ARC.4

"AN AGE OF GOLDEN HOPELESSNESS"

"Hope may die last, but it also dies fast...When all odds are against the rejected, yet they make it to the thrones again, the legitimate rules may have to bow down to the injustice. When even the strongest players are forced to retreat, even the planets will start to rotate in the opposite direction. The Dark Descendant has risen and nothing will ever be the same again. An age of hopelessness is coming for everyone, and the gold now reflects only sorrow and misery... Is the good to ever rule again, and what is actually good and bad in a reality where nothing's ever black and white?"


Chapter 40: A Curse is Born One

"Once gold used to bring me joy, from today on I won't even put on a ring..."


Leonida stood by the window of the rest house's living room, looking out at the little falling snowflakes. Spring had come, but Gray Woods was a location stiffened by an almost all-year-long winter...Like her heart.

She placed her hand on her growing belly, smiling to herself.

"Soon, little one. Soon everything will be different."- she spoke softly. "Soon you will give your mommy the gift she has always yearned for. You are my salvation, my princess. And I promise that unlike me, you will never feel alone and resented by your own mother."- setting her honey-colored locks aside, the former princess smiled again and set her glance to float in the distance. Even in the coldest of hearts, there is always a little flame to be found for someone or something.

Beauty really does lie in the eye of the beholder, Leonida decided. It almost amazed her how lately everything seemed so beautiful and reassuring to her. Even the harsh mountains, snow-covered tops, and the mine-based village that was serving as the location of her prison. And her prison? In one way or another, she'd miss this place when she would leave it, but it was inevitable. The mother-to-be smirked; Elyon sure was a darling to provide her with such a nice 'cell', and ever nicer future execution of her plans...

But just then the main door of the house opened. Leonida's smile quenched a little as she saw them, but there was also curiosity in her eyes. At first, when she had heard the door, she had thought that it was just Aldarn or his father, but she soon understood that the situation was different. The Queen's people were here.

But why? The dethroned princess couldn't help but wonder as she stared at the men, speechless and in anticipation.

"Pack your bags."- one of them said harshly. "You're being moved to a different place."

Moving to a different place, now? And that without the guardians, who she didn't see anywhere. Without the Mage?! Leonida stirred nervously. Something was off, she could already tell...

"Excuse me, sir."- she began sweetly. "But where exactly are we going to be moved to? I'm only asking as I've been nauseous all morning and I- "

"Shut up! This is not something by request. We have an order from her Majesty. You're getting moved to the Palace right this moment."


"Hey, girls, what do you think? The red one or the blue one?"- Hay Lin asked excitedly, showing off two different colored fabrics.

It was a cold day and they were at the Hales' residence in Garden Plaza. Lillian and Chris were upstairs, watching a movie. In the spacious living room, near the electric fireplace, Cornelia was helping Irma film her first YouTube video. Next to them, Killian was napping in his new cradle that Elizabeth had bought just recently.

"What are you making with them."- the Earth guardian asked absently as she tried to figure out what else she could do to Irma's background. Maybe light another candle or two...No, that was overdoing it.

"My dress for Elyon's wedding, of course!"- Hay Lin exclaimed and came closer to her friends. "Look, the red one has this cool feel to it and the blue one is so light, it's like silk- "

"Oh, you mean the wedding that we're not going to?"- Irma riposted, unruffled, as she continued tinkering with her ring lights, ignoring Hay Lin's hanging jaw.

"We're not? What do you mean we're not going, why is, how- "

"Were you not there yesterday, Hay-Hay?"- the Latina cut her off a tad sourly. "Elyon doesn't give a flipping fuck about what we think or have to say. She's dense enough as it is, but this time she really outdid herself. I've said it before, I'll say it again: I'm sick and tired of her and her self-created problems! If she wants to have her wedding now, she can have her freaking wedding now without us. I need a break from that girl's shit. Periodt!"

Hay Lin blinked and moved her eyes from Irma to Cornelia, who was putting her makeup products away from Irma's pile of stuff, as if almost scandalized by the fact that she wasn't rushing to defend her best friend, the Queen of Meridian.

"Cornelia, you too?!"

"Hay Lin, I know that it's not like me to side with Irma on this, but this time Elyon and her mother did something extremely rude. I can't with them right now."- the blonde sighed and flipped her hair back by habit. "She insulted Caleb and his family so much and she doesn't even realize it. Especially Caleb and his mom. How could she keep him in the dark regarding her decision? How could she allow her mother to speak like that of Nerissa, after everything? I can't defend her when she's so wrong."

"Elyon's the definition of a dumb blonde, that's why. No offense to present company. You're Einstein in comparison to her, anyway."-

Cornelia rolled her eyes and plunged one big powder brush in the other woman's nose.

"She has been disregarding me ever since before the engagement. But this time she disrespected my boyfriend, who has been nothing to devoted to her, her entire life. I can't turn a blind eye to that."

"She's a fake friend."- Irma declared and just kept typing something on her laptop. "Forget her, babe."

Hay Lin shook her head. She could understand where her two friends were coming from, but still, to her, their taking of umbrage was too much as well:

"You're right to be angry, guys, but come on. It's her wedding! We know Elyon, she's often too guileless to know better, and-"

"Stupid."- Irma interrupted her. "The adjective you're looking for is fucking stupid."

"- and she needs us. We're her friends."- the young Asian finished her thought, in spite of the Latina's comment. "Come on, you guys. At least think about it. Cornelia?"

"I don't think so, but relax."- the blonde made her a sign to sit down next to them. "That wedding of hers is so overrated anyway. She's more or less taking it as a duty."

"Fuck her."- Irma didn't remain obliged and then nodded at her laptop's screen. "Come on, let's watch my first video before Martin has started editing it."

Hay Lin sanitized her hands once again as she sighed and focused her attention on what Irma was playing for them. It saddened her how Elyon always managed to incur the wrath of even those closest to her, even though in her soul, more than anything she just wanted not to be alone.


"Your Majesty, your lunch. You didn't come to the dining room and hence I thought that we could as well bring it to your chambers."- Nigadir, however, could not finish her sentence, because her words morphed into a terrified gasp once the tray in her hands was set flying in the air.

Everything fell to the floor, breaking and splashing everywhere, creating one big mess, splashing the skirts of the servant's dress as well...Nigadir lifted her baffled eyes up.

