Chapter 25: Skeleton in the Closet

"...And the Heart was a tricky companion at moments like this. Because it didn't make the pain go away, it didn't help one heal; no magic could. No magic could truly make one numb to the pain of a loss. The Heart included- in moments like these, all it could do was give its keeper more ardent and darkness."


Coronia, 28 years ago

The sky was practically pouring over the royal palace, as if out of a bottomless bucket. Rain was one of the few things Coronia saw on a rare, almost lost occasion. The storm roaring outside during that night was extremely unusual, but also quite neglected. Tonight, the Queen was in labor. She was to birth the princess and future jewel in the crown of Coronia, and the world was celebrating in advance.

Coronia was a land of innumerable wealth, gold and wisdom. Only beauty was thriving here; ugliness was being repelled by the enchanted fog that hid the planet from greedy and wicked thoughts and powers. No one had seen evil on these lands in generations. No one knew poverty, famine, war, or conflict. Everyone on Coronia was used to a lifestyle of glamour and affluence to an extent when no one believed in evil anymore.

A planet of wellness, gold and happiness, where the subjects lived like kings, and the kings lived like Gods, was not ready to accept the actual idea of darkness looming above its lands. But darkness, as many know, doesn't respect any laws or borders- it was to come quiet and unnoticed, plotting it's way to the highest focal points where nothing and no one would be able to stop it in it's peak...

After less than 40 minutes of labor pangs, the young Magana had already given birth to a healthy, beautiful baby girl that the royal midwives had taken away for a bath.

The young woman wiped the small droplets of sweat from her forehead and turned to her husband, who stood by her side in the Palace maternity ward, holding her hand. Their eyes met and their smiles talked to each other instead of their voices. Andan knew that his wife needed to regain her strength, even if going through an extremely mild and smooth pregnancy.

"Take your time to rest, my dear."- he said softly. "You just birthed the bright future of the kingdom. The people will be crowding together in the upcoming days, they'll all want to meet her and congratulate us. We might even have to organize the ceremony in our daughter's honor by next week. All the Coronians are highly impatient to have a look and we mustn't be keeping them away from any grace and beauty, must we?"

"Absolutely."- Magana retorted in bliss. "We will make sure that Coronia gets to meet Leonida. Their very next Queen in line."

"Her coronation is more than two decades away."- Andan chuckled, caressing his wife's hand. "Before she becomes Queen, she'll be our little princess. Promise me."

"For as long as we can postpone it."- Magana promised. "The crown isn't light...I want our daughter to have a life full of beauty and happiness, without having to carry the price of all that on her shoulders."

The sharp opening of the doors made the couple halt their conversation. When Magana recognized the figure standing on the doorstep, she hurried to get herself into a sitting position. Her features were taken over by tension and distaste:

"Icona?"- Andan stood up from his place and looked at the woman.

She was in her late 50s, with honey-colored hair gathered in a voluminous updo, hazel eyes, identical to those of his wife, and dark garments. The King attempted to say something to her, but she just raised her hand:

"Leave us alone for a minute, Andan."

"Truly? That's all you have to say?"- he exclaimed. "No, 'congratulations' at least? Icona, you just became a grandmother. At least try to appear cheerful?"

His tone was beginning to show off his irritation, but the King of Coronia couldn't afford to lose his temper. Even when the woman dismissed him bluntly, without even looking at him, he just shook his head and exited the maternity wing. His wife had nodded at him, urging him to do so. Andan knew that whenever the old bat flew out of the distant county, she had been living in for years, she never did it to simply share their happiness.

Once the man was out, Icona turned all her attention to the Queen, who did her best not to show her own tension.

"Good evening to you too, mother."- Magana said meaningfully. "I don't suppose that you're here to share the joy of us having our first daughter after just two years of marriage?"

"I'm happy for you, Magana. But you're right."- Icona spoke. "I'm not here to fool you and myself that life is a series of never-ending light and diamonds, like morons around here think of it as. Today you had your firstborn. You know what that means."

"Is this about that old prophecy again?"- her daughter asked tiredly, trying to suppress a yawn. "Mother, you can't seriously be thinking of that again!"- she almost groaned. "This is exactly why everyone thinks that you've lost your mind. You believe in old myths and legends that are utter nonsense...You waste your time, living in isolation because of that! Please, try to think rationally for a change- "

"The prophecy is no nonsense, Magana."- Icona interrupted her strictly. "It has been in our family for generations! When will you open your eyes to danger? You're just like every other Queen that has remained blind to the evil lurking in the shadows, taking victims under their noses, through the years! See the rain? It never rains on Coronia, and you know it!"- and she pointed at one of the big windows in the room. "This rain is a bad omen. Your daughter is or will be somehow connected to the prophecy! I'm not saying that she'll be it, but she will somehow be connected to it! -"

"Enough mother!"- Magana raised her voice. "I don't need your insanity to obscure my daughter's future! You used to think the exact same thing about me and my sister, but none of us were connected to your legendary prophecy, were we? Please, just spare me the drivel!"

"The prophecy is long-term, Magana. We all play a part in it, you don't understand! I had a dream- "

Fed up with her mother's lunatic talks, Magana wanted to interrupt her. The last thing she needed now was to hear another one of her mother's ''seer'' dreams. But she couldn't stand up. Instead of that, Icona seated herself next to her on the bed:

"I saw your daughter in my dream. She was all grown up; the power of the crown had intoxicated her and the water of the Spring had turned black... She will hardly handle being the righteous queen of the realm, Magana..."- Icona narrated in a trance-like voice that terrified her daughter, but not more than her following statement: "- then I saw her in a puddle of blood. A puddle of Andan's blood!"

