KnightofFaerun – Finally! It's been four whole months since I wrote the first chapter and all I can say is break out the noisemakers because chapter two is finally complete! Please excuse the excruciatingly long wait as my schoolwork was the primary source of the delay. I'm on Winter Break now. College does not start again until later this month. With luck and a wave of inspiration, I will have another chapter out before that time. If not, don't worry, I'm not taking any intensive writing courses this time around. First let me point out that this is the longest chapter I have ever written. It was actually a bit longer but I deleted seven pages prior to the submission. In this chapter, things turn from good to bad very quickly and I introduce you to my first original character of the saga.

Chapters – 2 of 26. Yes, still with the alphabet formula. Actually I like it.

Pairings – Definitely leaning toward Caleb/Will.

Rating – Teen. Mild sexual content but nothing Disney would ban…or would it?

Disclaimer – I do not own W.I.T.C.H, but I lay claim to my originally named character whose name shall be unveiled as you read along.

Shoutouts - Guardian's Light, thank you for the kind words. Remember length does not a great story make...only skill and heart does. XV Dragon, you'll see plenty of alt-Will in this chapter. Hope you like her. Sokai, it was a great episode and I'm thinking the altermere turned out okay in this chapter. Actually, your "Requiem for a Dream" helped inspire future chapters. I love that story! Donki-Shouben, the whole menstrual blood thing was thought up on a whim. I didn't think it would be liked that much so thank you! Humor is not easy to do which is why I don't try to focus on it all that much. I usualy don't do angst either but it fits in well with this story, don't you think? Thanks again for catching that error with the portal/fold. And yes I do have 26 chapters planned, and yes I do make it up as I go along. Twisted Twilight, thanks for catching that mistake on Miss Ruldoph and I hope this was worth the wait. I liked the Caleb at the door scene scene very much as well. Chi Yagami, thank you. I always try my best. Whether that's good enough is up to readers like you. Koolkame, my friend thanks for your help and be sure I will be looking for more of it in the future. I have a lot of things I want to talk to you about considering names and plot points. I'm humbled that you liked my own quote and have eagerly awaited the second chapter. Well, wait no longer because here it is. Lily 312, thanks for reading and here is chapter two! Keep in touch.


B is for Breakout

Two weeks later and Will still couldn't shake the feeling that she was missing something. "My homework." She groaned and dropped her head against the hard polished wood of her desk. Mister Wheeler was unwavering with due dates and unless you had some sort of dire emergency—having your sweater caught in the door of your mother's car and having her speed away dragging you along and in the process skinning you alive and having to be sent to the hospital for emergency medical procedures while you are just barley hanging on to life, for example—he wouldn't give you the time of day for an excuse. He also asked the most prying questions as to the absence of one's homework.

"Did your dog eat it?"

"No sir, I do not have a dog."

"Did somebody steal it?"

"Unlikely. It's been in my bag the entire time."

"Did gnomes take it in the night along with your socks?"

"No s…I'm sorry, what?"

"Miss Wilhelmina Vandom, where-is-your-homework?"

"Would you believe it slipped my mind?"

"Slipped your mind?" He would ask incredulously. "Did your brain suddenly become a washboard? How on Earth did it slip your mind?"

"Well, Mister Wheeler, that is because I was not on Earth—I was on Candracar."

"Kan-drak-ar? Is that some sort of rock concert?"

"No sir. It is a parallel dimension populated by celestial beings who watch over the universe and protect it from evil. I visit often. Particularly now since until a few days ago, my altermere, whom I've absorbed during a battle with a sadistic witch hell-bent on universal domination, suddenly began to 'knock on my door' so to speak, and I was forced to have her removed. I've dropped by every day to see how she's doing, which is fine in case you're wondering. She is just so tickled pink to be alive right now. If you like I can introduce you two. So long as you have no reservations about traveling through some interdimensional fold which I use to travel between worlds via this magical pendant around my neck known as the Heart of Candracar. I'm sure once you've met the Oracle, Luba and Halinor, all my nonsensical rambling will make perfect sense and you will understand."

And later, when she'd take Mister Wheeler to Candracar he'd say, "My word. How astonishing Miss Vandom that you were telling the truth. This place is a marvel."

"Isn't it?"

"And look. That girl looks exactly like you."

"That is my altermere."

"Really. How wondrous. How do you do, Miss Altermere?"

"Who are you?"

"Why I'm Mister Timothy Wheeler, Will's English teacher."

"English? But doesn't she already know English?"

"Oh and she tells jokes as well! Hahahahaha."

"Mister Wheeler, this is the Oracle. He's the boss."

"How do you do, Oracle? Tell me, are you Buddhist by any chance?"

"And this is Luba."

"Glory be! A talking cat. Will she purr if I rub her head?"

"And this is Halinor. She used to live on Earth back when she was a Guardian of the Veil. Oh, that's what I am now, by the way, a Guardian. Now she lives here and is a part of the Congregation."

"And a fine hello to you too, Miss Halinor. You certainly keep yourself in interesting company. As do you, Miss Wilhelmina."

"I take it this settles any misgivings you may have about my honesty?"

"Of course it does. Now I understand everything. Miss Wilhelmina, you are an extraordinary young woman. I am hereby recommending you to the student council this year with all honors and privileges. In fact, I'm writing you ten letters of recommendation to the top high schools in the state. With my connections you'll have scholarships knocking down your door and be well on your way to becoming the first female president of the United States."

"Thank you. But I'd much rather be a veterinarian."

"Then so be it. I will help you in your noble task. Count me as your first volunteer. Let's not dabble. You…cat lady…wait ails you, my child. Poor thing. Being forced to wear clothes; how savage! Here, let me rub your belly. That's a good girl. Purr your pretty furry head off."

"Purr. Purr."

Then the altermere would say, "Will, this guys is nuts."

"Yeah. But at least he won't get on my case about my homework anymore."

She played the make-believe exchange in her head, her smile widening at the thought of Mister Wheeler petting a now naked and furry Luba on her belly while she purred on the floor. Had it been real life, the woman would have disemboweled the teacher for demoting her to the level of pet animal. While she wished no physical harm to befall the nosy instructor, the notion of him running for his life while an enraged cat-woman screamed obscenities in her native language and chased him through the citadel proved quite entertaining. She doubt the Oracle would see it that way. But at least her altermere would join in her merriment.

While the exchange had been purely imaginative, Will's reason for not having her assignment was not. She had indeed been visiting Candracar on a daily basis to check up on her "sister." The altermere had been first and foremost on her mind since their separation. The procedure had been a blur to Will. She remembered the Oracle taking her to his meditation chamber where he said he would lull her into a deep sleep. The assurance was that when she woke up, she and the altermere would be two separate entities. Will went to sleep as the Oracle said she would. There may have been an unsettling dream, Will could not recall the exact details, but when she awoke the Oracle was standing over her. "It is done." He said and when Will looked beside her there was another girl who looked just like her.

That was it. That was what happened.

Halinor went to fetch Caleb and Yan Lin and moments later the rebel came bursting into the room. He saw who he thought was 'Will' and rushed up to her only to find that it was in fact her doppelganger. The look on Caleb's face when he first saw Will and then 'Will' was amusing to say the least, but he regained his composure quickly and greeted the altermere in a manner addressing a noblewoman of Meridian. "It's a pleasure to meet you." He told her. Will noticed two very strange things happened after he said that. First was how her altermere blushed at the sight of the handsome warrior bowing before her, one hand on his waist and the other around his back. When his eyes fell upon her she became like a statue; frozen and featureless except for the brightening shade of pink around her cheeks.

The second thing Will noticed was how much this bothered her. Caleb was only being a gentleman and yet a small part of her didn't want him to be such a gentleman with her double. It was a selfish thought and Will mentally berated herself for thinking it. But that didn't change the fact that when the altermere smiled and allowed him to take her hand and for her to say, "Charmed"…well, she just didn't like it.

