Disclaimer: Hello, you guys! Long time no see. I'm so happy to be back to writing and working on this story after almost three months! I hope that you're all doing well and I hope that you will revise anything that you might've forgotten from the previous chapters because things are very connected! You know me, lol. Please, please, please read the last few chapters again if you see that you have lost the string of some plotline. Especially the previous chapter, I have summarized the main events in a little "previously on" paragraph at the beginning of chapter 38 for y'all. That way you will understand everything and it will be more interesting for you! ;) Happy reading, do drop your feedback!
~xoxo


Chapter 39: Last Rifts

"...the worst was yet to come!"


"Yeah, we have it all covered. Don't worry, boo, I know what I'm doing."

"Balancing a profitable YouTube channel apart from your own radio station doesn't sound easy, that's all I was saying."

Irma stuck her tongue out for the entire table to see. Her friends laughed at her antics and her announcement was no longer the topic of discussion.

Tonight was a spontaneous celebration night on Eric Lyndon's mini yacht in the open sea. The young astronomer had invited some of his closest friends for drinks on his new boat- the new acquisition which was the reason for this gathering.

He had just bought himself a yacht. An impressive, medium-sized, but extremely modern yacht that he had given the name "Aura". Of course, he'd want to show it off, even if with the best of intentions.

Hay Lin turned her head to her boyfriend with a smile as she watched him laugh together with Martin and Nigel. He was enjoying himself. They all were, having gathered for a fun night of drinks, sushi, and just good company. A free night. Something that most of them, especially the guardians, haven't had the chance to experience all that often lately. Especially not after Kandrakar had been sealed...

Will Vandom watched her friends enjoy themselves with a smile as she felt the misgiving grow inside her. She had tried to ignore it, but it was getting more and more pronounced. As keeper of the Heart of Kandrakar, she was used to having these feelings. To sensing dread, danger, and so on, but this was something different. It was far more intrusive and insistent. As if someone was slowly, but surely, pointing a gun at her...

The young woman figured that some fresh night air would help, so she excused herself and quietly headed for the deck, trying her best not to draw her friends' attention to herself. She fixed her blouse and just kept walking.

When she came on the deck, it was as if she could finally breathe. The cold ocean air did her good for a few minutes. Everything around her was quiet, dark, and calm ... Until the energy suddenly seemed to have started pulling her ... Will staggered, terrified. One more step and she would fall overboard. Fuck, she had been feeling down so far, but this, this was not just a bad feeling; this was someone's attempt to enter her mind and force her to obey their commands...

"That's enough, Icona, show yourself!"

Will blinked a few times and was relieved to see her friends coming her way. The cold air blew in her hair as Hay Lin and Cornelia came closer to help support her on her legs. Taranee and Irma came from behind:

"Yeah, why were you trying to possess Will again, are you scared to face us all together?"- Irma taunted. "Is that why you're bugging Taranee, Monica, and Will when they're alone? Show yourself, you old b-"

"But how did you-"- Will asked before Irma could finish.

"We sensed her."- Hay Lin explained. "And we sensed you. We knew that something is bothering you, but Taranee could immediately tell that it was her. Icona's here."

"True. I'll never mistake her mental energy again."- Taranee confirmed and Will just sighed with relief again. Sometimes, she felt like she didn't show her friends how grateful she was to have them in her life.

"Icona, if you have something to say, make it quick, but never, ever try to harass anyone of us or around us again."- the fire guardian said out loud, pushing her glasses back.

"We will not tolerate your way of communication and conveying messages any longer too."- Hay Lin added. "If you keep trying to scare us instead of actually helping us stop the Dark Descendant, we will never manage to stop him or her for good.'

"Yeah, and by the way, you're so forgetting that you're an entity that needs to feed on energy. You're dead and your little tricks are starting to get old."- Cornelia said bluntly. "If you are here to lose our time again, you better just evaporate, I'm serious."

The countess's spirit suddenly appeared behind the rail of the deck, floating above the water. Tonight, she was covered in blood. Her dress flew back with the cold wind as she looked back at the five young women with flaming, vicious eyes. It was so unnatural and surreal at the same time, that Taranee couldn't help but feel a chill run down her back, despite everything.

"Well, well. The way you just ganged up on me, so united and decisive...if only you had resorted to those qualities of yours in the fight with our joint enemy. But you didn't..."- the former Queen spoke darkly. "You simply kept wasting time until it got too late. The Descendant can no longer be stopped now. And it's all your fault!"

"Ok, what are you talking about now."- Irma barked in response. "Is this about what happened in Kandrakar?"

"I do not CARE about Kandrakar, I called you to the Blue Bijou in order to get your help in stopping the Dark Descendant, but you failed me!"- the countess wailed angrily. "You failed me so many times!"

"Well maybe if you had specified what we're supposed to fight against for once."- Cornelia crossed her arms on her chest. "All you give is twaddle and threats! We failed you? You failed yourself! It's not our fault that your daughter's doings halt you from speaking about the issue straightforwardly."

The old woman's ghost blenched ever so slightly at the mentioning of that as if just imagining it scared her. Taranee narrowed her eyelids; the more she was thinking of it, the more she was sure that the spirit of the countess was hiding more than she was obliged to.

"Icona, we get it, we get your concern for Coronia and so on, but if you can't give us any guidelines, then please, just really get off our case already."- Will summarized what they all wanted to say. "You really are doing everything but helping us. Please. Just leave us to deal with it on our own. We've done it before, we'll do it again, we will defeat the Dark Descendant on our own."

Icona's cruel laugh caught them off guard. The girls just stared at her as small waves began splashing against the little ship.

"I will never leave you alone before you accomplish what I expect of you, girls."- she declared ominously. "See, I don't trust you anymore. You're not the guardians who I hoped to have on my side. I will haunt you till the day you die if you don't brace up and finish what you've started. You opened the raven lock. You can't get rid of me now! I will follow and torment you endlessly unless you do as I say."

"Are you really threatening us again, you dead bitch."- Irma wasn't having it. "What will you do if we deny you, huh? How are you going to haunt us? You and we all know that you need emotional disbalance, mental weaknesses, and whatnot to thrive. You're a joke!"

That seemed to really enrage Icona because the ocean around them suddenly grew darker and more savage. Giant waves started to hit the "Aura", splashing against the deck. The five girls held each other, trying to keep their balance, but in vain. With every next growl of the angry sea storm that the ghost had triggered, they waddled like penguins and ended on their knees, screaming helplessly...

"You're not bringing me down on the territory of MY ELEMENT!"- the Latina tried to out-yell the angry waves as she raised her hand to influence them. Nothing followed. Taranee, who was holding onto Irma's leg, wallowing on the wooden floor like a buffalo, screamed:

"T-this can't be real! She's creating an illusion again! She isn't as strong!"

But regardless of what she was saying, the "Aura" was having a hard time staying above the surface at this point. Cornelia gasped in terror when she saw the water swirling around them. They had found themselves in a furious whirlpool...

"IRMA, DO SOMETHING!"

"I'M TRYING!"

"Now do you believe me? My threats are not hollow."- Icona laughed above them, to Will's frustration. She pushed her wet red hair out of her face, trying to focus her powers on the ghost... "You will do as I say. You've wasted enough time already."

"What do you WANT?!"- Taranee screamed as she desperately pulled Hay Lin back before she could slip off the deck... "WHAT?!"

