Chapter 28: As a Daughter
"...I want to tell you, as a daughter: generations don't have to be divided by gaps, walls, and hard feelings. We have the rare possibility to all work together and there's nothing more beautiful than that, for so many fucking reasons... Because real guardians are not rivals at heart, Nerissa. We're all connected by the Heart. We'll always be. And you will always be a guardian."
Phobos had spent more time in isolation and imprisonment than he wished to admit. He had spent over a decade deprived of his freedom, something which he had only fully acquired at the age of 13. Ever since then, he had always been repressed. By his fate, by his family, by all Meridian rules and customs...Even now, when he was expecting a child, he was under house arrest, forced to endure his sister's reign and decisions, counting the days spent in isolation. Putting all the digits together, only some miserable 14 years had been spared for him to blossom and rule. He had lived his life the way he wanted it for 14 years. Even if many had failed to understand his specific taste in the darkness and the grave feelings which he had forced on his entire nation. The most woeful years for Meridian, were the happiest for him. The rest was just time spent dancing to other people's tune. Locked behind the walls of their superiority. And then they called him a tyrant. They were shocked that he did all he could to have an identity, independence, and power. Power, which he was only denied because of being a man.
But today, the prince was not swimming in his dark thoughts, fondest memories, or pools of self-pity created by the unbearable reality. Today he felt strangely elated and his spirits were up high, celebrating something which only he seemed to feel.
He stood by the window of the darned rest house, serving as his prison, glancing at the gray sky with something which looked like a small smile.
"Admiring the weather, are we?"
Leonida was standing near him with arms crossed on her chest and a company-offering smile. Apparently, she had just woken up, because her young face was still bare and her luscious locks needed a brush to run through them once or twice.
Nevertheless, Phobos smiled back and gestured at her to come even closer. She did and he threw his arm around her shoulders, ushering her to look at what he was observing. What looked like the dull, painfully familiar scenery of Gray Mines to her, had an entirely different meaning for him this morning. Or maybe what he was observing was beyond the visible for the eye. The princess turned her head to him with slight amusement:
"Are you feeling alright, my King?"
"More than alright. In fact, today I feel better than I've ever felt since we got locked here."- Phobos said and inhaled deeply. "Don't you feel it, my squeeze?"- he nodded at the open window. "There's this feeling of...justice in the air today. There's suffering in my sister's Palace, I can sense it. Someone there is suffering and I can't help enjoying it."
Leonida tried to appear understanding, but deep inside she didn't have the zeal to fake caring for the man's odd antics better than that. She had concerns of her own. New concerns. And as she impatiently waited to hear that her repulsive brother would finally get married, new circumstances appeared to terrorize her every day, poisoning her heart with the gruesome possibilities that everything will have been in vain...
"Princess Leonida, please, watch your step. You're pregnant."
Leonida looked up at Cedric, who she had just almost bumped into, on her way to pour herself coffee. The tall man smiled down at her, but there was nothing friendly in that smile. It was one of those sadistic, catty grins of his, the ones he pulled out whenever he felt exceptionally satisfied with himself.
That immediately caught the ex-princess's attention. What was he so smug about? Cedric was not even near to being her well-wisher, let alone an ally. In fact, Leonida had been more than happy when they had been arrested without him, two months ago. Later, when she learned that he had not only made it out of the obvious suicide mission she had convinced Phobos to send him on, but also purposely turned himself in, as to be with his master, the expecting mother had felt sick. Even though she had pretended to be happy about him being reunited with them, in front of the enemies, it had been just a farce. Leonida couldn't stand the blond man and it was mutual. Whenever the shifter had a reason to celebrate, she most probably had good reasons to cry.
Why is he so smug now, Leonida couldn't help wondering. Ever since he's here, he's been breathing in my neck, cornering me at every felicitous moment. Curse the beast, I wish he could just disappear!
"Leonida, your Highness."- Cedric bared his teeth in another converted smile. "What's the matter? Is everything alright?"
"I'm perfectly well."- Leonida gave her best to sound friendly. "I was going to the kitchen for some coffee...It was nice of Elyon to supply us with products for our own use ever since you complained about Aldarn's abusive attitude. Anyway, Phobos appears to be quite off today. So..."
"Oh, no, he's perfectly fine as well."- Cedric declared. "I made sure that his spirits are lifted high. With some special herbs. My liege could use the relief."
Leonida raised her eyebrows:
"You laced his food? Why would you do that? You know what, never mind. I'm going to get my coffee. You keep him company since you got him in this strange mood."
Cedric watched her walk away and smiled again.
That's exactly what I want, you two-faced hussy. I want to keep you as far away from the Prince as possible. Keep making it easier with your stick up-the ass demeanor. Then, when it comes time for Phobos's plans to be executed, it will be much easier to secure and protect his success from you and your ulterior motives...
But before the shifter could take his place by the other man's side, the door of the rest house opened abruptly. He and Leonida turned towards it simultaneously. They hadn't heard them approach, but when they saw who had just entered the grounds of their home imprisonment, both the man and the woman felt baffled.
Elyon took her dark blue gloves off with a gruff expression, but her anger couldn't match that of Raythor who looked as though he was ready to explode any minute now:
"Elyon, what a lovely surprise."- Leonida tried her usual sugarcoated approach, but Elyon stopped her with an open hand.
"Spare me the nonsense, Leonida."- the Queen said sternly. She then turned her attention to the shapeshifter.
