Chapter 29: High Tide Part One

"When you get into a tight place and everything goes against you, till it seems as though you could not hang on a minute longer, never give up then, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn."

- Harriet Beecher Stowe


Heatherdiled, Police Station, 5:34 PM

Jessie Alexis was spinning a pen between his fingers, his expression blank, and staring at the door of his office. He was waiting for someone to arrive and he was growing impatient.

For weeks now he had filled in Tom Lair's place, and he couldn't say that he necessarily enjoyed it. Being inspector and chief of the local police had always been something he was striving to achieve, but the work in Heatherfield was a lot. And Tom sure had left his policemen with high expectations. High expectations which they projected on their new inspector. That was why Jessie knew that if he wanted to progress in this career, he'd most probably need to gather a team of his own. Policemen, officers, and criminologists that were loyal to him, not to some other top dog.

Jessie frowned harshly at the thought. Getting away from this city was what he was really looking forward to. Everything in Heatherfield disgusted him. From the slow pace of life, compared to that in Seattle, to the citizens and their ignorance. Each one of these people he had to interact with on the daily, lived in bubbles of their own, absolutely oblivious to common sense, as far as Jessie was concerned. Heatherfield was a bizarre town for bizarre people. It had been better off as a heather plantation.

"I-inspector Alexis-"- Rosetta's trembling voice sounded from the phone on his desk. Jessie rolled his eyes, putting his feet beside the device. Just one more proof to his words- how could someone like this lady working at the reception, ever become a police officer, was beyond him. She was cowardly and constantly stricken by anxiety- like a rabbit. Jessie pitied her, otherwise, he would've fired her by now. Tom Lair had to be a fool to keep her around; she wasn't even especially attractive. "A woman, Ms. Emilia is here to see you. I tried sending her away, but she i-insists, she says she's your friend- "

Jessie stirred in his seat. Finally, she was here.

"Send her in here."- he ordered offhandedly.

He then proceeded to leave the pen aside. It was snowing outside as per usual. Winter was terrible in here, Jessie thought angrily looking through the window. Yes, Heahterfield was all that he hated- cold, ignorant and occupying.

"Look at you."- he commented once the door oh his office opened. "You look nothing like yourself."

The woman with a short platinum blond bob locked the door behind herself. Then she looked as if she was about to take her big sunglasses off, but something made her stop:

"The surveillance system."- she said in a low, guttural voice. "Shut it-."

"Already done."- Jessie stood up and walked to the cabinet where Tom had stored some hard alcohol. One good thing about his management of this police department. "What would you like to drink? Tequila?"- he started reading the different labels on the bottles. "Vodka? Rakija*, whatever that is- "

"I want a glass of water and your attention, Jessie, I don't have lots of time."- the woman snapped.

The inspector rolled his eyes as he got some glasses from the cabinet and turned back to his desk. She had always been trenchant and impatient behind closed doors, ever since she had been a little girl...

The new-arrived woman was already making herself at home by the time the tall man brought her the water. She threw her coat on one of the couches in the room. Then she took off what had turned out to be a wig, her sunglasses, and a part of her face. The prosthesis that had notably changed her into another person was lying on the surface, as she pulled one leather chair closer and seated herself in front of the desk.

Jessie smiled as Serena Sanchez tossed her dark locks around and stopped her calculating eyes on him.

"Well, Jessie."- she said with open eagerness. "Let me in on the good news. When are we to punish the Vandoms for everything."

"Everything in its good time."- the man retorted upon taking a generous sip of his drink. "So far everything has happened the way we wanted it to. Susan and her daughter have already suffered greatly, but that's just the beginning. The first court hearing is this week and the next stage of your revenge will take place then. I have everything calculated."

"And Tony?"- Serena wanted to know, disappointment crawling in her tone. "When is he going to start paying? He's the one who wronged me the most, I thought that the next stage of my revenge will affect him!"

"Tony is a low ball, but he's quite clever."- Jessie said calmly. "Even though we are about to prove that he's alive, he can't be found anywhere. I had put people around that hospital before he went there to sign his daughter's life-saving papers. He still managed to go in and out without them noticing him. He has eyes and ears everywhere and he's elusive like smoke- "

"He ruined my entire life! I hate him in my gut!"

"Keep it down, you moron!"- Jessie barked and stood up warningly. "These walls aren't soundproof! I didn't call you here to ruin everything! When you sought my help, you agreed to listen to me."

"I'm sorry, Jessie, it's just all so hard on me!"- Serena defended herself and slumped deeper in her chair. "He abandoned me and left me nothing. He's a murderer and a liar!"

Jessie eyed her with a stony expression:

"Yes...But after all the messes which you started; it will be a little tricky to prove all that. It was, actually, but not anymore. Lucky for you, I'm on your team. I'll fix everything, but you must listen to every word and obey me, Sera."

Serena lowered her gaze resignedly. She had reached a new bottom where she could no longer afford to have dignity. Jessie was her relative...Although life hadn't brought them close in the traditional ways, she knew he cared for her. After all, they shared a mother...

"Fine."- she said in the end. "I'll do as you say. As long as that will hurt Tony Vandom the way he hurt me."

Jessie ran a hand over his shaved head and nodded contentedly:

"Very well. Here's what you'll have to do first. You'll take this key and go to the address I sent you."- he nodded at the set of keys displayed on his desk. "I have booked a place for you on my name, your new identity is that of my newest flame. So, wear your wig and prosthesis. Tomorrow there'll be a big charity function to which you'll come as my date. Everyone needs to come to know your new identity, Ms. Emilia Thompson. Everyone needs to think of us as an item. Take some time to have a good rest." - he narrated. "Then, when the day of the Vandom's court hearing comes, you'll go out and make it to a motel which I will book for us. You will come there under the pretext that you are coming to see me, but in actuality, Emilia will never leave that motel until I say. Serena Sanchez, however, will. Serena Sanchez will go to court and will plead guilty."

"What?!"- Serena gasped, sure that she had misheard. "What are you nuts?! Susan Vandom has filled a dozen complaints against me, she's suing me for fraud and assault, and the fraud part is already a closed proven case! If I go there I'll-"

"You'll soon get to know everything, you stupid bitch!"- the inspector hissed after he silenced her with the hard thud that his fist caused upon getting slammed into the surface of the desk. The glasses with the liquids inside them had jumped at that. Jessie's eyes were dangerously narrowed and that had the woman obey him and just look up like a lamb:

"You have to be extremely careful, Serena. I hope that you've practiced your French. Emilia Thompson should never be linked to Serena Sanchez. Getting you out of all the trouble you've gotten yourself into because of your cupidity is challenging. You're pretty damn lucky that I like a challenge."- he said lowly. "Keep in mind all that. Also, keep in mind that Susan Vandom is the least of your problems. These girls, her daughter's friends, are more dangerous than they look like. I see them using their different connections in society to protect Will and her family like four guardians of some sort... The way they look at me with open hatred, the way they oppose me is what I find concerning."

Serena crossed her arms and snorted. Will's friends were all that Jessie found alarming in their entire problem? He was insane!

