Chapter 35: Rending Feelings

"I knew what you were all about,

and as if you're the only one out there,
I wanted you at all costs,
I wanted you for the memories..."


"They will be alright, right?"- Will almost demanded, as she looked the doctor right in the eye.

A little over an hour had passed since her parents had been rescued in critical condition. What had happened post opening the crates they had been in, was utterly chaotic. The police and a number of ambulances had arrived almost at once; The girls and their boyfriends had no choice but to report the case, her parents had been irresponsive and already proclaimed missing...

Struggling to get their heads around what exactly has happened, the investigators had been dumbfounded. Such an odd thing to happen. Such a miraculous survival... So scary sounding and yet a bunch of young adults had managed the situation on their own?! How was that even possible, many asked, if these people had indeed been submerged so deep into the ocean. No one in Heatherfield had ever witnessed anything like what Serena had done to her enemies, but thankfully, Tom Lair's flexibility had ended the irrelevant questions, which many other authority representatives had had. What had been truly relevant had been getting the two victims to the hospital at once. Anything else could wait.

"Doctor, please, give me something, I need to know the truth."- Will repeated, almost glaring at the aging man in front of herself.

"Doctor, why aren't you saying anything?!"- Hay Lin gushed. "Please, you're scaring us!"

"Ms. Vandom, the fact that your parents are both alive after what happened to them, is a true miracle."- the doctor told her seriously. "They've spent 30 minutes underwater, at least 80 meters under the surface; but they will recover. Whoever dived in to pull them out did an excellent job. Timewise and methodically speaking. Who was it again?"

"I-I've been scuba diving for almost 7 years. I managed to get a hold of some gear back at the dockside, there are many old pairs back there, in the abandoned diving station. I dived in and pulled them out with the help of my friends who drove the motorboat we used to get above the spot that the GPSs led us to."- Eric repeated the same lie they had presented in front of the authorities already. It was an absolute, glib, lie, but he had somehow managed to fabricate it once the police had started questioning them. He had indeed been scuba diving for almost 7 years, but that was about the only dose of truth in his words.

"That's very brave and perilous of you, young man."- the doctor applauded. "You must be proud of yourself. Your heroic act saved not one, but two lives."

Eric could only smile uncomfortably in response. Will breathed in relief as she patted the man's back and held Irma, who hugged her from behind, tighter. She was the real hero who she'd be forever beholden to, but that was only for them to know.

"Doctor, will Mr. and Mrs. Vandom emerge totally unharmed from this horrific situation? What about their brains?"- Taranee interjected with concern.

"People might suffer brain damage if they spend over 5 minutes without oxygen. Mr. Vandom and Mrs. Vandom have both fought- he held his last breath for over 6 minutes; she managed almost five, which has turned out to be of vital importance because that way they both spent less than 2 minutes without any oxygen. They didn't lose hope that they'll be rescued and that's amazing. That is why I say that your friend pulled them out with perfect timing."- the doctor said. "We're running some additional tests, but I'm certain that their brains are fine. Their brains and lungs are absolutely fine."

Will and her friends could finally take some time to breathe normally. Thank God. Thank God that her parents were fine. If something had happened to them...I wouldn't be able to look at my reflection ever again, Will thought and closed her eyes tiredly. Great. So many amends to make, so many things to deal with. The Heart pulsed around her neck. The redhead spotted Matt coming down the hospital corridor together with a concerned-looking Dean.

She had to talk to her step-father and assure him that everything would be fine. Now that she had heard it from the doctor himself, she had the strength to do so. But after that, she'd have to do something that barely anything could give her enough strength for, she knew.

Will nodded at her friends and left their side to go talk to Dean.


Paris, France

Cornelia took one last look of herself in her front camera before taking a deep breath and getting herself to knock on the door of the big conference room. The hotel she was in had many things, and a conference room was one of them- it was the second largest in the entire building and she had been especially asked in the email that she had received, to be there on time. That was why she had arrived exactly two minutes before 9 AM. She knew that punctuality had a whole new meaning in the world of modeling and showbiz.

Showbiz...the synonym of social and mental hardship. But Cornelia had long decided that hardships weren't to scare her any longer. She was beautiful; gorgeous. She was tall, slim, and fabulous overall, but she knew that wasn't enough for her to succeed in this industry. To succeed she needed to be especially clever, which she fully believed she could be. After all, she was almost 25, she had no time to waste if she was to be a successful model. Girls a decade younger than her were getting casted. She had been one of these girls, when big names in the state had started recognizing her, around ten years ago, but back then she had canceled all her career opportunities. Looking back at that decision now, the blonde saw it as short-sighted and childish. All her friends were on the road to achieving success, each in their own field, she was the only one of the five guardians to fall behind schedule and for what? Just because she was such an altruist...

Cornelia tossed her long blonde mane back. It was perfectly curled for the occasion, falling freely around her body like a waterfall of gold and sunlight. Her enviable, healthy blonde hair- her trademark, was something which she was especially proud of and wanted to flaunt in front of her new employers. Her Instagram-inspired, "no-makeup-makeup", graced her beautiful features just the right way- it gave the illusion that she wakes up like that on the daily. Cornelia was far from the thought that anyone would fall for that, but at least it looked flawless. She had spent an hour to achieve it, despite her long-year experience with makeup; yes, the eldest Hale daughter was a natural-born beauty, but she was aware that some slap has never hurt anyone. Especially in her world, makeup was something extremely mandatory. For her outfit, after long hesitation, she had eventually chosen a pair of expensive white jeans and a pale pink, off the shoulder top. She wanted to look professional, but not boring, that's why she had accentuated the entire look with gentle diamond-encrusted hoops, a choker to match, and little rings for the index, middle fingers, and thumbs, something which was an undeniable trend this year.

