Chapter 58: Royal Betrayal

Happy New 2022, everyone! May it be blessed, healthy and magical, xoxo

~ jimel


The rain was falling incessantly. Leonida gathered her long locks in a low bun in front of the golden triple mirror. She took a good look of herself in the formfitting, sequin gold and black royal attire. Then she applied some more shimmer on her beautiful tanned skin.

It was a big day for them. The Spring had summoned Opal. And, given her age, they would join her as her regents. Legally. Phobos and her. With the small difference that instead of going back home with a bottle of the golden water, like new rulers usually did, they were planning on usurping the entire power of the Golden Spring. Illegally, obviously. The Heart of Coronia and all its might were a solid bite for anyone's mouth. It was a big day.

"Are you ready?"- Phobos called impatiently. He stood behind her the entire time, holding their daughter.

"Almost."- Leonida beamed in response and turned around to take a look at him. He looked darling with Opal in his arms and that expression on his handsome face. Unfathomable but also warm. She had grown to love that softer side of him. As for his garments, they were as usual black, but the princess had made him put a Coronian golden vest over. It was going to be a day to remember, after all.

"Now we're all ready." - Leonida cooed as she finished putting a golden rose-shaped brooch on the prince's chest. "I just wanted you to have this. It's a small token of my appreciation and love for you and, after today, we will be truly together and inseparable, together with our daughter. Even the battles will cease in front of our new power... I can't wait."

Phobos gave her a small smile. She looked truly happy. And he liked that detail with the rose. She knew him well by now. Maybe too well...

Almost two weeks had passed without Morgana in the offing and with their forces prevailing in more and more districts. Most of the realms bound by his contracts were ready to surrender in front of their deceit and their supremacy. All that made Leonida feel much better than she had been feeling during the time her demoness of a grandmother had haunted her. Of course, she didn't know the details of Morgana's absence and Phobos's part in it... The Evil Prince felt like sparing them was the smarter thing to do as for now.

Phobos's smile grew bigger as he gazed into Leonida's indigo eyes. Everything was going according to plan. After a year of hard contemplating, dangers, hardships, and mind games his victory was at an arm's length. Risks well taken. He cringed when he remembered these words of Zaden's. If only he could see him now, he'd regret every bad word and every part of his abuse for his son was unworthy of being king in the public's eyes...

Meridian would be the last to fall, Phobos wanted it that way. He wanted to prove a point and have his revenge once and for all. These people there, who lived in the castle he had grown up in, deserved his wrath.

"Phobos."- Leonida's voice broke him apart from his inner drama.

Just then he noticed the servants that had entered the room to call them. Their carriages were ready.

"Your Majesty."- one of them began, hesitantly. "Everything's ready for you. However, the rain- "

"The rain doesn't concern me anymore, Vale."- Leonida interrupted the man with a radiant smile. "I was born during a heavy rain and I was nearly destroyed by low-lives but I prevailed. My daughter shall prevail and thrive in everything as well."


A thunder echoed in the dark morning sky. Nerissa was so startled, that she awoke abruptly and just sat up in bed. But it wasn't the loud noise that did this to her... In fact, her emotions caused the thunderstorm that was running amok outside.

Her long black hair was a mess. The sweat on her bare chest and neck looked as if she had just come out of the ocean. Nerissa's nightmare and the reason for the current state she was in, however, had nothing to do with any sea terror. It was a vivid nightmare she was having from time to time, but this night it had been at its worst.

Ever since Phobos has threatened her family last year, the former guardian sometimes had such night terrors. But tonight had been appalling. Utterly. She had seen Phobos and Leonida coming to Meridian, drunk on power and hatred, killing each and every one of the people dearest to her, including her grandson, and she had been powerless to stop them. That had never occurred before and it terrified her. She couldn't find herself a place after that lifelike nightmare. She couldn't be powerless anymore.

Mark my words, Phobos's dark threat from that day in the dungeon echoed in her ears. She remembered it verbatim (Heart of a Mother chapter 41). Black days are coming for you and your dearest son. When the sunset of your fraudulent victory comes. When I get where I deserve to be, I will smear his blood all over your face, before pulling your own old heart out of your chest. And your poor grandson and worthless husband will be next in line. Because you ruined my kingdom and you must pay for it!

"No..."- Nerissa shook her head, trying to chase the terrifying memory and her mad fear away. "No, this will not happen. I will not allow it. I will- "

Then lightning fell and she could swear she had seen Phobos in the mirror of the big dressing table...

"Never... You will never hurt them! Never! I will crush you!"

And just like that, in her agonizing despair, she started trashing the room. Like a wild typhoon, the brunette raged and threw one big jewelry box towards the mirror, where she had imagined Phobos's image, breaking it into thousands of pieces.

"I WILL DESTROY YOU! I will destroy you, all of you, sick monsters! I will not let you near my family!"

Nerissa screamed in mad rage and despair. She ripped the covers on the bed into rags and pushed everything that came in her way down. A bookcase, a chair, paintings...Everything crashed on the floor, clawed and distorted by her bare hands. She tore the curtains and broke a window down with the help of the fallen cornice...The entire room was annihilated in seconds.

She stopped to catch her breath and then the inevitable followed. Nerissa heard footsteps and voices from the corridor. Voices coming towards her room.

But when the doors opened and Julian looked inside, worried, everything was intact. One couldn't say what had caused the uproar from a few moments ago, the room looked absolutely fine. Only...

