Chapter 60: One Last Ball, Your Highness Part One
"A moment's beginning ends in a moment"
Previously on The Dark Descendant:
The girls discovered Phobos had a daughter named Avani, birthed by one of his former concubines 22 years ago. They decided to use her to get the stolen powers back and restore balance in Meridian and the rest of the Universe threatened by Phobos and Leonida, and their infant daughter Opal who absorbed the power of four mystic hearts. However, Avani and her mother, Zorarose, and their story proved to be more complicated than anticipated. With Zorarose being a crazed tyrant from a parallel realm, lusting after the Heart of Kandrakar, things became quite different. The girls and Nerissa brought Avani to the Meridian palace against her will and started preparing her for the final battle and her role in it. (chapters 50&51)
When things began to look threatening for Phobos and Leonida's chances against them, they decided to try to take hold of Opal's powers completely instead of being regents, in order to win the war faster. They rushed to Arkhanta in order to execute that plan, where a big battle erupted. In that battle, the Dark Twin, Morgana, was erased from existence forever and so was the cult of the Dark Descendant, finally freeing Coronia and the rest of the Universe from its threats.
But something's wrong. Who posed as Leonida, getting all of her daughter's stored powers instead of her? Where is Will and what is going to happen during the grand finale of this book? Stay tuned!
Once upon a time, someone said everything is allowed in love and war... And love war, with games of passion and supremacy, can be so very dangerous. Unfortunately, those who fall in love with the Heart of Kandrakar have always been among the brightest examples of the mortal danger that their crimes of passion pose. Passion and desire to have a heart that doesn't belong to them anymore or at all...
"Yes, Phobos."- she sighed. "I had to do all this because what happened to us all these years ago wasn't fair. I see that your favorite creatures aren't that much around you anymore. Whatever happened to Cedric, your pet? Oh, yes, she sent him away. Has she told you the story?"
Leonida flinched at that and looked at Phobos but he was still in shock. And what a shock everything that had happened to them in the last 24 hours had been, indeed. She and the prince had gone to Arkhanta with the ambition to take complete power over the mystic might stored in Opal, their daughter, and protect it from the guardians and Morgana.
Instead of that, they had been played for fools by a former concubine who had controlled the banshee, Yua, sent her to them purposely and then used her as a tool to obtain control over the great powers in Opal herself, while posing as Leonida, who she had switched places with after she and Phobos had been knocked out by her trap.
Elaborate. Quite elaborate, Nerissa looked daggers at the redhead's back. Then again, you did have all the unfair advantages on your side, including the last information the future-seeing Coronian book gave out before you marred it with squid ink...
She was putting the last pieces together in her mind and was internally shaking with anger. 24 hours into this madness. She and the guardians were on Meridian again. Right in front of the Palace and that as her captives. Nerissa hated this woman. She hated everything about her with a burning passion, but she had to admit that she had outplayed everyone. Even hers truly...
The doors of the Palace opened and Elyon's face was the epitome of dread at first sight. The sight shocked her more than anything she had been mentally preparing herself for in the last 8 hours when she had agreed to this out of helplessness.
Thousands of armed men. Dragons. Monsters that she had never seen before. A huge army led by a beautiful red-haired woman who some soldiers helped down from a huge throne. Not to mention that her friends had been pushed forward on the way to here, by more soldiers that held them by the arms, outstretched and chained. It was a once-in-a-lifetime sight that Elyon would never forget. It was truly horrendous and, most of all, the fact that she had managed all of this...
"Are you bloody shittin' me?"- Avani exclaimed in shock. "You are absolutely mad as March hare, mum. What do you want from us now?!"
"Hello to you too, Avani."- Zorarose smiled at her holding onto Elyon's left hand: "I see that you've met and liked your aunt Elyon. That makes me happy, my dear."
Elyon finally snapped out of it and focused her eyes on the woman. Zorarose wore her vivid red hair in a structured long braid. She wore a beautiful royal blue gown with fallen shoulders and silver detailing, a hybrid style between royal and country. The Emperor Sword rested in a sliver case around her waist...
She was in front of this terrifying army. She was the one that had outplayed everyone in the end. And once upon a time, she had been just a concubine with dreams...
"I agreed to your madness because of Opal and my friends, Zorarose."- Elyon addressed her in her most authoritative voice. Trying not to let it shake in front of the enemy... It was a challenge for sure.
"Not because you've defeated us. You cheated us, indeed. But mark my words, my people and my armies are not afraid of you and yours. We will fight you when the time comes. I promise you that!"
Elyon frowned when Zorarose reacted by laughing and clapping her hands together. Some of her men started laughing too. Elyon tightened her fists in despair, and Avani practically snuggled in her from behind.
Behind her, her parents, Galgheita, Raythor, and Halinor watched in agitation. Halinor was tasked with keeping Andan and Magana who they had taken out of the dungeons as they were all leaving Meridian. Everything was a mess, a mess that Zorarose enjoyed:
"Elyon, please, save the spirit uplifting speech for the peasants. This Palace is mine now. You agreed to it for the sake of those you care for. Now you will leave Meridian."- she narrated, placing a hard hand on the straw blonde's shoulder. "Go somewhere far away, to Earth, preferably. I have no interest in it. Take all you loyal subjects with yourself too, those of them who leave, however, will never be welcome here again, you already know my conditions. I am the rightful owner of Meridian, Coronia, Nimbus and Arkhanta's sources of mystic power now."- the gloat in her voice took precedence and her crystal blue eyes emitted it too: "...and thanks to Phobos's contracts I will soon have more conquests in many other realms too. Thank you, my love."- she added throwing a look behind herself and blowing Phobos a kiss.
He himself was in a cell with energy bars next to her throne, which was, like everything else in this moving army, held high up by men and monsters... The prince looked smitten and disgusted at the same time...
Elyon pushed her hand away and glared at her but before she could retort:
"You're not an owner, you're a holder of all that power. Barely managing it too!"- Kadma yelled from somewhere behind Phobos's cell.
Halinor perked up, looking for her in the throng in front of them...
"The only reason you're not killed by it yet is because of the Emperor Sword! You're not born a magical user and this power is too much for you, you psychopath! You are not going to make it much longer-"
Kadma's rant was halted by one of Zorarose's men hitting her over the head:
"KADMA!"
