Chapter Twenty-Four
The Return of the Spider
"My Lady, please stop!"
"You mustn't enter! We implore you to wait!"
"Queen Elyon said none were to enter while Lady Cornelia works!"
It was lucky for the collection of doctors, nurses, and magical healers that Taranee and Hay-Lin were with her, as they were the only ones able to hold her back, both with reason and magic.
Will could feel Hay-Lin's magic surrounding her, worming its way under her skin and wrapping around her brain, muting her panic and desperation. Both she and Taranee were pulling her back by her arms. Something they were only managing as they were pulling on their elemental powers to counter her magical strength.
"You need to let Cornelia work," pleaded Taranee, raising her voice above the yelling staff. "Will, please focus! You can feel her pulling magic from the Heart, right?" When she didn't answer, Taranee moved in front of her, face to face, and pressed, "Right?"
"Will!" Hay-Lin called, arms trying to wrap around her. "Will, please! I know! I know how you feel! But you have to trust Cornelia! Please, listen!"
"Will," a new voice called out, strong and familiar. A heavy hand on her shoulder.
Will finally stopped fighting, her head turning with her heart pounding in her chest.
Matt was there, looking at her like at the beach, like he could see right through her. See her thoughts and fears.
Because he could.
Because he knew her better than anyone else.
No matter what they went through, that would never change, would it?
Matt gently pulled her away from the door to the hospital wing where Phobos was taken. A staff member directed them to a waiting area, strongly reminiscent of an Earth hospital. White linoleum floors, plastic chairs, the smell of antiseptics and something heavier, that stung her nose and lingered.
It was so jarring, seeing Elyon's influence in these small ways. Moving through the castle and feeling like they were drifting through time.
Matt directed her to sit, letting Hay-Lin and Taranee sit at her sides as he crouched before her, large hand on her knee.
"Hey, now," he started, dark eyes strong. "It's important to stay calm, right? This is what Cornelia is good at; helping her friends." He smiled. "That's all she's ever tried to do. Ever since I've known her. She wants you all to be safe, happy."
He squeezed her knee. "Trust her."
Will nodded. "I do," she answered, voice low. "I just… just…"
Again, his hand squeezed. "I know. We all do." He looked away for a moment, eyes looking beyond the white walls around them. He looked back at her and reached out, wiping a stray tear she didn't even feel fall. "You know I just want you to be happy, too, right?" His hand moved from her knee to her hand, gripping it.
She looked at him, kneeling before her, expression soft, open.
Matt was kind. Even if what was changing between them hurt him, even if they fought for the first time in ways that dug at each other, he was still there for her.
She didn't want to lose his friendship, but wasn't idealistic enough to believe they could forge a platonic friendship after near ten years as a couple.
It was another journey, learning how to keep someone important after their entire world was turned upside-down.
While it excited her, the prospect of developing a relationship with the prince, she wasn't sure what to do with the feelings that still lingered in her for the man before her.
"I know," she answered, hand squeezing his, her friends leaning in to hold her, comforting her. "I know."
Nothing in life was easy, was it?
The door to the waiting room opened and Elyon walked in, eyes rimmed red, hands locked before her. Splotches of blood staining her silky blue gown.
They all stood, the heavy expression on her face making her heart pound.
"He's stable," she said, but her voice showed no peace from that statement. "Cornelia is going to have to stay with him for a while. That spell disrupted his connection to Metamoor. It's trying to correct itself, but it's left his weaken body exposed. Cornelia needs to be there to keep his body from breaking down in the meantime." She looked away, eyes to the ground, before looking at Will. "You can go in and see him. But he's not… responsive… right now."
Will took a deep breath, remembering how desperate he was to send her away from him at the hot springs.
She wanted to see him, but there were more pressing matters, right? Like…
"The mage is in the dungeon," Will informed Elyon, her blue eyes widening at the news. "Once Taranee, Hay-Lin, and Irma get some rest, we will be able to… have a nice chat." Will looked over at her friend, who was the target. Who would have been dead if that arrow hit her dead on. "Any objections?" she asked, not meaning to sound so forceful, but unable to hold back her temper now that some of her worry was lessening.
Elyon bit the inside of her cheek. "No, just a request," she said, shoulders shifting, lifting her chin. "That I'm present for it."
Will smiled, face tight. "Of course. The more the merrier."
It was stupid, to Will, to hold the dinner still.
She understood the importance of acting like everything was normal. That Elyon was unfazed by the breach of her very own defenses. The Light of Meridian was supposed to be uncontested, her power unmatched in her kingdom.
And today she was tested.
Today she could have died.
When Phobos looked away from Will, eyes narrowing at Elyon, she saw him move with no hesitation, just urgency. Looking back, Will knew if any other person was next to him, they would have stopped him. His quick dash to the queen was so sudden and out of place, it spiked a sense of doubt even in her.
But she had trusted him a few times already. And that trust so far wasn't missed placed.
So she just watched it unfold.