Yan Lin stepped in to say her greetings to the Astral Drop. It seemed that in all the commotion, the two of them had forgotten about her, the girl who would have exploded a few hours ago. "Um…I'm fine too." She tried not to sound too annoyed but when the only person giving her the time of day was a balding man in a flashy nightgown---something was wrong.

With the procedure finished, they all gathered for a meal in the dining area which, Will noticed, was big enough to hold the entire apartment building where she and her mother lived. As the Oracle, Yan Lin and Halinor talked amongst themselves, Will and Caleb tried getting to know 'Will.' Never had either of them seen someone so fascinated by the variety of food. Will saw Irma squeal like a pig in heat when the Silver Dragon held a special birthday dinner for her and the table was literally covered with food. But compared to that unpleasant day in which none of the girls could avoid Irma splattering her food in their faces, this girl was a living vacuum cleaner on max power. She, laughing, remembered how Caleb nearly lost a hand after reaching for a fruit that was in the Drop's direct line of fire. His fingers barley made it back in one piece.

Despite having been trapped in Will for months and being created from the same cloth, the altermere seemed to have developed her own separate personality. She looked like Will in every identical way, but this Vandom girl exhibited startling contrasts. She seemed more—what's the word?—perky. She lacked the cynical streak Will had developed while living as an only child with few friends. She smiled more and looked for ways to make the simplest activity, such as eating a pear, into a cause for fun. 'Will' had carved a face into the pear and suddenly she had a new friend, aptly named Mister Pear. She talked to it, gave it a persona, and sought to bring "him" in on every exchange Will and Caleb directed at her. It felt rather odd including a pear into the conversation; but Mister Pear proved quite appealing. He and Caleb got into a heated debate on the rights of fruits and their inability to move up the social ladder from food stuff to sentient beings. Caleb slated himself for arguing with a fruit and looked to Will for support (he only spoke to Mister Pear to humor 'Will' but now this was getting ridiculous) but she just laughed. To think the great rebel leader met his match in a pear.

Once the unusual dinner experience had ended, the group gathered on a veranda where 'Will' reveled at the sight of the clouds rolling past the fortress. This was her first time on another world without seeing it through Will's eyes. To look upon such splendor with eyes that were her own was nothing short of exhilarating. Everyone else noticed a child-like charm about her. Everything was new and unique to this girl. Now that she was free and able to do and feel and think for herself, the entire universe was her sandbox.

But now they must ask the question that has been on their minds since the separation: what now?

Will thought it a simple answer. The altermere would return with her to Earth where she would live out her days as a normal teenaged girl. She'd go to school, have friends, grow up, go to college, get a job, get married and have lots of kids. It was pretty much her blueprint for her own life that she'd laid out years ago back when she believed fairy tales did come true.

But there was the issue on finding an alias for her. They couldn't very do what Yan Lin did, having her own altermere come back as her long lost twin sister who suddenly decided to show up. Susan Vandom would see through that lie in an instant. She could be her half sister, the child of a woman her father had relations with, but then she'd have to explain the age similarities which could only have happened if Thomas Vandom had been having an affair behind Susan's back and the girls were born around the same time. Will doubt that would be the best way for her parents to reconcile their differences.

Caleb offered to take her back with him to Meridian but Will shot down that idea like a Hellcat would a Zero over the Philippine Islands (1). She may be an Astral Drop, but 'Will' was an Earth girl through and through. No way she'd trade computers, CDs and TV dinners for horse manure, carriages and a hard day's work on the farm. Not that Meridian was a backwater, she assured Caleb after receiving a menacing glare, but she'd have more of a future, education-wise anyway, on Earth than she would on Meridian. I mean TV dinners, come on!

They sure couldn't send her away by herself; traveling the universe with little to no real knowledge of what's out there. Hence, the Oracle stated the only logical, and by this time, remaining conclusion left to them: she would stay here on Candracar. She would be placed under the care of the Oracle with Halinor and Luba acting as nannies. 'Will' didn't seem to have a problem with it. There was so much to see and learn about the world and what better place to start than in Candracar? She only asked for one thing, that Will and Caleb and everyone else be allowed to visit.

Will almost "heard" Luba shake her head at the consideration but the Oracle had something to say. "Just Will, Caleb and Yan Lin for now. No one else need know about this for the moment."

Before Will or 'Will' could ask why, Yan Lin stepped up to them and explained it as only she can. "It's only temporary. She will be safe here with the Oracle and her nannies."

"Caretakers." Luba huffed.

"Whatever. We think it best that the altermere's presence remain a secret for the time being. We will let the girls in on it eventually. Just to make sure our dear friend does not feel abandoned, you two will visit her each day. How does that sound?"

'Will' agreed to it almost immediately. Caleb saw no visible problem with the arrangement, but Will wasn't too comfortable with keeping secrets from her friends. She needed to know, or at the very least, to understand why all the secrecy was needed. While she lacked the experience of Yan Lin or Halinor, this young guardian knew when she wasn't being told the whole story. But despite the nagging feeling about being kept out of the loop, Will figured that her altermere was as safe here in Candracar as she would be anywhere else. Probably safer. What better place to hide one's double than at the heart of infinity?

And so it was.

The trio said their goodbyes to the Oracle, his companions and then to the altermere. 'Will' was sad to see them go. Her big brown eyes, those same precious orbs, grew to enormous size, begging them not to leave. Unfortunately, each of them had someplace to be; Caleb to Meridian, Yan Lin to the Silver Dragon, and Will to her mom. The poor thing wouldn't last two minutes without her.

But she did promise her Astral Drop to return the first chance she got. She took her own hands in hers when she told her that as if that was all the assurance she'd need to know that Will would keep her promise. Since the two were of the same stock—in more literal ways than once could imagine—the altermere knew she would indeed return. The two girls hugged and held that pose for several moments before separating.

'Will' then turned to Caleb. He started to bow again but the girl leaped into him, wrapping her delicate arms around his neck and giving Caleb a very tight embrace. The real Vandom girl pretended not to notice but it was difficult to excuse the close proximity of their bodies intertwined. She was just saying goodbye, she told herself. No need to go jellin' (2) all on account of her fingers caressing his tight, knotted shoulders which they had no business being in the first p…oh wait, they've stopped. Will cleared her throat as she watched them part. Caleb was blushing a bit, she noticed, his eyes falling to the floor and his voice stuttering as he said his final goodbye. He did look momentarily at Will, is that guilt in his face? - but it was only a brief look, just enough to let her know that he knew she'd been watching and to try to put it behind them.

Providentially no awkwardness followed the exchange between Yan Lin and the girl and when that was done they said their farewells to the Congregation before Will created a fold back to home and they were gone.

Will would visit in the late afternoon. From what she saw the girl was in impeccable health. She was eating well (Very well!) and had expanded her vocabulary, able to use words that left the real Will scratching her head. She was hungry for knowledge. Will would often find her in the great library of Candracar. Her mind it seemed was able to absorb vast amounts of knowledge in a short period of time. Even the Oracle was impressed with the speed in which the altermere acquired her education. She even learned to speak the native language of his home dimension, Basiliade, and would have conversations with the Oracle using that melodic tongue.

The altermere studied math and science, art and literature, music and poetry; she was a veritable scholar in Vandom's clothing. Will was sure her Astral Drop could give Taranee a run for her money in academics, possibly even exceed her friend's exceptional knowledge and matching her blow for blow in textbook vernacular. She was also very witty, like Irma, though far less snippy. Like Cornelia she carried herself with confidence, never afraid in voicing her opinion. But despite all this there was one trait she found most endearing and that was her child-like innocence. Hay Lin came to mind at that point.

