Penny closed her apartment door behind her, trying not to slam it. She sighed, knowing that Simon would most likely find something he didn't want to, something that would change him, and that worried her. She prayed to magic itself that he didn't stumble onto something he shouldn't have. Walking carefully to her car, she sped out of the small lot and down the road. She bent slightly to fiddle with the radio as soon as she got onto the quiet road that led to Watford. Finally, she came to a station she liked and sat up again. And instantly collided with something. Her eyes went wide and she screamed as her hood crinkled, the sound of metal breaking filling the air. Her forehead whipped forward, banging the steering wheel hard. Her windshield shattered, showering her in little bits of glass. Coughing and spluttering, she collapsed out of her door and onto the cold ground. Wincing, she made a note to wear pants more. She stood shakily, using her car for support. When she finally got her feet under her, she did a quick mental check of her injuries. She had a multitude of small cuts on her bare arms and legs that burnt like hell-fire. But those weren't her priority. They were small, and could be easily healed. What she was really worried about was the gash on her head, dripping blood into her eyes. She pulled her scarf off from around her neck and shook it clean of glass before carefully swabbing the throbbing area. She applied a small amount of pressure to the area until the blood flow began to slow and did a quick get well soon! On her arms and legs, closing most of the wounds. Satisfied with her work, she did a scan of the area around her. Nothing. Just empty fields and dirt roads. But then, what had she crashed into? She stumbled around to the front of her car and found that the front had been bent into a strange U shape, as if she had ran into a tree or pole, but there wasn't any sign of anything that could've caused the problem. Running a finger along the still-warm metal, she felt a small tingle. Magic. Of course. Someone clearly hadn't wanted her to get to Watford, and had used magic to stall her.
"Miss. Bunce" a smooth voice purred from behind her. Penelope jumped and lifted her ringed hand, instantly going over all the spells she could use. Behind her was Nicodemus, or so she assumed. She had never really met him, but knew what Ebb had looked like through Simon, and he was an almost perfect match.
"You're going to pay for that" She rasped, only now feeling how raw her throat was. Her crumpled car was belching smoke, and it was making her throat raw and her brain foggy. Nicodemus laughed loudly, the sharp, cruel sound making Penny jump. "What do you want?" she whispered, the weakness in her own voice angering her. Nicodemus gave her a shark-like grin that matched his cold eyes.
"What, do I have to want something? Can't we just talk like friends?" he asked, faking hurt feelings.
"We are not friends" she hissed through clenched teeth.
"Oh, ow" mocked Nicodemus, placing a hand over his heart. Penny clenched her teeth harder, feeling a bit of heat rise up to her face. No no no, she couldn't. She swallowed her anger down and wiped quickly at the blood dripping down from her forehead. "So, how is our little king lately?" He asked in fake innocence. Penny pressed her lips together into a hard line. "Oh, I'm taking that as a 'We have no idea what we're doing'. What? Don't look at me like that, tell me I 'm wrong. Come on. I want to see if I'm right!"
"We have a basic idea" growled Penny, cursing herself for even responding. Nicodemus laughed again, if one could even call it that. It was more like a short, sharp bark that made Penny cringe.
"You should give up. Morgana knows her way around a poison. You and your little gang are too stupid to find a cure" he explained, lazily checking his nails. That was it. Penny couldn't stop the fury that overtook her. No body made fun of her friends, even if it was just calling the stupid. With a sound like a gunshot she propelled herself forward, yelling in pure fury as she covered the yards that separated them in seconds. This caught Nicodemus off guard, making him flinch hard. Penny crashed into him, knocking the two back, instantly she was punching and pounding his pace as hard as she could. Within moments her rage died down, but she didn't stop hitting him. Her pupils were tiny and her eyes were glistening with tears. Even though she didn't like to admit it, she liked Baz. Sure, he could be a total ass, but Simon loved him and that was enough for her. She knew that if Baz died, so would Simon, and she couldn't let that happen. Nicodemus threw her off of him, launching her back. She landed on her back and gasped for air. It felt like a sack of rocks had been placed on her chest, not allowing air into her lungs. This was a bad move for Nicodemus though, as it only made her angrier. She felt the black seeping into the whites of her eyes and all rational parts of her brain were muted by rage. She stood and barely felt any pain. Nicodemus, was cradling one side of his face, which was swollen and purple.
"You're a strong one" He said in a praising tone. Smiling evilly, Penny launched at him again. Expecting this, Nicodemus used her momentum to fling her over his shoulder, delivering a firm punch to her gut. She landed and rolled, getting to one knee and holding an arm over her stomach. She stood and charged him again, this time dodging his attacks and instead aiming for his knee. He screamed in pain as he felt his kneecap shatter and crumpled to the floor. He gazed up at Penny, choking back tears of agony. She stood above him, loving the feeling of knowing that she held his life in her hands. That she could kill him here and now and he would not be able to stop her. No. She forced those thoughts out and gasped, stumbling back. All traces of black leaving her eyes.