"They're just a bunch of insolent brats."-she huffed. "Who cares about them?! I think that you should be more on guard with some of their parents, Theresa Cook for example."

"You're so annoyingly naïve."- Jessie stood up from his place and walked to the window. "Theresa Cook and Thomas Lair, and all the others you are so afraid of, are ordinary people that take certain notable positions in Heatherfield's godforsaken society. They have that to back them and it explains their demeanor. It also makes them easy to deal with. It's these girls that have no visible reason to feel so...overpowered. You were Will Vandom's stepmother for ten years, haven't you noticed it before?"

"No."- Serena snapped. "I may be naïve, but you're the one letting their love for challenges take a toll on them!"

But as she said that, she suddenly remembered a scene from the last summer. A scene that had shocked her. Both literally and figuratively...The night when she had aimed a gun at Susan Vandom, and her daughter had confronted her without any fear. Will had looked at her so sternly and intrepid, it hadn't felt right. That was not the way someone looks at a person who threatens their life...Susan had been terrified, but the young woman had just been angry. Her anger had somehow made Serena drop her gun down; suddenly she was shocked by strong static electricity, but the most disturbing thing in the entire situation had been that even then the redhead had appeared unfazed and even expecting that to happen...

"I'm telling you, Sera, these girls don't fear me one bit."- Jessie voiced his thoughts out loud again, glance lost in the snowy distance. "And people who don't fear the police are often more dangerous than they appear. What is more, they are to be feared themselves."


The night was cold and quiet. The city was sleeping. Every home in Heatherfield was quiet and sleepy under the falling snow...Every but the Ashcroft family apartment, where there was tension waiting to splash all around the surface.

The time was around two in the morning. Nigel Ashcroft was peacefully sleeping on his stomach, snoring quietly. He was tired after a long day of work and studies. He was to finish his last year in University and be a graduated psychologist... that and his commitment to Matt's musical business, of course. They had been the all-time favorite school band and had experienced and achieved so much together; now that their lead singer was a successful artist neither did he forget about his old bandmates nor did they. But the psychology major was what Nigel was really working hard on, for almost four years now. As far as his girlfriend and closest friends were concerned, his personal stimulus in that was his own mother's mental condition that had been unstable for years...

But Nigel and his aspirations needed sleep. And sleep was something which he couldn't stick to when his girlfriend jumped up in their bed, startling him with a sudden loud gasp.

"Taranee?! What's the matter?"- he exclaimed groggily, rubbing the sleep from his eyelids. "Nightmare?"

But when Taranee turned on her night lamp and proceeded to get dressed in a warm woolen sweater and a pair of leggings, the man just buried his head in the pillow and grunted. By now he could tell when and why his girlfriend was alarmed. And a mere nightmare could hardly do it for the guardian of Fire...

"More like a night call."- Taranee looked over at the young man apologetically. "Sorry I woke you up, Nigel. I'll try to be quieter next time. It's just that...Irma was being way too loud than needed in my head, and I'm easy to startle."

Nigel flashed her a tired smile. Maybe some other guy would be disturbed and weirded out by such a statement, but not him. He knew his girlfriend and all her quirkiness and secrets. Taranee was a brave guardian and warrior, and he was proud of her.

"It's all sweet, Taranee. Is there some major crisis going on or...?"

"No, it's just another mission of inquiring."- Taranee replied as she took one last look of herself in the mirror on her wardrobe. "Don't worry. I'll take the stairs because the others are in front of our building, but on my way back I'll teletransport. You go back to sleep."

"Love you."- he murmured as she gave him a peck.

"Love you too."

Turning the light off, the guardian exited the bedroom with a smile. And to think that she had once been afraid to tell Nigel about her double identity! He was so supportive and good. He was the best.

All that was left for Taranee to do was to put her jacket on. She was already in her boots when Irma telepathically urged her to hurry up.

I'm coming! - Taranee snapped mentally and was just about to open the exit door...

"Oh, my god!"

She needed a second to catch her breath. Then she focused her attention on the figure that had just scared the crap out of her:

"Monica, you scared me."- she whispered. "Do you umm... need something?"

Monica Ashcroft had once been a beautiful auburn-haired woman with sparkling eyes, but now she was just a dull shadow of her once self. The constant medicine intake had made her looks and personality fade to the point where she looked ten years older than she actually was.

Taranee carefully estimated the current situation as she watched the older woman tilt her head. Sadly, Taranee knew about most of her problems and mental issues that she had further developed over the years, but not the initial reason or cure to them, just like all the specialists that had worked with Mrs. Ashcroft. Even before being diagnosed with schizophrenia over 14 years ago, Monica had always been a tad off the rocker. That had been why her husband had divorced her. Taranee knew the infamous cruise story of how upon saving Nigel, who had then been just a baby, from drowning, his older brother Daniel had received a slap from their mother. Monica had blamed her older son for putting his younger brother in danger repeatedly. That had caused a series of problems for Daniel himself, but thankfully his share of issues had been manifested and exhausted in the form of ordinary teen rebelling.

Monica Ashcroft had only worsened over the years and in part, that had been the reason for Theresa not wanting her daughter to have much to do with her son, to Taranee's big embarrassment.

Now, more than ten years later, the troubled woman was living with her son and his girlfriend for the third week, waiting for the urgent renovations in her apartment to be finalized. Naturally, Theresa wasn't too thrilled to find out about that, but Tarnaee had been firm when telling her that her opinion is not needed. She loved Nigel and was in awe by the way he had managed to keep his state of mind and character, despite all the terrifying things he had been through with his family. The very least she could do was support his mom when she had nowhere to go.

"Where are you going?"- Monica asked with an empty look. Her eyes practically went through Taranee, but the young woman knew that she was asking a sensible question.

"I'm going to run and get some things from my parents' house."- she lied soothingly as she helped Monica get back to her room. "I'll be back soon. You should rest, okay? And don't worry, everything's alright. Nigel is sleeping in our room. Would you like some water?"

Taranee turned and smiled warmly at the other woman. She had helped her get back to her bed in the guest bedroom. Monica didn't respond, but Taranee still poured a glass of water from the jug on the nightstand and handed it to her.

"Ta-ranee. Be careful."

That warmed her heart up. Taranee turned at the door and looked at Monica with appreciation. She even blew her a quick air-kiss:

"I promise, I will, don't worry, Monica. Sweet dreams."

But as she turned the lights off and was about to head out, the fire guardian heard Monica's voice from the guest room again. Her voice was suddenly much deeper and colder:

"Things are not as they appear."- she declared. "Things are not as they appear!"

"Monica?"

"Things are not as they appear!"- Monica hissed and stood up abruptly, startling Taranee for real this time.

Watching the woman approach her in the dark was more than terrifying. With every other step, the aging face, twisted in an unnatural expression came closer and closer. But somehow, the guardian didn't move, she waited for Monica to come to her. The older woman stopped right in front of her face and once their eyes met, Monica's rolled to the back to her head:

"Oh, my God..."- Taranee cried, scared that the troubled woman was having a seizure. What had triggered her crisis? She had taken her medicine the previous evening... But before she could reach to help her out, Monica slapped her hand and started talking again:

"Things are not as they appear! The raven lock! Look behind the raven lock."

