I'm baaaaaaaaaaaaaack! Let me give a shout out to Prince Vincent Black, and Lovelinelivelong639, two new reviewers. I appreciate all the reviews and advice I have gotten, and I always welcome more. Invader Spyder, lovely to hear from you again. Also, I would like to dedicate this chapter to my most faithful reviewer Irma Rokz; this one's for you!
Disclaimer: I still don't own W.I.T.C.H…darn it!
Disclaimer 2: WARNING! More graphic violence in this chapter.
Chapter 7
"NO! IRMA NO!" Hay Lin bolted upright, once again in a bed. She looked around wildly, finally spotting Will, just rising from a chair next to the bed. Will looked sleepy and Hay Lin thought she might have just woken her leader from a nap. Hay Lin peeled out of the bed and grabbed Will's shoulders. She was just about to tell the redhead what had happened when the room began to spin. Hay Lin moaned and would have fallen had Will not caught her. Will eased the dizzy Guardian back onto the bed. She knelt in front of Hay Lin and allowed her asian friend to rest her head against her shoulder. Hay Lin held her spinning, pounding head in her hands and willed the pain to stop. She squeezed her eyes shut because the spinning room was making her sick. She took a deep breath and cried out, her left hand flying down to support aching ribs.
"Hay Lin!" Will cried worriedly. She pressed her own hand against Hay Lin's ribs, checking to see if she could feel an injury. Hay Lin hissed in pain, and Will stopped.
"Sorry Hay Lin; I didn't mean to hurt you, I was just checking for broken bones."
Hay Lin nodded feebly. By now she had "learned" how to breathe without hurting herself further. She noticed Will was back to supporting her shoulders and tried to give her leader a reassuring smile. "I'm okay Will…just a little lightheaded is all."
"Well pardon me if I don't buy that Hay Lin; lightheadedness has nothing to do with your ribs. What exactly just happened?"
Hay Lin looked into Will's brown eyes, gathering strength from her very presence. "I had another……vision, I guess. I found Irma…I talked to her. I…I…there was so much blood…and-and pain, and…."
Hay Lin's eyes widened in fear and she began to tremble. She shook her head and her eyes started to well up. Frightened, Will pulled Hay Lin to her chest and hugged her tightly. She let Hay Lin cry for a few minutes…but then she took charge. She pulled back to gaze at Hay Lin.
"Hay Lin, I can see you're upset and scared, but we need to know everything you can tell us if we're going to help Irma."
Hay Lin nodded; Will was right…again. Steeling herself against the horror she had just witnessed, Hay Lin continued. "I think I was Irma…no, that can't be right because I talked to her. Okay, I guess maybe I was part of Irma for a little while because I felt everything she felt…or at least some of it anyway…she was in so much pain, I doubt I felt the full brunt of it. I saw Raythor and Miranda and Frost…and that ugly old woman from our nightmares!"
Will's eyes narrowed. "What does she have to do with this?"
"I don't know; Irma wouldn't tell me."
"Wait, what do you mean Irma wouldn't tell you? She's not telepathic…how could she have told you anything?"
"I don't know, but I talked to her and she answered me…sort of."
"Alright, what did she say?"
"She told me to leave! She told me I couldn't be there and that she needed me to be safe! She wouldn't tell me where she is, and then she said it was too late for her!" Hay Lin's voice was becoming more and more hysterical, and Will knew she needed to calm her friend down.
"Easy Hay Lin…take a breath and try to calm down a bit." Hay Lin took a breath and tried to center her mind.
"Better?" Will asked.
"Yeah…thanks."
Will grinned, and urged Hay Lin to continue.
"Okay, so I told Irma I wasn't going to leave; then that old woman came in. Irma was so scared; she implored me to leave immediately. I refused and that old woman started asking "Who is it…" Irma didn't answer and so that evil old hag started hurting her. I felt my chest start to constrict, and I couldn't breathe. Oh Will, I think the old woman was crushing Irma! Then some force hurled me back here. Just before the mental link, or whatever it was, was broken, I heard Irma scream the most awful scream…..I've never heard anyone or anything scream like that!"
Will's eyes widened…and her concern for Hay Lin and Irma deepened. "So they're torturing Irma?"
Hay Lin nodded. "Yes…and it's so terrible! Now that I'm back here, I feel better; but when I was with Irma, the pain was so…intense! Will, I don't know how Irma's still alive. And not only that, I think she's trying to protect us."