The young woman nervously shifted her weight from her right leg to the left one, keeping perfect balance even in her heels. Waiting for her to be called in, she glanced at her phone screen once again. It was already 9 o'clock; she knocked again.

"Come in!"- a prissy female voice invited her from the inside.

Cornelia wasn't about to lose more time, she pushed the door open and entered the big conference room.

The fair woods and white hues that the room was designed with, combined with the bright morning sunlight coming from the big double windows on the opposite wall, created a strong sense of luxury. But Cornelia wasn't surprised; the entire hotel was an expensive one. Knowing the name that had shown interest in her, she hadn't expected anything less.

On the big desk in front of the windows stood a woman about her age, who the blonde wasn't exactly in the know about. She frowned, stealing a look at the auburn-haired female. She was familiar with Mr. Todd Campo, CEO of the mega fashion brand Te-CAMP-o, who many critics juxtaposed with names like Philip Plein, but this woman... Not too sure why, but the blonde had felt a little disappointed. She had expected Mr. Todd, himself, to meet her, after all, he had signed that email, which they had sent her. Cornelia examined the woman while waiting to be further noticed; she had watched Miranda Presley enough times to know better than to simply interrupt a fashion designer in the process of doing something, like her hostess on her tablet. Her pretentiously curled auburn locks and her big botoxed lips made her look a little outdated, as far as Cornelia was concerned, but she couldn't deny that the woman was beautiful. Very beautiful. Cornelia narrowed her eyelids; now that she came to think of it, there was something familiar about her...

"Cornelia Hale, right?"- the auburn-haired finally lifted her gaze from her tablet and pointed at the chairs in front of her desk with just the right amount of probing heartburn that every beautiful woman displays when meeting another beautiful woman. "Take a seat. I'm Mrs. Campo; vice president of TeCampO marketing. It would appear that Mr. Campo chose your CV out of hundreds, I can see there's a good reason for that. Do you have any additional files which you'd like to add to your personal file?"

Oh, Mrs. Campo...that makes sense, Cornelia thought, trying to remember as to why this particular accent in the other woman's voice sounds so very familiar to her. Her rare pale-blue, snow-like eyes, her auburn hair, and olive-colored skin; all that seemed so very familiar, as if she had already seen her somewhere... A magazine maybe? She was Todd Campo's wife, after all.

"Yes, thank you, mam. I do bring some copies from my old portfolios."- the blonde said, graciously setting the dark carboard file she had with herself, on the desk.

"Alright, great. Don't call me mam, it sounds like I'm old!"- Mrs. Campo said. "Call me Sondra."

Cornelia estimated that it made sense; after all, as far as she could tell, they came close in age, even if Mr. Campo was in his late thirties... Sondra?!

"Oh, excuse me, I forgot to offer you something to drink. What would you like? Water, cappuccino, celery juice? Tea?"

"Just water, thank you."- Cornelia smiled exaggeratedly, still thinking about the name she had just heard. Sondra was extremely familiar, even more now that she put it together with her appearance. But what were the odds...

Sondra made a quick order through her tablet and fixed her curtain bangs with her fingers. Then she started going through Cornelia's documents- both the paper ones and those which she had on her device.

"OK, let's see here; your measurements seem perfect. No doubt. No cosmetic surgery so far. Good, though one can't really tell. You're turning 25 this year- so am I. You have past experiences, but you haven't worked with anyone in the last 8 years."- Sondra lifted her head up, tapping a pen against her jaw. "Why is that, Cornelia? Did the stress of the profession overwhelm you? What made you reconsider coming back to professional modeling now?"

"I had some personal affairs to get in order. Family problems, relationships. With school and all that, I was unable to keep up modeling too."- Cornelia explained, a little peeved because she had already stated that in her online one on one. "I want to start modeling again because I'm finally ready to put my own interests and decisions first."

For some reason, Sondra didn't seem to believe her:

"Oh, come on, Cornelia."- she cooed in her accent. "That's bland, that's what they all say. It's no real reasoning! Spill the tea if you'll be aiming for more money."

The Earth guardian blinked in perplexity.

"But there is no tea to spill, that's about it. More money? Am I approved to even be thinking of that?"

"Of course you are approved."- Sondra rolled her eyes. "We don't just fly people here to chat with them. Look at yourself, you look like a downright goddess. You know how our brand works; you'll be modeling our clothes and follow some guidelines from the contract which we'll have you sign. Simple things like wearing our things to events and posting with them on social media- you know how it is. 8 years ago, the basic rules were pretty much the same. You follow our rules and we pay you. Then you get recognition and attention, and the offers will start to rain over you again. All you'll need in the future is a good manager."- she finished, locking fingers together and resting her chin on them. "Any questions?"

Cornelia just stared at her not knowing what to say. On second thought, why had she thought that it would be so hard to get back in the game? Sondra was right, she was gorgeous. Any brand would love to have her model for them, even a big brand like TeCampO. It was just the rules of showbiz. Beautiful women made big money while making bigger money for big names. It wasn't all she wanted to do in her career life, but it was a good start.

"No, Sondra. Thanks a lot. I'm happy to hear that I've been approved."- Cornelia said, just when a maid entered to leave them their drinks. "Listen, even if I don't have tea to spill right now, I'm sure that once we start working together, the tabloids will explode. It has been too long since Heatherfield last read about me."

