Chapter 55: Dreams of Darkness
"The prophecy is long-term, Magana. We all play a part in it, you don't understand! (...)"
Important: BIG reveal chapter! There will be references to older chapters where you might find more on events and information regarding a certain thing that's happening in this chapter.
Previously on the Dark Descendant: The three changing books of Coronia started rewriting themselves after Taranee took a leap of faith and told Leonida the truth about Visser's manipulation and her role for the people from the cult, who have used her all her life. A game-changer that really stirred the stagnant waters of the guardians' mission to end the dangerous journey of the Dark Descendant.
Avani, a rebel leader in a parallel realm and Phobos's daughter from Zorarose(reference to chapter 49), an evil, obsessed with the Heart former concubine, was brought to live in the Meridian Palace against her will, as she is the only one whose birthright is bigger than that of Opal, Phobos and Leonida's baby, which absorbed all mystic powers back at Elyon's wedding. (reference to chapter 41)
But Elyon had to accept Phobos's two-month truce proposal, given the fact, her brother now has more power than her again. What is the real reason he and Leonida wanted a truce at the moment when their armies prevailed?
In the last chapter, Avani was found unconscious after a strange attack in Dua's room. But what is the boy's truth? Who bears a grudge against Phobos's eldest heir? And is the dark cult finally coming to an end? (last "previously on" that summarizes a lot of the events farther in the past, you can find at the beginning of chapter 50)
A few important relations to remember:
Icona- Magana's mother;
Magana - Andan&Leonida's mother;
Leonida- Opal's mother and Dua's stepmother (Magana and Visser replaced her dead baby with Dua)
Visser- Emery's father;
Emery- Dua's birth father;
more to come in that family tree ;)
xoxo,
Breakfasts in the royal dining room were always a feast. Every morning was grand, especially since they had entered the favorable period of the truce. And while everyone who had the right and privilege to be here, as well as some who had made place for themselves over the years, took their seats around the long royal table, a certain feisty Water guardian was exceptionally unhappy to attend:
"Dua attacked you, really? That baby shmugum, whose imposing height reaches all the way up to your hips? This is the dumbest shit you've said so far, shut up or I'll attack you next!"
"I'm not lying!"- Avani exclaimed. "He almost killed me! That boy is not normal, he's a beast!"
"Well, her external wounds are taken care of."- Cornelia announced after her healing spell was done. Now she could sit on her chair, that was, unfortunately right next to the ex-rebel girl's. "I can't do anything about her brain though..."
"Or the lack of one."- Irma added, frowning.
They were all sitting around the long table in the Royal Meridian dining room but the moods in the air were questionable.
Irma hated being woken up before noon on her days off. Especially after a night of partying. This was why the distressed call they received from Meridian and Avani's lame story could only enrage her.
The water-witch grumbled and took a bite of the apple Hay Lin was giving her.
"Really, that's your idea of breakfast? I'm not a horse, Hay Lin, where are the royal cooks and why aren't they serving us yet?"
"Still recovering from Avani's little charade last night."- Raythor walked in the royal dining room ignoring Magana's request to keep last night's events between them. "The castle's plumbery is still off in the kitchens after her. She's a menace."- and with that, the man occupied the chair next to Julian.
Avani didn't say anything. The unrest in her eyes was still there, Will concluded. She wasn't faking it; something had definitely freaked her out... And she wasn't someone who was finding themself in a dire situation for the first time. Whatever had happened, it wasn't to be underestimated...
"I can't be the only one who's triggered by the question of what really happened. I mean, come on, we all saw her, she had wounds all over..."- Will exclaimed. "She didn't do this to herself."
But her friends and Raythor didn't seem sure. They exchanged glances. Actually, they looked as though they didn't care at all. Magana didn't say anything and Nerissa, who was sitting opposite of her, just snorted:
"It wouldn't surprise me if she did."- she shrugged, resplendent in her silken black attire, with a deep V-shaped neckline and a magnificent diamond choker. "That brat is capable of anything."
"Are you all bonkers?!"- Avani stood up from her place next to the empty throne. "I'm telling you, that boy is something evil! He's not a child, he's a demon! With sharp teeth and glowing eyes, he attacked me and would've killed me had he not heard her coming! And because of her!"- Avani screamed, pointing at the hazel-haired woman: "I couldn't defend myself properly, she blocked my magic-"
"Oh, boo-hoo!"- Irma interrupted her. "Save your scenes for your aunt Elyon, she's still taking a fat shit! When she comes, start all over if you want- "
"Irma!"- Hay Lin exclaimed.
But Irma just huffed and pulled the neckline of her tight black T-shirt up. Breakfast at the Palace and a bunch of new problems. Just what her hangover had needed.
"The Queen's meeting will take longer than expected."- Caleb announced.
He had walked in the dining room followed by Andan who, in his turn, was dragging a terrified-looking Dua after himself.
"She asked me to instruct the chefs and maids to start breakfast for us."- Caleb went on as he took his seat on the right side of the Queen's host seat, between his mother and Cornelia.
"Finally we'll eat."- Irma clapped her hands sarcastically right when Andan threw Dua at his chair next to Magana, who jumped up in outrage:
"Andan, what do you think you're doing?!"
"This gruesome brat makes life even more unbearable!"- the man barked but his mother stood in his way, protecting her terrified grandson from his wrath. Hay Lin had also rushed to help Dua back on his feet and just kept her hands on his shoulders a bit longer, looking anxious.
"Enough."- Magana whispered. "That's enough, do not make a scene at breakfast and do not take it all out on poor Dua, he's innocent. Enough with this. You all heard what Avani said."- the former Queen added, having felt everyone's eyes on herself. "She went in Dua's room and wanted to give him a scare, even hurt him, perhaps, because she was angry with me. Then she has obviously thought of a better way to get even, she decided to blame Dua for something terrible! She's not to be trusted!"
Avani immediately started protesting at that, but Nerissa just stuffed her mouth shut with bread using magic. The royal breakfast was finally being served. That was enough for Irma to forget all about the topic; she focused on the food and attacked it hungrily. Everyone else started eating too, only Will didn't budge. She was looking over at the child between Magana and Andan pensively...
Julian cleared his throat and suggested:
"If anything, you could try the crystal on Dua, Will. For our reassurance. The Heart shall reveal whether or not there's something hidden about him, right?"
Will just blinked at the man. He was right. He was definitely right.
"It is an excellent suggestion, darling."- Nerissa praised him as she cut her omelet with her fork and knife. "Queen Magana and her family are known for keeping big secrets from us."- she added derisively, eyeing the pair. "Who knows what might resurface this time?"
Magana's face went fully white at that. Now the entire table was waiting for Will, who summoned the Heart...
"No, Will. This isn't needed."