"Monica, what the-"

"Things are not as they appear! Find the raven lock! Open the raven lock! The raven lock!"

With that, Monica walked back to her bed and got under the covers, turning her back to the door where Taranee stood aghast.

A few minutes later, when she made it to the front of the building, where Cornelia's white Mercedes awaited her arrival, Taranee was lost in her thoughts. She almost didn't mind Irma offhandedly pulling her inside the vehicle.

"Finally! Captain, we have the dawdling damsel. Full gas to the Rudolph house!"

"Taranee, for all the time you wasted upstairs, you could've at least applied some lip gloss."- Cornelia noted from the driver's seat. "We said "hurry up", not "grow pretty up there"."

"Hey, hey, hey."- Irma pouted. "How about you don't steal my lines, Corny. Or I'll see you in court."

Irma bit her tongue, but it was already too late. Hay Lin and Cornelia flashed her angry looks, but the inappropriate joke had been made and that was that. Will, however, appeared to be unfazed by it.

"Hay Lin had a dream about the poem written on the phantom door."- she let Taranee in on the details. "And it was a rather interesting dream, if you ask me."

"I was another person and I was killed... I saw the poem which we have translated, but it was altered. I think that our poem is altered, actually."- Hay Lin narrated with wide open, big eyes. "What we read on that door in the palace, is an altered fragment. A fragment of a longer poem. The prophecy of the Dark Descendant. Ever since I woke up, this name is what's been in my mind...'Blue Bijou County'. I'm sure that it's where we must go and look for answers."

"It's an actual county on Coronia."- Will confirmed, clasping onto the scroll of the Coronian map which they had brought. "A very remote province to the capital's district. That only proves it. We have to go there and get to the bottom of this whole entire poem mystery once and for all."

Taranee nodded, still partly overwhelmed by her personal experience with Monica's seizure. It was normal for Nigel's mother to fall into states of delusion if she hasn't taken her pills, which she had the previous evening...There, however, had been nothing normal in her speech. It had been...oddly eerie and specific. The raven lock, Taranee pondered. Things are not as they appear. What the hell does that mean... In the end, she shook her head, deciding to free herself of these thoughts and just concentrate on the mission. It looked like the most sensible decision at this point:

"Hay Lin."- she turned to her Asian friend sitting next to her. "When you say that our poem fragment is altered... What does the original one sound like? Do you by chance remember what you saw in that vision?"

Hay Lin nodded livelily and pulled a piece of paper from the pocket of her bright pink coat:

"It's a tricky change, but it gives it a totally different sense, don't you think, Tara?"


Coronia, 4:49 AM

When their space fold opened in the outskirts of the Coronain capital, it was already almost dawn time. Time difference between Earth and Coronia was only about three hours, but the sun was yet to rise when the five transformed guardians started their flight in the cool-aired sky, headed for the Blue Bijou. Taranee was entangled in her thoughts and worries the entire time. After what felt like a never-ending journey, she and her friends had landed in front of the entrance gate of the old county. 'Bijou', however, was the last word Taranee would use to describe what she saw upon landing.
It looked like this settlement long didn't represent its name with pride. The tall walls of the rampant were overwhelmed by poison ivy. High impassable grass prevented anyone from passing through the once glittering azure gates, the shine of which was just a pale memory today.

"Oh, goody. From all the places that there are on the "luxurious" planet, we'll end up in a creepy abandoned village."- Irma smirked at Hay Lin. "Makes perfect sense to me."

"Umm, Irma, it's the 'golden' planet."- she corrected her while looking at what lay ahead of them. This place had to be the size of a regular neighborhood back in Heatherfield. But the Blue Bijou had obviously been desolated for many years. In spite of that, the air that the young woman sensed was heavy and full of tiredness. She could swear she could feel something...something present. Hay Lin knitted her brows. That was a little odd. For a place that has no living inhabitants. Perhaps there was something else. A big misfortune of some sort, linked to this very county. It was quite an obvious idea, but Hay Lin thought it was only logical.

"Corny, mow the lawn-"

"I'm on it."- Will didn't need to finish her words. Cornelia was already taking care of the obstacle.

The plants obeyed her will and started clearing the way for the group of five young women. Taranee set a few fireballs flying around them as to provide light since the sun had not yet risen.

The Blue Bijou had once been a beautiful place, but still, not near as grand as the rest of the realm where they had visited. The buildings that were unveiled in front of their eyes as Cornelia's power made the lush vegetation shrink, were mostly renaissance-looking houses built of golden bricks, with once brilliant blue roofs whose glow, like that of the gates, had worn off over time. There were buildings of other shapes and sizes here and there, perhaps once serving the various social and vital purposes of the people of this county. This county that was so oddly abandoned and forgotten ...

But why? Taranee couldn't help but wonder. If there is no poverty and misery in Coronia, then why did people abandon this place altogether?

"Someone else getting strong 'Chernobyl' vibes from this place?"- Irma's half-joking, half-serious voice interposed between the dark-skinned guardian's thoughts. "I mean look at this! If Hay didn't dream about it, we wouldn't even know it existed. What else do we not know about Elyon's future kingdom expansion."

Her four friends exchanged glances. Irma waited for their reply, but instructions were faster to follow:

"Cornelia, you and Irma go right. Taranee and Hay Lin go left. Trek the entire place down and if you find anything, call us. We'll all teletransport to the group which discovers the reason we were summoned here first."

"Will and you?"- Taranee exclaimed. "Are you going to look around on your own?!"

"Yeah, Will, you can't do that."- Irma joined in. "You're coming with us. Ms. Perfection and I need the bala-"

"I'll be fine."- Will interrupted her a little sharper than she had intended. "I'll take the time to try to use the Heart's powers to scan the entire county from above. You know that the Heart senses danger. I want to make sure that we're safe."

Her answer didn't seem to satisfy the rest of the guardians, but none of them objected. They knew better than to argue with her in the state she was.

"Fine then."- Cornelia said tensely. She had finally managed to lower the majority of plants from the walls of the buildings and the streets, that was a tad more passable, now that the walls of 6-foot grass were shrunken. "We'll keep our telepathic channels online. None of us should get distracted. This is serious. Elyon and Meridian's entire fate depends on this planet's unhinged secrets."


"This is ridiculous!"- Cornelia huffed, ten minutes later, as she and the water guardian went through the remaining belongings of one of the abandoned houses in the Blue Bijou. Evidently, the inhabitants of this two-story building had been in a hurry to leave. Just like everyone else in the county...The majority of their things- clothes, jewelry, books, had been left behind.

"We shouldn't be letting her be all alone! She lost a baby! She's hurting so much right now and we just let her be alone! Will needs a break. A break! Enough is enough with this trammel!"

"Chill out, Cornelia. And focus on our job. The faster we get out of here the better."