Nerissa bared her teeth at the ex-concubine's back giving it a death glare too if that was any consolation that she was her captive... Next to his mother, a mad Caleb started rebelling again, trying to break free of the men's grip and the shackles...
Halinor's fear-stricken face twisted in anger as she looked at the redhead again but this time she spoke in a militant voice:
"We have conditions too."- she declared to Zorarose's mockingly arched eyebrows. "Since you can't appreciate the advice, go on and suffer your own recklessness afterward! But first- sign."
Elyon nodded and took the parchment that Alborn was holding, handing it to the tyrant:
"I would invite you to sign it in my office, but you made it clear that you don't want to lose time when you sent us your message this morning."
Zorarose took a quick look at it before throwing it back in the Queen's face:
"I'm not going to sign a magic contract with you, Elyon. You're in no position to bargain around here."- she shook her head. "Now if you had promised me the Heart of Kandrakar too, I might've cogitated about signing, actually..."
"Oh, for God's sake!"- Irma whined in annoyance and defeat from her overseers' grip. "You're such a-"
"If any of you interrupt again, I might change my mind and kill you all instead of letting you go as we discussed."- the former concubine turned around and gifted all her captives with poisonous glares.
They replied with similar. Irma even managed to show her a middle finger but, of course, Zorarose didn't notice:
"If you attack first, we will fight back."- Elyon reminded her icily, tightening her grip around the parchment. "I'm only agreeing to negotiate if you behave-"
"Look, Elyon, I have Meridian's best interest in mind and I don't want to hurt your subjects but you will force me into punishments for some of them if you don't retreat at once. Don't make me send dragons to attack the capital. Open your portal and take everyone from your staff if you want to."- the redhead hissed in the shorter woman's face. "I have my staff to work for me and I have a lot of things to settle around my new Palace as well. Get out of my hair before you make me very angry! It's not like you're a real Queen, to begin with, but now that you don't even have your full powers this is the best you can do for your people."
- Because she was such a great Queen at Parallel Meridian, Cornelia shot angrily, implying about Zorarose's tyranny there. This woman is absolute trash, but she has our strings in her hands! All of us! I can't believe that she overthrew Morgana, Phobos, and Leonida just like that.
- Royal prostitute saves the day, Irma intervened flatly. Then she becomes the new boss. Inspiring.
- Well, yeah, but at least she got rid of Morgana forever and the cult story's over, Taranee shook her head grimly. Even if in this terrible for us way... Andan put most of the participants behind bars but most of them are harmless either way. Now we have...new problems. I don't get why Elyon's dragging this, we need to get away from here, find Will, and create a strategy...
- Will's escape is the only thing that "saved the day", Nerissa's sharp voice suddenly sounded in the girls' heads and they rolled their eyes at her eavesdropping on their separate telepathic channel. But then her words made them realize that it wasn't that simple:
- If your leader was captured, we would've been thrown in the dungeon. Zorarose wants the Heart, that's why she's letting us go, she wants us to find Will so that she can get to her and the jewel, she's not that magnanimous. She waited 24 hours and saw that Will isn't coming to our rescue, so, logically, she's trying a different strategy. This is just a trick.
- You're right... Taranee realized. If we just go to Will, we'll give Zorarose exactly what she wants. A chance to get to her and torture her for the Heart... She can squash all of us like bugs with all that power she took.
- She's risking everything for the Heart. - Irma murmured mentally. - She's an idiot! What's so special to her about it, she never even had it!
- She's obsessed with it. - Halinor's voice tuned in. - Because we used it to save her life when she was just a child...
- What?!
Her utterance shocked everyone once again but they couldn't continue their mental chat because Zorarose was getting impatient and that distracted them:
"Now, ELYON! Go! Phobos will stay here with me and so will his daughter. Avani, you're welcome to remain here too, if you'd like to."- the tyrant added casually. "I'm willing to explain everything to you. Everything you've always wanted to know about why we became enemies in parallel Meridian."
Avani almost gasped but before Elyon could object to that idea, Leonida had broken free from the men that held her and rushed towards the negotiating women, rattling her shackles as she ran.
"NO!"- she howled. Her hair and clothes were a mess. Her eyes - full of fear and rage. "You will not take them from me too! No!"
Zorarose wasn't impressed. She even made her soldiers a sign to stay where they were.
"And who's going to stop me?"- the redhead challenged the ex-princess even more. "You? You did what you could and you failed now get out of my sight!"
Leonida screamed in despair and disdain and attempted to throw herself on the older woman, but Zorarose immobilized her with magic:
"Elyon, last chance. Take control over your troupe and leave."- Zorarose repeated grimly.
Elyon stared at her and then at the restless Leonida, who Miriadel had to hold back now, and sighed. She was feeling dazed from all this. Everything was just bizarre:
"Dad, Raythor, let's get moving."- she instructed and opened a portal out in the open: "Everyone's supposed to be ready. Zorarose, tell your people to let go of the guardians and their allies you have captured-"
"I remembered something I have to do before that."
Zorarose threw her head back and walked inside the castle, past Elyon who turned to look after her in perplexity. Zorarose grabbed Dua's hand and pulled him away from the nanny that was tasked with taking care of him during the moving. "My young son will stay here with me too."
Many people were flabbergasted by that announcement. Dua himself shivered and shook his head in terror and shock.
Some of the present already knew that the woman Emery had a child with was Zorarose who had met him on Coronia where she had first crossed to after being sent away from the Meridian Palace pregnant with Avani.
Her second pregnancy, years after that, had almost immediately become a part of Visser and Morgana's despicable plans and due to that their own son Emery had turned against them and the society, seeing how they were willing to mistreat his own blood and flesh in the name of Coronia's glory. Apparently, now that she had taken her revenge on the Coronians, the ex-concubine was ready to take her son back...
"No, you can't do that! You can't take my grandson away from me!"- Magana jumped in Zorarose's way as if she had gone crazy. Her hazel hair fell unruly around her face. The former Queen pulled Dua back and wrapped her arms around him in a protective manner: "I don't allow this!"