"You wanted guidelines so you will get guidelines."- the countess declared. "You will kill the baby in Leonida's womb. You will kill it!"

"What!?"

"You want us to kill your own granddaughter's baby, but why!?"- Hay Lin was in shock. Even more in shock than she was one minute ago when she had been hanging for dear life...

"Do not ask me questions, just do as I say!"

The five guardians were sick and tired of slipping back and forth on the cold deck, attacked by the merciless waves. Cornelia was the first to give in:

"FINE! Fine, we will consider it, just stop this awful sea storm!"

"Cornelia!"- the others scolded her while trying to join hands.

"That's exactly what we've been trying to avoid ever since it was revealed that Leonida is expecting Phobos's child!"

- I know, you idiots!- Cornelia raged in telepathy.- I only said it so that she would spare us!

- Something's wrong.- Taranee estimated.- This can't be real. She's creating another mental illusion, but for some reason, I can't block it. Why is she suddenly so strong...

- I think that she's so scared of that Dark Descendant that she'll do anything to stop "it from rising".- Will said.- If it's Phobos and Leonida's baby that will bring all that doom it can't be until at least 10 to 13 years have passed, I don't understand how killing it will help anything at all at this stage...

"You will make sure that child never comes to the world. Never..."- somewhere above them, the countess said her last words before disappearing.

The moment she disappeared, the sea storm disappeared with her. The five women opened their eyes and found themselves lying on a completely dry deck. The ocean around them was also completely still, just as it had been before Icona's appearance.

"Well, that was pretty shitty."- Irma frowned and stood up, dusting herself.

"Tell me about it. I'm sick of her visions."- Taranee pushed her glasses back. "I have to learn to block her powers because it looks like she has no intention of leaving us alone."

"We kinda brought it on ourselves by releasing her essence from that county."- Will crossed her arms on her chest. "We expected to get more information, but even with all we know now, nothing's for sure. We're not even determined what the Dark Descendant's rising means."

"Nor who they are going to use."- Hay Lin shrugged. "Phobos, Leonida, or their child? And how? And if it is them, why are they still a danger when they've been locked for months now."

"Let's get back to the boys."- Cornelia, for one, wasn't having it. Tonight, she wasn't going to think about any of this. Even if a thousand more ghosts came to haunt her. "We will think about all this later. Come on, I said. And don't let me hear you talk about that dark descendant shit anymore. Icona ruined my hair for the sake of it and I hate her! It's time to ghost the ghost and her drama."


"No, you may not see my ID. Why? Because I...because I forgot it. I forgot my documents at home, please, excuse me this one time."- Nerissa secured a voluminous black strand behind her ear and softened her voice as she peered through the half-down window of the car.

Curse cars and Earth's driving policy! Why was she still even trying, was beyond her at this stage of road troubles. Now she had forgotten her so-called papers. Not that she had a full set of them, anyway... There were just too many other things on her mind to even think of these annoying laws.

Nerissa watched the traffic policeman's facial features sharpen as he looked back at her. Great. Why, why had she taken up the initiative to shop for groceries today? And that with Vera Hale's damned car... Now she was pulled over at the new road, miles away from Caleb and Cornelia's home. Fabulous...

"I'm afraid that I can't possibly give you a free pass when you have none of your documents on you, ma'am."- the policeman told her as he got his notepad in his hands. "I will draw up an act for you."

She rolled her eyes but said nothing. This wasn't the first fine she'd have added to her file, but she didn't even care anymore. Actually, she had never cared.

"So you can't take pity on a beautiful woman who is busy juggling the responsibilities of mother and wife, and much more? That's quite sad, officer."- she had to try one last time. She just had to. But as she had already seen it coming, that line didn't really do much.

"If we took pity on everyone, we'd be better off without any laws, ma'am. You can be a grandmother too, for all I care. Rules must be for everyone to follow. Besides, you were speeding too."

That didn't go well with Nerissa, who sulked and decided that she'd never drive again. She crossed her arms on her chest as she waited for the man to finish writing her fine. This was too much. As if she didn't have enough on her plate as it was...

But just when she thought that her day couldn't get worse, she received it. A mild, nagging headache, concentrated in her temples. Someone was trying to reach her, despite her having purposely shut off all her telepathic channels. Nerissa rolled her eyes. She knew that energy all too well. God knew what the little zap head wanted from her now...

- Nerissa? Nerissa, why had you gone offline? You know that we're going through testing, dynamic times that require us to be alert 24/7. We need to be in touch with each other. For Meridian and-

- Yes, I get it, Will.- the older woman interrupted the younger, mentally. Тhe incredible annoyance spilled over her face by habit. - I'm in a situation of my own, what do you want? If it's about the countess again, I really don't want to listen-

- It's Elyon.- Will interrupted her in her turn, making the green-eyed sorceress look up at the view in front of her car by reflex. - She needs our help. She...she says she needs to help Galgheita wake up from Phobos's spell. Now.

- What...

- Just come, Nerissa. We need you. We're at the Dragon.

And with that, she cut the conversation. Nerissa was left alone with her thoughts in the car as she moved her eyes to the policeman that was wrapping up her fine. Well, she frowned. Apparently, he would have to let her go with a mere warning, after all...


The Silver Dragon was currently only providing takeout service and hence it was empty. Due to the recent events on a global scale, and the advised social distancing, the Lins had made their mind. They weren't taking any risks. And even though Heatherfield was unaffected by the virus (as it will continue to be with the progression of time. Magic, lol.), security is and always shall be the greatest peace of mind.

Elyon of Meridian was back to her Earth identity of "Elyon Brown", just sitting at the bar, fidgeting nervously as she spoke. Each time she came back to Heatherfield and put on normal clothes, she felt a bittersweet sensation. Yes, she missed a lot of this simpler life she had had before being reunited with her throne, but at the same time being away from Meridian had started to feel alien to her. She didn't know what it was. Earth was not her home anymore, but neither was her Palace in Meridian...Perhaps people were right to say that the home is where the heart is, and her heart...Her heart was still too lonely to know better.

"You do realize that Kandrakar is sealed, facing numerous plagues as we speak, do you not, Queenlet?"- Nerissa was sour and annoyed with her as per usual.

She stood behind the empty bar with hands resting against the clean surface, expecting to hear the young woman's reply. But the young woman looked as though her words never even reached her in the first place.

The five guardians and Yan Lin, who were all present at the restaurant, exchanged looks with each other.

Cornelia cleared her throat and made her way to Elyon, putting her hands on her shoulders:

"Elyon, look, we get it. You're tense, nothing is going according to your expectations."- the blonde guardian narrated softly. "We also get how much you want to see Galgheita freed of Phobos's wicked spell, but now it's not a good time to-"

"No, Cornelia! The time is now!"- the petite young woman interrupted her, despair in her voice. She turned around abruptly with big, moist puppy eyes staring at her friends. "I, I had a dream! You don't understand, I have to go to Galgheita, I just have to! I know how to wake her up!"

Yan Lin stopped polishing and sanitizing tables for a second, and sought her friend's gaze. Nerissa, however, was not ready to buy it:

"How?"- she insisted with a frown.

Elyon shook her head abruptly, trying to catch her breath. Her raging emotions had gotten the better of her, and from her chair, Irma feared that the Queen would explode in any next minute.

