Hello my dear friends, welcome again to the Whale Pit. My thanks go out to my reviewers: Prince Vince (Thank you for your praise); Krystal (love ya girl); Nerd (Thank you for your words); Visigoth (still my rock); Nisa (Scully); XV Dragon (Welcome to the Pit, and thanks for reading); Kisabell (Welcome to you as well...thank you for your thoughts); and Kirric (thank you for adding my story to your "forum").
Nisa gets a donut for her conspiracy theory regarding the Oracle. Nice theory my dear.
Now without further ado, I present for your enjoyment:
Chapter 28
Will and Susan Vandom drove in silence, the redheaded teenager staring out the window, and her mother quietly fuming. Block after block sped past as Susan drove a little faster than she meant to; but she just couldn't help it this time...she was angry with her daughter.
"I can't believe you would cheat on your history test," Susan said finally, a dangerous edge to her voice. "I just can't believe it. What am I going to do with you?"
"Mom," Will protested, "I didn't cheat."
"Don't give me that, young lady! You were caught red-handed by Mr. Collins."
Will murmured something under her breath as she continued to stare out the window.
"What was that?" Susan demanded.
"I said he did not," Will quickly lied.
"Then what do you call it?"
"He didn't see a thing, mom," Will protested weakly.
"He didn't need to, Will; there are other ways to prove cheating."
"Like what?"
"Like your answer to question three," Susan replied, narrowing her brown eyes as she parked in the driveway.
"What does that have to do with anything?" Will's voice was raised as she stepped out of the car. Susan slammed her own door moments later.
"The question was 'Who was President of the Confederacy during the Civil War?' Cindy Monaghan answered 'I don't know;' you answered 'I don't know either.' You sit right next to Cindy in class. What is Mr. Collins supposed to think?"
"That I don't know who was President of the Confederacy during the Civil War?" Will shrugged innocently.
Susan balled her fists and advanced on her daughter. "I will be getting answers to some long overdue questions this very night, young lady. Don't even think of leaving your bedroom for the next two weeks. You are grounded."
"Grounded?! For two weeks?! That is so not fair!"
"You're lucky it isn't until your eighteenth birthday, after what you've just pulled. Do you have any idea how much fast-talking I had to do to convince Mr. Collins to let you re-take that test?"
"Oh yeah, you're a hero alright. You and Collins can't prove anything and yet I'm already guilty. Tell me how that's fair."
"As soon as you tell me why we never talk anymore. Why I never see you anymore. Why lately you spend more time with your friends than a dog spends with his tail."
Will opened her mouth to reply, then closed it. She grew quiet and turned her back to her mother. "You wouldn't understand," she said quietly. "I just need to be with people my own age now. It's not that I don't love you, it's just...I don't know; it's complicated."
"Then try explaining it to me."
"I can't, Mom...I just can't."
"Why?"
"I don't know," Will raised her voice again. "Why do you always have to be on my back about everything? Why can't you just trust me to do the right things?"
"Will, you just cheated on a history test. You don't even talk to me anymore. When you're not out with your friends, you're locked in your bedroom doing who knows what. Tell me how you can ask me to trust you under these circumstances?"
"Because I'm your daughter? How about that?"
"Will I love you, you know that. But I'm worried about you; it's like I don't even know my own daughter anymore. Tell me what's wrong...we can get through it together."
"Together? You just threw in with Mr. Collins and I'm supposed to just trust that you have my best interests in mind? I scored a B on that test fair and square and you can't believe me...you won't believe me."
"Will..."
"No, no more. We're done. I have a history test to study for."
As Will opened the front door, she looked back at her dumbfounded mother. "Was it just question three, or do you think I can't score a B in history without cheating?" She slammed the door behind her hard enough to make the entire apartment shake.
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Nerissa was in a bad mood...a very bad mood. Her best chance for procuring the Heart of Candracar had failed, and she had incurred several serious injuries in the botched attempt. Luba had nearly killed her; if not for the Oracle's interference, the Caretaker may well have succeeded in ending her life. The cat would pay, of course; but vengeance against the Caretaker of the Aurameres would have to wait...right now, Nerissa needed to adjust her plans.
She had come so close to completely breaking the Water Guardian, but now she saw she had misjudged the young woman's mental state. The Guardian had fought back during the attack, and would have killed Raythor if not for Halinor's cries. Nerissa knew she needed to make some changes in order to break the upstart Guardian...and she would not fail again.
"You will do my bidding, Guardian. You will give me the Heart of Candracar. I will break you!"
Nerissa fell into deep thought. She still had the spell that allowed her to invade Irma's mind at will...it was intact, and not even the Oracle would be able to negate it. She would use this to its fullest and most ruthless potential. If physical tortures were nearly enough to shatter the young woman's psyche, then the memories of them would be overwhelming.