Magana hardly managed to contain her scream. Shocked and outraged, she sent her mother away from her sight, almost kicking her out of the maternity ward. She only allowed her to be given a place to stay in the Palace, that had once been hers, because of the storm that had yet not died down. Needless to say, she had been appalled by the extents of the older woman's insanity. How dare she even suggest such a thing?! How dare she project her own distorted thoughts and nightmares on her and her daughter, most of all!

That night, Magana didn't sleep well. The thunders and lightings kept dominating the entire capital.

The next morning, however, when she had finally drifted away, she was offhandedly awakened by one of her maids and a horrible revelation:

"By the Golds of Coronia, what is it, Jansu?"- the Queen rubbed her eyes and stared at the shaking maid that had barged in her chambers. "Is Leonida alright? Does she need me? Bring her to me!"

"N-no, your Majesty. The young princess has been sleeping peacefully ever since you last fed her. She's quite fine. But Countess Icona...s-she..."

"My mother? What about my mother?"

Magana followed the maid without even bothering to get dressed. She felt tense. When she made it to the bedroom where her mother had been left to sleep, her throat was already closing with anxiety, but nothing could have ever prepared her for the site that she witnessed there.

There, on the pristine floor, in a horrific manner, laid a body. A body in a puddle of blood. A large puddle of blood, indeed. Icona's blood.

Magana's petrified screams echoed in the walls of the Aureate Edifice that had just witnessed the first of many tragedies to follow.


Heatherfield, present days

I'm still alone when I wake up,

when I wake up with that same weep,

but I will not stop, I'm not giving up,

everywhere I still see your lead

The one which follows all my steps,

whenever I look at a new face,

I'm still mad, please understand,

I need a little, please!

Decked in an oriental green top and a pair of elegant formal black pants, Nerissa moved intact with her ballad. The crowd before her wasn't at all as big as she had wished for it to be, yet they were still appreciative. Since her arrangement with Shagon had dropped for the nonce, due to obvious reasons, she figured she really didn't have the luxury of choice. She had to take what she could, and performing at the opening of a new sushi place in town, wasn't half that bad.

Yes, her big gigs and the so-desired album were still just fiction in her head, but the ex-guardian knew how to pursue her goals with baby steps. After all, she had spent over 17 years doing so. Now with her singing career on Earth, things didn't stand in exactly the same way, but Nerissa knew better than to just wait and waste even the little free time which she had.

Although, with the current situation, her free time had increased sharply. She spent less than two hours doing her Mage commitments on Meridian and then she was free to stroll around Heatherfield. Her husband and son worked; they were both much busier than her. Cornelia was constantly taking her grandson out with herself, and until it was late in the evening, Nerissa didn't really have many engaging activities to keep her busy, ever since Kandrakar had put Phobos and his disgusting gang under home arrest.

It was time for her chorus, she had no more time to overthink other parts of her life. She had to perform:

You were my light, you were my darkness,

and I am still lying to myself, only,

in bed with someone, but in life so lonely

because no one can ever, take your place!

You were my poverty, you were my fortune,

with you, I had a reason for living,

the years go by, I still long the answer-

why was our life all so unforgiving?

Nerissa did her best to remain mysterious, gracious, and warm while on the stage, even though her mood had gone south with the arrival of the news from Matt. She managed to move like a cat in her high pumps, adding an improvised, but definitely worth it choreography to her performance. But when she spotted a certain straw-blonde in the audience, Nerissa almost tripped. She frowned and looked again.

What? What was the Whelp doing here? Of all the people that could've come to watch me do this cheap gig, the raven-haired woman thought with irritation. Why did the Queen have to abandon her castle and come?

She went through with the remaining couplet of her song with annoyance that she tried not to give out. No, it wasn't the song- the song was excellent, she had written it, after all, and she was a virtuoso. It was not even the unwanted stalemate-gig. It was Elyon's presence that bothered her to an extent where the manager of the sushi bar had to give her a meaningful look during her applauses.

Oh, yes... She truly is the worst jinx to everything that I do!

"Thank you. I'm Nerissa Crossnic and I had a ball singing for you tonight. Welcome to 'Shakura's Sushi'. Tonight, everything's 25% off. Eat up, Heatherfield, and don't forget: Nerissa Cro-"

"Nerissa, ladies and gentlemen!"- the manager had pulled the mic out of her hands and was prompting her to leave the stage with him.

"You're amazing, doll face, but we didn't talk about an extra advertisement for yourself tonight. Tonight's the opening. Maybe another time."- the manager winked at her. "Want some sushi for home? It's on us."

"Yes, why not."-Nerissa nearly snapped, gifting him with a venomous glare as he headed for the kitchen. Then she focused her entire attention on Elyon, who was sitting at one of the tables.

"Nice show."- she smiled once the tall woman approached her." You nailed it, no doubt. Soon you'll be a big name in the charts."

"Oh, why thank you."- Nerissa retorted mockingly. "Now, please, knock on your head."

"Huh, what?"-the blue-eyed woman didn't understand. "Why?"

"Because it's hollow wood and it will help prevent that statement of yours from jinxing me like you do each and every time."

Elyon rolled her eyes and sighed:

"Can we please leave all pettiness and the grudges aside? There was a time when we did, we stopped bickering with each other and it wasn't that bad, was it? We actually started getting along... I saw another side of you, one that reminded me of Trill- "

"I agree; let's talk business."- Nerissa put her hands on her waist, ignoring the last part of her words. "What are you doing on Earth, you tedious wasp? Is it not enough that I have to endure you on Meridian on the daily?"