Will's eyes met those of the woman who had just stopped her hand with the crystal in it. It flickered, repining, scalding her...
Magana gasped and rubbed the sore spot:
"I'm sorry, the Heart, it... didn't like that."- the redhead murmured. "You were saying?"
Everyone's eyes were on her. Even some of the maids were watching... She didn't like any of what was to come, but she had to protect her grandson:
"I will tell you something. But first, someone needs to take Dua away from here. I don't want him to hear this yet."- she mouthed. "Please."
Will cocked an eyebrow but nodded while Hay Lin and Irma exchanged glances. Cornelia caught Caleb's hand, feeling the anger within him starting to boil next to her. She was angry herself. Now she needed to restrain herself and her fiancé from lashing out at this woman who had managed to hide yet another thing from them; she was impossible. The entire Coronian family was...
"Raythor."
But the Mage didn't need to finish. He was already on to it. With a grumpy sigh, the man stood up and escorted the anxious child out of the dining room.
"So, what is it that you haven't told us about Dua? Again?"- Cornelia snapped.
Queen Magana sighed and looked as if she was trying to gather strength for what was to come out of her mouth next:
"I didn't mention this before because I thought I had it under control. I thought I have successfully suppressed it in him, but his nature is...nature is unstoppable. Dua's birth mother was a shapeshifter. He's a half-breed. He's part shapeshifter. I suppose Avani's assault triggered that beast part of his nature that my spells have isolated from his human part until now. He just wanted to defend himself."
Magana finished before Cornelia could exclaim and protest how each time she tried to "suppress something" it failed miserably. This time the case didn't appear to be different. The hazel-haired Queen looked down, guiltily, as everyone, even her son, just stared at a loss.
"Jolly."- Alborn murmured from the other end of the long table, where he and Galgheita had remained passive this morning. Miriadel was, as usual ever since her indictment, not present.
Nerissa just finished her omelet and pushed the plate away.
Discrimination. Fear of the different. Hatred for them...
Nothing new.
There were naturally many minorities on both Meridian and Coronia, but shapeshifters were the ones who everyone had feared for centuries and rightfully so... to some extent. If she had to be honest, she wasn't their biggest fan herself because of their intransigence and senseless persistence. Shapeshifters could be cruel at nature and they were mainly elements of chaos. Many of them were outlaws because they simply refused to recognize the power of the crown. And while Meridian was now making a difference, after many years of social inequality, people on Coronia, apparently, didn't even want to hear about any such creatures. Ergo the cult's main goal, to divide everyone. To seize all magical power for the aristocrats. Only the pure nobles could be rich and privileged.
"You say you've told us everything there is to know, but yet, somehow, each time we manage to stumble upon another dark family secret! This is insane, Magana!"- Irma exclaimed loudly. "Why the hell wouldn't you mention it earlier?!"
Magana looked down again. Her son answered instead:
"Isn't it enough knowing all she has done for that brat? She accepted him and loves him as her own despite everything."- Andan's eyes met Irma's in a pissed gaze. Pissed. He was truly pissed. "The boy's origins concern not our problems and the cult, why is it that you think that we have to tell you every little detail of our life?!"
"Andan..."
His outburst was about to start a riot again. Cornelia and Irma stood up in unison, yelling at him accusingly. Hay Lin and Will were trying to appeal for peace alongside Magana, and Caleb was on the verge of knocking the royal consort out.
Nerissa just made a face, still lost in her thoughts. Shapeshifters... Just what they needed, one of the groups that supported Phobos in the first place could now get a direct say in all this if they didn't plan it out right. And Magana's senseless actions were always put through the prism of her fears and unconditional love... Nerissa could respect the second reason. But still, one question remained...
She met Halinor's eyes and just silently sought her opinion. The former Fire guardian, who had just walked in the Throne Room in her soft pink ethereal garbs, gave her a nod before speaking:
"No more secrets will be left to sow doubts and discord among us all after tonight."- she declared and everyone fell silent, shifting all their attention towards her.
The blonde woman took her seat around the table before going on:
"The third book has almost completely rewritten itself. Everything will be cleared out after tonight. Once..."- she nodded at Nerissa's smile and then ran her eyes across everyone. Many emotional thoughts surrounded them. Mainly such of thrill, impatience, relief, anticipation... but also fear and unrest. Negative emotions at their finest. What place could they have here, post her big announcement that would change everything? Then again, change was often dreaded. Or was it the truth that provoked someone's unrest?!
"...and for all."- Halinor finished, her eyes on Queen Magana who was suddenly suffering from hiccups.
Coronia, some days ago
Leonida opened her eyes. The prince next to her was still sleeping, naked under the bedsheets. She pulled her set of sheets up to her bare chest and sat in the big bed. The first thing she did was to mentally check on Taranee, who would come to the room to take Opal from her cradle and start her morning. Then she gave herself some time to reflect on everything that had been happening to her as of late.
She and Phobos had reconnected. For the first time, she was earnest in her relations with him and she soon understood that she had some sort of love for him after all. Getting to know him and learning to trust him were two different things. Surely if he was to find out about the way she had used him he'd be mad. Enraged. He could even turn against her. And Leonida didn't want that, not after realizing that he was the last living person to have a genuine interest in her and even had some care that was emitting from his cold heart... Care for her and their daughter. For the first time in years, the golden princess was beginning to believe that they could be a family. This could be a part of their happy ending. This was real. Finally, after years of deceit, it was.
All the things she had said to lure him. Had he fallen for them in the beginning? Probably not. Phobos was cunning and smart but so was she. And she did understand that they were indeed very alike. Had Visser and Emery known that when they suggested for her to make him part of everything when she flew to the dungeons a year ago?
Leonida frowned. Just the thought of these traitors made her blood boil. Whatever they had known and done, it didn't matter anymore. They were going to pay for using her and their dreams would be shattered forever. She was going to destroy everything they longed for and had started building all these years ago. That was but a part of the punishment the dethroned princess had in store for her former allies, enemies undercover. Lousy, filthy snakes...
The woman headed for the royal lavatory in her chambers to start her day appropriately. Like everything in the Edifice, the lavatory to her chambers was luxurious, spacious, and encrusted with diamonds and gold all over. Every little piece of furniture, every faucet, every bottle of soap, even, was fine and heavy. Real gold. Real diamonds. Yellow, golden, white, and royal blue. Those were the colors of the tilled room. Even the marble was mixed with gold...
A true piece of art.
The big bathtub in the middle of the lavatory was the size of a small swimming pool. But Leonida was more or less used to all that, even though she had been away from her home for many years. She started the hot water and when the tub was full of water, bubbles, and soap, quickly, thanks to magic, the woman immersed herself in the divine feeling of the royal bath.
"My love, you know rose-scented soap is my favorite yet you used honey? I'm taking this personally."