Nerissa laughed softly. "You think you are safe, Guardian? I will take your mind to places where even your friends dare not go. The fire witch will not be able to help you when Nerissa toys with her prey."
"But first...a period of healing to make you feel calm and secure; to make you feel strong and victorious. Then...then, my dear Guardian, the jaws of the trap will snap shut and your mind shall be my plaything."
Nerissa's laughter grew loud and maniacal as she contemplated every aspect of her evil plans. In a short time, the Heart of Candracar would be hers to command, and the Guardians...they would be her slaves.
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Pain.
She knew nothing but pain.
Crushing, stabbing agony.
She floated in a dream she could never have imagined; a terrible, unendurable nightmare. She was facing-off with Nerissa, fighting a battle she could not possibly win. She fought with all the power of Candracar...but it was not enough.
She remembered. The searing fire of lightning as it struck her once-beautiful face, tearing the porcelain visage.
She remembered. The cold steel as it pierced her midriff, forever scarring the delicate skin.
She remembered. The carnage around her as her friends fell one by one to the mighty sorceress, naught but chaff to her evil powers.
She remembered...and knew it was not a dream. The pain was too real, too overwhelming to be imagined.
She was awake and aware of her surroundings. Her Chamber, beautiful and ethereal, belied the condition in which the Guardian leader lay. Broken in spirit, she could not find any comfort; for what could she possibly tell herself that would change the horrors she had witnessed and experienced?
She began to imagine. In her mind's eye she saw the Guardians thrown to and fro by the greatest evil, powerless to stand. In her waking nightmare she saw her friends ripped and torn by sinister forces beyond any cosmic control... beyond her control.
Will began to sob quietly as fantasy mixed with reality and the images of her mind took control. She could see naught but the horrible demise of her best friends and companions; nothing but the horrors of death and gruesome destruction. Hysteria began to set in, and the Guardian fought for her very sanity.
As she was about to lose all hope, the Heart Of Candracar began to glow within her. Emerging from her breast, it cast a fierce, pink light around the already beautifully-glowing Chamber. Will's desperate sobs ceased as she shielded her eyes from the intense light. The very presence of the Heart seemed to calm the Guardian's nerves somewhat, and she began to feel more in-control of her turbulent emotions. Vaguely, she wondered if Irma had experienced anything like this during the Joining...and felt her friend had likely experienced much worse.
The light of the Heart began to dim as it sensed it's mistress regain some stability. It hovered gently above the Guardian's chest and waited for a command, a duty, anything that would allow it to alleviate the young woman's torment. Will reached for the shining ball and held it delicately in her hand. Closing her eyes and her fingers, she brought the jewel tightly to her heart and took a deep breath. She had been purposely avoiding this moment, knowing she may not like what she saw. But it was time to be strong now; strong for her fellow Guardians. As their leader, they depended on Will for their safety and well-being. They deserved a strong leader...and she would give them one even if it killed her.
She slowly pried her fingers open and held the jewel before her tightly-closed orbs. Letting out the breath she had been holding, she quickly drew another and opened her eyes...
...And screamed.
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Taranee and Irma sprinted down the corridor, desperate to get to their friend. What had happened? Had Nerissa somehow returned to seek vengeance? Could one of the Knights be sacking the Chamber of Life right this second? A million possibilities flitted through Irma's damaged mind as she raced towards the Chamber. She didn't care what it was; all she knew was Will was in trouble and needed help.
Taranee reached the doors first and threw them open without hesitation. Resisting the urge to activate her powers, lest the Chamber deem her an enemy, she instead peered keenly around the exquisite room. Aside from a still-screaming Will, all appeared to be in order. There was no evil witch, no angry Knight...all seemed calm and serene. Except for the desperate wails emanating from the center of the Chamber.
"She must have had a nightmare," Taranee concluded as Irma joined her at the threshold. "We need to be careful in case she doesn't realize it was only a dream."
"Who cares?" Irma snapped. "Will's in trouble and she needs us now."
Without thinking or hesitating, Irma strode through the Chamber towards her frightened leader. Taranee's hand on her shoulder stopped her.
"Wait," the young woman pleaded. "We don't know what's going on; we need to be cautious."
"We need to get to Will," Irma nearly begged.
"I agree, but we needto do it carefully. She may not be completely out of that nightmare and she just mightattack us. I don't know about you, but I don't want to risk hurting her just to save my own skin. Understand?"
