Chapter 45: Fashion Show or W.I.T.C.H hunt?

"Everyone loves a witch hunt as long as it's someone else's witch being hunted." ― Walter Kirn


When they reached the Olsen house, the ambulance was already leaving. Before they could close the doors, however, Matt blocked them with his arms, a desperate look on his face. He looked completely shattered when his eyes fell on Herbert.

"What are you doing, sir? Step back, please. This is an emergency, we need to take the man to the hospital."- one of the paramedics said, pushing Matt away. "There's no time to lose!"

"Is he, is he alive?"- there was a tiny trace of hope in his voice. Maybe the neighbors hadn't estimated the situation correctly. Maybe his grandfather could still be saved.

But the paramedic's grim expression was quick to scald his newfound optimism:

"Barely. He needs a lot of treatment to recover post that fall he suffered. His neck is fractured and he may suffer some internal injuries. We need to take him to the ICU. ASAP!"

"But..."

Matt was like a lost puppy while the paramedics went around him and sped down the street in seconds. Will emerged from behind the bushes where they had teletransported and sighed. At least he was alive... It killed her to see her boyfriend like that, not to mention that she herself was severely upset and worried about Herbert's well-being. He was as close and dear to her as he was to Matt. He loved her like a grandchild of his own and she loved him too...Mr. Olsen was a great man, and even though he was getting quite old, none of them was ready to even think about losing him.

"Matt!"- Linda came running from the house and hugged her son tight. Tears were streaming down her face.

"Mom, I-"- the man stammered, at a loss of words. "W-what happened?"

Linda needed a minute to stop herself from trembling. Then she took her son's hands in hers and started explaining:

"It happened so fast, Matt...After I got home, I went straight to the bathroom. Your grandfather, he...he happened to confront the burglar who somehow broke in. When I came out, I found him on the floor...He-he barely managed to tell me that someone broke in the house and pushed him when they realized he had seen them!"

"Damn it."- Matt shook his head in disbelief. "What kind of a terrible person does that to an elderly man... As if grandpa could stop them from running away! They should've just taken whatever and flee the house, why did they have to push my grandpa like that!"

"Burglars are gruesome people, Matt."- Linda somewhat wheezed. "They have no compassion nor understanding for anyone, especially not for strangers."

"Didn't look like a talk between strangers to me."

Will, who had seated herself on the stairs of the porch, almost had a heart attack. Those voices she had just heard... they were those of the appliances in Matt's house. Geez. She had almost forgotten what it was like to talk to all things that have a current ever since Kandrakar was blocked and their aurameeres weren't canalizing as much mystic energy as usual.

"What do you mean?"- she whispered hastily as she privily made her way inside the house, cautious not to attract attention. It wasn't too hard; the police officers were already outside and so were Matt and Linda. The ambulance had left too. Will left the door ajar and turned to the appliances.

"It's not polite for appliances to gossip about their household with strangers."- the new electronic clock on the wall said, making Will open her mouth indignantly. But before she could reply to that petty line:

"She's not a stranger, you dingbat!"- the old TV, which Will had once named Tiana, scolded the new appliance. "She's Matt's girlfriend. That is why we're discussing it in front of her!"

"And because she can hear us..."- the refrigerator added from the kitchen.

"Blimey, pardon me for not knowing history as well as you, fossils."- the clock snorted causing Tiana and a few other "members" of the household to snap back.

Will rolled her eyes. Bickering appliances. Just what she needed to finish off her night.

"Will some of you just tell me what happened already!?"- she interrupted them impatiently. She knew from her personal experience that appliances usually didn't just remember and spy on things that happen around them like that. The fact that they had been "awake" enough to witness the scene that had taken place in the Olsen house tonight was something the guardian definitely had to take advantage of. Especially after they had sparked her interest on their own.

"We don't know for sure, Thunder Princess. We don't know who that man was, but he was arguing with Herbert before he pushed him. Our Herb..."- Tiana sniffed and her control panel blinked dismally. "All we know is that they knew each other. She knows him too. She knows what happened...She's lying... She's lying about the burglary!"

"Linda?"- Will asked with a dry throat.

The door of the house creaked and opened. It was Matt, he was calling for her, but Will's eyes went through him and fell on Linda, who was now talking to the police in the distance. Tiana's words echoed in her ears:

"...She's covering up the man who almost killed her father!"


"It was obviously Matt's dad. I mean, come on, what are the chances that Linda and he reconnect after so much time, take you two to diner and then Herbert takes a fall down the stairs? Burglars, sure. Has she seen her house? It's so 2005, there's nothing valuable to be stolen, anyway."

Cornelia said her heavy word and then turned to look at the back of her dazzling maxi dress in the big mirror. It was a long detailed sky-blue dress that complimented her looks making them equal to those of a goddess. It also happened to be one of the outfits from TeCAMPo which she was going to be modeling at the show that the brand of the same name was having in Heatherfield.

Yes, the contract which she had signed almost two months back, required for her to model for the brand, but she didn't mind it. She could use the distraction anyway. Besides, it would do her career nicely.

