Chapter 31: Sparks of Intrigue
"What they had thought to be the end of this horrible string of events, would turn out to be just the beginning."
Gray Woods Mines, Meridian
The door opened with a slam. At first, that seemed to surprise the young woman, who set her book aside and cast a startled look at the entrance, ready to jump up from her seat any minute now. When she made out the person who had just entered, however, her expression relaxed into a whimsical, almost amused simper:
"Here at it again, are we, Queen Elyon?"- she sang, resting back in her seat with her book in hand. "What is it this time? Oh, let me guess. You've come to desperately search for the missing girl? I thought that we've already covered the facts. Neither of us has left this house ever since your staged wedding."
"Don't play daft with me, Leonida. We all know that you've had her kidnapped before that."- Elyon didn't waste time on being condescending. She glared right down at the enchantress, suppressing the desire to knock the book out of her hands. "But I'm not here to talk to you again. Where's you know who?"
Leonida's smile widened even more at that. She focused a glib gaze on the Queen and her sentry, who stood at the threshold like every time, and retorted in a mellifluent voice:
"Your brother is sleeping in our room. I'd like to ask where my sweet little brother is if you don't mind. He hasn't visited his sister in quite some time now? Does he not feel concerned about my pregnancy? I'd be very hurt to learn that is so- "
"Leonida."- Elyon interrupted her icily, making her cock her eyebrows in amusement. "Cut the crap, will you? I'm not here to play yet another set of petty little games of ignorance with you! I don't enjoy your disgusting and sweetish, fake demeanor. I'm not here for your sparks of intrigue! I'm here to speak to Phobos."
"Elyon, dear, albeit your harsh words, I guess I'll have to repeat that he is currently sleeping. Go to him, if you'd like to try. He's a deep sleeper."- the ex-princess crossed her legs and went to the next page of her book.
The Queen frowned down upon her and finally did what she had meant to. She grabbed the gooey novel from the other woman's hands and sent it flying across the room.
Leonida looked up at her, baring her teeth, and for a moment seemed to forget about keeping up her mawkish façade. The straw-blonde wasn't here to play, she had already made that known. The enchantress looked at her deathly and expectantly, but her following lines had her taken aback:
"Sure, he's a deep sleeper. Each time I come here to question his actions, he's irresponsive. I am unable to tell whether he's doing this on purpose or you're just keeping him under the influence of something because you've finally come to terms with the fact he's unbearable. I want you to talk him into seeing me today. It's urgent."
Leonida wrapped a strand of honey-blonde hair around her finger as she estimated the Queen with a look:
"Look, your Majesty, I know that we, as prisoners in your kingdom, are obliged to fulfill what you ask of us, but Phobos won't listen to me. He hates you so much, he puts himself to sleep with magic each time you come here. And if even you can't undo that magic, what is left for me?"
Elyon could hear the scarcely audible mockery in her words:
"Of course you can, Leonida. You'd never let anything be beyond your control. Not when it's in your interest to keep hold of the reins."
Leonida pursed her lips, but the other woman went on:
"That's why I have a suggestion for you. A suggestion I hope you'll appreciate. Make Phobos talk to me and, in the time being, I'll let you talk to someone. Sentry! Send him in!"
The ex-princess watched the door of the rest house open once again with arms folded on her chest. But when she saw the young boy in Coronian royal garments walk in, her heart skipped a beat:
"Dua!"
Elyon stood in her way before she could rush to the child that appeared quite distressed already.
"I thought that you'd enjoy a short while with your son. But for that to happen, you'll have to grant my wish. "- she spoke dryly as their eyes met. Leonida's indigo blue eyes shone like two headlights as she estimated her possibilities. Dua was looking at her, and deep down, behind all the fear which her mother had planted in his soul, he still looked at her with warmth. That warmth she couldn't stay indifferent to.
Ten minutes later, when Elyon walked into the dark bedroom, Phobos was just waking up. When he saw his sister, a hard frown of bewilderment and distaste took over his bare face:
"Elyon, what an unpleasant surprise."- the prince snarled, pulling the covers up to his naked chest. "What do you want?"
Ignoring the fact that the man was most probably butt-naked under the sheets, Elyon sat herself on the end of the bed and gave him a hard look. No, Phobos was quite baffled to see her, that was for sure. He looked as he always did- diabolically charming and fair, minus the makeup which he lacked.
"A penny for your Majesty's shallow thoughts?"- the man repeated with boredom. "Perhaps you're here to add yet another inconvenience to my sentence? After taking Cedric away, maybe you've decided to take the roof from this dump likewise? You enjoy toying with me, don't you?"
"You have the audacity to complain about your imprisonment?"- Elyon smiled coldly. Over time, she had mastered that. Being cold and reserved when the occasion called for it. She could see that Phobos was still quite struck by this novelty in her. He could no longer use her bubbly persona and gullibility to his advantage. "Not every evil despot gets to be under home arrest while waiting for his future descendant to be born, you know."
"This is not my home."- Phobos replied darkly, adjusting into a more comfortable position.
"Do you even have a home, though?"- his sister went on. "If the home is where the heart is, and your heart is no longer beating, poisoned by your ruinous malice, what do you consider happiness, brother? Getting to power? Seizing Meridian again? Pity that will never happen!"
"Is that all you have to say?"- Phobos rolled his eyes. "I can't believe I had to be woken up for the sake of your petty attempts to get to me. Your words are as worthless as your presence, and if there's anyone beside the villagers happy to have you in their life, they must be quite deranged."- he added icily, looking at her with pure hatred. "You're a waste of time and space, dear sister. Even the guardians know that. Do whatever you're here to do, and leave! I cannot bear to look at you."
Once again, his words had gotten to her without her even realizing it. Elyon stood up, furious, deciding to let go of all the things she had originally decided to talk to her brother about. True, she had come to his lockdown house with an agenda, but she had had the good mind to try to offer him something more. Thinking of it now, she couldn't explain to herself as to what had made her think that Phobos would ever listen or deserve any offers. Any advice.
"I'm asking you to give out Asa's location for the last time. Refuse again, and I'll allow Ari and the Arkhantians in Gray Woods. Woe to you then."
Phobos seemed to be thinking over her words for a few seconds.
"So."- he trailed. "The farmer remembers me and my visit to his so-called kingdom?"
"Not exactly."- Elyon snapped bitterly. "In time, however, he did connect 'Philip', who tried to turn Arkhanta against Meridian and Kandrakar, to us. I already said all that to you, if you didn't sleep all the time, maybe you would've remembered! It's been weeks, and Ari can't wait any longer. I won't have him declare war on us, because of you!"