In all this Will asked herself what the altermere retained of her. The Vandom girl was smart and athletic and no one could deny that her heart was ever in the wrong place, but the altermere seemed to have taken the best traits from her and evolved into something more. Here was someone who aspired to improve herself by expanding her horizons and unveiling all of life's little secrets. Had Will not known any better, she'd think her Astral Drop was trying to upstage her. But of course that couldn't be true. Will's nature was not to compete for Miss Popularity. She was proud of who she was and never did anything to jeopardize her own image.

The Astral Drop was creating her own sense of identity, her own individuality…her id. Without that, a person was not even really a person. Will could relate to that. She'd been struggling to define herself all her young life. Becoming a Guardian of the Veil had given her that purpose in life that she'd been missing out on. Every one needed to be a part of something greater than they; Will just never figured she'd protecting the world from the forces of evil, though as a child she did daydream about becoming a superhero. Frog Girl, her name was. "Criminals are only a hop, skip and a jump away from justice!" was her catchphrase. Looking back on it, she laughed. Thinking back on it, she shivered. She can't imagine facing Cedric in a giant frog suit. She could just picture the confrontation:

"Cedric, prepare to get licked!"

He'd gawk at her and say, "What the…"

BEEP-BEEP. BEEP-BEEP. BEEP-BEEP. Her cell phone went off.

The volume was such that only those in the general vicinity of Will Vandom would have heard the call. A couple of classmates looked in her direction, the cellphone being a distraction from the mind-numbing drawl that was Mister Wheeler's lesson, only to loose interest just as fast and looked for some other way to kill the time before recess. One began doodling in his notebook.

Leaning in close she whispered, "Who is it?"

"It's Matt." The cellphone said. "And it's marked urgent."

"Matt." Will repeated. She'd left him messages on his cell but he never called. Fact is, she hadn't seen him around school lately. Not since…that time. It was time to change all that. She could not let this opportunity pass her up. She answered it. "Matt, hold on a sec." Will raised her hand, extending her body slightly off the chair – for some reason; students believe they'll stand out more if they do this, as if the instructor won't spot the only pupil in the entire room raising her hand.

Mister Wheeler had been in the process of going over the use of demonic imagery in John Webster's The Duchess of Malfi(3) when he'd been so rudely interrupted. "And when Ferdinand hands the Duchess the severed hand he…yes, Miss Vandom, what is it?"

"I'm not feeling too well, may I go to the nurse's office?"

Placing his hands on his hips, a very un-intimidating gesture for one so frail of muscle and bone, he said, "And what, pray tell, is the problem?"

"Would you believe I'm sick?"

"Are you?"

"What other reason would I have for going to the nurse's office?"

Mister Wheeler's eyebrow curled back in a disbelieving gesture. "You don't look sick."

"Oh uh…coughcough…allergy season…cough…lungs burning…cough…chest heaving…oh, cough."

"Miss Vandom, do you know what the phrase 'being born yesterday' means?"

"I do know someone who'd bring up an interesting conversation around that," she joked, knowing full well only she'd get the hidden meaning.

"Please be silent for the remainder of the class." Leaving it at that, Mister Wheeler turned back to the blackboard where he wrote down several quotes from the play. Several students snickered at her pathetic attempt to skip class. Cornelia, who was seated on the next row over and two seats up, gave Will a questioning look. Slumping back in her chair, Will had to think of a contingency. New plan. With a slight gesture of her eyes she looked up at the PA box. "Come on, Janet, help me out here." She muttered.

Suddenly a loud noise filled the room followed by a female voice doing its best to sound like a garbled Mrs. Knickerbocker. "Would Miss Wilhelmina Vandom please report to my office. You have an urgent phone call."

"Woop! That's me." She shot out of her seat. "Promise to be back as soon as I can. Till then, toodles." She said and bristly made her way towards the exit. She spared a quick glance at the PA and nodded her thanks. Thanks Janet. It felt good to have friends in high places.

Mister Wheeler's gaze was reprimanding as he watched the redheaded girl go. When she left he said, "Doesn't look sick to me at all." Turning back to the rest of the class. "Settle down. We have far more important things to do. Now, who can tell me the significance of lycanthropy during the severed hand scene?"

Out in the hallway, Will turned the corner and once she was sure nobody was around to bother her brought the phone up to her ear. "Hey Matt." She heard him breathing on the other side, probably waiting all this time for her to talk and wondering how many minutes they were wasting (like he paid the phone bill!). "Glad you called." Her defeatist voice bothered her since it made her sound like she was the one crawling back to him. It wasn't like they had broken up or anything; rather they had had a difference of opinion which forced them to walk down directions without looking back. To the outsider it would look like they'd called it quits, but Will and Matt were not ones to give up on a relationship so easily, principally because this was the very first one either of them had ever had…and, with someone so incredible.

But they both could be stubborn and despite Will playing the man and calling Matt on several occasions she did not want to sound desperate. "I left you messages. Why haven't you called?" her voice turned dour.

"Will," he began and just hearing him made her left ear tingle. "Look I'm sorry," – What do you know? He's apologizing for – "for not calling you back," – Oh, never mind – "but something's come up."

"What happened? Matt are you okay?"

"I'm fine." Liar. "It's just that I haven't been able to get in contact with you until now."

"Why aren't you in school? Where are you?"

"I'm with Huggles and Napoleon. We're doing some special training and that's why I had to leave suddenly."

"Special training? What kind."

"The kind that requires a lot of secrecy."

"Didn't you just break that oath by telling me about it?"

"Look I know I shouldn't have walked out on you like that but this couldn't wait. I just called you to let you know that I'm all right and that everything's okay."

"But where are you exactly?"

Matt went silent.

"Matt? Hello? Matt?" Will slumped down against the wall until she was sitting, her knees up. She listened intently. In the background she could make out some noise. It sounded mechanical, like something heavy being moved…and then she heard someone yelling. "Damn." She heard him say. "Listen Will I have to go. I'll call you back as soon as I get the chance. Good-bye." He hung up.

"Matt? Matt!" She held up the phone – the words "call ended" appearing on the screen. Grabbing it with two hands, she cursed.

"Agh! Will! You're choking me!" Her phone gasped.

"Sorry." She released her hold. "What the hell was that all about? The guy doesn't call for days and when he does it's only to blow me off. Who does he think I am?"

"His girlfriend." The phone answered.

"Not for long if he keeps this up. In fact," she stood up. "He may not have one at all when he gets back."

"So if he calls again should I let it go into message?"

"Why not? Let's see how he likes being kept in the dark." She said. Her ire growing.


She found herself missing the night. It was never dark in Candracar…nor did it rain, snow, hail, or have a chill wind blowing through the air. Normally people would consider this type of weather as paradise but she knew better. Her earliest experiences on Earth made her more appreciative of variety. Too much of the same thing was not only boring, but senseless. How could people be so comfortable with an un-evolving environment? Like the great scholar Akato once said, "In life, change is the only thing we can count on to make us better for true wisdom is not in the sturdy rock but the flowing stream."

She had never seen an ocean before, either. Candracar was an endless sea of sky and vapor. Nothing solid existed outside of the Fortress and the Temple. Her mind wandered to the world beneath those clouds. What must the landscape of Candracar look like, she pondered. Is there anything below to begin with? Is the entire world just a ball of glass warmed by the glow of a sun that was never in the sky?

She began to feel empty. Candracar was a wondrous place at first glance. But the more one spent here, the more devoid one began to feel. Clouds were beautiful, but what good were they if you cannot watch them while laying out on the ground with the grass touching your skin and the wind carrying the scent of flowers from across the hill?

More than anything, though, she wanted to see an ocean. Earth was said to have a great deal of it. As did Meridian and Basiliade. But not Candracar. There was nothing in Candracar but Infinity. That may impress some…but nothing could be a more incredible sight than the ocean. She wanted to see the ocean and there was no such thing on Candracar.

"There you are young one."

The voice carried across the balcony and 'Will' turned to find her favorite caretaker holding a tray of tea and treats. "I knew I'd find you here. Your spirit is too free to be contained within these walls for too long a time."