"When I said that I don't fancy lunch that meant that I don't want to see or hear of it again."- Elyon, who had knocked the tray away with unseen rage, fired, glaring at Nigadir. "Are you deaf or are you just that witless? Can you not follow basic orders and make sense of them?"

"I'm s-sorry, your Majesty. I just- "- Nigadir stammered, but the Queen interrupted her again:

"You just what?! Mooncalf. I don't want to hear! Get out of my chambers right this instant. Get out!"

"Y-yes, your Majesty."

Still flummoxed and shaken, the green-skinned woman knelt down and started to gather the broken pieces of the china from the floor, but before she could even feel herself, Elyon grabbed her shoulder roughly and basically dragged her to the door.

"Your Ma-"- Nigadir squealed, terrified, but her Majesty wasn't going to listen to her.

Instead, she opened the big doors with her powers and quite literally threw her out on the ground outside of the room.

"You abominable wretch, I'm not going to have you walk on my nerves all day!"- Elyon yelled at the horrified woman. "I didn't say "clean up", I said "get out!", so get out!"- with a single swing of her hand she made the mess on the ground go away and then pinned Nigadir down with her flaming eyes... "Don't you cross me again today, I warn you. If you do, you'll gravely regret it. Begone!"

"Elyon, what's going on around here?"

Elyon closed her eyes and cursed in her mind. Great. Just what she needed. Another one of these obnoxious people was coming her way before she could close the doors in the face of the green creature. Now when she had limited time...

Galgheita, in her turn, couldn't put her mind to what she had just seen. She helped the sobbing Nigadir back on her feet and focused her reproachful look on the queen:

"Elyon, what's the matter with you? What mistake could have Nigadir possibly made to deserve such treatment?"

"Forgive me, but how dare you question your Queen and even worse, dress her down? Who do you think you are?!"

Galgheita was shocked. She just opened her mouth, but she couldn't say anything in response. Elyon was so different today, dressed in a long golden dress and with hair tied in a bun behind her neck...And her attitude, her eyes? No, Galgheita thought. Just remembering the love and joy that the Queen had shown her a few days ago, when she had woken up again post Kandrakar, made her question what she was seeing...

"I'm just trying to say, Elyon, that you-"

"I don't need your lections, get out of my sight!"- the straw-blonde roughly pushed her nanny's hand away. Galgheita gasped, losing balance. At the last moment, Nigadir managed to stabilize her before falling.

"Elyon..."- the former math teacher whispered in shock, but Elyon was done.

Glaring deathly at the pair, she slammed the doors in their faces, leaving them on the threshold with their tightened stomachs, shock, and overall utter perplexity for they had just been a part of.

"What's wrong, I heard Elyon yelling?"- Miriadel came from the other end of the corridor, a worried look on her face.

Nigadir quickly started to explain, but Galgheita didn't move. She was just looking at the now-closed doors with a strange feeling creeping in her heart.

"Captain, her Majesty..."- Nigadir stammered. "She's..., she's beside herself. She's very angry, she pushed me on the ground, broke everything that I was bringing her, and even shouted at Galgheita..."

"What?"- Miriadel exclaimed incredulously, moving her eyes from the servant to the old nanny. "Gods, but why...Perhaps she's still profoundly upset because of yesternight..."

"No."- Galgheita just shook her head. "That's not her. Call the guardians."

"I beg your pardon?!"- Miriadel was determined that she had misheard. It was either that or after 6 months of sleep, the nanny had lost her ability to think logically.

"I said call the guardians and the Mage right away, Miriadel."- Galgheita turned to the redhead, louring at her bewildered face. Her eyes were saying that she wouldn't accept to be refused. Not this time when she was so firm with her gut feeling... "Will you do it, or should I take care of it instead?"


Susan sighed as she got out of the bathroom and sat on the bed in her bedroom. She glanced at the time. It was still just 10 o'clock. Not that much time had passed she had returned home in the first place, what was left her for son and husband's return that was going to be in the late afternoon. On one hand, she longed to see them after an entire week of the both of them being away, but on the other...

No, Susan, the woman scolded herself. You won't think of it. You won't! Get that night out of your mind forever. You have no other choice...

She quickly convinced herself of that and proceeded to get dressed. If she hadn't done that, she could've spent the entire day staring at the wall. A pair of skinny jeans and a big black sweater, and she was good to go.

She quickly blow-dried her hair partly, just so it wasn't completely wet. It was when Susan went in front of the mirror to do her makeup that she faced trouble. The inner trauma of having to look at herself. She realized that it would be a challenge for her from now on. Enduring her own presence and image. Oh, she was so ashamed of herself...

With a shaky hand, she finished applying her blusher a little too aslant, but it would work. She was quick to look away and walk to the kitchen.

There she got to cooking. She took the products out of the fridge and the cupboards and started the stove. She started chopping the vegetables and then added oil to the big pan...

All that she was doing so absent-mindedly, that when the doorbell rang, she almost jumped in her place. One stray tear quickly rolled down and fell into the hot oil. Susan wiped her eyes and went to open. Here she was, emotionally labile once again, but this time, it was her fault. This was the second day since that night had passed, and nothing was getting better for her, on the contrary. She could feel herself sinking into yet another dangerous depressive state.

"Mom, hi. What's up?"- it was Will. Her mother gave her a big hug and silently sobbed behind her back before letting her in.

"Hi, Will. Nothing much, come in, don't stand outside. It's chilly."

"How's your head?"- Will wanted to know. For a moment, Susan looked at her as if she was speaking in Japanese. Oh, that was right. The headache she had lied about...She had almost forgotten about it.

"Oh, that...Yes, I'm better. Just a migraine moment, I guess. Don't worry."- the woman smiled artificially at her daughter, who was too busy with trying not to drop all the stuff that she carried to notice.

Will was actually at her mother's house to drop by some essentials and pet toys, since her little brother had received a puppy as a gift from his grandparents, and would bring it home. That was why the house had to be prepped beforehand, and who knew better than Will, who managed a pet store?

Normally, Susan would put that decision of Dean's parents under doubt, as having a pet in her house was something which she was supposed to have the final word on, but now she was way too immersed in her own drama to even dare think about it. Her drama and sins...

