging her staff, glaring proudly right at Phobos.

"In fact, your army was late, they couldn't make it to the borders of the capital before our forcefield closed. They're all left out."- she continued triumphantly, making two vines arise from the ground and bond him to the wall.

"Army?!"- Will exclaimed. "What a..."

"Well, dear, while you were here, doing nothing but making the wrong choices, as usual."- Nerissa interrupted her bitterly."We ceased the Cavigor fugitives."

"There are prisoners that escaped Cavigor?"- Raythor's voice boomed. "But how..."

"All of them have escaped."- Kadma specified. "We don't know how what we know is that they were all headed this way to support Phobos. Whose problematic I suggest you find a permanent solution to."- she added with a cold note in her voice, eyeing Miriadel and Alborn, who were too busy with comforting their daughter.

Will looked at Galgheita's lifeless body and sighed. Then she pressed her thumbs against her temples. She had to update the others and call them back here.

"You can take him to Kandrakar, as Aketon suggested."- Drake called. The rebels had regrouped. He was leading them. "They should know what to do with him there."

"I have a better idea."- Nerissa began darkly, as she swung her hand and placed Phobos' body in front of the big windows. "I think that it was more than proved just how great decision does Queen Elyon take. As Mage, I can't tolerate her incompetence any longer. In fact, after we end this, I would like to discuss the need for her to have proper regents. Her useless order to preserve her brother's life was just another mistake. This man's execution has been delayed for too long."

Elyon, who remained by Galgheita's body, didn't even bother to protest. She had to try one last thing to save the woman who had risked her life for her. She concentrated on the nanny's fading heartbeat- it was faint, but it was still there, Elyon realized in relief as the hot tears rolled down her cheeks. She had to undo Phobos's evil. Galgheita had to live, while he could just as well die. She couldn't fight for his soul anymore. Her brother was to be put to a terminal end, and that was the only thing that he did deserve.

"You said that you'll hurt me and my family, that you'll take revenge on the rebellion, but look at yourself now. You can't even save yourself. I should have ended you years ago, Phobos."- Nerissa spoke with hatred. "Well, you know what they say. Better late than never. Your chapter is finally over. The darkest of them all in Meridian's history."

"This is where you're wrong, Mage."- the Prince's eyelids flickered open in a swift moment. "My chapter is just beginning."

By the time she heard this, Will was already discouraged. Nerissa roared and threw her spell at him, but he disappeared in bright green light drowned in black sparks. He had teletransported, and her spell only reached the windows, bursting them into thousands of pieces, breaking the entire western wall of the late Weira's Ballroom down.