Nerissa turned around to meet her husband's eyes, hugging herself in her long night robe:

"Nerissa? Are you OK, I heard deafening sounds coming from our room? What happened?"

She tried to force a smile:

"Oh, that... I was just having a restless night. Don't worry about me. When did you come back? I thought you were traveling till the end of the day?"

She tried to sound casual and alluring as usual but he cocked an eyebrow. With how rough she looked; he could tell that something was wrong. Still and all, the man made the soldiers who had followed him a sign that they could leave before going to close the doors of the room from the inside.

"We got lucky."- Julian sighed tiredly as he sat on the bed. "The army at Misty Valley just fled. We didn't expect it but a portal opened and just engulfed them... I suppose they called them elsewhere for some reason."

Nerissa nodded as she ran a large brush through her hair. So, they opened portals just like that even in the veil now. Great. Simply great. Her head hurt.

And her little meltdown and recovering the room from it had left her even more drained than she had already been feeling in recent days. Protection spells, fighting off lurdens and soldiers, keeping the Palace in check... All that drained her. And that was with her friends' help. She couldn't imagine keeping it all up on her own. If she did, she'd have probably aged with a hundred years again by now.

Her left arm ached terribly but it served her right for doing serious magic when she was basically sustained by nothing. No, the Mage knew she needed her powers back. It was high time; losing them for Caleb had been only natural, but now she needed them to protect him again. She needed to protect all of them.

She was going to have her Seal back and she needed to be smarter to do that. Smarter than going savage on a useless room. Nerissa couldn't afford to lose no matter what. She had to keep it all together in order to do what was right.

Put an end to the enemies ...

"My love, are you sure you're fine?"- Julian insisted as he watched her sit next to him. "You look very tired and tense..."

"I will be, my darling man."- she just whispered and smiled at him as she stroked his beard. "I just need to manifest it."


Later that same day...

The biggest conference room of Heatherfield's "White Gardenia Hotel" was set to fit all standards of their special guests. All sorts of law experts from the entire country had gathered for a young lawyers contest that Taranee was participating in.

There was a high platform illuminated by many spotlights with long desks for participants, backstage areas where they would prepare before the speaking parts, several rows, two meters away from each other, for the audience, and a jury box, as well as many security and health measures in action.

The contest's goal was to bring together young and newly-qualified lawyers to spotlight the importance of state law for their future legal practice.

In teams composed of contestants from different regions, they would be challenged to apply their knowledge in practical role-play scenarios. Under the watchful eye of a jury of leading practitioners (Judge Cook and her husband weren't a part of it because of their participating daughter, however, they were a part of the hosts), the young lawyers would learn to work with peers from other legal cultures to build strong cases in areas as diverse as fundamental rights and the rule of law, access to justice, economic law, cross-border cooperation in civil and commercial matters, and criminal justice. (Lillian struggled to remember every sub-category because she was here to cover the event for her journalism class.)

"The contestants will be judged both on their knowledge of state and regional law and on their advocacy skills in drafting written arguments, conducting negotiations, and pleading before a judge."- Lionel Cook had said for the media a few days ago. "The contest is an opportunity for Bars to encourage their young lawyers to get excited about law and to learn how to use it to improve their day-to-day practice."

"Lillian!"- Vera Hale yanked her granddaughter in the corner. "What are you doing?! Fix your posture! We aren't attending this event just for fun, you know, we came so that you could build upon your social status and public connections. There are several important people here that I want to introduce you to. Leave that thing away."- the old lady pointed at her Ipad. "And come with me. Chop-chop!"

"Grandma, I want to write an article about today, that's why I came here."- the teen argued in annoyance as she watched her grandmother's face go crimson even under the thick foundation lawyers. "I can meet your friends after the contest's over-"

"Don't be glib, Lillian, not after you turned Brown down for the sake of your negligible relationship."

The young blonde rolled her eyes. Here we go again...

"You promised you would meet these people and their partners and make a good impression!"- Vera went on accusingly. "We had an agreement after you turned down Brown for Chris! You have to do as I say now!"

Lillian sighed, annoyed, but didn't talk back anymore. It was true. The fact she wanted to stay in Heatherfield for her higher education had enraged her family. Especially because it was mainly due to Chris only being accepted here. Especially after Cornelia had done the same back when she had been 18. But of course, she had gotten away with it much easier. She was Cornelia.

The teen rolled her eyes and followed her grandmother who almost dragged her by the hand.

After a lot of eruptive fights, the Hales had finally agreed to let their daughter study in Heatherfield. But there was a catch - Vera had insisted she takes care of her granddaughter's public image. And that was a very extensive commitment containing many things that Lillian had been forced to do ever since. They even had a contract. An official document she had signed. Of course, ever since she was 18, she didn't legally need to listen to everything the Hales wanted for her, hence they had come up with this one.

"Either agree to this, Lillian, or I'm afraid you'll have to move out and find a job. I will take away all your cards and property, including your car."- her father had told her. "I'm sorry, sweetheart. Everything that you have comes from my money and since you no longer want to listen to me and attend a prestigious university... We all have to compromise for this to work."

That had been like a hard slap in her face. She couldn't live like that... she was too accustomed to her lifestyle. Of course, she wanted to be independent one day, but that had to happen gradually, not out of the blue.

"This is not fair! You didn't have such conditions for Cornelia, did you? Why is it always me who gets the short straw around here, dad? You know that grandma will ruin my life if I give her the legal right to!"

"Lillian! You talk like a brat!"