"These are his toys, his bowls, and his food. I've taken care of everything, so I've got you."- Will narrated as she knelt down to leave the two boxes which she had with herself on the floor. "When William and Dean get home, we'll have the puppy checked up in our store, we'll fill in everything in his pet passport, and check whether he needs to have some type of vaccine or anything of that sort, OK, mom?"

"Yeah, sounds great, honey."- her mother smiled again and looked down.

Will wasn't paying much attention to her, otherwise, she would have noticed her off behavior right away. Susan was fidgeting in her place, interlacing her fingers and biting her lips.

Now that her daughter was in front of her, she felt even guiltier and felt like she had to tell her right away. She had to tell her, but how would Will react? No doubt she'd be angry and hurt. Confused maybe. Awkward? Would it be too awkward to share her sin with her daughter? Yes, most probably, but for some reason, Susan couldn't help herself.

"Will, there's something that I need to tell you-"

But before Will could pay attention to her, another voice sounded in her head. A voice which her mother couldn't hear, because it was Taranee, calling her by telepathy...

- Will! Will, we need you immediately. Come to Mrs. Rudolph's quickly. We've been summoned at the Palace.

- I'm coming. - she replied. - What is it this time?

- Elyon again. - Taranee somewhat snorted and Will rolled her eyes back,

- Got it. Give me two minutes.

"Will, did you he- "

"Sorry, mom, I, um, just got a text."- the redhead quickly lied, waving her phone in her hand. "There's been an emergency at the club. I have to run."

"But- "- Susan watched her daughter excuse herself quickly and head for the door.

She was leaving and so was her chance to finally get what she had done off her shoulders. At least to some extent...

"Will, wait, I have to tell you something. I have to take it off my chest...I did something terrible."

"Mom."- Will protested. She really needed to go, but what could her mother possibly mean? Knowing her it was probably something insignificant, but then again, her parents had caught her off guard quite a few times these past 12 months. "Later, OK? I promise to be back later and we will talk."

Susan shook her head desperately watching her daughter leave. Something inside her broke. It was now or never. And for some reason, she felt like her daughter was the only one who she could tell:

"Will, I slept with your father."

The guardian stopped dead in her tracks and turned around abruptly. Staring at her mother. In absolute shock. Had it not been for the way she looked down, guiltily, the redhead would've been certain that she had misheard.

"You...he, I mean...what...what the heck, mom?!"- Will exclaimed as the older woman shrunk in her sweater. "How on Earth did that happen, I'm-"

She had never felt more ashamed. Watching her daughter's shock and outrage, Susan felt like she was a teenager, caught out after curfew, or even something more serious than that. Who was she kidding? It was more serious. Much more serious. Infidelity was never a good choice and now that there was no turning back, Susan Vandom-Collins dreaded the consequences of it for the first time in her life. For the first time in her life was she in such a situation in which she had never even dreamed that she'll ever be. Not even in her nightmares.


Phobos had never imagined that his sister would ever summon him back in the Palace, but even this day had come. As he walked behind the first set of sentry-guards, in parallel with Leonida, he couldn't help but wonder. What could the whelp possibly want to achieve this time? Why? What in the Light of Meridian's name could she be doing now? Moving them to another prison? Without the guardians?!

He felt excitement, but not tranquility. No, not even near a calm state of mind was he as he walked... Doubts gnawed at him. He doubted that his sister's naiveté and stupidity extended that far. No, she was no longer the same, he had seen the change in her several times during his stay in Gray Woods. Last time her youth and flippancy had greatly helped their plan. During the Mage ball, but that had been months ago. Unfortunately, even she had to have matured and evolved since then. She had to and she had, the prince knew. So many things had happened... Still and all, he hoped that he could use his baby sister's naiveté one last time.

Just this once...Fall stupid one last time and then I'll be on the throne again, sister, he thought. Come on. Do it for the good old times.

"Would you finally be dear enough to tell us where are we being taken to?!"-Leonida's voice broke him off of his own thoughts. Phobos turned to look at her. She looked significantly tenser than back in the rest house, when she had too been excited to be taken to the Palace...

The guards paid no attention to her just like they had been doing ever since they had come to the rest house. Leonida cursed under her breath as she threw a look back at the row of sentry behind them. Something was wrong, she could feel it in her gut. Something off was happening and that something tampered with her original idea and plan. And that was something which she couldn't have happen right now. Not when they were so close to achieving her goals...

"Whatever it is, we will learn when she comes to meet us. Why are you so tense? You'll do bad to my child."- Phobos eyed her strictly. "I know Elyon full well, whatever little shenanigan she's doing, she's doing it for her deluded ideas of justice. If she spared my life when she had already pre-decided to kill me, just because I'm about to become a father, then what could she possibly do to us now, when you're already well into the advanced stages of your pregnancy-"

"I have a feeling."- Leonida shook her head. "I have a very bad feeling. These guards, the fashion in which they took us out of what was supposed to be our shutter till the day this child is born, is off. I'm terribly scared."

And as if to prove her words, the guards walking in the front suddenly stopped. Before the rejected rulers could ask what was going on and why, they handled them roughly and proceed to put thick, black sacks over their heads.

"What is going on? What are you doing?!"- Leonida shouted as she struggled to move her neck. It was of no use. She couldn't even nod, and the only thing which she could see was pitch-blackness in front of herself. "What are you going to do to us?!"

"Disorientating pouches."- Phobos murmured under his nose, knowing full well what was just put over his head and what its purpose was. These pouches were put on captive's heads as to prevent them from knowing their way around or recognizing and memorizing anything from it while being taken to their final destination...In most cases, their death. But this was impossible for them...They couldn't and wouldn't dare do this to them...

They continued to walk. Two of the guards caught the two prisoners by the wrists as to lead them and avoid having them trip over. About ten minutes passed in complete silence and just walking. Then, Phobos felt himself being tied to a chair of some sorts...

"Welcome, Leonida."- Elyon's jarring voice thundered.

The pouches were removed from their heads and once their eyes got accustomed to the fade lights, Phobos couldn't stop his jaw from hanging. They were at a ring. Someplace he had never before seen. Perhaps in the Infinite City? But anyhow, that was far from being the most astounding thing in the entire situation. The victor was the sight of Elyon in her dark golden dress and what Phobos could clearly see as a massive bow and arrow in her hands...Her brother was tied in a chair as a spectator; he was not in the circle of the ring, but right outside of it, while Leonida was roughly chained to one big column, in the northern end of the wide ring's diameter, facing the wrathful queen:

"Welcome to your execution!"