The blonde guardian and her friends had arrived in the infamous mansion "Ladyhold" for her to try the runway outfits and do a few test shots as well. The five women had already been here for Cornelia's work-related assignments, as it was a popular location for modeling and filming gigs in the area, but this time everyone was a lot nicer and treated them much better than during their teen years.

"Yes, Cornelia. Because burglars know whether the inside of a house will have valuable stuff or not, before entering it."- Taranee rolled her eyes while squatting and lying in various uncomfortable positions in order to take the best photos of her friend. She would need them for Instagram and her sponsored posts for TeCAMPo.

"It doesn't make sense."- Will snorted. She had already told her friends everything while Hay Lin was fitting the clothes for Cornelia and they all watched her model for them exclusively while getting ready for the upcoming show. "Matt's parents hate each other. He knows that. Everyone knows it, but suddenly Linda wants to help him with his campaign? Then someone that knows the family just pushes Mr. Olsen down as to take him out of the picture...I don't like this. I really don't."

"Yeah, honestly, you're not even over with your parents' drama yet and Matt's folks are already starting their own. That blows whale di-"

"Irma."

"-what? I'm just saying- "- the Latina perked up on the golden daybed she was lounging on. "-I'm saying that our friends Matt and Will shouldn't have to be a part of their parents' drama anymore. Come on, wasn't the whole entire Tony-Susan-Serena track enough?"

"No duh."- Cornelia rolled her eyes as Hay Lin stripped her of the dress and carefully put it back on its hanger. "But all their parents are just too problematic not to drag them into their messes, obviously. The only way for Will and Matt to be left at peace would be if they left town, which we definitely don't want, so we just have to help them suck it all up and move on, no matter what. Regardless of how many "tracks" they're to face, Irma."

Irma mimicked her friend's talking as Hay Lin was searching for a thin lace bra for her next outfit.

"Wow, you two are so full of tact and grace."- Taranee commented sarcastically as Irma sipped her chai latte loudly and Cornelia looked down at her bare chest, unperturbed.

"They're right though and I appreciate your support." - Will smiled meekly after Irma threw a hand around her shoulders and turned back to the dark-skinned woman:

"Hey, I'm famous for being tactless and blunt, but I thought Corny was pretending to be a dame or something."- she added deviously. "A lady. I didn't know that it's now considered ladylike to flash people with your boobs like that."

"Oh, shut up."- Cornelia snapped and turned to face her reflection jauntily. "They look good though, right?"- she added, touching her breasts.

"Are you kidding."- Will rolled her eyes. "They're perfect."

"I'll say-"

"Yeah, they look amazing and so do you."

And as the blonde listened to her friends' compliments with an undying smile, the door of the spacious fitting room suddenly opened and she screamed, covering herself with her hands.

"Eric! Haven't you heard of knocking?!"- Taranee scolded the man who had just entered.

"Eric?"- Hay Lin exclaimed, returning to the small podium with the bra she had been searching for.

"Hey you..."- her boyfriend smiled through the fingers he was covering his eyes with, and then exclaimed in his turn: "I didn't see anything!"

Cornelia, who had turned her bare back towards him, made a face.

"What are you doing here, anyway."- she growled as she put the satin robe that Will was handing her over her skimpy thong and was finally decent. He hadn't seen anything, her ass. Literally. He had just seen her almost entirely naked as she was supposed to wear little to no underwear with the outfits for the fashion show.

"I wanted to see Hay Lin real quick. Can I steal her for a minute?"

Hay Lin looked curious at that, but Cornelia sulked:

"I guess, but don't take too long, she's my seamstress today. You know how it is."

"Certainly."- Eric beamed and made his girlfriend a sign to follow him.

Cornelia took the bra from her friend and nodded at her, encouraging her to go. The truth was that although she had the tendency to act selfishly around her friends at times, she deeply cared about each and every one of them.

"So, what's the next outfit?"- Irma spoke once their Asian friend and her boyfriend were out.

"Pants and tops."- the Earth guardian replied, heading for the big hangers next to the screen. "TeCAMPo wants to appeal to a larger scale of people, I guess that's why they can't include only runway pieces like that last dress."

"Thank God then, we can take advantage of your PR pieces and actually wear something."- Will joked and shrugged at Taranee's sarcastic look directed towards her. "What? You know I like casual, comfy clothes-"

This time there was a knocking on the door of the room, even if the person knocking didn't wait for consent to enter. Taranee was taken aback at the sight of the beautiful auburn-haired woman that made her way towards them. Will's mouth also opened, but no sound came out of it. Irma, however, couldn't control herself:

"Sondra?! Is that you?"

Sondra Tecampo, their once schoolmate, who had faked being a foreign student as to get attention and be most popular at school, smiled warmly.

Like all the girls back then, the guardians had also disliked the exchange student for she corrupted all male attention and flaunted her looks in their faces. Conniving and mean-spirited, Sondra had even wanted Matt for herself at one point, which had forced Will into ski racing her during one school trip to the mountains. Upon being exposed as a liar though, Sondra had switched schools once again, leaving Sheffield Institute on a bad note with almost every one of her then schoolmates.