"You're the one ruining your life!"- Vera had then barked. It had been a fateful day in Garden Plaza... Elizabeth had refused to attend the last such debates... "Cornelia's been building a name and image for herself for many years, Lillian, that's why she can afford to do whatever she wants! Even after being inactive in the modeling industry for so long, this last show brought her so much credibility again! She will always be able to find a niche in this city, everyone will always treat her properly, because she has proved to be a Hale, and that with dignity! And you?! You're just a slacker! If you don't want to go to Brown, accept our offer or go work for pennies and get married faster. If you choose this last alternative, we will have to take away your last name too."- and with that, Vera had spitefully thrown the papers in her face.

And Lillian had signed, reluctantly. What else could've she done? Hence now Vera owned many of her decisions.

"The best two teams from each semi-final will take part in a three-day final held at the General Court next month. The final will include training on "how to litigate before the Court of Justice" and negotiation exercise. It will close with the organization of a moot court at the General Court where the two winning teams of the previous exercise will contest in front of a jury composed of high-profile representatives from legal practice, and judges- "

Theresa's speech was almost interrupted by the tall woman's appearance. Thankfully she had finished her thought and it didn't come out unprofessional.

At the sight of Nerissa, the reporters, some of whom recognized her, instantly turned towards her; Judge Cook just straightened out her white formal jacket as she felt her husband's hand on her shoulder.

Nerissa looked distracted. Tense, almost. She deflected the reporters' attention and sent them away succinctly, although this surely was an openly missed opportunity for her career as a singer and performer. She just didn't have that on her mind today.

"Nerissa. To what do we owe the pleasure?"- Theresa smile dryly. "You're not singing today, are you? I'm afraid that the nature of this event doesn't allow it-"Nothing of the kind, judge."- and the ex-guardian smiled down at her a little bit annoyed. It was no secret that Taranee's mother wasn't one of her biggest fans.

"Then you must be here to attend? Of course, you can sit with the girls, you're welcome to stay- "- Lionel smiled.

"Oh, thank you. I am here to have a word with Cornelia, then I'll see myself out. I am... rather busy. Taranee's tireless, isn't she? I am sure she has this contest in the bag. Nonetheless, best of luck."

And with that, she left the couple behind, marching her heels towards the four women sitting in the front...

"Nerissa?"- Cornelia stood up in alert as she noticed her. "Why are you here? Is there something- "

"Other than my nightmares, no. Not really. Not yet."- the ex-guardian rolled her eyes. "This event? Hardly today was the best time to participate."

Having felt Will's eyes on herself, Cornelia looked down sheepishly and replied:

"I know. But it's important for Tara and she's just beginning this new life of hers... we had to support her."

Nerissa vaguely nodded:

"Whatever. Just wanted to make sure that you'll do your part in our plan for today. Uninterrupted, that is."

She didn't like the look on the blonde's face. As if she was backing out on her. She had chickened out. The Earth guardian wasn't going to stand up to her leader. Nerissa frowned:

"What's the matter, Cornelia? You know that we have to take all the power back already. I appreciate Will's noble ambition to keep the political interests of the two kingdoms under control, but we cannot have Andan act behind our backs and wait for a felicitous opportunity to destroy Morgana at the same time."- the brunette frowned even harder. "We have to return our positions if we want to win the war. Once we have all the power back, we will dictate control. And everything will be back to normal."

"I know, but Will's backed up by the Heart. She warned me."- Cornelia hissed even though it was obvious that Will couldn't hear them. "She doesn't know any details, but she knows that we won't just wait much longer. Everything is too delicate right now; we have to be careful. She asked me to trust her, trust her feeling, and I can't- "

"I had a feeling too."- Nerissa interrupted her. "That Phobos's threats will be fulfilled. But of course, you choose to trust Will over me. I'm not taken by surprise."

Cornelia closed her eyes tiredly.

"Only because I don't want to risk it, Nerissa. And I'm sorry but Will has proven herself. I know that she won't let anything happen to my family. Our family."

A dark shadow passed over Nerissa's face but she just stared into the big blue eyes in front of herself before nodding:

"Then just this once. I will trust her too. Fully."- she said to Cornelia's surprise. "I hope that we won't live to regret it."

Cornelia turned around in astonishment as Nerissa made her way to where her friends were sitting and joined them in the audience.


The map... the map to the Golden Spring that showed me the way there years ago. Every Queen forgets its image after she returns with her portion of water. But I can vaguely recall my parents waiting for me after I got my bottle. My mother still knew the path to the Spring...but that's impossible unless she...

"...Used a memory stone to save the memory of her journey to it."- Magana finished thoughtfully as she tightened her grip around the small stone.

She had just extracted it. From her mother's empty tomb. Even her skeleton wasn't here, it was still up in her secret room in the Edifice... Magana sighed despondently. Everything about Icona's life and death was a travesty. But at least she had remembered this as if a memory had resurfaced in her brain with magic again. It could be, for all she knew. It could be because the Spring had called Opal and she had felt it.

"Not even Visser could uncover that you've hidden this memory stone in your tomb, mother. Even though they have been here, Morgana has destroyed the blood spell that prevented other people from entering it... It escaped them, oh by the Golds of Coronia... But now, in the dawn of this true tragedy, I found it. My feeling was right."- the hazel-haired woman mumbled to herself as she looked up at her mother's portrait above the empty golden coffin with tears streaming down her face. The memory stone had been hidden in the big portrait's left eye...

