Chapter 52: The First Lady of Heatherfield
" Come back to me while I'm still waiting,
your heart, your soul, get undressed before me,
while I kiss your lips tonight, believe,
find once more the will to love and live"
Previously on the "Dark Descendant": Bitter because of Will's miscarriage, Matt's cold mother appeared to poison the relationship between her son and his girlfriend. Mysteriously, she was able to lure Tony Vandom into being a part of her master plan to get justice, against his will. Justice for everything her ex-husband, Marcus Snowden, has done to her in the past. Tony tried to break free of her claws a few times, but she kept her grip firm. Her plan to make Snowden mayor and marry Tony at the same time in order to collect inheritance and get revenge is successful so far. Linda's doing all it takes to achieve her goals. She even went as far as staging her father's death; Herbert had a funeral, but he's not really dead; he's kept in a senior center because he is a hindrance to his daughter's intentions, and his other daughter Carolyn knows... But what is the truth about Linda and her family? What is the truth about her past? And is something going to get in her way, last minute, changing the game completely? Stay tuned to find out.~
Cornelia held him and didn't want to let go. That night, she was glued to him. 12 hours had passed post his death and revival. 12 hours of gratitude. Gratitude for new chances. First, they had made rocking love; it was kind of their thing. She cried. She had yearned for this, she had been scared that they'd never be together again, regardless of the facade she had been putting up for the others. The truth was that Cornelia Hale could finally breathe without fear after so much time. Then, for the rest of the night, she just kissed him and snuggled with him, over and over again. They talked a lot too. They had so much to say to each other...
Caleb wasn't willing to let go of her either, even if unsuspecting of the actual truth, he had been feeling a void without her. Now that they were together again, they were falling in love all over again too. Six weeks was a lot of time to be away from someone you love so much, someone you need so much... And they had been apart far too long. If Cornelia could say one thing for sure, it would be that some things happen just to leave one's life full of shit. Others, even if seemingly bad, happen to clear one's life of all that shit. Like with Caleb's few-minute "death"; after the Heart of Kandrakar and her true love had literally brought the man back to life, the curse put on him had been wiped away. He no longer had to stay away from his Earth guardian because he had already died. Now that he was breathing again, all that was a bad memory.
"It wasn't all bad-"- he murmured when the dawn was rising again, throwing the first rays of the new day through the poorly closed curtains of the rustic room of the hut they were sleeping in. "...that time that I spent away from you..."- Caleb sighed deeply and rubbed his naked chest. First 24 hours of him being a grown man again, and he was already waffling. "I know that it has surely been for you, but I... I got to experience some years of my life with my parents... Years that I deemed lost forever, we all did, didn't we? Don't be mad at me for saying this, please, Cornelia. I hate what you had to go through, but for me, it was a blessing in disguise of sorts."
Cornelia closed her eyes and opened them again, conflicted at what she wanted to reply. There it was again, his brutal honesty. He was always honest, especially with her. They had talked about this already, the polemic matter of the different experiences that the past six weeks had been for the two of them, and honestly, she was a little bit angry. She had never been that selfless, to begin with, but a part of her was happy for Caleb and his blessing in disguise.
"I know. I know Nerissa blocked your old memories, played with your age, and left you with new, valuable memories of over six years in that seemingly short period of six weeks. Short for me, it wasn't, but still."- she put her hand over his mouth because she could feel him wanting to interrupt her. "- and I know that she was cornered, Leonida did this to us, I think I understand that as twisted as all this sick shit is, your mother somehow managed to make it positive for you. For her and for your father, I get it, she always does that. She looks out for her family, but she does it super selfishly. I spent the last six weeks terrified, discouraged, and alone, Caleb. I am happy for you, of course, I am. But I need you and she keeps standing between us. Nerissa keeps being an obstacle in our life even without trying! If it's not something that's she doing it will be something that's happening to her. I know she's your mother and I know what getting reunited with her and her love after so many years means to you, but I am tired of this."
In the end, she had lost it and said it all out. As usual. Cornelia sighed as Caleb pulled away and sat up in the bed:
"Don't talk like that, Cornelia, please!"- he begged her. He really begged her and that annoyed her. "I have both my old memories and those I made while I was cursed. She doesn't want to be an obstacle for us, think of all the times she has helped us! You talking like that and thinking like that puts me in a terrible position. I can't choose between the two of you!"
"This is how you're taking this?!"- Cornelia jumped too, feeling herself getting enraged. "I am not making you choose between us, this shouldn't be a choice, I'm the mother of your child and she's your mother, I fucking get that, Caleb, but I am a little bit tired of her having the lead role in MY life. Because that's what your mother always does! I am sorry but Nerissa suffers from histrionic personality disorder and that's obvious to anyone who she interacts with!"
He stood up abruptly, looking more than upset. Cornelia sighed and hit the pillow in her frustration. This was the last thing she wanted to do right now - fight. But she couldn't help it. She couldn't help the anger that was smothering her, otherwise.
"Your parents literally look down on me because of things like money and Earth jobs, and all sorts of such insignificant crap and I've never talked like that about them."- the young man shook his head in hurt. "My mother accepts you the way you are! Why can't you just do the same? You went as far as diagnosing her as if you don't know what that woman has been through. She's just a woman, Cornelia-"
"My parents are unaware of my double identity. Yours too. Their judgment can't be clear even if they wanted to."- Cornelia interrupted him. Her blue eyes shone angrily. It was stupid of him to even bring her folks up; she always opposed them when they bad-mouthed him. He, on the other hand, was almost always OK with anything Nerissa thought of. "Nerissa might as well accept me after she tried to kill me and my friends in the past-"
"So did your friend Elyon, but you don't bash her like that, do you-"
"You're unaware of how bad my relationship with Elyon has become during those last weeks, Caleb, besides I sure didn't expect of you to use your favorite Queen as a means of justifying your mother."- the blonde sneered and crossed her arms on her breast. "Just a woman?"- she then repeated and glared at him. Caleb growled silently and just stared through the window. How could he be so bad with words sometimes. He knew full well how different their lives were from those of other people. Normal people...
"She's just a woman and I'm what, a tank? I'm a woman just like her and I need you to protect me like the apple of your eye, sometimes, you're my man! I accept your mother and I give her great credit for many things, but I can't have her possess our entire life like she did by dragging you into this parallel world and shit-blank getting you killed on top of everything!"
"STOP!"