In the dark room, the blonde stared at the Latina in perplexity. Irma was casually going through the bookcase. Had she fallen on her head or something?

"How can you say of all people say that?"- she mumbled and then attacked her viciously: "Can't you see how Will worsens with every passing day, I thought that you always put your friends first, Irma, what happened to girls before flings-"

"First of all, it's 'my chicks before dicks'. Not that that has anything to do with this sit."- Irma corrected her with annoyance. "And second of all, I do worry about Will, but I already told you I have a plan. I'm already helping her."

"You did not tell me that!"

Irma stopped to think about it for a second.

"Oh, that's right. You were late and only Hay-Hay heard me. Anyhow, if you'd also like to help, Corny, I'll tell you what you can do. Don't worry. Will's gonna be fine very soon."

Cornelia blinked a few times, but her anger had not yet faded:

"Well, of course, I'd like to help! Why wouldn't I? You think you're the only one who cares about her? Or maybe you think that I don't care enough about Will. How dare you assume- "

"No, no, it's nothing like that!"- Irma held her hands up in a peace-seeking manner. "I just knew you have a lot of things to do with Killian and your failing degree, I didn't want to pressure you. I know that you value Will. Chill. I'll tell you what we'll be doing in order to make it easier for Will. The first step is going to be tomorrow evening. We'll sink our teeth into that jackass Alexis's lying-"

"Alright, no need for brusque forms of speech."- the Earth guardian stopped her friend.

She gave her a tentative look but didn't even get into an argument over Irma just shading her university progress like she'd normally do. She was too intrigued by her words regarding the vice inspector, who the young mother despised from her first meeting with him. If Irma had a plan to teach him a lesson and help Will at the same time, then she was totally in.


"Well, that has been a waste of time and effort. There's nothing here, Hay Lin. Nothing!"

"Irma, I know what I felt! After so many years, do you think I can still be wrong about a vision-dream? Especially when I've never been wrong."

Irma and Cornelia looked at each other. They had been investigating for over an hour and no one had been able to find anything remarkable in the county. Now they were all gathered in one of the many buildings, a significantly larger house that almost looked like it had once been a manor.

But even though they had found nothing so far, the young Asian kept insisting, making the water guardian scowl. She wasn't questioning her powers or abilities, not at all. In fact, Irma was convinced that there were still many things about Coronia in the unknown. She just felt like all that could wait. None of them were going anywhere, especially not Leonida and Phobos, who were under home arrest. Whatever back-stage drama happened in this kingdom, Elyon would easily manage once receiving the crown. She wasn't in a hurry to make that happen, anyway. Who cared about this stupidity the "Dark Descendant"? Magana and her crazy-ass daughter were old news. So was their cult.

Besides, Irma frowned. If she was to get any sleep at all, she had to go back home soon. She had important work the next evening, work regarding Jessie Alexis and Will's reputation. She needed at least 4 hours of sleep to be efficient!

"No, Hay Lin, of course, we're totally with you on that. I more than anyone want everything to be staid before Elyon sits on the throne."- Cornelia flipped her long blonde hair to the left side. "But maybe we're missing something. Maybe we need Dua to be able to unveil the information which you could steal a glimpse of, in your dream."

"I...I don't know."- Hay Lin confessed reluctantly. She had been so hyped to be over with this drama. Now they were just up the corner of another deadlock. "Maybe, Cornelia, but I didn't see or hear anything about Dua in my dream..."

Taranee, who stood nearby, frowned at that. They still didn't know what Dua had to do with the cult and the phantom room, which only he could open. What was the reason? Blood magic, that was what Nerissa had said. But that made no sense. Why couldn't Magana open the room on her own? And Andan? They were all of the same blood... There had to be something else to the entire story.

"I'm telling you."- Irma insisted. "Dwelling in the past can be avoided right now. Right now, we hold the reins! If we keep things under control, this cult story, the entire "Dark Descendant" prophecy will never become a thing again. It's always people who bring myths and stories to life, making them dangerous. Elyon has all the right people out of the way. I say we forget the past and focus on the present."- and she eyed Taranee and Hay Lin meaningfully.

Hay Lin opened her mouth to retort, but the objection came from Cornelia, much to Irma's surprise.

"Oh, come on, don't tell me you're not at least a little bit curious what this is all about. And even if Elyon visibly has no obstacles in front of herself, we can never be sure."

The Latina frowned. She had been under the impression that she and the blonde have already reached a consensus. It was far more important to expose Jessie Alexis and clear out the Vandom's name.

"Curiosity killed the cat, Corny. For someone who owns a magic cat, you shouldn't be taking such risks."

"And just what is that lame joke supposed to suggest?"- Cornelia snapped and turned to her with tightened fists.

"I'm just saying that you should shut up and we should all leave this stupid place where we found absolutely nothing!"- Irma snapped in response. "And don't even start with Hay Lin's dream. I know she's onto something, but whatever it is, it can wait! This primeval prophecy has waited a couple of hundred years, it can wait a few more weeks!"

Taranee, who was illuminating the dark room with her fireball, just shook her head watching the two women glare at each other like two wild cats. She was not in the mood for their endless fights.

"Irma, why would you say that?"- Hay Lin exclaimed. "We're trying to solve a mystery here. It's what we do! As guardians!"

"Listen, babes, there's no other person who has loved guardianhood from the very beginning like me! Except maybe you, Hay!"- Irma began loudly, shifting her glare from Cornelia to the Asian, to Taranee and the other way around. "But that doesn't change the fact that I'm sick and tired of Coronia and all it's crap! Tell me, why must I care about something which is no longer a threat?! After years of following orders from Kandrakar, they haven't given us any instructions regarding this terrible planet! So, why are we doing it?! I understand, as Elyon's friends, we want to give her a good future, and that's why we check every little detail a hundred times, fine! I was OK with that, but you know what? I'm sick of that girl and her problems! Yes, Cornelia, don't look at me like that. I've said what I said."

Taranee was giving her a somewhat judgy look. Hay Lin was clearly uncomfortable and Cornelia was just taken aback. She stared at her with those wide-open bluebottle eyes, but Irma didn't care. She breathed heavily:

"If there's one thing Nerissa's right about, it is that Elyon is constant magnet for trouble. She creates problems for herself! And I'm beginning to think that it's some sort of mental deviation, you know- "

"Irma, don't!"- Taranee yelled, pointing a finger at her. "Don't you dare use that word when simply bitching out about someone, you have no idea what people who have certain "deviations" go through! What their families go through!"

"I don't have time for your lectures, Taranee."- Irma barked. "Get off my case! Everything I say is some big offense to you lately. Quit it out already, I'm trying to make a point-"

"No, I will not let you be rude and ignorant, not when I see a person struggling every day! Nigel! I see Nigel and his brave attempts not to fall apart each time he sees his mother hurt because of her mental illness."- the Fire guardian said in a low voice, glaring daggers at the other woman.