The ex-concubine looked daggers at her:
"He's my son! You knew that he wasn't your blood and flesh when that mud Visser gave him to you, didn't you? Don't act like I'm the bad one around here."- she hissed and pushed her back with magic.
Magana gasped but didn't surrender. She couldn't, not when Dua was in question. He cried for her, he loved her and she loved him more than anyone from her blood. She couldn't leave him with this woman, no matter what relation they had:
"P-please, Zorarose, please, you can't take him. After so much time. We love him."- she cried. "I'll do anything! Anything you ask from me, just don't separate us... Let me stay here too, I will be your maid if I have to, just don't separate me and Dua!"
"Mother?!"- Andan gasped at the sight of his inconsolable mother and her offers to the enemy.
Raythor growled and pulled the hazel-haired woman back but she broke free from his grip and fell in Zorarose's feet:
"Please."- she begged, extending her hands towards Dua, who was doing the same while crying.
But Zorarose kept them apart. She pulled Magana up on her feet by the hair and threw her back:
"I said NO! Take your wretched daughter."- she hissed. "And son, and get out of my Palace immediately! My boy won't ever have anything to do with you, filthy Coronians again!"
"NO! PLEASE, DON'T DO THIS!"
Magana wept so much that Elyon saw herself forced to sedate her with a spell. With tears in her closing eyes, Magana met Leonida's indigo ones:
"N-not Dua. Please not Dua..."- was the last thing she was heard saying before Galgheita and Raythor carried her away from the scene and towards the portal.
Finally, everyone started moving towards it. The family drama was over for this act...
"You can still change your mind, Avani. You're my daughter too."
Zorarose sat back on the throne her people had brought in and watched everything, holding Dua's hand firmly. He had tried to break free a few times, but her grip was like iron and he was afraid. So very afraid of his birth mother...
Avani gave her a bitter look over the shoulder:
"No."- she whispered. "Not really."
"Go, Avani."- Elyon ushered her and she did.
Her eyes locked with someone else's while Miriadel walked her and Leonida towards the portal. Phobos's cage was being brought inside the Palace and for a moment Avani's eyes had met his. The emotion they shared was beyond any words. Both of them strangers but close by blood. Both suffering new indescribable traumas during this surreal day...
"Elyon, I will make sure everything gets through the portal. I'm with you. You're not alone. I'll be by your side no matter what."
Elyon turned towards Andan who offered her a sad but reassuring smile. Her eyebrows knitted together even harder but she sighed in reconciliation:
"As if you have anywhere else to be."- she noted grimly and looked away.
"She's a witch! She's insane! How atrocious do you have to be to make me feel bad about Magana and Leonida! About the two women who made the last year utterly shit-worthy in so many aspects!"
"No, Irma, I believe the correct term for Zorarose is "sociopath". She's almost completely emotionless in her evil."
Irma couldn't ague with Taranee when it came to terminology. She threw herself on the big bed in her spacious room in the Coronian Palace and covered her face with her wrists. She was so tired she could probably sleep with days. But that wasn't really an option. One night was OK. Then they had to remobilize and figure out an adequate way to deal with the new villain.
They had moved to the Aureate Edifice, now that Leonida was sort of onboard and could order her and Phobos's people to let everyone in and pause all of the battles related to the war between them and Elyon. Since Phobos was Zorarose's prisoner, that was no longer the most relevant thing on the agenda.
"Will has to have a plan but why isn't she contacting us."- Cornelia growled. She had just made several calls to fabricate an excuse for their Earth identities. She had explained why they were going to be missing from Heatherfield a few days with a big group mountain trip out of the state. Honestly, even that sounded better to the blonde than what they were actually dealing with.
"I hope she's fine."- Hay Lin sighed and hugged her knees. All the events of the past day, especially the royal Coronian family's pain had affected her. Being an empath wasn't easy when around so much pain and misery.
"Hey, it's going to be alright, Hay Lin."- Taranee put a hand on her shoulder as she sat down on the bed too. It was big enough for the four of them and Will, had she been here. "We will get through this. Zorarose is new to the powers, she's not a magic user by blood either. We will take her down and everything will be better."
"How can she separate people from their babies. She's so cruel."- Hay Lin said in a tiny voice. "Magana's pain, Leonida's despair, even Phobos-"
"Woah, OK, I know it's tough and nasty when you see children being taken from those who love them but let's not waste time feeling bad about the wrong people here."- Cornelia interrupted. "Besides, Zorarose was hurt too, I guess. Mostly by Morgana and Visser, who were far worse than her. We will- "
"She purposely chose to be enemies with her daughter in that parallel world. Why would she do that."- the Air guardian exclaimed. "She's a monster who brought misery to so many people today because she's selfish. I can't feel even an ounce of compassion for her and that mortifies me."
"Vathek is still in the Infinite City. We have our spies but so does she. That won't be enough. She has a huge army."- Caleb frowned, looking at the Coronian map above the desk. "The moment she gets to know that we're in touch with Will, it's game over. I have to figure out an approach that will undermine her chances for success, she has too much power on her side..."
"But we're not in touch with Will yet. Honestly, I'm getting way too scared to just sit around and talk battle strategies."- Matt protested. He was pacing around the office. "I have to find her; we never saw her after the banshee disarmed us. I know she wants to win us time but if she could at least give me a sign-"
"Matt."- Caleb stopped him by placing a hand on his shoulder. "Will is no amateur and she's very strong and smart. I assure you; she'll be fine. We have to trust her and use the time she's winning us- "
"I know."- Matt closed his eyes, trying to suppress his agitation and annoyance altogether. "But I still think we should launch a surprise attack. Avani can get the powers back if we let her near her damned mother, everyone says how she can't take all that energy- "
Caleb just locked eyes with his father who stood by the desk, doing something he'd never do just a few days ago. He was describing the ropes around the Meridian castle for the Coronian generals who'd eventually join them in the battles with Zorarose. Julian left the pen aside and just shook his head firmly, ushering his son to drop the topic. They both knew that he'd be far more uncontrollable than Matt had Cornelia been missing instead of Will.
"She's not to be underestimated. Not after she outplayed everyone and got herself to this position."
Yan Lin smiled tiredly as she entered the Royal Office followed by her three friends.
"Not to mention that she obviously can somewhat sense the Heart of Kandrakar. Like Nerissa and Will."- Kadma added begrudgingly, crossing her arms on her chest.