The girl wondered if even she understood the meaning of that statement. But she returned the smile Halinor had given her and found out that she was a little hungry. "I came to visit you earlier but you were in deep conversation with two members of the Congregation in the Third Hall. I didn't want to disturb you so I decided to come out here. I knew that when you finished you'd seek me out."

"Your deduction was correct. And here I am." She turned slightly to the side. "Shall we?"

Once the girl joined Halinor they walked under the roof of the balcony where a set of white marble tables with a stunning view of the clouds to one side and a picturesque one of the courtyard below awaited them. The two were the only ones on the balcony but there were several inhabitants strolling through the gardens and towers and walkways of the citadel. There was no such thing as a bad spot in all of Candracar. Had this been a hotel, the critics would have no choice but to add another star to its rating system for on a scale of one to five Candracar was a definite six.

They sat down and Halinor began to distribute the tea. She poured her charge's cup before her own and then took some of the delights from the plate and placed them on another one meant for the girl. The cookies were a favorite of Halinor who had developed quite a sweet tooth during her days on Earth. This realm's particular cuisine left much to be desired in her opinion but there was no denying the tastefulness of its pastries. In terms of candy, Candracar was a girl's heaven.

The girl took a small, donut-sized delight and began to chew on it thoroughly. She had learned to control her eating habits and composed herself like a civilized being. She even took some butter, which Halinor had placed to the side, with a small knife and delicately began to spread it across the tart. Each bite was small and simple. Not gorging like her first dining experience a few days prior. No denying this girl was more lady than Halinor had been in ten years…and back on Earth she was considered a bit of a stuck-up.

"Did you sleep well last night?" the caretaker asked her charge.

"But of course. Why do you ask?"

"It's just that I thought with the harsh training regimen Luba had been putting you through you'd be unable to rest comfortably." Halinor paused for just a moment before leaning in. "Have the scars healed?"

"The Oracle's healing magic proved instrumental in all of my recoveries. Without it I doubt I'd be able to set one foot in front of the other the very next day."

"Oh well, that's good." Halinor breathed a sigh of relief. Sometimes she felt Luba took her training too far. It was good that she was teaching the girl how to defend herself but honestly the woman could be such a brute. Luba assured her that she was going easy on the girl but that was like the executioner saying he'd be using the blunt side of the ax. Pain was pain, and Luba was just too hard on the girl. "You know if you want me to speak with the Oracle on your behalf concerning Luba I'll be more than,"

"That won't be necessary, Halinor. I can take care of myself and Luba never means me any true harm."

"Are you…sure about that? Because I've seen that woman throw you quite hard."

"It's called martial arts. Cuts and bruises are part of the martial aspect. The art comes in when one learns to avoid receiving them in the first place."

That comment gave Halinor reason to pause. "That's…a rather philosophical revelation. Did Luba teach you that?"

"No. I just made it up."

"I see." Halinor said, taking a sip of her tea. Amazing, she thought, she matures with each passing day. Less than half my age and we're having intellectual conversations. She's obviously not learning that from me. Perhaps the Oracle. She already speaks his language so who knows what else they've talked about when I'm not around. Goodness. I hope it's not about my guardian days. The Oracle has enough dirt on me to write a book. I'd just die if she ever learned about the porcupine incident.

"Halinor," the girl began. "Have you ever seen the ocean?"

The former guardian lowered her cup and noticed how intently she was looking into her eyes and awaiting her answer. "Yes I have. Why do you ask?" The intensity of those chocolate brown eyes was incredible. Even Will, the real Will, had never had that look for as long as Halinor had known her. It was a gesture of pure inquisition, of such adamant curiosity that any teacher would be hard-pressed not to answer.

"There aren't any here on Candracar. It's just…I've always wanted to see one." She looked out over the clouds. "What's down there, Halinor? Do you think there's an ocean at the bottom?"

"I wouldn't know. I myself have never traveled to the depths of Candracar. Word is there's nothing but empty air all around us and Candracar is just a flying city. Even the Oracle himself has never dared to venture beneath the clouds and if he wouldn't do it you can bet your bottom cent that no one else has the gall to make the attempt. Some things, I guess, are best left unknown."

The girl turned back. "I would never have expected to hear those words from you, caretaker."

"And why not?"

"You strike me as one who likes to know everything. You want to know what's over the hill or across the lake; to go beyond the stars and see what's out there. Luba tells me you were the most inquisitive of the original guardians." The girl's tone changed as if she was reciting something she had read before. "If there was a question then you had to find the answer. No obstacle was too great if it meant uncovering the truth."

"Did Luba tell you that?" Halinor asked as she brought the cup back to her lips.

"The Oracle."

The older woman's eyebrow twitched. "Really? And what else did he tell you?" Please not the porcupine incident.

"That among all the original Guardians of the Veil, you were his favorite."

"What?" Halinor was clearly caught off guard.

"You and he share a great deal in common even now. He said he saw in you a spirit kindred to his own. Like fire, your element, you would not be confined. Your nature is to expand, to encompass everything until you've had your fill. You seek to learn as much as fire seeks to burn. You won his respect because of it. That's why you were his favorite."

"Really?"

"Of course." She looked Halinor square in the eye. "Do you have reason to rebuke his assessments?"

If Halinor said yes, then she'd be denying all the wonderful things her charge had just told her; if she said no, then it would be like feeding her ego a smorgasbord of Candracar delights. Halinor was a contradiction of proud and humble. She wasn't to the extreme of say, her friends Kadma or Yan Lin and she was in no way as self-absorbed as Nerissa had been when she turned traitor, but she was still prone to the words of others. Could she let what the girl said go to her head? Perhaps she was reading into too much what the Oracle had said. But the Oracle was not one to mince words. He spoke his mind openly and clearly – always. Her words had been his and if that were true then…

"The Oracle is not one to exaggerate." She'd just skillfully maneuvered her way out of a direct reply. "We were all skilled young women when we took up the role of guardianship. Each added her own piece to the puzzle which in turn made us a whole. It was our ability to work as a team that enabled us to overcome impossible odds and for that no girl was more important than the other."

"That doesn't mean that the Oracle cannot have a favorite." She picked up a tart. "Take this for example. See this filling in the center? It has a creamy taste with a flavor that just bursts in your mouth. This," she picked up another. "Is more sweet. Good, but it does not hold par with the first. I also enjoy a variety of others but this," taking a bite out of the first one, she moaned in pleasure. "Is my favorite. It alone cannot make a palate of desirable tastes, but it has won my taste buds over I can tell you that much."

Halinor chuckled. "You make even having a snack a topic for debate."

"Is that wrong?"

"No. There is absolutely nothing wrong with you, my child."

"Then is it too much to ask the Oracle if I may be allowed to see an ocean?"

It wasn't so much the question but the manner in which she put it which made Halinor spill a single drop on her robe. She was like a child asking permission to go out and play. Candracar may seem marvelous to the traveling visitor but to this girl it was nothing short of a glorified prison. She'd spent most of her young life learning about the things outside this world. It would be nothing short of cruel if she were forbidden from ever laying sight on them. Like dangling a piece of meat over a starving dog, keeping the girl away from what she most desired was just not right.

Hesitating at first, the woman finally managed to formulate a reply. "While I do believe the Oracle would listen, I do not think he would be able to grant your request at this time."

"May I ask why?"

"It's…not my place to speak for him. Suffice it to say there are matters at hand which require his full attention and he cannot be bothered with right now."

"So I am a bother?" The girl's face saddened.

"No!" Halinor nearly jumped out of her seat. "Far from it. You are an incredible young lady with endless possibility for growth. The Oracle and everyone else here, myself included, think your potential limitless."

"Potential is nothing without room to grow." She said. "As one of the great philosophers of Basiliade once said. All I ask is for the chance to see the ocean and if the Oracle cannot grant me that one request than what's the point of having all the potential in the world?"