Cedric had just counted the soldiers that accompanied her Majesty. Six of them and no other familiar face except her and Raythor. The sentry was waiting outside as Elyon closed the door and Cedric was forced to look away and meet her eyes. He didn't like the look she was giving him one bit...That didn't remain unnoticed by Leonida either. She immediately realized that all the attention of the new arrivals wasn't focused on her. It wasn't even focused on Phobos, who stood by the window like a statue, not even acknowledging his sister's presence. The Queen and the captain were looking at Cedric and only Cedric...
"Whatever might it be that you're here..."- the former princess began, but Raythor's angry growling cut her off:
"Did you believe that your schemes would remain undetected, bastard?"- he barked at Cedric and pointed his index finger at him. "We know everything. Everything about your turning in! Everything about your double game! Then again, after what you did on Kandrakar eleven years ago now, who'd be surprised that you'd sink to a new level of low-"
"Raythor, we don't want to tip off Phobos and Leonida and give their deranged heads any clues or ideas."- Elyon interrupted him, looking coldly at Leonida's direction. She then moved her sparkling gray eyes to Phobos's side. It appeared that it intrigued her: why he didn't step further or take any part of the discussion, but she wouldn't question it. It was beneath her.
Leonida rolled her eyes. If only Magana could see her future daughter-in-law now, she'd be proud of the extent up to which the Queen had mastered her snobbish attitude and regal ways. But what truly interested Leonida was what Elyon had ordered hidden from her? What had Cedric done? Was something which he did the reason for his smugness? Well, he sure didn't look smug now that they had confronted him!
Leonida barely managed to conceal her gloating as she watched with arms folded on her chest. At first, her heart had skipped a beat. She had thought that maybe Elyon was here to announce her new wedding date, but then again, even she wasn't that mindless. Why would she tell her brother and sister-in-law something which she knew they were interested in...Why would she give her enemies a chance? She wouldn't. She had just said she wouldn't give them any clues and information. But the shifter, who was now as pale as a sheet, was she here to...
"Cedric, you will no longer be staying here."
Right at that moment, Elyon's words were music to Leonida's ears. Her jaw hung open as she heard it. Her wish had come true.
"You will be put in a cell elsewhere. That's my final decision."
"B-but, I have to be here! I swore to be by Phobos's side! I can't leave him...I can't leave him with her!"
"Silence, dolt!"- Raythor shouted and gave him a rough slap, as Elyon's magic materialized a pair of shackles around his wrists. "It appears that your bratty little friend is getting along well enough with the harlot! Well enough to leave her expecting. You might as well think of your own!"
Then he proceeded to drag Cedric, whose protests were on the verge of despair, out of the rest house. The enchanted bracelet that had stopped him from crossing over a certain line, up until now, fell on the ground...
Elyon gave the rest house one last look before heading for the exit herself. There, she stopped once again. As she was putting her gloves back on her hands, she met the other woman's gaze:
"I sincerely hope that your pregnancy is going smoothly."- she said dryly. "Once my niece or nephew is born, your and Phobos's day to be placed in a proper jail will come too. Don't look too happy to see Cedric leave. Andan has a special punishment in mind for you. When you give birth to that baby, Leonida, it will be payback time."
Then Elyon left a setting, slamming the door behind herself, managing to leave an unpleasant tinge in Leonida's, at most, triumphant mood. The enchantress made a mocking face at the now-closed door.
Yeah, right. Keep lying to yourself, Elyon. You're all talk and no action...if that was the case, you wouldn't have left your criminal brother here with me. You wouldn't have spared him so many times over the years either.
Leonida turned to Phobos, who was now lying on one of the couches, completely oblivious to what had just happened. His right-hand being snatched from him... The blonde's lips stretched into a dirty smirk as she approached him.
"Your sister just did me a great favor, my pet."- Leonida whispered as she seated herself on the couch next to the prince, who had by now drifted away. She started caressing his forehead with the tips of her knuckles as she hummed: "She took your godawful little friend away from here and now you're only mine-"
The honey blonde made a pause and shook her head. It amused her how Cedric had drugged the prince and hadn't even had the chance to spend time with him. He had plotted against her, she was sure. Now he was finally out of the picture.
"-only mine to direct."
*FLASHBACK*
... She, a guardian of the Heart and an unstoppable force for order, had just been bested by one ordinary farmer and his belt of borrowed tricks.
Just then, a rain of flooding water washed both Ari and Nerissa down, as well as the entire battlefield. The soldiers were forced to stop fighting. Having lost his balance, Ari dropped his sword and his hostage, who, in her turn, found herself face down on the hard ground once the water stopped.
"That should cool them down. Things were getting pretty heated down there."- Irma commented smugly, trying to escape Taranee's unapproving glower. "Oh, come on, Tara! She deserved it! After what she did again- "
Nerissa didn't lose time. She had to get that antidote to Julian before it was too late. That's why she quickly crawled to the tossed aside belt of charms and started rummaging through it:
"Antidote, please. I'll tend to papa's needs."
Nerissa tossed her wet, tangled hair aside and looked up like a stressed cat. Cornelia towered upon her in her guardian outfit and a reproving expression on her beautiful face.
The brunette exhaled heavily. Her fingers had finally wrapped around the little bottle which she knew was what they needed. She could still understand the language of the beasts...
Nerissa silently handed it to the tall blonde, who took it and quickly teletransported away with Julian.
"Girls, get Caleb to his senses and send him to the hospital wing."- were her last words.
The ex-guardian felt like she could finally breathe. Cornelia and her healing powers, backed up by the antidote, were sure to bring her Julian back on his feet in no time. Her son was also slowly starting to stir. It appeared that the effect of the charm which the wretched farmer had thrown at him, was wearing off.