Caleb had kicked his nightstand down on the ground. His green eyes met those of the young woman in an angry gaze. Cornelia was pissed too, but he was not having this anymore:
"She feels terrible enough as it is that my life was endangered while she fought to save this realm from a tyrant and bring the heir to the Meridian throne back to our realm at the same time."- the man said in a low voice. "I forbid you of making her feel even WORSE with any such talk. She didn't get me killed! I was in that state because I was a moronic child running towards a battle scene, and because Avani made my mother drop the Emperor sword and that's that, Cornelia, do I stand clear? Don't EVER say that again or I'll not talk to you either."
Cornelia just stared at him, clenching her teeth silently.
"This is not fair."- she hissed through tears that now started to flow from her eyes. "Not only was I away from you for weeks, I almost lost you forever yesterday. Do you even know what it felt like? It felt like hell, Caleb, I was so frightened and so desperate, I was ready to die myself were you gone forever!"
"I know, Cornelia."- Caleb sighed. So did she, he thought. My mom felt just like you. I know how much you both love me.
Now he felt like crap for yelling at her. He loved her so much and she just seemed to want to fight over this over and over again, as if she didn't understand how helpless he was when her ego and that of his mom's were concerned. And this wasn't even about egos anymore. It was his love for the both of them and how Cornelia was furious with Nerissa for so many things that had caused her pain... Caleb understood everything very well yet he couldn't deny either of them. Either of their rights... They were both right but he was sure they wouldn't just agree with him on that. At least not easily.
The rebel leader got back on the bed, on his knees, and took the woman's soft hands in his, bringing them to his lips. Cornelia looked at him under a frown but didn't protest or pull away. He kissed her hands and gazed into her eyes lovingly, forgetting all about his anger. Making her forget hers too... He wasn't really angry with Cornelia either way, the circumstances were the reason he was furious.
"Look, babe."- he began softly, caressing her face. "If anyone's at fault that's me. I was the reason all this happened. Leonida used me and that caused these rifts in our family... That's why I will be the one to fix everything, I promise, Cornelia. I will make everything good again, for everyone. You'll be happy, I'll be happy, mom will be happy. I don't mention dad, because he's happy whenever we're happy anyway."- he chuckled when he saw a faint smile on the guardian's face.
He pulled her naked body towards his own, together with the sheets, and kissed her lips passionately.
"You and she never stop caring for me and looking out for me. I will never be able to repay either of you for that, but this time I will take care of you and both of your needs to no one's detriment. Trust me. I will manage this."- Caleb added firmly.
She just inhaled the scent of his body as she hugged him back and nodded. That seemed to have calmed her down:
"Alright."- Cornelia said in the end, and he kissed the top of her head gratefully. That was his girl. Understanding and vulnerable, underneath all the layers of confidence and pride. Vulnerable, only with him, because she loved him. Because she trusted him...
"I love you so much."- he whispered in her ear. He wasn't going to betray her trust. Ever.
Cornelia smiled and kissed his shoulder.
"I love you too."
"I'm not a fool, I know when to back off. I'm his mother."- Nerissa narrated while her husband was getting ready for the upcoming day.
She just stood, resting her hand against the rustic dresser and looking at her own reflection in the big mirror on the wall.
"I was going to die had my son perished, but he didn't. He's fine once more, and not only that, the curse is lifted and he has his memories back. He's his age again. Everything worked to our advantage and better good, even in the midst of the agony. We should be elated for that not irascible...as per usual."
"You mean well, love, but-"
"-but I mess up things, I know. Don't tell me about it."
She sighed and turned to look at him. Her husband always supported her. She'd miss his younger looks when her magic wears off, but at the same time, she had missed his more mature ones too. She loved him too much to choose between anything of his. Nerissa smiled and caressed his face. Life really did put them through the unthinkable. Or perhaps it was her. Maybe she was putting them through all this with her decisions over the years. Her solutions... But what other choice had she had, especially this last, most recent time? Nerissa sighed. Making the most of Leonida's curse and its conditions, making everyone do as she had wanted without their consent had resulted in dissatisfied parties. Well... Pleasing everyone all together was an impossible quest however you put it.
"You didn't plan to hurt anyone's feelings. You were just thinking of your own and of Caleb, that's understandable."- Julian said in a low voice and caressed her cheek in his turn. "And what happened with Avani and her mother, that was-"
"I'm not completely blameless."- Nerissa interrupted him. "I tried to kill many enemies over the course of the last 8 months. I keep forgetting- killing is what trips me in my darkness, what hurts me every time, like a double-edged sword even when I'm trying to do something good...But they leave me no choice, do they? Those people who intended to hurt my son-"
"No, they don't."- the man nodded. "But you are stronger. You have new purposes, new aspirations. You no longer dwell into power hunting or vengeance, you protect your family and all those who rely on you, needing your mind and might... You're not a villain anymore, darling. Don't forget that."
She smiled. She knew that, but she needed to hear someone else say it. He- he was her truest believer and supporter, without letting their love cloud his judgment when she needed it most. Just so that she could make sure her monsters would be kept at bay forever.
1 month later
Heatherfield, our time narrative
"Will? Will, it's time to go."
"Just a minute!"
Will huffed and applied more mascara before giving her reflection a critical look. She had cried and now she had to do her eyes all over again. Yes, maybe doing makeup in the bathroom with its fluorescent lighting wasn't her very best idea, she didn't doubt that she'd have lines of bad blending when in natural light, but she didn't care. OK, actually she did care, but she didn't have motivation for today.
Today was Matt's father's official inauguration ceremony. His first day and big party as the new mayor of Heatherfield. Yes, mayor. Linda's campaigning had been a success, no surprise there; but was his governing going to be successful too? Many wondered, many were nervous and excited for this new beginning. They obviously invested trust in him but one could never be sure with the way the political system worked. Even the most promising candidates sometimes turned out to be corrupted and full of betrayal. Snowden had been senator of an entire state once, for years; but Heatherfield's politics were different; Heatherfield was always so uniquely different... Was Heatherfield going to change with Marcus as its mayor?
That wasn't the most important thing today. Not for them, at least. Matt wasn't happy with his father being permanently in town, especially not as mayor, but Linda had still made him attend the inauguration events. She manipulated her way around and through her son's life, and that only strained his relationship with his girlfriend, who had a hard time keeping her mouth shut. She tried her best, but it didn't feel right at all, at times. At times, they'd argue over pointless things because of Linda's shadows that Matt was blind for, interfering with their everyday.
Will sighed. July was near its end. It was summer, it was hot outside, but for her and her guardians, it had been a month of cold war. In more than one aspect.