"Perhaps Zorarose will be tougher to take down than we'd like to imagine."- Nerissa admitted.
"How?!"- Matt and Caleb wanted to know. "How does she feel it... what does that mean?"
Halinor bit her lip and exchanged glances with Yan Lin who took a deep breath and narrated:
"There was this Meridian girl we saved over 30 years ago. We were still guardians... Even without Nerissa, as you all know, we were slowly failing, disunited, and weakened by ... the tragedy with her and Cassidy. We couldn't really keep the power of the Heart as it's supposed to be kept, in unity. In harmony."
"This girl was dying. The Mage hadn't been able to help her with her terrible illness so her parents contacted us."- Kadma went on with the story. "My healing powers weren't working on her, of course, so we did something similar to what the guardians have done to help Maqi speak again."
"We used the Heart and the gift of Xin Jing to nurse her back to life. She was so young and so heart-rending to look at. She was in so much pain."- Halinor sighed. "We used the Heart but I'm afraid that we exposed her to its power for too long and she formed a bond with it... A bond that drives her obsession even today."
"All we wanted to do was save a little girl's life from an incurable and peculiar illness. It wasn't fair for her to go out like that. Well, we did save her but I'm afraid that also helped create a monster. A monster that has been burning for the Heart for over 3 decades. It helped her live again...unwittingly, we've connected them for a lifetime. And those who lust over something they can't have often turn rotten."- Yan Lin closed her eyes at the debacle. "A big fraction of Zorarose's evil is on us."
There was silence after that. The three men knew not what to say to all this. Eventually, Nerissa, who stood behind her friends spoke with arms folded on her chest:
"Oh, please, you saved a child from an untimely death. The fact that the Heart made her succumb to darkness was something beyond your knowledge and control. Don't blame yourselves for her life choices after that. Bound to the Heart or not, her rancor has long made her who she is."- Nerissa lifted her chin, knowing exactly how ironic her next words would be. But she stood by them:
"...A maniac and an enemy to Meridian."
"How did you remember that you've met Zorarose as a child just now."- Caleb asked. "You had seen her already before- "
"I've been thinking about it for quite some time now."- Halinor admitted dismally and leaned against Nerissa for support. "Her hair...Zorarose's hair is unmistakable. I just had to bring it up and the girls all remembered it clearly."
"The mother of the ill girl was mute. Just like Zorarose's mother."- Kadma agreed. "Even the house. When we thought about it, everything matches the description of that family from over 30 years ago."
"I wonder if she remembers anything at all."- Yan Lin looked at her feet and sighed. "How we saved her life and created this blasted bond between her and the Heart..."
"Don't act so sentimental for her."- Nerissa scolded her friends and went behind Julian's chair, resting her hands on his shoulders: "She's not that woebegone girl you cured anymore. She's an evil tyrant. A mindless one at that, she's been terrorizing realms for decades. She put me and my family through a series of troublesome events back at the parallel Meridian and I will not spare her."
In another part of the Edifice, Leonida was going berserk. All these dark hurting feelings of pure despair and fear running amok in her soul. This woman... this Zorarose who she had never heard of before knew everything about her and had deliberately stolen everything from her. Her magic, her family, her dreams. That bitch who had a history with Phobos, to top it all, had destroyed everything. Everything was ruined. Now she was forced to live among her enemies, alone and as if she was a prisoner again.
Leonida screamed angrily and slumped into one armchair. Her eyes were dry now. She had no more tears left. She had finally been happy and now everything was over. Like always, her fort of happiness was pushed down.
"If you'd actually like to help for a change instead of acting like a mad fool, get over here and help me plan the next action of our armies."
Leonida lifted her red eyes to glare at her pathetic brother. He looked like their father on the outside, but on the inside, he was a mouse and a piece of shit:
"Who died and made you general."- she hissed at Andan's intensifying scowl. "I already gave orders to my people and passed the authority to Elyon. Discuss whatever you want with her."
"You did what?!"
Andan glared at her and then turned around to look at their mother for assistance. But Magana didn't seem to notice their presence in the study. A part of her luscious hazel hair had fallen over her face and she just stood there, in her chair, not even bothering to push it back.
"Why are you so surprised? Because your sister did the right thing or because she trusts me more than you?"
Andan closed his mouth and sighed when Elyon entered the room followed by Avani. Her two long braids were secured in a bun behind her head and she gifted him with a glare as she took her place in front of the big desk.
"Elyon, I'm just trying to be useful. I don't want to fight with you. I'm sorry that I broke your trust."- he said seriously. "But haven't things changed too drastically for us to argue over this? We have new problems to overcome. Please."
Elyon didn't say anything, she busied herself with the pile of papers in front of her. Avani replied instead of her:
"Like you wanted to help when you tried to take charge and lead the war against her and my father? Mate, you're not very familiar with the proper way to offer your help, are you?"
Leonida almost stared at the sturdy young girl in perplexity. She had just sat herself on the couch next to her:
"I was afraid that my insane sister and your father would destroy Coronia as we know it!"- the man defended himself. "I was blunt and I hurt many people, but I am sorry. I apologize and I want to make things right, Elyon. Please?"
Leonida snorted barely audibly as the straw-blonde ignored her husband. But Avani took great interest in that:
"My father... Phobos. Does he love you?"
The question caught Leonida off guard. Even Elyon lifted her head up and focused her attention on their couch:
"I...think so."- Leonida murmured. "He does. I know that I love him. Not that any of that changes the fact that everything's lost because of your mother. Our family, our everything."
It was Avani's turn to snort:
"Ruining everything around her purposely is what she does best. My so-called mother is just a greedy bitch who doesn't understand things like love. If you and my father love each other, then you are safe. Love is stronger than anything."- the ex-rebel shrugged. "So I've read-"
"Well, looks like the redhead tyrant and you don't differ that much, huh, Leonida?"- Andan chimed in erasing the small smile caused by Avani's words from his sister's face. "After all, you and Phobos aren't some poor victims, up until Zora - who cares what her name was tricked you, you and he were planning your next gruesome milestone. You stole so much power, you started battles that took innocent lives. You're tyrants! And you think they deserve better, Avani?"