"But the question is what now."- Magana's voice trembled. "I have the route to the Spring, but how do I use it? How can I stop Phobos and Leonida, how can I stop Morgana... I cannot do it alone. I don't know... I don't know what to do and this is my last chance!"

"But I do."

Magana jumped in shock as she heard the voice behind herself, and the magic fireball she had conjured to shed light around the room loomed in magenta colors, alarmingly...

Magana could only stare in distress as Nerissa's figure threw her imposing shadow over her. She wore a blood-red set - a sleeveless velvet jumpsuit with a long silken cape and a major oval slit for a cleavage. She rested her hand against the cold wall of the narrow tomb:

"What's the matter, my dearest Queen Magana?"- she clicked her tongue in jest. Her eyes, however, were full of determination and danger, pinning the other woman down like those of a wild cat. "You were saying you don't know how to proceed. But I do. You should be thrilled that I'm here, on Coronia, to stop your lunatic daughter and her tyrant prince once and for all."

"H-how-"- Magana stammered but the sorceress interrupted her:

"Let's not dwell into the details. I overheard you and your son. I've been keeping a close eye on you ever since you came to the Meridian Palace. I know you've been feeling the Spring getting ready to summon the baby and her regents and I know that today is the day. They're on their way to it as we speak. You came here, with unlocked memories and ideas, because the Spring wanted you to."- Nerissa went on with a little smile. "It's the Heart of this realm, isn't it, it gave you the chance to intervene once again. You chose to come here alone and spare everyone this information. That was a dunce-like thing to do, Magana, but to your relief, I'm here. I'm here to take care of everything. Now give me that memory stone."

And she extended her hand expectantly but the hazel-haired woman just stared at her. Uneasily. Nerissa was beginning to lose patience because she yelled:

"GIVE me the stone, Magana, I don't have time to lose!"

"You followed me here, you-"- she stammered. "But you're supposed to be with the guardians! I heard Elyon talking to Will, Will said you'd spend the majority of the day with them on Earth, because they have a function of some sort...Why would you come here without them?"

Nerissa's smile didn't leave her face. But there was something more to it:

"You..."- Magana gasped, realizing things. "...you're going against Will's decisions... But you vowed to-"

"Aren't you insolent to talk about going against and behind your allies' backs!"- the Mage interrupted her and frowned. "You're a pathological liar, Magana. But I'm sick of your crap! Neither will I twiddle my thumbs as your son fulfills his political aspirations nor shall I wait for Will to gauge our readiness to take down the enemy! They will lose today!"

Magana took a step back as Nerissa came towards her. Her back pressed against the wall...

"H-how is that going to happen without Avani... where is she-"

"If I take Avani with me, Morgana will have the perfect opportunity to possess her."- Nerissa shook her head. "She needs to possess the baby. Then she will fall into a trap she can never escape. As for your daughter and her lover. Well."- Nerissa's lips curved into a sinister smile. "Let's just say that the Spring is the perfect place to cut off their bonds with the power permanently."

"Possess the baby...Are you out of your mind?!"- Magana almost screamed. "No! I will not allow this! I will tell Will and the others, they would never-"

"Oh, you wasted your chance to tell the others. You should've thought of that earlier, you fool!"

Magana screamed. She had tried to flee the scene, but Nerissa's magic enveloped her in a dome, blocking all her abilities to move...

"You can't...you can't do this."- she insisted, terrified. "Opal's too young, this may damage her beyond repair!"

"Not more than what your diabolical Leonida has been doing to her ever since she was conceived!"- Nerissa barked in response and snatched the memory stone from the trembling woman's hands. Then she let her slump to the floor, dizzy and tired.

"Now shut up and go back to Meridian before you've been discovered by her sentry, you senseless woman!"

Nerissa took a step over her head and headed for the exit victoriously but suddenly the stone teletransported away from her. She turned around once more, burning rage in her eyes as she saw Magana struggling to get up. The stone, however, was in her hand again.

"I will not..."- she shook her head as she was standing up again. "...let you go through with this. Not when my granddaughter's at stake."

Nerissa bared her teeth venomously. This woman was going on her last nerve. So now she cared about her granddaughter. About her blood. She knew. She knew Magana's life had been distorted and blackened by forces beyond her control but at that moment she didn't care. All she knew was that no one would stop her this time.

"I apologize."- Nerissa whispered. "But that would be impossible."

Then she lifted her hand and threw the screaming former Queen in her mother's empty coffin, and to her terror, slammed it shut.


Phobos carefully stepped down on the green grass.

The Spring. They were finally here. It looked just like on the door of the Sealed Room in the Coronian Palace.

In this small round ravine, nestled between the high peaks of the mountains, where the sun's rays shone like lightning on precious stones, gushed the Spring. The roaring waters gathered in a pool, and fragrant trees grew around it, the branches of which looked down into their reflections in the water mirror. Phobos had to agree that no matter how beautiful the rest of Coronia was, this place surpassed everything. It was breathtaking. He hated it.

"Isn't it amazing, Phobos."- Leonida exclaimed as she held her daughter close to herself. "The Spring. It summoned Opal, she's the youngest Queen to be considered eligible of all its power! The map took her and us here just like that, like true magic!"- and she laughed like a child. "It is magic, isn't it? The most enchanted kind. The Magic of the Golden Spring! It's magnificent!"

"Undoubtedly."- the fair-haired man murmured and looked around himself. The serenity of this place, its aura, it was too was bizarre... but then again, it was the Heart of the realm. The magic energy in the air was almost impossible to digest.

