Chapter Thirty-One
A Promise He Would Keep
While the High Witch wasn't ashamed of what thoughts now entered her head, she knew better than to voice them.
Knew better than to act on them.
Hearing anyone confide that level of harassment would bother her, as it was wrong on so many levels. Hearing someone she now considered close to her say those same things… made her numb.
Made her brain calm.
Made her think.
And think.
And think.
Of different ways to handle it all.
And how they all ended, not in satisfaction, as something like this would never have a simple end, but in the ability to move on to the next step.
They entered the active wing of the prison, the glow of yellow magic emanating from equally spaced lamps along the walls. The hall held five doors leading to small rooms. Through the square barred window in the first door to their right, there was a single occupant, sitting on the stone slab bed covered in basic, tan colored linens and thin bed topper for some cushion.
At their arrival, the occupant, a woman dressed in prison garb that was a gray, knee-length tunic, stood up.
There was a possibility that they had crossed her path at some point. There were just so many people on staff at the castle, it was hard to remember them all. She knew the names and faces of the staff that helped with her room, as they were nice and always eager to assist when Will needed help with some random Meridian norm or custom.
And the fact Elyon basically employed every member of the rebellion on her staff made it even simpler, as seeing people like Galgheita, Julian, Drake, Aldarn, and Tynar cross her path near every day created a sense of familiarity, even if she didn't know everyone.
The maid was young, maybe around their age. She looked healthy, with clear pale skin and shiny strawberry blond hair. Looking rather put out, she perked up when they entered her cell, hazel eyes shining.
Actually, it was just when Will entered.
"High Witch!" the mage called, excited.
"Sit," Irma ordered, pointing to the bed.
The woman frowned, as she could not resist the order.
"And stay seated, with your hands in your lap, palms up," Irma added, walking closer to examine the woman. "Tell me if you have any physical weapons on you or hidden in this room."
The woman's eyes widen as she answered, "There is a dagger under the bedding. A small poison needle laced in my hair."
Irma nodded, coating her hands in a thin layer of water she felt through the woman's hair, pulling the needle free. Then she sent a tentacle of coiling water to feel through the bedding until they found the dagger.
"Are you a danger to us?" Irma quizzed, standing over the mage, looking for any potential problems.
"Not to everyone," she answered and Irma reworded her question, realizing it was too vague.
"Are you still able to carry out any attacks, including your magic?"
"No, I cannot."
Irma nodded. "Explain what you meant by not everyone is in danger here?"
Some of her genuine emotions peeked through Irma's compulsion as the mage smiled past her to Will. "We do this for the High Witch. To thank her for the blessings of the nymph she has passed on to us."
Irma snorted, hand over her mouth to mask her shocked laughter.
"Sorry, guys." Irma quickly apologized, looking back at the group. "Just didn't expect… that." She cleared her throat and looked at Taranee. "Are you reading her?"
Taranee, standing back, nodded. "Ask her about the 'blessing'. There is a powerful memory there."
Hay-Lin spoke up. "Her emotions spike every time she mentions Will. It's almost… euphoric."
"I'm getting cult vibes," Cornelia added, looking at Will.
Will nodded, agreeing.
Irma went on. "What 'blessing' did Will share?"
"The return of magic," she said simply, nodding like the answer was absolute.
"Isn't magic on Metamoor linked to Elyon?" Hay-Lin interrupted, confused. "Why would Will have anything to do with it?"
The mage scowled. "Before we were shackled to a Light, magic once flowed equally to all who wanted it. Passed to the one most deserving, not one born with a silver spoon in their mouth."
While Elyon stayed quiet, letting the team handle things, she was frowning at the mage's words.
"Yeah, Ellie, you got a cult on your hands," Cornelia said with deep sympathy. "Shame. We could have reasoned with a rebellion, at least."
Irma looked at Will, waiting for her input.
"Keep going," was all Will said, not seeing a need to stop the progress so far.
Irma turned back. "How does Will fit into this?"
Now eager to tell, she needed less prompting as she answered, "She is a generous Light. The one true Light. The only one needed in all the realms." She looked at the guardians. "Does she not share her magic with you all? Creating equals with her power, not servants, unlike our selfish Light?" she questioned, looking at Elyon. "Do you all see how she makes even her own blood her toy? Just a fancy puppet to make herself look good?"
The lights in the room flashed a blinding pink before settling back to the muted yellow.
Seeing that Irma stopped to glance back at Will, the red-head ordered, "Keep going."
"You don't agree with Queen Elyon's treatment of Prince Phobos?" Irma pressed, slightly confused.