"There was no other way for us to be happy, Andan."- Leonida replied darkly. "You don't understand it because you weren't chosen to be a sacrificial lamb and weapon by a cult. You've always had your mother's love and a chance to be on the bright side. I was purposely veiled with darkness. There hasn't been a way back for me for years. You think I wanted to turn like that?"- she sobbed angrily and shook her head. "The same goes without saying for Phobos. He wasn't born evil; he was painted evil by his parents and their cruel subjects! Evil is such a subjective term..."
She didn't expect her brother to understand. He hated her with a burning passion. As expected, Andan just frowned and looked away. But Leonida could feel Elyon watching her. Magana too. And Avani... The honey-haired woman looked around herself and fired:
"What are these looks? Pity? Compassion? Save it, especially you, mother. I can never forget how you mistreated me and neither can you. For years I was your biggest enemy. You even cursed me."
"A day hasn't passed without me cursing myself for being this foolish, Leonida."- the older woman spoke for the first time in hours. "Ever since I came to know the truth about Visser. They manipulated us. Turned us against each other and ruined our family... "- Magana closed her eyes. They were full of tears... "...and now that they're gone, that terrible person Zorarose snatched the only thing that they hadn't corrupted and ruined away from me."
Leonida blenched but didn't say anything. How could she forget that Visser had taken even her baby's life for the sake of his agenda. That boy who she called Dua wasn't hers by blood but he was dear to her heart.
"She took Opal too."- Leonida sobbed and started crying again. "She took my baby. I can't bear to lose any more babies like that, this is inhuman. This is m-mortifying."
"We will get both of them back when we-"
But Avani's words were interrupted by Andan's outburst, triggered by his sister's attitude:
"Would you shut up?"- he barked. "We are all trying to get the kids back. Finally, get the mystic powers back where they belong too. But they would have to remain with you and Phobos if we asked you, right? Don't put up this show, Leonida, you're not a good person! You don't deserve pity or compassion!"
"Andan, that's enough."- Elyon stood up. "Nobody says that she is a saint. She's not a good person but that doesn't mean she's not in pain. Let her be. If you want to be helpful don't proclaim hatred anymore."
"You're too gullible and you believe in second chances way too much, Elyon."- Andan yelled in frustration and her eyes widened: "That's why I tried to take charge, I was afraid that you might decide to give your brother and Leonida another second chance like you've spared him repeatedly over the years. You have to learn to let people go when all they do is hurt you and your people!"
"I think that I might just learn to do that with you."- Elyon retorted angrily looking daggers back at her husband. Who was he kidding? This was the reason he had betrayed her? "No, you didn't betray me because I am too forgiving, at least not just because of that, you betrayed me because you wanted to feel powerful! You don't want to live in the shadow of my title, just admit it!"
Andan just stared at her. He almost looked hurt.
"Is that what you think?"- he whispered breathlessly.
"Yeah, that's exactly what I think-"
"Calm down both of you."- Magana saw herself obliged to step in. "You can't fight now!"
"Elyon, you think wrong, I'm not like your brother!"- Andan insisted, ignoring his mother's fervent words. "I've been raised knowing that we live in matriarchy and I've never had any problems with it-"
Leonida suddenly laughed maliciously:
"Is that so? Then why did our parents feel compelled to send you to a reforming academy? Why did no one tell the guardians about you the first time they came to Coronia?"
"Leonida, don't do this!"- Magana gasped.
But Leonida just smirked and locked eyes with her brother who was glaring at her warningly. She didn't care. She had seen her words had caught Elyon's attention so she just answered her own question:
"Because you were a difficult kid that had trouble behaving as the protocol required, that's why. You were throwing tantrums at the thought you'd never be King."
"Oh, my God, Leonida, stop it already!"- the hazel-eyed woman sighed and covered her face with her hands. "You're so spiteful..."
Avani's jaw hung at that revelation. Even Elyon blinked in surprise; Andan's cheeks went crimson:
"Don't listen to her! I wasn't sent to that academy because of that, Elyon! I was sent there because our mother was afraid that Leonida will hurt me!"
"Oh, but of course. My mistake."- Leonida said mockingly and attempted to exit the study.
Her way, however, was blocked by someone when she opened the door. A familiar figure in a long silken robe. Leonida immediately grew even angrier and gloomier when Nerissa pushed her back into the room:
"What's going on here? Why aren't you answering the telepathic calls?"- she demanded, sliding her burning insightful eyes over everyone present. "I hope you didn't set some idiotic aim on your own because nothing will be carried out without my approval. Now come with me. Galgheita stumbled upon a... disturbing scene in the stockrooms."
Nerissa wasn't kidding. Actually, disturbed was not enough to describe the way Elyon felt when she got to the stockroom where everyone had gathered.
"I was just... I was just checking the provisions and I found him like that."- Galgheita had to take a seat and drink some water after the discovery. Her heart was still racing from the shock.
"Emery."- Elyon murmured under her nose and just stared at his body on the floor.
He looked beyond horrifying. His skin was an unnatural gray-greenish, dead color and his entire body was covered in deep infected wounds that peeked through the tattered clothes he wore. His jaw area was most severely affected. Once a handsome young man, now he resembled a cadaver. Or a zombie from a cheap horror flick. The most disturbing thing was that somehow, he was still alive. In terrible but pain but alive.
"Oh, my God, nothing's working."- Cornelia huffed trying not to gag from the putrid smell. She had been trying her healing powers on Emery up until now but they just made him mewl pitifully.
"No."- Kadma shook her head too. "He's been poisoned too long ago; we cannot contract the effects of whatever did this to him."
"I just w-want to die."- Emery managed to let out in his hoarse voice. Then he convulsed in pain...It seemed that his injured jaw that moved so very unnaturally by now barely allowed him to utter anything...
Irma looked away in disgust:
"Just end me. I can't...I can't take the p-pain anymore."- he begged.
"Did you do this to him, Leonida?"- Taranee focused her attention on the blonde. "I thought you said he escaped you when you killed Visser-"
"He did."- Leonida insisted and looked down at the disfigured man darkly. "I don't even know what is done to him but I can't say I don't enjoy the sight-"
"Of course, you would enjoy such a ghastly sight, you sick woman!"- Andan pierced her with a glare.