Leonida obviously felt it too, because she almost tripped all of a sudden. Only Phobos's arms around her waist halted her from landing on the grass. Opal woke up but she remained calm:

"Leonida!"- the man exclaimed angrily. "Be cautious! Come on! Let's wrap this up quicker, as glorious as this place is, I don't feel great here."

Leonida shook her head like dazed, but nodded:

"It's because we're just regents... the Spring also reveals the truth. It knows everything and it's not satisfied."

Phobos snorted:

"We didn't come this far to bow down in front of a pond's dissatisfaction."

Leonida held her daughter and the golden goblet she had taken from the Sealed room and started walking towards the crystal waters. Trying to gather all her confidence and strength... For some reason, the closer she got to the water, the weaker she felt. As if her body was about to suffer a seizure...

The young woman remembered about the first time she had been here. About the graumer Dua and the guardians who had saved her from him. It felt bittersweet.

Back then, she had been just a silly girl who had no idea what life and the servants of darkness around her have in store for her life. So much had changed in 9 years. She sighed and took another unsure step towards the bed of the Spring.

She knew what she had to do. She had to have her daughter drink a goblet from its waters. Then she had to fill her bottle up... Then she and Phobos had to drink from it as well and then combine all their magic in order to take over all its mystic energy. It was going to be very tiring and draining but it was worth it.

Opal engulfed her goblet effortlessly. She didn't even cough. Then her body started glowing with her newfound powers... Leonida smiled at her baby and knelt down to fill the goblet for herself. The pain in her head and chest was incredible...

But just before she could bring her lips closer to the goblet...

A powerful flash of lightning tore the calm surface of the water. Leonida screamed and staggered, and Phobos, who rushed towards her, was pushed back by a wall of powerful golden energy.

"NERISSA!"

But no matter how much he tried to get past the golden barrier, the prince was left out by it. Leonida and his daughter were on the other side and so was Nerissa.

When she opened her eyes again, Leonida frowned deeply. The blasted sorceress stood before her, inches away from the Spring. With a strange look on her face - a mixture between triumph and a smile of vengeance...

"How did you find this place."- Leonida hissed even though by now she knew the Mage was capable of anything. "Never mind. It's too late. Opal already drank from the Spring. She's the new Queen... No one can change that. You come just in time to die!"

But Leonida's eyebrows knitted closer together when Nerissa responded by throwing her head back in an uproarious laugh:

"Oh, I wouldn't do that if I were you, Leonida."- she said when the blonde attempted to drink from the goblet again. Opal started crying: "Not unless you want to be the one dying instantly, of course!"

"I will kill you, Nerissa!"- Phobos raged and threw spells that the protection of the Spring repelled. "I WILL KILL YOU!"

"You were cursed, remember?"- the Mage offered the other woman her hand with a vicious smirk, ignoring him. "But do you know what triggers your curse? It's the golden water. The golden water triggers your curse, if you drink that much from it you will fall dead."

A true shadow of horror passed over the blonde's face:

"You're bluffing."- she muttered as she pushed her hand away and stood up. "This can't be true! It can't be!"

"Oh, by all means, test it out if you don't believe me."- Nerissa laughed again. "But do think before you do the irreversible. What could possibly trigger your curse when close to your relatives? Why did you turn into a bird when Andan splashed some liquid over you after Elyon's wedding? You are cursed with the water from the same very Spring you're trying to usurp, my dear."

Leonida was taken aback. She took a step back in her denial and that was exactly what the older woman waited for.

Suddenly, a pair of shears pulsed in her hands. Shears that Phobos hadn't noticed before... And just like that, using Leonida's emotions and Opal's new powers settling in, Nerissa clicked the demigod shears between the baby and its mother relentlessly. It was invisible at first, but then it materialized. A bond of pure energy... The strongest bond between the two was destroyed. The regent bond.

Leonida gasped soundly and stared at the other woman's vicious, triumphant face. It felt as if she had just cut a part of her body and soul:

"What did you do?!"- Leonida squalled but she knew already.

Nerissa had just destroyed her regent bond and had cut her from all of Opal's powers.

"It's mind-blowing, isn't it? How the uncovering of the last secret your mother kept served as the end of your insanity. Never did I ever expect to have such a perfect opportunity to use the demigod shears against you!"- Nerissa narrated, gloatingly, as Leonida's knees hit the grass in defeat. "But the great power transfer in Opal, combined with the shocking news of your curse and unchecked emotions bared your bonds just enough! I did it, I outplayed both of you! Finally! After so much time you're both going to be in the dust!"- Nerissa stopped for a second to glare at Phobos vindictively. His look, the denial in his eyes... priceless!

"After what you did to me, after you threatened my son and he almost lost his life, I thought that this attainment will bring me more pleasure, but now I almost pity you, Leonida!"- she spat. "You're an ill-used wretch whose entire life is just a tragic satire foredoomed to a bitter failure! Then again..."- the Mage squinted her eyes with hatred. "...you went beyond redemption too long ago!"

"NO!"

Leonida screamed as the brunette snatched Opal from her arms and... dashed her into the Spring. Leonida was thrown into the Spring, and her cursed body instantly reacted as it writhed and began changing and shaking in painful convulses. Her screams mixed with the baby's cries echoed in the valley as Nerissa got ready to cut Phobos's agitated regent bond too...