It was easy, catching the mage dressed as a common maid. She tried to escape, but no one could outrun the firestorm that descended from the castle. Will's fury was shared by Taranee and Hay-Lin, both mixing their elements with hers to create an electric hellfire. It was by Hay-Lin's pinpoint control of her element that they didn't consume the mage, only trapped her in a ring of sparking fire that ate away the foliage and blackened the earth.
Raythor arrived with his men and took the woman away before Will did something she might have regretted.
Walking into the same hall as yesterday, wearing the same fancy dress, it surprised her to see the room packed full of people, with multiple tables in use. The room was lively, loud music playing, servants walking among the mingling guest passing out appetizers and drinks, people laughing. The evening sun set the glass murals ablaze, peppering everybody in a rainbow of light that shimmered with a hint of magic. The outer section of the attached gardens was open to let the sweet smell of flowers in, with a few people milling at the archways.
There were guards not wearing the colors of Elyon's court, all wearing smaller crest of what Will could only guess were of the dozens of noble houses in attendance.
Just so many people.
Will felt sick.
It was wrong.
Everything was wrong.
This wasn't supposed to be like this.
This wasn't supposed to happen like this.
She was right there.
Both times.
At dinner and the meeting.
Right there.
And she couldn't do anything.
Why didn't he trust her?
Even if he didn't trust Elyon, he had to trust her, right?
Why not say anything?
She knew he had access to his magic, able to remove his bonds for a short time. He could have told her. He could have…
It didn't have to be like this.
Was the only thing he knew how to do was suffer? Even at his own hands?
He said he wanted a life of his own making, but he wasn't acting like that. He was still that same ghost she met in the courtyard, just waiting. Waiting for death, either his or Elyon's. Freedom from his suffering, one way or the other.
But he had another choice now.
He could start something new. He had support, even if he was refusing to see it.
But after so long, what difference could one summer make?
He made connections not just with her, but Hay-Lin, Irma, and Taranee. And, maybe more importantly, he was acknowledging Elyon as his sister. Admitting he was wrong to project his problems with Weira onto her.
Will had thought she could handle a summer fling with him at the start. Entertaining the idea as thing progressed to maybe visiting once in a while. Now, after today, she wasn't sure if things should continue between them. Because she wasn't sure if she could walk away anymore. She wasn't sure she could make objective calls about him.
Cornelia was right from the beginning. So was Matt. Caleb. Raythor. Elyon.
Phobos was dangerous to many people still. Even if he now cared for a handful of people, that didn't change how expendable he seemed to view others.
When would she know it?
The moment they could trust him to walk among them freely? To have another pardon? Another chance at life?
When she offered him his first pardon, years ago, he was still his selfish self, using them for his own gain. But they were young and desperate to save Elyon and the others. Now, after years of fighting and learning, a second pardon would be from a place of experience. And it wouldn't be from only Will this time.
But none of that mattered right now.
Not the what-if's or dreams of some happy future.
Will could feel Cornelia's pull on the Heart.
Xin Jing was with her, giving her everything she asked for. For once, not happy or playful.
This was so wrong.
Will turned to leave, hot bile bubbling its way up her throat. She just couldn't do this. Couldn't fake a smile or make small talk. Not when she could feel how, after hours later, Cornelia was still fighting to keep him alive.
"There you are!" a vaguely familiar voice called, loud and peppy. An arm boldly hooked through hers and it turned her in a smooth swing back towards the room. "My dear friend, let us take a turn about the room before dinner."
Will felt lightheaded as she looked, dazed, at the older woman now tightly gripping her. If it wasn't for Phobos' out-of-place reaction yesterday, Will was sure she wouldn't have known the woman's name.
"Duchess Moondall?" said Will, wiggling from the woman's hold on her arm. Only she smoothly readjusted her arm around Will's waist.
"Oh, my dear. Please call me Eulalia! It's because of you, they have finally welcomed my sweet daughter within the castle walls. Something far overdue, in my humble opinion. No court should stay closed for near a decade, it would make one think it did not welcome its people."
Should she just teleport away? She absolutely wasn't in the mood for whatever socialite bullshit that was about to happen. But the pull from the Heart made her stay put.
Cornelia would be pissed if Will just made a scene during the first open dinner Elyon had thrown. And as much as Will hated it, she was a fixture of the social scene. There were people there who wanted to mingle with both Lights.
Across the room, Will saw soft blue eyes follow them as Duchess Eulalia pulled her along.
Right.
Stay cool. Just go along. Did she even need to talk? Just nod and smile. She could do that.
"Oh, you must tell me how you are enjoying your trip so far, my friend. There are so many strange accounts of what happens behind these grand walls! I heard you got to enjoy even the Farshore Estate. It had been closed since the days of the prince's youth."
Yup, Will didn't need to talk, as the duchess dragged her along. Her steps light and graceful. She was wearing a black gown with gold trim, her black hair long and straight. She was shorter than Will, but she walked with her head high and shoulders square. The sharp click of her heels was audible even over the chatter of the crowd and the music.