"This is probably Zorarose's doing."- Leonida went on, unabashed. "Now that I think of it, she must have been the one that visited Emery and Visser that day when we managed to go through the Blue Bijou's protections, Taranee. She has been the one Morgana thought she was after too. When Phobos and I confronted her."
Taranee wrinkled her nose. Of course, Zorarose was Emery's lover and the mother of his child.
But why would she kill him after he helped her so much...
Zorarose decided to answer to everyone personally by suddenly appearing over Emery's body. Everyone in the stockroom reacted at once, taking positions ready to attack.
Caleb pulled his sword out militantly, but it was, as he soon noticed by the lack of lower body part, just a hologram-like image. She wasn't in the Edifice for real:
"You're so insightful, Leonida."- Zorarose mocked. "I did manage to stay ahead of all of my enemies thanks to having access to the future-seeing book first. Yes, I convinced Emery to bring it to me from time to time while his old father was busy pursuing his own goals in the last six human years. The book helped me a lot on numerous occasions but it had me make some impossible choices too. My daughter, for example. Yes, my dear, it's true."- she smiled at Avani's wide-opened blue eyes. "The future-seeing book from the Golden Spring wanted me to become a villain in your eyes. It was the only way to surely eliminate everyone standing between me and your father and one day reunite our family. So, I did it."
"You cracked the book?!"- Irma exclaimed. "How the hell did you do that, the stupid books rewrote themselves all the time, they never made any sense until Leonida became aware of the cult-"
"She just used her magic beans to take the book to a future-based realm hence confused it. She didn't "crack" it, it still added new things when new people got involved because she had to return it to Visser's lair."- Nerissa interfered coldly, looking at the concubine with repulsion. "Is suppose the original texts she had already seen in the future realm didn't change too drastically. But still, not that impressive. We already knew that Zorarose's a wannabe time traveler. She knew Emery for years before us and had God knows how much more time to think about things while traveling through time."
Zorarose smiled at the tall woman appreciatively:
"You, on the other hand, are indeed impressive. In your talent for condescension and ability to put your nose in everyone's business, Mage."
"She gave the magic bean to Emery who gave it to Leonida to make me get out of her way."- Nerissa went on, ignoring her. "I am just unsure whether from then on her actions were planned or just happened."
"Actually, Emery gave me my first magic bean. One of the rarest weals of his homeland. I've been finding ways to harvest them ever since. I did live on Coronia for a few years after Phobos had to send me away. It was then that I met Emery."- Zorarose corrected her calmly. "Yes, Mage. Neither am I. I am not some machine, I had to change my plans many times. You know, at one point I was so happy on Coronia and had given everything up. I was going to leave parallel Meridian to Avani. Everything was good. Then they used my son to replace Leonida's and the old demon possessed him. That was it."- Zorarose hissed. "Emery and I tried to have children many times over the years, but they were always stillborn. They knew that! They knew but didn't care. Finally, we had a healthy son of our own, we were finally happy and his parents just spat in my face. They mocked my pain and happiness. The main idea ever since was to get powerful enough to take revenge on the atrocious Coronians and get powerful enough to return to Phobos and claim him. And, look. I succeeded!"
"But then why did you do this to Emery!?"- Halinor insisted, wiping the tears from her eyes. Zorarose's story was sadder and fuller of injustice than anyone had anticipated. "His parents were horrible people and made him do horrible things, but he loved you, didn't he? Why did you punish him so cruelly?"
Zorarose closed her eyes as if she was gathering inner strength:
"I didn't."- she said in the end. "I made him poison Visser with this venom concoction by his own brother Kandor. But not long after, Emery apparently started taking it as well. This poison takes a lot of time to kill you slowly and painfully. He couldn't handle everything. He couldn't handle all the evil and wrong and all the misfortune in his life and he wanted to punish himself for it. I found out the day Phobos and Leonida traveled to Arkhanta and just left him here. On purpose, for you to find him. I couldn't deal with his suicide while doing the right thing for my family. He had made his choice. So had I."
The entire room fell silent after that. Nobody really knew what to say. Only Emery's soft groans could be heard.
"I know the story about how you saved me as a child."- Zorarose broke the silence in the end, locking eyes with Yan Lin. "My mother has told me about your good deed many times. I also hope that now you can have but an ounce of compassion for me."
Hay Lin flinched. So, she had heard them... She had been listening to everything going on in the castle. Cornelia and Irma exchanged stunned looks. Nerissa clenched her jaw...
Zorarose laughed joylessly and looked at the large group once again:
"What priceless faces. Be honest, aren't you relieved it's me and not Morgana anymore? Don't worry, in the end, I want to hurt none of you. Nor the people of all realms... I just want to be with my prince and give him everything he's ever wanted and be happy once and for all. All you need to do is stay out of my way."
But she couldn't say anything else because Nerissa's magic scattered the image like smoke. She then turned towards Elyon:
"You, take her and go get some golden water from Opal's bottle."- and Nerissa roughly pushed Leonida in the other blonde's arms. "We need to fortify the protecting spells around the entire castle. Zorarose shouldn't be able to spy on us anymore. Get to work! At once."
Elyon nodded and as she and Leonida turned around to leave the stockroom, they almost bumped into Matt and... a new but familiar face he had brought with himself...
"Lillian?!"- Cornelia gasped when her sister conjured a powerful light. When everyone regained their ability to see, Emery's body looked normal and he could even move it, blinking in utter astonishment:
"I'm happy I could step in and finish your job successfully, Nelia."- the younger Hale retorted, curving her dark red lips into a challenging smile.
The next couple of days passed almost eventless. The four guardians spent them mostly outside, taking walks in nature, going shopping, and just trying to get rid of all the bottled-up stress.
Coronia was full of sun, beauty, and serenity as usual. And ever since the soldiers marching up the streets had ceased, people were much calmer. Elyon had to give out public speeches and explain the situation to them as much as possible but all they really cared to know was that she was here and she had a bottle full of golden water. Apparently to them, that meant that she'd manage anything. Coronians.