The park in front of the City Hall was full of festivities. There was a VIP square in the very front of the building and the rest of the space behind the ribbon dividers was open to the general public. Many had gathered to witness the new mayor taking the city key and beginning his public service.
Will tried to hide from the world and the heat with her purse; she was dressed in a trapeze ethereal blue dress that reached her knees, a pair of formal white platforms, and dark shades. That didn't stop Cornelia from spotting her right away though:
"Are you trying to hide or something?"- the blonde raised an eyebrow at her friend, who was still sort of shielding herself with the white clutch purse.
"No, I was just...the sun is-"
"Whatever, I saw them coming and I am not going to talk to Taranee's parents again. I can't do it. "- Cornelia declared and that immediately made both her and Will go glum.
Taranee was still Leonida's thrall on Coronia. They hadn't been able to retrieve her yet and were beginning to feel desperate about it. In front of the Cooks, Taranee was traveling for an educational training in Europe. Her friends not only faked emails from her but went as far as impersonating her over the phone with her family. For God's sake, they had even glamoured into Taranee's look to FaceTime the Cooks to assure them that everything's fine, however, still. It was as if Theresa and Lionel could tell something was off, hence the occasional talks with the girls had to happen. That Cornelia was now trying to avoid. Being put in the hot seat was terrible, especially when they were forced to lie like that, not knowing what is actually going on with their friend. She had talked to Taranee's family the last time on the group's behalf and her voice had started trembling while lying that everything is fine. She couldn't do it again, because she feared she'd actually break out in tears this time.
Will took her eyes off the blonde's attention-grabbing formal fitted red summer jumpsuit with skinny pants and deep square cleavage, and nodded:
"I'll go but after Marcus's speech."- she said. "Which I am super not interested in if I have to be honest. My father and Linda are a part of his legal team. They practically bought him the mayor position, if you ask me. This is so twisted in a way, I can't even put into proper words."- Will shook her head, glaring at the City Hall. "My father disappeared a few weeks ago, just like that. Poof! Like magic. He didn't answer anyone, he ghosted everything. And now he's back for the inauguration as if it's nothing. I can't deal with them on top of everything- "
"Matt's still refusing to believe you about his mother."- Cornelia nodded with compassion and sighed. "What does she want, anyway, is beyond me. Why did she have to marry your father, why does she invite us to these boring events, what's her deal-"
"Why did she take her own dad out of the way."- the redhead added bitterly. "Can't tell you. I can't tell Matt everything either, our entire relationship was on the rocks because of these mummy fights; I can't risk it again, he's not in a good place after Herbert's death. Too many things happened to him, I empathize with Matt, I really do, and I love him, but his mom is just...she's a piece of work. And she's purposely creating rifts in our fucking relationship of over ten years, Cornelia, it's scary. It's unbelievable how many times she acted as if she was the victim and fanned the flames of Matt's anger towards me. I'm always at fault when I clash with her and she's done nothing but provoke me ever since the funeral. I want to expose her but I never get to it. And even if I do, I am afraid it will hurt Matt even more, to the point of no return."
"She knows how to work her son and you can't reply properly because of your dad's involvement in everything."- Cornelia placed a hand on her shoulder. She could see the tears forming in her friends' eyes, even behind the sunglasses.
"I'm waiting for the day when she'll twist Matt's mind into blaming me for the miscarriage like she originally did."- Will's voice trembled at that and Cornelia felt for her.
This was terrible, really, the way things in her personal life were just pilling up. Family crisis after family crisis. Cornelia, herself, had finally gotten the chance to breathe freely after weeks of pain and fear...and now they had to deal with Taranee being enslaved by Leonida. Great. Just great.
"Hey, listen, that will never happen, OK? Matt loves you. He might be conflicted, but I don't think that he'll ever trash all you have, because of his mother's shit."- Cornelia tossed her low sleek ponytail to the back and discretely wiped the tears that rolled down her shorter friend's face. "I know that Matt won't make such a mistake and I know that Linda will get her just desserts. Sooner or later-"
Will sniffed and looked around herself. It was good that Matt was still talking to some of his old friends, somewhere far away from their standing table. She didn't want anyone to see her like that. Especially not him or his mother.
"I don't think that Matt's capable of taking such a drastic decision yet, Cornelia, not like Caleb did."- she said quietly but still smiled weakly. She was grateful for Cornelia. They had been great support for each other over the last months.
Cornelia thought about it for a second. She knew the other woman was referring to Nerissa and Julian moving out of their house in Heatherfield. It had been a change that they had all somewhat needed after they had returned from Beta-Meridian. Even if Nerissa hadn't agreed to it with a great deal of eagerness.
"We needed that, Caleb and I needed to be left alone. Just us and our son. He made the decision and they followed; I suppose it was not unexpected. We had our differences and we had tension between us, but as crazy as Nerissa can be, I can't compare her to Linda."- the Earth guardian exclaimed.
"No, I agree."- Will shook her head. "They're not alike. At least not anymore."
"True, she's sort of a narcissistic mother too, but she doesn't strive towards destroying my relationship with her son."- Cornelia looked at her seriously. "And Linda's goal is to separate Matt and you! She's so bitter at life, you can practically see it in her eyes, they're so...cold. Listen, Will, forget her. Our boys are not stupid, I stand by that. This is not high school anymore. And they've always treated us the best they could, even back then..."- Cornelia's ardent uplifting speech was sincere if anything. It did make the redhead feel a tad better regardless of the nasty circumstances.
"At some point, Matt will understand what's going on and he is going to choose you. I know it. I know what I said to you over a month ago, but I take it back. You don't need your guardian powers to defeat Linda, you just need to have faith in Matt and your love."
Will smiled faintly. She hoped so. She really hoped so.
Then they were able to hear and see their other friends and boyfriends approaching, and decided to cut the conversation short. It wasn't the place and time to discuss it. By the time Irma and Hay Lin lined up with them around the standing table covered with a fancy white tablecloth, laden with appetizers, Martin, Eric, Matt, and Caleb were also coming to join them. They could see them; Marcus was going to take the tribune soon.
Hay Lin looked around herself, making her long elegant braid move around intact with her growing concern. She was looking for a specific person, someone who had had it extremely hard during that last month. But it appeared that he wasn't going to attend the inauguration event today.
"Who are you looking for? Nigel?"- Irma guessed, having sensed the other guardian's thoughts.