Elyon took a deep breath and gathered all her poise. It wasn't going to be easy to talk this woman out of hating on her again, and she could understand why she felt that way. But Elyon had to try. She knew that once they were at the essential part, the ex-keeper wasn't going to give precedence to her personal hatred towards her:

"Sit, Nerissa. I know that you harbor an even bigger grudge towards me ever since I canceled our plan to eliminate Phobos. And I get it, I gave you a word which I didn't keep- "

"Oh, you're quite inquiring to conclude that."- Nerissa interrupted her again. "But it's pointless now, isn't it? It was the umpteenth time of you sparing your pathetic brother, in spite of everything and anyone. In spite of the fact that he wants to hurt Caleb and take over the Universe, most likely, in his despotic, good for nothing way, of course. Phobos lives, untouched by the ritual that could have neutralized him. All thanks to you."

"Still and all, you're the Mage. "- The Queen insisted. "We still have to discuss certain things. You can't just ignore me because of the later decision which Kandrakar suggested to me and I accepted."

"Is that so? You finally learned all your geography lessons and you can take part in state affairs? Kudos to you, your Flatness, it only took you 11 years to fall into routine."- with yet another spiteful remark, Nerissa finally seated herself, facing her. "So, what would you possibly like to discuss now?"

Elyon was just going to reply when she noticed the man standing behind her interlocutor with a plastic bag in his hand.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to overhear- "

"Oh, no problem. She's not only a singer, but she's also an actress."

Dumbfounded by Elyon's sudden change of dialogue, Nerissa also turned around and saw the manager of the bar.

"Wow, multitalented!"

"We were rehearsing lines."- the girl went on with a chuckle. "So, just don't spoil the plotline to anyone, OK?"

"You got it."- the manager grinned and left the bag on their table. "You're playing a villain, huh?"- he nudged Nerissa before he went on his way. "Good for you, gorgeous. You have it in the bag."

That was the last straw. In the next minute, 'quintessence' had the fire alarm sprinklers activated, getting the entire bar and its customers drenched.

"Let's leave this dump before I strangle him."- Nerissa said as she and Elyon made their way out of the place.

"You realize you most probably just sabotaged your own gig, don't you?"- Elyon said as they walked down a relatively empty street.

"My gig? What does that have to do with the sushi place's poor fire alarm system?"- Nerissa tossed her hair back, as she put her coat on.

"Well, for instance, people may think of you as a jinx. You know, since you performed before they all suddenly got wet and everything."

Nerissa stopped walking for a second and glared at the shorter woman:

"See? You do jinx everything that I do! This is your fault!"

"You can't be serious."- Elyon laughed." What did I do now? You got angry that that guy called you a villain and you- "

"Shut up! Tell me about that thing you wanted to discuss. No, don't tell me; it's your ugly hairstyle."

Elyon almost smiled. The ice between them had been somewhat broken. That was a start:

"I will, but we might as well take the other girls too. They need to know as well. Let's call Will-"

"Well, that sure was a good couple minute pause you made from giving the stupidest ideas."- Nerissa snorted as they walked on the frosty sidewalks. "I thought that you knew, since you came to me, that Will is in the hospital and the others are practically useless without the Heart and her."

"What? She's in a hospital? What for?"

"It's quite terrible, actually. I'd say it was a miscarriage if it wasn't worse. She was forced to lose her unborn child."

"What?!"

Elyon was petrified. Nerissa put her hands in the pockets of her long coat and said nothing more. They both spent a minute or so in silence. They had reached a bus stop, but now Elyon's entire plan was changing.

With the given circumstances, she could no longer ask the girls and Will, in particular, to come along and explore the mysterious room in the Coronian palace. She would have to go with the Mage alone, and that promised to be challenging.


Susan was crying uncontrollably for so long now, that her husband started worrying she'll have a seizure. It was late and they were alone in the house- their son they had sent to stay with Dean's mother, because of the whole condo corpse drama, and all these things that a boy William's age didn't need to witness.

It was also good he was away because he wouldn't get to see his mother in such a state. She had been crying for hours. Again, and again over the last twenty-four hours, just making short pauses to sleep.

Dean sighed as he went to the medical cabinet. If Susan had somehow managed to hold it all together in spite of being trialed and thrown in a cell for two days, unjustly, the news of Will losing her baby had torn her apart. She was a complete wreck and Dean empathized with her; he himself felt immense pain over what was happening in their lives. For God's sake, Will was like a birth daughter to him. Of course, he felt terrible for what had happened to her, but Susan's reaction was something else.

She was completely inconsolable and her husband was genuinely getting worried by now. In the end, he saw himself obliged to give her something stronger to soothe her crumbling nerves. The Valium and valerian hadn't helped and it was time for Xanax. After all, the last thing which the teacher wanted was to see his wife being taken away to receive mental help in some institution. It was the last disgrace she needed to experience too.

"Susan! Susan, take this. You need it to calm down."- Dean insisted as he came back into the bedroom with two pills and a glass of water. "Drink this."

Susan didn't want to hear. She kept weeping and just shook her head to the point where the man saw himself obliged to almost force her to take the medication. He hated seeing her in this forlorn state and he hated whoever was doing this to her. Susan was a genuinely good person. She didn't deserve all this.

"It will be alright, honey."-Dean breathed once he got on the bed and held his wife close to himself. "This too shall pass."