The fact that no one had heard from Will yet was growing more and more into a concern. Driven by his desire to close the chapter of Zorarose as fast as possible and see his girlfriend sooner, Matt had brought Lillian along. Her magic had actually saved Emery from the agonizing death he had wanted for himself and he was being questioned for any information that could help against the former concubine. If there was anyone that knew her better than Avani, in front of whom she had played roles, that had to be Emery. If only he wasn't refusing to cooperate.
"She's so full of herself!"- Cornelia snorted as she pushed one big branch out of her way. "She told grandmother that she's coming to my trip because I suggested to introduce her to some designers that I'm supposedly traveling with. I suggested that. As if I'm not busy enough saving a bunch of worlds!"
"Honestly, Cornelia, I don't get why you're so upset, Lillian is a smart young woman who's mastering her powers of Heart of Earth quite enviably. Could it actually be..."- Taranee trailed carefully. She knew she had to beat around the bush if she didn't want to end up pushed in one of the bushes around them. God forbid it happens to be a thorny one...
"No, Taranee, I don't envy my sister!"- Cornelia snapped. "I just hate how smug she's become! I don't want her to end up in trouble because of it."
"OK, Ms. Humble, is this trek over, cuz my feet hurt."
Cornelia rolled her eyes at Irma's complaints. But it was over. They were in the yards of the Edifice again after an hour and a half-long trek through the picturesque forests in the area.
A few minutes later they were sitting around one beautiful garden table next to a big fountain, awaiting the servants for a little afternoon tea party.
"The walk was refreshing."- Hay Lin beamed as she fixed her two braids.
"Yeah so much better than a foot rub from the Coronian hunk masseurs."- Irma added sarcastically, running a lip balm over her plump lips.
"Hey, when are you going to go see Martin, you haven't left the castle since we came here."- Cornelia wanted to know, playing with her long blonde pony. "I mean, it's been a week, don't you think it's inconsiderate to waste an opportunity you might as well just use? Taranee and Hay Lin both commute to Heatherfield from time to time and I don't have to, since Caleb is here and now our son is here too-"
"Yeah, Taranee's a newlywed and Hay Lin's a child."- Irma shot.
"Hey-"
"I'm kidding, babe. Not that I wouldn't love to go and ride my boyfriend, he's traveling and he won't be back at Heatherfield before the end of the month. Before Halloween."- Irma shrugged casually and winked at the guy who had served her the tea. "So, unfortunately, I have no reason to leave your side, Corny."
Cornelia smiled sourly as the Latina teasingly threw an arm around her shoulders.
"That's lovely but you have a good reason to use some deodorant, you stink, Ms. High and Dry."
One week later
"Thanks, Hay Lin. Perfect."- Nerissa approved as she glanced at her reflection in the big mirrors. "Just how I envisioned it."
And the evening gown she was talking about was truly perfect. Made of fine but heavy textured cream-colored fabric, the dress reached to the floor. It had a huge slit that reached to the hip and just one shoulder-padded sleeve. The right arm, the one above the slit, was purposely left to be completely bare. The cut followed the already stunning curves of Nerissa's body, but the way Hay Lin had folded and decorated the front, the arm, the back, and parts of the skirt with twirls made of black silk, like melted sugar drawings on a cake, made the dress really special.
"You're welcome. It was all your design really."- Hay Lin beamed in response, taking the last pin out of the skirt. "I just happen to be able to execute fast. But you have an amazing sense, Nerissa. You have a gift for fashion."
"As do you, I can see your personal touch in the décolleté area and I must say I'm impressed. I've always known you're a good designer yet you manage to leave a mark once again." - Nerissa ran a powder brush over her already made-up face as she said that.
Her eyes were dark and mysterious. Her lips nude. And her long black hair was loosely styled down, the front locks were pulled back and secured around the crown of her head in voluminous victory rolls. As usual, she wanted a lot of glamour and attention to detail and when she was delighted with the final result, the ex-guardian looked down at the Air Guardian who exclaimed:
"We should work together on a project!"
Nerissa smiled:
"Why not. When this is all behind us. But first, the ball."
The Coronian Autumn Ball couldn't be skipped despite the circumstances with Zorarose. Not after the Dark Twin was taken down and Leonida and Phobos were not the threat anymore. The realm demanded to celebrate. And while many of the Meridianites present didn't feel particularly thrilled by the upcoming event, Nerissa was looking forward to a party. It was going to serve nicely both as a distraction and an opportunity...
Elyon and Andan were personally welcoming the nobles and royals that were coming to the Edifice. Elyon barely managed to fake a smile for each and every one while her husband just beamed for some reason. And she knew he thought this meant that they were moving on from his betrayal. He was taking her forgiveness for granted perhaps because he viewed her as "too forgiving" anyway.
If she had to be honest, Elyon was greatly conflicted. A part of her wanted to move on; after all, this man had been in her life for over a year now. He wasn't indifferent to her. But then there was the part of her that wanted to dump him and erase the impact he and his family had had on her and Meridian. Elyon would never forget the look on Andan's face and the things he had to say about her when he thought that he was in charge.
"Elyon."
She shivered when she felt his hand on her bare back.
"It's time to go inside. We've welcomed the important guests. The nobles who resisted the cult despite the pressure."- Andan said softly to which she just gave a sharp nod.
"Elyon, wait."- he had caught her by the hand ever so gently she didn't even feel it. She just felt the warmth of his soft fingers against her skin. Andan's hands were probably softer than her own.
"Let's not have this conversation now, we have an event to host."- the Queen sighed but still didn't pull away.
"There are enough people taking care of the smooth going of that, Elyon. Please, forgive me and allow us to move on."- Andan insisted with gleaming eyes. "It never was my intent to push you away and let our marriage be meaningless. I love you, Elyon. I don't want to lose you."
Elyon was taken aback. That she hadn't expected. Was he being sincere?
When Cornelia returned to the Aureate Edifice after going to Earth to leave Killian with her mother for the night, the Great Dancing Hall was already full. A good one hour into the event everyone was here.
Every little piece of decoration, even the flowers had some gold to them. As did everyone's outfits since the theme of the Ball was golden hues as one could imagine for a world like Coronia, which was also called the Golden Planet.
She wore a gorgeous strapless white gown from satin paired with a large golden belt, shall and high-heeled sandals. Cornelia ran her eyes over everyone in the enormous room looking for Caleb or some of her friends. She knew that Taranee wasn't attending because she had plans with Nigel back in Heatherfield, but everyone else still had to be here.