But something wasn't right...He was pressed against the invisible golden wall, rebelling like crazy as if he couldn't move back.

She opened her mouth in surprise as a new essence entered the energy scheme and distorted it. The shears just broke free from her grip and flew somewhere in the sky and she barely managed to move back before the golden protecting energy of the Spring vanished and Phobos fell in the shoals...

"YOU FOOLISH PRINCE!"

Morgana's angry roars echoed and outshouted the entire commotion. Then everything went silent for an entire second before the demon appeared in the air above them and started screaming again. But Phobos ignored her, he was swimming towards Leonida who was unconscious by now. He caught her just before she sunk down completely:

"Why did you beguile me!? For her! She betrayed you!"

Nerissa squinted her eyes in confusion. What was this dead bitch talking about?! She took a careful step back, pressing Opal against her chest. It was a matter of agility now. There were two opportunities laying ahead of her. Either she'd fool Morgana and escape or she'd die. As a last resort, she could try to escape with the baby while the demon was busy, but Opal's darn father was still her regent. That would complicate things...

"I gave you a fair suggestion!"- Morgana yelled at Phobos. "A chance! But you lied to me, I can't say I didn't expect it, I'm just profoundly disappointed! If you hadn't put those protecting hallowed bands on Leonida and yourself, I could've possessed her during her weakened state and avoided what the sorceress did to her! Then we'd kill Nerissa and rule together! But you didn't even think about my offer!"

Nerissa's mouth hung open. Morgana's latest plan had been to rule alongside Phobos in Leonida's body?! What a delusional...

"I admit I would've considered your so-called offer, even if in part, up until you showed me the memory stone with the memories Leonida wanted to forget. Those in which she hated me."- the prince called coldly as he placed the princess on the grass. At first, he didn't even react at the fact that the blood-hungry demon was hovering above his head and one of his greatest enemies was holding his daughter a few feet away. He just concentrated on helping Leonida recover with his magic:

"I did the same many years ago. I wanted to forget some things in order to live again... You somehow managed to remind me of them. I suppose I didn't take the entire memory out of my head, but nevertheless, this was a sure sign that Leonida and I could do this."- the man said to Morgana's rage and Nerissa's bewilderment.

"We can be together and I will never let anything come in the way of that again. I love her, you prune. Whatever made you think that I'd want you to reside in her?!"

Morgana growled something incomprehensible but Nerissa just raised a brow.

He...loves her. The brat actually loves someone. Does this mean he loves this baby as well?

"If anything, now that Leonida is no longer her daughter's regent."- Morgana smiled darkly. "Her powers of Queen Mother no longer serve as protection-"

"You're right. But Opal did drink from the Spring. She can protect herself now. And I will help her."- Phobos finally looked up at the two women and lifted his hand.

Morgana winced as the prince stood up and blasted at her, sending her to fly a few yards up in the sky until she was just a dot that disappeared like a bubble of soap...

"I'm her father. Her regent and I just gained control over all her new powers, stupid Dark Twin."

Then, when he turned his attention towards Nerissa, his voice became even colder:

"Hand me my daughter back, sorceress. Immediately."- he ordered.

Nerissa didn't say anything at first. She just met his eyes:

"What does a monster like you know about raising children anyway? You'll only hurt her, you use her for power, you're brutal and- "

"This is none of your business!"- Phobos raged and pulled Opal away from her arms with magic. Then he sent a spell at the woman, which pushed her hard on her back. "You used your son for the rebellion! For a weapon against me, all these years ago! Where's the difference?!"

"Caleb served a noble cause that was only needed because of your tyrannical reign! There's a huge difference."- Nerissa growled and got back on her feet. "Don't you dare compare that to what you're doing to that poor baby, you gnat!"

Phobos smirked, unimpressed:

"Your side of the story. I love my daughter and I'm not going to let her suffer."

Nerissa frowned:

"That may be true. But you're out of line. All the power which you store in her may kill her!"

"Who says that all that power will remain inside of her?"

His pale green eyes burned her emerald ones, and suddenly she gasped:

"You leech! Of course, how didn't I see this coming! You plan on using your one and only talent again, you want to devour all the mystic power inside her just like you wanted to do with your sister!"

"I'm afraid that after you eliminated Leonida as her regent, I have no other choice."- Phobos smiled darkly. "And if I want to skillfully avoid that trap you and the guardians have for me, the one involving my older daughter..."

Nerissa blenched barely visibly but the man just grinned.

"Yes, I know about her now."- he shrugged. "Thanks to the demon...I don't know what my sister has been poisoning the girl with but... I guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens next. You are going to all lose the war either way."

"Devouring all of Opal's power against her will is surely going to kill her!"- the Mage yelled, trying to suppress her anger and despair over the latest turn of events. Everything had gone wrong. She couldn't even break the brat's bond... And she had wasted her last chance...

"She's your heir and you're her regent, for hell's sake! You can't just take back from her like that- "

"I will find a way to do it without endangering her."- Phobos frowned. "I'm not an idiot. Here's what's intriguing though. You failed today. You did some damage yet, overall, you failed. You're a smart woman, you know what that means. It's time to settle our scores once and for all, Nerissa."

Oh, she knew very well...

Nerissa felt a cold chill down her spine but didn't say anything. He took another step towards her with a sinister look in his eyes. He was loaded on power; she barely felt the magic strings of her Seal, bestowed to Opal months ago. She couldn't teletransport from this place either. She was alone...