Finally, Halinor put down her cup and decided to level with the girl. "Please understand. You are not just a mere girl. You are special. The matters behind your creation may have been unorthodox but that does not diminish your importance in the least. It is because of your importance that we need to protect you. Believe me when I say that the Oracle has only your best interests in mind when he keeps you here. I'm sure it won't be much longer now. You will get to see that ocean. You just need to wait a little while, okay?"

The girl just looked at Halinor with unreadable eyes and a face as placid as the surface of a pond. It wasn't long before she nodded, "Okay," and finished eating her tart and downing it with a long swig of her tea.

Such a beautiful child, so trusting. Halinor felt her toes curl on the floor. She hoped she would be proven right and that the Oracle would not make a liar out of her.

They talked some more about things and before they knew it the tarts were all gone and the tea was almost finished. Allowing herself a burp, which she quickly covered up with an upraised hand and an apology, the girl got up to excuse herself from the table. "My next training session with Luba is not long from now. I'd like to get in some reading in beforehand. Every little bit helps." She bowed her head. "If you'll excuse me."

Polite. Articulate. Smart. Charismatic. Beautiful.

This girl was truly something to behold. Halinor smiled, thinking Will Vandom, the real Will Vandom, would have difficulty recognizing her altermere when she came upon her next visit. As she began to clean up the table, Halinor stopped. Her last thought played back in her head, as did their time together. It was through careful recollection that she realized that at no time during their conversation did she ever refer to the girl, either in thought or in speech, as the altermere.


She walked into the library, a vast collection of works gathered from the far flung corners of the universe for her reading pleasure. It was difficult for her to spend time anywhere else. Her virgin mind craved knowledge. She could have spent the rest of her life within these aisles had her thirst for adventure not been as strong. There was a world beyond these walls; she saw them once, but so far had been prevented from seeing them again. For now she placed her faith in Halinor's words and in the Oracle, for she knew that neither of them would ever lead her wrong.

Faith was a strange thing to fathom. In her studies she'd read about the countless belief systems people based their lives upon. Not only was there no clear definition but many of these spiritual and religious beliefs contradicted one another – even going so far as to rebuke the message of a faith not their own. These disagreements usually led to conflict and, in the worst of incidents, all-out war. It was strange to her that people would kill each other just because they followed a different path.

The way she saw it, there was enough room in the universe for everyone to believe in whatever they want. What's the point of free will otherwise? Without it, people would be nothing but flesh-born automatons aimlessly wandering about unless given direction by an outside source. Diverse convictions create variety out of stagnation. A well-traveled holy man named D'Pe once said, "Religions are like rivers that flow into the same ocean." (4)

There was a great deal about the world at large that she did not understand. She tried to find meaning behind all the things that confused her. Love and hate, was one of them. The closest thing she'd experienced resembling those emotions was when she fought her "sister." That night, at Sheffield Academy, she hated Will Vandom more than anything. How does one justify hatred? Is it simply the complete and total detestation of a person that goes beyond simple anger? Back then she thought her feelings justified for she believed in her heart that Will meant to destroy her.

When the thunderbolt flew, she threw herself in its way in order to save Will's life. That…was love right? You sacrifice yourself to help those you care about. Will in turn saved her by absorbing her not into the Heart but into her own body. In that moment they had become sisters and nothing could express how she felt at that realization.

Her experience on Earth had taught her that things were not as simple as they seemed. Nerissa claimed to be her friend and yet manipulated her into attacking the Keeper. Yet, it was Nerissa, not Will, who had given her life in the first place. Without the sorceress, she'd still be an Astral Drop—a mirror image with no soul of its own. She owed Nerissa as much as she did Will considering her own existence. So to who did her loyalties lie…with the woman who created her, or the woman that saved her?

These thoughts and many others occupied her mind as she traversed the library. Already she collected an assortment of books arranged into piles on the table located at a junction between shelves. The topics ranged from how to properly cook a jazabeel (whatever that was) to how to host a Valorian banquet without any clothing. Speaking of clothing, she found a book detailing the latest fashions such as how to impress that special someone with a hat twice the length of your body.

Interesting reading, that last bit.

Books on ancient civilizations were by far more interesting, though. She enjoyed reading first-hand accounts about life in those lost eras and looking at pictures drawn by hands long-since dead. The girl had been browsing through one particular book when a single sketch caught her eye—that of the infamous Lighthouse of Alexandria looking out over the sea.

Her eyes stared long and hard at the drawing, hardly blinking, taking in every detail of the image. The great lighthouse served as a beacon for wayward ships searching for a safe port. Its beam shone for miles around in every direction. It was a testament to the greatness of that city and the ingenuity of its people. Once she managed to tear her eyes away, the girl looked more into the city of Alexandria. As it turns out the city was more than just a bustling coastal metropolis. It was also home to a great library unlike any in the ancient world, as well as to a vast series of catacombs that served as the final resting place for kings. Founded by the greatest conqueror Earth had ever known, the city had been built with the idea that all races can and should live together in mutual harmony.

Alexandria; city of learning, of knowledge, of diversity.

The city by the sea.

If only there was some sort of magic that would allow her to delve into the drawing. Maybe there was…this is Candracar afterall.

"I should have known," said a gruff, female voice. "That this is where I'd find you."

The girl looked up from where she had been sitting. "Greetings, Luba. Is there something I can help you with?"

"You can start by being on time for our training sessions. I expect my students to be in the dojo before I am and ready to begin. I thought I made myself clear on that."

"Forgive me. I must have lost track of time. There are so many fascinating,"

"If you trained as much as you read you'd be as well-versed in the martial arts as I." the feline caretaker marched up to the girl, looking over her shoulder at the book in front of her. "Gawking at pictures is unbecoming of one with your maturity."

"The drawn form can be as enlightening as the written word or the battle stance. You and Halinor taught me that."

"Then why is it you seem to take her lessons closer to heart than my own?" Had the girl not known better she'd have sworn a twinge of jealousy entered Luba's voice. But she did know better. It was irritation, nothing else. The caretaker did not take kindly to be kept waiting. "We've wasted enough time already. Put your books away and meet me at the dojo in ten minutes. Am I understood?"

"Yes, caretaker." The girl picked up the books meticulously and began to put them back where she found them. Luba watched her momentarily before exiting the library.

Now more than ever she wanted to see the ocean.


When Will got home, the first thing she did was make a pit stop, then change her clothes, the go to the fridge for a snack which fell on her shirt, then change again. Finally, decked out in a red sweater with blue jeans, she was ready to visit Candracar. Best she leave a note in case her mother returned before she did.

Mom, hi. Hanging out with friends. Be back soon. Love, Will.

That finished, she pulled out the Heart and created a fold.

On the other side, she found herself on the great steps leading up to the citadel. She couldn't wait to see her altermere again. Who knows how much she'd progressed since their last meeting. Maybe she could teach Will a thing or two—like how to find a disappearing boyfriend and the proper way to turn him into a frog. She liked frogs. Right now, she didn't like Matt. It was kind of an oxymoron.

Hopping up the steps, Will made it to the top to find Caleb with his back turned to her. Sneaking up behind him she planned to jump on his back to give him a good scare…then she recalled the time where Caleb got the drop on her when she dropped in on him unannounced at the Silver Dragon a couple weeks ago. A simple tap did the trick.

"Will!"

"Who did you expect?"

Caleb looked her over. "It is you, right?"

"Who else would I be?"

"Her altermere."

Will crossed her arms before her, her hip swaying to one side with a smile on her face. "Is this you getting back at me for thinking you were Nerissa?" (5)

"No. Wait, now that you mention it, yes."

"It's me, Caleb."

"Fine I'll take your word for it. For now."

She punched him playfully on the shoulder. "Nice outfit. You picked it out yourself I take it?"

"Is that okay?"