Not much had changed. She looked approximately the same. Beautiful, interesting, full of mystery... With the exception of the fillers in her lips.

"Oh, hi, girls. You look lovely, not ugly little ducklings anymore, all of you. Bravo!"- Sondra laughed prissily and put her hand on her waist. "See, I knew you'd grow out of it, Will."

- Why I'm gonna...

- Irma!- Taranee appealed mentally. - Don't. This is petty, we're not in school anymore, come on. What I find especially ridiculous is that she's still faking having that imaginary accent...

- She's a fricking goose who's getting on my nerves, that's what she is! Who enters a room full of people with a one-liner like that? Mad goose.

"Yeah, Sondra, nice to see you too."- Will smiled sourly. "It's good Matt waited through the whole process of my glow up, isn't it?"

"Oh, you're still together with Matt?"- Sondra was smiling, but her smile was faker than ever as Will nodded triumphantly. "That's adorable...I guess Heatherfield doesn't give you many options anyway, if you find a decent guy in school you might as well just marry him."

Taranee and Irma looked at each other meaningfully.

"By the way, you looked surprised to see me."- the auburn-haired woman went on. "Didn't Cornelia tell you that I'm Mrs. Tecampo or?"

"No. Yeah...I mean, it must have slipped my mind."- Cornelia said quickly avoiding her eyes. "We had quite a lot going on lately."

"Ah..."- Sondra snickered. "Sure, it did."

The girls looked at each other again, only Cornelia looked down. This was awkward for sure...

"No, thinking of it, I think she did mention something about Sondra and the brand and all that."- Irma interfered feistily, having Taranee on pins and needles regarding what she'd say next. "We just didn't remember you all that well, I guess we needed a visual to add to the name. I mean, you were only our schoolmate for a few weeks, right?"- she smiled at the other woman's emotionless expression. "You get it?"

"Absolutely, Izma."- Sondra didn't remain obliged. "We will have time to catch up, I promise you. I hope that all of you will attend the show?"

"You can count on that."- Taranee said, aiming for courtesy, but her tone was cold.

"Course you will. You girls are like glued to one another just like you were in school. I find that adorable."- Sondra cooed and then put on an apologetic face. "However, I'm afraid that I need to speak to our model in private, girls. Do you think that you could let us have a moment?"

"Of course. Let's go, Will. Izma."- Taranee teased and walked out of the room together with a heated Irma and Will, who was trying to suppress her laugh.


"Rebecca, right? Yes, you're on time."- Miranda snorted, going through the register on the desk.

It was a cloudy day in Heatherfield. "Ye Olde Bookshop" was ready to open for the day. The last thing needed was the girl she had hired to help around the place bombarding her with more questions.

Rebecca Rudolph. Miranda gave her a critical look behind the desk. Hopefully, she wouldn't be a hindrance for her and the stupid bookshop. Then again, she wasn't planning on being here forever. No, Heatherfield was not an option with the guardians constantly being around the corner. That was why she had resorted to partial glamouring on herself, Cedric, and their daughter.

"Did you get everything you have to do?"

"Yes, Ms. Myra."- Orube said respectfully and nodded.

Her part-time job was something important to her. During her stay in Heatherfield years ago, she had done something similar; she had become a journalist. Hence this new endeavor was fundamental. She wanted to work and make sense of her life on this planet.

"Ms. Myra, when did you acquire this place? I have worked here before but never saw you."

Miranda stopped dead in her tracks and stared at her:

"You have?"

"Yes, around ten years ago. This establishment was I think municipal property back then because the owner had disappeared. The town council was using it to organize internships for young journalists, writers, and others in the field of literature and art. That's why I came here."

"Well, we inherited the place. Me and my husband."- Miranda retorted, closing the register in front of herself and walking around the desk. "Anyway, I have some work to attend to. You know what you have to do around here, right?"

"Of course."

"Then I will be seeing you later. I'll have a word with my husband and then I'll be heading out."

"Whatever you say, Ms. Myra."

Miranda didn't say anything more, she went straight to the back of the store where she had left him. Cedric...Ever since she had taken him out of that cell and Leonida had interfered, tampering with his mind and free will, he was like this. As if he was in a state of walking slumber. He wasn't exactly there when being spoken to, mentally. He was...dull and empty.

Miranda frowned each time she remembered how Leonida had said she'd help her case but instead turned the father of her child into this living dead man.

Your help was cheap and so was the spell you placed upon him, you deluded princess, Miranda thought angrily as she watched the man sitting on the chair motionless and with eyes staring into the ceiling. I hope you fail miserably and lose Meridian and Phobos. I hope you both lose! You didn't care about helping me, you only wanted to separate the prince and the lord for good. And you succeeded...

"My love, I'm going out. I have to talk to the frogs from the town council once again."- she said softly. "This place...we have to sell it soon. I will be back. Meanwhile, help that new girl with the new deliveries and put the goods in place, OK? And, darling, don't talk much. I will be back soon."- with that she kissed his cheek and slowly walked out.