Sondra chuckled gutturally, lifting her cup up:

"Indeed, indeed. Heatherfield's a lovely little place... Many other places will get to hear about you soon."

Cornelia felt contended with the reply. That was just what she wanted, anyway. She crossed her legs more tightly:

"OK cool, what do we do now. Is there any screening or measurement takings that you've planned?"

"No, not yet. We'll just sign a contract. I wanted to see with my eyes the good form you're back to, so soon after giving birth! Remarkable."

Cornelia's smile quenched a little, but Sondra was quick to laugh it away:

"O-o-o, see, you didn't mention that in your CV, but we like to further check our partners beforehand."- she shook her finger with an undying grin on her beautiful face. "Even after 8 years, you're still someone back in your little city. But seriously speaking, my admirations; no one can ever tell that you've given birth less than a year ago."- Sondra placed the papers on the desk in front of the other woman, tossed her hair to the back and stood up, stretching her hand out: "Enough talking, you must be impatient to storm the streets and boutiques of Paris; Just one signature here. Cornelia Hale, welcome. Welcome to TeCAMPo."

Cornelia, who had just signed the papers smiled and took her hand:

"It's my pleasure to be a part of your label."


Heatherfield, 9:45 AM

"Look at him. Look at his little smile. He's gorgeous."

"He definitely is. I can't bear the resemblance he has with Caleb; it's astounding."

"Well, that is so. He does look like Cornelia too. Look at his eyes. His lips. The shape of these beautiful blue eyes."

Nerissa smiled. Julian had a right, she decided, though she would forever mostly see her son in Killian. Her son and the priceless, but few days she had spent with him during his earliest years.

Killian giggled cheerfully and rolled over; his diaper was just changed and he was ready to return to his tireless games. He was almost 7 months old, but he was a big baby from the beginning. Nearly 9kgs with a healthy amount of brown hair and the smile of a little angel. His lips might have been his mother's, but whenever he smiled or giggled, his grandmother saw Caleb. Each time...it was astonishing how much she loved that little boy. She could as well die for him and his father.

Nerissa shifted her attention from her grandson, who crawled to his indoor playset, to Julian, who was leaning casually against the changing table, with his coffee mug and a warm smile.

"Do you want anything else, baby."- she purred in her natural patronizing voice that softened this way only when addressing him. Nerissa extended her hand and gently caressed his face. "Something more to eat or something else to drink- "

"I'm fine."- Julian assured her, pressing her hand against his scratchy cheek. "You'll spoil me rotten."

"Oh, my dear Julian, that is my goal!"

She cupped his chin lovingly. Julian pulled her closer, burying his face in her exposed neck. Nerissa intertwisted her fingers in his luscious hair just when the doorbell rang.

"I'll stay with Killian."- her husband suggested with a smile and Nerissa nodded, albeit reluctant. She wasn't in the mood for visitors that early in the morning, especially after the ghastly previous evening.

But when she opened the entrance door, she came to face with something even more unwanted, if that was even possible:

"Aren't you supposed to be in the hospital by your parents' side?"

"Don't be fast to slam the door in my face. I've come to talk to you."

Nerissa made a face as she fixed the fallen shoulders of her gray cashmere top in anticipation. Will hadn't expected to be invited inside. She ran her hand through her messy red hair and them aimed all her firmest attention at the older woman:

"You act like you're offended again. Typical. Do you still care about how my parents are doing? I don't hear you asking."

"After your friends gave me the air for your self-respect last night, I figured that I do have what to take slight offense for. You were delusional. I only helped you."

"Sure, after you manhandled me, they lashed out at you. Did you expect admirations for sending me flying in the water?"- Will asked mockingly.

The pair of green eyes shone coldly.

"Admit it or not, had I not ''manhandled" you, you wouldn't have had the motivation to give Irma all the power she needed to retrieve your mother and father. You had lost faith in the Heart and that's all on you."- she added calmly, yet spitefully. "Caleb passed the latest information to me already; I don't need to ask you to know that your parents are out of risk."

Will shook her head, negatively impressed:

"Man is your ego huge!"

"Listen you little blighter, if you're not here to thank me for giving you the much-needed spur that helped save your parents, who you had already written off, then just hit the road! I'm a bit over with your dramas for a while!"- and Nerissa attempted to slam the door in her face, but Will put her foot in its way, never losing her eyes from focus.

"I had NOT written them off. Nerissa, you're awfully rude for no reason. It's not very healthy for people who're trying to work as a team-"

"I have my reasons. Your team was ready to sell me out a number of times already. Thank you, I'm not too attached to your united spirits and I couldn't care less about your companionship."- Nerissa retorted coldly.

Will estimated her with another glance.

"Maybe. Or maybe not. Maybe fitting in somewhere does you good, but I don't doubt that you'll never admit it. However, there's one thing that I know you're attached to for sure. One particular thing that you care greatly for."

"What a sagacious little spark you are..."

"I'm talking about this."- Will went on calmly, ignoring the ridicule. She opened her hand and then looked up at the ex-guardian expectantly. "This is something you care about, isn't it? Something that you know so much about. Something that was snatched away from you all these years ago. Wouldn't you like to have it back?"

Somehow Nerissa managed to remove her wide pupils from the enthralling pink glow of the Heart, which Will held in her open palm. She stared right into her eyes, sure that she had misheard:

"What?!"