"Why is this h-happening to us, Dean."- Susan, who was already falling under the influence of the drugs, whispered. "Who is doing this to me and my daughter, and why?! Our entire life we've done no one wrong. All I wanted was for Will to embrace motherhood and now..."- she started crying again, until the two pills' sedating substances kicked in and Susan fell into a deep sleep, minutes later.

A relevant question, Dean thought grimly. He knew that he had to take things in his hands in order to be able to help the two women in his life. He had to do something to end their troubles.

Giving Susan a few more minutes to fall deeper into her sleep, Dean kept her on his chest. Then he gently left her on the pillows before standing up and heading for his office in the house.

He wanted to get a few things checked and ring a few phones.

In his years, the history professor had never sought conflict and trouble; everyone knew him as an ordinary, peaceful man. But when someone tried to hurt those who were dearest to him, Dean Collins felt an unknown, dangerous ardent scald his insides. Ardent that gave him the power and will to do the unthinkable.


"Tony is not dead. Will's dad faked his death and we hid it from her. But why?!"- Taranee was going around in circles, in her old bedroom, where she and her friends had gathered tonight.

"Because, Will was already more or less a wreck."- Cornelia snapped. "She tries not to show it, but she's in tremendous pain over the loss of that baby! We couldn't have told her more upsetting news, Tara! "

"I know, Cornelia! But I just can't get my head around what the hell is happening!"- Tara cried and sat on her bed in total emotional defeat.

"Hey, is this some new trend that I've missed following, or is it just a bizarre coincidence, though?"- Irma interjected with pretended thoughtfulness, trying to start the ball rolling towards a less strained tone of discussion. "What's with everyone faking their deaths? First Leonida, now Tony! I mean, what's with these people, sheesh!"

"It makes sense for Mr. Vandom to fake his death if he had something to hide."- Hay Lin said before Cornelia could start yelling at Irma for trying to crack jokes. "That corpse that they found in his condo... It's a sin to say that if it turns out to be untrue, but we're all thinking it...Maybe he murdered that person and then-"

"Yes, but it don't add up."- Cornelia argued. "If Tony killed someone, why did he have to compromise with himself like that? He could've just gotten rid of the body, or he could've fled the city, or the country, or something like that! Why would he go to such extremes like faking his own death? And why was the body discovered just now, so many months after his alleged death?!"

Taranee stood up again, starting with her circles. Cornelia had a right, she knew. But what was the point of playing the guessing game when so much was at stake? Hay Lin was left with a concerned look on her face, thinking of what to say to all that. All these were valid points and questions, but they couldn't know anything for sure until their investigation gave more prominent results than a few words over a phone call.

Irma was just lying on her back, bouncing a small rubber ball in the ceiling of Taranee's room. She was too tired and fed up with everything at this stage. It had been a long week and an even longer month. And the month hadn't even been halved yet. Great.

"Maybe he murdered a bigwig. Then he realized that simply hiding the body wouldn't do, someone would still pin it on him. He needed a credible story to save himself and his relatives. Big money and dangerous people were involved, so he needed to "die" to bury it all. Only he didn't die: he covered his traces, faked his car crash, and then fled the country, Corny. Just a guess."

"You watch too many shows, Irma."- Hay Lin shook her head. "I still can't believe that this is happening! Will's dad has never given me criminal vibes, despite everything. I can't believe he'd do all that horrible stuff, maybe he's being framed..."

Irma made a peeved face and hit the Air guardian with the rubber ball.

"And you're too gullible! He never gave you ''criminal vibes''. Pah-lease! You didn't exactly spend every day with him, did you, Hay-Hay! Besides, none of us know the actual details of Susan's divorce from him-"

"Okaaay, but then why is he back in Heatherfield now, after the corpse he supposedly murdered was found? Why was it found now?"- Cornelia insisted. "It still doesn't make sense to me! It's only logical for the murderer to run even farther from the crime scene in a moment like this, and what does Tony do? He comes to the hospital to sign his daughter's papers! It's as if he's purposely leaving evidence for the police to find! Why would a murderer do all that, Irmy?"

"I don't know, haven't you heard that old saying about the criminal always returning to the crime scene?"- the Water guardian shrugged. "He must have some reason. Maybe he's back for the hidden treasure- "

"Now you're just blabbing!"- Cornelia raged.

"I know, but what else can I do? If we really want answers, we need to get our hands on Tony! The truth won't just come to us like Jesus came to Bethlehem!"

"You both make sense, don't you see?"- Taranee interjected. "Cornelia, Irma said something very key. Put together with your thoughts, it gives the initial images of the entire picture! Irma, can you repeat what you said, please?"

"What did I say?'- Irma blinked in perplexity. "I mean, I said many pivotal things, like always- "

"No, I specifically want everyone to hear that part after your cogitation about the dangerous people, Tony most probably got involved with. What did you say after that?"

"That he needed to die?"- Irma nodded. "Most probably, because he was deep in shit, owned by some mafia organization- "

"No, after that! What did you say after that?"

"That he didn't die?"- Irma shot after a short thought.

"No!"- Taranee was clearly impatient to make her point. "After that! You said Tony needed to cover his tracks and then fake his automobile crash. See, it does make sense! He covered his tracks, but someone's uncovering them now! Someone wants to expose Tony! That's why he's doing all these illogical things and that's why the body was found just now! Someone behind the scenes is directing all this! I'm pretty sure that Alexis is working for that someone too!"

"You're right..."- Cornelia clicked her tongue. "But who is that mysterious enemy of Tony's that is now determined to expose him and punish him? Can't be someone related to that ''bigwig'', if we choose to lean on Irma's theory, or can it? I mean, thugs don't usually try to get someone that has crossed them into jail, I don't know. Don't they usually kill their enemies-"

"And then I watch too many shows?"- Cornelia rolled her eyes at Irma's remark.