"In my dream, Galgheita called to me. She wanted me to wake her up, she said that I'd need her!"- the straw-blonde proceeded to explain. "She told me how to wake up, herself! It's as simple as that, I've been so stupid... True love's kiss! My pure love for our connection will break the spell that was created by accident when my light collided with Phobos's dark magic all these months ago!"

And while Irma and Cornelia looked at each other in disbelief and skepticism, Nerissa finally turned to Yan Lin and had to admit it;

- The Queen has reached the truth. It was said and we all decided that once she does it, we are going to help her.- Yan Lin said in telepathy. - Now we have got to help her reach Galgheita and take her back to the Palace.

"OK, correct me if I'm wrong, but this sounds freaking stupid. How is this true love shit accurate when we're not in a, oh, I don't know, a FAIRYTALE?!"- Irma crossed her arms on her chest.

- Positive, however, another thing is what makes me wonder; Why did the old nanny reach out to her Majesty after so much time, why does she think that she'll be needed?- Nerissa replied, but before the other ex-guardian could even take her words in for consideration...

"You knew!"- Elyon shot, standing up.

She had caught the exchange of looks between the two women, but somehow, all her anger seemed to be directed towards Nerissa, who blinked in perplexity and annoyance:

"Knew what?"

"Don't act like you don't know what I'm talking about, you knew Galgheita could be brought back with the true-love kiss. You knew, but you didn't want me to know! Why!?"- she growled, squinting her eyes dangerously. "Answer me!"

"Your Majesty."- Yan Lin tried to reason with her. "This is not something we had the right to help you with. I also knew, but you had to discover the right way yourself. It was out of our jurisdiction-"

"You're Mage of Meridian, Nerissa. Didn't I order you to NEVER do anything to betray the crown's trust?! The kingdom's trust in you! You did just that by deciding NOT to inform me of the appropriate way to bring the woman who gave her life for me back!"- Elyon's fury was emotional and out of the ordinary for her, but her friends could mostly put their selves in her place, knowing how much she cared about Galgheita.

The actual worrying problem was that the young Queen's wraith directed towards Nerissa was irking the ex-guardian herself, even if she was trying not to snap back. Something about the Light of Meridian's unchecked anger provoked at least some respect in everyone. Moreover, Yan Lin's words were falling on deaf ears...Elyon kept glaring at the brunette and pointed at her with her index finger:

"Elyon-"

"How long have you known?"- she insisted. "HOW LONG!?"

"Elyon, enough! Listen to me, girl!"- Yan Lin had done the unthinkable. "Listen to me!"

Everyone gawked as she grabbed the Queen by the arms and shook her roughly with a strength that no one knew her frail body could possess... Thankfully, that action of hers seemed to be effective and on time because the restaurant stopped trembling under the influence of Elyon's strong magical energy. Her gray-blue eyes blinked, almost startled, as she looked at the old woman, who had come between her and Nerissa.

"Queen Elyon, do not let your emotions get the better of you. That's your defeat each time. Your unchanneled emotions! You can't allow yourself to fall slave to these emotions during each and every dire, dramatic situation. You're not a girl anymore, your Majesty. You have to learn to be stronger!"

Elyon buried her gaze in the ground and sighed as the girls gathered around her. The former Air guardian watched the Queen settle as she let go of her. Her sternness was quickly replaced by her usual warm smile:

"That's better, Elyon. I know you understand me, my girl. You know what I'm talking about. Ya just have to keep it in mind!"

Cornelia placed her hand on the shorter blonde's trembling shoulder as Elyon looked up and nodded a smile through tears. Oh, those darn emotions. She was a ball of nerves by now...She knew she needed a lot to finally get closer to that strong Queen they all wanted to see in her. But soon...

"Well. Now that you're over that little manic moment of yours-"- Nerissa's high-handed voice echoed in the walls of the empty restaurant. "-and that you've finally discovered the proper way to help your dear Galgheita; took you long enough, I have to say; Let's talk about how are we to get her body from the sealed Kandrakar."


Kandrakar...

When their portal-fold opened, the group found themselves at a location that surprised them. They weren't in the crypts of the fortress, the depths, or anywhere where they hadn't been numerous times like they had expected. The group of women found themselves in front of Kandrakar's gates. The exact same location where the purple portal had opened for W.I.T.C.H the first time, 11 years ago...

"We're under a siege, all ways to Kandrakar will be closed! We'll see each other when this is all over...Blah-blah!"- Irma barked depreciatingly, mocking the Oracle's words from the last time they had seen each other. "Should've guessed he'd lie about that too! I mean, in comparison to all their other lies, this is like a joke."

"Quit it out, Irma."- Hay Lin scolded her. "Maybe...maybe he said it because he didn't want us to come here and try to help them with the crisis. Maybe they wanted us to focus on our job instead."

Everyone was genuinely surprised; Nerissa and Halinor's plan to break in the Fortress through its depts had been in vain. Their fold had arbitrarily opened in front of Kandrakar's gates. This made their mission here easier, but confused them at the same time:

"No, the Oracle didn't lie about this, Kandrakar really was sealed...up until now. It truly was impossible to get here, if not through the crypts, and that only with the Heart of Kandrakar's help...I know, because I'm still an elder here."- Halinor pondered out loud. She had quickly joined the guardians, her two old friends, and Elyon, upon being called and gladdened with the news of Elyon's revelation: Galgeheita would finally live normally again. The former Fire guardian had left Kadma alone at Fadden and teletransported right at the Silver Dragon, but now the easy incursion into Kandrakar was getting her worried.

"Let's not waste time, let's get Galgheita and leave here at once. To the Cosmos of Abeyance!"- Taranee ushered her friends, feeling a need to wrap up their mission here faster herself.

One by one, the women started walking towards the gates.

"That's out of the way."- Yan Lin murmured as she and Nerissa followed Will and Cornelia. "What could've happened with the Oracle's lockdown, all of a sudden-"

"The Oracle himself opened up a way for you."- a clear voice reached their ears. "I had a strong sense that you'd come."

It was now that they noticed Himerish, who seemed to have appeared out of nowhere, near one pillar, that was closest to the big entrance gates. He smiled at the group, joyless:

"Oracle?!"

"It is I, guardians."- he spoke." You've been expected. I decided to let you in this one time. Galgheita has been waiting long enough."

"Oracle, you sensed us coming? But the seven disasters that are attacking Kandrakar, because of Kandor's curse...Aren't they like...keeping you busy or something?"- Cornelia, however, wasn't the only one weirded out by the setting.

The Oracle was coming to meet them, having sensed them in the middle of a dire battle for Kandrakar's stability?! What were the odds...Besides, they were getting this overall off vibe from him...Himerish looked...too static? When Taranee's eyes fell on his anything, but static shadow, however, she already knew for sure that something was wrong.

Her thought immediately hit Halinor, who squinted her eyes at the sight of the trembling shadow. She knew what that meant...an unstable glamour spell, but why...

"Girls, wait-"

"Will, now!"

"Why would the Oracle need a glamour, huh?!"

What happened next took only two seconds. Already transformed, the five guardians were quickly able to push Himerish to the ground, regardless of his try to repel their attacks. Decisive, Will held the Heart of Kandrakar up, ready to break the glamour. But when the bright light died down...

"Oh, shit..."- Irma murmured under her nose.

"Oracle!"- Halinor covered her mouth with her hands.

"It really is him..."- Taranee muttered, looking over at the no less-agitated Will. "But how...I mean why- "

"You...you look old."- Nerissa pointed at him in shock.