"You heard me correctly."- the redhead confirmed. "There's no denying that you've always wanted the Heart back. Ever since you first met us, even before that. You've done unimaginable things for this talisman and now I'm offering it to you. You can have it back if you decide that you really want to."

Nerissa opened her mouth and closed it again. Staring deep into her eyes, she couldn't see it. She then looked back at the Heart and with every next minute, her incomprehension grew.

"You're giving it up?! You're giving the Heart of Kandrakar up?!"- she exclaimed. "Why?! It's impossible, no one has ever been able to voluntarily part with it! What is it with you?!"

Will just shrugged:

"My willpower is stronger than you think. You've shown that you're better with the Heart than me, quite a few times. Including yesterday. You have more knowledge, more experience... I admit, if you weren't there, perhaps I wouldn't have managed to send that power surge to Irma. To open the fold, to save my parents...That's why I'm offering you the Heart as a token of my gratitude. Just say that you want it and you can have it."- the redhead went on. "Just take it."

Nerissa's heart raced in her chest as she glanced down at the familiar, beloved pink orb of the Heart of Kandrakar. Her heart had once beaten intact with it; it had been so much more than just a responsibility to hold it. She had been dying to have it back, countless times after the Oracle took it away from her. She had fought for it. How much they differed; she was ready to kill for the Heart, while her replacement had moments in which she didn't believe in its power... Perhaps it was better for Nerissa to be the main guardian again, and why not?! It was the most efficient way to stop Phobos, save Meridian, and protect the Universe in general, anyway. The Heart pulsed innocently, willingly, as her hands trembled with excitement. Nerissa swallowed with effort and licked her full lips. Oh, the Heart often made her be like that; like the effect the presence of a drug has on a former addict. And as a matter of fact, she was a former addict. Power addict. But it was not just this jewel's power; it was her connection to it. Will was just ready to give it away and disown it?! How could she be so stupid!

Or clever...

For a moment, the temptation was so overwhelming and bittersweet; the former guardian extended her hand with hankering, but in the last moment she stopped it in the air. Ste stopped, like a frozen sculpture. She met Will's eyes again; Will, whose held-in breath almost whistled through her lips.

Nerissa narrowed her eyelids and closed her fingers right above the talisman.

"Come on, take it. You want it, don't you?"- Will insisted. "Just take it!"

"I won't."- the other woman averred and offhandedly closed the younger one's fingers around the jewel, using her own. "It's your responsibility now. And if you do decide that you can't handle it anymore, you must turn to your superiors from Kandrakar. Not to me. Now if you'll please; I have to get ready."

Will blinked almost in perplexity, but she stopped the brunette before she could return inside the house:

"Wait a minute. I'm the keeper of the Heart, you concluded that I'm unworthy of it, but I still get to decide what to do with it, why should I ask Kandrakar when I've already made my mind?!"

"Because I'm not failing your test."- Nerissa snapped and Will fought to hide the fact that the cat was out of the bag. She only frowned slightly as she listened: "You lost your faith in the Heart, not I! Do you really think that I'd fall for your tricks? What did you hope to prove, that I'm untrustworthy? Ha, nice try! I almost believed you for a second. But you know not what you're doing. I've been around the block a few times; you're only learning to walk!"

"I don't know what you're talking about."- Will said. "I didn't come with tricks up my sleeve, this is the real Heart of Kandrakar. I was giving it to you, had you decided to take it, it would've been willingly on my part, and it would have become yours again-"

"Yes, it is the real Heart, that's exactly why I saw through your "willing offer". Do not forget that I can still hear it. It's inner voice."- Nerissa stated in a low voice, piercing the younger woman with her eyes. "It was a part of me, but now it connects with you, also. I felt that the Heart is not yet ready to part with you, nor are you. Despite everything. You're just putting up an act with this 'offer'. Well, better luck next time, Will."

Will didn't reply at once. She watched Nerissa turn her back on her, crossly, and head back towards the inside of the house. Her hand was just on the knob of the door when she heard:

"Nerissa! I'm sorry. And thanks for yesterday. You made me sober up, even if in your own ways. I apologize for underestimating and insulting you. I'm sorry."

Nerissa turned around to meet her gaze. Her red-brown eyes- sincere. One could say she looked almost ashamed of herself. The brunette reluctantly felt her anger fade away. The guardians' quality of admitting to their wrongs was one of the few things that provoked her respect, for Nerissa knew how hard that was for her to do:

"Don't mention it."- she said in the end, dedicating a long minute to just looking at her replacement. "You could come in and have something to drink."


Coronia, at dusk

"Andan, Andan, I came as soon as your message arrived. What happened?"- Elyon asked, concern ringing in her voice, as she got off the royal carriage. It had dropped her at the location where her fiancé had called her to. Dusk was falling above Coronia's capital. Andan's distressed message had made her cancel all her audiences and state affair-related meetings for the rest of the day.

Now that she was seeing his wired face in front of herself, she instantly knew that something bad had happened. They were currently in one of the poorer neighborhoods in Coronia's capital, even though the people living here were still well above the poverty line in Meridian. Andan's sentry was making their way around the buildings in a haste, all headed for something that looked like a small shop. Elyon narrowed her eyes and tried to read the label on top.

"Something ominous has happened here, Elyon."- Andan sighed, escaping her glance.

"Ominous?"- Elyon repeated in concern, looking around herself.

"Yes, your Majesty Queen Elyon, and I fear that this ominous string of events has only just begun."