For the first time in years, Nerissa felt totally helpless and cornered, and the light at the end of the tunnel had never been dimmer.

Epilogue

"We did everything in our power but we couldn't save her. I'm sorry. We lost her."

It was a sad late afternoon in Meridian. The sun was going down behind the mountains in the distance. The palace was recovering after a horrid event...

Will sighed deeply as she heard their cries. This was the saddest and hardest part of being a guardian during a big war. Seeing the victims fall and being unable to save them. Not on time, at least. Not all together. Witnessing their closest ones' sorrow and pain. It was overwhelming...

The healers pulled the white sheet over her face and just like that she was no more. She was dead.

"You may take her in the morning, she'll be ready for her funeral rituals. I'm sorry for your loss."

"This is horrible."- Hay Lin exclaimed once they were alone in the hospital wing. "How could this happen... I still can't believe it."

"No one suspected that Phobos's armies will just leave the Misty Valley battlefield and attack the castle instead."- Taranee retorted despondently. "They're bolder than ever. And attacked through the kitchens where their portal opened...that's why she, she..."

"As terrible as this is."- Cornelia interfered, being the voice of sense as usual. She had still cried though. The news was hard to digest... "We have to be grateful that there are no other deaths... This is not a miracle, it's our good preparation and excellent people. They managed to evacuate everyone and there are no other civil victims because of it. We have to look at it from the bright side in order to get justice! We have more reasons to be grateful right now."

"That's true, Cornelia."- Will who had sat next to the covered corpse sighed. She secured a strand of red hair behind her ear. "But not her family. She was an innocent person who lost her life today. There's no number of bright sides or justice that will change that. They have nothing to be grateful to the guardians for."

Irma sobbed and then glared at the pulled curtain next to the deceased's bed...

"This could've been you, you know, Phobos was kicking your ass real good when we came to your rescue, the whole entire Mila trick was super dumb! What the hell were you thinking?!"

Nerissa pursed her lips but didn't say anything. She just looked at the deceased. Lala, one of the maids everyone knew and appreciated for so many years, had lost her life today. Even she was taken aback by the news...Julian and Caleb had been out when the attack had taken place. The Palace was safe for now. But Lala...

Nerissa closed her eyes before finishing drying up the rest of the tasteless healing potion.

It had been a degrading fight for her. Phobos had almost killed her. Only the guardians' arrival had saved her on time... But then again, that had been part of the plan.

"I took a risk."- she sighed. "But I knew Mila would make you come after I've had some time to try to execute my plan. That's why I sent her the route from Icona's memory stone- "

"Yeah, but your plan didn't work out. Not to mention how horrendous it was."

They all turned to see Elyon entering the hospital wing with a scowl on her face.

"You wanted Morgana to possess Opal in order to block her inside of her with hoodoo magic. Did you even think, for a second, of all the potential pain that poor baby would've been in, had you managed to trap such a livid demon inside of her? Even if just for a short while?"

Irma made a face:

"Elyon, we really don't have time for your shit, go talk to your cheating husband who doesn't consult you and acts behind your back or something-"

Elyon just stared at the other woman in utter indignation and anger:

"Irma, I'm getting tired of this attitude of yours, stop treating me like a problematic teenager!"

"Oh yeah?"- the Latina barked. "And what do you think you look like with all the shit you do? That's actually a mild way to describe how I see you-"

Hay Lin came between them before they could deepen the fight and made Irma give up with a serious glance. But Elyon wasn't ready to:

"You girls are crossing all lines!"- she shouted. "I get that you're mad at Miriadel for what she did at the fashion show and I know we haven't been getting along ever since, but you-"

"You think that's when we stopped getting along?"- Cornelia's stopped her with her sharp tone and glaring eyes. They were cold. "Try last year when you completely stopped caring about our relationship! Apparently, you don't remember that our friendship's been falling apart rapidly ever since you-"

"Ever since I stopped listening to everything you say like you're some superior?"- Elyon helped her bitterly and laughed at the taller woman's baffled face. "That's rich. I'm my own person and the queen of this realm, I don't owe you complete obedience and submissiveness! At all!"

"Yeah, that's why your crown and power are snatched away for the tenth time, good job, Ely-"

"ENOUGH!"

Andan's appearance in the hospital wing made Irma even angrier. She was just about to make another peppery remark:

"Look at you."- the man hissed as the seven women focused all their attention on him. His hazel eyes were cold and full of something dark as he spoke: "Fighting like amateurs, not being able to do a single thing right. You have hindered everything long enough. Enough."

"Andan."- Elyon blinked in perplexity. "What are you doing-"

"Hey buddy, you realize you're awake, right?"- Irma rolled her sleeves making Andan clench his teeth in irritation. "Cause you and your mother can only point the finger at us in your dreams after all your lies-"

"I am sick and tired of you and your huge mouth."- he hissed at her. "Today you will shut up, Irma. Once and for all. Because this Palace, the armies, and everything about the war with Phobos and Leonida will be under my personal care. No more need for skimming and hiding behind my wife's back in order to do what's right. I'm taking the reins. "

His words caused confusion. Anger too. But mostly, confusion. What the hell was he talking about? How was he even thinking he could demand this kind of authority?

He's obviously lost it, Tarnaee shook her head as she and the others exchanged meaningful glances.

But Elyon looked more than restless. She had a terrible gut feeling all of a sudden. She turned towards the man and shook him up:

"Andan! Don't tell me that you... don't tell me that you've really betrayed me like that! Did you turn my people against me?"