Cedric could only nod.

As if you could talk much even if you wanted to. Leonida, she... She made a mockery out of your spirit. I curse her forevermore.

He stood up and went to fulfill her requests, with the glamour that elongated his face and hair, making it gingerish, and changing his features well enough but still discretely. Barely. It was a different person's looks, but at the same time, it was still him. It was important for her to keep seeing him underneath it all. The real him.

Miranda sighed and walked out of the "Ye Olde Bookshop", rushing into yet another hectic day in this insane world.


Susan Vandom-Colllins smiled at her husband as they both entered the big auditorium hand in hand and started looking for their places. They were dressed nicely; Susan had a crème-colored cashmere, off-the-shoulders dress on. Dean wore a fancy crème formal jacket. They had tickets and everything; they just had to locate their numbers in the sea of rich red chairs.

It was the night of the fashion show, or Cornelia's fashion show, as her friends and family called it, and there were quite a lot of spectators in the huge auditorium. The night and the event promised to be spectacular and therefore, with all the needed precautions taken, the show was on.

Susan waved at the Hales before following her husband to their seats, which he had finally located. They weren't as focal as those of the Hales, of course, but they were still on the first row, which was more than generous of the organizers, who seemed to have taken notice of Cornelia's requests.

Susan was excited for tonight. It was not something she did every day; having the chance to attend a fashion show, here, in Heatherfield, and that starring a girl that had practically matured in front of her eyes, was fascinating. Of course, she didn't expect her good mood to be killed in a matter of seconds, but it happened.

She was going through her purse when she felt someone sitting next to her. She turned around and saw the familiar smile of her ex-husband:

"Hey there, Susie-Q. How's it going?"

"Tony?"- the mother of two hissed and looked around herself. He smiled at her, but Susan's frown only intensified. "What are you doing here?"

"Well, same as you, of course. I'm here for the show- "

"Really? And since when are you interested in fashion?"- Susan snapped and looked around herself. The show would start soon. Soon Dean would come back with their drinks. He was going to be pissed to find her talking to her ex again...

"It's a social event, Susie, besides, I want to support our daughter and mainly her friend, who's going to be modeling. What's bad about that?"- Tony shrugged innocently as he watched his ex-wife tensely stomp her foot. "Let me walk you around for a moment? There are still about 15 minutes before the lights go off-"

"Walk me around?"- Susan repeated, throwing him a burning glare. "I want you to find another place for yourself instead. We haven't really talked ever since you convinced me that I've slept with you!"- she added in an angry whisper and looked around herself again. "You didn't pick up your phone nor did you say something reasonable, now what do you expect, Tony? Decent people don't do things like you do them-"

"Walk with me."- Tony insisted.

Susan hesitated, but sighed and stood up. She was tired. Tired of the constant dramatic games that life with Tony consisted of. He had always gotten her into trouble. He was trouble himself.

"I didn't want to intrude myself on you after the night you spent in my room."- he began, but she interrupted him:

"You mean the night you put something in my drink in order for me to fall asleep in your room and wake up under the impression that we've been intimate."- Susan hissed, glaring at him. "You did it purposely, Tony, you counted on my feelings of guilt and my inner doubts to ruin my marriage and push me towards you."

Now that she voiced it all, she got even angrier. Mostly with herself. How could she be so foolish? How could she allow him to toy with her like that after so many years?!

"I told you I wanted you back, Susan."- came his reply. "I never said I was decent or that I'd play fair. I have love for you...but I have made amends with your decision. Can't force you to be mine, can I?"

"Finally, you seem to be accepting reality."- the woman retorted sarcastically and folded her arms, watching him." Not exactly a proper apology, but I take it that you won't try anything similar ever again. Because if there is a next time, I will press charges. There's a limit with everything, Tony Vandom. Even my patience and endurance for you based on our past and our family have a limit of their own."

"No...Yes, of course, you're right and no there will be no other time. That was it. I am accepting reality."

He escaped her insistent gaze and just looked through the crowded saloon as if he was looking for somebody. He was tense. What was it with Tony again... Susan knew that face of his very well. Each time he was to pull it, he was sure to have started a new mess.

"Tony is there something you-"- she began saying, but she was cut short.

"Tony? I was looking for you. Oh, good evening, Susan."- Linda Olsen came as if out of nowhere. "Which are your seats?"

"Linda, hello."- Susan replied, a little bit irked about the way she had just interfered in their conversation. "Numbers 17 and 18. Dean's already there. How about yo-"

"Oh, this means we're sitting next to each other."- Linda exclaimed. "We're 19 and 20. It will be fun!"

"19 and 20..."- Susan murmured. "Wait, who are you here with? Are Will and Matt not-"

"Oh, no, they are in the special lounge together with the rest of Cornelia's friends and their significant others. I'm here with my date."