"Oh, oh! I have an idea! Let's all just never use any phrases or proverbs ever again, because Taranee's sensitive side has been unlocked by her boyfriend's mother!"- Irma exclaimed mockingly. "I'm not trying to lose even more time here, I'm trying to tell you why we have bigger problems than what cult that deceitful frog Magana and her unhinged daughter have participated in!"

"Irma, just relax."- Hay Lin tried to calm the situation down. "We've acted without instructions from Kandrakar before. I'm just saying that since we're already here, we might as well search harder. My dreams never occur too early or too late, which means now's the time to solve these Coronian questions. As for Elyon, I get where you're coming from, but she's our friend and-"

"Will's our friend before Elyon, but y'all don't seem to think of her and how we are supposed to be helping her instead of being here!"- Irma pulled from the other guardian's grip. "And I don't care whether we've known Elyon for a longer time, I don't even have anything in common with her! Why should I constantly think of her ass?! Will will always be my babe! My girl! Her life is crumbling to pieces right now, and you're too busy being concerned about Elyon and her idiotic problems, results of her mistakes?"

"Irma..."- Hay Lin bit her lips and dared to look at Cornelia. But the outbreak which she expected didn't seem to be coming any time soon. Instead of frustrated and aggressive, Cornelia appeared to be crestfallen upon hearing what the water-witch had to say. "Irma, we all love Will, I care about her more than I care about myself, trust me. But we've already started doing some things to help her out, haven't we? Our work as guardians and that as Will's friends are not mutually exclusive- "

"Then let's just leave already, what's the big deal?"- Irma crossed her arms on her chest stubbornly. "What outrageous did I say anyway? I said that we already spent enough time in the fucking abandoned county, we can leave further investigations for after the court hearing, how about that? Coronia and its old secrets won't run away in the meantime."

Hay Lin tried to choose the best words to retort to that. She usually got along with Irma quite well. It was Cornelia whose explosive reactions she usually had to find suitable ways to deal with. But this time Irma was beyond herself.

"Hay Lin, don't waste your time."- Taranee interjected coldly from her corner. "Trying to talk sense into her when she's on the ball about something is like trying to get blood from a stone. She won't listen. I suggest we contact Will and discuss last actions before we indeed leave. We're all tired, we need to rest. Plus, Irma will be happy."

"Oh, I'm not done with you Taranee Cook! I can make you bleed with a stone if you're so eager."

"Irma!"

Cornelia and Hay Lin exchanged glances in distress. The darkened room was about to erupt in black and blue, as it seemed.

"Just drop it, Irma. I don't feel like fighting with you at all."- the fire guardian folded her arms on her chest. "Not tonight. Not when you're so pointlessly ignorant and I'm tired-"

"Then why are you being so damn dramatic!"- Irma yelled back. "It's not just tonight, it's ever since! I've always had you lecture me because I thought that you can teach me things, Taranee, but you don't know simple things like loyalty and love for those who've been there for you!"

"I'm being dramatic?!"- Taranee's eyes reflected the fire in her palm fiercely. "How am I being dramatic or disloyal, I'm just trying to teach you to be less crude and think before you speak!"- she cried. "You make fun of all so serious topics each time and we let it all slide because you're a joke-making person, but that doesn't mean that I'll let you trash talk things which I see Nigel go through with so much effort and pain-"

"I'm talking about WILL! WILL! Who's even talking about Nigel or his crazy mother? You're the one who- "

"There you go, you're doing it AGAIN! YOU'RE DOING IT AGAIN!"-Taranee screamed and pointed at her. "Just SHUT UP! Will doesn't need your obnoxious help; she won't accept it like that! You're demanding and your way of offering assistance borders with violation of one's personal space!"

"BOTH OF YOU SHUT UP!"- Cornelia demanded, but her two friends didn't listen. Taranee's words would echo in the room after minutes:

"And don't you even think of talking about loyalty to me, Irma Lair. It's just another joke coming out of your mouth!"

Irma's eyes glistened with fury at that:

"What did you just say to me?! Why not!? I've never been disloyal to anyone! You're the one who needed months to forgive their boyfriend for being supportive and inquiring! That's why you're so obsessed with his profession and his crazy mother, I get it! Your guilty self is making up for being a stuck-up bitch! You're the one who needs a bunch of time to remember what being loyal and giving is all about!"

"Irmaaaa- "

Cornelia pressed her two hands against her temples in defeat, as Hay Lin gasped in shock. Listening to this mad scandal was a torture. The blonde guardian was this close to slamming both her friends in the opposite walls. What the hell was going on with them, they never fought like this!? This was beyond ridiculous...These harsh words, these crushing, spiteful statements...But before she could react, the very next such statement came ringing out of the deeply insulted Taranee's mouth:

"Really! Really, Irma?! So, we're just gonna ignore the fact that you've had loyalty under your nose for years?! You've had it for years, but you failed to appreciate it to the point where you even had a one-night stand with Caleb's friend behind your now boyfriend's back? Wow! You're the epitome of loyal!"

There was a grave silence for almost an entire minute after that. Hay Lin did not dare breathe. Cornelia blinked as if someone had just slapped her, turning to Irma, whose cheek suffered the scalding sensation of a single hot tear rolling down:

"Irma...I swear, I never told any- "

"I know you didn't, I did."- Irma shook her head looking straight at Taranee, who avoided her gaze. She was now regretting being as harsh, but it was too late. Besides, the words had just come flowing out of her mouth. She had been so very angry... "I told her. We got into a fight, fine, I'll take anything. Shit happens. I'll take any clap-back to the shit I said, because it's only fair, Taranee. What I won't have is you use something which I confided to you as a SECRET, to shut my mouth in front of everyone, you back-stubbing bitch!"

Her water ball extinguished Taranee's fire and submerged the entire room into utter darkness as the dark-skinned woman slumped to the ground, taken aback by the sudden push.

"Taranee! Oh, my, are you OK?"

"Irma!"- Cornelia yelled in the dark. "Irma, get back here! Where are you going? Don't be fucking stupid!"

But Irma was already on her way, walking through the dark building decisively. She wasn't going to spend another minute here. She was done.

"Will! WILL! I need a fold home! Now! I wanna leave!"

The other three guardians were on her tail, but making their way through an entirely dark house was a hard task. Thankfully, Hay Lin managed to keep track of the Latina by the sound of her voice as Cornelia held a glum Taranee's hand. They would have to sort out things later. Right now, however, she was too ashamed of herself to even use her fire powers to create light...

"Irma, we won't leave you alone!"- Hay Lin cried.

"Irma, get back here before you hurt yourself or something, Will's not-"

Cornelia couldn't finish her sentence because she almost bumped into the Water guardian. She had stopped dead in her tracks. Apparently, flying full speed after her had been a good idea. She took a look behind her shoulder to make sure that the other two were there, before turning her attention to the source of the pink lights.

It was...the Heart? Will was right next to it! In the long, narrow corridor they had all found themselves in, the redhead just stood, staring deep into the wall in front of herself, the Heart floating and glowing in front of her:

"Will, what is wrong with you? Snap out of it, babe!"- Irma was shaking her by the shoulders.