Phobos nodded with a malicious smirk. At least that hadn't resurfaced. His goal to trick realms into becoming a part of his future empire. Yes, he could as well return the girl... Not that he wouldn't enjoy seeing Meridian suffering through war, but the consequences that would come for him, in that case, weren't favorable. But what if Asa had heard more than he thought, back at the Scarlet Citadel...
"I suppose I no longer have a choice, do I? If I were to refuse to send the little tatterdemalion back-"
"If you refuse, I will dry up the last drop of respect I have for the blood that connects us, and I will spill your blood before you've had the chance to meet your son or daughter!"- Elyon's voice thundered. "I swear, Phobos!"
A frustrated little smile started dancing on his lips:
"Gosh, baby sister, would you do that? You spared me for over ten years, would you really dispose of your brother for the sake of some Arkhantian harlot? -"
"Do not presume to test my kindness, Phobos!"- the young Queen clicked her fingers twice, before shoving her index one in his face. "Just like that, kindness can kill! I will keep my word and just like I let you live all these years; I will break your neck in a second! I'm done waiting for you to show any moral! You've kidnapped Asa months ago. You have but seconds!"
"Fine, you can take her back. I no longer need her."- Phobos asserted coldly before standing up and walking to the closet in the bottom of the room, completely unabashed by the fact that he stood stark-naked in front of her. Elyon blinked in shock and offense as he did that, and looked away. Phobos just smiled smugly.
After taking a little object out of his closet, having gone through the few belongings which he had been allowed to have, he stood in front of her, just as proud. Holding the rag doll which he was handing her, offensively close to his manhood.
Reluctantly, Elyon looked down with disgust. Phobos had officially done all in his power to defile the brother-sister relationship between them, and it was evident that this attainment took him in seventh heaven.
"What is- "
"This is Asa, Elyon."- Phobos grinned. "She has been here all along. You and your guards never sensed her. You thought that this is just a rag doll that one of us keeps since childhood, didn't you? Let me tell you, your Majesty, Leonida and I hold on nothing from the joyless childhoods we have had! This plain little rag doll has been our personal life force source for months now. But, I admit, there's not much left in her. Take her back to her farm shed. She served me well and I guess that her service is over."
Horrified, Elyon took the doll in her hands and then looked back at the cruel man. Just the thought repulsed and mortified her in all possible ways. Such gruesome cruelty on his part, but it wasn't the first time. Why was he able to keep shocking her with the extent of inhumanity he was willing to reach, each and every time?! How were they even related...
"You are a sick bastard."- Elyon whispered hatefully, getting ready to leave.
She cursed herself for considering giving that man advice or approaching him with earnest intentions at all. He deserved to suffer. He was not a brother to her... "I get convinced in that, once again. You are sick! You will pay for everything. Pay dearly!"
Phobos kept grinning at her, never showing any emotion beside dark satisfaction and heartless triumph. Then he felt his sister's magic around himself and once he looked at his naked body, he was no longer smug or cool. Elyon's glamour spell had put him in tattered, dirty peasant clothes...
"You pathetic imp! How dare you- "
But before he could finish, she turned around and sent him flying back. Phobos hit his back in the wall, letting out a muffed exhalation of pain.
"When all this is over, I'll erase your name from our history, and I'll make sure that your child never gets to know what a godawful sicko his or her father was!"- she said bitterly before exiting. "I promise you that."
Outside the rest house, Leonida was smiling at the young boy. The royal sentry was giving them some privacy, reassured by the fact that she was cursed and restrained. Neither could she get too near to her son, nor could she get through the invisible border that surrounded her little jailhouse.
No harm, Leonida thought with a smile. I don't need to do all that. Thank you, Elyon. Thank you, a thousand times, for this hitch of yours...
"Lynar, Morwell! Take Dua back to the carriage. We're leaving."
The honey-blonde closed her palm in a hurry and turned around just when Elyon stopped behind her. The sentry proceeded to meet her order as Leonida timidly tucked a hair behind her ear and secretly hid her newest acquisition in the pocket of her dress...
"So, how was your chat with Phobos, Elyon? Did you achieve what you hoped to achieve? Me and my son had some grand quality time, even if it was too short. Why don't you stay for some tea before-"
"Shut your mouth."- the Queen cut her off, once her guards had taken Dua to a safe distance. Now she could focus her resentment on the other woman. There was no need for that poor child to witness that, not after all he had been through, because of her.
"I take it that my King hasn't been nice to you."- Leonida shrugged. "No worries. You can go if you're too angry now. But feel free to drop by with Dua any time you- "
"Never."- Elyon interrupted her again and crossly held Asa's doll to her attention. Leonida didn't bulge nor retort. "Never again! Because this is what you monsters do to people. You are not able to communicate normally. not just with anyone. You cannot function. You and Phobos are just that- two ugly, self-sufficient spirits who only need themselves! People like you perish all alone and unwanted, and that's exactly the fate you'll have!"
Still trying to come to terms with her own anger, Elyon turned one last time before leaving Gray Woods. She met Leonida's gloating on the inside gaze. How she wished she could just turn both her and Phobos into stone and never think of them again!
"Oh, and don't look so smug."- the straw-blonde added sourly watching the ex-princess lift a brow. "I know that my figure doesn't exactly represent a challenge big enough for someone as vile as you to find trying. Next time we have matters to discuss with you, I'll just send the Mage."
Heatherfield, Heatherfield Memorial Hospital
Irma carefully approached the sleeping Fire guardian with a plastic cup of her favorite latte and a Subway sandwich. She had especially wanted to be the first one to bring breakfast to Taranee after she had spent the entire night in the hospital. Of course, someone had already outsailed her. There was an untouched portion of pie and some tea on the end table next to Taranee's armchair.
The Latina set her items next to the pie and was just about to leave the private waiting room when Taranee's voice caught up with her:
"Irma? What time is it?"- the dark-skinned woman rubbed the sleep from her eyes.