"He deserves much worse," she spat. "But if he is now favored by the High Witch, he must have atoned for his sins."
"I," Irma stopped, jaw tight, and forced herself to ask, "Why harass him then? Knowing he was… favored?"
She grew guilty, looking past Irma to Will. "Forgive me, High Witch! I know he is yours. But I needed his hair and blood for our arts. To know how to break the bonds that tie us to our false Light." She smiled. "And we did. We can now be free."
"They had been collecting blood from Phobos for years," Taranee said, stepping closer as she dug into the mage's memory. "It was harder, when he was still in his cell, as they had to break in. Once Elyon released him into the castle, it was easy. Since common staff were also assaulting him." She narrowed her eyes, the room growing warmer. "It was public knowledge he wouldn't go to Elyon about his treatment and that Elyon never serve harsh punishments if caught."
"And who are they?" Cornelia asked.
The mage answered, unprompted. "Just like the first gift we gave the High Witch, we are the Children of Good Fortune. The return of the fruit showed the planet has finally healed enough to thrive again. That now is the time to remove the false Light."
"Oh, that was weeks ago, right?" Hay-Lin said, bothered. "Have they been watching us this whole time?"
"We have been here for the High Witch. Making sure she has her time alone. Serving her first, either here or Farshore. Yet, even when we gave her the first fruit of the reborn planet, she shared its goodness, because that is what she does."
"Ooo, that's…," Irma shook her head. "Guys, what the fuck do I say to that?"
Taranee placed a hand on her own chin. "I can't see the faces of the others. It's blank. Like they have cut it out."
Irma reworded that as a question, and the mage smirked. "We knew what this task meant, testing our blessed arrow. I allowed a purge of important, leading things from my mind. A purge of me. You all mean well in your service to the High Witch, but let your companionship to the false Light cloud your judgement. We knew you would look, Witch Taranee. And that you would make me talk, Witch Irma." She giggled. "And that you would feel my heart, Witch Hay-Lin." The mage sighed. "All that is left in me is a message for you, High Witch Wilhelmina. Know now we are waiting for you. Ready for you. To help us free our people once more from the oppression of a false rule."
Irma tilted her head to the side. "All… that is left…? What is your name?" she asked, sounding concerned.
"I am a Child of Good Fortune," she answered.
Hay-Lin turned away, hands covering her mouth at what she felt.
"That's not what I asked," Irma countered. "What is your given name?"
She smiled, brighter, more elated. "I am a Child of Good Fortune."
Irma looked to Taranee who shook her head. "There isn't much… there," she admitted. "It's like a magic lobotomy. It's all just gone."
"Tell me," Will said, walking over to stand before the mage. "If I am your savior, why hurt someone close to me? Why even touch him if you need my help? As scrambled as your brain is, you have to see how that would not end well for you?"
She blinked up at Will, dazed. "We needed his blood and hair for the arts," she repeated. Only then added, eyes slightly glazed. "And you share all they have blessed you with. Why not share the pleasures of his flesh with us as well? To let us know how the sinner atoned?"
"Will!"
The room was a blinding pink; the Heart pulsing with magic as Will's extended hand was caught in Taranee's grip.
"Will!" Taranee called, both physically and mentally. "It won't matter, she's just a puppet now. You can rough her up and she'll still worship you. We… can't do anything here."
Will pulled away.
Anger didn't overcome her, just a need to share the pain they all felt. That Phobos felt.
The woman before her was a monster, and Will knew how to handle them. Knew after years of fighting across the realms, she knew how to tear them down.
But a rumble of the walls and a muffled explosion drew Will's attention.
Will, already worked up, didn't hesitate to transform them all.
"Irma, Taranee, make sure she's not freed. Cornelia, Hay-Lin, protect Elyon," she ordered, darting from the cell towards the sound. While she would have normally brought Hay-Lin and Taranee with her, as their elements were the second and third fastest to hers. She knew the threat to Elyon was top priority.
Taranee opened a mental connection.
"Be on guard, this could be a diversion," Will ordered through the connection to the other guardians as she morphed to her electric form, not having to worry about out pacing the other elements.
"Elyon is coming after you," Taranee quickly informed.
"No," she demanded. "Keep her away. These assholes are trying to kill her."
"She's not listening!" Cornelia called, flustered. "We'll stay with her, just keep the path clear."
In her elemental form, she slipped through the very cracks of the castle, pulling apart into pulsing bolts of life and death, electricity and quintessence. People didn't have time to react as her magic fell over them, connecting to their own sparks of life, showing them a glimpse of Infinity for one brief second before tearing away.