"What do you mean?"
"She said the old woman would kill me. I think somehow that hag knew I was there; Irma was desperate to get me away before something happened to me." All of a sudden, something clicked in Hay Lin's mind…forgive me. Irma asked me to forgive her…Oh my gosh! It was Irma that hurled me away…not the old woman! Hay Lin's eyes started to well up again.
"Hay Lin? What is it?"
"I thought it was the old woman who had hurled me away…but it wasn't; it was Irma…she did it! She did it to protect me…"
"Hay Lin, Irma can't do that…"
"I know, but somehow she did it…I know she did. Just before I was hurled back here, Irma asked me to forgive her, and she told me...she told me…" Hay Lin's voice drifted off and a sad half-smile played on her lips.
Will was growing more and more concerned for Hay Lin's mental state. "She told you what?"
Hay Lin looked back into Will's eyes. "She told me she loved me."
Will's eyes softened. "Well of course she does Hay Lin; you're her best friend…probably more like a sister I'd wager."
"I know, but still…she's never said that before…Will I have to go back…Now!"
"Oh no; from what it sounds like we almost lost you last time. We are so not having a repeat performance."
"Will I have to go back; it's our best chance of finding her! We can't leave her alone…she'll never survive!"
"I can't risk losing two of you Hay Lin! Physically you seem alright, but emotionally…sorry, it's out of the question."
"What's wrong with my emotions? Just because I want to help my best friend, suddenly I'm unstable?"
"Hay Lin, you just witnessed your best friend enduring unimaginable torture…after some fashion, you endured some of it with her. You said yourself it was intense…what do you think would have happened to you if Irma, or whoever, hadn't thrown you out?"
Hay Lin opened her mouth to reply, then stopped. She thought about what Will had just said…what would have happened if she had "stayed?" Would she now be an emotional wreck? Would she be mentally insane? As the realization struck her, Hay Lin realized that Irma had just saved her life…at least in some fashion. All the more reason I have to go back!
"Will please, I can handle it…but I don't know that Irma can anymore."
"That's exactly my point Hay Lin. Let's say that it was Irma that threw you out; what if she's unable to do that again? What if you fall into a coma, or go nuts or something because you couldn't "disconnect" in time? How do you think Irma's going to feel then?"
"I have to try…she needs me. Will, you didn't hear her…the hopelessness, the defeat…I think if someone offered to blow her head off with a LAW Rocket right now…she would welcome it. She's prepared to sacrifice everything…everything…for us; and I will be dammed if I'm going to let her do it alone! If I can take some of the pain so it doesn't all reach her…then it's the very least I can do."
"Hay Lin…"
"You can't stop me Will; please…help me…"
Will looked into Hay Lin's shattered eyes…she knew her friend had never been more serious about anything in her life. And she was right in that Will couldn't stop her from falling asleep and having a vision; about all she could do was stop trying to enhance Hay Lin's ability to do it. But was that the best thing to do? What if Hay Lin was right, and Irma was dying at this very minute? They still had nothing to go on, and if Hay Lin really could find Irma's location…but at what cost? Do I trade one life for another? Will's head told her it was a bad idea…but her heart said it was the only way. Irma was her friend, and it made Will physically ill to think what the Knights were doing to her. She needed help…NOW! Will sighed and helped Hay Lin back into bed. She fluffed the pillow and tightened the blanket.
Hay Lin smiled gratefully at her leader, "Thank you Will…I'll be back before you know it!"
Will blinked at her friend. "You don't know do you?"
Hay Lin's brows knit in confusion. "Know what?"
Will sighed again and sank into her chair. "Hay Lin, you've been asleep for twenty-four hours..."
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"Who is it Guardian? Is it your leader?" Irma's eyes widened in fear…she knows Hay Lin's here! I have to get her out of here now! But Hay Lin had already refused to leave; Irma knew she would have to force the issue. She only hoped Hay Lin would forgive her…She started to gather her newfound mental strength…but then she stopped. Her chest was tightening! The old woman was closing her fingers and Irma's chest was constricting with every inch those fingers moved. She couldn't breathe; she was being crushed in a vise! She knew Hay Lin had to be experiencing the same thing to a certain degree. While Hay Lin was there with her, Irma's pain was not as intense. The only reason she could see for this was that Hay Lin was absorbing some of the punishment meant for Irma. Irma wanted the torture to stop, but not at the expense of her best friend…no, not just a friend; more like a sister.