"Yeah. Did you-"
"I talked to him. He's going to another home to help his charity. He won't attend this crappy shit-event and good for him!"- the Latina huffed. "I swear if it wasn't for my father's public image and having to support Will-"
"None of us cares about being here. Nor about politics. Marcus is an off guy; I can tell by his vibrations-"
"I can tell by his fucking nasty smirk-"- Irma snorted.
"- we just have no choice, Linda invited us and the media is going to pour scorn on some of our parents if we dismiss it. Your dad, the Hales, the Cooks..."- Hay Lin knitted her brows dismally. Her heart tightened as she mentioned Taranee's family. She felt like crying again and she couldn't afford it right now.
"And Nigel...I feel terrible for him. He has a lot going on with his mom's condition in general, and now Taranee-"
Irma's face hardened with hatred for the deranged princess who had snatched their friend away from them. She vowed though; she vowed in her head, one day, as soon as possible, she would personally take her revenge on Leonida for all the pain she had caused them.
Meridian
"I do not want to do this again! I do not fancy being here! One day you will regret this, I swear!"
Elyon sighed tiredly and put an expectant hand on her waist.
A month had passed and she had little to no progress with her niece and her rebellious spirit. Well, she guessed that at least her brother's daughter had somewhat stopped trying to trash the entire palace. Ever since Avani had been brought to her, against her will, she was trying to re-educate her. To teach her, to make her feel part of the family. Her family. If anything, Avani was the only person that could help Meridian and so many other realms and she had to realize it. That was why Elyon had established a routine for her. They spent over 8 hours a day together, to the ex-rebel's annoyance. Her aunt was tireless when it came to family.
Every day Avani was woken up by her personal servants at seven, often brought out of her chambers against her will by her guards; they made sure she didn't misbehave too much. Even if Elyon allowed her to have her whims and all, she had to be strict about some things. Then it was breakfast time. After breakfast, Elyon made her go riding around Meridian with her, showing her all of her kingdom. And talking, of course. Elyon always talked, no matter how rude her niece responded or if she responded at all. After that, she forced her to study Meridian history and whatnot other subjects which Avani hated, yet she had to admit that all this had boosted her academic level quite a lot. After that Elyon usually made her train with her magic, something that was a birthright for her and that she had never known about. Beta-Meridian had somehow suppressed it, but as soon as the former rebel leader got to Meridian where her roots were, her inner magic started to awaken.
It was new, strange, and curious to her at the same time. Learning magic was one of the few things she enjoyed from her forced stay in the Palace. That, however, didn't mean that Avani spared anyone from her demeanor. She made sure every court member, coming in touch with her, cursed her internally at least twice a day. She was giving everyone a hard time, much like her father if Elyon had to be honest. But she didn't complain. She knew that she had to make Avani mend her ways. For her kingdom, for her family, and for herself personally.
"You are an Escanor, Avani. An Escanor woman. You have to know your kingdom from every angle, that's why missing on your horseback riding is not an option."
Avani made a face of disgust. She had heard this and her family's story a thousand times in the last month. She chose violence and spite each time with her replies:
"Like you've gotten to know it during the last decade? You're all about care and understanding everyone and everything, but what of it. According to some people, your brilliant management of this kingdom led to my father getting another chance at engulfing it in his darkness and misery again. You must be quite proud, Queen Elyon. Escanor woman."
Elyon's smile quenched. Her gray-blue eyes met Avani's pale blue ones, but she didn't feel angry with her. She just felt downcast again.
"That's why you're here, Avani. To help me, to help this kingdom and make everything right again. Now let's get moving."
"I don't want to help you or this kingdom, don't you understand?! You and your guardians tore me away from my people for the sake of your selfishness!"- Avani yelled angrily as the guards started guiding her towards the exits. "In a way, you're doing just what he did all these years ago when he had you lured here and turned against your friends! Your brother! But I'm not a weakling like you, I have other things to live for! Just because my roots are here, I am not to hold on to this place for dear life like you. A place you call home where you've never been truly happy, even! I have my heart set elsewhere. In my Meridian! Where I fought my evil mother for 20 years! You can't take that away from me, nor can you change any of it. You're pathetic, Elyon!"
Elyon felt her heart tighten. This time she had enraged her. She compared what she was doing to her brother's evil, truly selfish schemes she had once fallen for... Then the Queen went over the rest of her niece's words in her mind. Happy. What an odd word that was for her by now. Her ideas of happiness had changed drastically over the years. Had she never been happy on Meridian? Had she ever been truly happy in her life at all? No... In Heatherfield, she had been pretty happy. For quite some years before her 13th Birthday, but ever since coming here...coming to the place she was born. Her kingdom... Was she happy?
"Tell me one thing you've done for your people by yourself?"- Avani hissed in her bewildered face. The guards let her approach the Queen, for she had instructed them to give the girl some liberty. The last thing she wanted was to make her feel mistreated and a prisoner in her own home...
Elyon didn't answer. This girl was literally almost her age yet she was her niece. Next in line for her throne. A part of her family... She wasn't indifferent to her, but Avani already hated her due to the circumstances. Elyon sighed as she listened to her go on. All she had ever wanted was a new chance at her family, every living member of it was special and important to her, like a rare gem. Oh, life was an ironic bitch for putting her in such a situation again. This time she was the villain in her villain brother's daughter's eyes:
"You've done nothing significant on your own! You need me to fix your horseshit! And I fought an evil mother and tyrant for years before I finally beat her, and when I did, you took everything from me as to use me! It's not fair!"- Avani spat, beside herself. She was getting herself worked up like every time. "I DESPISE YOU FOR THAT!"
"Oh, shut up already, you little brat."
The familiar sound of her high heels heralded her arrival eloquently. The soft yet imposing sound of skinny black leather pants and the soft melody of an exquisite red-velvet top. But above all, her voice was the most prominent of sounds:
"We all know how you really defeated Zorarose. All you did was hold up a sword, the plan was entirely mine. As are the merits! You call that a self-achieved victory? Oh, but wait- "- her voice morphed into a hard laugh and then grew even more vicious: "- you didn't even defeat her, she escaped with the Emperor sword because of your sheer ignorance! Shut the fuck up or I'll cut off your tongue!"
Avani made a face at the sight of the Mage, who seemed to have arrived to add to her tortures.
"Oh, I was wondering why you haven't been here in weeks and when you'd come again to darken this place even more."- she snorted. "For the last time, Mage, you tried to kill the tyrant and ended up almost killing your son. She wouldn't have managed to escape without you, I was actually about to lead her to the dungeons before you and the two nimrod guardians interfered, if you don't recall."