She jumped in her place when she heard him. Then she opened her eyes and saw him in the water, near her, grinning. Phobos was devilishly attractive, she had thought she wouldn't fall for it with time, but she had been wrong.
"I didn't hear you."- Leonida murmured and smiled when he pulled her closer with a deep sigh:
"Oh, you're distracted again. Whatever troubles you should be forgotten. We're close to victory, closer than ever, actually."- the man narrated. "And our enemies have no idea."
"For now. But soon they will and they will try to stop us."- Leonida argued. He was overconfident. That was one of the things that annoyed her about him:
"But they lose Meridian if they attack us before the truce we signed has expired, my dear."- Phobos just closed his eyes and rubbed her. "They would never risk Meridian consciously, and if they do, they will be defeated. We're stronger now. We're stronger than them, that is why my sister gladly took me up on my offer. They all know that time is the only thing that stands between us and grand victory. They would rather prolong things, but we, we need to make them happen as fast as possible."
Leonida nodded. That was what they would do. They had to, now, when the stakes were higher than ever. She wasn't going to let her happiness slip away from her another time.
Thoughtful indigo eyes met playful green ones. She liked this. She had started liking it too much for her own good. Was it possible she had found love again after Dua's death? (Dua was also the name graumer who tricked her in the past, reference to chapter 6)
Did Phobos love her? So many questions. So many different possible answers. Leonida sighed and just gave in to the moment, giving up on the idea that she could read anything of Phobos's soul when she wanted him.
He, apparently, wanted her too, or at least his erection did. The honey-haired princess hooked her arms around his neck and kissed him passionately... his hands started exploring what they could do to her to make her want him even more...
Back in the bedroom, Taranee frowned as she took the still sleeping baby from its crib. This was too much; she was hearing their moans again. They were annoying and shameless, completely comfortable with her presence by now. But if there was one positive thing about this, it was that the many and large releases of oxytocin seemed to weaken Leonida's control over her. Taranee took the baby and left the room in a hurry. She had to try contacting her friends again...
Meridian Royal Palace, present days
"I've dealt with shapeshifters before and none of them looked like that aberrant child did when he attacked me."- Avani insisted again.
Nerissa turned to her in annoyance.
"I suppose you want that embroidered on a pillowcase? Scat, you pest! We're busy."
Halinor who stood by the big windows with the Mage, talking in the royal saloon, took the word:
"We heard you the first time, Avani. Try to relax."- and she made her a reassuring sign.
"Then why are you not doing anything about it?!"- the fair-haired woman exclaimed, indignant. "You shitting me? This thing can't keep living with us, it is dangerous! At least take the magic-blocking cuff off!"
"Everything in its right time, OK? You don't have to think about any of this. Focus on your studies. You will practice your magic later."
Visibly dissatisfied, Avani snorted under her nose. She was just turning around when she came face to face with Will in her guardian uniform. Their eyes met for a second before the ex-rebel turned around again and shot:
"I could practice magic with the High Witch- head guardian, right? I think that would be terrific! Please, you have to do this for me after I was assaulted earlier today!"
Will opened her mouth in surprise. She had come to ask whether they wanted coffee; nobody had slept through the previous night; basically, they had been called right after Killian's party had ended. Yes, Nerissa gave them energy-boosting potions that were supposed to make up for the lost sleep but coffee was never a bad idea.
And while Halinor was debating the answer she would give to Avani, Nerissa sneered:
"Might as well go with her, Will. Poor thing really craves attention. Train with her. You're all here anyway."
The redhead just looked at Avani and her eager expression. This wasn't how she had pictured her day to begin but...
"Fine, let's go, Avani."- she inclined in the end. "Hey, if you want coffee, Cornelia's making Frappuccinos."- she told the two ex-guardians before leaving the room followed by a very excited princess.
When they were alone again, Halinor turned towards Nerissa and whispered:
"I don't know whether to believe the Queen or not, but-"
"Definitely not. She was lying."- Nerissa declared. "I know her very well by now."
"Yes, well, but if she lied about that, does she know what's happening, or is she just... scared?"
Her friend gave it a quick thought. Scared. Magana was scared of the possibilities.
"We shall see, Halinor. But we have to stay alert. Today's not going to be a peaceful time."
"Granny? Granny?"
Dua touching her hand made her recoil. Magana took a step away from the windows and looked down at the child. His eyes were as full of love and warmth as ever but something inside her rankled. A frightening sense of hopelessness and doubt was clouding her judgment...
Magana was no stranger to this feeling. For years she had been unable to relax around Leonida, because of Visser's behind-the-scenes manipulation and deceit. Her innocent daughter had been corrupted by their ill-wishers, but also, very much by her own mother's mistrust. Misjudgment and mistreatment... Leonida's fate was something the Queen felt very responsible for, now, years later when she could understand more of what had been hiding behind her then-fear and despair, fueling them to divide and use all of them. Evil had indeed lived among them, but it wasn't Leonida like she had been fooled to believe.
Things would be so much different if she could turn back time. She could've been wiser. Smarter. She had had everything to escape all this, but she had failed.
Magana's motives this time were related to all that. She didn't want the same to happen with her grandson. She didn't want the circumstances and her own doubts to push him over the edge and expose him to the darkness to the point of no return.
"Granny, are you fine?"- Dua inquired again. "What shall happen now? I'm scared..."
"I don't know, my sweetheart. I'm terrified myself."- Magana confessed and sat at the end of the big bed.
They were in her room. She had taken her grandson, bringing him here, away from everyone and locking the doors. She had to think. She had to really think this time in order to avoid making the mistakes she had made with Leonida.
"Dua."- the woman began in the end. "Dua, I have to ask you again. What happened? What happened with Avani? I must know the truth, dear, otherwise, I can't fix this. I need to fix this... What I told everyone at breakfast was a lie..."
Dua sobbed quietly and curled into a ball again. It was evident this topic burdened him and made him scared and uncomfortable and the reason for that was that he didn't understand everything himself. He didn't know what had happened, all he could remember was Avani laughing above him, then everything had gone black. Then, when he opened his eyes again, she was in wounds and on the floor... He had already told his grandma all that, what else could he say? He was just as bedazzled and scared as her, if not even more...
She didn't even feel when had they fallen asleep on the big bed. She had been comforting Dua, lost in thoughts, and they had both drifted away. She didn't sleep much the previous night anyway... Outside, Meridian was being flooded by heavy rain.
Magana didn't understand at first, but she was dreaming. The dream she was having was something she had seen many, many years ago. In fact, she had been a mere baby, but her unchecked magical power had somehow stored this memory deep in the cores of her brain. Now, she was reliving it. She was living through yet another shock...
*Dream flashback*
Magana took a step inside the royal chambers. This was her home. This was the Coronian Palace.