"It's no use, she's irresponsive."- Taranee concluded, following the redhead's empty gaze. "I wonder..."

"Hey, isn't that...isn't that a portrait of that woman from the phantom room in the Coronian Palace?!"- Cornelia exclaimed, having noticed the painting on the opposite wall too. "What is she doing here? Who is she?!"

Taranee had finally conjured a new ball of fire to shed light onto the wall they were all looking at.

The portrait was big and heavy, in a dark golden frame, but it wasn't moving like the one in the Aerate Edifice. The woman from the portrait stood proudly seated, staring at the artist with a strange mixture of grandeur and...emptiness. Like the emptiness that was now reflected in Will's eyes...

"Icona, Countess of the Blue Bijou..."- Irma read the description under the picture and then turned to the others with a hanging mouth. "This cult is getting creepier on the daily. Now it turns out that Magana and Leonida kept the body of this dead countess in their palace! It kinda explains why this place is abandoned... but I don't get it. She looks just like..."

"Like Leonida."- Cornelia murmured under her nose, staring up at the big portrait. She hadn't noticed the resemblance the last time, for the image in the phantom room had been moving around in what had appeared like pain and grotesque, but now she could see it on the still surface. Leonida was a striking image of this woman...

"This woman, I feel like...I feel like I was her in my dream."- Hay Lin uttered. "This woman was killed for the sake of the prophecy of the Dark Descendant!"

"But that still sheds no actual light on the case!"- Irma complained. "And why is Will like that...She's like hypnotized by the damn painting."

It was then when Hay Lin realized. That presence she could feel. That feeling she had felt in the air from the beginning. It wasn't just a bitter tinge left after a dreadful event. It was hunger. The inhuman hunger for energy which was currently being satisfied by something that fed on their friend...

"No, it's using her as a source of power!"- the Asian woman cried. "She's feeding off Will!"

What followed was quick and confusing, but the guardians reacted lightning-like. Irma used her mind control magic to try to make Will snap out of it, while Hay Lin blew back the objects which came flying at them, trying to stop them from releasing the redhead from her trance. The house was suddenly fighting against them. Trying to kill them, as Cornelia concluded, both angry and appalled whilst repelling the attack of two enchanted machetes that came flying out of nowhere.

"This is ludicrous!"- she shouted, but Taranee's eyes had already fixated something on the wall. There, under Icona's portrait. Was that...A lock shaped like a raven. The raven lock...

"Things are not as they appear."- the Fire guardian mumbled, remembering Monica's words. "No... C-ornelia! Break that lock! Trust me."- she added in despair once Cornelia looked at her in perplexity. "Things are not as they appear...I'll explain later!"

"Here goes nothing..."- Cornelia sighed.

The Earth guardian didn't lose any more time. She slammed the little lock with her telekinesis, forcing it to unlatch. A powerful wave of response followed, sending the girls to the ground. Cold and dry female laughter sounded from all around them:

"No! We didn't give you permission to possess Will's body! Use me as a transmitter!"- Taranee yelled, jumping back on her feet. "Enough games, Icona. You're not strong enough. Release my friend at once, or I'll force you out!"

Will turned to face her. Her eyes that had changed their appearance, made Hay Lin gasp:

"Icona?!"

The possessed Will's lips curved into an eloquent smile:

"You are a fine set of little guardians, I see. But I'm afraid I can't do as you ask, only she has the spiritual weakness which allows me to talk through her body. I play no games. Trying to possess any of you would be a failure given my current state, and if you do drive me away, you'll never learn the truth."

It was Will's body, but the voice wasn't hers. Hay Lin blinked a few times, getting over the shock of what was happening. A real spiritual possession...She used her powers to check the ghost's sincerity as much as she could. Icona appeared to be speaking earnestly. Cornelia, however, was fast to give her the benefit of the doubt:

"Oh, really? What truth? No one around here seems to know what telling the truth means. Get to the point, why did you summon us here?"

"Yeah, and how are you unable to use our bodies to pass your messages, what if we give you consent? Isn't that how ghostly possession works?"- Irma folded her arms on her chest, eyeing the woman that had invaded Will's body, critically.

"She's too weak. She can only enter bodies of people who are going through a mental crisis."- Taranee explained, never removing her eyes from Will. She was ready to exorcise Icona's spirit at any moment in which she felt like she was threatening their friend's welfare. "That's why she managed to talk to me through Monica for a second."

"She possessed Monica too?!"- Hay Lin exclaimed. "You never told us- "

"It happened just before we met up. Anyhow, Icona's spirit is hindered by something. That room in the Palace, isn't that right, Icona? That's why you called us here, where your essence is mostly concentrated. Why you used that same essence to turn us against each other and feed on our negative emotions. Of course. Negative emotions are the easiest power-supplying food for all entities."

Cornelia and Irma exchanged glances. Icona smiled enigmatically:

"You're quite clever, guardian. I felt like I could count on you to convey my message."- she glanced at Taranee. "When I sensed guardians of Kandrakar after I regained a part of the control over my spirit, I saw my chance to convey what I've been unable to for 28 years. The Dark Descendant. The Dark Descendant must be stopped."

"Who is the Dark Descendant, anyway."- Cornelia crossed her arms on her defined chest. "We've been getting unclear suggestions and clues- "

"Not who, but what. What is the Dark Descendant in actuality."- Icona interrupted her. "Things are not as they appear. All I can do is provide you with more clues...It will be your task to turn them into powerful weapons against the true darkness."

"Can't you just tell us directly."- Irma frowned disappointedly. "Why is it that it's always about mysteriеs and riddles with our job- "

Icona shook her head. She was slowly starting to lose control over the redhead's body. Time was running short:

"I can't do much. My daughter did all the wrong things by locking my spirit and the essence of all the past queens. She's been a fool for so long, I'm not astounded by the fact that she's now transfigured into a flower."

"Your daughter..."- Hay Lin gasped.

"She's- "

"Magana used my advice, but she didn't follow it."- Icona went on. "She used it in an attempt to escape the prophecy. The prophecy cannot be escaped, foolish woman... Now it's almost too late to stop it. The Dark Descendant is rising, guardians. When the Dark Descendant rises, nothing will ever be the same."

"Countess Icona...did your daughter... Did the Queen kill you?"- Hay Lin asked with a dry throat, remembering her dream.

Icona left Will's body, letting it slump to the floor where Taranee and Irma rushed to her aid. Cornelia turned around startled, having seen the ghost оf the countess next to herself. She was vanishing, but before she did, a gust of ice-cold air went through the Air guardian's hair:

"No, Magana didn't kill me. What she did was much, much worse."


Fadden Hills, 11:25 AM

Kadma watered the leaves of the potted palms in the reception room with love. Being the former guardian of Earth, she was quite proud of what she had grown and how she maintained it- an entire jungle born by her own vivid dreams. Her estate, worth millions of dollars, was divided into three main parts - the large family home, bequeathed to her by her parents, and the huge glazed mansion that had become headquarters of the "Rising Star Foundation" during her teenage years. Both lots were covered with the Queen's majestic plants that she had brought back to their full glory even after being away on another planet for so many years. The third part of her estate was the storage rooms which the foundation held around the entire town.

