Chapter Nineteen:
Lost in the Shadow
HuiLing held the Heart of Kandrikar by the black chain that it was fastened to. The crystal itself was shining brightly as it led the four through the dungeons of Phobos' new castle hidden deep within the swamp land. Their footsteps echoed eerily in the water drenched hallway below the castle.
"Ugh, if I had been warned, I wouldn't have come here in a dress." Grumbled Cerella.
"Cerella...!" Exclaimed an indignant Tress. "Can we please focus on the main issue here?"
"Right, sorry." Cerella rolled her eyes.
Derek walked silently in the front of the group as they pressed on, led by the glowing red light of the Heart of Kandrikar. Normally he would have walked Wanda home after school, but everyone had such pressing amounts of homework after Career Day, there hadn't been much time left for him to put it off. Now he regretted that, thinking that he could have stopped whatever it was that kidnapped her from right under their noses. Who knew how long that monster had been following her, at this rate. No one even knew what it was that attacked her, or who. All they knew was that it was a servant of Phobos.
"What's that up ahead?" Asked HuiLing suddenly, stopping abruptly.
There was a figure standing at the end of the tunnel, leaning against the wall with her arms crossed.
"Wanda?" Blinked Derek.
"Wanda!" HuiLing exclaimed happily, but Derek grabbed her by the arm to stop her.
"Wait..." He warned her.
"But..." HuiLing looked up at him before turning to look at Wanda. There was something different about her, how she was holding herself. The aura around her was no longer shy, but kind and caring. She could tell that now by looking more closely at her friend.
"Intruders are not welcome in His Majesty King Phobos' castle." Wanda looked at the strangers, who were surprised when her eyes did not recognize them. "I am asking you once to leave. If you do not, then I will use other methods to ensure you leave this place."
"We're not leaving without you, Wanda." It was Derek who spoke first, wondering what in the world could have happened to make her turn out like this.
She stood up from the wall, and walked forward a few paces, her eyes were lifeless, the light gone out of them.
"Wanda? What happened to you?" Asked HuiLing, her eyes confused and worried.
"Why would strangers want to know what happened to a person they don't even know?" Snapped Wanda, raising her right hand and directing the palm flat towards the group. "Quintessence!" She said with a hiss in her voice that didn't sound natural.
Lightning shot from her hand at the group, who were all so surprised that they didn't dodge it. In the next second, the hall was filled with the screams of pain from the attack on them. When the lightning finally faded away, the group was on the wet floor, HuiLing gripping the now struggling Heart of Kandrikar as it tried to reach its rightful owner.
"The Master said to dispose of you any means necessary... Or at least make sure you do not get any deeper in to his lair." Wanda was smirking at the sight as Derek was the first to rise, though slowly and shakily.
He looked up at her, wishing there was a way they could wipe that lifeless, expressionless face off her. He wanted to see her smile again, but this wasn't the way to do that.
"Quintessence!" She hissed once more.
This time they were ready, and dodged out of the way.
"Dude... we come to rescue you and this is the welcome we get?" Asked Ingrid, now thoroughly getting annoyed at Wanda's behavior.
"I don't need rescuing." Retorted Wanda. "I need you to leave and never come back." She prepared her incantation once more.
"Fine, we'll leave. We can't fight you. You're our friend... We'll be back though." HuiLing Stood up, soaking wet from the filthy water on the floor.
"BUT..." Cerella protested.
"We can't fight her like this. Let's go back." She copied the slicing movement in mid air, creating a portal with the Heart of Kandrikar.
One by one, the group vanished in to the veil. Derek was the last, with a final glance back at Wanda, who was looking at them with the expression that was nothing short of pure hatred that startled him. He saw her turn away without a second glance back, and sighed before walking through the portal.
Wanda returned to Phobos' throne room.
"The intruders have been evicted, my lord." She bowed to Phobos.
"Well done." Phobos rose to his seat almost at once when he heard those words, and Wanda beamed at his praise while Rhea, and Cedric scowled behind his back.
"My Lord, I do not think it wise giving her such praise so soon." Said Rhea, and Phobos glared at her, his dark eyes narrowed.