With alarm, the sounds led the Keeper to the gardens. Where she had sent Phobos and Achilles.
The boom of thunder signaled her arrival, elemental body reforming from the rivers of electrical currents that flowed around the castle. The ground cracked from the force, sending a shock wave that blew over the surround foliage and pillars. People fell to the ground around her, some from being caught in the electric storm of her very presence, and some in relief, pointing to the massive green figure across the destroyed courtyard. Dozens of guards and a few mages were hunkered behind makeshift cover, sending suppressing spells and arrows to keep the attacker at bay.
All she could process of the creature, before a powerful discharge of electricity rocketed at her, were glowing spikes along its back mixed in with a few deeply impaled swords and arrows. It was impressive the thing was still standing, let alone still on the offense.
Will released her form, letting herself fall into scattering rivers of static as the blast hit a wall. The wall cracked, a section dislodging to join the rubble and chaos below. Reforming, Will sent a charge of her own, striking all pieces down to the smallest pebble, filling them with quintessence.
The pieces stopped mid-air, defying gravity's will and answering hers as they gathered back together, pulsing with life. It flowed unnaturally, able to shift and move with the intricacies of life, and darted to the creature standing far too close to Phobos.
Will didn't understand why Phobos was sitting there, like he was unbothered by the screaming mayhem around him. Vathek was on the ground, not moving, with several guards burnt and bleeding around the courtyard.
Matt was nearby, in his magic form, not directly fighting the creature, but pulling people out of the electric blast and, oddly, trying to stop the guards from further attacking.
The stone encased the creature, which Will now realized was a large frog looking thing, just as Matt called for her to not hurt it. Confusion made her pause as the toad released another blast, freeing itself and aiming at her once more. Will held out a hand and raise the other to the sky. She diverted the cannon blast, feeling the magic pass through her body.
That's because you're electric, like me! I can find you anywhere!
Anywhere?
That's a good thing, Achilles!
Will dropped to the ground, all her anger leaving her like the air from a popped balloon. Losing her connection to the Heart, she returned to her human form just as another blast struck her. She crossed her arms, taking the blast head on. As she was in her human form, the power overwhelmed her, ripping through her and setting her senses on fire.
The blast stopped, and she lifted her head, large black eyes staring shamefully at her.
"Achilles?" she called out, arms a web of black marks where the electricity touched her.
The frog croaked out, slipping and falling as he tried to move to her. Only the guards were trained well with combating larger foes and had successfully disabled his back legs with swords, arrows, and minor spells.
Seeing that there was a momentary calm, Matt landed near the frog, hands out. He was too far away for her to hear, but Achilles seemed to understand, as Matt had made no move to harm him during the fight, and allowed the Earth Regent to place a hand on his massive head. The sound he made was heartbreaking as he cried, burying his face against Matt's chest as his body glowed. He was trying to transform, but the objects impaled in his flesh stopped him.
Stunned, Will approached, and Achilles turned to her, licking her blacken arms in apology as he sobbed "Sorry," over and over.
"Cornelia," Will called, both mentally and out loud as she gently touched one of the few arrows lodged in Achilles' neck. "Hurry… please."
Her call was unnecessary as the three just arrived, scanning to take in the surrounding chaos. Elyon moved to Phobos and waved a hand at him. Will realized his bonds had kept him in place as he jumped up and rushed to Cornelia, who had stopped to look over the fallen Vathek.
"Leave him!" Phobos barked. "Achilles is your charge!"
Cornelia was about to protest, as the prince had grabbed her arm to drag her away, only she finally looked to Will and Matt, then at the bleeding mass beyond them.
"...Kid?" Cornelia called, appalled at the sight.
Will felt a massive pull on the Heart as Cornelia ascended to her healer form. It was soothing, the very sight of her, the embrace of nature. Magic flowed from her in thick waves, healing all wounds until all were standing again.
Will could feel her skin tingle as the scorched skin healed, but Achilles' wounds could not close with the objects still buried in his hide.
Hay-Lin flew closer, the air spinning with color and song. Achilles settled down, the song luring him into a calm peace as gentle currents of air pulled the swords and arrows from him. The wounds closed almost instantly, leaving dried blood as the only mark of what was there. Once the last arrow was pulled freed, he glowed, changing into his child form.
Hay-Lin scooped him up into the air, pulling him into her arms, rocking him as the very sky sung him a soft lullaby. He fell asleep, head on her shoulder, curled in her arms. She landed and gently handed him to Will.