Every time they walked near a group, the older woman smiled wider and laughed louder, making a show of them, like she was accomplishing something grand with that one walk. Maybe she was? Maybe Will should have brushed her off like she wanted to?
"Um, yes," Will answered, glancing around at the crowd, the many faces nothing but foreign features and shapes. "We did go, as a group."
The duchess giggled, playfully batting her eyes as she said, "Yes, I heard the prince even went along for a rare trip outside the castle. One has to wonder what finally drew him out, don't you?"
Will jerked her head away, feeling fingers twist in her hair.
"Just a change of scenery, I'm sure," Will answered, a strong chill down her spine. Xin Jing turned her attention towards Will, worried, and Will felt guilty. She could handle one grabby older woman. Cornelia needed Xin Jing right now, not her.
Assuring the nymph she was fine, it was a relief when Xin Jing turned her attention back to Cornelia.
Stay calm, she reminded herself.
Don't lose her shit.
Don't lose her temper.
Just make it through dinner.
"Is he not joining us? It has been far too long since I have had the pleasure of seeing him. I had hoped to introduce my daughter to him, now that she is of age."
A flash of annoyance flickered through her and Will, a bit too defensively, demanded, "Of age?"
"Yes, yes," she answered, a hum of happiness in her voice. "She is my pearl. Shaped to perfection. It truly has been a shame she has missed years at a proper court. But, thanks to you, things are as they should be, again." She smiled at Will. "We all have fun in our youth. But eventually, our duty to our land calls. Or, in your case, the universe." Her eyes narrowed. "You must send me a letter when you leave our kingdom and return to yours. As I will need proper warning to mourn your departure. As I am sure others will as well." She looked forward. "Yet, like I said, we all must return to our duty, after our fun."
Oh, fucking hell.
Could she just go interrogate that freaking mage? That sounded more bearable than this shit.
"Um, sure, maybe," Will said, trying to sound as noncommittal as possible.
"Oh, my ladyship, you seem troubled," she said, stopping their walk and facing her. "I am here to lend an ear. I have experienced a lot, in my years, and companionship keeps one in good spirits."
"Yeah," Will agreed. "I'm lucky I have the other Guardians for that."
"Of course," the duchess agreed, eyes now scanning the crowd. "I see Lady Cornelia is not joining us as well." She made a show of rubbing her chin in fake thought. "I hear her and the prince are very similar in their command of a room. I wonder what has preoccupied them both."
"You hear a lot," Will said, dryly, not falling for more bait.
Duchess Eulalia giggled. "Yes, yes. When you can't see what your own kingdom is up to with your own eyes, you rely on what you hear, for better or worse, I fear."
"Probably worse," Will said, now able to shrug her hold off and step back. "Please, excuse me. I need to go see Queen Elyon."
Duchess Eulalia grinned. "Oh, right, I'm so relieved you remembered! We should go greet the queen. Quite rude of us to chat for so long without proper greetings. We were just so wrapped up, having our lovely chat. I hope no one noticed our rudeness."
Ah, shoot. Was it bad she didn't go greet Elyon first? Ugh, that couldn't matter? Why would that matter?
With how happy the duchess looked, Will knew it mattered a lot.
Shit.
This would have been a great time to have Cornelia or Phobos there, playing bullshit goalie.
Will hated it looked like she and the duchess were approaching Elyon together as she walked up to her friend. Elyon looked beautiful. No trace of the events of the day on her face as she easily smiled. But Will could see how she squeezed her hands together for comfort. How her gaze lingered on Will a bit longer in her worry.
Will knew she wanted to help pry her new leech from her side, but for now, she was stuck with the duchess as she boldly walked with her.
"Oh, my queen, what a vision you are," she cooed, voice like thick honey as she gave a deep bow. "You must forgive our lateness with our patronage! We were so absorbed catching up!"
Elyon was standing near the head table, surrounded by people, positioned along the wall, with the other tables perpendicular in the center. Only one side of the head table had seating, and Will recalled where she was supposed to sit. Originally, Phobos would have been on Elyon's right, with Will on his, followed by the rest of the Guardians and them Matt. But with Phobos missing, Will would now be directly next to Elyon.
Huh, she never got to ask what it meant, Phobos as a 'grand prince' and her as his official guest. Yet, Will was figuring it out the longer she was exposed to Meridian's nobles and their court.
"High Witch Wilhelmina," Elyon greeted formally. "Duchess Moondall. Do not worry yourself. Any rudeness was not noticed. I have had a busy time chatting with your daughter."
"Oh," Duchess Eulalia said, surprised, looking around for her 'pearl'. "That is wonderful to hear-" she stopped, as Elyon had stepped back, revealing a short, dark-haired woman dressed in a simple black dress.
Will snorted, unable to hold back her laugh.
"Oh, hello, mother," Miranda cooed, voice just as honey sweet, eyes beaming in excitement. "It has been far too long, but, luckily, you have aged remarkably well."