"She has succeeded in less time at achieving something that would have taken you a full fight to do." Retorted Phobos. "You have yet to destroy the Guardians and bring me the Heart of Kandrikar. This test run proves that she will be capable of doing just that."
Rhea fell silent, but not without glaring at the girl that stood before her. She'd seen her on a number of fights before, and wondered what this would do to her apparently fragile mental state if her friends ever found a way around the poison and spells that were controlling her.
Will was looking around the group.
"Well, where is she? Didn't you bring her back?" She asked, sounding rather frantic.
"We couldn't." Said Cerella when no one else was willing to say anything.
"What?" This time it was Matt who spoke, as Stevie went over to HuiLing's side, seeing how unusually upset and downtrodden she was.
"She was under some kind of spell Phobos or one of his servants put on her. She didn't recognize us... and attacked us, forcing us to retreat." Tress explained, rubbing her forehead with the back of her hand. She too had a look of exhaustion on her face.
"It's time you went to see the oracles..." Said Elyon at once. "But first, a little bit of food and rest. You shall go to your rooms here, then Will will take you to see them."
"The oracles?" Blinked a rather tired Ingrid, so tired her sarcastic side had faded out of her completely.
"When you've had some rest we'll explain more. Derek, would you mind showing Stevie back to Earth?" Elyon looked at Derek who nodded.
"Hey, no way am I leaving HuiLing in this state... I mean, I don't get half of what's going on here even with the explanation, but still, I'm going to stick this out." Stevie retorted just as Elyon was about to open up a portal for them. "I mean, I am your friend, right HuiLing? And besides, my parents won't worry. They'll just think I'm hanging out at one of my buddies' places like usual." He waved a casual hand when HuiLing gave a tired smile.
"Then Derek will show you to the guest quarters." Smiled Elyon, knowing HuiLing would be glad for the company.
"Boy... who would've thought that being electrocuted would make us feel like zombies?" Asked HuiLing as the group trooped from the throne room with a still unusually silent Derek.
"Well, lightning does have that effect on people." Tress yawned.
"Hey... aren't I supposed to be the sarcastic one?" Asked Ingrid from the back of the group.
"Whatever." Cerella tried and failed to stifle a huge yawn.
"Heh." Ingrid shrugged as they parted ways in the hallway where their rooms were held.
HuiLing paused, as she walked by Wanda's room, feeling strange about the fact that she wasn't in there sulking about being made to wear Meridian robes. She couldn't help but giggle a little remembering how she and the other girls all got together and ganged up on her, forcing her to wear Meridian robes for the first time. She went in to her room and fell on to her bed without changing from her clothes.
Derek was in his own room after showing Stevie the guest quarters, and was sitting at the table in the center, holding the ribbon he'd given to Wanda in his hand, looking down at it. Finally he set it down, walked to the windows and closed the curtains before changing in to a pair of boxer shorts and climbing under the covers of his bed, completely exhausted from worry and the day's activity. Perhaps tomorrow things would be different after the meeting, and they would be able to find a way to change their situation.
Phobos had summoned Wanda to his throne room, where he informed her of her past when Rhea brought up that there were bound to be questions.
"I'm sure you must have been wondering about yourself, Wanda." Said Phobos.
"Yes. Why do I not remember being here my whole life? All I remember are bits and pieces with those guardians, and that boy that's with them." She said at once. She wore a dark blue dress that flowed to the floor, that had black trim and onyx stones embedded in to the neck line- which was v-shaped, with a black shawl over her shoulders. Her hair was held back in a double braid that arched over her head, tied at the nape in a knot. There were dark sapphire earrings in the shape of tear drops that she wore to match her dress. Around her neck was the ribbon that was usually in her hair, as a choker.
"That is because you were acting as my spy, learning about the new Guardians, reporting everything that happened to me. But things got complicated when the son of the Traitor, Caleb, started falling in love with you, and I was forced to bring you back." Phobos explained. "Do not be surprised if he comes here professing undying love, but do not heed his words. And if the Guardian of Air claims to be your best friend, it is because she was the first to open up to you when you acted as our spy."