The young Queen turned to the sound of the voice and furrowed her eyebrows in puzzlement. The man that lined up with her fiancé looked familiar. His sand-colored hair and straight posture...

"That's Emery. Visser's only son."- Andan explained. "You know for yourself that a few people left their posts in the royal court over the last months. This week my, so to put it, bodyguard left too, without even uttering a word. Emery's my new chaperone."

Elyon nodded in agreement, suddenly remembering Emery from the night when the Coronians had tried to prevent her and her friends from entering the Palace.

"You're the guy who stopped the rioters two months ago. I didn't know you're a son of Visser's."- she said and Emery lowered his head as if she had just pointed out a mistake of his:

"I did, your Majesty, but I told you, I fear the riots are going to be more and more in the near future. Just look at what they've done with Mr. Alfalfa-"

"Mr. Alfalfa?"

"He was a local butcher. He had a butchery for many years, people loved him..."- Andan explained grimly as he and Emery gently led Elyon closer to the butchery in question. She now saw that it was the facility towards which all the soldiers had been heading.

"Andan, when you say 'was'..."

But Elyon's words got stuck in her throat. They had stopped in front of the broken glass of the shop's showcase. There, inside, on his own very own butcher's table, lay the brutally slaughtered body of an aging man. Slaughtered like the animals hanging from the ceiling; a look of pure horror sealed in his dead eyes...

Elyon covered her mouth with her hands in shock.

"Oh my God!"

"That's not all, unfortunately."- Emery sighed gravely as Andan wrapped his arms around his fiancée's shoulders. "The rioters did this to him. They did it as a demonstration, look there."- and he pointed at the butchery's front door where blood-red letters, probably left on with Mr. Alfalfa's blood, read: 'Get us a Queen!'.

"They're losing patience."- Emery shook his head. "The more time passes, the more will their fear push them towards inhuman acts like this."

"What kind of a monster does such a thing, this is insane!"- Elyon cried.

"The Coronians, your Majesty. The Coronians are growing savage due to their fears. They haven't had a Queen for months now. This has never happened before..."

Elyon looked at Andan's gloomy face and then back at Emery. Her wet eyes traveled to the back, where the soldiers were starting to take care of the ghastly scene.

"I refuse to believe that people are capable of this! This is too much!"

Just as she said that the crowd that had begun to form in front of the butchery became louder. People from all around were coming in, circling the crime scene, not less shocked than the Queen of Meridian herself. Their loud exclamations had the guards forced to encircle the royals and raise their weapons up in a protecting manner.

"Alfalfa dead!"- someone from the crowd cried. "Such a tragedy!

"How could have this happened-"

"This is what we get for not having a proper Queen."

"Many will die like this, this is a scandal!"

"All of you shut up!"- Elyon demanded as she pushed some of the soldiers away so that she could face the crowd. A look of outrage and anger had overtaken her features as she yelled at the gobsmacked people who had gathered around the butchery:

"How can you be this vile? Someone has done this to that poor man and what for? Because you're afraid of being left without a Queen? How many times must I say that I'll become your Queen?! Such acts of violence will not do you any good!"

"We? We've done nothing to Mr. Alfalfa!"

"Yes, we loved him! He was a part of the community!"

People's replies for what she had said, thundered indignant.

"What's happening is our realm withering without a Queen, Queen Elyon! Just because you keep prolonging your engagement."

"We told you before, we told you now! Coronia can't be without a Queen!"

"You WILL have a Queen, oh my God!"- Elyon couldn't believe these people. "Meridianites also spent years without a Queen, but they didn't turn against each other, they united against the injustice! How can you be killing your own people just to provoke a reaction from us, when we're not even trying to do anything to your detriment?! This is an outdated and outrageous practice which I won't allow to thrive in this kingdom!"

"I doubt that those who've done this would return here so shortly after. They're some extremists, but they also fear us. They're deranged, these people here aren't a part of them, Elyon. I'm sure of it."- Andan said quietly, but Elyon wasn't ready to hear; her anger for the Coronains was too big at that point:

"It doesn't matter who did this, what matters is that an innocent man lost his life to someone's cowardice and tunnel vision in all matters of opinion and morality!"

"Queen Elyon, you're all about morals, but Alfalfa's blood is on your hands!"- someone from the crowd yelled, shocking her.

Elyon stood like thunder-stricken as another such comment came flying at her:

"Truth! You're the one who likes to play with Coronia's fate, would it kill you to officially wed Prince Andan?"

"THAT'S ENOUGH!"- Andan lashed out, raising his finger warningly. "Since when are you glib enough to address your royals like that?! Have you no respect for my mother and father's memory?"

That seemed to silence most of the dissatisfied individuals, but a part of them still said:

"Prince Andan, you're the one defiling your parents' memory by doing nothing to speed the process of our new Queen's coronation up! You know full well that Coronia cannot exist without a Queen! You're not enough!"

"Not enough!"

The ferocious shouts grew louder and more rapid with every following moment up to the point where Elyon felt like they were making her deaf. This oppression, this hatred, the fear, the offensiveness... she couldn't take it anymore. She couldn't listen to their pleas; she couldn't bear to witness another such gruesome demonstration... If giving these people what they wanted would restore the peace, she was willing to do it. With all that had been going on, she really needed her peace. Enough time had passed already, anyway...

"SHUT UP! JUST SHUT UP!"- Elyon's magically elevated voice finally defeated the yells of the crowd. "I WILL MARY ANDAN, I WILL! After two weeks, I will be his wife and your official Queen, the wedding will be in two weeks!"

