Chapter 5:
Hours later, the Sun slowly rose with it's beams of light shining through the blinds of Angelo's window. Once the beams hit his face, Angelo slowly woke up covering his face with a pillow grumbling. Once he did this he heard the giggles of his two guest. With a grin, he removed the pillow to see Cornelia and Lillian awake looking at him smiling.
"And Good Morning to the both of you.", Angelo said as he sat up smiling.
"Good Morning!", Lillian said cheerfully as she and Cornelia sat up.
"Morning.", Cornelia said as she stretched her arms.
"I take you two slept well.", Angelo said.
"Yeah.", Cornelia said with a smile. "It was the most peaceful sleep I had in weeks."
"Well, you know what we have to do now.", Angelo said. "Right?"
"Yeah.", Cornelia said.
"But first, we have breakfast.", Angelo said as he got out of bed. "And I'm in the mood for some..."
"Pancakes! Pancakes! Pancakes!", Lillian said as she began jumping up and down on Angelo's bed.
"Alright, Ms. Jumpy!", Angelo laughed as he caught Lillian in mid-jump. "Pancakes it is! As well as bacon and sausage.", he said as he set her on her feet so he could put his slippers on.
"Don't forget your robe and slippers, Lillian.", Cornelia said as she got out of bed and put her robe and slippers on.
"Okay!", Lillian said as she ran to the other room and put on her robe and slippers.
Cornelia was about to leave the room, when Angelo grabbed her and gently pulled her back onto the bed.
"And where do you think you're going?", Angelo asked with a smirk.
"To get some breakfast.", Cornelia said with a smirk of her own. "But if you have something else in mind...", she said before Angelo cut her off with a kiss that she gladly returned.
"Okay! I'm ready now!", she said as she came into the bedroom to see Cornelia and Angelo kissing. "Eeeew! Gross!", she said making Angelo and Cornelia end their kiss.
"When you're older, Sis, you'll be the same way.", Cornelia said with a smile as she and Angelo got out of the bed.
"No, I won't!", Lillian said while shaking her head getting a laugh out of Cornelia and Angelo.
"Let's go have breakfast.", Angelo said as they, along with Napolean, left his apartment and headed down to the second floor of the building.
Once there, Angelo and Cornelia headed for the Kitchen and began making breakfast, while Lillian sat in the Living Room, with Napolean, watching cartoons. About a half an hour later, Cassidy came downstairs from her apartment to get breakfast.
"Hi, Cassidy.", Lillian said to her as the former Water Guardian passed by the Living Room.
"Hey, Lillian.", Cassidy said as she passed by. "Wait a sec!", she said as she backed up to see Lillian sitting in a recliner chair watching TV, with Napolean in her lap. "Lillian? How did you here?"
"Cornelia brought me here.", Lilian said as she was still watching TV.
"Okay.", Cassidy said as she knelt down to be at eye level with Lillian. "And why did she bring you here?"
"That's what I'd like to know."
Cassidy jumped up and turned around to see John Vanders staning behind her.
"Geezs!", Cassidy said hold holding her chest. "Don't do that! You can give a girl a heart attack!"
"Sorry.", John said. "But I'm just as surprised as you are to see Lillian here."
"Hi, Mr. Vanders.", Lillian said with a sweet smile.
"Hello, Lillian.", John said returning the smile. "Mind telling me why you're here?"
"I can tell you, Mr. Vanders."
Cassidy and John turned to see Cornelia walking up to them.
"Please don't be mad.", Cornelia pleaded. "But we had no where else to go."
John and Cassidy saw the look on Cornelia's face and knew something was up.
"What do you mean?", John questioned. "Why did you leave home?"
"Well...", Cornelia began to say.
"Okay, ladies!", Angelo said coming out of the Dining Room. "Breakfast is served! And there's enough for Uncle John and Cassidy when they come down.", he said when he noticed his Uncle John and Cassidy. "Whoa! Morning, Uncle John. Morning, Cassidy."
"Good Morning, Angelo.", John said. "Care to explain what's going on?"
"Well... I... Umm...", Angelo said not knowing where to start. "It's a long story, Uncle John."
"Well, let's hear it over breakfast.", John said as he headed into the Dining Room. "And it better be good."
"Oh boy.", Angelo said as he headed into the Dining Room along with the others.