Cedric and Rhea were standing there, on either side of Phobos, listening to the lies that Phobos weaved without so much as breaking a sweat. Rhea knew that so long as her poison had the hold on the girl, there was no reason she shouldn't have any problem believing Phobos.
Wanda listened to the story and blinked at the end.
"But then why are there big black spots in my memories?" She asked.
"When I went to bring you back, the Guardians fought with you about it. There was a fierce battle that resulted you going in to a comatose state for a long period. You lost a good part of your memories from that." He replied after a small pause during which Rhea wondered if he hit a brick wall when it came to convincing the girl to stay on their side. "They did not want you coming back to me, for they feared you would tell me all of their secrets. However, with your memory loss, there's no need for them to worry." He added in a fake bitterness with his eyes narrowed. It was all a performance, in order to keep the girl unawares.
Wanda looked up at him, a pang of guilt on her face.
"It is not your fault. You cannot help what those maniacal children have caused." Phobos raised his hand, a clear dismissal.
She bowed to him before leaving in silence, thinking about what he told her as she walked the halls.
A white cat that had long-hair and sapphire eyes slunk around the castle of Meridian, having got word from Fusagu what had happened, Mimiru made her way to meet with Elyon. She found the throne room and let out a meow, catching Elyon off guard, but she knew who it was at once after looking at the time.
Mimiru took to her human shape, bowing before the Queen.
"I came as soon as Susan and Dean were asleep." Mimiru said. "They remain oblivious to what's happening, thinking Will and Matt have taken Wanda on an unexpected concert tour once more."
"Excellent." Smiled Elyon. "When the girls awake, we'll take them to meet the oracles. I have informed them of what's happened, and they have a plan to ensure that they can still fight Phobos, but you are needed in order to ensure they can get Wanda back."
A few hours later, HuiLing, Ingrid, Tress, Cerella, Derek, Stevie, Matt and Will were gathered in the Throne Room with Mimiru.
"I'll send you to Kandrikar, and from there Will can lead you to the Oracle and sages." Elyon said to the still drowsy girls.
HuiLing yawned as she nodded, wearing her sky blue chinese shirt that had the pattern of golden dragons all over, with black pants and shoes. Ingrid wore her blue striped shirt, that had horizontal stripes, blue jeans, white tennis shoes, and her short hair was up in pigtails. Cerella wore a fresh lilac dress from her closet, with bell sleeves and a u-neck line. Around her waist was a dark purple belt for accenting purposes, and she wore simple dark purple shoes while her golden yellow hair was held back in a single braid that hung over her shoulder. Tress wore her favorite colors today of orange and white in the form of a white t-shirt, with an orange tank top over the shirt that had yellow triangles at the bottom, and her favorite orange skirt lined at the bottom with yellow horizontal stripes parted two inches, and in between the lines were the yellow triangles. Her shoes were orange like her outfit, and she had her glasses on, with her hair back in a simple ponytail. Mimiru wore a white blouse, with light blue flower patterns on the bottom of the shirt itself and sleeves. She also wore dark blue pants, and light blue shoes to match her short white hair.
Derek wore a black shirt, brown jacket, with brown pants, and boots. In his coat pocket was the ribbon Wanda had left behind when she was captured by Phobos. At his waist was tied a long, broadsword.
Will wore a red shirt, blue jean jacket, blue jean pants, and white shoes. She held her red hair back with a couple of ruby hair pins on either side.
Stevie wore a white t-shirt with a u-neck, blue pants, and white shoes. While Matt wore a long sleeved black shirt, with blue jeans and black shoes.
Elyon raised her right hand, and two portals appeared.
"The one on the right is for you, Stevie. You should really be getting back, school is starting in a couple of hours according to Earth time." Elyon smiled at the boy, who blinked. "Just tell the teachers that Wanda's parents took the kids on a small unexpected tour with Matt. They should be back soon."
"Right... because no one will believe me if I tell them my friend is part of a group of super powered chicks." Stevie said.
"I like him." Ingrid smirked at his comment while HuiLing grinned nervously.
"Well, see you later. Let me know when you get back if you've made any progress finding your friend." Stevie waved at HuiLing, who once again took an unusual expression of sadness before waving with a smile at him as he vanished through the portal Elyon made for him.