"Mother..."- Magana murmured, overwhelmed.
She was looking at her mother, even if in her youngest days when she had looked like Leonida so very much... And in the crib, nearby it was...her. Magana blinked as she watched herself as a baby, turning around in a peaceful sleep. But as she was wondering what all this was about, adult Magana happened to notice the presence of a third figure in the room. She could only see her long silver curls, as the woman had her back turned against the door. Who was she...
Magana frowned and took another step towards the scene, just when her mother was saying:
"...no, get away from here! Leave while you still can, Morgana, you know not the extents of the insanity you're suggesting. Please, leave! Before the Coronians have lynched you!"
The woman named Morgana just walked towards the golden-haired one and shook her by the wrists:
"Icona, you don't understand! Our lineage upholds the right amount of light and darkness, after so many years, finally, a worthy royal dynasty has risen again! We, my dear, we're the ones who are chosen to restore the old rows of our beautiful homeland! We need to obtain all the powers of the Golden Spring and restore the division before it is too late! Before the peasants have mixed with the gold-blooded so much that the true royal line gets tarnished irreparably-"
"Shut up!"- Icona hissed just when Magana was finally in a position from which she could see. She could see Morgana's face and she gasped soundly:
"It can't be..."- Magana murmured to herself and shook her head. Morgana... She looked just like her. She looked just like Icona herself minus the hair. She was her, but her antipode at the same time...
"Morgana, I don't want to ever see you around the Edifice again, nor in the borders of the capital! You are corrupted and twisted, but I still love you... Even though you're of unsound mind!"- Icona hissed. "The Blue Bijou county (reference to chapter 29) is your new home now. Go there, away from everyone and everything under the new name and identity I gave you, and never even approach this topic again! Give up on your terrible illusions. Coronia is a land of light and brilliance. Not darkness and bale!"
But Morgana could only laugh bitterly:
"Don't be foolish, Icona. Light cannot exist without darkness. You're making a dire mistake by ignoring what's meant to be! Our lineage is chosen for greatness, don't you understand?! The Golden Spring isn't meant to be for the ordinary people, they abuse its power and grow greedy once they have a taste of it, destroying the glory of this realm! We have got to change that back to how it was, sister. We're twins, yet you became Queen of Coronia. Don't put your power to waste! Listen to my words and make your daughter-"- and Morgana held the crib firmly. The baby woke up and immediately started crying at the sight of this woman, who looked like her mother but wasn't...
"- the conductor of righteousness. She has all the qualities needed to restore the full glory of- "
Morgana's speech had been cut short by her sister. Icona turned her around and slapped her as hard as she could.
In the corner of the room, adult Magana silenced her gasp with her hands... This was like a sick foretaste of the scene that had taken place over twenty years later when Leonida had been born... Now she understood her mother so much better yet it was ironic. It was ironic how they had both failed... (reference to chapter 25)
"How dare you say this about my daughter!?"- Icona yelled in Morgana's face. "She shall never be associated with your madness! Never! Darkness shall never take reign of her life!"
Adult Magana cried silently. Oh, mother...
Morgana's ferocity in the next minutes couldn't be put into words. Her entire face twisted into a macabre grimace followed by an unhinged voice that made baby Magana cry and her adult equivalent shiver...
"You jade!"- she roared. "You know not what you're refusing!"
"I will not listen to the mindless drivel of a cult leader like you!"
"I'm a patriot!"- Morgana argued and savagely shook her sister again: "Icona, you cannot deny the quest of our life! This lineage is sacred and one of its descendants will restore Coronia's glory completely! Whether you like it or not! If it's not your daughter, then it will be someone else from your blood!"
"I will forever erase everything about your dreams of darkness, inequality, and greed, Morgana!"- Icona declared and pushed her away. With tears in her eyes. She was proud and determined, though. She was determined to put an end to this. "Your sick dream of having a Descendant of Darkness will never be realized! Never!"
Morgana laughed maniacally:
"You cannot just erase the darkness, foolish sister, you cannot escape it! We're the dark and the light twin. Remember that."- she hissed. "Our story is legendary. We shall fight till our death but none shall be able to extinguish the other's source of power. You're only fooling yourself!"
"Get out of here before I hand you over to the people who want your head."- Icona growled and showed her the door. "Out!"
Morgana put her hand on her waist daringly.
"You'll betray me to the people? And risk their lives? My power is as strong as yours, Icona, you may be Queen, but I-"
"The Queen always has more to offer. Especially when she becomes a mother. I have new powers now, Morgana." Icona reminded her. "And we might've been born as the "light and dark twin", but if the dark twin ceased to exist, if you're forever forgotten and crossed out of history, all your talks about legendary prophecies will change."
Morgana shuddered in disbelief. No... No, her sister wouldn't do that. She had come to make her join her not be punished like that. Undeservedly. Again...
"That's what I'm going to do."- Icona went on, coldly, to her sister's horror. "This is how I end your insanity. I will erase your existence from every source of information in this world. From every mind! Not a line shall be left anywhere in this Universe about you! Because I can do that now. We might've been born equal, but I'm superior to you now. I'm the Queen! Inequality? That's what you want for the people, right? Now have a taste of your own bitter medicine!"
"Nooo!"
Morgana tried to fight back but her sister's bright magic was stronger. It burnt her and veiled her in white light and she slowly started to disappear... Morgana screamed on top of her lungs as her sister blasted at her:
"Your name means an icon, but true evil lives within you! Evil can also be light, evil is what you're doing to me, you want to undo me and undo your fate, but nobody has ever escaped fate, Icona!"- Morgana roared. "I curse you! I curse you to suffer as much as me, for betraying our vocation, for choosing the wrong paths of the crown! You will live to REGRET THIS- "
"Into exile, you monster!"- Icona shouted in response. "I exile you forevermore! No more shall anyone remember Morgana of Coronia and her lucid dreams of darkness! You are FADING! Forevermore!"
*end of dream Flashback*
Magana woke up and shot straight in bed, drenched in cold sweat. She had to give herself a few minutes to reflect on everything. No, this wasn't just a dream, she knew she had just unlocked a memory. Her mother had erased Morgana's image from everything and every one... except from her head. After all, she had been in that room.
Atrocious. This was truly atrocious. History in her family was atrocious. So sad and wrong.
..."The prophecy is no nonsense, Magana."- Icona interrupted her strictly. "It has been in our family for generations! (flashback from chapter 25)
When will you open your eyes to danger? You're just like every other Queen that has remained blind to the evil lurking in the shadows, taking victims under their noses, through the years! See the rain? It never rains on Coronia, and you know it!"- and she pointed at one of the big windows in the room. "This rain is a bad omen. Your daughter is or will be somehow connected to the prophecy! I'm not saying that she'll be it, but she will somehow be connected to it! -"
"Enough, mother!"- Magana raised her voice. "I don't need your insanity to obscure my daughter's future! You used to think the exact same thing about me and my sister, but none of us were connected to your legendary prophecy, were we? Please, just spare me the drivel!"