"No!"

Leonida felt her heart sink as she watched the other woman get ready to pull her bow. There was deadly determination in every next move she made towards her, and her eyes; her eyes were glowing with rage and bloodlust...

"What are you doing, you crazy little bitch?!"- Phobos couldn't believe his eyes. He furiously fought to set himself free, but it was no use. The ropes he was tied with were enchanted and unbreakable, plus he was deprived of all his magic thanks to the accursed bracelet he had on ever since being put under royal watch. What could he do to stop his sister? Nothing. He could do nothing but watch her kill his lover and his unborn, and that feeling was something he had never felt before. It was horrifying...

"Why kill her after all these months, why now? You promised us different, you don't get to do this, Elyon Escanor!"

"This darned baby shall be dead after today."- Elyon demanded in her trance-like state.

Leonida shook her head and begged her to stop, but she didn't seem to hear her. Neither the excepting mother's, nor Phobos's pleads, cries, and words seemed to reach her.

"This baby is a curse which I won't have raze my kingdom to the ground! Never!"

"This is not you! You'd never kill anyone, let alone a baby!"- Phobos hissed, despair in his voice. What the hell had gotten into his sister?! She looked so sinister and merciless, even he felt belittled in front of her.

Leonida, in her turn, was completely in control of the panic at that moment. So immersed she was in the terrifying experience, that she couldn't even think straight. It didn't even cross her mind that she had restored parts of her magic weeks ago...She was in the claws of an unknown fear, and that fear began and ended with the life of her child and her goals for her...

"Your child will not evoke the Dark Descendant's power. Never! NEVER!"

Leonida flinched. How had she put these two things under the same hat...No, she was aware that it wasn't that hard, but Elyon of all people...For cryin' out loud, how could she ever think of harming her baby? That was impossible. This was not...

"Icona, you."- she whispered, locking eyes with the straw-blonde. The normally gray orbs shone with amber light at the mentioning of the name. "No..."

"Oh, yes."- the Queen hissed back and aimed her bow at the honey-haired. "You will lose that trump card today. You will also lose your last chances to execute your sick ambitions, you conductor of the gold evil..."

Leonida just gawked at her, unable to say a word.

"ELYON!"- Phobos roared at the top of his lungs from his chair. "STOP THIS MADNESS AT ONCE OR YOU SHALL REGRET IT! Do NOT make me use that vow you gave me, against you!"- but before he could bite his tongue, something in his brain clicked. Had he just heard the princess address his sister with another name?! "Who? What in Escanor's bloody name is going on around here!?"

Leonida cursed under her nose. She couldn't even leave that man's words and actions unsupervised in a moment like this. They weren't supposed to bring up that vow, not yet, but the other woman's attention was finally drawn by that. She glared daggers at Phobos for halting her and barked:

"What are you talking about, you worthless fool?!"

Phobos squinted his eyes, but Leonida spoke over him:

"No, my King. Do not bother giving this woman any explanations, for she's not your sister. It is your sister's body, but not her mind. She has possessed her."

"Who has possessed her?!"- the prince hissed incredulously staring at his sister. "Who's Icona?!"

"My grandmother."- the ex-princess retorted lowly, looking at Elyon's face that smiled awry.

Phobos blinked in perplexity. Where had this grandmother appeared of, all of a sudden?! He was starting to question his squeeze's honesty, but Icona didn't feel like wasting any more time. Not when her time in Elyon's body was running short either way...

"Enough talking, it is time for your descendant to die! Because the Dark Descendant cannot have the fruit of your sin at their disposal. Not when it will make them so very strong. And dangerous."

Leonida returned the hard glower that her grandmother was sending her without hesitation. She wasn't as scared anymore. She wasn't scared of no delusional old ghost, not when she knew her weaknesses so well...

"You will not kill my baby, grandmother."- Leonida declared calmly, watching the other woman's eyes go wide with anger. "You and I both know why, so why bother putting up this show? Let me guess, you asked the guardians to do your dirty work and they declined, hence you thought that this would be a good idea?"

"Oh, you silly girl."- the ghost was no longer talking in Elyon's voice. It was now her own, heavy, sinister voice. "Did you really believe that what your mother did shall hinder me forever? Look at me! I have got the Queen of Meridian under my control! And with the help of her powers, I will successfully prevail over that idiot Magana's mistaken magic. I will not kill you and your filthy offspring. I will make its father do it for me!"

Phobos's eyes went wide with shock at that, but before he could even protest, Icona used Elyon's magic to hypnotize him. Leonida watched silently, not even bothering with trying to outweigh that with her enthralling powers...No, she knew she had no chance.

After a long minute of fighting it, Phobos had to give in. With the ropes disappearing, he stood up from his seat, walked over to his sister's possessed body, and took the bow and arrow from her...

"Admit it or not, foolish girl, I bested you and I will have you stopped for good this time. Unlike your mother."- Icona whispered as the man pulled the bow... "I will put an end to you, conductor of evil!"

The prince launched the arrow and it started to fly towards Leonida mercilessly. A gleeful smile spilled over Elyon's face as she watched it approach the ex-princess's stomach and her closing her eyes in defeat...

Snap!

An agile female hand had caught the wooden part of the sharp arrow in the last second, right before the sharp end could pierce Leonida's stomach. She opened her eyes just when the arrow got broken into two, coming face to face with a defined cheekbone...

"NO!"- Icona wailed, shaking her head ruefully.

Having been released from the hypnotizing spell, Phobos started to come to his senses, looking around like a lost puppy. When his pale green eyes met those of Nerissa, his jaw hanged again.

"No, you maladroit witch!"- Icona cursed. "What did you do?! You ruined everything!"

"Oh, shut up."- Nerissa retorted, unbothered, right before she teletransported the four of them.

When Icona opened her eyes again, she was in one of the Palace's yard zones, but before she could react:

"There they are! Phobos's loose!"

"Get him!"

The guardians came flying from the sky, like five furies, tackling the poor prince down with their magic. Even if he had actually tried to, he stood no chance. After being washed away and blown away at the same time, he found himself wrapped in thick roots, face down in the grass...