"Bitch" hissed Nicodemus through clenched teeth. "This isn't your fight. I just want to avenge my sister! The only person I had in this world. She's gone now, your friend took care of that. Why don't you get that!? Please! You have nothing to do with this!" He cried, voice filled with so much pain that Penny found herself feeling pity for him. "Kill me" he rasped, tears falling freely. This surprised Penny, and she took a step back.
"Please!" he whined. "If you won't let me get my revenge, then at least end it for me! Please I can't stand the pain anymore!" Penny tried to stop the pity she felt for him, but couldn't. Nicodemus looked into her eyes, pleading, and sighed when he saw that she wouldn't do it.
"It wasn't her fault, you know" said Penny weakly. Nicodemus's head snapped up, a new rage burning within his eyes. Penny took a shaky breath and continued. "Agatha tried to help-"
"Oh stop lying. You saw her running. What about Simon? She left him to die just as much as she did Ebb. All she cared about was herself, saving her own skin. She didn't even say anything to you guys after, did she? Just high-tailed it to California!" He yelled. Penny bit her lip, feeling more anger inside her. But this time it wasn't directed at Nicodemus, but at Agatha. He was right. She had left them all to die.
"Shut up!" Shouted Penny, making Nicodemus jump. "Agatha couldn't have done anything! If she had stayed, both of them would've died! The person who killed Ebb is dead! Simon killed him! Now would you give up your stupid revenge bullshit!?" Penny spat. She only cursed when she was really angry.
"Ebb could've gotten away! She was gone, but came back to save that girl! If she hadn't, she would be here today!" Shouted Nicodemus, face flushed. Penny took a deep breath and calmed herself.
"That was Ebb's choice. She knew what she was doing when she went back to the chapel. She wanted Agatha to live" She explained in a calming voice. It took her a moment to realize he wasn't listening anymore. He wasn't even conscious anymore. Penny sighed and used a bit of magic to close the lethal cuts and to stop internal bleeding. He wouldn't die here. Penny cast her eyes over the ruined car and sighed again. Raising a hand, she focused on the front gates of Watford and was suddenly there, the pointed metal rods seeming to glare down at her. She ran a finger on the cold metal that swung open under her touch. Penny walked quickly along the lush lawns and to the wing containing the headmaster's office. Using the small elevator that rushed up to the top. She knocked quickly on the door.
"Come in" came her mother's voice. Penny opened the door and walked to her mother's desk, who looked up from what appeared to be tests ready for grading.
"Penelope!" she cried, standing and running around to the other side of her desk. "What happened?"
"Do you remember the old goatherd? Ebb? Yeah, well, her brother is trying to kill us. We had a bit of a… scuffle on the road" she explained as her mother cast spell after spell on her daughter, mending cuts and cleaning blood.
"My god, the fun never ends for you three, does it?" her mother asked in a grim tone. Penny laughed darkly. "Might I ask why he is trying to kill you?" she inquired, raising an eyebrow. Penny sighed and sat in one of the many plush seats.
"So Ebb was killed by the Mage, but her brother blames our…friend Agatha"
"And why does this involve you?"
"I don't even know. Simon wanted to help her, and I couldn't let him get killed. A whole bunch of crap happened and now his boyfriend is poisoned and is probably going to die, and now we need a cure, but the person who poisoned him works here and he's going to die soon but he can't die because that would kill Simon and we need to get the antidote from Morgana" rushed out Penny, trying not to cry.
"Morgana? The teacher?"
"Yes!"
"Penny, dear, are you sure?" her mother asked, sounding unsure.
"Yes! It's the only person! Mother, please, she did Necromancy!" Cried Penny. Her mother shot up and turned, reaching up for a book. Pulling it down, she leafed through the pages until she found one page. Marking it with a sticky note from her desk, she handed the book to Penny. Looking uncertain, she read the paragraphs. Gasping, she looked up at her mother, who nodded. Penny choked a sob and nodded back, the many questions going unspoken. Penny tucked the book away and turned towards the door.
"Penny dear" Called her mother. Penny turned to look at her with damp eyes. "Be strong"
Penny nodded and continued down and across the lawn. She pulled her thoughts together and teleported back to her small home. She sighed and rested her back against the door, breathing the cool air. Forcing on her biggest smile, she pushed through the door, rousing Simon and Baz as it slammed the wall.
"I've found a cure!" she called, trying not to cry when she saw their intertwined hands. Her eyes fell onto Simon and Baz's faces. She knew that one of them would probably die either way. Was there nothing she could do to save her friends?
-0-0-0-
"Simon, you might die attempting this" Pleaded Penny.
"I don't care" he replied for the tenth time. "I'm the only one who can do this. I'm the only one who loves Baz enough"
"I know, but Simon, what if you die? What'll happen to Baz then?"
"And if he dies while I stand by, knowing I could've saved him?" growled Simon, hair standing on end.
Penny sighed. "Okay. When do you want to do this?" She asked, defeated.
"As soon as we can"
A/N: Ooh! Can you guys smell it? *Sniff sniff* the end is nigh! Don't worry, everything will be explained in the next chapter. Here's the late 1,000 view special, I guess. Thanks guys!