Yes, Kadma Starlighter had always lived like a Queen, even before the Zamballans graced her with that title, but apart from the love she had for her plants, she had always had the great and selfless desire to help those in need with more than just prayers and donations. That was why she and her friend Halinor had started this foundation together during their last year of high school. Their first business and charity foundation, created by their shared humanitarian qualities and good nature. With her parents' money and Halinor's creativity, Kadma had realized this project here in her hometown, Fadden Hills, where she and the former fire guardian had officially moved back from Heatherfield.

Now, over 50 years after "The Rising Star Foundation" had started, they had thousands of successful proteges and millions of individuals given a chance to succeed on their own. That was how the Rising Star functioned; it trained people from all around the world to be successful and compassionate, helping them influence even more and more people to do the same afterward. It was a never-ending cycle for good. Building shelters, raising funds, different bazars and events for the needy, and providing with the basic essentials, were just a part of the things which the two ex-guardians' foundation had been doing for decades, even while they hadn't been present. All the businesses of their proteges had kept working, providing for the organization itself and raising funds just the same, never stopping the cycle.

One of their newest targets were Ember and Tridart, for sure. The newest additions to the Rising Star legacy.

Kadma looked through the window wall of the greenhouse-like reception room and saw her blonde friend talking to the former knights before the back entrance. She knew they were dear to her heart, Halinor saw children which she had never had in them...Kadma could second that. Ever since the two former villains had been turned human, they had been helping them tremendously- Ember was in charge of sorting donations and Tridart was one of their main carriers. It seemed almost surreal to watch the pair get up every morning with the sole desire to help others. They lived and worked with the two ex-guardians for something good. For the better good of so many people for whom the Rising Star was a main source of relief.

Being able to assert that, filled Kamda's heart with fulfillment and happiness.

"A two-day trip to donate ten tons of flour and sugar, and hundreds of other fresh products to six orphanages and two senior nursing homes around the state!"- Halinor's excited voice reached her ears once the blonde guardian entered the reception room. "This is their first big donation trip. Tridart and Ember will drive the truck which the rest of our drivers will follow during this auction. Isn't it simply phenomenal?!"

"It certainly is, Hal."- Kadma agreed and turned to her friend with a warm smile.

Things like that almost make me fully forget about Kandrakar and its entire existence...How I cherish every moment in which that is so.

But the Queen shielded that thought of hers from Halinor. She knew that the Fortress of Infinity would forever be more than special to her. Halinor was currently walking on air and sharing her elation was all that Kadma wanted to do:

"It's thanks to all your counseling, you know. Nerissa helped change their form to human, but you made them human with your unabated humanism, Hal. Those who were once servants of negative emotions are now beautiful, caring young people."

Halinor shook her head cheerfully, making her light blonde curls bounce:

"Please, Kads. Do not underestimate your own merit by giving all the credits to me. Don't forget who helped the Rising Star function more than anyone else. It was you. You're a great woman and human being, Kadma. I can't think of a stronger and more devoted person than you. You keep both Zamballa and the Rising Star on your very shoulders."- she approached her and placed her hand on her cheek. Kadma looked up to her with a sparkling gaze and half-opened, half-pouted lips, colored in a plum color.

These violet-blue eyes meant so much to her. Halinor smiled warmly:

"One of the many reasons why you were chosen to be a guardian. And there's nothing to be ashamed of. You were a terrific guardian. You're exceptional till date, Kadma. Don't ever forget it."

Kadma smiled in response, putting her hand on top of the other woman's.

"Now, now. I have an excellent regent on Zamballa and a wonderful friend who helps me manage our dream on Earth- the Rising Star. You're that friend. You're wonderful, I'm so happy to be here with you, after all that we've been through."

Then they held each other in a tight, full of emotion embrace. A tear rolled down Halinor's cheek, falling on the back of Kadma's dark red, elegant robe.

"It feels unreal, doesn't it? A blessing, Kadma, that's the answer. We've been blessed to be where we are."

"After all the pain, I'd say we deserve it. All of us."

The emotional moment between the women, however, was interrupted when Kadma's loyal blackbird flew into the reception room with clear songs. Both of them knew what that meant very well- there was someone at the main entrance. But why didn't they ring the intercom system?"

"Chirik appears to be a little distressed."- Halinor noted as they made their way to the monitor wall that displayed all the activity which the surveillance cameras around the estate recorded. "He seldom reacts like that; I wonder who could have caused this distress? We have no appointments for the day."

The former Earth guardian nodded thoughtfully and zoomed in on the silhouette of a man standing in front of the gates. A man whose face they could barely see because of the low pot hat on his head.

"Is that the reason for your distress, Chirik?"- she asked, not removing her eyes from the screen.

"He...he could be someone in need."- Halinor hesitated.

"They why does he just stand there? Why doesn't he use the intercom? I better go check this myself."

Halinor nodded and started following her friend to the big doors and then through the snow-covered gardens. She wrapped herself tighter in her fine silk drape before the tamed blackbird landed on her shoulder. The chilly wind blew through her long blonde curls. Kadma was the one leading them with a wide and decisive step.

Fadden Hills was a true natural freezer in winter. Like every year, the town was covered in snow and the "Cypress Hills" made no exception, blending in with the entire white landscape. Kadma's evergreen trees, growing at the two sides of the mansion, were the only thing to contrast the snow. The mansion was placed on an enormous hill itself, proudly living up to the name of the neighborhood.

The gates opened at her command, revealing the man that stood in front of them. Upon realizing that he has been seen, he didn't bulge or bat an eye. In fact, the two women could not yet see his eyes well. His long trench coat and the hat on his head wrapped him in mystery. The only thing which was visible from his appearance were the red locks of hair under the low pot hat.

"May I be of some assistance?"- the Queen asked sternly, looking at the man from a short, but respective few meters. "What leads you to the "Rising Star Foundation"?"

"I sure hope so."- the man retorted in a low voice, finally looking up at them. Halinor blenched. That set of warm brown, almost auburn eyes... She had seen these very eyes before. "The Rising Star helped me get back on my feet when I was only 16...I've been a fool not to seek your help and guidance later on in my life. But now when I have no one else to turn to, I hope that you'll accept me."

Kadma blinked a few times. Normally, people who their foundation had helped, came back to Fadden Hills only to donate or show off how successful they've become. It was a rare occasion that someone would come with new problems...That could only suggest that they, as councilors, hadn't given the best they were capable of to help their proteges start off the right way.

"You've been a part of our programs? In which year? What is your name?"

The man didn't reply immediately. He lifted his head ever so slightly, locking his eyes with Kadma's:

"I came to you in the autumn of 1982."- he muttered. "I was just a stupid adolescent, but I confess with shame that I've grown to be an even stupider adult."