Before Icona could do anything, Nerissa struck Elyon's body with her quintessence, forcing her out of it. Elyon and the ghost screamed in unison as they came apart and electrical ropes started to tie themselves around Icona...

"Nerissa, stop!"- Miriadel and Galgheita came running towards the scene. "You're hurting her Majesty!"

But Nerissa seemed as if she couldn't care less. A few moments later, Elyon fell down unconscious and her possessor just floated above her, utterly defused.

"Icona, you!"- Irma yelled. "You crazy old hoe, you actually tried to kill that baby!"

"Yeah, when we told you that we'd consider it, we totally lied so that you would shove off."- Cornelia added, crossing her arms on her chest.

"And she knew that."- Will declared grimly, looking at the flickering image of the ghost. "That's why she felt the need to take matters in her hands...by doing this. Despite Magana's chamber doings and whatnot, and all that was hindering her from helping us directly."

"She found a loophole through Elyon."- Hay Lin shook her head, shivering at the thought of what would've happened, had Galgheita and Miriadel not contacted them and Nerissa. Had Galgheita not noticed the change in Elyon right away... A big injustice and tragedy was avoided.

"Wow, who knew she was so creative."- Irma commented ironically. "She's been giving Tara nightmares for weeks."

"Well, it was a good plan, even if it comes as rather shocking that she was able to possess the Queen of Meridian so easily."- Nerissa interjected coldly, moving her eyes between the ghost and the ghost's granddaughter. "But then again. Keeping in mind who the Queen happens to be and her infamous power achievements over the years-"- she added mockingly, looking down at the woman in Miriadel's arms. "- the only thing which the countess miscalculated was the location where she planned to kill that baby. The Infinite City is and has been under my patronage for years, and I can sense each and every thing going on there. That's why I appeared like that, ruining your little execution."

"You failed, Icona."- Cornelia summed it up. "Get over it!"

"Not only I failed, but you all failed with me too!"- Icona screamed making the guardians frown.

Miriadel was smitten while Galgheita appeared thoughtful. But Nerissa was most interested in Leonida's reactions. As her grandmother opened her mouth again, her features sharpened and tightened like those of a snake watching a bigger predator approach...

"This baby will bring you all immense doom! You will all suffer and you will regret not killing it in time! You will regret it dearly, fools!"

"Why?"- Galgheita wanted to know. Suddenly, she left the Queen's side and walked right in front of the ghost, blocking Nerissa's view. The sorceress frowned, but just took a few steps back and to the left. From her new position, watching the ex-princess's reactions was even easier...

"That baby will be under our watch, its parents won't be a factor in its life!"- the nanny insisted. "Nobody is born evil! How is the baby going to be a threat to us if we teach him or her to be good, kind, and true?!"

"Foolish woman!"- Icona hissed. If she could, she would probably slap her own forehead. "Don't you understand! The baby will be your undoing. That baby is a trump card! That baby is a dangerous weapon that will suppress and kill planets!"- she fought to set herself free in vain, but with every next word, the sky grew darker. Eerie sounds could be heard in the air. Hay Lin looked around herself terrified. Everything that the countess was saying, seemed to be affecting the air. Gloom, dangerous and unpredictable, it grew angrier and angrier with every next word that came out of her mouth...

"Guys, if she keeps going like that, something is going to happen. We have to stop her; the air is uneasy. She's triggering something!"- Hay Lin whispered to her friends, totally forgetting their telepathic channels in the distress.

"What are you, nuts?"- Irma hissed back. "She's finally saying something, we have to hear what we have to fight against already! I'm sick and tired of the suspense and secrecy!"

"We're all uneasy."- Cornelia shook her head. "She's-"

"But she's breaking the vows that stop her from talking about this in detail. She's going against magic code."- Will shook her head.

Taranee just watched in tension. The ominous winds were blowing harder and harder around them. She had researched how to trap a spirit inside a solid object, but it was evident that it wouldn't be needed...

"That baby is going to SERVE THE DARK DESCENDANT! IT'S "- but the dark shadows that had since now just floated around her, started to claw her.

Icona screamed in agony as the ominous shadows clawed and sucked on her, cutting through her body as if it was smoke... Then, in front of their eyes, as the wind threatened to blow them away like leaves, Icona started to shrink more and more, attacked by the shadows and their gruesome sounds, until she was just a tiny little spot that disappeared. It popped like a bubble of soap. For a moment, everything was calm.

Then the aftermath of what had just happened was unleashed with full force. This time the explosion-like event sent everything flying on meters from their previous standpoints. In the last moment, Nerissa had managed to repel the force with the scepter that had just appeared in her hands, keeping herself and Leonida stable on their feet. But at what price...she had primarily wanted to protect the baby, but while doing that, she had exposed something big about herself.

Then, when everything cleared out, the unbearable noises were quieted and the dark clouds vanished as fast as they had appeared, the girls started to stand up and help each other, but all eyes were soon on the two women that hadn't fallen at all.

"Well, shit. Here we go again."

"She has done it again."- Miriadel whispered to Galgheita, glowering at the tall sorceress. "Look at her smug face, I cannot stand that woman..."

"Just shut up, Miriadel."- Galgheita turned her back on her, despite the captain's exclamation of protest.

Will just crossed her arms on her chest:

"Nerissa? Do you want to tell us something?"


One hour later, they were all sitting in of the Palace's saloons, discussing the latest events over tea. Elyon was resting in her chambers, as she was too weak after the possession. But they had to wait for her to gather new strengths as to decide what to do with Phobos and Leonida now. Should they just take them back to the rest house in Gray Woods? That was all up to the queen.

And while the girls waited for that to be decided, and the prisoners waited in a cell in the royal dungeons, they used the time to question Nerissa:

"So let me get this straight."- Will narrated. "Phobos had no idea that he has held the Heart of Arkhanta herself, this entire time. But when you went there, secretly from us, Asa told you her truth and even willingly made you the regent of her power?" (chapter 38)

"Because she feels exhausted by it and doesn't wish to protect it anymore. That's why the prince and she made this deal with me, how many times must I explain."- Nerissa rolled her eyes.

*Flashback*

"Mage, wait! We need to talk..."

...

"Asa, you cannot seriously think of doing this, you're willingly giving the source of our magic powers to this, this woman?"- Ari stared at the young girl and his son who had just arrived together, stopping Nerissa and Raythor from leaving in the last minute.