"Almost 9 o'clock."- her friend replied, watching her wake up fully. Taranee glanced at her phone's screen and tried to get her messy ponytail into a more presentable appearance. She failed and abandoned it, focusing her attention back on Irma:
"Oh, shoot, I shouldn't be sleeping here, I have to find Peter! Is Cassidy still sleeping?"- she nodded at the door leading to the next room. "I better get to- "
"Tara, Tara, chill. It's all under control. Cassidy is sleeping. So is your little nephew. The doctors are getting him ready to be here, with his mother."- Irma explained, holding Taranee's shoulder. "I just bumped into your dad, Peter and Caleb on my way here. They told me. Although he was born three weeks earlier, the little guy has no conditions and does not even need to stay in an incubator. The doctors delayed the good news, just because they needed to wait for the results of all the tests to confirm that everything is top-notch. Chil."
"Thank goodness."- Taranee exhaled in relief, taking a moment to relax herself after a straining night of unhealthy action and stress. Thankfully, it was now all so much better.
"Yeah, don't worry. Eat something. I brought you a sandwich and your favorite coffee, but I see that someone has left you other stuff too. The more the merrier."
"Thank you, Irma."- the other guardian replied with a grateful smile, reaching for the latte. "I'm surprised you're up so early. After..."
"Huh, please."- Irma exclaimed, sitting herself on the other armchair in the waiting room. "I slept just fine. But I was also worried about Cass and you, so I had to come here and check the situation out. Besides, I...I wanted to apologize to you."
"Apologize? What for?"
Taranee blinked a few times, genuinely oblivious to what her friend felt a need to apologize for. Then, when she got it, she just started shaking her head:
"Irma, noo! Not that fight from the Blue Bijou...it was so bizarre and moronic, I thought we'll just leave it beginning."
"Yes, we never addressed it. I feel like I have to... And I was mean to you- "
"So was I. I was terribly rude and disrespectful, letting Hay Lin in on something which was supposed to be a very private matter. It was Icona's ghost turning us against each other as to feed on our negative emotions, but still. If we really have to address it, then I have to apologize too, Irma."
Taranee looked down in shame, but Irma didn't want to hear about it:
"No, you don't! I was at fault, Tara. And while Icona really used us and all that, I was already in a pretty belligerent mood when we arrived...I could've resisted her better if I had been in a better place. Mentally... But the entire situation with Will was driving me nuts, I- "
"Irma, believe me, I totally get you."- Taranee smiled amicably, placing her hands over those of her friend. "We've known each other how long? 12 years? Over 12 years? Ever since I moved here from Sesamo, you've been a great friend, Irma. What have we not been through together? I would never let even the wildest of scandals come between us with permanent damage."
"Aww, babe, a stone is falling from my heart hearing you voice what I've thought all along! I'm so lucky. Lucky to have friends like you and the girls!"
Taranee hugged her back. They had all been on the rocks lately. Now, they had to get themselves together and go through what was left of Will's ungodly trial, united. Yes, they indeed had to wrap up things with Tony Vandom's case as soon as possible, now that Will and Susan had been proven innocent. They had to get this matter over with, because, the Dark Descendant experience was hardly going to wait for them much longer. And if they were to, God forbid, miss their chances of solving that problem while it was still in its infancy, matters would only get worse. Worse to the point when a major disaster would be inevitable.
"Here you go, Emily. This is the private president hospital apartment which we figured would work best for Cassidy. I suppose she's still asleep, but they said they'll let us see her baby in an hour-"- Nerissa, who had just entered the place followed by Emily Chacon, stopped in her tracks, passing her green eyes over the two younger women. "- you may wait here."- she then went on. If you'd like anything to eat or drink, I'll-"
"Thank you, Nerissa."- the old lady cooed and came behind her. "I am just fine. Hello, girls. My am I glad to see you here, supporting my Cassidy."
"Hey, Mrs. Chacon."- the two guardians replied with smiles.
"You know what, I never thought that I'd live to see this day."- Emily revealed, leaning on her cane. "Seeing my little girl, I thought to have forever lost, have a child of her own...Now, someday soon, I can leave this world in peace and true happiness."
"Have a seat, Emily. I need to make sure you've taken your medicine."- Nerissa interjected from behind her, directing the old woman to one of the blue plush sofas. "You have to spend some years with your grandson. You can't be talking about dying."
"Yeah, Mrs. Chac. You're fine. Dying is out of the question."- Irma interfered.
"Yeah. Think positive to attract the positive. The power of the brain is unlimited!"- the other guardian assured her.
"I'm a 90-year-old. Death is in my lane more than ever!"- Emily laughed heartily, making Taranee and Irma look at each other with expressions of mixed amusement and speechlessness. "But it's OK. I've lived to see my dream for my little girl come true."
Nerissa poured a plastic cup full of water from the water machine in the room and handed it to her friend's mother, throwing a shady look at the two guardians at the same time.
"Take your pills and rest up, Emily. I'll be back."- she then said, leaving a blister on the coffee table. "Irma, Taranee. Meet me outside."
The two young women looked at each other once more but did go after the tall brunette. Hardly having waited for them to be outside the private hospital apartment, Nerissa turned around and snapped:
"Might I know what are the two of you doing here, chit-chatting over your morning coffee like two sloth aunts, instead of taking care of matters that are urgent?"
The two guardians blinked in rags.
"Huh?"
"I was waiting to hear that Cassidy and her baby are alright."- Taranee started explaining. "I was here all night, what exactly do you suggest that we're supposed to be doing?"
"Thankfully, they are fine."- Nerissa retorted coldly. "Let's not forget that she was only at risk because of your mindless plan to expose the cop, which you did; thanks to our massive endurance, that is. Do you really think that just because he died, the case is closed? Need I remind you that we have a thousand of other problems to deal with, because of your poorly done job as guardians."- Nerissa put her hands on her hips and raised her chin up, haughtily. "Might as well finally terminate the Vandom case, unless you'd prefer to keep going with half of a leader, whose oppression takes the better of her each time-"
"Gosh, I hate how you think of yourself as some major pillar of confidence in every situation! - Irma rolled her eyes. "What do you think, Prissy, that we've left things to the flow? Hay Lin and Blunk have been after Serena's trail since 6 o'clock."
"We contacted Will's lawyer post-Alexis's confession, my mother was overwhelmed by the situation with Cassidy, but she did say that the court will soon take all the new evidence in mind. All the charges pressed against the Vandoms will be lowered, why do you have to bring our qualifications up each time, putting our competence under question?"- Taranee added angrily. "It's petty and rude! Not to mention needless-"
"Cause she's the smartest. In her own world, that is."- Irma mocked the ex-guardian's way of talking. "Wake up, Nerissa, your days of being five steps ahead of us are long over! We were fucking teenagers and you were already a hag. We have experience of our own now, get out of our hair already!"