"The prophecy is long-term, Magana. We all play a part in it, you don't understand! I had a dream- "
Magana shook her head, petrified. Everything repeated itself. The horror...
Finally, she could understand her mother. Finally, she understood how she, Icona, had also succumbed to the terrifying darkness and the prophecy that held their family in its claws. They had both tried to fight it off, but Morgana's words would prove to be true; you cannot erase the darkness nor escape it.
For Gold's sake, Magana had somehow managed to exile her mother in the exact same county where she had once exiled her corrupted sister. That had to be the turning point. That had to be why her mother was so troubled, year after year, losing her sanity and herself to the revenge of the darkness and the evil energy entrapped in the Blue Bijou... First, she had gotten obsessed with purifying the kingdom from the dark energy as a whole. Then that same energy had engulfed her once she no longer had her supreme Queen powers, and she had fallen victim to the same things she had wanted to banish...
If they were predestined to suffer the fate of light and dark magic-user, chosen for this, as according to her aunt, then what role did Visser play in all this? When had he entered the picture, why was he so important among the cult people!?
Her hazel eyes widened as she thought of something. Something that made her blood turn into ice...
"I can't make the same mistakes."- Magana whispered to herself and stood up. "I have to tell the guardians, I have to- "
"Granny?"
Magana stopped dead in her tracks. Dua had woken up. He was up on his feet. Looking at her. Looking at her attentively...
"Where are you going?"
"I... I have to talk to the guardians and the Mage."- the former Queen retorted. "I have to help all of us, Dua. I cannot make any more mistakes. Before it's too late."
"But, granny, I'm scared..."
"You have nothing to be scared of. Yes, Dua."- she knelt down next to him and whispered through tears. "There's something evil living within you."
The former Queen closed her eyes.
Visser and his son influenced your life just like they did with Leonida, my boy. But while they pushed us over the edge, I will not allow the same to happen to you. No, Kandrakar and all their allies were isolated from us for many years, hence this evil grew so drastically and darkened our existence. But now they're here. They will help, one of the few correct decisions on my part, ever, was contacting them again...
"...but we have people here who can help. We're not alone in the dark anymore. I will be back."
"Magana!"
She stopped again but this time she felt a cold chill run down her spine. She turned around slowly, but she didn't see the source of that sharp female voice. The only one in the room with her was... Dua.
Magana looked around herself, fretful.
"Mother?"- she called out with hope. Maybe her mother's ghost was here again. It was possible... after being freed by the guardians, Icona's spirit had been able to leave the county. "Mother, is that you?"
The shrill laugh that followed made Magana shudder in terror... The laugh came out of her grandson's mouth.
"Close enough, dearie. Close enough. You should've stayed in that black rose, you little bitch."
Dua said just before his eyes started glowing and he viciously attacked the former Queen, cutting her terrified screams short.
Coronia, The Blue Bijou...
Visser was tired. Very tired. Something in his life-long mission had gone wrong but he didn't know what. This wasn't supposed to be happening. Phobos had exposed them in front of the princess; They had lost Leonida's trust; they had lost their positions and everything had gone wrong. What would happen from now on? How were they going to handle the last bits of their plan, the old man didn't know. His brain wasn't serving him the way it did anymore. The gold-blooded didn't trust him anymore and it all had to do with his damn age. He was old now. Too old. Many were taking advantage of that.
"Father?"- it was his son. Emery entered the dimly-lit room with a small tray in his hands. "How are you feeling?"
"Worse every day."- the old man grunted as he struggled to sit straight in the armchair. "I'm fading away, Emery. I think that... I think old age is catching up with me. You may have to...you may have to go on without me."
"Don't say that, father."- Emery begged him. "We are in everything together. If you're not by my side, I'll be all alone again..."
"No, Emery. Your mother will be with you."- Visser sighed again and closed his eyes. It was hard for him to even talk at this point. His time was ending. He could feel it. "She has to...she has to enter Opal's body before she has given more power properties to Phobos and Leonida... We cannot afford to wait for the Golden Spring anymore. We have to take it all now, or we'll lose everything."
"Rest, father, you mustn't be straining yourself!"- Emery broke down on his knees, taking the old man's hands in his own. "But, father, but the Golden Spring will never reveal its location to us if her soul takes the baby's body now. That's the reason we waited so long; we wanted the Spring above everything. The Heart of this realm..."
Visser wanted to say something but he no longer could open his mouth. He struggled to point at something. His tired, old eyes were focused on something behind his son...
Her clapping was what attracted the sand-haired man's attention in the end, but it was too late. Emery turned around and gasped in shock when he saw the two women at the threshold.
Leonida stopped clapping as she and Taranee came to light. Taranee, who was also holding Opal in her arms, conjured a big fireball above everything, which happened to be the source of that light:
"All these years of plotting. All your dirty deeds, your betrayals. My father's death!"- Leonida yelled, her eyes piercing through the two men with all the hatred in the world. "All this to have a ghost possess my daughter and execute your pointless missions of dominance of the rich and pure."- she spat, regretting every minute she had spent believing these wretches. These two pieces of human trash.
"Finally, all the cards are down on the table. Finally, we are going to settle our scores."
"H-how did they..."- Visser was petrified. Mortified. Just when he was succumbing to his age all of a sudden, what he had managed to escape for decades had happened. He was officially exposed. Entirely. No... "How did they find us..."- he muttered with visible effort, putting his hand on his chest. His heart was beating slower and slower. He wasn't going to make it.
"This is impossible."- Emery shook his head. "Blood magic was used to hide this county from everyone's eyes... How did you pass through the protections and-"
"Blood magic."- Leonida sneered. "Obviously, we are of the same blood. Blood that will be spilled today."
Emery shook his head. That still didn't explain how they had broken in. Ever since they had come back, this pace was supposed to be visible only to those given a key for its mystic barriers. Unless they had followed someone who did have one. The only other person he had given a key to...
"We owe this fateful meeting to Taranee. She said you might return here; I knew having her brain on my side would prove to be useful to me. That's why I wanted her here. Because I was already dubious back then."- Leonida exclaimed. "And, of course, the figure that was coming to visit you helped too. Whoever it was, they fled when they heard us. But that doesn't concern me, you two are here. It's you two who I want to punish You vultures!"
Emery took another step back, not even thinking of letting his gaze slip away from the dangerous princess that was approaching him darkly. Her hatred and her dark-golden suit and mantle reflected the light of the guardian's flames, bathing the entire room in blood-golden shades.