The pressure intensified and Irma felt blood vessels in her face shatter. Blood seeped from her eyes, ears and nose; she was unable to hold back her whimpers of distress. She could still feel Hay Lin within her; fighting to stay near.
"Tell me who it is!" the old woman thundered.
No…you can't have Hay Lin you ugly hag! Gathering her mental strength again, Irma pleaded with her best friend, her sister. "F-f-forgive me…Hay-Hay…I l-l-love you!" Irma saw the hag's hand begin to glow white and she hurled some sort of attack at the weakened Water Guardian. With an almighty effort, Irma used all of her mental strength to hurl Hay Lin away. She prayed the old woman's attack had not hit her friend.
The white light slammed into Irma's chest; terrible agony coursed through her body. Lightning…it has to be…Irma thought. The lightning seared every inch of Irma's body, right down to muscle and bone. As the lightning continued to devastate the Guardian, Irma clenched her teeth and struggled not to cry out. But the lightning had other ideas. Crackling white tendrils reached deep into Irma's chest and wrenched a bloodcurdling scream from the Water Guardian's lungs…the first real scream since the ordeal had begun. It seemed to last an eternity, but finally the lightning ran its course and released its victim. Irma hung, panting and shaking; every inch of her ravished body screaming in agony. Fire…water…bad combination. Lightning…water…worse combination.
The old woman lowered her hand and walked over to her captive. She wrenched her head up. Irma cried out and the old woman glared at her. "She's gone isn't she? You helped her escape somehow…but how did you do it?" The old woman didn't really expect an answer; which was a good thing since Irma couldn't have spoken right then anyway. "The Water Guardian has no such mental powers…"
She dropped Irma's head and walked away a few steps. Irma groaned. The old woman wracked her brain…how had she done it? Then it struck her. She turned back to Irma. "You're using my gift of enhanced mental power aren't you Guardian? Clever girl; although that gift was meant to aid you in contacting your friends, not in helping them escape. Well it would seem that they have found a way to contact you instead. No matter…it won't save you or them."
The old woman walked closer to Irma. She cupped Irma's chin in her hand and raised her head painfully. Irma grimaced but returned the old woman's gaze. She smiled at her captive. "You remind me so much of her…" she mused.
Irma, though desperately hurt, wanted some answers. "Who….are…you?" she gasped out.
The old woman smiled. "My name is Nerissa; I used to be one of you…long ago."
Irma was confused. "W-what?"
"A Guardian…I was once the Keeper of the Heart of Candracar. Long ago, that wretched little jewel called me Master. I was corrupted by its power, as your leader shall be eventually. 'Tis a curse, young Guardian; every Keeper has succumbed to it. I was stripped of my duties long ago for causing one of my teammates, my own Water Guardian actually, a rather unfortunate….accident. Just because that accident was fatal…"
Irma gasped and her breathing quickened. Nerissa smiled again. "Good, you fear me…yet you don't really know why. You are strong, like she was; but everybody has a breaking point."
The hand holding Irma's chin began to glow. Suddenly white-hot lightning struck Irma again. Her muscles seized and her back arched painfully. She screamed in agony again until Nerissa made the lightning stop.
"This is just a taste of what you will endure as long as you continue to defy me. And this isn't even my full power. You haven't known real pain yet Guardian. Shall I show you what I can really do?"
Irma barely registered Nerissa's words; she could barely breathe much less hear. Her brain couldn't connect anymore, so intense was the pain. When she didn't answer Nerissa, the old woman took it as yet another act of defiance.
Nerissa gathered her powers; she raised her hand towards the helpless Guardian. Then she released the murderous lightning.
It struck Irma square in the chest. Irma had never, in her life, felt anything like it. Her whole body was on fire! Her muscles seized and her very bones burned. All of the old cuts inflicted by Miranda were ripped open and bled anew. The burns on her back intensified and flared back up. A crushing force squeezed her chest, shattering more ribs and crushing her heart and lungs. Irma screamed louder than she ever had in her life!