"Let's get going." Said Matt kindly, and the rest of the group minus Elyon went through the portal.
"Wow." Ingrid was the first to speak when they first arrived in Kandrikar.
It was a beautiful place indeed, everything in the shade of silvery white, gold, or blue. They were just outside the castle, on the entrance steps. The girls goggled at the sight until a man could be seen walking towards them. He had fair skin, and a bald head, while he wore white robes of a priest.
"Welcome guardians of Meridian, or should we say, Guardians of the Infinite Veil." The man said with a smile. He looked at the group. "But there is one of you missing... We'd hoped to have the chance to meet with your daughter." He looked at Will and Matt.
"It's a long story, Oracle." Said Will. "That's why we've brought Mimiru with us as well." She indicated Mimiru, who was blinking at the man.
"You may inform us as we walk in to the castle." The Oracle said. "I hope in the meantime you young ladies are impressed with Kandrikar?"
"Oh, yes, definitely. This is beyond anything we could've imagined!" HuiLing said at once as the others nodded fervently.
The Oracle smiled, and led the group through the halls of the castle while Will and Matt explained what happened until they reached the room where the Oromirs were held.
"I see... so Wanda is being hypnotized somehow by Phobos' power. This bodes ill... In order to transform again, you'll need a temporary leader." The Oracle looked at the five orbs floating in mid air, circling around in formation.
"Temporary leader? Now wait just a second-" Ingrid said rather quickly.
"Is something wrong?" Asked the man, looking back at the girls.
"Why can't we just fight as we are?" Asked Tress.
"Because in order to get your friend back, you'll need all the power and strength that you have. And that means having a new leader until she returns." Replied the Oracle patiently. "From what I understand, this goes back to when Rhea managed to poison the girl with her needle... Slowly that poison has been feeding off the child's negative energies, thoughts, and dislike of being chosen to be a guardian in the first place until it got strong enough to completely gain control of her body."
"What? But my mom healed her from all that ages ago." Cerella said.
The Oracle shook his head.
"I'm afraid not... Rhea was telling the truth when she said that only she knew the cure for it. We've been searching since we wiped your father's memories of the incident during which Phobos held them as prisoner with your mothers. Our search will intensify after the meeting here. Until then, you will need the new leader... and I can think of only one other person..." Instead of looking at Mimiru, he looked at HuiLing.
"What? Me?" She blinked.
"You were her best friend, and you have the best disposition and a strong will." He nodded. "While you are the leader, Mimiru will take the role of Guardian of Air. Until then you will have to bear with the changes, girls."
HuiLing and Mimiru looked at each other, before they nodded.
"Very well then..." The Oracle said, turning back to the Oromirs. He closed his eyes, and raised both arms. Three orbs began to glow brightly. A light seemed to go in to the red orb, while the sky blue orb repeated that action. For a moment, HuiLing felt strangely lonely as though she'd just lost another best friend, then in an instant, the light in the sky blue orb shot towards Mimiru while the light from the red orb flew at HuiLing.
Mimiru's eyes went wide as the power that usually resided in HuiLing filled her heart. She felt light and full of warmth, that was when she knew the power transfer had been complete.
HuiLing felt full of energy and power as she became accustomed to her new status. She stared at the Heart of Kandrikar with a look of wonder on her face, wondering when she'd get the chance to use this power.
"The power that Wanda has now, is the darker power within her fueled by Phobos' magic and the poison Rhea has instilled in to her. She must conquer her darker side, all the negative powers, but cannot without your help. The poison Rhea uses is too strong to defeat on one's own." The Oracle said once all the light had faded. "She will especially be needing you towards the end." He looked at Derek, having sensed the boy's bond with Wanda, and knowing by how he was behaving that there was something special he shared with the girl. "It will be a hard fight, but you've got to win. If Phobos manages to succeed in his plans with Wanda, then more than the fate of Meridian will be at stake."
"And according to Queen Elyon, Phobos has retrieved his Staff. Things will be getting busy soon." Said Matt, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
"Understatement much?" Muttered Ingrid.
"You'll do just fine." Smiled Will confidently as HuiLing put the Heart of Kandrikar around her neck as Wanda would have done.