"But how is that possible..."- Yan Lin rubbed her chin as she watched the man standing up.

"You've been draining your own life force, haven't you?!"

"Along with much more, Nerissa. Along with much more."- Himerish sighed as he was finally on his feet again, facing the shocked women in his full height.

It was natural for them to react like that- after all, they had probably never imagined that they'd see him like now. Old. Wrinkled. Paler than ever. The ever-young, handsome features of his face, his sterling eyes...All that looked like it had aged with decades since they last saw him. And that was mind-boggling by itself; the Oracle never aged, very few people on Kandrakar did...

"Oracle, we apologize."- Will began. "We had no idea that it was really you, we expected everything when we came here. Having in mind what the situation is..."

"Everything but that."- Irma murmured, winning herself a shove in the ribs from Cornelia, who was holding the unrestful Elyon's hand.

"No, it's my fault for trying to fool you like that. Trying to hide the truth from talented guardians like yourselves. I...I suppose I wanted to spare you the sad truths."- The Oracle lifted his hand up and smiled sadly. "If anything, I'm glad that you're as vigilant. I truthfully did have a strong sense that you'd come today, but the reason why I needed to welcome you myself was to give you these."

He was handing them something that looked like plain crystal amulets shaped like triangles, full of some sort of mystic white liquid and on silver chains...

"Oh, new jewelry. Cool."- Irma noted as she took a closer look at her necklace. Then she turned to see what Hay Lin had got, in case it was something personalized. It wasn't. It was the exact same necklace that she had; apparently, everyone had received the same piece, even Elyon.

"You must put these on before you walk through the gates of the Fortress of Light. Inexorably... Otherwise, you won't leave alive. Come with me, I'll explain as we make our way to the Cosmos of the Abeyance."- he added as he met Irma's unglued facial expression.

Each with her new amulet around the neck, the women rushed through the corridors after the Oracle. He was definitely in a hurry, and Will figured that it was only logical. After all, they were still not done with Kandor's curse...

The situation in the Fortress seemed calm for the moment, although there seemed to be traces of the previous plagues, here and there. Or so Hay Lin imagined as she listened and looked around. Her powers would confirm that the silence wasn't a peaceful one. It was much rather... oppressed and hard.

"Six days have passed on Earth."- Taranee murmured as they walked right across the relatively quiet Hall of the Congregation. "Which disaster are you facing here, Oracle?"

"The third one."- Himerish replied without turning back to look at her. "We already had the clouds of the bad omen and a rather unpleasant invasion of gnats...Now we're going through something much severer. As a point of fact, that is exactly why I had to make sure you wear these talismans. Why you see me appear this old."

As that was sinking in the women's minds, Luba made a surprising appearance right in their way, and an even more surprised face when she focused her eyes on the group. They all stopped in their tracks and stared back at her:

"Guardians!"- she exclaimed, almost hopeful. "Oracle, are they here to- "

"No, Luba. This war is not theirs. The war for the Fortress is only ours."- Himerish interrupted her sternly.

Luba's face drooped even more, but she didn't argue about it. She looked tired and frailer, but even she wore a talisman around her neck...

"These amulets."- Halinor began as she took a step towards the catwoman as to compare her neckpiece to her own. "They're supposed to block something...no, to slow it down."

"The third plague?"- Cornelia guessed. "What is it, anyway? Water that turns into blood or something?"

Taranee shook her head at the inaccurate reference to the ten Egyptian plagues.

"On the dot."- Luba nodded grimly. "As long as the blood in these hasn't evaporated, the one wearing it cannot be reached by the effect of the third plague. Time is our enemy. So many of the elders have already fallen victims to it."

"Did you actually say blood?!"- Irma blinked, convinced that she had heard wrong, but Hay Lin was more fascinated by the other part of Luba's words:

"Time? Wait, I thought that time is not even a factor on Kadrakar. Time doesn't exist here?!"

"Yeah, so did I. Is Kandrakar not located beyond space and time?"

"Not quite so."- her grandmother murmured from the back. "Oracle, Luba."- she turned to her fellow colleagues.

"No, Yan Lin. We can't afford to discuss any of this just yet. You're not here for that either way."- the Oracle silenced her with a glance. "As long as we're enduring these plagues, none of you should remain here. Take Galgheita and go."

"The Oracle is right."- Luba sighed. "It's time for him to donate more blood, anyway. Go. Go and do not worry. We...we're holding out well."- but her shaky voice betrayed her.

The harsh reality that her words had suggested together with what they could all witness with their eyes, hit hard. The situation on Kandrakar was far from well taken care of. Kandor's plagues were tiring even for the Oracle...If he had to try so hard to keep the Fortress together, then what was left for the others? He was forced to drain his blood in the name of his sages' wellbeing... That was disturbing and aggravating on so many levels. And it was not yet half of the hardships which they had to face here, in the Fortress...

"When you say victims, what do you mean? Did we...did we lose somebody?"- Halinor asked with a hand on her chest. Her anxious voice made Himerish's prematurely aged features even harsher.

"When time is turned to our enemy in such an artificial way, it is difficult to escape its unrelenting claws unscratched. It's too early and too late to answer that question if you know what I mean to say, Halinor. I already told you. Have faith and pray for the Fortress."


Twenty minutes later, all the present and former guardians were already back from Kandrakar. Back on Earth in Galgheita's old house that served as headquarters for W.I.T.C.H.

Orube had joined them, for Luba wanted her to be away from the curse and the trouble at the Fortress of Infinity. The younger Basilidian hadn't been too keen on leaving her teacher's side, but in the end, she had resigned.

The old couch in the living room was stretched out into a bed-like position, for Galgheita to lie on. Elyon had already tenderly kissed her cheek. All that was left was the anticipation to end and for her to finally open her eyes. Six months had passed since she had fallen into this state; it was high time she recovered.

At first, nothing seemed to happen. Elyon felt her heart tighten...But then, the old nanny's eyelids flickered and soon she opened her eyes completely...

"E-elyon?"

"Galgheita! Oh, Glagheita!"- Elyon exclaimed, overcome with emotion, as she threw herself in the woman's arms. "I thought, I t-thought that I'd never hear your voice again..."

The girls looked at each other in relief. Will couldn't help but smile. She had been the only one among her teammates to know about the right way to break the spell Galgheita had been under, but she had been unable to tell her friend, due to the need for the Queen to figure it out on her own, in accordance to the Oracle's forecast in the very beginning. Himerish had said it, only the Queen would know when and how exactly to wake her nanny up. (these events take place during chapters: 3, 13&14)

Galgheita herself was still quite dazed, but she held the young straw-blonde tight, nonetheless. Her initial confusion and reaction at acknowledging her surroundings had faded away though. After all, she had lived in this house for over 12 years. Opening her eyes at a familiar place and surrounded by familiar people, helped her to adjust to reality faster, even after over six months of being in a coma-like state.

"It's alright, Galgheita, you're OK now. You're OK."

Yan Lin smiled at the touching picture- Elyon and her nanny were reunited, but one thing still remained without an answer.

"Galgheita, are you feeling better now?"- the Chinese woman began carefully." Say, when you contacted her Majesty... How did you manage to contact her in the first place and why after so much time?"

"I'm fine, I'm just a tad stiff."- the old Meridianite's face then twisted in a confused expression. "I contacted whom? I...I'm afraid I have no clue what you're talking about, Yan Lin."