Taranee just nodded livelily:

"Everything's possible, girls, we have to investigate this more, these theories are just crumbles as for now. I don't even want to exclude the theory that someone is framing him yet, although that whole entire fake death is questionable, but-"

"You guys, I can't believe how stupid we have been."- Hay Lin, who had been lost in thoughts up until now, exclaimed, staggering her girlfriends. "How did we not think of this until now? It's right there!"

The others were still at a loss, hence the young Asian further specified:

"Don't you get it? It happened just a few months ago, remember? Remember who tried to steal from Will and her mom and even kill them while faking she was pregnant?"

"Oh, my God, that bitch!"- Irma gasped, finally seeing it. "No doubt she's in it! I knew we had to take her off that plane while we still could! That- "

"Serena."- Cornelia and Taranee exclaimed in unison. "But again, that doesn't explain Tony's behavior completely."

At the end of the Summer, upon discovering Will's stepmother's criminal intentions, the girls had gone after her, but Serena had managed to escape. Deprived of everything that she had stolen and hidden from the Vandoms for months, she had fled as to avoid being confronted. (check Heart of a Mother chapters 36&37 for details on the denouement)

Taranee was firm. Even though they had just uncovered a part of the puzzle that was most surely accurate, they had to keep looking. They had to find the remaining pieces before the official trial...

Just then, they heard a strange noise from downstairs. Was it the door? Or the sound of glass breaking?!

"Um, what was that Tara?"- Hay Lin asked with concern, standing up. "I thought that your parents are out of town? That's why we chose to talk here because Nigel's mom is at your place- "

"They are, they're at Midgale for a seminar!"- Taranee replied hastily, also alarmed by the sound. "I don't know what's happ- "

"Besides, I don't think that her parents would break glass to enter their own house, Hay. It's probably just some stupid vandals or a thief."- Irma stretched on the bed, like a cat, remaining far too unbothered by the latest events. Way too indifferent for Cornelia's taste, who snapped:

"I don't see how you can say that as if it's no big deal, but I for one, plan to give whoever just decided to spoil my evening, even more, a piece of my mind!"

But the mysterious unwanted guest had apparently already made it to the door of Taranee's bedroom as if he knew his way around the house...The girls heard the thudding footsteps and Cornelia got ready to use her powers on the intruder when the door opened:

"Caleb?!"- she had stopped herself just before she could give her fiancé a painful slam in the wall.

"Ok, I take my words back. Not vandals."- Irma announced from the bed. "Rebels. I was close enough."

"What are you doing here, sweetie?"- Cornelia exclaimed, approaching the man.

"Caleb you broke in my parents' house through a window, again?"- Taranee whined. "Come, on man! It's been years! Are there no doorbells for you?"

"Hey, I rang, I knocked, I yelled: all in vain. A riot can take place under your window and you girls wouldn't pay attention to it."- Caleb defended himself, putting his hand on Cornelia's waist, who elbowed him playfully for his comment. "And for all these years, I've learned where you keep the spare key. I used the door. I just...kind of broke a vase in the darkness."- he scratched the back of his head sheepishly, making Irma and Hay Lin chuckle.

"Huh, anyhow."- Taranee took a seat, reconciled with the facts about the broken decorations. "Say, what's the matter? Where's the fire."

"Yeah, if you were going crazy because Corny hasn't given you head since yesterday, Theresa's bedroom is empty. You can go there."- Irma said bluntly, causing Caleb to furrow his brows in chagrin.

"Did you drug yourself to this obnoxious attitude today, Irma?"- the Earth guardian didn't remain obliged.

"Burry the hatchers for now. I'm here with news."- Caleb spoke before the fight could go on. "We have to go to Coronia at once. My mother and her Majesty are there. There are facing a rather problematic situation."


Coronia, 1 AM, local time

"People, please! I don't understand, what has gotten into you?"- Elyon exclaimed, trying to get the crowd to calm down.

Her shock and incomprehension when an angry crowd of nearly a hundred Coronians happened on her, just in front of the Aureate Edifice, were unlimited. What had happened to turn all these people so hostile towards her? Just the previous day everyone in the realm had loved her and saw her as their savior.

And while the Queen of Meridian struggled to explain herself and intentions to the crowd that prevented them from entering the palace, Nerissa stood a few feet back with a deep frown and crossed arms. Of course, if it was up to her, she would've long made her way through these silly people by now. But naturally, since the Queen had ordered her not to interject, quite strictly, in actuality, she remained passive. Annoyed, but passive. After all, the last thing Meridian needed was for another realm to break all ties with them, start to hate and despise them, like some other kingdoms. Yes, Nerissa had a clear idea of politics and best interests, when it came to almost everything. It was Elyon, who had a hard time explaining herself to the angry Coronians:

"You can't fool us with your lies, Queen Elyon! Why do you keep postponing your wedding with prince Andan if you're sincere?"

"Truth is, you only want to take advantage of our gold and jewels!"

"You have no actual intention to take charge of Coronia, you're toying with our lives!"

Nerissa rolled her eyes to the back of her head. These people were hypocrites. As if they didn't at all need a Queen desperately before the utter debacle of their world became fact... What did they hope to achieve by hindering them from entering the castle at this late hour?

Pretensions are dangerous companions to those who have in abundance, Nerissa thought for she knew very well. Having a lot can indeed start spoiling one rotten, making them lose the initial path of their goals. She knew for it had almost happened with her once.