"Really? I hadn't noticed- "- Nerissa laughed coldly in response. Her green eyes glared daggers at the duo:
"That's because you're too busy being obsessed with yourself!"
"- I hadn't noticed that you've become so very competent and qualified. But then again, if you had, really, you wouldn't be as defensive and harsh. I don't believe you when you say that you've already taken the needed actions, and you know why? Because no matter what, that evidence against your precious Will's father is still there. There is still a corpse, right? He will still be facing the court, the charges against him won't be lowered. And as long as his little play goes on, your leader's sanity won't be joining us, even during the entr'acte!"
Taranee looked down at that, but Irma snapped back:
"Since when do you care about what's happening with us? I thought that you were self-sufficient and perfectly happy with your son and mans- "
"I've grown tired of you, fool."- Nerissa interrupted her coldly. "Being the guardian of water, you're supposed to channel your darn emotions and thoughts, not have them be a sea of storms the entire time, affecting all the other elements like the stormy sea affects the rest of the nature! This is not about you, it's about all the people who you need to help, being guardians! Being guardians, you cannot afford to disrupt the harmony all the time with your tantrums! Unfortunately, you are the present guardians. And as long as your generation holds the Heart of Kandrakar, I have to work with you."
Irma gritted her teeth. She hated getting patronized, especially by her. But before she could fire her very next feisty reply, Taranee wrapped her fingers around her wrist and shook her head.
- Don't Irma, she said in her mind. - She's partially right. We have really been allowing ourselves be too labile and vulnerable lately. Regardless of the situation, we are the guardians. We have to show more fortitude and endurance.
"- and do you know what happens with a team once they lose their leader?"- Nerissa kept talking fervently, evidently ignited by the memories of her own experience." You've met with the living examples many times. A team deprived of the guardian leader never manages to hold together! Like a house without the base foundation, the four other walls always crumble and fall in ruins! Is that what you'd like to happen to W.I.T.C.H?"- Nerissa tightened her nude-colored lips. "If the four guardians fail to understand the fifth, the fault is to be equally divided between them, believe me. There's nothing worse than failing the unifier, who has lifted you up from the dumps, so many times! What do you think, Irma? Just because we were lucky to have that man die, does not mean that- "
"Who has died?!"
Theresa Cook's shocked exclamation had Taranee on the verge of a heart attack. As her mother stood nearby, in her strict beige pantsuit, the fire guardian couldn't help but ask herself. Oh, no! How much had she heard?!
Nerissa frowned ever so slightly, turning her head over her shoulder to look at the judge, who just stood there, staring at them. Irma bit the inside of her cheek. No, they weren't ready for this. No one was...No one had to know of Alexis's death before someone reported him dead... And as Taranee was getting ready to serve her mother some lie...
"I'm sorry I barged in on your conversation, but your figure of speech caught my attention."- Theresa was slowly coming to her senses. "Everything with Cassidy is alright, right? Yes, you said man..."
Nerissa smiled exaggeratedly. She hadn't heard that much, after all... The ex-guardian saw the perfect opportunity to beguile her:
"Yes, Theresa. Thankfully, Cassidy and her baby are fine. The girls and I were discussing the man who committed that terrorist act in London, last week. Did you hear on the news? He has been diffused before starting another attack earlier today. We had a little...dispute, for the girls think that no one deserves to die while I think that such vile terrorists do."
"Oh..."- Theresa shook her head to herself and tossed her hair back. Suddenly she felt silly for stepping into this conversation at all. There was just this something about Mrs. Crossnic... Something which she couldn't describe, but it was there. "That...I heard, yes. What can I tell you. Sometimes it is for the best to just leave things in God's hands and not question his actions."
Taranee could finally take a breath of relief. She and Irma exchanged glances and Irma shrugged with a grimace. She wasn't too thrilled to admit it, but Nerissa had indeed managed to get out of the situation like a cat. Perfectly unperturbed and between the drops, never landing on her back.
"Why?!"- Will's voice thundered. "Why did you agree to listen to him? He's a liar! He's..."- she had to stop herself before lashing out entirely, forgetting every moral line and the fact that Tony Vandom was her father. But boy did she wish he wasn't at this point...
As she observed the strange scene before herself, Will could only tighten her fist in rage. She was sitting in her mother's living room with Susan herself. Matt was sitting next to her, holding her hand firmly. Dean was also here, standing by one of the windows...The last man in the room, however. The last man in the room, her father, was the one who Will had a hard time looking at. Tony was here. After all that he had caused...He looked ever so slightly ashamed. Thrilling.
"Will..."- her mother began quietly. This was the third day of no sleep for her and it was starting to show under her eyes. "I reacted just like you when Halinor invited me to meet this man. Even more severely...I wanted to kill your father then and there!"
Will just frowned. Had the circumstances been different, she would've been shocked by the fact that Halinor of all people had made Tony stop hiding and come to them. But the ex-guardians had already spoken to her and she knew their side of the story, and what connected them to Tony or, much rather, Thomas Vandom. What was left now was to hear him out and that was a challenge. Mrs. Lair had also shown magnanimity by choosing not to report Tony to the police, after seeing him. All of these people had decided to let things resolve in the family itself, before having the court sort the biggest of their problems out...But the problem was, that since so many years, the Vandom family had ceased to exist...
"I don't support your father by any means, but things are touchier than you think."- Susan went on with a sigh. "But Will...what has happened yesterday evening is a true game changer! I'm still in shock! Can you believe that Serena and her brother have been doing so much dirty to us over the last weeks? They're responsible for your miscarriage! I won't spare them!"
Will and Matt exchanged glances. Yes, indeed, that last night had been a game-changer. Thanks to her friends, Alexis's truth had resurfaced. But that didn't mean that Tony would get away with his mistakes!
"So what? Their stupid revenge doesn't change the fact that Thomas Vandom is a murderer."- the keeper of the Heart said coldly, crossing her arms on her chest. "Or perhaps now you'll say that the corpse they found in your condo is also a frame job, Tommy? Mom, he's using you again! Using us to get out of the situation!"
"Will, I'm doing no such thing. It was never my intention to hurt you- "- he was speaking for the first time since she had gotten here and had already managed to infuriate her.
"Oh, shut the fuck up!"- Will said loudly, standing up from her place.
"Will..."
"Just don't you dare give me that line! It was never your intention...Then what were your intentions?! You've been hurting her ever since she married you and me, ever since the divorce!"- the redhead shouted, pointing at the sobbing Susan, despite Matt's attempts to calm her down. "Your money addiction! Your lies, your fake death! Now this! You laid a murder on our backs and left us to deal with your mistakes on our own! You are a bad person, dad."