"You don't recall reaching to your favorite Elyon in the dreamworld?"

Nerissa had got her hands on a box of mozzarella breadsticks from the groceries which Peter had just dropped by for Orube, ten minutes ago. Taranee, who had arranged that little act of help and kindness, raised her brow a little, but decided against being petty. Orube had been against that help either way.

The sorceress dipped her next breadstick in the garlic dip that the box came with as she seated herself on the edge of the one armchair and gave Galgheita another belittling look.

The other woman just shook her head:

"No, Nerissa. I'm just as perplexed as all of you are. The last thing I remember is trying to save Queen Weira's coat of arms from Phobos."

*FLASHBACK*

"I've always hated this ballroom."- Phobos admitted with contempt, as he flew higher, aiming at his mother's coat of arms embroidered on the central wall. "But over the years, I forgot all about it. Now I finally have the opportunity to see it in ruins!

"GALGHEITA, NOOO!"- Elyon's terrified scream echoed in the walls, but it was too late.

Her nanny had already thrown herself in the spell's way, preventing it from destroying the coat of arms. She just couldn't watch Weira's favorite ballroom fall into pieces and that was it...

"Well that was an unexpected pleasure."- Phobos commented. "I finally punished the woman who stole my sister from the royal nursery all these years ago, saving her from me. How does it feel, Galgheita? Dying for a cause? I guess we will never know."- the man sneered from a top, but the old woman's eyes were already closed, as Elyon threw herself by her side in hot, bitter tears. Halinor gasped and hurried to them...

*END OF FLASHBACK*

Everyone hadn't even finished reliving the vivid flashback when Elyon's tiny voice sounded in their ears:

"But I saw her! She really did reach to me in my dream, Cornelia, I swear!"- the Queen said to her best friend, almost as if she was a little child trying to convince their parent of its innocence. "I saw Galghetia, she said that I'd need her! I don't know why she doesn't remember."

"Well, maybe it's a side effect from her being asleep for a good half a year or something. Who knows."- Irma shrugged.

Cornelia placed her hand on Elyon's shoulder and gave her an encouraging nod.

"Can't believe that I'm saying it, but Irma may be right. It doesn't matter, Ely, take some time to rest up and maybe grab a bite. Then you and Galgheita have to return to the Palace, OK?"

Leaving the Queen and her nanny in the living room area, the guardians, Yan Lin and Halinor gathered around near the stairs to the upper floor.

"...Or maybe she had another prophetic dream. Her kingdom is in danger."- Taranee pointed out what the others had been thinking too.

"Which means that Galgheita will be of significant importance to something related to Meridian soon. Very soon."- Will concluded. "The question is what exactly is that?"

"Whatever it is, we will soon find out for ourselves."- Nerissa declared as she came from behind them. Her eyes shone like two emeralds as she lined up with the others: "By now, we all know that we're standing in the midst of something much bigger...Much more serious than Phobos and Leonida alone...Even though they're our prisoners, we're not at peace, are we? And we shall not be...not until this augury of the Dark Descendant isn't completely taken to bits. Entirely... Until then, I suggest a close eye being kept on her Majesty and the old nanny. If she's going to be of vital matter, we better not miss the right moment to take advantage of it..."

"...before someone has got ahead of us with that."- Will finished and nodded with a deep frown of thoughtfulness.

Her former enemy was completely right, she knew, and as leader of the guardians, she also knew that the situation was far from pink. They had to stay alert. No mistakes were allowed this time... The state Kandrakar was in, all the unknowns...This couldn't even be called a calm before the storm...The storm that was coming their way had been shaking their worlds for months...The storm, or much rather plague known as the Dark Descendant.


Fadden Hills, 1:24 PM

Kadma Starlighter fixed her long side-braid on top of her dark magenta jacket as she balanced the tray which she carried in her hands. A tray which helped her transport two slices of bread, a glass of water, and a serving of fried rice with aubergines and a side of steamed vegetables from the kitchen. All that was for Kandor of course. They still had to feed him, to the Queen's disrelish. She hated the idea of bringing food to the useless traitor, but the geezer was their hostage for days already, and he hadn't told them anything relevant yet.

As long as we wait for him to finally spit it out, we have to feed him...even if he deserves to be fed to the piranhas instead...

The former Earth guardian opened the heavy door with her magic and entered the cellar-like room which they used to keep Kandor in. Isolated from all magic, tied with magic chains that would not allow him to use any spell and at the same time keep him chained to the wall next to the old bed...

But Kadma's irritation was quickly replaced by shock once she laid eyes on Kandor. Or much rather, Kandor's corpse:

"HAL! Hall, come HERE! He...He's..."

"Kadma, Kadma, why are you screaming?"- Halinor came running into the cellar room. "What's wro-"

But once she saw what her friend was looking at, she needed not finish. Halinor let out a loud gasp as she lost her balance at the sight, leaning on Kadma for support.

"Halinor! Halinor, don't fret, but I think that he..."

"He's dead."- the blonde finished distantly as she knelt down to feel the man's pulse. It wasn't there. Their powers were not to wake him up either...His entire face was blue-purple, going towards gray, dead color... "This is d-dreadful."

Kadma, who had managed to stoically keep the tray balanced, despite the shock, set it aside before kneeling next to the other woman and placing her hand on her back:

"I think that he has swallowed his own tongue, so to say. Do you think that he has had some kind of seizure or..."

"I think that he has been trying to do it, intentionally. He wanted to end his own life, to keep the secret buried for as long as it can be, and that's what's truly dreadful to me, Kads. He succeeded."

"That's some determination, but it's not unexpected coming from a cult member. So now what?"- the Queen crossed her arms on her chest, glaring down at the dead man. He had deserved to die after being of some assistance to their side of the war. After all the trouble he had caused, he had the audacity to suffocate due to "swallowing" his own tongue. Cursed geezer!

Halinor shook her head, lost:

"I don't know."- she whispered. "Kandor had so much information which we were yet to extract...now that he's dead, I just...I just truly don't know."


Heatherfield, "White Gardenia Hotel", 10:45 PM

"Sorry, Tony, I really didn't mean to. You kind of pushed my hand, it's your fault!"- Susan Vandom-Collins laughed as she leaned against the wall while waiting for the man to come out of the bathroom.

"Yeah, Susie-Q, it never is your fault! Even that one time when you elbowed me in the face and almost broke my nose, remember? We were at this house party and you were telling a story; you then blamed me for standing too close to your "fire zone"!"

Susan giggled and just shook her head at herself and the memory.

It was a good night for her. Her curls were up in a messy, yet dreamy updo, a few strands falling freely and framing her face as if she had just been shooting for Vogue. Just the right way for her white gold earrings, decorated with exquisite little gems, to make a statement of their own. Her big eyes were highlighted with warm pearl shadows and black pencil.

Susan wore an elegant, lustrous, tea-green gown with thin straps and ending just vaguely above her knees.

She swirled in her beige lacquered pumps as she waited for Tony to finally come out. Yes, she had spilled her red wine on him by accident during dinner.

At first, she had been hesitant when her ex-husband had invited her to dinner. He had been inviting her to different occasions, every so often ever since the end of the trial. But then again, they did have a reason to celebrate. Serena and all her toxicity were away from them for good and that called for bottoms up. A horrific string of events was finally over, and since Dean and William were still out of town, the mother of two had figured that she could as well have dinner with Tony. Amid all the wrong he had done them over the years, the man had been looking out for them quite a lot too. She knew he cared for her and Will, she owed him at least that recognition.