Speaking of the farmer...Nerissa jumped up and turned around. She glared at the man, who was still lying on his back. If not else, Irma's water attack had washed the banshee muck off of her. She could feel the magic in her body, burning its way to her limbs with the intoxicating desire for vengeance:
"Don't even think about it, girlfriend."- Wilhelmina's words made her abandon her attempt to fry Ari and turn around.
The guardians stood there like a wall. Everyone's attention was now on them. At Taranee's signal, Alborn quietly started to get his soldiers off the battlefield. Raythor galloped out of the Palace, heading to stop the reinforcements that were in the plains, but no longer needed. The guardians were here. The guardians would take care of everything...
The Arkhantians were like dazed as they watched the four young women. It was only Ari who dared to speak, once he was up on his feet again:
"Guardians, that wasn't very nice! Do you even know- "
"Thank God, you arrived, guardians! What took you so long?"- Nerissa interrupted him. "This man and his dirty little spells almost got Julian killed, he's a terrible menace and now we can bring him to justice- "
"Cut the crap, Nerissa."- Taranee interrupted her strictly. "Nice try. Not. We're done with falling for your tricks. At least for the day! Give us a break!"
"Wow, who would've thought that Ari of all people will be the one who'll manage to bring the almighty Nerissa some deserved trouble and pain in the ass."- Irma commented with a smirk. "It appears you've met your maker in the least expected face."
"Deserved?!"- Nerissa barked and glared daggers at them. "I'm not lying, ask anyone present here! When I arrived, this fool was tormenting Meridian, his unconventional ways managed to disarm me and he took advantage of the moment! It if were another situation, I would've-"
"I-"- Ari began, but was cut off:
"Shut up, Nerissa. No one cares to hear you apologizing to your wounded ego."- Will interrupted coldly. "You're not lying about this. What about Aram? Did you not lie to us about his ghost and the lake?"
Nerissa closed her mouth and crossed her arms on her chest. She had known that they would figure it out sooner or later. It just slightly surprised her that they had made their conclusions that fast...
Meanwhile, Caleb was on his feet again. He glared at Ari, who was about to speak again and pushed him roughly, sending him back in the dust.
"Caleb, leave him alone!"- Taranee cried, standing between the two men.
"Why would he? That prick almost got his father killed."- Nerissa said through clenched teeth. "Sick him, Caleb!"- she added venomously and then turned to the women: "If the four of you would actually acknowledge the real problem around here- this mental man and his action against Meridian, instead of bitching about what I allegedly did, then maybe-"
"We will deal with the situation. Ari is an old friend of ours."- Irma replied with her hands on her waist. "Whatever happened around here was a misunderstanding, be sure of that, Prissy. Ari would never do such a thing otherwise. Hey, I wouldn't be surprised if you did something to give him grounds to act this way, anyway!"
"Me?! I've never met this pathetic simp in my entire life!"- Nerissa hissed defensively. "And if you call Julian almost losing his life a misunderstanding, then you lack every quality a true guardian should possess!"
"Just don't you start with that."- Taranee warned her. "When you point your finger at someone, look at where the other fingers point!"
"Yeah, because you're a deceitful cow!"- the water guardian added glaringly.
"You're the ones accusing me, you little harpy."- Nerissa held her head high as Caleb gently wrapped his hands around her rebelling arms. He, like every other present man, had chosen to remain silent. He knew better than to interfere in a female argument of this magnitude.
Nerissa was shaking with anger. That was her main problem with these girls...even though she had just made a thrilling discovery, they were killing the joy for her, before she could even share it. And why? Just because they were bratty losers and rancorous soreheads...
"Nerissa, when we arrived, you were the one tackling Ari down."- Hay Lin began cautiously, yet firmly. "Then we came to know the known details of what has happened and interfered, but that doesn't mean that- "
"Oh, so you watched."- Nerissa shook her head darkly. "Good job. Some caring beings. Some guardians."
Irma threw her hands up in the air as Taranee rolled her eyes. Will was about to say something, but the older woman waved her hand as to stop her:
"Don't bother. I'll let you deal with your friend, the way you find appropriate. I couldn't care less. Not about him, nor you and your disgusting demeanor! You're just a bunch of ungrateful brats, and that's that."- with these words she teletransported away with Caleb.
"Wow, just wow! Talk about entitled!"-Irma raged and turned to her friends. "What does she think she's doing? How insolent can that broad get?! She's the one who lied to us and played us for fools yet again, but we're the bad guy?!"
"You know she has serious issues."- Taranee shook her head. "She can never accept being at fault."
"I think that she's just still struggling to show her feelings and emotions openly, in the right ways."- Hay Lin sighed. "I don't know girls, maybe she's just reacting likewise because she got scared when Julian was hurt- "
"Yeah, maybe. Or maybe she's just a cunt!"
"Irma, please don't start again- "
Will sulked. She decided she had to end this discussion then and there.
"Forget about her. We have other things on our hands."- the redhead said as she met Ari's gaze. "Other things that are urgent."
*END OF FLASHBACK*
One week post Ari's attack (present time)
"Well. That's certainly something. Even if she did go the wrong way again, she did it... I mean, it would've been more useful if we knew how to interpret it, but at least we have it. The writing on the phantom door."
"Screw it, will ya? We've been debating on this stupid poem all week. It's just that- a stupid poem. I say it's pointless to delve into it."- Irma threw herself on the sofa and dramatically covered her face with her curls.
She and Taranee were at her apartment. Martin was out at the studios, working. It was lunchtime. The rain outside was starting to morph into snow. And then people had the audacity to say that it barely ever snowed in Heatherfield. Bulshit! As far as Irma was concerned, it snowed all the fricking time. It was like they were in Alaska or something- every winter was unbearable!