"STOP! PLEASE…STOP!" Irma cried, when she could endure no more. To her relief, the lightning ceased. Tears coursed down her bleeding cheeks, and her muscles continued to seize and spasm intermittently. Her breathing was shallow and ragged, her heartbeat erratic and irregular. Nerissa raised Irma's head by the chin again. The Water Guardian hissed in pain; any touch caused her sheer agony right now.
"Do you have something to say to me now Guardian?" Nerissa looked into Irma's eyes expectantly.
Shaking uncontrollably, Irma now answered the old woman. "Kill me…please!" she begged.
Nerissa looked disappointed as she let Irma's head fall. Ignoring her captive's plaintive moan, she turned her back. "Death is not for you my dear. No, no, not death…life! You think life is hell now? Wait until you've endured this for seven or eight centuries! My powers allow me to extend your life indefinitely Guardian; and I intend to do just that!" she turned abruptly and grabbed Irma's hair, forcing her head back. Again ignoring Irma's cry of pain, Nerissa continued. "I will torture you for hundreds and hundreds of years! You shall always be at my mercy…but mercy is something you shall never receive!" Nerissa dropped Irma's head again and stalked away.
Just then, Irma felt a faint tickle in the back of her head…then she heard a familiar voice. "Irma, don't give up. We're coming!" Irma was aware of Hay Lin's presence, and her first reaction was to tell her friend to flee. But she didn't do that…she hadn't realized how alone she felt until now. She needed Hay Lin more than she ever had in her life; but she couldn't let that evil old hag know about Hay Lin's presence.
Just before she reached the doorway leading further back into the caves, Nerissa suddenly stopped and turned back to face her captive. Oh no, Irma thought, she knows! But Nerissa merely growled and hurled another lightning attack at Irma. Again, the Water Guardian screamed in agony; again her chest constricted and she felt the white-hot fire all through her body. But it didn't seem as bad this time…Irma knew Hay Lin was absorbing some of the punishment. She wanted to beg her friend to stop; she didn't want Hay Lin hurt. But Irma couldn't think…she didn't just feel pain…she was pain! Finally, the attack ceased, and Irma was left panting and trembling. Nerissa stalked out of the room.
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Irma, can you hear me? It's me, Hay Lin…please answer me! There was no response, and Hay Lin was scared. That attack had jarred her teeth something awful; she couldn't imagine what it had done to Irma. After all, if Hay Lin's theory was correct, then Irma was taking ninety percent of the damage, while Hay Lin took only about a tenth. But if a tenth would keep her friend alive for a little longer, then Hay Lin was glad to do it.
Irma, she tried again…no answer. Hay Lin wasn't sure what that attack had been, but it must have really hurt Irma. She decided to try a different tactic. Hey Droopy Pants!
Irma moaned then, and Hay Lin took heart. Hah! I knew that would get you! I'm back and this time I'm not leaving until you tell me where you are!
Irma heard Hay Lin, but her brain couldn't process her words. She closed her eyes and tried desperately to answer…to think…
Hay-Hay…it was so soft, Hay Lin could barely hear it. H-h-help m-m-me…
That's why I'm here…I'm trying to help you. Please, where are you?
Don't…don't…ughn. Irma could feel the darkness descending.
Irma…stay with me! I know you're hurting, but I need your help! Irma…IRMA!
Hay Lin's shout brought Irma back around. W-wha..?
Irma, please don't leave me…I can't handle life without you. Who's going to make me laugh, or go mall-hopping with me, or gossip about all the cute boys at school? Who's going to plot how to spy on our friends when they're on a date, or keep the jerks from kicking sand on me at the beach? Who's going to call me at two in the morning to ask if they can copy my math homework? Irma I need you…you're not just my best friend…you're the sister I never had!
Tears began to roll down Irma's cheeks as she listened to her best friend's words. They gave her comfort and strength. And as much as Hay Lin said she needed Irma, Irma knew she needed Hay Lin even more. Steeling herself against the pain, Irma focused all her energy on her mental link with Hay Lin.
Hay Lin…Her head pounded, and Irma could barely think. She seemed to be fading in and out, and she wasn't sure what was real anymore. She desperately hoped Hay Lin was real. Are you…really..h-h-here?
I'm really here Irma…I'm really here.
I can't…can't…h-h-h-hold on…any…more…t-the l-l-lightning…it hurts…hurts…t-t-too…m-m-m-much…
So that's what it was! No wonder it had hurt Irma so bad; Hay Lin had paid enough attention at school to know that water was an excellent conductor of electricity. Hay Lin's job had just gotten much harder; but she had to help Irma hold on. Yes you can, you have to…I believe in you; you're strong, you can do this.