Linda smiled and caught Tony under the arm. Susan could only stare at her for a long minute as if the information she had just been given took a longer time reaching her brain. First, she just opened her mouth and closed it, then she looked at their linked arms... Her date... Tony was Linda's date!? That was beyond, beyond insane. Susan finally met her ex-husband's eyes, shooting him an accusing glare, but he just smiled it off, enraging her even more.

"Yeah, Susie-Q. Linda and I are seeing each other now. Are you cool with that?"

Susan could only look at them in silence, awkwardness and growing anger. Her ex-husband and the mother of their daughter's boyfriend were an item now. They were an item and they were going to be sitting next to her and her current husband during the fashion show that she suddenly had no desire to attend anymore.


"When will it start? I certainly must take a picture with Cornelia for the papers!"- Vera Hale was utterly enraptured by the social event. Jumping in her place like a child, she frisked her Gucci skirt with both hands, observing the stage impatiently and just refusing to sit down.

Elizabeth Landon, her daughter-in-law, sighed but didn't say anything. If her husband wasn't finding a problem with his mother's risible behavior, then why should she?

Harold was on his phone next to her, unbothered by his mother's antics as usual. It was as if he had given up on her. Or he accepted all her bras "quirkiness" as normal; after so many years it was only logical, Elizabeth knew. It was a bit of both, but primarily, it was Harold not seeing a problem with Vera's attitude in 98 out of 100 of the cases.

"She's not the designer, grandma. I bet she won't have separate shots for the papers, what is left time to take pics with you."- Lillian rolled her eyes and elbowed her boyfriend, Chris Lair, who had chosen a particularly bad moment to snicker out loud.

"Is that so, Lillian? And when will you do something social-orientated like your sister?"- Vera turned around and glared at her younger granddaughter, her face radiating criticism. She couldn't remain indifferent to what she saw as a provocation. "You're 18. You should start taking care of your social status and that of the family instead of being jealous of Cornelia and her achievements."- the mature redhead pointed out sharply. "She was younger than you and she was successful, the fact that she resigned from modeling then was a childish decision, but thankfully now she's back at her scene. She is going to be famous and respected! A socialite like me. What are you aspiring to become? I don't see any particular talents or interests of yours shining through."

Lillian felt her cheeks burning. She didn't need to say it, it was obvious to everyone just how much her grandmother's words stung. But Vera Hale was Vera Hale. Everyone knew her and her rough ways and forms of expression.

"Chilax, granny, we're not even through with high school yet- "- Chris rushed to his girlfriend's aid, but Vera interrupted him with a sharp wave of her hand:

"You shut up, no-hoper! You'll only ever see the inside of a college thanks to your sister giving you a chance for an internship, and that will still probably be community college- "

"Grandma!"

"Vera, please sit down and stop bickering with the kids."- Elizabeth interfered icily. "And please stop jumping like that, the show is about to start soon. What will people think about us if you keep being as loud and ill at ease at your age- "

"Babette, please, you can't teach me, a notable socialite, what appropriate behavior looks like, because you are a non-achiever and a klutz."- Vera announced. "Short and simple. I'm excited for your daughter's success unlike you."

Elizabeth wasn't about to swallow down another such insult. She glared at her husband and kicked him in the ankle, impatient for him to say something to his obnoxious mother before she did. Harold, who hadn't followed the conversation at all, fixed the collar of his white shirt and looked up from his phone grudgingly:

"Mo-"

"Mrs. Hale? Mrs. Vera Hale? I'm Sondra. Sondra Tecampo."- Sondra who had just walked to their lounge, smiled at the elderly woman. "I'm the organizer of tonight's show. I heard you want to take some pictures with Cornelia for the press? Come with me then. We're having a few magazines taking some in-advance photos now, before the start of the program. Come with me! The rest of you, you and her friends will also be invited for pictures after the show's over."- she added cheerfully, nodding at Harold and Elizabeth.

"Miss Tecampo, that's amazing, thank you for this opportunity- "

"Oh, please, call me Sondra."- the woman chuckled. "Cornelia's my favorite model. Let's go now, Mrs. Vera."

Vera didn't need a second call, she quickly followed Sondra, taking her Gucci purse with herself and turning to her relatives once more in a self-congratulatory manner:

"It is certainly nice when class and dignity are recognized! Watch and learn, Lillian. If you work hard, one day you will have what I and your sister have. A prominent social status and recognition."


In her dressing room, Cornelia was already in the first outfit for the night and the glam people were just finishing off her hair and makeup. Flawless skin, warm pink blush and lots of highlighter on the cheeks, blues on her eyes, and big, fairy-like lashes. Her lips were nude and glossy, and her long hair was styled in loose curls. She looked at her reflection in the big mirror. She looked beautiful, that was for sure. Gorgeous, as she had always seen herself. Ten years ago, from that day, this was exactly how she'd imagine herself as a model in her 20s. Absolutely compelling. Only, she used to imagine that he would be by her side during these shows too...

Oh, Caleb...

Cornelia sighed. Yes, Caleb's absence was killing her. It was unfair. It was unfair for them to be separated like that after having fought for their relationship so much. Leonida had done this to her and in a moment of weakness, killing the unhinged princess didn't seem that hard to the guardian anymore.