Nerissa clenched her teeth but gifted her with a disparaging look. She rolled a single shiny strand of curly hair from her long, high side-ponytail around her finger, and replied:
"You can thank your lucky stars my son didn't suffer serious harm because of that push you gave me with your entire cow torso. You're disloyal and ungrateful, that's why you were brought here against your will, you absolutely do deserve to feel like a worthless cat-paw in your aunt's hands."
"Wait a minute. Raythor, did you call her here?"- Elyon interjected weary, yet angry.
She shifted her attention to the man, who had come to the room with the Mage, who she didn't want around while trying to get close with Avani and mend things with her. Nerissa sabotaged it every time and Elyon didn't want to lose the tiny progress they had made because of her arrival.
Raythor opened his mouth to deny, but the Queen didn't leave him a chance:
"I thought we were clear that I'm working with Avani, I haven't requested help from anyone, I will make her understand everything on my own." - Elyon said firmly, ignoring Nerissa's mocking expression.
"Go home, Nerissa."- she added with a frown. "She's not going to take your suggestion- "
"Oh, then perhaps you suggest we wait for Phobos and Leonida to conquer the Palace first? Or break into the Infinite City again?"- Nerissa met her eyes with a cold glare. "We cannot afford the luxury of superfluous stalling. If there was ever a time for you to listen to your advisors, it is now, even your parents agree that your methods are taking too long- "
"Halinor said that the changing books are still guiding us towards the heart of the cult, we still have time."- Elyon argued back, tightening her fists. She argued with everyone who misjudged her decisions as of late, but Nerissa was one who really got her to show temper. "The entire point of letting Phobos and Leonida win was to eliminate that as a threat!"
"Every next day we let Avani toy with your hospitality, we put Taranee in more danger!"- Nerissa hissed, knowing that would make the other woman shut up. "I know what the books allude to, but we must be ready for everything! Don't you see how our active problems have never been more in count?! Every early-found solution counts!"
"She's right, Elyon, that's why I was the one who called her here today."
Elyon's mouth hung open at the sight of her husband lining up with Nerissa. Magana joined him too.
"Andan!?"
Andan looked up at her, guilt and firmness in his eyes:
"There are battles emerging every day, all across Coronia. All across Meridian now too. My sister and your brother have expanding powers and army, and they're quickly usurping many districts of our kingdoms one by one. Day by day, the war is getting bigger and more severe, how are we supposed to just stand by with hands in our pockets- "
"A month has passed, Elyon."- Queen Magana interfered meekly. "This girl hasn't shown us she can understand her big responsibility and execute it when the time comes. In fact, she might just steal all that power for herself, flee to her parallel kingdom and isolate us forever. She has that ability and right, unfortunately, being next in line for the throne- "
"- We just need to make sure that she'll work for us when the time comes and that she won't betray us."- Andan added. "She is your brother's daughter, after all"
Elyon was left speechless. Especially by her husband's words. She stared at all these people in her Throne Room. They all disagreed with her. They wanted to impose their decisions and views. Her husband, Magana, Nerissa, Raythor... They looked at her expectantly and demandingly. Even her father had agreed with them...
Outraged and scared, Avani instinctively clutched at her aunt's arm. It was then she realized her aunt is the only person who had interest in more than what she could do for the kingdom. The only one who didn't view her as a tool...
"What kind of awful people are you all... Caterpillars..."- she cried.
Nerissa frowned and cut her off:
"Who the hell do you think you're fooling? Did you expect to be shown trust after you tried to throw everyone who relied on you under the bus when you thought you didn't need my assistance for your wretched parallel world anymore? Well, to make sure you won't betray us again, I have the perfect deal for you. Take the power back from your baby sister when told and give it back to Elyon - if you do that, you'd be free to whatever and go wherever. You'll be able to return to your world. Choose to betray us by going back on your word again? Oh, well...if you do that, get ready to lose something unrestorable."
"My newfound magic power?"- the fair-haired girl smirked bitterly. "I'm not that fond of it actually, Mage. I'm not you. And what the hell's a bus?!"
"Oh, no, I said unrestorable."- Nerissa smirked in response. "Almost everything is restorable with the amount of magic you'll take from your father's baby. Your auntie is teaching you how to use magic for weeks now. Do I look like a fool to you?"- she asked icily. "I trusted you once. Never again shall I make the same mistake. You want to hammer a deal with such a big, evident loophole for you to use? I don't think so, whelp. If you want to go back to your world and be Queen, you'll have to take a bigger stake. I want you to bet your soul."
"What?!"- Elyon didn't even want to let her finish. She could see the fear in her niece's eyes. She could see her chance of saving some part of her family be destroyed. Because of Nerissa's madness. No, she wasn't going to allow it.
"Please."- Avani whispered to the Queen, to the Mage's outrage. "Let's just go riding- "
"I don't need to ask permission or to flee my own Palace when I disagree with my advisors."- Elyon raised her head up and wrapped a protective arm around the younger woman's shoulders. "We're leaving through the doors. Don't worry, Avani, no one can decide for you while I'm here."
"Elyon!"- Andan tried to reason with her. "Please, wait, listen to her, this is reasonable-"
"Nothing in Nerissa's sheer madness is ever reasonable. She tramples over everything and everyone to have things her way! Not again!"- the straw-blonde yelled and made Andan stand back with just the look she gave him. Magana looked away...
"All of you have done enough, the final decision is mine!"
But Nerissa stood in her way like a wall. They stared into each other's eyes wrathfully. Militantly. None of them ready to relent... Nerissa glared down at the little naïve fool who disobeyed her just for the sake of her sugar-coated dreams. Elyon looked up, unbudging, tired of agreeing with an authority-addicted, vile woman, who was always trying to hold her under her thumb. No. Not this time.
"Do not commit this mistake, again, Elyon."- Nerissa warned her, shaking with anger. "Don't."
"Don't tell me what to do."
The green eyes pierced through her again, but she stopped the hand that was trying to grab her. Elyon had stopped Nerissa's hand.
"Move."- she told her simply, but the ex-guardian refused to. "Move or I'll move you."
"Try to understand things beyond your perspective for once!"
"Says who!? You? You never do that, Nerissa, why not follow your own advice first."
With that, Elyon shoved her off her away with unsuspected force and started pulling Avani after herself, heading for the exits of the Throne Room.
"You obtuse WHELP!"- Nerissa, who Raythor had just caught before she could fall, yelled after her.