"He's okay," Hay-Lin whispered. "Everything's okay."
But it wasn't because Phobos was there, looking at them, not in relief, but something else. Something darker.
Will approached him and offered the sleeping child to him.
Phobos clenched his teeth and she could see him contain himself as he took Achilles from her.
"Thank you, Keeper," he said, voice flat, eyes distant.
… Keeper?
Will hoped she hid the shake of her arms as she nodded, not able to hold his icy gaze for very long.
It was a blur after that.
She was aware of Elyon arguing with Raythor and Caleb as Matt, Cornelia, and Hay-Lin rushed Will and Phobos into the castle. They led them to the wing that held their rooms, where Taranee and Irma met them.
There, in Will's common room, Matt explained what happened.
"Shit," Irma cursed, sitting down with her head in her hands. "Can that kid get a break?"
Hay-Lin was hovering near Achilles, who was sleeping in Phobos' hold. "I'll keep him asleep, with sweet dreams, until… until…" she trailed off, not sure how to end that sentence.
"No one is dead and everyone is in one piece," Cornelia clarified. "But I doubt this is going to go over well. If word gets around that he's Phobos' familiar, that's just fuel for the damn cult."
"Cult?" Matt called, sitting near Will, sounding tired. "There's a cult now?"
"Oh, not just any cult," Irma called, shaking her head. "But these fuckers worship Will."
"What?" Matt called, confused by that statement.
Phobos, sitting across, stayed quiet, watching her with cold eyes.
"Yeah, they call themselves the Children of Fortune and want Elyon gone as the Light of Meridian," Cornelia answered and Taranee added, "Actually, they want to end Metamoor's cycle of Light's, so magic can flow freely to whoever they choose. They latched on to Will as an idol as they view her sharing the Heart's power with us as following their ideology."
Taranee explained to Matt and Phobos what was said, leaving out the more sensitive information regarding Phobos' treatment. Matt nodded, looking between Will and Phobos before standing.
"I think I should go find Caleb before Elyon rips into him too much. Keep me in the loop? I'm no stranger to tracking down crazies after Will," he joked, dark eyes worried as he looked at her.
"We got you," Irma assured, standing as well. "Let's go regroup with Elyon, guys. Will, you wanna stay with these two?" she asked, nodding toward the prince and child.
As empty as she felt, she nodded without hesitation.
"I'll send you a mental link if anything happens," Taranee assured as they all left, leaving her, Phobos, and a sleeping Achilles.
They sat there, staring at each other, blue eyes drowning her.
"Phobos-"
"Is this your room?" he asked, looking around.
She nodded.
"Show me your bed, so I may lay Achilles to rest properly."
She nodded again, legs shaking as she took him to her room.
It was easy to pick out her Earth items. A large open suitcase in the corner, clothes scattered about. Her backpack was next to her vanity, with normal everyday items like her day planner that helped with both her magic and non-magic life, some books she never bothered to read but swore she would at some point, a box of simple jewelry, a stuffed frog, a travel purse, and so on, scattered on top.
Phobos settled Achilles down, gently tucking the frog in with Will's frog themed throw she had brought with her. He stood, glancing around the room that held trinkets of her life, before turning back to Will.
She turned, leaving the room, hairs standing on end, knowing he was watching her. Hearing the door latch, Will turned, eyes to the ground, waiting for him to talk.
"You are shaking," he mumbled, close, arms wrapping around her frame.
She swallowed, mouth dry, heart thundering. "I almost… I almost…"
"But you didn't," he said, pulling her tight to him. "You knew it was him and stopped. You didn't strike him."
Her arms felt heavy, remembering Achilles' tongue licking the burnt skin in panicked apology.
"He knows you didn't hurt him."
Will felt his lips at her temple.
"I know you didn't."
But she almost did.
Almost….
Phobos just held her, his face buried in her red hair, taking deep, calming breaths, and Will knew she should be the one comforting him. So she lifted her heavy arms and wrapped them around him in return.
"Phobos, it's… it's not your fault what happened to-"
"Stop," he called, voice muffled in her hair. "Just… don't." His arms were painfully tight around her. "Don't."
Will closed her eyes, leaning into his embrace, not sure who was to blame, but knowing somehow they would both blame themselves.
Will recalled sitting down with Phobos on a couch, both staring at nothing. She must have fallen asleep, because she awoke to a gentle knock on her sitting-room door.
She stirred, eyes heavy as she peeled them open, seeing Achilles' sleeping face next to hers. They were both tucked under the plush blanket, Achilles' little hands holding one of hers.