If he didn't flee here at once, his blood would be on these walls soon, undoubtedly. But his father... Emery spied the decrepit man struggling to sit straight in the chair again.
"Did you enjoy the damage you inflicted on everyone in the Edifice? Did you enjoy killing Icona then my father, making me a villain in my mother's eyes, turning her against me? You most surely did. You had me under your thumb, wrapped around your fingers. I was your puppet my entire life."- Leonida hissed dangerously, listing all the despicable crimes the father and son had committed. Too much. They had hurt her too much. "Dua, the love of my life being a graumer. That was your deed again! The death of my child, his replacement... Me being framed for everything; you did all this for the sake of your ludicrous dreams of a noble Coronia?! You trampled over all of us for that, but it has all been in vain because you shall fail!"- even as she said it, she couldn't believe someone could be this obsessed and cruel. Even after everything she had done herself.
"You will pay dearly for all that, you old monster!"
"Stupid girl."- Visser managed to hiss back despite his condition.
"Father..."
Taranee just stared at him. He looked like he had died yesterday, but that didn't stop him from being malicious. Even in his last moments...
"You think that this is about you? About your unworthy grandmother and mother? All of you failed your homeland enough times. Icona had already banished my brother Kandor (reference to chapters 37&38) but when she tried to get rid of my wife forever too, I knew that you had to pay. Your relatives were blind to everything they were supposed to uphold and do!"- the man spat and one of his teeth fell out of his mouth in the same moment...
He laughed ominously and then started coughing... Taranee stared in shock and repulse and Leonida watched and listened, unbudging, her lips a thin line. Her indigo eyes- burning with the terrible storm that would erupt from her any minute now...
Visser wiped the blood off his mouth and went on:
"You, Phobos, Nerissa, the guardians... none of you managed to stop us! You coming here today is yet another reminder of how shallow and vindictive you are, yet dull as a doorknob! You will die today, Leonida. Your service to the Dark Descendant is over and it's time for you to perish! Spiritual Master!"
Shit, Taranee thought as the familiar figure of the old guru emerged from the shadows on Visser's command. She had to babysit Opal and look for the First Changing Book at the same time... Battling the omnipotent sage was not in her plans.
"Kill the brazen princess and the guardian, but leave the baby. We need her to achieve our last goal. To achieve the Dark Descendant."- Visser ordered grimly.
The Spiritual Master leaped forward ready to obey but Leonida held her hand up, freezing him back in his place:
"My God..."- Emery exclaimed in horror as the guru knelt down in front of Leonida instead. Visser couldn't even react. Instead, he started coughing blood again...
Taranee frowned. What was it with him, was he sick? And if he was why hadn't the Spiritual Master and all the alchemy left from Kandor healed him already? There was something odd about his sudden deteriorating health and it had little to nothing to do with his age.
Leonida didn't even care, she gave her enemies a victorious smile.
"The Spiritual Master, really? You thought that he'd turn on his queen? You just gave him back to me, thank you. He services me now. And I'm Queen again, Opal has given me full control of her powers already. And what does it mean when a Queen becomes a mother? That's right."- she sang. "She gets granted new, stronger powers."
"NO!"
Isn't it ironic how your family always seems to forget that, Taranee thought with a smirk. Honestly, she was happy to see this. Even if Leonida was stronger than ever, the eradication of the cult was also closer than ever. Of course, it was still hard to say that they were winning...
"We need the book."- she reminded the Queen who nodded:
"Spiritual Master, bring us the first changing book."- Leonida ordered. Then she turned towards Emery, who she had cornered desperate in the other end of the room, and his father who was now on the ground. Struggling to crawl closer to his son...
"It must hurt to see so many years of hard work in the dust. Just like you are now, Visser."- Leonida threw her honey-colored locks aside and kicked him in the groin. "Your plan was well thought of, but you wasted too much time. Your wife, grandma's twin, should've possessed Opal sooner. But you were probably waiting for her powers to mature inside her enough, huh. Sad, they did mature, but so did our bonds. Phobos and I have all this magic now. Completely. I just don't understand why you told me that I should have Opal killed when you have needed her this entire time."
Visser, who had already embraced his fate could barely whimper in response:
"I've n-never said that. What are you talking about?! We need her alive for Morgana to-"
"You know what, sincerely, I don't give a damn."- Leonida shook her head. "You lost. You lost everything! And Morgana will too. You somewhat saved her from Icona's exile but you will not be here to save her from what I have in store for her!"
But Taranee frowned. There it was, another clue that something was still off. Was Visser not the ultimate mastermind after all!? No, it had been him and his late wife, Morgana. The changing book of the past had already ensured them of that... She knew all that already, thanks to managing to establish a connection with her friends, earlier, unbeknownst to Leonida... But then why was she feeling strange? As if they were missing something again.
The Spiritual Master reappeared with the changing book of the future. Yes, the three changing books had also changed their names now that they had rewritten themselves. The three books of the past, the present, and the future were all in them, and the cult was almost completely broken. All that was left before the final battle with Phobos and Leonida, which would be dire enough as it, was for her friends on Meridian to take care of Morgana and for her to steal the book and escape her cruel royal wardens. But that was harder done than said, Taranee was aware of it. She was yet to find a way to break completely free of Leonida's weakened thrall and escape her for good...
"Taranee, return to the Edifice with Opal and the Spiritual Master now."- Leonida's voice pulled her away from her thoughts. "Things are about to get ugly here. After all, you know that I have to kill them."
Taranee blenched then looked at the pitiful-looking men on the floor, shivering like mice in front of a cat. Yes, she knew it. But she wasn't loving it. They, however, didn't deserve her pity. Not even a drop of mercy, to be honest. Not after every terrible thing they had done over the course of so many years. There had to be a special place in hell for them. Their type of evil and lowliness surpassed even Phobos...
"But I- "
But before Taranee could argue, Leonida had waved her hand. The Fire guardian, the baby, and the guru were sent away. When the golden smoke cleared, Taranee turned around and saw that they were in front of the gates of the Blue Bijou. Inside, the house they had been up until now was getting annihilated from within. Everything in the county was falling apart under Leonida's rage. This entire place, drenched in darkness and misery would be flattened out...
Taranee sighed when Opal started crying again and flew up in the sky with her, followed by the old guru, heading for the Palace. She could as well use her free time to start planning the details around her arduous escape.
Meridian
Nerissa felt her husband's arms around her and smiled. She was on one of the royal balconies, staring into the distance where it was still raining. The castle and the capital beneath it were still curtained by thick clouds, but at least the rain had passed.
Julian tightened his embrace around her and she rested her head under his chin:
"What are you thinking about, love? You look tense all day..."
"No, I'm just..."- she made a meaningful pause before letting out a sigh: "...maybe a little bit, my dear Julian. Knowing that the unhinged princess and Phobos have gained full control over all that magic...I can't help being tense knowing that."