She glared daggers at the royals' back, cursing her in her mind:
"You did this with Phobos, sparing him for years, you did it again at the Mage ball, you'll do it again now! You allow yourself to be used and manipulated by those you consider family! How many more times shall you make the same mistake?! You're the fucking reason for all this to happen in the first place, you! You are a POOR QUEEN!"- she roared as the man tried to contain her in his arms. She couldn't believe that the fool could fall for the same thing again. She couldn't watch Meridian be doomed again because of her. "Don't you walk away from me! You hear me?! A poor, misfortunate, unfit Queen! You are-"
"And you are a deranged woman who shouldn't allow herself to show up here unless I'VE SAID SO, I, THE POOR QUEEN!"- Elyon turned around to yell back with all the spite she was capable of displaying. It didn't match that in Nerissa's wide, angry green eyes flaming at her, but it didn't matter:
"NOW get out of here and don't come again in case my consort calls you. You may come here only when I SAY SO! You are too much, Nerissa, you are an abominable source of sick control and chaos, like always! Now you want my niece's soul? After you almost sold your friend Kadma's to a demon, last summer, really? You disgust me!"
Nerissa was breathing harder and harder after every next sentence coming out of Elyon's mouth. Red, she was seeing red, but the Queen didn't stop:
"YOU put everything through your own prism. You do EVERYTHING for yourself, you narcissistic bully! Bullying everyone into doing whatever YOU WANT! Nothing drastic has changed about you, you're still the same wicked witch you've been for decades! You poison people's existence for your own advantage! That's why Caleb made you leave their house in Heatherfield too!"
Heatherfield, the night of the inauguration
A party... What's a party without a pinch of scandal? Especially the new mayor's exclusive afterparty. Marcus Snowden had an entire luxurious restaurant on two floors rented for his celebrations that night. He had all sorts of important connections to boast with. All sorts of people to meet and recruit. He was the mayor now. He had succeeded in his goals.
He smirked at everyone he passed by, everyone that raised their glasses up at him to salute him or to hide their real feelings. Many were intrigued by him. Others hated him with a passion. But what mattered most was that he'd be on the top of his game, like in his prime. Nothing else. He was going to become legendary in Heatherfield. He was to keep making big money too. His way, that was...
Scandalous, everything about Marcus was scandalous from very early on.
But the biggest scandal of his life was yet to take place.
"I am tired, Matt!"- Will exclaimed right before her boyfriend turned his back on her. "I am sick and tired!"
It was true. She was tired and he was in his worst of moods yet. She didn't understand, why did he agree to everything Linda asked of him if he didn't want to be near his father? A rocky divorce, bad blood between them, a lot of things were involved in Matt's case and that of his father, but she was unable to take it anymore. Will Vandom wasn't going to let her boyfriend fall apart without a fight. She wasn't going to see their life fall apart either.
"If you don't let me pull you out of this, we're over!"- she yelled after him, making him stop dead in his tracks on his way out of the small room they had allegedly hidden to talk.
Will wheezed in her cry as she bent from the sharp pain she had suddenly felt in her abdomen. Stress. Stress would be the end of her if she didn't do something. It had been a horrible day. Having to attend Linda's disgusting events and seeing Matt's mental state deteriorate with every passing hour. This late-night cocktail afterparty now had topped it all. Her boyfriend was turning into a caged animal going berserk, losing himself and everything that meant something for him in his attempts to remain stoic.
"We're over?"- Matt repeated her words and turned around in disbelief. Watching her cry always made his heart break, but at that moment, he felt anger. Pain. And fear... "Are you really going to just dump me after everything?"
"I don't want to."- Will cried. "But you're hurting yourself. I can't watch you hurt yourself because of your parents. Please, just let me help you, why are you doing all this-"
"I could tell you're unhappy. I knew it."- Matt interrupted her in a voice, so cold, she barely recognized it. "In all honesty, it crossed my mind. That you might leave. I guess that I refused to believe it was possible after everything we've been through during all these years."
"We were always sincere with each other over these years, Matt. And you've changed. You've changed ever since your father returned to Heatherfield, which is why I can't fucking understand why you keep doing this. Why do you keep agreeing to attend his parties, to be near him when it's clearly killing you inside?!"
Silence. He gave her silence. The redhead shook her head in her despair, pain, and anger, and came closer to him, grabbing the collar of his shirt:
"ANSWER ME, MATT!"- she couldn't take it anymore. She knew their relationship was on the rocks, she had been keeping silent for weeks due to her fear that they might part. Fearing that Matt would get permanently traumatized if he learned about his mother... Fearing forced her into silence. A lot had piled upon his head, but she had to sober him up. She couldn't wait for the agonizing hurt and confusion to tear him apart. She had to speak up no matter what:
"Why are you doing this to yourself!?"
He tried to remain cold and uncaring, but he finally gave in. He couldn't anymore.
"I stayed with you during everything."- Matt whined desperately, his eyes filling with hot tears. He couldn't pretend anymore. He couldn't keep dying on the inside, because of guilt. He couldn't transform that guilt into cold demeanor either. "How can you leave me when I need you m-most."
It appeared that her threat to break up with him had worked in a way she hadn't expected. Matt was opening up to her. Finally, after so much time. Will was hopeful that her trying to get to him wasn't going to just end up in a fight. This time he was emotional, just like her, vulnerable... She had to make him tell her now so that she could help him. Because she loved him more than anything...
"I've never left you, but you've been making me feel like I am not significant anymore ever since Marcus came to town."- the guardian went on, wiping the tears on her face with her palm. "I can take another Shagon horror. At least back then, your will was enthralled by magic... this time you're enthralled by something else, Matt. You have to fight it again. Just like you fought Shagon and came back to me, you have to fight and slay whatever it is that's binding you to misery around your father. Remember how you found the will to love and defeated your demons 11 years ago? You can do it again! I'm your Will! You can trust me. I will help you through everything, you're not alone!"
Will cupped her crying boyfriend's face in her palms and gave him a reassuring nod. It hurt her so much to see him like that, but in a way, she was happy that the ice around him had finally broken. The ice that had been keeping him away from her...
"Will..."- Matt began through hiccups. "Will, I'm so sorry about everything. I feel guilty, Will. I feel terrible. I know I should've told you this earlier, but it scarred me for life in a way which-"
"Matt?! What do you think you're doing?"
And just like that, the ice serpent that had originally trapped him in that ice the guardian leader had just managed to melt, was here again. Here to halt all the progress they had made...