Andan smiled down at her bitterly.

"I'm sorry, my Queen. But your ruling... didn't really live up to my expectations. Nor to those of my people, the Coronias. The majority of them have always supported me over you but after the latest events, it didn't take much to convince many more to join me too. Many more Meridianites, that is."

"Woah there. What the hell is this all about?"- Will interjected, feeling a sneaky suspicion in her once again. She didn't like the way Elyon looked down in defeat...

"There've been campaigns against me for quite some time now... people are losing fate in the Light of Meridian."- she said in a low voice. "That's why some of the nobles, they... they've made public written requests for me to have a regent or temporary deputy. Someone more capable of dealing with Phobos..."

"WHAT?!"

The girls were stunned. Only Will didn't look as surprised. She had seen some of this coming with how bad the situation was. Not that she had expected for Andan to double-cross Elyon so... openly.

That's why I was striving towards keeping every party's interest, things had to be as neutral as much as possible, she murmured in telepathy. This is just... so fucking gross.

"You disgusting traitor!"- Cornelia yelled. "How could you side with those nobles instead of supporting your wife? You know your fucking planet cannot be ruled by a man anyway, are you soft-headed?!

"It's a temporary solution...for now."- Andan shrugged. It was as if he had finally let go of every holdback he had forced on himself for months. He looked liberated and cold. "But it was much needed. Some serious changes must be made if we want to win anything at all. We've seen your poor job on display. All of you are wrecks, you need guidance."

"How about I guide my fist in your ass?!"- Irma spat. She was beyond herself. Hay Lin barely managed to hold her anymore. "Go to hell, you and your mother are the last people to teach us anything!"

"You're not some political genius or amazing ruler by nature, Andan, you're just a sleaze and a cheater."- Taranee told him coldly. "This will come to bite you back real soon."

But Andan just laughed at them and shook his head:

"See? Immature. Loud. Pointless... all you do is flawed. Even your over-praised harmony is garbage. If we are to win Coronia and Meridian's independence and stop the tyrants, we have to embrace the change. And I'm afraid this was the only way to deal with you, thickheaded witches."

"Don't sign anything, Elyon. And if you already did, because I know you, we must find it."- Nerissa who had listened to everything with growing anger up until now, jumped on her feet and lined up with the other indignant guardians, a look of fury sealed in her features: "And destroy it. At once."

Elyon looked shattered. She knew very well that she had signed many documents already, over the months in which she trusted Andan blindly. She had trusted him blindly and that had failed her for the umpteenth time...

"I'm afraid that the original charter Elyon signed is in me and it's protected by blood magic. You cannot do anything to it, Mage. I know you very well by now too, I had to make sure that my temporary coming to power won't be hindered by your wickedness."- the man said with a bitter smile. "I told you I already am in charge. You cannot change that."

Nerissa squinted her eyes at him, in a belittling fashion, as if he was an insolent child:

"So, you're legally in charge. Doesn't mean that any of us will follow your orders, in fact, we will throw you in the dungeons. At least as long as your charter is valid."

But Will sighed, knowing it was much more complicated than just that. For starter, there was the Coronians who would go berserk again...

"Yes, you hardly paid attention to Elyon's orders too and she was your rightful Queen."- Andan noted mockingly. "I don't doubt that you and your lawless guardian friends would waste no time getting rid of me and going on your way. That's if I was stupid enough not to ensure myself... Mother!"

Magana appeared next to her son but not before each woman in the room, including Elyon, received a dark cuff on her left hand... Hay Lin gasped. Oh, no... They had taken them by surprise and now their powers...

"These cuffs don't have the power to block your magic."- Andan explained once the shock wore off. "We don't have that much power. But regardless, they will stop you from using your magic against us."

"Fists, bro."- Irma called in, furious. "Don't forget about the fucking fists."

"You're going down, Andan, no matter what you and your matron mother do."- Cornelia folded her arms on her chest and looked at him as if he was a stain on her chiffon. "Our armies will never let you be, Caleb and the rebels will toast you and all of your people, your army may be larger but you're not as strong as us. This usurpation of yours is purely suicidal."

Magana blenched at that but didn't say anything.

Nerissa glared daggers at the son and mother pair. This wasn't going to end well for them. Not after this royal betrayal. She'd make sure of it:

"Kadma will take your stupid cuffs off easily. Then we shall see who can play the bigger tricks. You're toying with a lot more than you can take, fools-"

"Maybe."- Magana suddenly spoke. "Maybe we are, but we all know that if we start fighting between each other, Phobos and Leonida will surely win and I doubt that's something anyone around here wants to see. Even with this change of government, we still need to be united. Our goal is the same. I am deeply sorry we had to break faith with you like that."

"Yeah, that's an understatement, you put a fucking knife in Elyon's back after all your big words about how much you believed in her! - Cornelia yelled.

"Andan deserves to lead all our forces in the right direction, Elyon has failed many times, she tried; she tried but it wasn't enough."- Magana went on stubbornly. Her eyes were gleaming with a strange light. As if she was high:

"I promised it to my son a long time ago. That he would get a chance to prove what a good ruler and strategist he is- "

"A great strategy to sabotage his marriage."- Will rolled her eyes. These people were too much.

"...Believe me, it will be better for all of us this way... What has already happened is a fact. It's only temporary anyway. We must get a hold of ourselves and continue to fight our enemies, despite the many emotions right now. We have to save Meridian and Coronia together. Even though you already hate us so much."