Will looked around to see Phobos sitting at her vanity, her planner in his hand. There was a tinge of embarrassment, knowing she used that bloody thing more like a diary at times. With some of her latest entries peppered with his name and childish hearts.
Phobos, not having noticed she was awake, sat the book down and went to answer the door.
"Hey there, princy," Irma's voice called out.
They talked for a moment. Irma saying dinner that night was canceled and food would be sent for them later. She also said Elyon wanted to speak with him, to which Phobos protested, saying both Will and Achilles were sleeping and he didn't want to leave them. Understanding, Irma said she could stay in his place, and call another guardian if that would help.
Still, he refused, to which Irma relented and promised to make sure Elyon knew he was denying her request out of concern for the sleeping pair and not malicious defiance.
At the midpoint of their talk, Achilles stirred, little body curling into a tight ball before stretching. His hand tightened as he opened his eyes.
He looked towards the open door, listening to his master talk for a while before relaxing. Slowly, one hand reached out to touch her forearm and Will rotated it, showing her skin was whole. Blinking away tears, he hugged her, which only made her own eyes burn as she curled around him, holding him tight.
"I'm sorry, Achilles," she whispered. "I told you to find me, that I would help you, if trouble found you again. And I sent you away, right towards it. I should have listened to everyone. I should have stayed with you and Phobos." She kissed his dark hair.
"I hurt you again," he mumbled. "I keep hurting you."
"No, you didn't, Achilles. You were scared and protected yourself and Phobos, like before."
He swallowed and lifted his head, looking towards the door. "I'm sorry for hurting Lady Wilhelmina again. For being too weak."
Will followed his gaze to see Phobos watching them from the doorway. Not sure how long he was there, she sat up, pulling Achilles to sit with her on the edge.
Phobos looked over at them. "Listen to Wilhelmina. You have done nothing wrong." His arms were crossed, so she almost missed how his hands balled into fists as he repeated. "You have done nothing wrong. Others have failed you today, including I." He looked away, eyes distant. "Know it shall never happen again."
Phobos' admission of guilt did not move Achilles very much, and the frog focused on calming himself as he sniffled. Eventually, Achilles let Will lay them both down, rubbing his back to help calm him.
Phobos sat back at the vanity, watching Will comfort his familiar in a way he couldn't manage.
"I was scared," Achilles admitted. "Not for master," he said that with guilt. "But for me. I… I like it here. I don't want to go back to the lake. To be alone." He closed his eyes. "It hurt and I couldn't feel my legs again." He hid his face against her chest. "It was getting hard to breathe. To see. It was getting dark. But I saw you and I knew you would make it stop. And you did." He was mumbling, barely loud enough to hear. "You… did."
Once he was back asleep, she couldn't stop her own tears this time. She stayed as quiet as she could, but when Phobos finally moved to the bed, laying down to wrap his arms around them both, she broke.
"It's not fair," she cried, one hand covering the prince's. "You… you didn't do anything. He didn't do anything. And… and I see how much you've been trying, every day. Not fighting with Cornelia or Elyon. Being friendly with Hay-Lin, joking with Irma, talking with Taranee. Caring for Achilles," she added, heart twisting. "Even at the meeting, you opened up. You talked to all of them. Helped them understand a bit more about their kingdom, their home."
He moved his hand to wipe at her burning eyes, and she let out a shaky sob.
"You saved Elyon and Cornelia, for fuck's sake. What… what do you have to do? Why did this have to happen? I just don't get it. I just don't."
Phobos wiped her cheek before resting his hand on her shoulder.
"I know you do not," he said, gently, almost with pity. "And you never shall. This is not your world or your people. To them, you are worth unquestioned worship and devotion. While they have rejected me since birth." She felt him kiss her hair. "You are the first to accept me so completely. So… lovingly." Her heart flipped at that word. "It made me realize how what I felt wasn't wrong. I do not wish to be a part of this world. It is not death I sought, but freedom at a life from this place. From Metamoor."
Phobos rubbed her arm, fingers gently gliding across the healed flesh.
"You are too good, even for yourself. My life will always drag you down, dull your happiness… yet I find losing you a painful thought. And today, having to watch Achilles almost slaughtered as I sat there… losing him is not an option as well."
His hand reached out and laced with hers. Her eyes grew heavy, feeling Achilles tucked in her arms and Phobos at her back. She felt… whole. Safe.
Phobos kissed the shell of her ear as she drifted to sleep, barely hearing his whispered declaration.
"Know I will always find you, Wilhelmina. I promise you that."