"Mom, she has to know."- Matt turned around pleadingly.
Linda Olsen entered the room in her dark formal gown and closed the door behind herself. Her cold eyes glistened as she met Will's, but Will was far more enraged to have her barge in on their conversation like that. In the worst possible moment. She must've spotted them missing at the party where she wanted them as captives and had immediately sought them out. She was a fucking psychopath:
"You promised me something."- Linda nailed. "Were you going to break your promise? You were going to tell her!"
"I am still here."- Will called in, stunned by what she was witnessing.
So, it was true. Linda was making her son keep something from her, pushing him to the edge of a serious nervous breakdown for weeks now. This woman was by far one of the vilest pieces of work she had encountered in this city.
"She is going to break up with me if I don't break my promise, she deserves to know! I put her through enough already!"
But Linda wasn't having it. She pinned her son down with her terrifying cold eyes and twisted her mouth in an ugly warning grimace:
"MATTHEW!"- she yelled. "Get out of here right now!"
"Mom! Please-"
"Are you fucking kidding me?"- Will stepped forward, glaring daggers at Linda. "He's not going anywhere, we were having a private conversation before you came to disrupt us like that, go to hell with your crap already, I'm sick of you! He's not a child!"
"Will-"
Matt was torn between them and his inner conflicts and it showed, but his guilt feeling prevailed again because he shut his mouth and the sight of his mother's head shaking.
Linda snarled and pointed at the door.
"I get to decide what to do from now, Matthew. You can't take this away from me. You broke your promise for her-"- she said "her" while looking at Will as if she was saying "it" while referring to the bubonic plague itself. "...now I will be the one to talk to her first. Leave us. In the name of your grandfather's memory!"
Will turned to her with disgust. How could she even say that after she had practically killed him? But she couldn't think more about Linda's lack of moral when the man behind her moved:
"Matt, what are you doing?!"
To her disbelief and outrage, her boyfriend walked to the door, shooting her a pleading look. He was pleading with her to spare him because his mother wouldn't...
"I'm sorry..."
"Out, Matthew!"
Will barely managed to wait for her boyfriend to walk away behind the closed door. She turned her entire attention to Linda and lashed out at her:
"What is wrong with you!? Why are you doing this to him, you're abusing him mentally and emotionally! You're a monster!"
Linda just put her hand on her waist and replied, point-blankly:
"Says the girl who got him drunk and then threatened to break up with him as to get him to betray my trust? Please, Will, you're being ridiculous."
Will could only blink opposite of her. Was this woman for real? What was wrong with her twisted brain that made her say these things and act like that:
"I got him drunk?! He has been drinking for weeks, to numb the pain you and his father have been causing him. Enough is enough, I won't let you destroy our lives."- Will growled in her face. "I will end this. Your sick games, whatever the twisted fuck they are about... I will end everything!"
She could feel her magic rocking inside her. The Heart of Kandrakar was angry. Angry that Linda was doing this to its guardian holder. It could obliterate her if she said so.
This woman had put them through so much emotional abuse, Will was actually debating on it at that moment. At that moment when her impudence was going through the roof:
"Who the hell do you think you are to talk about ending family affairs, you're not his family."- Linda's voice boomed. "You're not his wife, you're not the mother of his child, you lost that child, Will Vandom. You lost that chance. Stay out of our family's problems! That's it. Stop meddling where you have no right to be-"
Will slapped her so hard that her jaw cracked. Finally, she did. This had been the last straw. Linda gasped and for a moment just stood there, shaking. Will had a hard time restraining herself from killing her on the spot...
"This better be the last time."- she began with ground-shaking fury, grabbing the back of the shaking woman's head. "This better be the last time you take this topic into your mouth, Linda Olsen, because if you ever-"- she roared, making Linda recoil again. She was so scared all of a sudden... "- if you EVER say anything about our baby AGAIN, I will make you wish you never even met me. Now I will go find Matt."- the redhead went on, pushing her back.
Linda tripped and found herself with her back pressed against the wall as she listened to the redhead's outburst in total stupor.
"He will tell me everything and I will help him overcome whatever it is that you're holding over him. I will do that! And you, you evil witch, you can't stop us from pushing your shit out of our life. Because I'm stronger now! I'm stronger because the man of my life made a step towards me after weeks!"
Will was breathing hard, but she felt free. She felt elated to finally voice these things and lash out at Linda who deserved a severe punishment. She felt even better knowing that Matt had finally chosen her over his narcissist mother again:
"...a step towards me and a step away from you."- she whispered in Linda's ear and just gave her her back, heading for the exit of the room.
She was smiling for the first time in days. She had spent days crying because of her relationship lapsing into chaos, but now everything was going to get better again.
Will was just reveling in all that when she got hit over the head with a vase and lost consciousness, falling to the floor before she could even open the door.
"Make it, quick, Vandom. I have a public service to attend in a few hours. What is that you wanted to discuss?"
Marcus Snowden sat behind the large desk in the personal study of his residence. He unraveled his dark blue night robe and focused his emotionless eyes on the man who had paid him an unexpected visit in the small hours.
Tony Vandom snorted and estimated the other man with a glance. He was so full of himself. If there was one thing he had learned about Marcus during the last months, it was that he was a raging egomaniac. Deprived of any sense of reality and humility.
"I think you know why I'm here."- Tony shrugged. He was getting annoyed with everything. Their deal. He had executed all his obligations. Why hadn't they done the same yet? "I did everything we agreed on."- he went on. "You became mayor. Your sick ex-wife got it her way. When do you plan on signing the documents you are supposed to sign before I can leave the stage once and for all?"
Marcus smiled without any effervescence.
"I think you're quite crafted for the stage, Thomas, you get con-artist roles wherever you go."
"I don't care what you think."- Tony answered point-blankly, before slamming a black folder on the desk in front of the other man. "I used my connections for you. Now sign these."
Marcus didn't move for a few seconds, studying the other man's features with a growing smile. In the end, he reached for a pen and started going through the contents of the folder.
"Very well."- he mused. "A deal's a deal. I was going to transfer all these properties to Matthew's name either way. I only kept his inheritance frozen for the sake of his future...Never mind. He chose his path. I can't help him if he refuses to take my help. His mother's upbringing allowed him to reach a point of no return. Now he can be a "rockstar" in peace. Nevertheless, I only have one son."
"Do you really."- Tony snorted mockingly and took the folder back.