Unfortunately, Maqi's idea was clashing with his father's understandings...

"Father, please."- the blond boy told him firmly. "We've already made our mind. Asa cannot handle this power anymore. It's torture for her. If the Mage keeps it for us, uses it against her enemies, and then returns it, we'll all win."

Asa looked down:

"I'm sorry, Your Majesty. But I do believe that this is the right thing to do. The Mage helped me a lot, she helped me understand my indistinct thoughts and eased my state. I think that she will be a suitable regent."

Ari growled angrily, but before he could retort:

"Moreover, I did promise to find you a guardian. A regent, patron, call it whatever you want."- Nerissa interjected from a few steps away, making the King glare daggers at her. "Once I've diminished all threats that are posed to Meridian, I will return the Heart of Arkhanta back in the Scarlet Citadel. Together with someone who will take care of it and use it to benefit your kingdom."

"And why should we trust you! You!"- Ari shook his head in anger. He wasn't having this. After all he had done to keep the power of the Heart within his family, giving it away to the Mage for "safe keeping" seemed ludicrous. "I'm sorry, Maqi. But I will never agree to this."

"Father."- Maqi insisted sternly, looking at the former farmer. "You seem to forget what Phobos made you do. Asa's memories clearly showed that she witnessed Phobos hypnotizing you to sign something. That was why she got abducted in the first place. You can only imagine how important that was for the tyrant-"

"A mystic contact works like an unbreakable oath. It can't be easily escaped. "- Nerissa commented glancing down at Asa's memory stone. "Nor can the rules be bent just like that."

"Which comes to show that since he has hypnotized you and left, he already has what he wanted from you. Your consent."- Raythor muttered thoughtfully. Oh, this was new. The royal brat was now using cleverer tricks to work his way around.

"Yes, he had hypnotized me! Hypnotized! It's not like I voluntarily did what he wanted from me!"- Ari snapped defensively, crossing his arms on his chest. He was furious. Furious with himself, with the circumstances, and with Phobos for tampering with his free will and memories.

"Still and all, we shouldn't be taking risks."- his son insisted, and unwillingly, the man had to admit that he had a right. When put this way, it really did seem like there was no other more sensible decision to be made. "We don't know what you've put your name under. What if Phobos has your consent to usurp our power and our people? We don't want to provide him with even more than he will already have, because of that contract."

*end of Flashback*

"We should question Phobos about the said contract."- Irma suggested once Nerissa was over telling them the story of her newly created seal containing the Heart of Nimbus and that of Arkhanta. "I mean what the hell, did he hypnotize Ari into giving him the entire kingdom?! What else have he and Jerkonida done before that staged-wedding, trap sort of sit?!" (chapters 20&21)

The others didn't respond right away. All of them were thinking the same thing, but Nerissa happened to be the one voice it:

"Phobos has not been a real prisoner ever since that ball. After Elyon's moronic vow, he's been lying low, enduring all this because he's looking out for possibilities. He accepted the restrictions and life under "home arrest", just because he was promised rights and a future for his heir. Supposedly. But if you ask me, he and Leonida have many other plans that they're looking forward to attending to. In any felicitous moment that they'll get."

"When we put things this way, they are still indeed a threat to Meridian and Coronia. Maybe not only."- Taranee pondered.

"But we've discussed this, even if the two of them are connected to the Dark Descendant prophecy and whatever, what other can we do to hinder them than what've already done."- Cornelia, as usual, was coming out with the logical stances. "Do what Icona tried to do? Kandrakar doesn't want that, and neither one of us does. Therefore, it's obvious that we have no other choice but to keep Phobos and Leonida locked and wait for them to show their intentions at some moment. We have to stay alert."

"I wonder why was she so scared about this cult and the prophecy...I feel like we only see the tip of the iceberg."- Hay Lin sighed and her friends knew that she was right.

"It's not that complicated to follow through."- Nerissa clicked her tongue and stood up from her seat, starting to walk in circles around the saloon. Her heels hit the marble floor with every hasty step she took: "The cult of the Dark Descendant aims to achieve division between the folk of Coronia, restoring the old positions of the aristocrats and the hardships of the once villagers. We're already aware that the now order is inconvenient to those, who feel like having the farmers be almost as rich as the royals is wrong. Evidently, somewhere on Coronia the cult is still alive. Kandor is one living example...well, you know, he was before he died. Leonida is connected to all that, and she aims to help these sick people thrive once she gets to more power together with Phobos and their child. He's a toy and pawn in her hands, and that baby is just a short way to her goals. That's why her grandmother called her "conductor of evil". The old cult hopes to get to power and glory once more through her actions... She's the real culprit, but not the ultimate mastermind."- Nerissa finished almost smugly, as if deducting that made her feel better.

And once they had dared say that the enchantress could best her...Her! Please! Leonida was not even the boss of herself, how dare they suggest that?

I have always done everything on my own, and even when I've been in a team, I've been in charge, the black-haired woman thought. This girl is just a manipulated weapon in somebody else's hands!

"All that sounds about right, Nerissa."- Will had to agree. "We know all that thanks to the book which we have on Coronia and all that we've been told over the last months. But if you're so calm about it all, why did you supply yourself with a second Heart?"

Their eyes met and for a second Nerissa flinched. No, she wasn't going to tell them. But the little zap was quite good at catching her emotions even without words, by now. As her incisive brown eyes pierced her, Nerissa decided that the leader of the guardians was always burdened with the most...but also gifted with the most...

"You won't tell, but I'll tell you."- the redhead went on. "The truth is that although you say all this in a belittling tone and manner, you and I both realize that things aren't as easy to deal with. Those cult people are more dangerous than you just gave them credit for and you know that they can surprise us all. They can catch even you off guard. That's why you're insuring yourself. And you only do that when something's truly bothering you."

Nerissa raised her eyebrows and just smirked as she looked back at the shorter woman.

"Well, at least this time you didn't accuse me of simply being power-crazed and covetous."

It was fun to her when others were trying to read and understand her ways, but the young guardian had made a few good guesses. Of course, Nerissa hoped that everything would be resolved, but doubted it greatly at the same time. Even more after today.