Taranee was striving to get the meaning of the translated poem, which Nerissa had managed to translate thanks to her very next fraud and trespass, for the umpteenth time. But all her literature classes were pointless when they didn't know the exact context of the poem. It could be a prophecy or just the fricking motto of the cult Magana had been a part of...
Irma made a face. If only they had known what they were getting themselves into with this union between Meridian and Coronia...but who would've guessed...Nine years ago, Leonida had been the only one slightly off the rocker. Now the entire royal family was to be certified as insane.
"Irma, we have a serious thing on our hands."- Taranee flashed her a warning look. "This is somehow connected to Leonida. If her mother was involved in this cult, then maybe so was she. It wouldn't hurt to inform ourselves of the details. Delving into this is anything but pointless. You know that her case remains open, right? She's still a danger and so is Phobos."
"Because someone decided that they should be placed under home arrest instead of our original thinking- the Tower of Mists, or at least the Infinite City."- the water guardian snorted, passing her eyes over the modern nautical-colored living room. "I know that Leonida is pregnant and everything, but Phobos? Why did he have to be reprieved? He's a fucking tyrant and killer!"
"He also has Elyon's word not to be imprisoned, keep that in mind."- Taranee reminded her darkly and slid her hands over her hips as to avoid folding up her orange denim skirt while sitting down.
Irma responded to that line with a look of concern. She had totally forgotten about that, it had been months ago...Phobos had manipulated his sister into swearing she'll not imprison him again...It was a miracle that she had been able to put him under house arrest without suffering the consequences of having sworn on her crown and power.
"No, I don't mean to disquiet you, Irma."- the fire guardian shook her head. "Elyon and her confidants have gone over this carefully. They took the risk to put Phobos under house arrest and so far, it hasn't backfired. I said it to remind you of why the matter with him is so delicate."
"It's insane that we haven't discussed this and he's already been there like how long...two months or so?"- Irma murmured.
Taranee looked up, calculating it.
"Almost, yes. He and Leonida were captured before Christmas."
"But why did that slime-creep allow himself to be imprisoned. He just told Elyon about Leonida's pregnancy and she immediately reconsidered his murder, planned by Nerissa... But it's fishy! Do you think that he...gave his consent for Elyon to put him under arrest? That he's planning something again?"
For a moment, Taranee looked at her as if she had just fallen from Mars. Then she opened her mouth and started talking to her as if to a mentally irresponsible person:
"Well, good morning, Irma. Why do you think everyone is on pins and needles, despite Phobos's "arrest"? Why do you think that the Council is also so involved in this, calling Will on these private meetings that she's forbidden from discussing with us? I don't know whether you've been aware of this up until now, but we sure were. And we have discussed it, that's exactly why everyone has been under pressure these last two months."
Irma felt her cheeks burn. As usual, Taranee's intelligence had her smitten and angry with herself for being as absent-minded and slow to warm up.
"Ugh, I'm an idiot. "
The fire guardian shook her head and stood up to open the door. It was Hay Lin with takeout.
Their bubbly friend entered the apartment and set the food on the table, giving a chance to the hungry Irma to reach for it and satisfy her noodle cravings. Taranee came back to her place, just when Hay Lin was saying:
"Girls, Mr. Collins was at the Dragon just before I headed here. He and William were there for lunch and I managed to get a word with him. We're falling behind the schedule, Will and Susan's trial is starting next week ."
"My mother told me."- Taranee sighed as she watched the other guardian take off her colorful coat. "We weren't wrong when we estimated that someone's deliberately adjusting events to their advantage. Quite a lot of evidence have already been gathered against Tony. The case "The People against the Vandoms" is going to be very messy if we don't take action fast. That's the other thing that has kept me from sleep lately."
"Aside from the poem?"- Hay Lin guessed with empathy, but Irma's exclamation didn't give Taranee time to reply:
"What the hell?! Why are Will and Susan still suspects of the condo-corpse case when there is evidence against Tony? I mean, no offense or anything, but it was his property, clearly, he has something to do with that body, he even faked his own death, let him clean his own messes! Will and her mom shouldn't have to suffer because of him again, he's a toxic ass!"
"It's not that simple, Irma."- Taranee adjusted her glasses on the bridge of her nose. "Will and Susan have been owners of that condo for over six months now. They haven't reported the body. The court and the people perceive them as Tony's accomplices."
"But your mom- "
"She was denied from taking the case. Thanks to Officer Alexis and his "nepotism" talks, the Superior Court decided to get another judge for the Vandom case. Can you imagine that chimpanzee ordered someone to photograph my mother while talking to Susan?! So that he could use it against her... As if it was not enough that the prosecution self-referred and initiated criminal proceedings against Will, that jerk won't stop pouring oil in the fire too!"- Taranee clenched her fist. Her anger was more than evident in the little flames that started dancing dangerously in her eyes. "If he wants to play with fire, I'll give him the time of his life."
"I agree. We have to do something; this is so unfair."- Hay Lin gushed. "Jessie Alexis must be working for Serena. If we can prove that he's a corrupt cop, we can help Will and her mom out."
"That would be a very good start."- Taranee agreed. "We already know that he's reporting all he does to someone, most possibly Serena. Now we just need evidence to back that up before the first court hearing."
Irma's blue eyes glimmered decisively. Jessie Alexis had forced her father's transfer. He had come in their lives to blacken them- now he was doing everything in his power to turn the Vandoms' existence into hell. She was going to be ashamed of herself if she didn't do something about it:
"Leave that to me."- the Latina averred belligerently. "I'll unmask that bastard in front of the authorities and I will prove that he's nothing but a sneaky, little pseudo-cop. He won't get away with this. Not by the cheeks of my big, big ass."