"You're ready. You can rest up here until they call you over your transmitter."- the hair guy said after a few minutes. "You have it on, right."

"Um, yeah. It's on and it's working, they tested it before you guys came."- Cornelia nodded and pointed at the little discrete Bluetooth earphone she had.

"Great then, we'll be going. Best of luck!"

"Thanks."- the blonde said as she watched the glam people leave the room.

It was a small, but beautiful room and she had it all to herself. She had thought it strange at first because all the other models were not getting ready with her like she was used to, but Sondra had assured her it was because she was the special face of tonight's show.

"This is your comeback, darling."- she had told her. "You want it to be special and memorable, and special starts with a VIP dressing room and glam squad."

This kind of 'special treatment' was good, she couldn't deny it, but at the same time, she was a little uncomfortable. After all, Cornelia had been absent from the modeling scene for years, she didn't see how anyone could perceive her as a star at this point. Sondra was someone she knew from school, could she simply be looking out for her and wanting to help her get back in the game? It wasn't impossible, but it didn't make much sense. They had never been friends during the short time which Sondra had spent in Sheffield Institute.

Cornelia sat awkwardly in her dress, waiting to be called. She knew that she was supposed to be the last model to come on stage and do a grand reveal or something, so that could take a while. However, her friends weren't allowed in her dressing room until the end of the show. She was yet to decide whether she was nervous, annoyed, or a mixture of both. Cornelia sighed and went on her phone; it was going to be a long evening.


"Matt, are you OK?"- Will asked her boyfriend cautiously as she approached him. Matt was standing near one of the island tables, lost deep in thought. He tried to hide it when he saw her, but she knew. The fashion show was the last thing on his mind tonight:

"Yeah, I'm fine. Don't worry, Will."- he replied and forced a smile. "I...I was just on the phone with the hospital. Grandpa is still in critical condition. I'm just a little bit bummed about that."

"We can leave if you want to."- Will suggested. "We can go to the hospital, I'm sure that Cornelia would understand."

"No, Will, we can't. Besides, we won't be of any use in front of the ICU."- the man shook his head. "Everyone's here too. Even my mother."

Yeah, Will thought, her eyes floating in the distance as she looked for Linda. Even your mother...

She was yet to find the right words to talk to Matt about what the appliances in the house had witnessed the previous night. It wasn't a simple thing to do, even after everything they had been through. Besides, she didn't know enough to make conclusions yet. If she said something now, it would appear like she was just throwing mud at Linda at any given opportunity because she was still upset with her over the miscarriage drama. To be fair, Will wasn't sure whether she could ever fully forgive her boyfriend's mother for her sadistic reaction to her losing their first baby to Serena and Jessie's evil revenge. Linda's current actions didn't help the case much either. Whenever Will looked at her she felt annoyance and disdain. Hurt. Even a sort of disquiet, for some reason...Disquieting. Yes, that had to be put on Linda's ID.

"Let's take our seats, Will."- Matt took her out of her thoughts by taking her hand. "I think the show's beginning."

"Matt. He'll get better. Grandpa Olsen, I believe in it."- the redhead said reassuringly. "Trust me, I have a hunch."

He smiled sadly under the fading lights of the big room. The program was indeed beginning.

"You and your hunches are never wrong and that means a lot, baby."

Will leaned to give him a kiss and nodded with a smile. He was her precious bean and she promised herself to do everything she could to keep him safe and happy.

The show finally began with the first models coming to the stage one by one. Irma watched with half an eye for the most part, while Hay Lin commented excitedly with Taranee, who was mostly trying to be a good sport, as she wasn't as interested in fashion as the air guardian, but still found the idea of the show intriguing enough.

"Yeah, you're right, Hay. These clothes are a tad too commercialized. Fast fashion, right?"

"Yeah, like H&M, Zara, etcetera."- Irma interrupted. "Even I know that."

"But they're more practical, at least, than high fashion?"- Taranee went on, ignoring the remark.

"Yes, that's true, Tara. But that doesn't mean that their designers couldn't have expanded the range to give the models a stronger sense of identity!"

Taranee smiled:

"You will when you come out with your first collection, I am sure of it."

Even their boyfriends watched. Martin, Eric, and Nigel were all in the special lounge to support Cornelia. Will and Matt waved at them from the front row. Yes, Taranee estimated. They had to stick together and be more by themselves now when Matt was going through such a hard time. Poor Matt and Will can't seem to have a rest from problems and drama.

"None of us can, but yeah."- Irma had caught a string of her thoughts which she had unwittingly broadcasted to her and Hay Lin. "Their string of dramatic and unfortunate events is super shitty. So is the sit. for Corny. I really can't begin to imagine what's it like for them. There's only a certain much a girl can take, you know."

"No, at least her parents are not as involved in her problems."- Hay Lin whispered.

"Knock on wood."- Taranee murmured and focused her gaze on the stage again.