Or even more than once, to be fair, the ex-keeper turned to the other side, trying to ignore the desire to interfere in the scene with the Coronians. But then again, I managed to fix and get rid of these vulturous pretensions, the most I could...

"That's not true!"- Elyon exclaimed fervently. "I've undertaken a responsibility towards this world, and I will carry out with it! I'm an honest person, on the basis of what are you doubting me?!"

The crowd all started to reply to her in many, loud incomprehensible voices, that drowned the words and made them sound like the buzzing of thousands of bees. The aristocrats and farmers all went silent when one of them, a well-built man in his early 30s, managed to outshout them and take the role of a spokesman for the majority:

"I will answer to that! Queen Elyon, my name is Emery, please accept my kindest apologies for this little riot. Perhaps you think we're not right to do what we're doing, but if you put a thought to it, I think you'd agree. For us, the people of Coronia, it is essential that you become Queen as soon as possible. Due to some unforeseen circumstances, your wedding was postponed, but a handful of time passed ever since then, yet you seem to be in no hurry to take charge of Coronia in general."- Emery's words made Elyon look down. In part, he was right; she did postpone the wedding purposely, but what could she do? She was waiting for her heart to tell her that it's time. How could she make her heart compete with the undying, growing needs of an entire world?

"Queen Elyon of Meridian. We've listened a lot about you."- Emery went on, running a hand through his sand-colored hair, to get it off his dark, almond-shaped eyes. "We respect and venerate you and your kingdom; hence I humbly ask you to forgive my fellow Coronians for this type of welcome tonight. Forgive us and understand our point of view. We need a Queen, we need you to marry Andan as soon as possible, otherwise not only will our everyday life start declining- Coronia will lose its glamour and pride, irreversibly-"

"I-I, I und-"

But Elyon couldn't finish because five figures had come from the sky. They landed on the plain in front of the majestic Palace that shined in the dark, and one of them spoke in a voice that endured no further objections:

"We'll take it from here. If Coronia doesn't want to lose all its glitz and pride, maybe you shouldn't try stopping your future queen and the guardians of Kandrakar again. Scat."

"Will..."- Nerissa murmured under her nose, shocked to see the redhead amid the guardians, who had arrived with concern written over their faces. Concern for her. Their leader...

Caleb and Blunk were also with them, Cornelia's telekinesis set them down close to Nerissa, who could only blink as Will turned to her. Elyon had sent a message to her son to fetch the guardians and come help with the ripened situation, but they hadn't expected for their leader to come along, given the circumstances:

"Yes, I'm here."- Wil retorted tepidly. "I still hold the Heart of Kandrakar, and it still alarms me when my presence is needed. Did you two think that the others would come here without my notice and interjection?"- and she eyed the black-haired woman and the Queen critically. "Without the Heart, they wouldn't have even united and it would've been pointless. You better lose that pity from your tones and expressions, because I hate it. All of you."

Elyon was at a loss of words when Cornelia came to her and just gave ger a sign to keep walking towards the Palace. At the site of the guardians and Will's silent fury, in particular, the crowd didn't dare try stopping them again. They made way as the small delegation kept walking. It was only Emery who took more time to step back. Will turned to him, as a bolt of electricity harshly emerged from her body, making her hair fly up.

"Didn't you hear when I told you to beat it, pal? You have a second to join the rest of your friends before you find yourself on the top of that tree."

"You better listen to her."- Irma said seriously, helping Emery by pulling him aside.

"Queen Elyon, promise you'll think about it! Promise you'll marry prince Andan sooner!"- Emery shouted after them, as they took off. "Coronia needs you!"

Elyon turned her big, guilt-filled eyes to him, but a hand roughly pushed her to the front.

"Do not give big promises again."- Nerissa hissed. "You're quite bad at keeping them, anyway."

"But he's right."- the straw-blonde sighed. "I have given that promise long ago. I just have to fulfill it now. I have to..."

But Nerissa wasn't listening to her anymore. She observed the back of the redhead, who walked in the front, thinking about her actions and behavior, and how terribly they reminded her of her own at points in her life...Points that had brought her so much pain. Pain which Will was undoubtedly going through. And the Heart was a tricky companion at moments like this. Because it didn't make the pain go away, it didn't help one heal; no magic could. No magic could truly make one numb to the pain of a loss. The Heart, included- in moments like these, all it could do was give its keeper more ardent and darkness.

The group made their way through the big corridors of the palace, led by Elyon, who had to take them to the wall where the enchanted door of the strange, secret room appeared. Once they were where they needed to be, the guardians were a little puzzled, stopping to think of what to do next:

"Blunk see no door. Blunk only see wall!"- Blunk noted the obvious.

Hay Lin took the initiative and ran her hand against the wall, examining it thoroughly.

"There is something."- she stated uncertainly "There is something when you put your energy to it, but it's so very faint... This wall is very strong if it can conceal presence so well."

"Are you sure this is where the door should be, babe?"- Irma turned to Elyon with a skeptical expression. "I don't wanna be rude or anything, but you've been wrong before."

Taranee rubbed her chin. Ever since Caleb had retold them the story of Elyon's discovery, she had been asking herself the same and she wasn't proud of it.

"No, you're not just rude, Irma, you're unbearable!"- Cornelia snapped, but Elyon just shook her head confidently:

"I'm a thousand percent sure, but Dua did say that only he can make the door appear... I don't know what that means, but if it's true, we have to get him- "

"I'll try the Heart first."- Will made her way to the front again and everyone grew silent. Even Blunk stopped string in his place. "The Heart is a skeleton key."- the redhead went on, pretending she hadn't noticed the sudden change in the scene.