Elyon positioned herself on her throne with a tired, pensive expression. The events that had taken place in the last twenty-four-hours were, once again, beyond her control and liking, but she was pretty much powerless against them. The Throne Room was packed with sentries, her parents, and other important figures. It was time for yet another stamina-absorbing audience.
Elyon's heart skipped a beat mournfully, as she lifted her eyes and saw the empty space next to Miriadel. Where her Galgheita would usually stand during such meetings. It was bizarre to think that it had already been almost 5 months since her tragic incident. The Queen missed her so much...
Andan rubbed her hand between his and she turned to smile at him gratefully. He had been her strongest rock and pillar over the last weeks and she was truly beholden to have him. Perhaps he had been right about the entire 'giving their relations time' philosophy, because with every passing day, Elyon could feel herself being more and more attached to him. His kind hazel eyes looked at her with such admiration and solicitude... a wedding with him looked more and more possible and right to happen.
"Your Majesty."- Raythor cleared his throat. "The matters of urgency that are to be discussed are quite a few today. First off, the information which we received from Frost. Whatever sentence do You opine best for the shapeshifter? After all, his transgressions are countless and each chance he gets to support Phobos, he'll use."
"Honey, we know how you feel about radical measures and sentences."- Miriadel went on. "But with a view of the circumstances, I have to say that it is strongly advised we find a terminal solution to the problem. The problem with your brother and his most loyal subjects."
"Yes, Elyon."- Alborn said in his turn. "Think about it, dear. Our kingdom can't bear the damage of this humiliation anymore. Prisoners that break out of their cells, repeatedly. Old foes that come to power and debase our worth and reputation..."- the man-made a pause to steal an encouraging glance from his wife. Rayhtor nodded solemnly as well. Alborn took a deep breath and resumed his speech. He hated to have to project foreign thoughts and ideas on his daughter, but if that was to save her place in people's hearts and help to keep a decent management of the kingdom, then it had to be done: "My dear Elyon, I know how kindhearted and svelte you are. You want to give everyone a hand and a chance, but these dark times call for a rougher approach. If we are to avoid a disaster then we must act now. While we can't take such actions against Phobos due to the oath, Cedric is a dead duck."
There was a silence as Elyon knitted her brows, the words her father had just voiced sinking in her head. Then it hit her as if she was standing on the railway towards a speeding train. All the faces in the Throne Room were frozen, she observed them. All of them were waiting for her coveted answer:
"You...you suggest that we have Cedric executed?"
The silence remained unbroken. Her mother and father just nodded at her with apologetic looks as she evaluated the zealot suggestion. Andan squeezed her hand for reassurance, but Elyon avoided his look this time. She was too busy reflecting on the thought. Up until this morning, when Raythor had revealed Frost has started talking, desperate to have some sense of freedom, Elyon had considered the topic of Cedric and Miranda closed. She hadn't confessed it in front of anyone, but she had already known a big part of the things that Frost had apparently witnessed months ago and Raythor had just studied and confirmed. He had confirmed that Miranda has indeed played dead and hereby escaped prison all these years ago.
Upon questioning the people living in the surrounding villages, those in immediate vicinity of the forest in which he had once dumped her 'corpse', the captain had learned some quite interesting things. Among these people was a rumor of a mysterious woman with the terrifying ability to turn into a monster spider. And that rumor suspiciously resembled Miranda, further confirming Frost's words. In the beginning, Raythor hadn't been fast to believe the hunter by any means. Not at all- he had taken his time to investigate things before bringing this problematic up in front of her Majesty, which was quite the achievement with all the Arkhantian drama that had taken place at the same time. But if Raythor knew two things for sure, they were that, first, Frost could hardly ever fabricate a clever lie. Being a simp and brute, talking the truth was one of his few good qualities. That for starters, and secondly, the fact that these villagers were all frightened to death by the mysterious woman, that so suspiciously sounded like Miranda. Villagers living in small, forest, or mountain settlements were still scared of the shifters more than anything, in spite of the many years and the new Queen, and no one could change that.
Elyon shook her head. She had already struck a deal with Miranda. She in her turn had long sold Cedric in the name of their daughter. Their story was disturbing, deranged, and pitiful at the same time, but still. Executing Cedric? Killing him? That was not only against her nature, knowing that he has a child out there made Elyon dislike this decision even more:
"This decision is tough on me and I don't want to take it without the guardians and the Council of Kandrakar."- the young woman said in the end. It was a good save. Not. She sighed. The disapproval and disappointment wouldn't show on her parents' faces, but she knew that deep inside their souls they must be feeling them. She was glad that Nerissa wasn't present to criticize her about what she already knew.
This was a weak thing to do. It was her kingdom and Cedric's fate was entirely her responsibility. The Crown of Light isn't light...Elyon turned to her fiancé, who's expression also remained unchanged. His eyes kept saying what they had been saying from the beginning. He supported her. But all of their support was subjective anyway...
"I'm sorry. I know that I'm often not what you would want to see in your Queen..."
"Elyon, don't talk like that! It's not true."- Miriadel cut her off.
"Yes, honey. The decision is always going to be yours. You don't have to apologize to anyone."- Alborn said. "This was just a suggestion. So...that being said, we are going to leave Cedric in his cell in the Infinite City as for now, correct?"
Elyon nodded slowly. She didn't feel contented as she did that. She felt like she was being pathetic yet again. A very terrible feeling she was quite familiar with.