"Alright, let's get back to what do we do now."- Taranee spoke up again, deciding to end the eye duel between Will and Nerissa that she and the others had been low-key watching almost in awe by now. "Should we take some additional precautions regarding Phobos and Leonida? How should we actually stop the cult people and the Descendant nonsense from progressing even more and about that wedding, the time of which I sincerely do not think is now-"

"My wedding will be held in two days as I already informed you. Please, don't bring that up for discussion again, because it's pointless."

Everyone turned around to see Elyon standing at the open doors of the saloon. She looked pale and tired, but at least she had taken the Icona-like clothes away, and her hair was all down and loose. The frighteningly different image that the possession had altered even in her looks was all gone.

"Are we sure she's exorcised and everything?"- Irma muttered in the displeased Taranee's ear. She was displeased with Elyon's response to her words and her stubbornness, as were everyone else present in the room, but Irma was actually up to confront the Queen any minute now. "Cuz she's still acting like a hog-"

Elyon sighed as she started to make her way to her friends, feeling all their eyes on herself. No, they wouldn't understand things from her point of view, and she didn't blame them for it. At most times, even she didn't get herself. But this was just something that she knew she was obliged to go through with, no matter what.

"First of all, I'm very sorry that I was the reason for your inconvenience again. Icona caught me off guard, and if it weren't for Galgheita and you guys, Leonida, and her baby would've been killed. I'm sorry that I wasn't strong enough to control the situation before it escalated like that."- the straw-blonde apologized sincerely looking down.

"Relax, we're used to your incompetence."- Nerissa rolled her eyes. "Get to the point. Give us new orders, as the queen you are, and may we all leave. We're not here to gush about your stupid wedding again."

"Yeah, Elyon, just one question first, girly."- Irma interjected, despite Will sternly eyeing her in an attempt to make her not open her mouth. "How do you keep on making decisions on your own, not caring to even consult us, even after all your fails. In general, babe, ever since you came to Meridian."- she said sourly, nailing the words as if with a hammer. "Or maybe by now, you're too entitled to consider what your so-called "innocent" mistakes and tiny-miney "mishaps" cost others with? Especially us. Especially your people?!"- Irma glared at the other woman, who was clearly unconformable and remained speechless.

Elyon shrunk in her dress but said nothing. It pained her to hear these words out of a friend's mouth, but she chose to keep silent. She chose to keep silent, because she knew that Irma had a right.

"Well?! Do you have a fucking justification or at least some answer?"- the Latina demanded, getting mixed glance-reactions from her friends. Hay Lin couldn't bear to listen to her harsh words, closing her eyes in despondent retreat, while Taranee, Cornelia, and Nerissa were concordant with them, each from her own point of view that crossed paths with those of the others in the fact that Elyon had to have some sense of accountability. At this point, there really were no excuses left that they could accept for her. Especially when she was taking such a drastic step without their approval...

"You're the guardians of Kandrakar, Irma."- Miriadel walked in the saloon too. It was evident that she had heard everything. She was coming to defend her daughter's side, but the water-witch wasn't about to have that silently. She looked at her under a frown:

"And? You're daughter's the so-called Queen of this world. Does that mean that we have to wipe her ass each time she takes a shit?"

"Irma!"

"No."- the Army captain retorted coldly. "It means that you're tasked with keeping the balance in the dimensions, Meridian included. What you have to understand is that you have no right to question her Majesty's each and every step and belittle her as you do!"

"And you were tasked with looking after her, yet Cedric and Phobos made her go against you just as easily. Just as easily as she takes all her wrong decisions till date."- Nerissa hissed at the redhead, who snorted in response:

"Just don't make me talk about what you did to come to the position of Mage again, Nerissa. It's incredibly glib of you to point the finger at anyone here-"

She was ready to fight all of them for Elyon's sake. Miriadel wasn't even done arguing at Nerissa, who kept talking back, throwing insults like confetti, when Taranee's words of frustration came from the other side:

"Miriadel, we're the guardians, OK. Not Elyon's maids or caretakers. If you don't want us to question her and have her talk her important decisions through with us, then I fail to understand how do you expect of us to 'maintain the balance' in Meridian."

"Guys, please, what are you doing, it's not the time to argue like that!"- Hay Lin tried to stop them, but it was too late. Taking deep breaths, Miriadel pointed her finger at the group of women and declared:

"All of you are horrible friends to my daughter! You constantly bring her down, disparage, or ignore her, not even caring about how she feels! Do you even know how many times she has suffered while you've lived your lives, just because she is tasked with being queen?! No, you don't! And you don't care, because at the end of the day, you're not in her shoes. It's easy to criticize someone, even your friends, when you live with the self-awareness of people who are never wrong. But you were wrong, guardians!"- the redhead yelled, bedazzling the angry women even more. Oh, they were pissed, but so was she. She was going to let the most of it out today. They had crossed the line: "You were wrong many times, and you failed Elyon many times! When you couldn't stop her-"- and she pointed at Nerissa. "-from trapping and using the Queen, and then you five quite frankly forgot all about it until months later! Or when you didn't want Elyon to know the truth about her identity, Will! "

Will was beyond any comments. She just stared at the shouting woman as if she estimated her mental state.

"Maybe, just maybe she wouldn't have believed Cedric and Phobos all these years ago, were you, real friends, to her! All of you have wronged her! All of you view her as an incapable idiot and talk behind her back!"

"That's because she is one."- Nerissa snapped while Hay Lin shook her head. She couldn't believe the stages of foolishness and pathetic which the captain was willing to reach. "You have grand merits in that, I must say."

"Even you, Cornelia. You talked Elyon into this marriage, but now you're against it?!"- Miriadel laughed grimly, glaring back at the shocked faces against herself. She ignored what Nerissa and Irma were saying to each other. She ignored Taranee and Will's reproach. "Haven't you always paraded to be my daughter's best friend, Cornelia?! Yes, you have, but ever since you were little, you've always wanted to outshine her! You always wanted to be better than her and you relished in achieving that, each time! That was the only reason you kept being friends with her over the years! You even snatched Caleb away from her!"

"Whaaaat?!"

"SHUT UP!"- Cornelia came face to face with the older woman and literally yanked her pointing hand back. That had been the last straw. "Are you even listening to your nonsense, Miriadel?! All that nonsense which you just shot in the open! Do you even know me?! No, you don't! How dare you say all this crap, how dare you accuse us of all these past things?! We've made mistakes, we all make mistakes, there's nothing shameful in that. In your petty crazed attitude, however, there is!"