Will shook her head in disgust.
"Had you wanted, you could've come to face your responsibilities way before Halinor and Kadma's interference. But you're afraid of that word, aren't you? You're afraid of having responsibilities towards anything!"
Tony smiled weakly in response. In broad daylight, he looked almost the same as she remembered him since childhood, but his daughter could swear that upon hearing her words, his wrinkles had deepened. His eyes had become lusterless and that smile on his lips exuded nothing but sadness. Sadness over his life.
"You're right, Will. I do fear having to be responsible. I am a coward. And that's only so because deep down in my soul, I know that I won't ever be able to change that. It has always been like that, ever since I was a teenager. After I lost my parents, my entire being was tainted for life. I know that I'll never be a better person, no matter how hard I try. Your mother has told me this, many times. I was born under an ill-omened star. I bring pain and misery to those who love me."- Susan sighed and looked down at that. But Will wasn't moved by her father's soupy little speech. Nothing he did or said would ever make her forgive his wrongs:
"Why did you kill that man and why did you leave us to deal with the consequences of your poor choices again."- she just shot. "Who was he?"
Silence. Her parents' silence enveloped the entire room.
"Oh, no, you have to tell me!"- Will walked to her mother and shook her by the shoulders. She had seen that look the older woman had exchanged with Tony. She knew. She knew something which she wasn't saying out loud. That was why she had allowed him in her house, why Dean allowed him, for that matter. Why she wasn't the first one to send him to jail. The world was spinning in front of Will's eyes. Everything was starting to fall into place:
"No, you can't just stand still and silent."- Matt interfered dryly. "We lost our first baby, because of these scandals behind the scenes. Because of Serena and her brother, who felt like they must take revenge on you."- and the young musician pointed at Tony with the grimace of a suffered warrior, which he was, to a great extent. Losing his firstborn, the existence of which he hadn't even been aware of, was one of the very last drops he could take.
Susan swallowed the tears back as if they were burning lava and finally spoke:
"Many years ago, right before my eighteenth birthday... something, something terrible happened to me. Me and your father had just gotten to know each other. We had just started dating and everything was... Everything was g-good. We were happy."- her voice was trembling. "I was about to graduate high school. But I had this problem with my GPA, because of PE. I had been ill many times that flu season, I had missed on practice and the teacher wanted to leave me with a C for the end of the semester. A C in my senior year, I couldn't take that...I couldn't accept one C in PE to tarnish my GPA! I know. I know this sounds so stupid and petty right now, but back then I didn't think like that. You know that I hold good notes in high regard, Will."- Susan stopped for a second. "I talked to my teacher, but he refused to listen to me. He called me lazy and that really sparked the anger in me; lazy? Me? That wasn't true, I had just been sick a lot... A-Anyhow, I wasn't concordant with that statement by any means, hence I went to the vice principal's office. My biggest mistake...I'm not proud of the intentions that I had back when I entered that office, all these years ago... I thought that I could talk that man into giving me a hand and help me save my perfect GPA. I knew that he liked me, I was a great student and I was...rather a-attractive. As immodest as that will sound, I knew that many boys and men liked me. Mr. Phelps, the vice-principal, was one of them. B-but I've never even considered that his liking to me could ever develop such nature..."
Will was listening with a cocked eyebrow, waiting for the hidden camera to pop out any minute now. She couldn't believe the words that were coming out of her own mother's mouth. This story: it sounded so very surreal, but Susan's sincerity was evident in her eyes and her voice as she went on:
"...I don't want to get into details, because that day has haunted me ever since. But Mr. Phelps seemed to have gotten the wrong message from my visit to his office. Things escalated...escalated quickly, and I was shocked. Yes, it was wrong of me to try to use my charm to make someone help me get a better note in school, but I had never intended to use my sexuality for that p-purpose. Mr. Phelps was older than my father, how could he ever think that I'd try to seduce him?! It quickly became ugly once he tried to touch me and I reacted in outrage."- Susan narrated. "I left his office under the sound of his insults and never dared to look back...I didn't tell anyone about my experience and what the vice principal tried to do to me, not even your father. It was shameful and surreal, and I decided to just forget about it. Until it happened again...on my prom night when that man cornered me in the toilets... Apparently, he had followed me; he tried to...he t-tried to- "
"- Let's just say that if I hadn't been at the back of that restroom, waiting for your mother, something really bad could have happened to her."- Tony interjected, having seen that his ex-wife is unable to continue due to the storm of emotions that had hit her. He moved his amber-brown eyes around the room, meeting his daughter's identical orbs. "I have never been a student in that same school, but I had seen that creep before. And when I saw what he was trying to do, honestly speaking, I wasn't too surprised. I was just infuriated because he dared try to touch Susan of all people. Hence, I broke his nose and beat him up. Phelps was a sick man, Will, his obsession with your mother didn't stop there. Over seven years later, he found us again. I guess it wasn't too hard since we decided to live in Fadden Hills, but nevertheless; the creep waited for me to leave the house one night. I had to travel on business, leaving our old home, leaving Susan and you alone...You were just one-year-old, honey, but that didn't stop Miguel Phelps from breaking into our house and trying to force himself on your mother again-"
Will was at a loss of words. She just stood there, staring at her parents, too smitten to ask the most logical question. Susan, however, answered it, nevertheless:
"No, he didn't succeed in his intentions, Will. I fought him, but he was stronger. He...H-he pushed me on the ground, toppling me with a bookshelf, and that's when he saw you. In your crib. As peaceful as you were, Will, in that very moment you started crying so hard. It was as if you knew. You knew that we were in danger...P-Phelps started approaching you, in front of my eyes, I was powerless to stop him. I only screamed and screamed...for a second there, I thought that the worst thing would happen. I thought that the monster would hurt my baby...But then...then he suddenly fell to his knees, the moment he tried to touch you!"- the woman stopped for a second, waving her arms as if to describe the magnitude of awe that moment had left in her. "His body shivered in shocks as if he had just been electrocuted! A seizure of some sort..."
Or my powers, Will thought and looked at Matt, who was obviously thinking the same. Kandrakar has had it all planned ever since we were born. Naturally, the guardians had to be near the age of the lost heir to the Meridian throne. The same applied to our powers...