Where are they? Cornelia huffed and squinted her eyes as she inspected the guests.
She caught a glimpse of Elyon's adoptive parents who were talking to some Coronians. Elyon herself was next to Andan, who looked like he was whispering something to her. Raythor was nearby talking over a glass of champagne with... Mila?
Nerissa's Altermeere? What the-
But before the Earth Guardian could delve into the matter, she heard a familiar voice behind herself:
"There you are, Cornelia. What took you? Are you looking for Matt and the others?"
It was her sister Lillian, whose long blonde hair and side bangs contrasted with her black and gold dress and the dark plum-colored lipstick she had chosen. Cornelia met her big blue eyes with her own and cleared her throat:
"Caleb, actually. But yeah, where are Matt and the others? I don't see them. By the way, did you leave this place at all this week? I saw grandma and she-"
"We don't have time for grandma's Socialite shit."- her little sister interrupted her. "Something concerning is happening. We were all waiting for you. Come with me."
Cornelia gave her a perplexed look but Lillian's words made her stomach turn in protest. When they made their way to one private saloon, away from the hullabaloo of the party, she instantly knew it. Something was very wrong and it was connected to Will:
"Hey, what the-"
"Unbelievable." - Nerissa exclaimed when it made its way to the newly arrived woman and hung itself around her neck. Cornelia looked at all her friends who had gathered in this room, including Taranee, and then down at her chest and gasped. It was the Heart of Kandrakar.
"I told you it's her. It chooses her."- Taranee shook her head.
"Cornelia..."- Halinor began in a tiny voice. "You're the new keeper of the Heart..."
"What the hell?!"- Cornelia exclaimed in terror and stared at everyone. "I..I don't want to be the new keeper, Will is our keeper! Where is she? Is this supposed to be a joke?!"
Her friends just exchanged looks. Caleb, Hay Lin, Taranee, Irma... Everyone was speechless. Julian and Kadma just stood in the other end of the room, like frozen sculptures. Stunned... Nerissa stared at the jewel around Cornelia's neck, but even she didn't take the word. What could she say?! Matt was the first one to practically scream:
"This...this is impossible unless something really bad happened to Will! Will, she..."
"What do you mean something bad happened to her, no it didn't!"- Cornelia insisted and grabbed his shoulders. She just couldn't even wrap the idea around her head. Will couldn't. She wouldn't allow anything to take her away from them like that. "How is the Heart here if she isn't?!"
"It just came, Cornelia."- Lillian interfered from behind her. "It just floated here and waited. We gathered around it but it was waiting for you... Halinor said that it's been reassigned. Just like in the past."
"Temporarily."- Halinor confirmed anxiously. "I hope...It did a similar thing after... Nerissa was imprisoned and Cassidy...died. It reassigned itself to Yan Lin."
Cornelia needed a hot minute to grasp what the older blonde was saying. Matt just slumped to the ground in denial but she wasn't ready to. She wasn't ready to even consider such a harrowing possibility:
"That's nonsense! Will can't be dead; don't you even imply that! Any of you!"- she demanded. "I bet this is her plan to take down Zorarose! You'll see, she-"
But even Cornelia herself couldn't think of any reasonable explanation as to why Will would do that by sending her the Heart of Kandrakar. It didn't make sense.
"There might be another reason."- Nerissa said in the end. "Heart reassignment might be done willingly. Perhaps Will is doing this to protect the Heart."
Everyone watched her in anticipation. Everyone wanted to hear some reassurance that their friend wasn't lost to them forever... But it never came:
"Protect it but from what? And if she had to reassign it in order to protect it-"- Caleb didn't have to finish the question for everyone to answer it for themselves.
"No, enough of this stalling. I'm going to Kandrakar immediately."- Matt said fervently. "I need answers, don't try to stop me! Let go of me!"
"Kandrakar is an off-limits zone, none of our talismans can open a way to it!"-Kadma exclaimed.
"Matt, don't do this, the Fortress is not over Kandor's curse yet, you may be harmed terribly!"- Halinor cried, grabbing his arms. "We haven't got any messages from the Oracle yet-"
"Matt, wa-"
But the young man was unstoppable. He wouldn't listen to anyone. He broke free of Caleb's arms and pushed everyone back.
"Your talismans and magic may be blocked from going there."- he began breathlessly.
"Yes, and they're blocked for a reason, the Oracle is trying to prevent any of us from being destroyed for once!"- Nerissa snapped. "Do not presume to risk your life too, we don't know if Will's not already-"
"...SHE ISN'T! Kandrakar can't be off-limits to the Heart of Earth's birthrights. And I'm sure that her magic will be enough to protect us from destruction."
Lillian's eyes widened when Matt grabbed her arm. Cornelia was too smitten to react. Nerissa tried to stop them but they vanished in a quick flash. The last thing they could read in Matt's eyes was desperate determination and that scared the remaining present guardians, who could just exchange tearful glances...
Caleb cursed under his breath and was just wrapping his arms around his shaking girlfriend's shoulders when the loud noise from the Autumn Ball somehow managed to reach them.
Julian frowned even deeper. These sounds didn't sound like fine music and refine partying anymore, they sounded like havoc running amok...
And who's better at running chaos than...
"Phobos?!"
Elyon was stunned when she saw her brother limping his way towards her. Somehow, he had made his way through their people and their defenses. Everyone was mortified. The Coronian nobles started running towards the doors screaming but he paid no attention to them. They fled the Edifice in seconds as if they hadn't been here tonight at all. As if this ridiculous ball had been someone's fever dream.
The guards caught up from behind and were about to strike the intruder down with their arbalests before Magana screamed:
"STOP! He's carrying a..."
"OPAL! Oh, my God!"
A tearful Leonida broke free and ran towards her King and their daughter, who he carried in his arms despite his poor appearance that suggested he was barely standing on his feet.
Nerissa who had just come into the Dancing Hall with the others from the private room felt her jaw hang in resentment. This was the second Ball this brat was ruining in a year! But then she saw the Emperor Sword hidden in the back of his robe and reluctantly lowered her hand full of lethal quintessence.