Irma thought about that for a moment. What if Will really did turn on her friends because of some imagined threat? She was a formidable opponent and Irma knew it; she also knew Will wouldn't give up in a fight, and no one wanted to be on the receiving end of her lightning should she lash out. Not to mention they may have to fight the Chamber as well if things got out of hand.
"Capiche," Irma replied with a nod. "I get it, but nothing's stopping me from getting to Will. Not even if she should throw her entire lightning arsenal at me." Irma shuddered at this, remembering her encounters with Nerissa.
"Me either," Taranee replied with determination. "Let's go."
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Will could never have been prepared for the horror she saw; the damage to her face was beyond anything she could possibly have imagined. Her nose and lips, once perfect and beautiful, were now scarred and twisted. Her eyes, once vibrant and shiny, were now dead and cold. A long, diagonal white line split her face from forehead to chin.
Presently, her screams turned to wails of despair as the full ferocity of the damage began to hit. How could she ever go home again? How could she explain...this to her mother? Worse, how could she ever face a mirror...herself...again? She had let this happen; her failure to properly prepare for battle had caused this horror. Her overconfidence hadled to the death of her face, and nearly to the deaths of her friends.
In a fit of rage, she screamed again and hurled the Heart of Candracar across the Chamber. Hiding her ruined face in her hands, she sobbed uncontrollably at the loss of everything she loved. How could her friends, her mother, anyone, face her ever again? She was a monster...and she knew it.
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As Irma and Taranee sprinted across the Chamber, an object came flying towards them. It hit Irma square in the forehead, the surprise knocking her flat.
"Irma!" Taranee stopped and raced back to her fallen friend. Irma was already on her knees, ruefully rubbing the reddening spot on her forehead.
"This just hasn't been my year," she quipped.
Taranee grinned slightly in spite of the macabre humor and bent to retrieve the offending object.
"It's the Heart of Candracar," she gasped. Her mind racing quickly, she put two-and-two together and and her jaw dropped.
"Will must have thrown this. That can't be good."
Irma pushed herself to her feet. "Well maybe she ought to think about pitching for the Dodgers. Heaven knows they could use the help."
Taranee might have laughed had she been paying attention; but her mind was elsewhere. Gripping the Heart tightly, she marched towards the center of the Chamber. Irma quirked an eyebrow but said nothing as she followed her friend. She nearly walked right into Taranee's back when she suddenly stopped.
"Irma, we may need to be careful for another reason. I saw Will get struck in the face with lightning. It's bound to have left some scars. Will may not even look like Will anymore; but whatever you do, don't let it show in your face. Even if she's the ugliest creature you've ever seen."
Irma nodded. "I know; I saw the damage right after it happened. I almost threw-up then and there."
"Well that may not be the most helpful thing you could do right now. She's going to need our support, not our revulsion."
"I know, I know; but it was just so...so horrible. I can't even describe how I felt seeing her like that."
Taranee placed a comforting hand on her friend's shoulder. "I can't begin to imagine how that must have been for you, but we have to be strong. Can you do that?
Irma blew out a heavy breath and closed her eyes. The Chamber was bound to have helped Will heal the damage, but what if it wasn't enough? What if Will truly was the ugliest creature in the universe now? Ashamed, Irma squeezed her hands into fists, opened her eyes, and nodded determinedly.
"I can do that. I can be strong...for Will."
Taranee squeezed Irma's shoulder and smiled. "Alright then...let's go."
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Will did not hear the approaching figures, much less see them through her tears, as she kept her monstrous face hidden in her hands. She barely felt the hand on her shoulder, or heard the soft, gentle voice in her ear.. Presently something got through and she recognized Taranee's voice speaking her name.
"Will, what is it? We're here...please let us help."
Irma remained silent as Taranee tried to comfort their friend. She had no words to offer the sobbing Guardian; nothing that could possibly suffice for what Will had experienced.
"Go away," Will sobbed, her voice muffled by her hands. "I don't want anyone to see me."
"Will," Taranee said gently, "we won't leave you. We want to help. Please let us in."
"I said go away," the ruined lips repeated. "I don't want anyone to see me!"
Taranee looked desperately at Irma.
Jump in here anytime.
Irma frowned and stepped forward. "Will, we don't care what you look like, we just wantyou."
Taranee glared slightly at Irma's seeming lack of sensitivity. The young woman shrugged helplessly; comfort just wasn't her forte.
"You'd care if you saw me," Will replied quietly, her voice and shoulders shaking with sobs. "No one can ever see me again...not ever again."
Taranee gently took the trembling hands of her dearest friend. With gentle force, she began to slowly pry those hands away from the devastated face. Will offered only token resistance, as she realized she would not be able to keep her friends out permanently.