Julian came even closer to her from behind, so that their bodies were glued together, and used his thumbs to rub the wrists of her hands, crossed on her chest over his own:
"It is a harrowing thought. The final battle is approaching. But as long as we're together- "
"Yes, but I don't have anything to protect us with."- Nerissa shook her head. He could feel how deeply that affected her from within. "They took my Seal, all the mystic power... combined with that of Meridian and Coronia, how are we going to stop them? We have just 4 fifths of the Heart of Kandrakar and the entire Heart of Zamballa, but that's not enough, Julian. And that two-month truce isn't remedying anything, I have a very dire feeling of what they might be up to as long as we're forced into this inaction..."
"Don't forget Lillian. We have the Heart of Earth on our side as well."- her husband reminded her and it did make her feel a tad better, but still.
She had to do something. She had to think of a secure way to achieve victory over her enemies. This time, like always, she had to resort to her brain. She needed a loophole, stealth to work to her advantage... Yes, but what?
"Don't worry."- Julian whispered reassuringly. "We will find the way together. I'm with you."
Nerissa smiled and turned around to lock her arms around his neck and kiss him. He liked it, as he hooked his wrists around her waist:
"Your presence and courage definitely help me deal with the outright fear."- she confessed the last part a tad reluctantly. She didn't like to confess to her fears. "Phobos did threaten me and he will try to live up to that threat as soon as he gets the chance too. He's ruthless, Julian. He will try to hurt you, Caleb, and Killian and it terrifies me, more than anything. I have to protect you at all costs..."
"He will fail, as he always does against us, love. Don't think about that now. It's OK."- Julian hushed and stroked her cheek.
His deep eyes met hers and just showed all his love, the sense of security it did provide her with, and so many other positive feelings that helped her balance her negative thoughts. Nerissa smirked and rubbed his beard:
"You know you ignite my desires when you're so...lionhearted."
He chuckled, playing with the satiny-silky fabric around her hips:
"Milady, I will gladly oblige once we're done with you know what."
The Mage smiled. He was right. They did have a certain something to do before the two of them could indulge in their passion, alone.
"Dua, it's time for dinner!"- Hay Lin smiled and offered the boy her hand. He smiled and accepted it, as Hay Lin was his favorite guardian.
"Are you hungry?"
"Uh-huh"
"OK, your grandma is already there as is everyone else, but I want to have some ice cream before dinner...what do you say?"- she winked at him conspiratorially and Dua just laughed:
"Me too, but grandma would never allow it."
"Oh, she doesn't have to know, silly!"- Hay Lin waved her hand. "I have a plan. Wanna help me?"
She didn't need to try any harder, he was in at "ice cream".
"OK, so you go into the kitchen and distract the maids and cooks, while I turn invisible- "
Ten minutes later, the boy rushed into the kitchen with a big smile on his face. Having long forgotten the troubles from the morning and the previous nights, everyone around him acted normally. They blamed the mean Avani and not him; that was enough to reassure him. Oh, and the fact that his grandmother loved him and was always behind him. Having someone like Magana, albeit still young, Dua knew he would be able to deal with every difficulty in life. She was certainly the person he loves most in the world.
"Greetings, everyone."- Dua chirped with a big smile on his face. "Err.. are all errors post yesterday fixed?"
The cooks and maids, mainly women of a certain age, loved children. They immediately started cooing over him, telling him how big he had gotten or how adorable he was. Dua enjoyed the attention, knowing that it would also give his friend Hay Lin enough time to take ice cream for the two of them undisturbed. It was how his kid mind functioned, he was, after all, a child. And in spite of all adversities, sometimes, he did still think like a child.
"Prince Dua, come here, will you?"- one of the cooks waved at him. "Here."- she offered him a spoonful of something chocolate and delicious looking. "Be my guest, be the first one to try tonight's special dessert!"
"Oh, sure thing!"
Dua didn't need to be convinced any further. He took a few steps towards the lady cook and tried the dessert. It was delicious. Then, he attempted to return to the royal saloon, assuming that Hay Lin was already waiting for him there, but after a few steps, he realized he couldn't. Some sort of invisible force bushed back, trapping him in a circle...
"Granny- "- the boy cried in terror when the blue circle he had gotten himself trapped within appeared. Was that a ...pentagram?! He was standing in the middle of a pentagram and couldn't move any further.
That was when all the cooks and maids glamoured before his very eyes. Dua was scared but also confused. He was surrounded by the guardians. The Mage. Halinor... The woman who had given him the dessert was Yan Lin and there, near the sinks, he saw the Queen herself?! What was going on around here?
"Hay- "- the boy began when he saw the Asian guardian, but couldn't finish as the Mage yelled:
"Now, Will!"
"Quintessence!"- Will yelled in her turn, striking the pentagram.
He screamed, wriggling in pain. The magic of the Heart of Kandrakar was overwhelming, he felt as if his insides were being dislocated from the high voltage of the flashes of lightning... But that wasn't what Will was doing. She was reaching for something deep inside him. Someone, rather. Someone who had been living inside the boy from the day of his birth...
The redhead narrowed her eyes with contempt and that thought and gave everything from herself to locate her. To find her, grab her and force her out of the poor boy...
Cornelia, Irma, Hay Lin, and Halinor all joined hands around the pentagram and started circling it murmuring the words of a spell that was going to help that process. Will joined their circle after a few seconds, as the Heart floated in front of her, firing at Dua... His screams and the mystics sounds of the combined spells rang through the kitchens.
"It's of no use, Morgana, you are compelled to show yourself!"- Halinor yelled.
"Relinque corpus innocentis infantis semel et per omnia, demon!" (Leave the body of this innocent child once and for all, demon! *from latin*)
Dua's body convulsed inside the pentagram as the evil within him struggled to fight with the exorcism.
"Ostende te, Morgana! Obedite nymphae et eius custodibus!"- the guardians chimed in. (Show yourself, Morgana! Obey the nymph and her guardians!)
In the end, the ghost of the silver-haired woman had no choice but to obey. Painfully, she was exorcised out of Dua's body and he fell to the ground unconscious, a fresh stream of blood coming out of his nose. The lights and candles finally stopped flickering. The winds died down.
And as Elyon and Yan Lin rushed towards the fallen boy, the angry ghost roared at them and threw knives, plates, and pots at them. Cornelia pushed everything away with her telekinesis:
"How did you know?! I erased Magana's memories!"- Morgana yelled, but before she could do anything else, the Mage's spell struck her from behind. Mixed with her quintessence, it bound her to the wall in screams...
"I hope he's fine..."- Elyon exclaimed anxiously as she held Dua in her lap.