"Sure." If you're into Final Fantasy, she thought. Caleb donned a sleek green traveling coat that fell to his waist. He had on black boots that despite their size made no audible noise; that was because they were magically enhanced to shroud sound. His black, leather pants were form-fitting but baggy enough to be considered "manly" and provided ample freedom of movement. He had on a beautiful black belt with a golden strap which displayed the symbol of the royal guard, two swords crossed through a bright star, the star representing the Light of Meridian, Queen Elyon. He wore an orange shirt beneath his coat that was magically warded. The shirt was like chain mail, able to repel all but the strongest physical attacks and even a few magic ones. He had on a pair of traveling gloves: soft brown things that were as tough as dragon scales, enabling him to hold burning metal without flinching. His hair was combed back, revealing his handsome face and stunning green eyes. Somehow, Caleb pulled the look off.

"I like your shirt." Caleb said.

"You kidding?" She began. "I dropped my sandwich on the previous one so I just grabbed the first thing off the rack. It's a present from my mom. I don't need to tell you what I think of her taste." She rubbed the red fabric. "Still it's nice, in a homey sort of way."

"Caleb. Will." Halinor came walking up to them. "Welcome to Candracar."

"Good to see you, Halinor." Caleb bowed.

"Bet you weren't expecting both of us." Will endeavored but Halinor smiled.

"No. But the Oracle did. He foresaw your arrival and asked me to attend to your visit."

"Oh…right. The whole looking into the future thing."

"It's not a thing, it's a gift."

"Sure would come in handy when Mister Wheeler decides to throw a surprise quiz the next day."

"Friday." Halinor said. "The Oracle told me to tell you that. Hope you've been reading."

Will blushed.

"I guess I don't need the Oracle to tell me the answer to that." Halinor resisted the urge to roll her eyes. How far apart the two entities had become. "This way, please. Our esteemed guest is training with Luba at the moment." She began to walk. "Please take care to lower your voices as we do not wish to disturb them."

As they walked, Will talked to Caleb. "So what's up? I thought we agreed that I'd visit her in the evening and you in the morning."

"There was a meeting with the Queen. Took up most of my time so I had to change schedule. That's okay, is it?"

"Better than okay. She'll be thrilled to see us."

"Out of curiosity," Caleb began. "How do you two spend your time together?"

"We talk. We laugh. We tell stories. Basically learn as much as we can about the other. You?"

"We spar."

"What?"

"Luba's been teaching her how to fight so she thinks that it would be a great exercise if she practices against someone who already does. Now mind you I'm more the sword and shield type."

"Caleb…what happened?"

"I was honorable. I fought her in unarmed combat."

"And?"

"She reminded me how the ground feels."

"Ouch."

"I got over it."

The guardian looked to him and smiled. "The girls would have a field day if they saw you getting your butt handed to ya on a silver plate."

"Which is why I'm thankful we're held to a code of secrecy."

"I don't know." Will said mockingly. "Taranee can read minds."

"Only those incapable of controlling their own thoughts." A hand shoved him half a step to his left. "I'm just saying." Caleb regained his balance. He found he really enjoyed messing around with Will. It turned out that despite her shy nature, she had a great sense of humor and was just…well, easy to talk to. Caleb felt he could speak to her about anything. Cornelia tended to take herself too seriously, not to mention have an ego the size of Mount Cavigor. She was the type of girl you had to watch what you said around or else. That lost of freedom made him feel like an inferior partner in the relationship. He knew Cornelia loved him, but sometimes it was as if he was just supposed to shut up and look pretty while she called all the shots.

Irma had a great sense of humor, but the girl did not know when to keep her mouth shut. She just went on and on and on and on and on. He doubts she could take any relationship seriously outside of that Vance Michael Justin guy. Caleb gave any man props for being able to put up with her. Funny and pretty as she is.

Now Taranee was nice. A bit too smart for her own good but you could strike up a conversation with her any time. She was also really attractive. Thank gods she wasn't here to hear him think that. Taranee was cool and all but was very loyal and would not take too kindly to having Caleb cheating on Cornelia even in his fantasies. If Corny got wind of it, he'd need the Queen's protection. But being best friends she may very well let Cornelia have her way with him. Damn these sisterhoods!

Hay Lin was his sister. His little sister. She was always eager to lend an ear but trying to have a serious conversation with the girl was like trying to have Phobos confess his sins to a priest on Easter Sunday. It just wasn't happening. She was smart, he would never deny it, but when it came to just talking she was easily distracted and often blurted out things that made no sense.

But then there was Will. He could open up to her and she to him. They were equals in every sense of the word. True they had their differences—Caleb being up front and Will holding everything back—but that didn't mean they made one hell of a pair…of friends. Because friends is all they are.

"Caleb." Halinor called from up front. "You're still dating Cornelia, is that right?"

The question brought both their merriment to a halt. "Uh…yeah."

"I see." Halinor said nothing else as they continued walking.


"Will!" All polite mannerisms forgotten, the altermere squealed and leaped into the guardian's arms. Their jubilant cries carried throughout the dojo.

"And Caleb!" cried another voice. This one being Caleb's himself. He grew tired of Will getting all the attention and wanted to remind the altermere that she wasn't alone. "Yay!"

The altermere laughed and went to embrace him as well. "How great to see both of you." She pulled back. "This is a wonderful surprise. I was beginning to think you'd forgotten about me, Caleb. Your visits tend to be much earlier in the day."

"Meeting. Queen. Putting down some bandits. Work as usual."

"You need not explain. I am fully aware your duties as the general to Queen Elyon's armies take up much of your free time. But all the better for now I have you both all to myself."

"Great." Will came around to Caleb's side to whisper in his ear. "She speaks so nice."

"Filled out a little more, too."

Will pinched him.

"Ow! I meant she's eating better."

"I know."

"Then why'd you,"

"Just because."

Halinor "Hmed" to herself. Cornelia or not, something was definitely going on between those two.

"We still have more training to do." Luba came up to the group. She donned a loose-fitting white gi similar to a Chinese Wushu uniform. The altermere had the same only hers was a light blue. The center of the room floor was made of a thick wooden matting that looked painful to land on (just ask Caleb). "There will be plenty of time for frivolities later. Now, Caleb, if you don't mind,"

"Actually," Caleb started but Halinor jumped in at the same time.

"Actually, Luba, why don't we leave these three some time together? I'm sure they have much to discuss."

"We are not finished."

"You may have extra time tomorrow. For now we will let them be. Will, why don't you go and get changed?"

Will raised her eyebrow. "What? But I changed twice already."

"Not you. The other 'Will'." All eyes went to the altermere. "Since she doesn't have a name of her own I've decided to give her yours. Does it sit well with you?"

"Sure. Why not?"

"Because now it's hard to tell you two apart." Caleb answered and received an elbow in the gut.

"It was a rhetorical question." She grumbled.

"Thank you, Halinor." 'Will' said. "Tomorrow then, Luba." The altermere bowed in respect to her instructor. Luba begrudgingly reciprocated the gesture as she turned to leave with Halinor. "You spoil her." Luba told the ex-guardian once they were out of range.

"Can I help it if I want to be the favorite parent?"

"Caretaker."

"Whatever."

"Forgive me, my friends, but I must get out of these clothes before I chase you away with my stench." The altermere known as 'Will' said to Caleb and Will.

"You don't stink." Will began. "It's a natural musk." Amazingly enough they shared the same body odor and to the real Will her sister smelled no worse than she herself did after Mister Kemp's PE class. "Come on. I'll join you."

Caleb watched them leave. "I'll just…stay here." They didn't acknowledge him. "All by my lonesome." They disappeared into another room to the side of the dojo. "Girls." He rasped. "Why is it they do everything together?"

In the changing room, Will allowed her sister the privacy she needed while shedding her sweat-stained gi for a new pair of Candracar robes. Not that she had anything the girl from Heatherfield didn't already have. Will did spare one quick glance at her when the altermere made a statement on how itchy her legs got when sweating. It took Will weeks of swimming to get a nicely toned body with a flat stomach and powerful legs. The altermere had been around for two and she was as good looking as ever. Everything from her strong-shaped shoulders to her widening hips to a firm pair of buttocks made Will blush.