"...I used his seizure to push the bookshelf he had pushed over me, away. At that moment, I knew. I knew that if I run away now, he'd only come back again some other day. I didn't want to live a life of fear. The only way to get rid of my darned vice-principal was to show him that I'm not afraid."- at that part, Susan's eyes started shining with unsuspected valor. The valor of a mother. "It was my turn to make him pay; I grabbed one of Tony's golf sticks and I beat the shit out of Phelps that night."
Matt gawked as Susan tossed a strand of hair away:
"...I made him realize that I was no easy prey and that I needed no one to protect myself and my child from maniacs like him! I told him that, I cursed him! If he ever came near me and my baby girl, he'd drop dead by the means of God and all that's holly!"
"See, even with all that, I didn't intend to kill that old bastard when he came to me last year, Will."- Tony sat on the sofa, throwing his left ankle over his right knee; from the other end of the room, Dean was trying hard not to lash out at him. "Even though we had history and he came to openly taunt me that night, out of the blue. He had just discovered my address and came without a warning. He was old and fragile, but he was as deranged as ever. He made dirty comments about your mother and you, I don't know what he wanted to achieve with that. His hollow threats weren't what bothered me, it was his obnoxious smirk and that ugly look of obsession in his eyes. Ever since your mother rejected him, that creep had made it his life mission to get back on her. For 20 years, he hadn't been able to come to Heatherfield, and now he thought that he had any power to hurt you? I pushed him back after his umpteenth provocation; some ugly comment about what he'd do to you. It wasn't even a hard shove."- the man looked at his two hands with a frown. "The old motherfucker, however, fell back and hit his head on the tiles. He died on the spot. That demon had finally managed to leave a mark on us, after so many years. By having the audacity to die in my house. Then again, I guess in some way, God did do his job."
There was a silence. Will blinked a few times, unsure of how to respond to all that. Apparently, her parents had more soap opera-worthy moments in their past, than she had known. Matt took the word, as respectively as possible. Even though he sympathized with the situation to the maximum extent of his empathy, there was something in Mr. Vandom which he didn't like:
"I see how that might have opened old wounds. For both of you. And I'm not saying that that man didn't deserve the fate which he had, but Mr. Vandom, that still doesn't explain why. Why you left this burden on the shoulders of those you care about?"
Tony estimated the younger man with a look and sighed. He dared to steal a glimpse of Will as well. She appeared stoical and confused, but she would soon start asking the same question. Susan shook her head once his eyes were on her. He didn't expect of her to talk instead of him, not on that, at least. It was enough that she had agreed to trust him again after everything, Tony didn't want to force things. And that Collins in the room, was just another reminder...Gathering all his thoughts and smoothing his hair back with his hands, Tony replied:
"I didn't mean to. I know I sound like a broken record with this by now. But the circumstances...the circumstances were difficult and pressing. I didn't...fake my own death, just because that old fool died in my house. As I said, I didn't murder him. I was in a good place, last year. Everything was going great for my finances and my work; I was a happy man in a very good place. I would have disposed of that body and nobody would've known. Phelps was a loner. I doubt he even had any close people at the time, no one would've noticed that he's missing... But Serena. Serena thought otherwise. She thought that she could use what had happened to blackmail me."
"What are you talking about?!"- Will asked. "Serena blames you, you blame Serena, who are we supposed to believe?!"
"Will."- her father sighed. "I know I haven't exactly been a good father to you. I know what a misfortunate man I am. But are you really going to trust the woman who caused your miscarriage over me? I don't care what happens to me, I will punish her for what she did to you before I go to jail or die. That doesn't matter. I swear, Will. Had that bitch not forced me into exile, everything would've been better. She and Phelps ruined our life."
Will's mouth hung open. It finally made some sense. Some sense out of this entire mess... She met Susan's eyes:
"Mom."- she gasped in disbelief. "That's why you accepted him here, isn't it? You want to take revenge on Serena for my miscarriage?! That's wrong! I don't want to-"
"Yes, I do!"- Susan interrupted her hoarsely and grabbed a hold of her shoulders. "No Will! Stop trying to persuade me otherwise! I'm done emphasizing with that woman! She killed my unborn grandchild. She deserves to be punished!"
"She is punished enough as it is, she lost a baby too and she can't have any more! Having hate for anyone, especially a woman who's denied maternal joy, is bellow you! And besides, dad is-"
"Your father is many things, but ask Halinor, ask anyone, he would never hurt you. He wouldn't hurt us like that!"- Susan shook her head frantically. "In part, his actions are wrong, but Serena crossed all lines! She was the one who started everything by trying to use Phelps's accidental death to her advantage! How dare she interfere in a matter of our past? What did she not do to us, Will?! She tried to kill me repeatedly!"
Tony put his hand on his ex-wife's shoulder in a soothing manner, making Dean tighten his fist. Matt was bedazzled and so was his girlfriend, but Susan was just furious:
"Oh, and one more thing. The details around Serena's miscarriage are not as tragic as they are stupid and her fault! I mean, if you're selfish enough to demand going to a bar when 4 months pregnant, you don't really want to have a child as badly, don't you think? Your father refused to take her out that night. She went on, nevertheless. In that bar, someone shoved an elbow in her stomach, by accident. She fell down on the dancefloor, but no one noticed. No one cared, they stepped all over her, which is terrible, but again… A pregnant woman's place is not in a bar! She lost her baby due to her ignorance! She blames Tony, but is it his fault, really? Is it his fault that she was too selfish to humble down for 9 months?! Her choices led to her miscarriage. Her choices led to your miscarriage as well, and that's why I'll never forgive her!"- Susan clicked her fingers with tears in her eyes. "I will teach Serena Sanchez a lesson which she'll never forget!"
Will turned around in shock, meeting Matt's eyes. What they had thought to be the end of this horrible string of events, would turn out to be just the beginning.
"Theresa, it means so much to me that you approved of the name which I chose for my son."- Cassidy smiled warmly at the other woman, who was holding her hand. "Nathaniel, after my father... I know that it can be seen as a little old fashioned, but- "
"Cassidy, please, sweetheart. First of all, that's your son and you have the full right to choose his name."- the judge smiled at the new mother and then at her husband, who stood by the bed with her. "Besides, I sincerely approve of your choice. It's not old-fashioned at all."
"Yes!"- Lionel agreed. "Nathaniel is such a dignifying name too! People can still call him "Nate" or "Nathan" for short. It's a perfect choice and honoring your late father like that is great and very sweet of you."
Theresa smiled and nodded.