The crowd stopped rebelling. It was all curious whispers and hopeful glances among them now. Andan was more bewildered if anything:

"Elyon."- he muttered as he turned to her. "Are you certain..."

"I am, Andan. Let this be over with."- she said and patted his hand. "May there finally be peace in my kingdom and yours. This insanity has to end and our marriage will be it."

Then she turned her attention to the people, who Emery was sort of hyping with the words that the Queen has announced her wedding date. The Coronians were fast to swing moods. Their fear and anger gave way to the elation of hearing what they had all wanted to her. But as they started to cheer, Elyon blighted their new-found enthusiasm:

"Today will by no means be turned into a happy event! A man lost his life to someone's irrational fears. A man was brutally killed! Just because I'm having a wedding doesn't mean that this will be left to slide."- she turned her strict gray-blue eyes to pass over each and every lowered head of the hundreds of people that had attended the scene. "No such demonstration should happen again in these two weeks. Not if you wish to have a Queen! As for this poor man, his murderer will be found and punished for what he did. You are dying to have a Queen, but there's one thing you should know about me. I'm not your typical monarch, but anarchy and lawlessness will not be a part of this kingdom."- she finished and glanced at the now resigned crowd. She was harsh, but after all, that's what they longed for. To be ruled over...to have a sense of control and security. Elyon turned to Andan who could only smile at her reassuringly, holding her hand close to his chest.

They were making their way to the royal carriages, accompanied by Emery and the sentry, but Elyon couldn't help turning around once more, her eyes traveling to the disturbing scene of the demonstration murder. She'd feel the cold chills of what she had just lived through on her back, for hours to come. It was already dark out. The Queen was still somewhat anxious; she had given the people what they wanted to hear, telling herself that the wedding had to happen sooner or later. For the better good of everyone, it was, she was aware... But still, deep in her heart, becoming Queen of this realm didn't feel right nor eligible.


Heatherfield

Tony Vandom woke up to the realization that he had been handcuffed to the frame of his hospital bed. He pulled on it, but it was no use. He sighed, trying to wake himself up completely as he just lay there with his head on the soft pillow. He then looked around himself. Hospital rooms were always disgusting, no matter how luxurious they were.

Slowly coming to his senses, he seated himself up in the bed and instinctively tried to pull his hands free again.

"Vandom, you're awake. Good."- Tom Lair entered the room followed by two other police representatives. "Now we can talk about your rights."

Tony blinked a few times but said nothing as the other man seated himself on the chair nearby.

"Susan."- he murmured under his nose. "Where's Susan? I- I have to..."

"She's fine, she woke up before you."- Tom assured him. "All her test results are promising and so are yours. There's nothing to worry about. Her health as well as yours, is in check."

"I have to see her."- the red-haired man insisted, but the two policemen that had come with Tom pushed him back firmly.

"I won't run away, God damn it, I'm handcuffed and hooked up to a system! I just wanna see my ex-wife. She went through literal hell, I"

"You have the right to remain silent, everything you say will be used against you."- one of the two told him sternly, while the other added:

"You're under arrest, Mr. Vandom. After you get discharged from the hospital, you'll be taken into custody. Do not hinder us from doing our job."

"All I want is to see her! I'm not resisting arrest, I'm-"

But just one look from the inspector made Tony understand that the situation didn't allow him to have any pretensions. Tom silently shook his head.

The other man sighed and leaned back in the bed. Apparently, a part of Tom Lair wanted to help him, even if with a little. Tony didn't need a lot, anyway. All he needed was to collect himself and get Serena to hold accountability. For everything.

"I want to contact my lawyer."- he eventually said.


"Yes, I'm sure."- Dean Collins said in a hushed tone and closed his eyes. He was really conflicted about his next words, but he uttered them, nevertheless. "Yes, Rob. Thank you for all you're doing, but no. I'm absolutely certain that I want you to drop it and destroy all the materials which you've gathered on Tony's case. It won't do any help."- he smirked sadly at the next line which he heard from the other side. "Yes, maybe I am crazy, but I can't do this. Not to Susan. You have a new target now, remember? You're still up for it? Thanks, Rob, I owe you a lot. We'll keep in touch."

With that, Dean put his phone back in his pocket and headed towards his wife's hospital room. He was in the hospital a second day now. Thankfully, Susan was already feeling better.

Back when Will had lost her baby in January, her stepfather had promised himself to bring her and her mother justice. That had been why he had contacted Robert Swan, an old schoolmate of his and an excellent private investigator. Robert had begun snooping around, collecting data in the shadows. Data on Jessie Alexis, on Thomas Vandom, on the dead man also known as the condo corpse; all those who had hurt his family... Later when Tony's truth had started to really resurface, Rob had started gathering materials explicitly on him.

Initially, Dean had planned to turn all the dirty laundry that his friend had found on Susan's ex-husband in the police in order to get him a harsher sentence. With what Robert had dug up, that had been in the bag, but in the end, the teacher had changed his mind. Too many things had happened and changed, and the last which he desired was to hurt his wife even more...His new goal now was to get to Serena. Serena had to be punished for what she had done...

Yes, Dean Collins was an ordinary, quiet man, but not when his family was in question.

He opened the door and smiled at the picture. Their young son crawled next to his mother on the bed.

"Look, your dad's back, William."- Susan cooed and raffled the young boy's hair up. "But I don't see him bringing ice cream."

"None of you should be having any ice cream just yet."- Dean shook his head with a smirk. "William will spoil his dinner and you're on a strict regime this week, don't forget what the doctor said."