"The stain won't come off."- the bathroom door opened and a shirtless Tony exited to smile at the woman.

He was in his early 50s, but he had a great body, and he knew it. That was why he came in front of Susan as casually with a broad smile:

"Whatever, I'll just put a T-shirt on and we'll be good."

"Wait, a T-shirt?"- Susan put her hand on her waist and gave him a meaningful smile. "Tony, this is a renowned place, it's kinda...amiss to dine in a 5-star restaurant wearing a T-shirt."

The man seemed as though he was considering her words for a few seconds before lifting his hands up in retreat:

"You know what, you're completely right. Here's what I was thinking. Since I don't really have another fancy shirt ironed, I could just call reception and have them bring our dessert here, in my room. If that's OK with you, of course."

Susan opened her mouth to say something, but her ex-husband was quicker to add:

"Come on, Susie. It's just dessert and maybe another glass of wine? Then I'll drive you to your place."

"Drive me?! Tony, you aren't really considering getting behind the wheel after having drowned over 3 glasses of wine, right?"

Having sensed the strictness creeping in her otherwise effervescent all-night voice, Tony quickly shook his head:

"Did I really say drive? I meant that I'll call an uber for you. The hotel has its own uber service... Now, about that dessert. What do you say?"

Swaying her clutch from one hand to the other, Susan eventually made her mind. There was nothing wrong with her ex's suggestion, now was there? She didn't really feel like returning downstairs anyway, her legs were already aching in these shoes. She nodded her head with a smile, showing him that she didn't mind his idea. If only she had known...

"Perfect"- Tony grinned as he proceeded to use the hotel phone on his nightstand.

Ten minutes later, a waiter rang the doorbell of the hotel room. Tony went to let him in, dressed in his robe, while Susan sat on the edge of the big bed and waited.

The room by itself was gorgeous and expensive. It wasn't an entire apartment, but it had a sitting area, which unfortunately they couldn't use because Tony had jammed with his luggage; he was staying in this hotel for a while now, as he didn't really feel like returning to the house, he and Serina had lived in, nor to the condo. He hadn't made up his mind just yet, but he was about to put at least one of them on the market, most probably the house, as he had told his ex-wife during dinner. And she could completely understand where he was coming from with that decision, of course.

Susan ran her hand over the red coverlet on the bed as she waited for dessert. The waiter just pushed the silver cart in, took his tip, and evaporated. Obviously, Tony had wanted to be the one to serve everything the right way:

"Here you go, that's for you."- he handed her a full glass of wine, which Susan took with a smirk as he served the souffle.

"Thank you. You're too sweet."

That line seemed to flatter him a little too much as he sat next to her.

"Not at all. Cheers though, Susie-Q."- the man smiled. "To new life. To new beginnings."

"To new beginnings."- she agreed.

After that, time passed quickly and imperceptibly. Susan didn't even feel that it was already past 1 AM. They were both so fascinated, so absorbed in their conversations, the laughter, and the good mood that finally reigned among them as people. As partners... The long years, the past, the pleasant evening, the wine...

Tony wasn't stupid by any means. He smiled innocently, but he had these thoughts in the back of his mind the entire time. Even drunk, he could still pursue his goal. And his goal was her. Susan ...

After so many years, his love for her had not died down. He knew that it'd always burn, and burning love is subject to passion that would revive the past and melt the present, from which only embers would remain, so that the future would be born ... A future in which Tony Vandom saw himself being finally happy. A future in which he yearned to wake up next to the mother of his child, every day...

"Tony what are you..."- Susan breathed, but he gently made her a sign to be quiet. She had almost snapped out of the blissful moment, but not entirely. Iron must be forged while it's still hot. Tony gazed into her dark eyes, his left hand behind her neck and his right one holding hers...

"Don't do this to us, Susie-Q. Don't lie to yourself."- he whispered sensually, looking at her the entire time. "The truth is that, secretly, you want the same as me. You want us to be together. You want me to make love to you just as much as I do."

Susan blenched, but didn't move any further. There was that cockiness of his that made her crazy. But this wasn't right, she knew, these rending feelings that she had been having...

Then he did something which triggered her. He dove in and locked their lips in a passionate kiss, which Susan broke by pushing his chest away from herself:

"How dare you, Tony, I have a husband now. I love him!"

"Oh, Susie, but I'm not indifferent to you either. Don't deny that."

Her eyes widened, but she didn't say anything. If anything, she was stunned by his calm demeanor and expression while talking about all that...

"What do you want, Tony?"- she snapped and stood up. "Do you want to ruin everything between us? We were finally on good terms, after so much fucking time! Didn't it occur to you that such actions just might ruin everything again?!"

"It did, definitely, on many occasions, but I've been watching you, Susan, I'm not making this up. I'm taking the first step for the both of us, I'm no coward!"- he was now up on his feet too, his robe coming loose and his hands in fists. "I want you and I will fight for you. I will fight for us!"

He was determined; Susan just growled and hit the wardrobe.

"You can't, Tony. You can't, because I don't want you to! Why?! Why did you have to ruin a pleasant evening like that? Wait...the dinner, the wine, leading me to your hotel room...Did you really hope that all this would make me betray my husband and fall for you again?"- Susan squinted her eyes and pointed at Tony with her index finger. "Really, Tony?! I'm sorry to disappoint you, but neither am I that young and naïve, nor are my morals so easy to be shaken!"

"Susan, even tonight you accepted my invitation, knowing full well."- the man shook his head. "Knowing what I have in mind. Exactly because you're neither naïve, nor stupid. In love and in war, there are no rules. What moral tenets are you talking about then? All I want is to fix everything between us and this time I will not give up!"

"But I don't want anything of this sort!"- Susan retorted harshly, wiping one stray tear away. "I'm leaving now, Tony. Good night."- and with that she grabbed her purse and coat, ready to go. Why had she thought that coming to his room would be a good idea in the first place...As if she didn't know him too well...But maybe it was exactly that. She knew him too darn well...

"No, Susan, you're not leaving."- Tony declared, making her turn around to look daggers in his direction." Tonight is our night and I won't let you give up on us, just because you think that it's wrong for us to be an item. Who are we going to wrong, Susan, that Collins douche? Can you not see how he doesn't deserve you? I found you first!"

"Enough! You sound childish with that last utterance."- Susan yelled. She was getting really frustrated not only because of what he was saying but because she was finding herself in such a bizarre situation again. "Watch your tongue when you speak of my HUSBAND. You've crossed enough lines tonight, Tony. Just let it be before you ruin everything for good."

But Tony wasn't going to retreat that easily. He cornered her and pressed her against the wall, making her even more indignant. He was aware of what he was doing, but he couldn't stop; he had to say and do all that he had been meaning to before going crazy because of all the forced silence.

"Step back or I won't spare you, TONY! Don't you dare touch me!"

"No, Susan, listen to what I have to say, God, damn it!"- Tony held her protesting hands, forcing her to look at him as he spoke: "We've been through so much together, we're made for each other, don't you see it?! I love you, I'm crazy about you, and I can swear on my all, that you have NOT forgotten me either. You may not feel the same as you did before I hurt you so many times, which I hate myself for, but you...You don't hate me. You still have love for me inside you. I just want to set that love free and help it flourish- "

"Tomorrow is nothing and today is too late! You are late with all that, Tony!" Susan replied with wet eyes as she pushed him back once more.