When Cornelia finally got on the stage, she was just a tad bit shook up. She looked at the time; exactly 30 minutes had passed, she was 2 minutes late to walk down the long stage last, but that was only because of what had happened to her behind the scenes...

She huffed inwardly and put on a big smile before doing her model face when the audience applauded her and she began her catwalk. She knew that a lot of people were here for her, her family, friends, they all counted on her to be fabulous tonight. And she was - she continued to look as stunning in spite of the unforeseen situation that caused her two-minute delay. Two minutes were a lot in fashion, that's why she was thankful that it didn't reflect on her overall presentation. Throughout all six outfits which she got to model; the blonde kept looking fabulous. The glam squad was really quick on their part as well- she would walk around the stage for about two minutes in each look, then go down, get changed for less than 5 minutes while the other models made a full circle, and then stepped back so that Cornelia could do her next stride in the next outfit.

It all went well until her final outfit change. The final walk. When she got on the stage dressed in a short latex purple dress, they changed the track. The music and the images on the big video wall in the background changed...for the worst.

"Will, Irma, Taranee, Cornelia, Hay Lin."- the loud voice narrated. "Five ordinary girls. Or are they? Some innocent faces hide dark secrets."

Cornelia's smile quenched entirely as she heard that. She met her friends' looks of distress, staring from the distance before she turned around in shock:

"...secrets that have no rational explanation!"

The photo projected on the big wall...It was one of theirs. A picture they had taken with Elyon, many Halloweens ago. Only Elyon was cut out of it. They were all dressed up in Halloween costumes, but the photo was manipulated. Edited. In an appalling manner... Their eyes were painted red. Their open mouths- black. The ominous music that played in the back as the blood-imitating live frame put on the picture dripped over their faces echoed in her ears.

"WITCH...WITCH...WITCH..."- the voice chanted as the video wall started flickering and then everything went black.

The entire room was engulfed in darkness. The power was out.


"Tell me this was just a nightmare in there and that we're now awake."- Irma commented, one hour later, when she and her friends were in her car. She was driving back from Ladyhold towards the city. It had been a long day and the finale of the night had been too much. They all needed a serious break.

"We're awfully lucky people thought it to be someone's idea of a silly prank."- Taranee, who was sitting in the seat next to the driver retorted. She tightened her fist: "Only it wasn't a prank and we know it full well. Someone just tried to expose our double identities in front of a mass of people. Nothing like this has ever happened to us before and we've been guardians for over 10 years!"

"We've always been so careful."- Hay Lin called in from behind. "Who would do that and why tonight."

"Because they wanted to ruin my comeback to the industry, that's why."- Cornelia said, looking grimly through the window, into the dark.

It was late. The road they had taken was forested, secluded and barely illuminated by the moon and stars. They hadn't wanted to drive back to town on the main road, together with everyone from the guests. Not after that video wall disaster had drawn so much attention to all of them.

"Well, they didn't have success. The night was ended on a good note, everyone thinks it to be a prank."- Will reasoned. "We have to let it go and quietly discover who and why just tried this on us."

"Tell me you don't think it was Sondra all along."- Irma clenched her teeth just at thinking about her theory. "I mean, come on, she takes Cornelia, makes her the star of the night, and then this happens? Not only was it odd that she treated us like VIPs, it was bizarre! What makes us so special to her anyway? We should've known better that she'd try to put a knife in our backs, the bitch hated our guts back in Sheffield Institute!"

"Why would she do that though and how did she come to know that we're witches."- Taranee frowned. "Yeah, we didn't get along during the couple of weeks she was at our school, but I definitely don't see that as motivation for someone to try to destroy our reputation and name. Hate is a little overboard, Irma-"

"Why not, she probably thinks that we did to her first when we exposed her for faking being a foreign girl."- the water-witch snorted, but her friends didn't seem to buy her version.

"OK, but how did she know about us being guardians."- Will insisted. "It doesn't make sense, Irma."

Irma pouted but didn't argue again. She knew her friends had a right.

"Maybe she didn't, maybe she just wanted to prank us cruelly."- Hay Lin suggested. "It's possible that she didn't know what a perfect guess she's making by labeling us as witches. Isn't it?"

"I think that's a little too fitting for anyone unbeknownst to our secret identities to have just coincidentally guessed, Hay Lin."

Will nodded too:

"Yeah, it's not completely impossible, but what are the odds."

"Someone locked the doors of my dressing room before my turn came."- Cornelia interrupted them, drawing all attention on herself. She was tired, tense, and furious over what had happened.

"What?!"

"See!"- Irma exclaimed victoriously. "Who would do that if not Sondra? Only she and the staff have keys to the property while renting it-"

"We don't know that."- Taranee shook her head.

"You got out with your powers?"- Will suggested. "Is that why they called your name a few times before you actually made it to the stage?"

Cornelia nodded bitterly.

"I share Irma's opinion. I mean in part."- she huffed. "Sondra recognized me before I recognized her in Paris. Sondra deliberately wanted me to work for her brand and I'm not exactly buying the story in which she does it out of generosity and us knowing each other from before. She has some sort of goal. I...I just don't know what it is yet."