"Soldiers will head back to Gray Woods Mines to once again try to get information about the missing girl."- Raythor began dryly. Apparently, he had longed to throw Cedric into the Abyss of Shadows and the postponement, which he undoubtedly recognized as a refusal, had made his mood go even more south. "But I'm positive he won't cooperate, your Majesty. Your brother is atrocious. Perhaps You should accompany them again."
Elyon nodded with understanding. She knew that the situation with Arkhanta had been on the strings. Thanks to the girls, Ari had greatly reconsidered the misunderstanding which had driven him on the verge of a war between two realms. But even though the guardians had helped the king understand the truth about Phobos and how he had deceived him, the Arkhantian royal court still expected Asa to be found. Asa, the girl that had mysteriously been reported missing after 'Phillip' 's visit to Arkhanta. By some grave coincidence, she also happened to be Ari's son's love interest which only made matters worse and further explained why the King had been so belligerent.
Elyon frowned thinking of that. Phobos already had a female companion, who was even expecting a child from him. Then why on Earth would he need that other girl for? She didn't know, but sincerely speaking, she didn't even want to find out. All the thoughts that crossed her mind were nauseating. Asa had to be found as soon as possible, and that was the only thing from the entire mess that the young Queen chose to focus on.
Heatherfield...
Nerissa was walking on air as she came back from her closet room with two sets of clothes to choose between. A week post her atrocious collision with the moronic farmer and her fight with the guardians, she had pushed all that aside, sparing energy and time for her more Earthly-orientated dreams and aspirations, namely the progress of her career as a performer. Ignoring WITCH and leaving them to deal with the critical situations in Meridian and Coronia on their own, like they had demanded, had actually given her more time for herself and she wasn't complaining. Well, not that "ignoring" part, that the ex-guardian had decided to do on her own, but nevertheless, it was absolutely worth it. She ignored their calls, both telepathic and physical, pretended that she didn't see them if she, by chance, bumped into one of them, and only acknowledged Cornelia, due to their more specific relations. But even if so, that didn't mean that the young blonde guardian was completely spared of her mother-in-law-to be's wraith. She treated her coldly and reservedly and refused to do many things she had cordially done before. Cooking for example, to Cornelia's horror, for she hated spending time above the stove. Nerissa, though mostly amateur, was a natural cook and had the rare ability to make even the simplest dishes extremely goluptious. Her salads and pasta recipes were some of the best Cornelia had ever tasted. It was like eating high-end restaurant food. Whether she was using some kind of spells to add flavors to her meals or not, Nerissa was a treasure in the kitchen. Not anymore, though. It seemed to amuse her to watch her son's girlfriend struggling with every meal and resorting to takeout more and more often. Cornelia was a little peeved by that, for she couldn't quite understand as to why Nerissa had to get it out on her of all people when she hadn't exactly been a part of the fight between her and the guardians. But she didn't bring it up anyway. Not because she was afraid of confronting the former keeper in any way, but because she didn't feel like risking getting into a fight with Caleb because of her.
Nerissa came in front of one of the big mirrors and started comparing the two outfits on herself. The first one consisted of dark jeans, a modern crop leather jacket with various applications on the back and the sleeves, and a lace corset one piece for underneath, which looked more like expensive lingerie if anything, but Nerissa's philosophy was "as long as the nipples are not at display", so that hardly mattered. The second outfit was also made of leather, but it was a metallic pink-painted, strapless jumpsuit, the upper part of which had a zipper in the front, to regular the cleavage.
Just looking at the two options, she couldn't decide. For God's sake, everything looked good on her. Nerissa tossed her long locks to the back, looking at herself from behind. She could be really vain, but it wasn't for no reason. Her looks had always been among her greatest prides. After completely retrieving them after so much time, she wasn't planning on letting them slump again any time soon. Yes, youth looked great on her. Nerissa smirked dreamily at her own reflection. Youth was so very needed...
"You can wear tatters and still look breathtaking, love."
Nerissa turned around and her coxy confidence smoothly melted into sweet, earnest tenderness and kindness. He evoked the most positive in her each time- her Julian, who had apparently just woken up from a nap.
She tossed the hangers with the clothes on the bed and graciously approached him. A week after Ari's assault, his wound was completely healed. Cornelia had greatly succored that. But he still needed to rest more than usual, because of the effects of the poison, which even out of his blood, had exhausted his organism.
"Oh, I know, my love, but showing up to the recording room in tatters wouldn't be professional."- Nerissa purred and caressed the man's face. "You don't quite like this type of streetwear style, do you. You'd rather see me in something more elegant and regal. By all means, fashion has evolved so much over the years, I just want to try everything."
Julian smirked at her as she leaned above him and gently wrapped his arms around her waist.
"You know I'd rather see you stark naked."- he said playfully. "But still, anything works for when we're not in private."
Nerissa tossed her head back as she laughed melodiously, and then rested her face on Julian's chest. One leg on the bed, the other on the floor, both of her arms gently thrown over his shoulders, while he lay on his back. He gently set his hands free to massage her.
Nerissa yielded to the bliss and started tracing little circles on his bare skin. Julian did, as usual, sleep shirtless. One black strand of her still damp hair had ended on his shoulder, the one in which Ari's spear had pierced him. The wound was completely healed by now, but there was still a little scar left. She needed to prepare a special potion to make it vanish. She had done it before too; from the first days of the rebellion till the very last minutes of her cover as the ancient Mage, Julian had had a mass of scars that she had healed and effaced.