But no matter how hard she tried, the jewel didn't do the trick this time. The wall remained the same, even after the bright pink lights died down. Will frowned and looked down at it. The only source of her strength now was to disappoint her?

"This appears to be blood magic."- Nerissa announced. "That is why only the boy can open the door. We need him here."

Taranee was just about to put that under doubt, for she couldn't exactly understand as to why Magana would need Dua to come with her each time if it was blood magic when Elyon took a step forward:

"Let's go."- she said. "He must be sleeping, but... This room has a weird essence and feel to it. We have to get inside."

"I'll come too."- Cornelia volunteered, and without wasting any more time, Nerissa teletransported the three of them in front of the young prince's bedroom, where she had already been during her solo action on Coronia months ago.

The three women were just about to open the doors, when a hand from behind them, pushed the doors back.

"What in the name of eminence are you doing? Queen Elyon, I'm surprised by your actions. You of all people must know the young prince does need his sleep. The Queen was especially committed to his routine."- it was Visser.

He had stopped them from entering Dua's chambers with a firm hand and even firmer expression.

"Visser, you don't understand. This is an emergency- "- Elyon struggled to explain, but the courtier didn't want to hear about it.

"I'm sorry, your Highness, I can't disobey the late Queen's orders- "

"Oh, out of the way, you old fool!"- Nerissa hissed and pushed him so hard, he shuddered and found himself a few feet back from his previous location. "Or I'll make you a permanent addition to that coat of arms!"- the ex-guardian hissed.

The old man's face remained unchanged, but he didn't rush towards them another time.

"I'm sorry, but our business here is directly related to Kandrakar, we are envoys of the Fort of Infinity! This kingdom is under Kandrakar's watch and care, and we're the guardians. With what right are you trying to stop us at all, I don't understand?!"- Cornelia said icily. "Mind your own business!"

Elyon gave the girls a sign to remain where they were and entered Dua's chambers on her own. She was going to wake him up and lead him out of his room in order to avoid scaring him unnecessarily. The others would wait for them outside where the dispute with Visser went on:

"One more thing."- Nerissa frowned at the man. "Why didn't the guards take care of the angry crowd which greeted me and her Majesty at the entrance of the palace, just now? And where is Andan? I was under the impression that Coronia is light years ahead of Meridian when it comes to governance and security, but I guess that I've been led up the garden path."- she said with a bitter cheeky smile.

"A hundred of excuses, Mage, but you seem to forget that our kingdom is currently left without a Queen."- the old man spoke in a calm voice, yet managed to exude a great amount of aversion to his collocutors. "And without a Queen, we are doomed, of a surety! The guards and his Highness, as well as the young prince, who you are determined to disturb in this late hour, are all sleeping. I'm sorry, Coronia is just not used to having all these woes of all forms which follow you. For us, misfortune began after you came to our lands and brought your problematics with yourselves. Excuse me- "

Nerissa's smile quenched as the man turned his back to them and started walking away.

"Why you hard-mouthed geezer!"- she was just about to rush after him when a stern voice behind her, halted her.

"Silence. All of you."- there was just such an unusual and depressing grim to Will's voice, that Cornelia couldn't help shiver.

Even Nerissa was repeatedly taken aback by that disturbing change in the redhead because she obeyed her without another word. She could only stare at her, as Will finished her short, but suasive statement.

"We are here to investigate the odd room, discovered by Elyon, not to fight with the staff. And that's exactly what we'll do. We'll stick to pursuing our goal."

Ten minutes later, Irma was already impatient and sour. Waiting in front of a wall that only some little brat could open, seemed extremely unpleasant and irritating to her right now. All her friends had problems, she knew that, Will was going through an especially hard time; Coronia and Meridian were also in a stalemate position, and as long as Phobos and his homicidal baby-momma were held under home arrest and such light conditions, almost as if they were just vacationing in a resort, many people were still threatened. Irma could understand all of that, of course, but now that she had a problem of her own and her mood was terribly flopped, she chose to be selfish. She had the right to be, just like everyone needed to think of themselves at times. But Irma wasn't someone who could easily admit defeat or being down in the dumps. She often faced her personal problems and inner turmoil with poorly made jokes and sharp-tongued attitude in a desperate attempt to hide that she is paining.

Having noticed her drifting away, Taranee was just about to say something to her, when Elyon and the others teletransported back.

"Finally, did you give birth to that kid up until now that it took you so much time?"- the water-witch spat.

"Will you shut your gigantic mouth already?"- Cornelia didn't remain obliged and threw a glare full of reproach at her.

"Okay, let's take a look in that strange room already, shall we?"- Hay Lin suggested, desperate to dissipate the tension.

Elyon nodded firmly and then gently urged Dua, who looked at the group of people he barely knew, in fear, to step forward.

Anxious, but resigned to his role, the young boy pressed his hand against the wall. The heavy odd door appeared just like Elyon had seen it appearing before. It was now that she noticed the runes and mystic drawings depicted on the hard dark surface of the door.

"Wait a second, Hay Lin."- Taranee materialized her phone in her hand and snapped a picture of the disappearing door before she allowed the Air guardian to open it. "This might be important."- she explained to her friends that eventually nodded in comprehension. It made sense.

They entered the room together and looked around themselves.

"Talk about a change of scenery."- Irma murmured, looking around the dark room after Taranee set the torches on the walls on fire. "This doesn't even look like it belongs in the Coronian palace. It's like Hay and I made a small model home for school again, and Chris added one of his fugly isolator room toys."