As her hands fell from her face, Will looked hesitantly into Taranee's chocolate-brown eyes. The horror she saw in them caused a fresh wave of sobs and the young Guardian leader turned ashamedly away.
"Will, I'm sorry...I'm sorry. Please don't hide," Taranee pleaded. But it was too late; the damage had been done and Will refused to be comforted.
Nice one Taranee, Irma thought as she crossed her arms over her chest. So much for being strong and supportive.
I'm sorry okay? I wasn't prepared for that. The damage is extensive, Irma. It's so...so unspeakable.
Well I'm not about to abandon our best friend just because she looks like Quasimodo.
Neither am I, but...I just don't know what to say.
Irma sighed and took Will by her slender shoulders. "We can fix this, Will," she cooed softly in her leader's ear. "There has to be a way to fix this and we'll find it. I promise."
"There is a way."
All three Guardians turned at the sound of the new voice. Luba had entered the Chamber and made her way toward the three young women.
"It will require patience but there is a way," she intoned as she stopped next to Irma. The cat gazed down on the wounded Guardian leader, and bared her teeth.
"But first you must learn to accept what has happened. Stop hiding from your friends. You have been through a terrible ordeal, Guardian, but it can be overcome. You must find a way."
"How can I accept this?" Will wailed and she turned suddenly towards the Caretaker, revealing her terribly damaged face. "How can I overcome this?"
Luba did not even blink, only took the frightened girl's chin in her hand. "You are the leader of the Guardians of the Veil. You will learn to control your fear or it will control you. You must learn to accept this, or you will never conquer your uncertainties."
Will dropped her head in defeat. She knew Luba was right, but she could not bring herself to simply accept what had happened and move on. How could she simply accept that her entire life was now ruined? How could she overcome the knowledge that she would never see her mother again? How could she come to terms with the fact that she would never be able to leave Candracar?
She also knew she was the leader of the Guardians and that she had vowed to be strong for them...even if it killed her. She had to find the strength to carry on in spite of her circumstances. She balled her fists and looked squarely at her friends. In Taranee's eyes the horror had been replaced by encouragement and understanding. Irma's eyes held defiance and her usual smirk of mischief.
That was what Will needed; the support of her friends. She looked at Luba and nodded firmly. "I may not be able to accept this immediately, but I'll try for my friends."
"That is good, Guardian," Luba nodded. "You will find strength in your friends, and they in you."
Will tried to grin, but couldn't quite find the will to do so. "You said there was a way to fix this; what is it?"
"The Heart can teach you something called a glamour. It will hide the damage as long as you maintain the enchantment. But beware; should you lose possession of the Heart at any time, the glamour will fade and you will be seen as you truly are."
"A glamour?" Will mused. "You mean like a mask or something?"
"Somewhat, but more like a covering."
"Wait, why didn't the Chamber heal all this damage in the first place?" Irma asked curiously. "Can't we just give it more time and let it do its magic?"
Luba shook her head. "The Chamber has not the power to heal in and of itself; it can only enhance a Guardian's natural ability to heal herself. This is the best we can expect."
"Then how about the Joining? Wouldn't that fix this whole problem? It brought me back from the dead for Pete's sake; what's a little scar tissue compared to that?"
Luba opened her mouth to reply, but Will interrupted. "No, I can't go through that. I'm...I'm not as strong as you are, Irma. I can't relive that experience again and again. I'm sorry...I just can't do it."
Irma narrowed her eyes slightly, but then nodded. "Okay," was all she said.
"Then let us leave the Heart to its work of teaching. You have much to do Guardian; learn from the Heart and be patient. It will take time, but it can be done."
"Wait, how do I learn from the Heart? I can't exactly just waltz right up and say 'Hey Heart...how's about a glamour lesson.'"
"You already know instinctively how to communicate with the Heart of Candracar, Guardian. Do so as you have always done."
"That helps," Will grumbled under her breath.
"Don't worry Will," Taranee spoke up. "We have faith in you. You'll have this glamour learned in no time."
"Yeah...no sweat," Irma mumbled.
"Then we shall leave you to it, Guardian," Luba said. She beckoned then to Irma and Taranee. "Please come with me now; The Air Guardian has awoken and wishes to see her friends."
"Hay Lin is awake?" Irma said excitedly. "That's great!"
"No, Guardian; she is not herself."
"What do you mean not herself?" Taranee asked with trepidation.
"It is better to show you," Luba answered. "Come...she needs your help."
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There we have it folks, Chapter 28. I hope y'all enjoyed it. A big thank-you to Visigoth again for his hard work and his nagging. I could not have done this without you, Vis. Thanks and I love you.
Anyway, please let me know what y'all think. Thanks for reading. Peace out!