No…no more……pl-pl-please…
Hay Lin's heart was breaking; she couldn't bear to see Irma, the strongest person she knew, so completely broken like this. Just hold on a little longer. We're going to find you; we're going to get you out of here! Please…try…for me.
There was a long period of silence before Irma finally answered. Do…an-an-any…thing…for…m-m-m-my…sis…ter.
Hay Lin's heart glowed and she thought she would cry; but there was no time for that now. Then how about you start by telling me where you are!
Don't……know…cave…I…th-th-think…
You don't know!
Didn't……s-see…
Well, ok, is there any water around? Hay Lin knew Irma would be able to sense water; she just hoped her friend wasn't too badly injured to do so.
Large………w-w-water
Like a lake or something?
Y-yes…
Okay, so we have a cave and a lake, how hard can it be now?
I'm…s-s-s-scared…Hay-Hay…
Hay Lin felt her heart break even more…she knew Irma used humor to hide her fears; she had never actually admitted to being scared of anything…at least not to Hay Lin. She wracked her brain for something to put her friend's mind at ease.
It's ok Irma…I'm here. I have to leave to tell the others the information you gave me, but then I'll come right back. Come hell or high water, I won't leave you again! You're stuck with me, and together we can handle anything or anyone! I'll help you endure this torture…I think I might be absorbing some of it. So whatever I can take for you, I will.
Irma coughed and spat more blood on the ground. Hay Lin winced as she felt the pain in her own sides. Suddenly, the pain throughout her body began to intensify. She gasped as it hit her like a MAC Truck. Her head began to swim and she felt a burning sensation in her back and chest. Then, just as suddenly, the pain began to subside.
S-s-sorry….lost…lost…my…c-c-concen…t-tra…tion…
Lost your concentration? What does that mean? But Hay Lin knew the answer as soon as she asked the question. Irma Lair, are you trying to block the pain from me? Because if you are, I am sooooo going to kick your ass!
Irma actually giggled a little…and ended up having another painful coughing fit. But Hay Lin was right…Irma was trying to mentally block the pain from reaching her best friend. She had no idea how she was doing it…it just seemed instinctual somehow. She also knew that it was Nerissa who made any of this possible; Irma knew she didn't have any mental powers, and she certainly couldn't interact with Hay Lin in this way. Only Taranee had the ability to hold telepathic conversations. Nevertheless, as long as something like this was available, Irma intended to take advantage of it. For as much as she didn't want her best friend hurt, Irma knew she was broken, physically and mentally. She knew she couldn't take any more abuse and punishment. Her only chance now was the Guardians…and she needed Hay Lin to help her endure long enough for her friends to kick some K.O.V. ass and rescue her. So she accepted Hay Lin's assistance…but she refused to drop the mental block that kept the worst of the agony from her "sister."
G-g-go…get……others…h-h-h-hurry…
You sure you'll be alright until I get back?
Irma would have made a smart remark, but she didn't have the strength or energy. Go……h-h-hurry…I…n-n-need…you…Hay Lin…
Ok, I'll be back real soon…I promise…and I love you too.
And just like that, Hay Lin was gone; as well as the minor shield she was inadvertently providing. More pain descended on Irma like a load of bricks, and she finally gave herself up to the darkness of unconsciousness.
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Hay Lin disengaged from Irma, and heard her cry out. She was about to return, but then she realized that Irma's only real chance lay in rescue by the Guardians. So reluctantly, she left her best friend to her agony, and made her mental way back to the Palace of Meridian. She awoke to find all the remaining Guardians sacked out in her room. Will still occupied the chair next to the bed; Cornelia had dragged in another chair and lay sleeping at the other side of Hay Lin's bed; Taranee had curled up on a blanket on the floor. The Fire Guardian awoke within seconds and scrambled to Hay Lin's side. Hay Lin was dizzy and still felt sore from her latest "encounter" with the Knights of Vengeance; but she needed to pass on what she had learned quickly so she could get back to Irma. She grabbed Taranee's hand.
"Wake the others," she implored. "I know how to find Irma.
Alright that's it for Chapter 7. I probably won't be able to update until Monday, but who knows? Keep those lovely reviews coming folks! Cheers!