The altermere saw her staring. "Something wrong?"

"No." She lied. "So you gonna shower first?"

"If you don't mind."

"Go right ahead." And so the altermere showered leaving Will to sit in the rectangular changing room while she entered one of the cubicles at the far end, the sound of running water permeating the air soon after. Once that was done, the altermere exited. Feeling completely comfortable in her nudity, she spoke to Will as she dried herself off.

"Poor Caleb. You think it rude of us to leave him all alone out there?"

"It's cool. He's a loner at heart."

"But has he not changed now that he has you and the others?"

"Not really."

"How strange."

"Caleb's a strange man."

"Perhaps that is why you like him so much."

"What!" Will blushed.

"The guardians. You all like Caleb right?"

"Er…right!" Will rattled off. "So Luba's been training you, huh?" She started wanting to change the subject. "How's that going for you?"

"Quite well, actually. Martial Arts help develop character and self confidence. It's really helped me focus my mind and prevents me from becoming easily distracted." She began to towel-dry her hair—posing much like a super model would. "If you like, I can ask Luba if she'll include you in our training sessions. I'd offer to train you myself but I am only an apprentice and still very much new at this."

"Not according to Caleb. He told me you mopped the floor with him last time you and he entered the ring." All this time, Will avoided looking at her hot alter ego. This was both embarrassing and humbling. Even at home, she always dried herself behind closed doors and made sure all her parts were completely covered. The altermere standing next to her like this was the closest thing to an R-rated experience she ever had. She was glad Caleb couldn't see this. For his own sake—the man would drop dead from orgasm had he did.

'Will' chuckled at the memory. "It was an unfair match. Caleb is still a far better fighter than I am and he was facing me using a style that was unfamiliar to him. Luba has been instructing me in a Basiliade form of self defense. Had we used Meridian combat techniques, I'm sure Caleb would have defeated me easy."

Self confident and humble. Do I hate or envy this girl?

"Speaking of training, have you been doing so with your guardian abilities?"

"What? No. That is, not really. Haven't had to since Cedric got clobbered."

"That's a shame."

"Why?"

Drying herself off, 'Will' neatly folded the towel and placed it on the bench next to where Will sat. Then, she stood a step back with her hands no her sides. "Because," raising one hand, the Astral Drop summoned forth lightning that trickled over to the robes behind Will and made them float up in the air. The robes flew above 'Will', fixing itself so that it landed neatly over her body, her head and hands popping out of the sleeves. "I was hoping you could give me some pointers."

Will shot up, excited. "You still have your powers? How come you never showed me before now?"

"I'm not sure. I guess I just wanted to develop them a little further before I revealed them to you. It shouldn't be that much of a surprise. Afterall, when Nerissa woke me, sort to say, she gave me not just your looks but your abilities. It'd be safe to assume that when the Oracle separated us that the battery would still be in the remote."

"That's incredible…wait. Battery? Remote? You sounded like Irma just now."

"You mean I made a joke?"

"That, or a colorful allegory."

"How wonderful!" 'Will' exclaimed.

The sisters embraced.

"Will?"

"Yes?"

"We've kept poor Caleb waiting an awfully long time."

"You're right." She looked her altermere square in the eye, and grinned.

"Something funny?"

"What would you say to having a little fun with Sir Caleb?"

'Will' smiled. "Why what do you have in mind, sister?"


Most of what Caleb learned of combat he did so through trial and error. Mostly error. But that did not deter him from eventually mastering the way of the sword. Julian had taught him much but it was in the battlefield where the greatest lessons were taught. When a two-hundred and fifty pound lurden is swinging a sword as big as you are and comes barreling down with bulging muscles and a murderous gleam in his eye, you learn fast…real fast.

To his credit, Caleb avoided receiving any permanent scaring on his body, a testament to his natural fighting ability. Though he needed to be saved more than once, he quickly learned to wield the blade and become the rebellion's best swordsman; next to Julian that is.

The day his father was believed killed in the Battle of Grey Woods, the weight of Caleb's sword suddenly grew much heavier. Now the mantle of leadership fell on his shoulders, tiny and scrawny as they were. Time would prove he was made of sterner stuff than his sword as he led the rebels from one victory to the next, but no matter how well he fought he remembered one thing always: there is no such thing as perfection because there is always room for improvement.

When the girls returned to the dojo they found Caleb practicing a form of meditative battle stances on the matted floor. He removed his traveling jacket and boots, sweeping across the floor with barley a sound of his feet. The katas were reminiscent of Tai Chi; swift, soft, flowing motions where each movement carried into the next. Caleb, having learned this from warrior monks, trained in secret away from peering eyes. He supposed he got that trait from the monks who were secretive in their ways. Perhaps he just liked being alone when he did this because it felt more centered and at one with the universe.

Or maybe he just wanted to impress the ladies once they returned to the dojo. He caught them looking out of the corner of his eye and, saving his best move for last, performed and acrobatic leap worthy of the Olympics which had him flipping through the air, coming down on one foot and his other leg raised in a kicking position. He held it for a moment until he heard clapping.

"Bravo!" Will said.

"I'd give it a perfect ten!" said 'Will.'

After lowering his leg and flexing just a bit, cracking his neck, Caleb bowed. "I aim to please."

Once the clapping stopped, Will turned to her sister and said, "I told you he was gifted."

"Indeed. A man of many skills."

"You two were…talking about me?" Caleb asked. For a guy, that was never a good thing.

"But of course. Will here says nothing but good things about you." She grinned when she saw the smile begin on Caleb's face. "In fact, she talks about you all the time."

"Really?" The youth set his eyes on Will, who shyly began to twist and turn with a pout on her face. "It's our favorite topic," she told him. Caleb eyed each girl skeptically. He did not like where this was going. "Why would that be?"

"Because how many girls can say they know a handsome, dashing, and oh-so-cool knight in shining armor who fights monsters, ghouls, and despotic princes?" Will asked. "On Earth, Caleb, you'd be a girl's fondest dream."

"Too bad Cornelia's got dibs on him." 'Will' said, turning to Will. "Otherwise I might take a shot at him."

"Don't let Cornelia hear you say that."

"But she's not here. Caleb is. In fact," the altermere stepped towards Caleb and offered her hand. "Would you dance with me, Sir Knight?"

"Dance? Right here?"

"But of course."

"But this is a dojo."

"Fighting is a lot like dancing. Except those steps tend to be someone's last."

"But," Caleb protested as 'Will' took both his arms and pulled him into the center of the mat. "B-But Cornelia,"

"Has got you on a short leash." The altermere turned to Will. "If you would be so kind, my sister."

"Gladly." Will cupped her hands into a parody of a musical instrument and brought them up to her face. She then proceeded to create a jovial melody by blowing out through her improvised instrument. As the "music" started, 'Will' turned to Caleb.

"Ready?"

Whether he was or not, she began to drag him through the proceeds of a dance that was anything but. Neither 'Will' nor Caleb were particularly light on their feet, or had rhythm, or knew how to follow a beat, but that didn't stop at least one of them from having a good time. The girl that was Will's altermere was having a blast. Her laughter echoed off the walls of the dojo. Caleb stumbled along, trying his best not to step on her feet or loose his balance, and all the while wondering just what the hell had gotten into the altermere all of a sudden. Will raised the beat to a crescendo sending the dancers into a faster pace that looked like a cross between tangled up puppets on a string and two workers struggling to hold onto a large piece of furniture while they fell.

Suddenly Will could not help but burst out into laughing at the spectacle. It was the funniest thing she had ever seen in her life and seeing Caleb's face made her laugh all the harder. Soon she was on her knees, trying to keep her gut from exploding. "Will!" Caleb called. "Do something!"