"Exactly."- Elyon exclaimed, gently leaving Dua to further investigate the room. "That's why I brought you here, everything about this place rings a bell. Do you feel the energy in these walls? It's so...eerie."

"Is there any chance Magana had a book like Phobos did, containing all her secrets?"- Hay Lin wondered out loud, as she flew close to the shelves. All these books and objects looked strangely different and not at all in place next to each other.

"I don't think she's that stupid."- Caleb growled as he opened one chest full of old clothes.

"Or arrogant."- Taranee added thoughtfully. "By the looks of it, whatever secret she has guarded, she never wanted for anyone to uncover it. Perhaps this room was only mandatory for the royal family to hide their darkest private affairs..."

"What is all this junk, anyway?"- Cornelia had knelt down next to Caleb and was looking at the old tatters he had found. "I don't get it, everything in Coronia is so chic and glamorous, and everything! These things here look nothing like everything else around this world!"

"These things are just... old and washed out."- Will was speaking for the first time since they returned from Dua's chambers. Her voice was low and focused. She was holding the Heart of Kandrakar which flickered oddly. "They're washed out of their energy and all the essence which they've contained in the past. This room is like Phobos's spring under the Meridian castle! It has the same purpose. It drains life force, but..."

"...From objects?"- Irma finished and made a face. Well, that certainly cleared things up. "Objects don't even have life force in them, what a waste of time!"

"No, they don't, but they carry the essence of their owner!"- Elyon shook her head and went over to Cornelia who was now looking over at another end of the creepy room.

"Are these...are these braids?!"- the Queen couldn't bear to hide her shock as she and her friend observed the pieces of hair that were hooked onto little grapples on the wall.

Blunk was the only one who had kept his cool up until now. He approached the little prince and patted his back amicably.

"Don't worry, Dua-boy. Blunk here! Already sniffed this room- absolutely nothing scary here."- the passling creaked." Just Queen's stash of collectibles!"

"Yeah."- Irma trailed with a frown. "To be honest, it does look like that. What if Magana was just a hoarder. A hoarder of creepy shit..."

But Nerissa's eyes had long focused themselves on the stone book pedestal in the middle of the platform in front of the main wall. She dusted it and narrowed her eyelids:

"Come here for a minute, Dua."- she said quietly. "Come and put your hands over here."

Everyone gathered around her, as the prince approached the pedestal timidly. He slowly placed his little hand where the ex-guardian had pointed at. That instantly triggered something.

With a loud, heavy noise, the pedestal went down in the floor, and when it appeared back again- it was no longer a book holder. It was a large, rectangular-shaped box, with many different compartments filled with even odder-looking items.

A strange looking old comb, earrings, marble balls even teeth...

"What the he- "

"Look."- Hay Lin pointed at the empty compartment in the middle of the dower-chest. "It's like something is missing there, I wonder what?"

"M-mom's corn doll."- Dua attracted all eyes on himself. "I took it from there yesterday... Grandma stored it in this chest, but she never let me near it. It's her secret chest of valuables..."

"No, this is no chest."- Nerissa shook her head, looking over at each one of the guardians. "Do you not feel it? This room! This room is used for an ancient rite, one that resembles ancient blood sorcery. Many more secrets lie within!"

"It's overwhelming..."- Hay Lin agreed. "It's like there's a last breath that never managed to escape this...this chest."

As she said that, Nerissa swung her hand. The lid with the compartments slid away to reveal the core of the big box. Everyone gasped. Blunk and Taranee even screamed although Taranee managed to control her high-pitched squeal in the last moment.

"Now that's what I call a skeleton in the closet."- Irma murmured, totally baffled and repulsed.

"Why would they do such a thing?"- Hay Lin exclaimed in terror.

The box was no box. It was a coffin. And inside, lay a real human skeleton. And as if the view wasn't horrendous enough, the bottom of the coffin was besprent with teeth...

Will was at a loss of words. This was the second corpse she was discovering this month. She had had enough...

"Omnia secreta revelare! Da mihi loqui ad me et scientia. Quae tua fuit fatum?! Quid mora vestigio! Quid mora vestigio!"- Nerissa's spell didn't give the effect she had wanted to achieve, but nevertheless, it did have some efficiency.

The blinding lights from her hand struck the skeleton and reflected in the entire room.

An ominous green glow spread everywhere and made dozens of framed portraits visible on the walls of the gloomy room. Framed portraits that haven't been there before...

On the main wall, the one behind the coffin had appeared the biggest portrait of them all. A portrait of a mature woman with dark golden hair, that had come to life.

"My God..."- was the only thing Cornelia managed to say as she clutched onto Caleb's arm.

The image of the woman in the portrait was moving and writhing as if experiencing a set of unstopping pangs, and the misery and insanity on her face, were definitely more than one could take.


A/N: Check out my new story "The Tears of the Traitress", which I'll be writing alongside this one. It's going to be a short one covering pivotal moments of Nerissa's past and her life on Meridian after the ancient Mage's death. (takes place after "The Bigger Picture", but "Conqueror" will come to take place between some of the future chapters.) All my one-shots are always available for you to have a look at. I always love to hear from each and every reader of mine. :)

Also, have a look at my good friend KelseyAlicia's newest two additions to the W.I.T.C.H franchise- "Happy Mother's Day" and "Happy Father's Day". She did them as a gift for me, and I thought it to be so sweet. (her story about Caleb and Nerissa and her take on their mother/son relationship you'll find in "Caleb Gone South" (a personal favorite of mine). Do check them out!