William just groaned in protest and his mother laughed. With one last snuggle in her and a muttered "love you, mommy", the young boy hopped off the bed and aimed all his attention on the TV and his video game that he had brought on his visit. William was a bright child, but he was yet only 10. His parents and older relatives had decided to spare him the trauma and horror of learning what his mother had been through in the last days. In front of him, she was just down with a stomach virus.

Dean used the discount of having his son occupied to sit by his wife's side and gently touch her face:

"How are you, Susan? Are you feeling better?"

"Dean, I told you, I'm fine. I feel just fine."- she assured him and kissed his hand. Her deep brown eyes exuded love and a great dose of guilt. She felt guilty in front of her husband, for she had completely excluded him of her inner battles and outer motives, in recent times.

"All I want is to get out of here. I want to..."- Susan made a pause. She didn't want to say it out loud, because she knew it could trigger her husband, but when he looked at her, he already knew.

"Another day or two and I'll personally drive you and Will to the pre-trial custody. Don't worry."

Susan sighed and rubbed the man's palm between hers:

"Dean, I feel awful...You didn't sign up for this kind of life when you married me, and all I've been giving you, especially during this last year, is stress and drama. My old life takes a toll on our family and I feel awful- "

"What are you talking about, stop it, Susan."- he said seriously. "You have absolutely no fault for what's been happening. How could you be at fault? You're my wife, of course, I'm going to be there for you, don't apologize to me. I vowed to be beside you in bad and good. I know what I signed up for and I'm not going to break my vows. Ever."

The woman could only smile up at him in earnest gratitude. Wedding vows...she had given wedding vows twice in her life. To two different men. Dean cherished their vows and promises, unlike her first husband who had broken them...

Her mind traveled to Tony and she felt her heart going through a storm of confusion once more. How ludicrous everything with him had always been: from their first meeting to the last days of their marriage...up until the utter nightmare they had both just gone through. She had buried and mourned him last spring...Now he was more than alive and there to cause more chaos for her. But did she feel him indifferent? No... No, she didn't, and that was exactly what scared Susan Vandom-Collins. Maybe that was why she had never parted with his surname too.

After everything life had put her through with her ex-husband, she couldn't get herself to forever erase him from her soul.

Hangdog in the heart, she looked up at Dean, who she loved truly.

"What is it, darling?"

"It's nothing, darling. I was just thinking."

He raised his eyebrows agreeably:

"About?"

"About how much you mean to me."- she replied and stroked his cheek with the eluding grace of a real woman, conveying but a part of her true thoughts.


"Aren't you forgetting a little something?"

His voice was like the scratch of nails against a board. At that moment, the last thing Irma was in the mood for, were her little brother's taunts.

"What?"- she barked. "What am I forgetting? Your workday is over, why don't you get lost! I know you'd rather bang Lillian or smash some punching bag. Leave me alone, my fucking head is going to explode!"

The last sunrays of the sunset graced the studio-based building of "Lair on the Air". In the parking lot, right in front of the staff entrance, Irma was trying to eat a sandwich in peace, but Chris was ruining it for her. Peace, in general, was out of the question with him around. It had always been like that:

"I'm going, don't worry!"- the teenager rolled his eyes at his sister and thoughtfully stroked his big biceps under the jacket. "Can't believe you'll forget your own birthday. You look like shit, btw."

Irma glared daggers at him as she stood seated on the edge of the curbstone and gave throwing the rest of her sandwich at her brother a hard thought. Then she decided it wasn't worth it and just ran fingers through her unruly hair:

"Nobody is in the mood for a birthday party right now, twerp. Now that you know about Kandrakar and all that, you could at least try to understand more. I know it's easier if you actually have a brain, but still! Oh, and I look like shit because I actually do something unlike you."

"I'm not hyping you to throw yourself a party for you."- Chris claimed shamelessly. "It's just that your birthday parties have always been wild and they're the perfect opportunity for me and my friends to have some fun and drink a little more than root beer if you know what I mean."

"When did you become such a big deal, you brat?"- she snorted. "Last time I checked, you and your friends were all playing Fortnite and doing the dances -"

"- just like your boyfriend."- Chris didn't miss to add, to his sister's irritation.

Now Irma really threw her food at him, hitting him in the face.

"Irma's mature!"- the teenager cheered sarcastically.

"The point is that you act all grown up, but you're a twerp."- the guardian said crossly. "Yeah, I'm actually mature, unlike you. Hit the road right now before I trash you!"

"Go figure, being your old self with no changes at all, at 25, would've been disturbing-"

"That's it! Quit trying to be witty, you baboon!"- but her attempts to pinch and hit him left him only in laughs.

Irma couldn't deny that her brother had grown quite tall and well-built at the modest age of 18. He was an entire head above their father and almost two above her.

She stopped trying to inflict pain on him and took a minute to catch her breath:

"Chris, you better stop making me angry before I fire you in the last months of your senior year. You know what's been going on with Will's family lately, don't you? You think that I feel like throwing a party right now? Guess what, I don't! Can't fix stupid, I guess!"

"Why not?"- Chris insisted. "Maybe that's exactly what she needs to lift her spirits. You're just a boring old lady at this point. Adopt a few cats and you'll be good to go."

"Bye, Felicia!"- Irma dismissed him sassily, turning her back on him and waving her hand above her head.

But her brother wasn't ready to give up:

"Fine then. I'll throw you the party. As a surprise."- he averred deviously, making her turn around in outrage.