Cassidy couldn't be happier. Peter's family were all spoiling her rotten. They were so sweet, just like him. And now that she had graced them with a grandson, too, they couldn't love her more. But the same applied for her. She had never thought that this would happen to her, not after her past...But now. Now everything was just perfect.
Someone knocked on the door.
"Cassidy! Honey, we're so happy for you!"- Halinor and Kadma had just entered the private hospital room, which Vera had rented, together with the entire hospital apartment, holding balloons and presents. "Congratulations!"
"Hal, Kads! Thanks, girls."- Cassidy beamed. "Come on in!"
Theresa and Lionel stood up to greet the newcomers and then leave them in private with their friend.
"Congratulations to you too, Mr. and Mrs. Cook."- the former Fire guardian said to them with a warm smile, tossing her light blonde curls aside. "Your first grandchild, am I right? A milestone to be cherished! This is such a happy day for all of us!"
"Thank you."- Theresa smiled in response. "Yes, indeed. Soon, we should all get together for a celebration. Cassidy's friends are naturally important to us too!"
"Likewise."- Kadma replied.
Theresa and her husband nodded one last time before officially leaving the three friends to catch up with each other.
"Look at you."- Halinor beamed in joy, setting one red lock out of Cassidy's face. "You're a mother. A mother, Cass! Your new life is as full of love and joy as you've always deserved. I'm so happy for you."
"I know. I still can't believe it."- Cassidy's eyes watered. "I'm so grateful and lucky... Thank you, girls. For being here with me, sharing my moment. For all the balloons and just yourselves. This is just how I've always imagined my maternity to start."
"And this is just what we've always wanted for you, Cass."- Kadma took her hand between hers. "What we fought and suffered for. You got what you truly deserved after all these long years, and that can only make our hearts tremble with emotion and immense happiness."
The former Water guardian smiled a grateful smile, bringing her friend's hand to the level of her cheeks.
Halinor caressed her hair:
"When can we see the little man? Is he here?"
"The doctors took him for one last test, but they'll bring him back soon. He's just fine."- Cassidy replied as she got in a more comfortable sitting position. "His name's Nathaniel."
"Oh yeah? Fantastic, Cassidy! I bet Emily's ecstatic."- the blonde exclaimed.
"She is."- Cassidy confirmed. "I'm so happy that she could live to see this. And now that my son carries dad's name, she's even happier... You know I've been doing everything to treat her over the last ten years. We still have so much time to make up for, but I'm glad that I could add giving birth to the milestones in that time span."
Halinor nodded with understanding.
"What about Peter? Where is he?"- Kadma wanted to know.
"Oh, he's busy bragging about having a son. His friends from all over have been calling him all day."- the redhead laughed. "We're good, girls. Thank God, we're all good, even though I wasn't due to three more weeks. Nathaniel is a healthy, beautiful baby and we're lucky parents."
Kadma patted her tight, high bun and nodded.
"Indeed you are, Cass. May the almighty universal forces protect you from evil eyes, always."- and by an old Indian custom, the ex-guardian brought her finger close to her heavy black eyeliner, and then left a little black dot from it behind Cassidy's ear.
"I told ya I was fine! You're too much, granddaughter."- Yan Lin exclaimed gruffly and unraveled her sleeve after getting her blood pressure taken one last time. The nurse had just left the testing room after delivering the results from the blood tests. Thankfully, all of Yan Lin's indicators were in the norm. "When did you became my elder to preach to me?"
"Grandma, don't act like a child! You were already feeling under the weather. And after Irma's mind control fiasco, you almost fainted! We had to make sure you're OK."- Hay Lin crossed her arms on her chest.
"Yeah, sorry about that, Mrs. Lin."- Irma held her hands behind her back. "Didn't know that it would affect you that much."
She, Hay Lin, Taranee, and Cornelia were all in the room with the ex-guardian, who was eager to leave. She wanted to go to Cassidy.
"Ya, ya. Let's just get outta here."- she scoffed. "I hate hospitals. If you must know, I only came to see Cassidy and her baby."
Hay Lin was just about to scold her again when the lights in the room suddenly flickered and went out. The five women looked around each other in utter darkness.
"Umm, what's happening?"- Irma mused.
"It seems like the power is out."- Cornelia noted.
"That's impossible...The hospital has its own generators; it can never be left without power."- Taranee objected and used her control over fire to shed some light in the dark room.
The moment she did that, she regretted it, because she almost suffered a heart attack. The four girls screamed at the image that suddenly popped out of nowhere.
Jessie Alexis's blood-covered body floating in the air... But that was impossible! He had died! He was dead!
The lights flickered and were suddenly working again. A sinister laugh sounded behind the guardians, making them jump in their places before turning around.
"B-but that is impossible. You...you are dead!"- Cornelia stammered pointing at the man. "We saw you, you-"
"Is that...is that his-"
"- Jessie's ghost."- Hay Lin finished Irma's words in horror, shielding her grandmother with her body.
"But how..."
"I died because of you. I knew that there was more to your audacity than you displayed. Why you were all so sure in yourself. You've had your magic all along."- Jessie's harsh voice echoed in the testing room as he appeared and disappeared, again and again, in a circle around them. "You killed me!"
"No, you died, because you were a sorry asshole!"- Irma yelped, even though her throat was overtaken by the pressure of her fear. "You did horrible things to the Vandoms! Fuck off!"
Jessie appeared right in front of her, making her fall back.
"I'm not done with the Vandoms!"- he hissed. "Just you wait and watch what I'll do from now on. I may be dead, but I'm not finished."
"Why you-"
"But how did this happen?!"- Taranee couldn't wrap her mind around it. "Alexis was a mortal person with no special abilities, he's not like Icona... How is his spirit able to exists in our reality without being summoned or bound to mortal plain?! This is surreal!"
"Sometimes spirits do that, but it's a rarity...I'm guessing that overage from Irma's magic was left on him. And because he died so soon after, that magic shaped his spirit, giving him extra abilities."- Yan Lin concluded.
"Then I'll take my magic back!"- Irma raged and focused on the ghost in front of herself.
Jessie laughed once again and swung his hand, creating a wave of force that sent them flying to the ground.
"It's mine now, Lair. I've been able to do unthinkable things ever since I died! You can't take that magic away from me, it's a part of my spirit now. After that truck ran me over, I needed time to recognize the situation and what had happened, but then I saw you."- and he pointed at Irma and Cornelia. "I saw you and I instantly understood everything. Coming to terms with reality was a challenge, but I adore a challenge. I can now do so much more without facing people! They don't see me. Only you do, because you're magical."- he spat. "But guess what. You're not the only magical ones any longer! In this form of mine, you no longer have the power to stop me. I will finish the Vandoms off, like I intended to, and shall be avenged!"