But that loathed farmer wouldn't get away with what he had done. Ari was yet to find out just what a vengeful woman she could be. Under W.I.T.C.H's wing or not, he would get a big scoop of revenge very soon...Nerissa frowned. W.I.T.C.H...She definitely hadn't missed the sound of their banal name in her mind. Giving them the silent treatment after they had further insulted her, subsequently, the farmer had her humiliated, had been her best decision yet. It had made her much calmer. All these girls did all the time was annoy her, anyway...
"Nerissa? Nerissa, can I speak to you for a moment?"
Nerissa abruptly stood up and glared at the door. Just when she had been thinking that the guardians couldn't get on her nerves upon thinking of them. It was as if she had jinxed herself. Cornelia was whining. Again. At least she had the decency to knock and wait outside the door.
"She'll speak to you in a moment, Cornelia. Let her get dressed."- Julian answered instead of his wife, making her pout at him.
"Go on. She's Caleb's true love. You mustn't be angry with her over trifles."- he ushered.
"Yes, that she is."- Nerissa frowned and with a swing got changed in her pink leather jumpsuit outfit. In the end, she had chosen it for her errands today.
Truth be told, she wasn't really mad with Cornelia. She was compiled to endure her, anyway, but she sincerely didn't mind her. Cornelia possessed many qualities which the ex-guardian recognized in herself. She was beautiful, clever, and strong. She was just...a present guardian while Nerissa was a former one. The brunette frowned, putting on a pair of metallic pumps on her way to the door. A storm of confused emotions was in her, that was for sure. The last months had been a testing time for her relationship with the five young girls.
"What is it that her Fairness would like today? Perhaps you require help with turning the stove on?"
Cornelia blinked at the odd utterance. Nerissa came out of her bedroom while coating her lips with gloss. Was she mocking her again? Cornelia pouted her lips and didn't remain obliged:
"I have already cooked for dinner if that's what you're implying."
"Oh, really? What would be on the menu this evening? Beans from a can?"
Gritting her teeth behind her lips, Cornelia ignored the petty line and went on:
"Anyway, I wanted to let you know that I'm meeting Caleb out. Don't wait for us. I've dropped Kil at Garden Plaza."
"Suit yourselves."- Nerissa shrugged and headed towards the broad staircase, followed by her animated dryers, hair sprays and brushes, tending to her hair on the go. "I have plans myself, I'll be working. So, it probably is good that you've decided to let my grandson be with his other grandparents for the night."
"Yes, I know. That's exactly what I wanted to talk to you about."- Cornelia declared coldly, following the other woman down to the living room area of the big house. She was fed up with her diva-like attitude and she was on the verge of snapping about it. There was, after all, only one legitimate diva in this house and that was Cornelia Hale. She didn't appreciate the competition that her mother-in-law was putting up feverishly in the last week:
"I know you're going to be recording with Matt. We're happy for you, but keep in mind Will is going to be there. I wanted to kindly ask you to leave your unrelenting shrewdness at home."
Nerissa, who had seated herself in the living room, putting makeup on, looked up almost incredulous.
Cornelia faced her with hands on her hips and a tenacious expression on her face.
"My what?"- setting her brush aside, Nerissa focused her entire attention on the blonde. Leave it to them to find something to blame her for again, when they had been the ones to insult her in the first place... "You think that I can't show decency towards Will, just because she mistreated me?"
"No, I just wanted to remind you that Will has been through a lot lately."- Cornelia crossed her hands on her chest. The other woman was staring right into her soul. She didn't look away. "Her entire family is. Things with them are nowhere near pink right now. She even suffered a miscarriage recently. I simply wanted to make sure that you remember all that, Nerissa. So that you'll give her the passcard this time."
"I'm perfectly up to date with what's been happening in her life. You don't need to tell me to go easy on her, because I wasn't planning to talk to her at all."- Nerissa stood up.
"Alright then, why are you getting upset?"- Cornelia asked sarcastically. "You've said you don't care before. I was just double-checking."
"You're generous on insults these days. First, you stand by that farmer's side, now this. What do you think, that I'd allow myself to toy with Will right now? Why would I?"
"I didn't say- "
"Please, Cornelia, if you should have learned one thing about me by now, it should be that I've only ever, even in my darkest moments, done the necessary evil. Every battle, every deceit, has always been in the name of a better future. After all, I'm someone who once had the brave dream of ending war and conflict in the Universe forever... Pointless quarrels, my dear, fall into your specialty."
Cornelia felt her cheeks burn with affront as the ex-guardian turned her back to her. She was this close to further diving into this argument, hitting her with facts and words that would serve as a proper reply to what she had just said, but Cornelia managed to collect her sense on time. What was she even doing? She hadn't intended to start a fight with Nerissa, she had wanted to break the ice and talk with her like mature people do. Why had she allowed herself to fall for the ex-guardian's provocation. That was Nerissa's defensive mechanism, she knew it by now. She knew so many things that the others didn't... After all, they had been living under the same roof for quite some time now:
"Wait, Nerissa."- Cornelia stopped her in her tracks. "I apologize. I failed to deliver the message which I wanted to deliver. I wasn't striving to insult you, I was just looking out for a friend."
Fighting the sour expression off her face, Nerissa looked back over her shoulder:
"Your friend is the last person on my blacklist right now. Don't worry. I'll go after you before thinking of attacking her."
"I know, but I still had to talk to you about it."- Cornelia insisted and approached her. "You're just like me when it comes to these things. Your anger can be destructive and uncontrollable. Whenever your ego is hurt, you fire back, even if unintentionally."