"Then why are you shaming Elyon for making mistakes?!- Miriadel fired back, looking up at the tall blonde venomously. "Why?!"

"We're not shaming her, we're trying to help her refrain herself for years now, but that's not the only thing we have to do."- Taranee raised her voice again. "Wanting for Elyon to discuss important matters during difficult times is not wrong, Miriadel. But the way you spoke and acted this afternoon was."

"I don't need your lections."- Miriadel didn't even want to hear about it. She walked her eyes over each and every one of their angry faces, feeling resentment towards the guardians. And it wasn't the first time. "You're not genuine people nor friends to the Queen and to us, and therefore your opinion does not matter."

"Elyon and why are you just standing there, saying nothing?!"- Cornelia focused all her attention on the shorter woman, who just escaped her eyes. That angered Cornelia even more: "What the hell is wrong with you?! You've been acting like that ever since your engagement. You never tell me things anymore, you're distant and you act like a totally different person! Now I get it, it's your mother who has been turning you against me, and you agree with her on all the shit which she just said."- Cornelia looked daggers at Miriadel, questioning if she has ever even known the real her. "That's why you're silent."

Elyon lifted her eyes to look at her, but then looked down again. Too much had happened in recent times. Too much had just been said today. Old wounds, affronts, and problems were brought up or opened again in this heated verbal fight... Whatever she would say would only make things worse. In the end, staying silent was indeed the best option...

"You're a delusional psycho, and you're a dumb blonde."- Irma said to Miriadel and Elyon before giving them her back. She was done with them, but being angry like she was, she had to turn back again and the other way a few more times. "I'm leaving. I'm not staying here another minute! Come on, Will! By the way, Elyon, fuck you."- she added. "Fuck your wedding, fuck your stupid way of thinking. And FUCK your improbity and delusions, OK? That's all I have to say to you at this point. Bah-bye!"

"Are you quite pleased with yourself?"- Miriadel yelled after them as they proceed to leave the saloon. In the last moment, Hay Lin managed to stop the Latina from giving the captain the finger. "You showed your real faces."- Miriadel went on, unbothered. In fact, she even appeared smug.

"No, you did."- Will scowled. "You've held grudges against us for a long time, apparently. Despite everything, Miriadel, I hope that one day soon you'll come to realize who Elyon's true friends are and how what you're doing is not benefiting her in any way, shape, or form."

"Yes, Will. Only time will tell."- the older woman retorted relentlessly.

Elyon watched the women leave down the corridor with a broken heart, but an empty mind. She didn't know how to mend things or whether she'd ever be able to do so from this moment on...

Nerissa for one felt eager to leave the Palace. She had quite a few things on her mind and wished not lose time, energy, and patience on the royal fools anymore. She was just about to teletransport herself and the girls to the Infinite City portal, when one midwife jumped in their way, great anxiety written on her face...

"Your Majesty! The e-enchantress. Leonida...Her waters broke."- she said to the shocked women. "She went into labor!"


It was already dark outside when the royal doctors exited the hospital wing to let the guardians and the Queen know that Leonida has given birth to a healthy baby girl. Six hours had passed. It had been a long and hard delivery, and one question still remained. How the hell had Leonida gone into labor?! There were still over three months till her due date...

The fact that something was wrong, was something that they were all well aware of. As Will was pacing back and forth in the corridor outside the hospital wing, she couldn't stop thinking about it.

"Can we see her?"- Elyon asked one of the midwives that had just recently come out of the hospital.

Caleb, Cornelia, and the rest of their group were coming their way. Up until now, only Will had remained in front of the hospital wing together with Elyon and it had been a more than awkward experience. Six hours of awkward silence. In other words, the redhead was glad that her friends were finally joining them. Even though Irma had tried to get her to come with them a few times and "ditch the Queen of being retarded", she had felt the need to especially not move from the doors of the maternity wards.

"Well."- Irma crossed her arms and looked at the midwife. "You sure she gave birth to a baby girl? Cuz I'm pretty sure that if Leonida could be any more of a bitch, she'd have puppies..."

Baffled by the water guardian's brash line, the midwife blinked a few times before finally replying:

"You may see her, but keep in mind that it was a long and tiring delivery. Leonida will need a lot of rest and possibly days to gain some strength again."

"We need to see her though."- Taranee insisted. "Did you estimate what was the reason behind her giving birth so early?"

"Magic..."- the midwife admitted making Cornelia roll her eyes.

No duh. The question is how did she resort to magic when cuffed with magic-insulating bracelets...

"We have to remove the child from her side immediately. She can rest up behind the bars of her cell as well." - Caleb was stern and determined. The ex-princess was toying with them and he was not going to spare her. He didn't trust the Coronians either. Actions had to be taken at once before something awful happened again.

Everyone agreed on that as they entered the hospital wing and the maternity ward where Leonida was left to rest after her delivery.

But from the moment they set foot in that room, they were instantly shown that something had already indeed gone wrong...

"Hey...where is she?!"- Cornelia exclaimed as they all stared at the empty bed and crib. "Where's the baby?!"

"I don't understand..."- the midwife shook her head in puzzlement as she came in behind the others. "She was unconscious... Two of the younger midwives remained with her..."

"You mean those two?"- Irma pointed at the women on the floor behind the big screen. "I'd say that they're the ones unconscious now."

"She has escaped."- Nerissa shook her head angrily. "It has all been a diversion. She had magic on herself, that's why she decided to act today. She has planned this..."

"No..."- Elyon murmured under her nose, resting her hand against the wall to keep her balance. This couldn't be happening.

"Yes. The milk is already spilled."- Taranee commented angrily. "Let's not waste time. Let's look for her."

"I doubt that she's anywhere near though."- Will sighed. "Caleb, I have the grave feeling that Phobos isn't in his cell anymore either."

"Oh, no, not again!"- Caleb growled and trashed the screen down. "This time I'll kill him. I'll kill both of them."

"Alright, but why did she escape now if she has had magic all along? What could she be planning now..."- Hay Lin couldn't help but ask.

"Because she's unpredictable, relentless, and highly manipulated."- Nerissa concluded and looked at the empty bed with contempt. "Giving birth has simply been the next point of her plan. Of their plan. Something bad is going to happen. Very, very soon. And if we fail to stop it on time, what that dead countess said today will come true."