Once in the Dining Room, everyone took a seat. John sat at one end of the table while Angelo sat at the other end. To Angelo's right sat Cornelia and to his left, sat Lillian. Cassidy sat in the center of the table. After saying their grace, they began eatting.
"Okay, Cornelia.", John said getting Cornelia's attention. "Start talking."
"Well, Mr. Vanders, it's like this.", Cornelia said as she began to explain what happened to her and Lillian.
And so, Cornelia told John and Cassidy everything that happened. Needless to say they was shocked and angry about it all.
"Well, I see why you came here.", John said. "Now we just have to make sure Billy can't hurt you or Lillian."
"I say we call the cops.", Cassidy said.
"We will.", John said as he pulled out his cell phone. "I'll call Tom and Theresa. Having a cop we know help is good. Adding a judge in on it is just as sweet."
"Umm... When you ask them to come over, can it just be them?", Cornelia asked. "I don't want the girls here when I have to tell this again."
Cassidy saw the look on Cornelia's face and understood her feelings about not wanting her friends to come over just yet. The girls may not like it but she knew that they'd understand.
"Sure thing.", John said with a kind smile. "And I'm guessing that means that you and Lillian won't be going to school today. Can't take the chance of Billy coming to your schools looking for you."
"Or her sending Leon to look for them.", Angelo said.
"Good point.", John said. "And I'm also guessing that you want to stay here with them as well.", he said to his nephew.
"Well, that was the idea.", Angelo said.
"Figures.", John said with a grin. "You can skip school seeing as this is a speacial case."
"Thanks, Uncle John.", Angelo said.
"Don't thank me yet.", John said as he picked up his phone. "I still have to get Tom and Theresa to come over here."
"Here's hoping.", Cassidy said as she grabbed her back pack and purse. "Well, I'm off to school. See ya!"
"Cassidy! Wait!", Cornelia said as she walked up to the former Water Guardian.
"What's up?", Cassidy asked.
"Umm... I know this is asking a lot but..."
"Say no more.", Cassidy said cutting Cornelia off. "I'll make sure and tell the girls not to come over here."
"Thanks.", Cornelia said with a smile.
"But you do know that they'll still come over here after school.", Cassidy said.
"I kind of figured that.", Cornelia said with a small smile. "That's where Angelo comes in."
"Smart thinking.", Cassidy said figuring out Cornelia's idea. "See ya later."
"See ya.", Cornelia said as Cassidy left for school.
"You okay?", Angelo asked as he walked up to Cornelia.
"Yeah.", Cornelia said. "I'm just worried that Billy will find a way to make things work out in her favor."
"Don't worry.", Angelo said as he held her hand. "It's going to be okay. You just have to have faith."
"I guess you're right.", Cornelia said as they headed back into the Living Room.
'Please let this work out for me and my sister.', Cornelia prayed as they sat down on the couch.
Later that day, Tom Lair and Theresa Cook came over to the Vanders' home and were told about what happened. And the both of them were surprised about it all.
"And that's what happened.", Cornelia said as she was sitting on the couch with Angelo and Lillian, who was taking a nap. "I knew that I should of come forward about this, but I was afraid that Billy would do what she said and make it look like Leon was doing the beatings."
"As weird as that sounds, it can be done.", Tom said. "There have been some cases where a woman would have someone beat on her to make it look like her spouse has been beating on her."
"There have even been some where the woman would inflict the beaten on themselves.", Theresa said.
"Really?", Cornelia questioned getting a nod from Mrs. Cook. "How? I mean I know of some ways, but I'm still curious."
"Well, in one case, the woman took a sock and an orange and went to town on herself.", Theresa explained. "So, this Billy girl can set your cousin up to save herself."
"That's nuts.", Angelo said.
"That may be, but it can be done.", John said.
"But now that we know the truth, we can do something about it.", Tom said as he pulled out his cell phone. "I'll call the station and have Billy picked up. What's her full name, Cornelia?"
"Billy Jones.", Cornelia said. "She should be at our place."
"Then I'll send a car there.", Tom said as he called the station.
"Now, Cornelia. You and Lillian should know that once this starts, you and your sister will have to have pictures taken of the bruises you both have.", Theresa explained to Cornelia and Lillian. "There will be a female officer taking the pictures, so you don't have to worry about that."
"Will there be a trial?", Cornelia asked.