A clash of thunders sounded in Halinor's ears as he said that. She had suddenly realized the insanity. The truth. Apparently, Kadma had connected the dots too, because before her friend could reach her telepathically:

"You! You're-"

- Kadma, beware! Will's father knows, and must remain to know nothing about Kandrakar and magic.

- So you recognized him too! I don't understand, what does this man have to do with the Rising Star? - Kadma couldn't wrap her mind around it. - All that you've told me about him? Didn't you observe the lives of the girls' parents, up from Kandrakar, years before the new guardians even came to maturity? Is that not the same man who you claimed to have submerged Susan Vandom's life into misery and pain?

- I haven't said that. Once they were a happy couple. But naturally, I haven't watched them under a magnifying glass 24/7. - Halinor pondered with concern. - The Council had many tasks, one of which was to keep an eye on the people who'll birth the next guardians. But that was that. Then we had to create events in their lives so that each girl could follow the natural way of her element and meet up with the others in Heatherfield, where the five elements always meet to unite. I really don't understand how and what links Will's father to the Rising Star...

"Excuse me?"- Tony's voice interrupted the two former guardians' telepathic conversation, bringing them back to reality. "Don't you remember me, Mrs. Clarkson?"

"I-I?"- Halinor was at a loss of words. Tony obviously knew her, which suggested that she had to remember him as well. He had to be telling the truth; there was no other way he could know her name... He had been among all the people their foundation had helped. But then how, Halinor wondered. How did I not recognize him while observing Susan's life from the Fortress? How did I not realize that a boy who has been aided by our association is the father of the new keeper...

"I know, I've aged."- Tony laughed nervously. "But you, not so much! Mrs. Clarkson, you gave me shelter and helped me find a part-time job. Helped me finish school and later start college... I was an orphan when I came to Fadden Hills, but thanks to the foundation, I succeeded in life."- Tony's eyes lost their sparkle as he said that. He ran a hand over his gelled back red hair and added, quietly: "But I've not always succeeded. Not in every department either. That's why I'm here again."

The two women looked at each other. Something was baffling in the entire story, but what was it? What were they missing?

"1982..."- Kadma murmured. More than 10 years before the Veil had us trapped in the respective realms...

"The year your father passed away, Hal. The year I traveled to Mumbai. You came back from K... Hampshire"- she changed the word in the last minute, eyeing the man. "You spent a couple of months here while I was out of the country."

Halinor blinked, going back in retrospect. It all seemed so distant after everything, but her friend was right.

"That's right! Your partner was away and you had concerns regarding how you'll manage the foundation."- Tony confirmed.

"Well...that does sound like me..."- Halinor smiled faintly, staring at Tony. "But there's something I don't understand. I mostly remember every individual we've helped forge a better future. Especially if I have been in charge at the time. Why do you fail to ring a bell in my head?"

She carefully eyed her friend, who crossed arms on her chest. Chirik was silent on her shoulder. That was the best way she could be evasive enough without saying out loud the obvious which the guardian's father couldn't know about. He couldn't know that they knew him for being Will's father. A connection that would threaten to betray their double identities...

"What is more, we like to keep track of all our proteges and be in touch with them."- Kadma added. "Your image and identity remain somehow unfamiliar. You didn't tell us your name."

That wasn't necessarily a lie. It was a mere stealth. They had many files, they wouldn't normally make such a statement without doublechecking, but in Tony's case it was obvious. They knew who he was, but they couldn't just say it was so, hence a more delicate approach was needed.

Tony appeared to be unabashed. There was something devious, yet charming in his smile, as he replied:

"I understand. Perhaps you should check under the name Thomas Vandom. That used to be my name once."

That was the moment when the memories started to flash like in a film in front of the former Fire guardian's eyes. Thomas Vandom. The rainy autumn of 1982...Her father's death had left her in deep grief and tears. As if she wasn't going to be grieving Cassidy's loss forevermore...But life was like that- cruel. The Oracle had been considerate enough to ask her to return to Earth herself. After her father's funeral and long talks on the phone with Kadma and Yan Lin, she had traveled to Fadden Hills.

When the young Thomas had found himself in "Cypress Hills", skin and bone, afraid and alone, the ex-guardian had promised herself to help him pull through. And he had soon bounced back- Thomas had been an orphan, but with her help he had been able to take his life in his own hands. Time had passed, implacable as always. She committed from Kandrakar from time to time and observed his progress. By the age of 19, Thomas had been a new man and then, just like that, he had disappeared. Halinor hadn't had the time or energy to look for him again. She had figured that he was just ready to live as an adult and had let him fly on his own.

As she remembered all that now, the blonde looked at Tony with indulgence. He had indeed turned into a new man. Just not exactly the type he had promised her to be... How much a name could really change and hide in a man.

"Thomas...Why didn't you say so from the start? I remember you. Of course, I do"- Halinor said quietly. The other woman turned to her incredulously, but she didn't pay attention. She would explain everything later. Right now, she was focused on Tony, who shifted in his place a tad nervously. It was true that the former guardian was mostly tender and soft, but when her blue eyes burned, they burned- seeing right through one's soul and faults, making them feel uncomfortable.

"So...As I was saying, I...pretty much need a shoulder right now. I'm maybe facing one of the hardest periods in my life."- Tony cleared his throat and looked at the two women expectantly. He couldn't wrap his mind around it, but he could tell. The moment they had actually recognized him, their glances had gone colder. As if they... knew? But how was it possible?! Unless...

"Mrs. Clarkson, do you by any chance happen to know any other Vandoms? I'm just asking, as it is a common name and-"

"Let's get inside, Tony."- Halinor nodded at the mansion. "We will drink tea and have a heart-to-heart. Come on in.

At first, he started walking, but then he stopped, a smiting feeling stuck in his throat. He hadn't mentioned his new name even once. How the hell did his old counselor know? Tony considered the idea of turning around and leaving, but then he heard it. The gates closed behind him.

For the longest second in his life, Tony Vandom just stood in one place, trying to wrap his mind around what was happening around here. The two women also stopped; their backs turned to him. There was something off in the entire setting, but he couldn't tell why. He had come too far to turn back as well. He renewed his steps.

Having heard him approach, the two former guardians also began walking towards the inside of the mansion again. It was too cold to function out in the open. As they walked, they exchanged glances. They both knew very well that what was to happen in the next moments would be out of major importance. It required vigilance and skill. Not even a minute of inattention was allowed if they wanted to help.

The fact that they were once guardians did not really disparage the fact that they had just welcomed an alleged murderer in their estate.


TRIVIA:
Rakija*- is the collective term for fruit brandy popular in the Balkans. The alcohol content of rakia is normally 40% ABV, but home-produced rakia/rakija can be stronger (typically 50%).

And so the plot continues to deepen and expand. Icona first appeared in chapter 25, check it out again if you've lost the trail of events. I played with the information from the comics and the cartoon just a bit to make Tony's past connected to the Former Guardians. If you've read the first 20 issues, you will recognize some parts of them here. Others are from the show and third are from my respective combined Universe. (like I always do. I like to combine. :) )

This chapter is the first of a double-chapter culmination moment, so be ready for more. See u soon! :)