"Christopher! No, you won't! You better not, mister, or else!"- Irma yelled after the boy, who just stuck his tongue out at her and rushed to his car. "Wait till I tell Lillian what a piece of shit you are! You know what, you're not just a piece, you're the entire shit! I'll call Anna-"

Ignoring her, her brother started his car and was just backing out of the parking lot, when another car stormed in, almost slamming him off the way. It was just his fast reflexes that helped avoid the collision...

"Holy cow!"- Irma screamed and ran to the two vehicles that had escaped the accident on the strings. "Who gave you a driver's license, nutjob!?"

Chris also got out of his car, infuriated, aiming his attention at the big, expensive Range Rover.

"I swear, had you even scratched my car, I-"- he fell silent in the middle of his words, staring at the woman that emerged from the other car.

"Oh, I'm so sorry. Can't you give a girl a free pass on a little moment of inattention?"

"Nerissa?!"

Irma was still getting over her bafflement as a breathless looking Yan Lin emerged from the other door of the big car:

"You're not fit to drive, Nerissa. Never. Never again!"- the old lady panted as she rested against the front bumper.

"I just need to practice and refresh my driving skills, Yanny."- Nerissa snapped and pulled her neckline higher. Chris's wandering gaze had tipped her off that, during the abrupt halt, one of her big breasts had escaped the modest coverage of the blue top a little too far up; it was a good thing that she still put rose petal-shaped, nipple stickers on... "My driving's not that bad. I just haven't been at the wheel of a car in years."

"Not that bad?! You almost crushed us three times! Three times! You could've given me a heart attack!"

"Nice ride."- Irma commented once she was over the unusual comedy and surprise of the situation. "It has to have been a fortune...Where do you get all that money from, anyway?"

"It's a gift for Killian. A gift from Vera. I tried to tell her that it wasn't needed, but the woman is as stubborn as a ram."- Nerissa recorded, skillfully avoiding the second question.

"A 200k car for a baby."- Chris whistled. "Wow, gets me excited about what she'll give Lillian and me when we make a baby of our own. Even though, this car will be outdated by the time Killian gets to drive it-"

"It won't be much more outdated than the car you first learned to dive on, genius."- his sister didn't miss on the opportunity to patronize him. He had really gotten on her nerves with his party talks.

"I know it sounds a little unpractical, but my grandson's birth is merely the reason for this gift. The gift itself is more for his parents to use. For me too."- Nerissa winked at the two and graciously leaned against the opened door.

"Vera's off her head and Nerissa's taking advantage of it."- Yan Lin said, winning herself a peeved look from her friend. "The woman doesn't know what to spend her money on anymore."

"She insisted."- Nerissa repeated and boosted the volume of the radio even more. "Besides, when I go platinum and then diamond, I will buy something expensive for her too. It's coming soon."

The former Air guardian shook her head and winked at Irma who couldn't help but snicker. Nerissa was in a much better mood already for sure, that she could tell. The last time she had seen her, two days ago, the ex-guardian had been more than sour and had already departed by the time she returned from the ocean. She knew that a big fight had taken place in her absence, but according to Will, she and Nerissa had already made up. That had been fast for sure, but still, Irma didn't think that Yan Lin and her old leader had come all the way to her studio to simply show off the new car:

"Soo...is there any particular reason for your drop by today, or-"

"Yes, I actually wanted to speak to you two."- Nerissa threw her hair to the back and muted the music.

Chris and Irma exchanged glances:

"About w- "

"Your parents have been getting quite vigilant and suspicious of the things that have been going on lately."- the former keeper explained. "It's perhaps because they're too directly involved in the Vandom case. But earlier today, as Caleb and I went to the hospital in order to visit Susan, I heard them talk to each other. It's a good thing I did, believe me. Had I not, things might've gotten a tad out off hand..."

"Yes, Irma."- Yan Lin confirmed. "We discussed this. That trick where you saved Susan and Tony from an almost sure death was something which many didn't fall for. Your mother and father, the most."

"But I...We had no other choice, we couldn't just leave the Vandoms to die underwater because of that hoe Serena's frenzy. What did my parents do? "

"I know. We're not saying that."- the old woman shook her head. "What happened was inevitable. What we are saying is just to make grounds for what happened afterward."

"Forgive me for I had to trick your parents into surrendering their will and suspicions in order to eliminate all future problems while they are in their infancy."

"What?!"- Irma and Chris exclaimed in unison.

"Wait, what does that mean?"

Nerissa looked at Yan Lin before going on:

"Nothing you're unfamiliar with, Irma. Just some mental magic. Tempted them with alleged details, but took away their doubts instead. You do know how it works by now. This type of magic has many dimensions."

"We just wanted to warn you in case your parents are a bit off tonight."- Yan Lin threw in. "It's normal if they are. Tomorrow all should be back to normal."

"Well."- Irma muttered, sighing with relief. At least nothing dire had happened this time. "It sucks that it had to happen, but I get it. My mother must have been quite hyped about the entire Vandom case since she did witness one of the first times it was revealed that Serena was a liar."

"Indeed."

The water guardian and the other three people were soon to depart. The day was officially over. Darkness was falling above Heatherfield. Irma waited for her boyfriend in his car and when he finally emerged from the building, twenty minutes after the former guardians and Christopher had driven away, it was time to go home. She was whacked.

And so Irma left the premises of her own workplace, unsuspecting of the figure that came out of the bushes near the parking lot, fleeing into the dark...