He stopped in his tracks and just blinked as he listened to her saying:

"I have long moved on and I no longer have the right to look back. Respect that and don't destroy our relations like you tried to tonight."

"And what are our relations, Susan?"

"We're friends."- the woman responded playing with her necklace as to distract herself. She felt like she had just been hit by a car, but she didn't want to show it. "We can be good friends, Tony, but that's all we can be to each other. I really wish that you wouldn't flop it."

"Fine."- he said, but his tone by itself spoke otherwise. "Then here's what I have for you. Take this as a challenge, so to say. A challenge to prove that what you're saying is what you actually think and feel. In your heart."

"You're saying?"

"Spend the night with me. In my bed. In my arms. Be mine one last time after so many years and tomorrow I will believe you and I'll accept and respect that everything between us has indeed ended forever. That is if you haven't changed your mind by then, of course."


Meridian, a few days later...

The royal dining room was lively, happy, and full of some of the queen's closest friends. This evening was an evening meant for celebration. Celebrating Galgheita's safe return after a long, forced absence.

Almost everyone who was someone to Elyon was here tonight. The guardians, Matt, Caleb, and his parents, her own adoptive parents, Raythor, Blunk, and last, but not least, Andan and Dua. And Galgheita, the star of the evening? Of course, she was next to her Queen, feeling rather demure to be the center of events, but also feeling great pride and joy, because of it. She truly couldn't thank Elyon and everyone that had missed her for all their care and support.

The table was laden with numerous, rich dishes that the royal chefs had prepared especially for the Queen's festal dinner.

Elyon was overjoyed, she eventually knocked on her glass as she felt the need to say a few words:

"You guys, you know I'm the last person who wants to make things official, but I really just want to thank you all for being here with us tonight and celebrating Galgheita's return despite the times that we all live in. Thanks, you guys. I really mean it. Thanks."

"Hey, you know us. Whenever there's food involved, we're there."- Matt joked. "Right, Caleb?"

Everyone laughed. It was good to take some time to distract themselves from all troubles and duties. Andan lovingly placed his hand on top of his fiance's, making her cheeks go crimson:

"You thank us all, but I want to say a big thanks to you too, Elyon. For all that you're doing. You really have proven to be so much more capable than you give yourself credit for. You're doing a great job here on Meridian, despite all the hardships in your way, and I'm sure that with you as my Queen, we will emerge from this entire situation victorious."

"You really think so?"- Elyon smiled sheepishly and looked down.

"We all do."- Cornelia commented from her side of the table. "But tonight's not the night to discuss all that hardship and adversity-related stuff. So no politics and no battle strategies, please."- she added with a smirk, looking at Caleb, who instantly reacted:

"Hey, I'm just proud of all the progress that the youngsters are making, what's wrong with- "- the man began protesting, but Irma interrupted him with a sly chuckle:

"Oh, we know, rebel leader. You say that quite a lot."

"A LOT."- Cornelia nodded and flipped her hair towards the young man. Caleb pouted which made his father rush to his assistance, even if in a joking manner:

"Don't be too hard on my son, girls. Battles are in his blood just like you're passionate about your modeling, for example, Cornelia."

"Thanks, dad! I know that you'll always get me. Hey, C, how's the spring collection?"- Caleb then turned to Cornelia in jest. "Won't you ask Hay Lin to sew something for you?"

Hay Lin giggled while Julian grinned at his son as he watched his girlfriend perk up to raise objections in her turn:

"Oh, please, papa, so not the same! I mean, sure I'm passionate about things, but I don't make them focal point of each and every discussion!"

"Neither do I! Hey, Raythor expressed his opinion and I was replying to him. I'm just outgoing like that."

"Sure you are."- Cornelia shook her head with a cross smirk at her boyfriend's funny angry face.

"Cute couple always fight, but they always make up after! Blunk knows everything."- the passling told everyone, making Caleb smirk and Cornelia throw a crumpled-up napkin at him.

"You keep quiet, you little frog!"

"Don't make me part of the fight then. Because I wouldn't risk having to be a part of the making up afterward."

"In your dreams."- Caleb growled while Raythor tried to justify what he had actually meant through chuckles.

"As if a rascal like you actually thinks like that."- Nerissa noted playfully.

Raythor raised his hands up amused, while Taranee took the initiative to scold her friends a little, feeling the need to promote a more mature demeanor:

"Guys, stop acting like children!"

"Taranee, remind me something."- Irma began slyly, drawing her attention. "Did you recently become an aunt or did you become a grandma?"

"Ha-ha, Irma."- the fire guardian crossed her hands on her chest, but she smiled.

Everyone was seemingly entertained and was enjoying the evening, but eventually, Hay Lin decided to switch up the comic bickering a bit and include some of the quieter dinner guests in the chit-chats:

"Miriadel, you look different."- the bubbly young woman said to the captain who lifted her head up to smile: "Did you do something different to your hair tonight?"

"Yes, Hay Lin. I-"- she began saying, but Nerissa interrupted her:

"She probably washed it for once."

That line won her a few reproachful glances, but the ex-guardian just raised her glass up playfully. Miriadel shot her a venomous look, but said nothing. Elyon just shook her head.

"By the way, I love what you've done to your hair, Will."- she added after she wiped the corners of her mouth with her napkin.

"Yeah."- Matt agreed, looking at his girlfriend lovingly. "She's so different like that."

"Oh, here we go, you love this topic, don't you?"- Caleb whispered in his blonde guardian's ear, making her elbow him in the ribs, playfully.

Will, whose hair was sleeked back in a semi-long ponytail with extensions, just chuckled:

"Oh, that? Don't get used to it. Actually, my mother couldn't go to her hairdresser appointment for whatever reason and so I went. Theodora said why not try something different and I was like you know what, why not. You know, it's no near Nerissa's everyday styling, but I also think it looks good. Thanks, Elyon."- the redhead smiled, returning the ball to Nerissa, who straightened her perfectly straight back even more in her seat, where she cut her food into pieces, dressed in a head-turning pink dress with one bare sleeve and yet another different hairstyle.
The upper section of her hair was slightly curled and brought in a high ponytail, secured with a strand of her own; the rest of her long, luscious black tresses were falling freely.

"That's because I'm a star in the making."- she purred. "I have to pay attention to these things. Isn't that right, Matt?"

The girls exchanged meaningful glances. She was referring to her work with Matt and her music career, but it was no secret that the former keeper of the heart was vain enough even without that. Vanity could easily be her middle name...

"Absolutely, of course."- Matt said once he swallowed his bite of roasted chicken and washed it down with a sip of wine. "Whatever you say, boss. You're a star in the making, but a diva at birth, so that's always cool."

"We totally love that for you, babe."

Will snickered at that and Nerissa just raised her glass towards them as well.

Just before several servants entered the dining room carrying the desserts, the doors opened to let in two guards. However, the attention of everyone at the table was attracted by the third man that had come with them. Everyone stopped talking to each other, staring curiously at the newcomer:

"Your Majesty, you have a visitor. He's a part of the Coronian court and we- "

"Emery, wow, what a surprise."- Elyon stood up from her throne to welcome the man. She then nodded at the two guards with a smile: "Thank you, you may go now."

The two men nodded their heads and bowed slightly before leaving the big room and closing the doors behind themselves.