Marcus smiled sourly as he watched the red-haired man check every document carefully. It was inevitable not to, he noticed it. The one he had purposely left unsigned.
"You missed this one."- the standing man noted and showed the paper. "Sign it."
But his demand only made the other man smile ever sourer.
"I'm sorry, I would if it was up to me, but I promised your wife."- Marcus intertwined fingers on the desk. "I can't sign this unless Matt has a descendant or is married, and even if he was, Linda would still demand a prenup. I don't see why you believed her with this document."
Tony clenched his teeth and slammed his fist on the desk. He hated being played. They weren't going to play him and get away with it. He hadn't been a part of this sick couple's twisted plans for nothing.
"Will would never take any money from me and I want to provide her for life. I owe it to her."- the red-haired man hissed. "You have to sign this. If not, I'll ruin your mandate before its even began, Snowden, don't fucking try me!"
Marcus also stood up and looked him right in the eye. He had always been an authoritative figure and that Tony Vandom was yet to fully understand it.
"You can't do that now can you, Vandom. You forget you're legally bound to me and my mandate, deputy mayor sir. You are going to lose much more than I if you try to sabotage it. You were on probation, remember? And the only reason you could enter politics was me using my people to find you a loophole, but that wasn't a fully legal procedure. Cross me even once and I will make sure you get a ticket to jail and a long stay."
Tony listened to the other man speak with growing disdain. Linda had pushed him into all this. He had never been interested in politics, especially not in Heatherfield... But now he had no choice. He had to lay low. He couldn't go against Snowden, that bastard. Unless...
"You and I are no enemies."- Marcus said. "But you can't flee the stage just yet. No, you can't. You will have my back. And nothing will change that, smart boy, you know how politics really work, don't you? Once you've entered the vicious cycle like a big bad, there's no breaking out. You're now my yes-man, Vandom."- the silver-haired snickered, nailing a finger in the other man's chest. "So, suck it up. Unless I fall dead tomorrow, things shall remain as they are. You put yourself in between all this. I repeat, suck it up and take your property pretensions, because you do have those, to your new wife."
Tony's red-brown eyes just shone dangerously in response but he didn't say anything else.
Cornelia woke up first that morning. She turned around in bed and smiled at her still sleeping fiancé. Quite some time had passed since he was by her side again, but she hadn't stop reveling in it. She didn't want to. Every day she woke next to Caleb was a happy one.
She gave him a kiss on the forehead before standing up to check on their son and start her shower.
Only a few minutes had passed; she was just washing the shampoo off of her hair when she felt two strong hands cupping her breast.
"Why did you start without me?"- Caleb grinned against her ear.
"You're so bad."- Cornelia laughed and allowed him to pull her hair gently so that he was able to kiss her lips from behind.
She arched her back and neck against his strong hard body and he wasted no time. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her passionately again. He had come excited, but now he couldn't contain himself any longer; Cornelia breathed sensually as she got ready for action...
- Corny!
She almost screamed and immediately recoiled when she heard the voice in her head so distinctly.
- Cornelia, respond! We have a huge emergency! Where are you? Wake the fuck up!
"What's wrong?"- Caleb pushed his wet hair back, puzzled, as he watched his fiancé rest her back against the wall.
"Irma's trying to kill me early in the morning."- Cornelia growled before snapping mentally:
- What?! What do you want, Irma, I am kinda busy!
- You can do your freaky morning routine again another time, we're outside your house. Come meet us right now. You haven't seen the news yet, have you?
- No, why?
- Just come. We need to talk about this eye to eye.
Cornelia was sincerely annoyed. But Irma did sound urgent. She had no other option; she shook her head at Caleb's disappointed face and got out of the shower.
"What is it?!"- Cornelia asked, ten minutes later, when she walked to her backyard in a long summer dress and her wet hair -it was so hot out, it was going to dry on its own in no time.
Hay Lin and Irma, who had made themselves at home around the pool, just handed her a phone.
"See for yourself."
She took it with frustration and sat on one of the lounging chairs near her friends.
" 'New mayor finds his death in hostile Heatherfield homicide: Marcus Snowden dead only 24 hours after taking office'... What the?!"
Cornelia gasped and moved her unbelieving eyes from the screen to her friends and just opened her mouth again, unable to let out another word. Shocked. She was utterly shocked.
"Exactly."- Irma nodded grimly. "What the actual fuck from hell."
"But how...I don't... this... he's dead? But-"
Cornelia was struggling to find the right words as she scanned the article again and again before just shaking her head in defeat and knitting her brows together:
"You don't think that..."
"None of us can reach Will. Or Matt..."- Hay Lin said in a low voice. "And Matt's dad, he was shot earlier this morning. They found him like that when they came to collect him for some social thing. He was killed less than a day after his inauguration party..."
"That's not all, babe. The city council is shaking from within, so is the police, my father's been going crazy all morning."- Irma added. "This is a big thing. A very big and dire thing to happen. I'm waiting for the official news to come straight from the City Hall. My people at"Lair on the Air" have to reflect on it."
"I think it's time, Irma."- Hay Lin interjected. "Tune in!"
The three young women sat closer to each other, around Irma who held her smartphone in anticipation:
"... and now with the piece of news that's been running through the city like a wildfire since morning."- they heard a female voice reading the news for the informative podcast. "Mayor Marcus Snowden has been mysteriously shot earlier this morning. Details of the homicide are yet to resurface; however, the city can't wait. After a long meeting in the City Hall, the late mayor's team and the rest of the political representatives decided that the deputy mayor will take office temporarily until new elections can be held. The executive figures and the legislature are not ready with a better solution at this stage hence Tony Vandom will be taking over the role of mayor temporarily with the team and the party of the deceased Snowden. Heatherfield hopes to recover fast post the tragedy during these testing times and to bring the deceased justice as well as security and comfort for all citizens."
The three guardians exchanged bedazzled looks as they stood in the sun-lit yard. In silence. Processing everything, they had just come to know. Matt's father, the reason for his inner trauma, was no more. Heatherfield had a new mayor, a criminally manifested, toxic man, and as well as a new first lady. And their friends were nowhere to be reached...
"She made it. Her campaigning, all her hard work. It's finally not for nothing."- Cornelia muttered, still in shock post the revelations that had just hit her all at once. "Linda Olsen became the first lady of Heatherfield."
A/N: I guess the biggest question now is who killed Marcus? What about the war that Phobos and Leonida are initiating? What is going to happen next? Believe it or not, the grand finale is approaching ;)
Let me in on your thoughts -
xoxo,