Nerissa studied the young guardian's crystal blue eyes and the seriousness of her perfect face:
"Our characters do have certain similarities."- she confessed tongue-in cheekily. "But this is not one of them. I control my anger and affront much better than you do. Your hurt ego combines with your pride and you slash everyone, even those who you love, involuntarily of course. Yet again the damage is done. Your anger hurts everyone. Mine only blasts at my enemies. And your guardian friends, Cornelia, are no longer significant enough to be among them."- Nerissa tossed her long hair back and placed her hand on the blonde's shoulder, a bitter smirk on her face. Sure she'd prove her words right any minute now.
Cornelia would snap at her, true to the chink in the armor of her soul. She would prove her arrogance could take a toll on her at any time, pushing her off the path to her goals...
How colossal was Nerissa's surprise when instead of that, Cornelia placed her hand on top of the one she had put on her shoulder. A pair of green eyes looked in the blue ones in perplexity, as the guardian of Earth opened her mouth and gently said:
"I can't deny that. I'm aware of my weak sides, yet I fail to control them each time. My anger is often too strong and destructive for my own good. I'm arrogant and prideful, but I've never been hurt like you. I guess that's where this difference in our states of being pushed too far comes from."
"What are you talking about- "- Nerissa pulled away, but her future daughter-in-law went on, undisturbed:
"When you felt betrayed and alone all these years ago, your anger was one of the only things that helped you survive."- she narrated. "That's why you learned to use fury as a fuel to pursue your goals with. I've never been in such a situation and I'll probably never be. When you were left all alone, you learned to feed on your anger, resentment, and pain, turning them into a weapon, but you know it's a two-edged knife they create, Nerissa! You don't have to keep hurting like that anymore. I know how hard that traumatic turning point in your life has made it for you to trust others and feel like a part of something. Something bigger. But now you are! You're not alone anymore, you can finally heal from the betrayal. Don't you get how lucky you are, you are amid the very few people who can brag about undoing a past tragedy. You should allow yourself to feel respected and accepted, even when it's hard!"
Nerissa eyed her, almost at a loss of words. The blonde girl in front of her had spoken heartfully and earnestly. Her gaze was moist and sincere while looking back at her, but could she afford to show her weakness:
"I don't think that you understand what you speak of, Cornelia."- Nerissa said dryly instead and pulled her hand free from her grip. "Why don't you just abandon the topic and let it be. Go out. I've already promised not to make life more oppressive for your little friend than it already is. Why bother further analyzing me?"
The tall blonde shook her head stubbornly, but there was a whole new beauty in her unrelenting attitude at that moment. Emotions of gratitude and appreciation had her overwhelmed as she uttered:
"Because your Caleb's mother! Because you're my family now too and I can see that you're going through a rough period!"- Cornelia declared firmly, to the other woman's surprise. "Ever since I'm a mother myself, I've grown to understand you so much better. I used to think in a shallow fashion, I thought of you as an ordinary power-crazed psycho, but now I know better! I know how you feel and you should know that you don't have to put walls around yourself. Not for me. I'm your family now. I'm your daughter! You better accept me as one."
Her words echoed in Nerissa's ears like a strong thunder as two hot tears rolled down her high cheekbones. Her hard grimace had melted into a moved appreciative mien, that was to turn into a warm smile any minute now:
"And you must know."- Cornelia, whose eyes were also watering by that point, continued. "You're not unappreciated. You're not alone. The entire situation with Ari shouldn't drive you to believe that, and I know how that must have made you feel, trust me, I do. I've been in a similar situation many times. But that's the best thing about W.I.T.C.H- eventually, we always find the way to talk to each other and make amends for the best. That's why I'm reaching to you now...And I know how bittersweet it must be, because, under different circumstances, your team of guardians could've lasted so much more...I know you must hate to see our generation's success at times. But I want to tell you, as a daughter: generations don't have to be divided by walls and hard feelings. We have the rare possibility to all work together and there's nothing more beautiful than that, for so many fucking reasons. You are significant and you matter. To all of us. To your family and old friends, to W.I.T.C.H too! Because real guardians are not rivals at heart, Nerissa. We're all connected by the Heart. We'll always be. And you will always be a guardian."
Overflown with emotion, Nerissa's expression finally gave in and she pulled the other woman in a tight embrace. Cornelia also held her tightly as her boyfriend's mother sniveled on her back:
"I'm not letting you go before you grasp that, got it? We're guardians. Guardians!"- the blonde cried.
Nerissa gently stroked the young woman's long blond hair, with maternal affection. Her words had sounded like a salve for her soul. She had thought of it before, but now she was fully convinced by Cornelia's genuine sincerity. The Earth guardian had accepted her fiancé's family and loved ones as her own. She had even accepted Nerissa, in spite of the turbulent past. Caleb had indeed chosen the best and most dignified woman, he could ever have, and that had nothing to do with the stereotypical notion of a submissive housewife. Cornelia was not like that - Cornelia was strong, steadfast, and real. In a way, she was a striking image of Nerissa's own young adult personality.
"Cornelia, thank you. You liberated my spirits and moved me."- the ex-guardian said in the end, taking the other woman's hands in hers. "I don't say that often, I don't just say it to everyone: Thank you. While I'm sure that we're going to keep having certain disputes in the future, I'll never forget your words. The bridge which your commendable sincerity and virtue built between us is there to stay, I can promise you that. Because I've finally mastered it."- she gushed.
"I don't doubt that."- Cornelia retorted cheerfully. "And what is it that you've mastered?"
Nerissa smiled:
"That which Julian has been carrying in his heart for years, looking at you and our son's blossoming love. He used to tell me about it so many times, but it wasn't easy for my searing soul to accept it. Up until today. Today I can finally boast- I've lived to think of you, and appreciate you, as a daughter of my own."