"Emery, what leads you here?"- Andan wanted to know, his attention drawn by the sand-haired man's arrival. "I told you I didn't need you tonight. Is something the matter?"

"Hey, Dua, who was that, pal?"- Irma whispered to the child that was seated next to her. "He seems familiar."

"I think that he is-"- Hay Lin began saying, but Dua was quicker:

"That's Emery."- the boy said in a low voice. "Visser's son and uncle Andan's new bodyguard."

Irma furrowed her brows and looked at Hay Lin who just shrugged. From her side of the table, Taranee was also looking at them questioningly:

"Visser's so-"

"Your Majesties, everyone, I'm sorry to intrude on your royal feast like that, please, do forgive me."- Emery turned to everyone with a big smile. "I know that you asked of me not to bother coming with you tonight, my prince, but on the demand of our citizens, I've come to leave you with a little gift. Just some treats for you all."- and he left the big basket which he had brought on the table, in front of the throne. "Don't worry, this is no premarital gift, it's just for your dinner tonight. We will be sending in our gifts tomorrow. After all, we must hurry. We only have three days before the wedding."

Elyon's smile faded away. Andan looked more uncomfortable, if anything, but for the majority of their guests tonight, these news were like a bucket of ice-cold water in the face...

"What?!"- Caleb was up on his feet looking at the royal couple in bewilderment and mum anger. He was one of her closest people, he had so many responsibilities towards his kingdom, and yet...why hadn't she told him!? "The wedding?! Only three days? What is he talking about, your Majesty?!"

"Elyon, Caleb's right, you are going to have the wedding now? Now when nothing's right?"- Cornelia backed her boyfriend up, standing up too. Her blue eyes sought those of her best friend who just sighed:

"Nothing will ever be right if we just stand by, Cornelia."

Cornelia just stared at her in bafflement, as Emery, who also appeared a little flummoxed, cleared his throat:

"I'm sorry, your Majesties, the two weeks have already gone by already a few days ago...that's why I said it, I thought that they know about the date which you chose..."

"OK, can someone please explain what the hell's going on around here."- Irma interjected. "What two weeks? What is that guy talking about."

"No, Emery, it's not your fault. It had actually slipped my mind with everything that's been going on lately."- Elyon sighed and looked at her fiancé for reassuring. "I gave the Coronians a word and I will do as I promised. The wedding will be held after three days."

"OK, Elyon, but you promise things without consulting anyone, I know that this is your decision and your wedding, but how can something like that just slip your mind."- Taranee rebuked her. It was shocking to her how different the young Queen was acting from a few days ago when she had been more like a scared little girl needing help for her nanny, if anything. Now she was suddenly acting like a true Queen? Unbelievable... "You should've talked to us, had we known earlier, we would've been more ready than we are now. You said it yourself, with everything that has been going on, making such a decision on your own is-"

"She didn't. She told us right away and we have known all along. We were those who didn't want any information to be shared too early."- Miriadel suddenly said, shocking everyone. She and her husband stood up and walked by their daughter's side.

"And whyy-"- Irma began, but the captain went on, nevertheless:

"It was for her best interest. Elyon and Andan's future, and those of our two kingdoms. And we certainly couldn't risk someone spoiling the preparations around the wedding this time."

"Miriadel!"- Galgheita shook her head. "Did you really-"

"Yes, Galgheita, I really did purposely hide these news from everyone."- the redhead averred. Alborn looked away, but he was firm in his decision as well. Elyon just sighed again and looked down. "Because you haven't witnessed a lot during these last months. This was the best decision for us and our Queen."

"Dolts..."- Raythor murmured under his nose, shaking his head in reproach and disgust. They had really been rubbing each other the wrong way during the last months, but this...This he had never expected of them.

"What does that mean, that you have no trust in us?!"- Taranee exclaimed in disbelief. Not to mention she was starting to seriously feel insulted. She looked at Elyon, who escaped her glance, and then back at Irma, who was just as scandalized by what was going on.

Will watched Miriadel shake her head with a grim smile and decided that this woman was on the verge. Her hatred and fear of a certain person at the table had blinded her...

"No, Taranee. Not at all. The person who I'll never trust with my daughter is-"

"Three days."- Nerissa suddenly said, drawing everyone's attention to herself. She was one of the few people who were still sitting down. Matt, Blunk, and Dua didn't really have what to say, and Julian was just sitting next to his wife, sensing her growing fury, but she wasn't up, because the Army Captain was of no significance to her. Her acts, decision, her betrayal... None of that mattered because she wasn't going to have it her way, no matter what she did.

"You shall wed your Coronian prince in just three days, Queen Elyon? Does that mean that you've finally started to love him? Took you long enough, you've been prolonging this wedding for months, but after just three days, you will finally fulfill your parents' dream. Are you happy, though?"- Nerissa's calm, but dangerous tone grew vicious in her next words: "Are you happy or are you just spinning around like a whirligig, as per usual, clueless and unable to do whatsoever on your own?!"

"Nerissa!"- Miriadel shouted angrily. "Don't you dare talk to the Queen like that again, you insolent- "

"You shut up."- Nerissa pointed her index finger at her and looked daggers in her direction, finally standing up. "You are the stupidest, most cretinous woman the Queen could have ever had for a mother."

"Nerissa."- Julian said softly, trying to calm her down, but in vain.

"Mage, don't take it so personally, it's not in your jurisdictions to have any word in such matters, anyway."- Alborn said coldly. "You're not a part of the royal court nor are you related to the crown in any way, shape, or form."

"It's me who she'll never trust if someone is still wondering."- the ex-guardian announced and just smirked bitterly, ignoring Alborn as if he wasn't even there. "This time you successfully kept me out of things, I'll give you that, but you're wrong if you think that three days are not enough time for me to halt this ridiculous wedding which I will do! I will diminish all your hard efforts to cause yet another disaster! Having the wedding while so many unknown enemies are aiming at Meridian and Coronia is absolutely-"

"No, Nerissa, you won't."- Elyon said sternly. "You will do no such thing. You won't interfere at all. I've already made my mind and I have promised the Coronians. I will not let them down and I will fulfill what is expected of me. After that demonstration murder, especially!"

Nerissa squinted her eyes:

"Wait a minute, what murder- "- Will began, but Elyon just said in a loud voice:

"Please, don't ask me anything and don't do anything. Regardless of what anyone thinks or has to say, I will marry Andan in three days. And that's my final decision which is not the subject of any discussions. The wedding was scheduled for much earlier anyway, it's no surprise for any of you that I will be getting married and why. It had to happen sooner or later."- the young woman brought her hands in a prayer-like position and walked her eyes over everyone. "Thank you. Now please, take your seats again, and let's have dessert."- but even she didn't believe herself with that last one.

Post an explosion, nothing ever falls back in its original place... A wave of indignation and anger had deluded everyone after the Queen's revelation. And as Will watched Nerissa storm out of the dining room like a typhoon, pushing Emery off her way, she just knew that the worst was yet to come.


One heart beats again, but for another heart that has not truly loved it back for a long time ... What will happen when the rejected man decides that he wants his own? Kandrakar is shaking from within, disillusioned and defiled... Death, obscurity, and black omens cross the path that everyone is forced to follow, and the rulers seem to be immersed in their own world, far from all events ... But evil never rests. The Descendant was not stopped in time, despite everything, and is now ready to take the place they have always deserved. The throne of darkness and gold...

End of Arc. 3