"That will depend on Billy.", Theresa said. "If she pleads guilty to the charges, then there won't be much of a trial. But if she pleads not guilty, there may be a major trial."
"I see.", Cornelia said as Tom hung up his cell phone.
"Well, it turns out that your cousin called the station saying that you and Lillian are missing.", Tom said. "I told them where you were and told them what was going on. Right now, a car is on it's way to pick up Billy."
Cornelia breathed a sigh of relief as she stroked her little sister's hair as she slept.
"Now comes the part where you have a choice to make, Cornelia.", Theresa said.
"What do you mean?", Cornelia asked.
"Well, Billy may get arrested right now. But she just may have enough money to post bail.", Tom explained. "And that means she'll be on the streets and able to come after you and your sister out of anger. Not to mention, sweet talk your cousin into believing any lie she tells him."
"So, your choice is this.", Theresa said. "Where do you and your sister want to stay?"
"Well, if it's not to much trouble.", Cornelia said. as she looked at John. "Can we stay here, Mr. Vanders?"
"Well, we do have the room.", John said. "Plus, I have the feeling that you were going to ask me anyway.", he said with a smile. "So, yes. You and Lilllian can stay here."
"Thank you.", Cornelia said with a smile that John returned.
"Well, with that settled, I think you and Lillian need to get those pictures taken.", Tom said. "And the sooner the better."
"Okay.", Cornelia said. "Just give us a minute."
"Sure thing.", Tom said.
A few minutes later, Cornelia and Lillian left with Tom and Theresa and went to the hospital to have the pictures they needed taken. Once that was done, the sisters had to answer a few questiones the police had for them. Once that was done, Tom took them back to the Vanders place to get the rest they needed. As for Cassidy, she was minding her own business, when the girls along with Matt came up to her during Lunch.
"Okay, Cassidy. We know that you know that Corny and her sister spent the night with Angelo.", Irma said.
"And we know why.", Will said.
"Let me guess.", Cassidy said looking at Matt. "The Regent connection?"
"Duh!", Hay Lin said.
"We just want to know the whole story.", Taranee said.
"Then I suggest that you ask Cornelia.", Cassidy said. "I'm not going to betray her trust and tell you what she told me, Angelo, and his uncle. Sorry guys, but you'll just have to wait until she's ready to tell you."
"But why didn't she come to us in the first place?", Hay Lin questioned feeling hurt.
"Because most people that get abused don't tell anyone about it.", Matt said. "Not even friends or other family members."
"And you klnow this because...?", Will questioned.
"A few years ago, I had a cousin that was being abused, by his dad.", Matt explained. "The only way the truth came out was when he ended up in the hospital."
"But the five of us are different!", Hay Lin said. "We're W.I.T.C.H.! We're the..."
"The what?", Cassidy questioned. "The Guardians? Ha! That doesn't mean squat in this case, Hay Lin. And if anything, Cornelia should of went to the police about it. Trust me when I say that your bond as Guardians doesn't always work for you."
"And you say this why?", Taranee asked.
"We have enough time.", Cassidy said as she checked her watch. "Let's take a quick trip to Kandrakar."
"Why?", Will asked.
"Trust me on this.", Cassidy said. "You all need to hear a story."
"Okay.", Will said as she and the others went behind the school building to open a fold to Kandrakar.
Once there, Cassidy guided the four Guardians and Matt to a garden that was in the fortress. Once there, they saw that Halinor was there, sitting on a bench looking around at all the different flowers that were there.
"Hey, Hallie!", Cassidy said as she sat next to her friend.
"Hello, Cassidy.", Halinor said to her friend with a kind smile. "The Oralce told me that you'd be coming."
"So, I take it you know what's going on with Cornelia?", Cassidy asked getting a nod from the former Fire Guardian.
"If that's the case, then why didn't the Oracle tell us about it?", Will questioned.
"We could of done something about it!", Irma snapped.
"Because, there are some things they your powers can't solve all the time.", Halinor said. "Believe me when I say it's been tried."
"What do you mean?", Hay Lin asked.
"Because... I know what Cornelia is going through.", Halinor said. "I... I used to be abused."
A/N: Well, things are turning out good for Cornelia and Lillian so far. But they can still go bad real soon. But right now, the girls are about to here a story about Halinor being abused. Bet they didn't see that coming! How will they feel after hearing this story?
Please review.