Without even thinking, Taranee just sent a fireball at him, which went right through his ethereal body. Of course, she thought bitterly. He's not a living creature...Fire doesn't burn even though some gases, what is left a wandering soul without a body...Stressing out 24/7 will have the last of my brain...
Hay Lin tried to blow him away, but even though she controlled the air, her magic, just like Taranee's, went right through the ghost. He is right, the young Air guardian realized in terror. They were powerless to stop him. Now what were they going to do?!
"Girls, stop!"- Yan Lin ordered. "Your anger feeds him! You're making his spirit stronger-"
"Spare us the drivel, granny. There is so much more energy around this wretched city for me to feed on! You freaks control the natural elements, don't you? But your elements don't affect spirits. You no longer have any advantages over me. The advantage is now mine."- the ghost laughed coldly. "No element has the power to touch me, but I can certainly touch whoever I want to. And the ones whose necks I intend to wrap my fingers around first, are Tony Vandom and his family!"
Now our doom is in the cards, Irma thought grimly as Cornelia just shook her head in denial. Involuntarily, they had helped that evil prick to keep on torturing them, even from the grave. Fantastic.
Suddenly, the ghost cringed in pain as strong, electrical charges brought him down to wither in the corner of the room. He could no longer move. He could no longer talk...he could just cringe in pain, pain which only living creatures were supposed to feel...But how?!
"One element can still touch you, alright. In fact, I can do more than that. Being the element of life, quintessence gives many options to choose from. I can bound you to any reality I decide to. I can cast you away for good. How does that sound?"
"Will!"- the others exclaimed at the redhead, who had just appeared in the testing room. Her head was high and her gaze was firm.
Jessie turned around to glare at her:
"You..."
"Stay away from my family."- Will whispered through gritted teeth. "You're over. You did what you could. Now you're dead. It's all over for you!"
In the matter of seconds and one last scowl, his spirit disappeared. That wasn't the last they'd see of him, Will knew. But he was the least of her concerns.
"Will! Thank God you came. Irma's mind magic gave Jessie's ghost shape and-"
"I figured so. That's not important."- the keeper of the Heart asserted. "First of all, I want to apologize to you girls for being a sorry brat lately. I am sorry for giving you reasons to worry. I am sorry for letting you deal with everything alone...I am back now. Back to being normal."- she smiled back at her friends as they cheered. "Guardians, buckle up. We have a lot of work to complete."
Gray Wood Mines...
Leonida snuck out of the rest house, wearing a big dark golden cape and holding a lantern in her hand.
It was cold and dark out, just like she had wanted it to be during this important moment. She had purposely waited for night to fall, just to be sure that Aldarn and his father won't be able to see her. During the nights, they relaxed and let her out of their sight, reassured by the fact that she was unable to overstep the invisible borders around her prison.
Fools, Leonida thought with a smirk. They didn't know that, unlike other people, she needed not leave home arrest in order to get her things done.
Finding herself a good, secluded place behind the building that represented her prison, she took out the little brooch she had torn off of her son's cloak earlier that same day. When it fell in her open palm, it grew in size...
"Princess Leonida? Princess Leonida, can you hear me?"
"I can hear you."- Leonida replied to the male voice that was suddenly coming from the pendant. She smiled with delight. "You've done well, indeed. Thinking of such a devious little plan to get the Order of Coronia to me was brilliant."
"Anything for you, my princess!"- the voice said again. "After all, sewing something which belongs to you in the little prince's clothes and then persuading Elyon to take him to see you, was the least we could do. You need to have that talisman in you. But at the end of the day, we have to thank Elyon. For being this adorably naïve..."
"Ah, true."- the ex-princess giggled quietly, her indigo eyes shining in the night. "Even though she's getting tougher, Elyon is still convenient to manipulate...That must remain so. That's exactly why you must pressure her into marrying my brother as soon as possible. I see her become less and less naïve. I don't need her to see through all my acts and intentions without time. This wedding needs to take place before her next birthday, make her believe that! I know that many forces are working against me, and time is my enemy."
"Precisely, your Highness! The Queen is almost ready to accept the need of her to finally put on Coronia's crown. We're using her self-reproach and sense of debt to trigger that. The wedding will be soon, I'm positive. Very soon, I'll give you the good news."
Leonida smiled again. This was music to her ears. But it was too early to celebrate, she knew:
"Very well."- she said to the pendant. "Now that we have this direct means of communication, it will be easier. Be ready to answer me and give me information, each and every night, once the moon reaches its zenith in my dear kingdom. And don't let Elyon or the guardians get to know of the Order's Crypt. They mustn't discover it as they did with that darned room which my late mommy created! That was an utter disaster, for even we didn't know that this place existed. It still represents great danger."
"No, princess! That will never repeat itself again! Worry not. And the attack over that man, the leader of the-"
"Postpone that for now. If anything happens to him before my moment has passed with success, the Mage will undoubtedly kill me. Caleb will be undone during Elyon's wedding. That way, Nerissa's attention will be occupied by Phobos, who'll have fulfilled his promise to hurt her son."-the enchantress's voice shivered with rancorous delight. "He threatened him, didn't he? In her eyes, that will be the only goal to pursue... She'll be so busy with taking her revenge for her fallen son, she won't have the time to pay attention to me and my deeds. That way she won't be interrupting me."- Leonida chuckled spitefully. "I can't possibly afford to take any more risks with that witch. She's too cunning, but soon...Soon that won't matter. Anyway, Eme. I'll speak to you again. Wish me a good night of sleep and lots of success. Keep being loyal to me and when I'm where I deserve to be, I'll reward you generously."
The connection was cut off, but Leonida didn't put her newest acquisition away just yet. She waved the Order of Coronia three times until golden smoke started to emerge from it. Smoke which soon overtook the entire village of Gray Wood Mines.
I may not need to leave just yet, but I need to have my magic, she smirked, satisfied with the effect her talisman had had. The cold wind blew the skirts of her cape back as she stood stoically, observing the dark landscape. I have to have my magic at my disposal. The sparks of intrigue have the power to ignite grand fires of destruction, Elyon. What do you know?! Soon, all my poor enemies will be left in tears. What is to come is like nothing they've ever seen before.