"To undermine us."- Irma shrugged. "Spit in our faces, take revenge on us. Who knows. And I know that you think that she doesn't have motives for that, but who knows how crazy the person across the room is, ever. You can't know for sure, that's what's bad. Haven't you watched those movies and read those books, where the culprit does shit out of spite and over the stupidest things- "

"Fiction and reality are two different things, Irma."- Taranee rebuked her but had to admit that a part of her was concordant with Irma's statement.

"Our reality is much different than that of most people though."- Will shook her head. "We-"

"WHAT THE FUCK?!"

"IRMA, LOOK OUT!"

"OH MY GOD!"

The lights that had suddenly appeared in front of them turned Taranee's blood into ice. They all screamed in unison, Cornelia hid her face in her palms, Hay Lin grabbed a hold of the shocked Will and Will just shook her head frantically. It happened so fast...In the last moment, Irma managed to turn the steering wheel, and their car ended in the bushes outside the road, avoiding a heinous crush by a hair's breadth.

"Is everyone alright?! Is there someone hurt? Corny?"

"No, I'm f-fine, I'm just a little shaken."

"That was close."- Hay Lin breathed.

"Too close."- Taranee squalled. "We almost became roadkill!"

They all did. Once they could catch their breaths again and were sure that each and every one of them was fine, the five women opened the doors of the taken-off-the-road car. The vehicle that had almost killed them, appearing out of the blue was still on the asphalt. It had basically entered the one-way road through the forest...

"You drunk motherfucker, you almost mowed us down!"- Irma yelled with all guns blazing, slamming her fist against the black car.

The night was warm but very dark. This particular road was. But that didn't mean that people could just drive on it in the opposite fucking direction! This was just insane, Hay Lin decided as she lined up with her friends, the majority of whom still had a hard time breathing normally.

"People like you shouldn't be driving, you morons!"- Taranee screamed as the doors of the vehicle open.

"Oh, my God, Andan, I told you that I'm not good at this. Girls, I'm so sorry! I really didn't expect for someone to be on this road tonight, you know how they used to tell us it's desolated. I'm so sorry, really. Are you all OK?"

The five women stared at the couple that had just emerged out of the car with hanging jaws.

"Elyon?!"

"What the hell are you doing here, weren't you at my show?"- Cornelia asked, her eyes shining with confusion.

"Yeah, and how the hell are you driving, you never had any practice."- Will reminded her. She looked over at Hay Lin. All of them were equally as puzzled by what had just happened.

Elyon shook her head and rested a hand on her husband's shoulder as if she was trying to catch her own breath too. That close call they had just had...her hair bristled thinking about it.

"We were, we just had to go back. I forgot my purse in Ladyhold."- she exclaimed. "I'm so sorry, I feel terrible that we almost crashed into you."

"Yeah, thank God Irma's uncle used to teach her to drive his racing car."- Cornelia huffed and folded her arms. She was tired and in a terrible mood after everything today. This near-death experience wasn't helping her either.

"True, she's very skilled with the wheel."- Taranee sighed and patted Irma's back. "Phew for that."

"You know what, since we're not dead yet."- Irma began sarcastically. "I suggest Tara takes my car. It's still in the right order, we didn't crash. She'll drive the other girls home and I will drive you two to Ladyhold, you said you forgot your purse, Ely-"

"No."- Elyon shook her head, stealing a shared look with her husband. Andan remained as silent as he was around them lately. "I mean, yes, I did forget it, but the mansion is close, we will manage on our own, Irma, thanks a lot, but it's not necessary, really."

"You will manage?!"- Taranee was scandalized. "Elyon, have you ever driven a car before? Look what just happened a few minutes ago, wasn't that eye-opening enough for you?"

"It's an automatic car."- the Queen chuckled nervously, making Will's stomach turn, and waved it off. "I just have to drive slower...Girls, really, I appreciate it, but no. We will go now, please don't worry. You get back to the road too. Bye! See you around."

And just like that she and Andan got back in the black car and disappeared up the road.

"OK, what was that just now? Did you see her?"- Irma exclaimed. "What is she on this time, nose candy? I'm sincerely concerned about that damsel's mental health, I swear-"

"She's definitely getting odder on the daily, I'll give you that."- Taranee murmured.

"And Andan?"- Will added. "When did he become the silent type? Tactless much? They almost killed us, he could've said a simple sorry the very least!"

"Maybe, I don't know, they're trying to adjust to life on Earth?"- Hay Lin shrugged, trying to cut their friend and her husband some slack, even though it was getting harder and harder.

"Yeah, that's one tough adjustment for two idiots-"

Cornelia, however, couldn't do this anymore. She used her telekinesis on Irma's car, pulling it back to the road with effort, and then turned to her friends:

"Who cares! My head is gonna explode. Let's just get home already."

Her friends listened to her. They all got back into the car. Will turned around to look back towards Ladyhold before closing the door behind herself. She had a hunch again. Something wasn't right and it wasn't just because of their strained relations with the royal couple that had just almost flattened them with their car.