"He will be, he is a strong boy."- Yan Lin assured her and took a syringe out of her pocket. "We just need to help him with everything we can. This should do for now. Will, help Nerissa! She cannot hold that vengeful spirit on her own!"
Will nodded, even though she and all her friends were still out of breath. She came behind Nerissa and joined in her flickering spell, strengthening the mystic grip around Morgana who hissed madly and rebelled:
"You terrible monster! You ruined so many lives for the sake of your craziness!"- Elyon attacked the entity. "You are horrible!"
"You've managed to remain undetected far too long, hence you've grown unreflecting. Ever since Avani came to this castle you started to resurface within the poor boy whose body you've used and violated his entire life!"- Yan Lin frowned. "You even tried to poison her. That's when we first suspected that Dua is being controlled by something. Or someone."
"Of course that was weeks ago and we didn't know anything about you yet, but you gave yourself away this morning when you attacked Avani. We knew that Queen Magana would lie out of fear. That is why we weakened her mental barriers and will with a potion in her drink, allowing Halinor's psychic power to tune into her brain."- Hay Lin went on and Halinor nodded.
"What we didn't expect was that this would also maкe the dream memory of you resurface in her brain."- Cornelia concluded. "You erased her memory after that, but Halinor had already accessed it. You thought that this would halt the book of the past from properly rewriting itself, but you were wrong. Halinor seeing what Magana saw was game over for you, Morgana. It was easier for you to influence her because of the potion we drugged her with, but at the same time, this was your biggest mistake. By interfering with everything, you gave in your part of the past for the book. There were five pillars that held the secret about the cult veiled. Icona, Magana, Leonida, and Visser's parts we already had. The three books were mainly filled in by all of you in the process of creating this sick family war! You exposed yourself and further helped us put all the lost pieces together. Because now we have the three books, you and your entire life-long dream in the dust. It's over!"
"Oh, and by the way, Visser, your trained puppy of a mans and Emery are done. Done."- Irma added spitefully. "You may see each other soon. I wish you well IN HELL!"
The ghost just let out a blood-curdling scream having heard everything the guardians and their allies had to say. She couldn't accept her defeat. She couldn't accept it would all just end like that. But no matter how much she screamed and raged, how deathly she glared at the women, her power was weakened by the spell of the Heart. Her power was dying down. And the united spirits around her, as well as the presence of so many magical auras against her made it impossible for her to feed on any emotions.
"Something's wrong!"- Cornelia alerted.
As if to prove her words, Morgana started to laugh. Just like that. In one moment she was being defeated, in the next, she repelled them all, sending them to slam against the four different walls of the kitchen space.
"What the hell!"- Irma complained, rubbing her sore shoulder. "Why is she so strong?! We have to trap her within something now! Yan Lin!"
"She's been living within Dua for years, gathering strength from everything around him. Every dark situation has made her stronger! She feeds on pure darkness!"- Nerissa declared as she and Halinor struggled to repel the ghost's attack. No, she wasn't an ordinary ghost. She was a demon. A demon...
Yan Lin had brought a magic artifact with herself but she wouldn't get a chance to put it into use. Morgana swung her like a rag doll and only Caleb entering the kitchen and catching her last minute, saved the old lady from sure death:
"GRANDMA!"
"I got her!"- Caleb said and then glared at the entity.
"The question is how do we get her."- Will murmured under her nose, glaring at the silver-haired entity that floated in the air.
"You foolish women thought you could just perform an exorcism with me? Me?"- Morgana raged as they attacked her together. Their elemental powers were a hindrance to her, obviously, but not enough to defeat her... "You could only tear me and the child apart, but you cannot master me! I'm the dark twin! If you've read the changing book of the past you know that I didn't become a ghost because I simply died. I became a soulless entity because I bargained my soul for true darkness!"
"Girls, she's just trying to discourage you. The five elements united are stronger than her alone. Xin Jing is a divine nymph, she can slay demons! Attack her!"- Elyon tightened her fist. If her light powers had been with her she would've shown that crazy ghost.
"Yeah, but we don't have five elements, Taranee is still-"
"No, we do. I'm here. I'll fill in for her."- Halinor stepped in with the girls, joining their combined attack. Her purple flames mixed with the raging water, the pure air, the quintessence, and Cornelia's green terrestrial energy.
Morgana roared as she struggled to fend off.
"Halinor, you're hooked to Kadma's Heart of Zamballa, you're not protected by the nymph's divine energy!"- Nerissa yelled and tried to pull her friend back. "This is too dangerous for you! Don't-"
"Nerissa, we have no other choice!"
Morgana's attack was evidence of her fears again. Her long demonic nails made their way through the other elemental powers that were pushing her off and started to press against Halinor's neck. The blonde started shaking and coughing as she was trying to push them away from herself, but that made her fire magic die down...
"SHE'S GOING TO KILL HER IF YOU DON'T STOP!"
Nerissa was frantic. She had to do something to help her friend. But the guardians were in a stalemate position. If they stopped, Morgana would overpower them with who knew what grave consequences. She could even try to possess the Heart, the link that they had established gave her the opportunity to try... If they didn't, Halinor would suffer seriously. Will squinted her eyes. They had to prevail...
Nerissa, on the other hand, was losing it. She had to do something but she was damn powerless again! Just when she was going to just push the girls apart out of having nothing better to do, another new mystic power joined the formation on their side. Avani... she stood next to Will using her dark magic to join the multi-blast that the guardians' elemental powers were fighting Morgana with.
"So, you're the one who has been trying to liquidate me, eh? You will regret it, you dead faddist-bitch!"
Elyon slammed her own forehead with her palm.
"She feeds on dark magic, Avani, what the hell do you think you're-"
But Nerissa had finally seen an opportunity and she wasn't going to miss it. She cast a mirroring spell on the young woman's attack from behind, turning her unstable dark magic into blinding light one which broke the dangerous formation safely and pushed Morgana off. She screamed like scalded. When she tried to use her powers again, she couldn't. The sharp light spell had temporarily blocked her magic...
"Now, while she's weakened!"- Will yelled. "Let's trap her in the pentagram again!"
All of them joined hands in a circle, except for Caleb who just stood at the doors, holding Dua's unconscious body, with a serious, almost anxious expression, knowing he was useless on this terf. Will finally saw hope that they would succeed. But, unfortunately, it had been deceptive again. Yan Lin pulled the artifact that they were about to use - a vase-like object that could entrap spirits. They would've succeeded had Morgana not suddenly disappeared into thin air.
"Where'd she go?!"- Irma exclaimed, out of breath.
"No, it can't be, fucking bitch! She bailed!" - Cornelia screamed and struggled to smooth her shaggy post-battle hair.
Hay Lin sighed and looked around them. The entire kitchen looked as though a tornado had just passed through it. It didn't have much luck these days, poor room.
fill me in on your thoughts ;) see u soon!