"Step! Two! Step! Two! Don't give up on me now, hero. Show me why those feet are the hottest ticket in Meridian."

"We're not on Meridian. Will would you stop laughing and talk to her please!"

"I'm sorry. I can't," Will tried to say but with her convulsing laughs all that came out was, "I-I-I-srr…I-I-c-ahahahahahahahahaha!" And down she went, cradled into a fetal position of humorous hysteria. Wiping the tears from her eyes, Will hoisted her head up as far as her throbbing body would allow. A snicker and chuckle would escape now and then but the worst of the giggles were for now at least, gone. She could still hear Caleb complaining and 'Will' goading him on, but as she turned to look at them, something else caught her eye. Caleb's jacket was laying at the edge of the training mat not far from where she was. She saw a gleam as if something metal were looking at her. Something about that gleam drew Will to it and as she did it began to take shape. It was a locket—and a pretty one at that.

Having not seen this before, Will pulled the chain from the pocket of his front sleeve and looked it over. It was very well-made, not overly expensive but still gorgeous. Feeling it in her hand, Will sensed the importance of this object even before she opened up the locket. Inside was a picture of a very happy Caleb next to a beaming Cornelia Hale. The two looked made for one another.

Her heart skipped a beat and Will was suddenly embarrassed for seeing what she saw. Who was she to go around snooping someone else's stuff? She was about to put it back when she heard her name. "Will!" Her sister called from across the room. She had stopped dancing when she heard Will cease her hysteria, still clenching Caleb in her arms. The boy looked read to pass out from embarrassment. "Are you all right?"

Will quickly placed the locket behind her back. "Fine. Why do you ask?"

"Can we please stop this?" Caleb pleaded with 'Will', already gasping out of the redness of his face. "I feel like an idiot."

The Astral Drop regarded him. "Why? There's only the three of us. You have nothing to feel embarrassed about."

"It's something I'll remember tomorrow. That's enough for me."

"Oh you're no fun." Releasing Caleb into a slight stumble—the girl had a surprisingly strong grip, she dashed over to her sister and knelt down beside her. "Your turn." She announced. Behind her she heard Caleb gasp and swore she could feel him shaking his head. "Come on. Caleb's a wonderful dancer. He's just shy."

"Don't believe her, Will. I suck."

Will looked to 'Will' and said, "No thank you. I'd rather just watch."

"Never enjoy life that way. Believe me I know."

"You do?"

"Life's too short. Take it from an altermere."

Will smiled warmly at her sister. "You're right." She unwittingly brought her hands before her to have 'Will' help her up when the altermere saw something. "What's that?" She reached for the locket and held it up once it was relinquished. "Is this yours?"

"Caleb's. I'm sorry I just,"

"Oh." The Astral Drop said seeing what's inside. The beautiful picture of Caleb and Cornelia taunted her. Her heart felt heavy. She licked her lips which suddenly felt dry. Embarrassed, she stood up. "This is lovely, Caleb." She turned to him who was still keeping his distance from the girls. "When did you take this?"

"Oh that? Remember when we went to that amusement park some time ago? Cornelia wanted something to commemorate the trip so she had identical lockets made for us."

'Will' looked up. "She has one too?"

"Yes." He scratched his head nervously. "Y-you really like it?"

"It's…beautiful. You make a really nice couple." The altermere closed her eyes for a moment, fighting emotions she just couldn't describe. She felt Will stand up next to her and place a hand on her shoulder. Grasping the locket in one hand, it almost seemed as if 'Will' meant to break it. Caleb stepped forward suddenly, as if meaning to leap across the room to prevent that from happening. But 'Will' stopped. Her eyes opened, chocolate brown meeting forest green from a distance…and she smirked. "It really means that much to you, doesn't it?"

"I'll say. Cornelia would kill me if something were to happen to it."

"Really?" the Astral Drop turned to Will. "Hear that? We hold Caleb's fate in our hands."

The guardian smiled; an evil smile shared only by women.

Caleb began stepping toward them. "Okay, give it up."

"Keep Away?" Will asked.

"Keep Away."

Caleb looked confused. "Keep Away? What's," He never finished as both girls turned and headed out the room. "Hey!" Caleb fumbled after them while pulling his boots back on, calling for them to stop acting like children. But girls will be girls.


The two Wills dashed through the great halls of Candracar, giggling despite their excited breathing at the thought of being caught. Behind them ran a very agitated Caleb whose long legs covered the distance between them rather fast. The funny thing about that is that while Caleb was a good runner, his legs were accustomed to treading uneven, rocky earth rather than paved floors. Often times he would overstep as if to make a leap, like jumping over a rock or a fallen log. Often times he found himself wobbling just a little bit, putting him several inches behind the girls. Just when the notion of catching them seemed imminent, the more agile females would make a quick turn seemingly in unison, putting them just out of his reach.

"Catch us if you can!" Will called from up front. She peeked over her shoulder, squealed at seeing Caleb's closing figure and motioned for 'Will' to speed up. The other Will, hoisting her robes up far enough so that she could run properly, had handed the locket over to the Vandom girl just when they rounded another corner. Apparently, Caleb did not see the exchange.

"Let's split up." The altermere told her counterpart. "You go that way." She said as they reached an intersection down one of the largest marble halls in the citadel. Will Vandom was still holding the locket as she turned right, speeding away from her receding doppelganger who went left. Caleb screeched to a halt looking from one girl to the next before going after 'Will' figuring she'd be easier to catch running in robes and sandals. At the very least he'd be able to give her a piece of his mind for making a fool out of him.

Will kept on running. Her heart pounded with each passing step but she would not stop. Eventually, she lost track of how long she'd been doing just that, running, and had taken so many turns that for the most part she could consider herself lost. She'd walked through these corridors many times before, and it was now she remembered just how big this place truly was. Candracar was a city in the clouds, built in levels rather than streets. It was like having one neighborhood on top of the other where just a few stairs and a couple of halls could take you someplace you'd never been.

She slowed down to catch her breath and her bearings. Then she heard someone coming down the other aisle and frantically searched for cover. Ducking behind a vase in the corner, Will peeked out fearing it might be Caleb, only to see two members of the Congregation walking at a brisk pace while having a heated discussion. One of them appeared to have a bird-like head with red feathers while the other bore some resemblance to a squid with writhing tentacles. They chattered in their own distinct languages as they rushed by Will's hiding place. She waited until their footsteps had long disappeared before daring to venture outside.

Where am I, she asked herself. There were no windows in this part of the citadel. Each hall, while lit up with the magic of this place, was bare except for the occasional vase or pillar. It was eerily quiet. So much so that she could hear her own footsteps which she tried to quiet by tip-toeing. Her breathing seemed much louder than usual. This was all very discomforting to the young girl and she wished that she weren't alone. Even Caleb would be a welcomed sight right now, mad or not.

Peering around every corner like she was spy, Will wanted nothing more than to find a way out of this spooky place. A voice stopped her dead in her tracks. It was not directed at her and sounded far away. The more she walked, however, the closer the voice got and it wasn't long before she heard several speaking at once. Will recognized one of them…it was the Oracle. Her curiosity sped her forward, quickening with every step. Each turn seemed to be the same as the last but with good ears she managed to zero in on the voices and happened upon a great doorway at the center of a lavishly designed hallway. She hesitated, fearing that getting closer would expose her even more, but something about this said she needed to go on. Taking it one step at a time, Will could soon overhear the voices more clearly and focused on the Oracle's for at least with his came the image of a face.

"…cision will not be an easy one." She heard him say. "But it has fallen to us to ensure the balance of the universe is not tampered with. Granted these are not normal circumstances, but we must not be hasty in casting our final judgment. Remember it is the life of a child we are discussing here. Treat her as anything else and we are not fit to wear these sacred robes."

"But Oracle, you know as well as us this has happened before." A voice Will did not recognize began. "The results were disastrous. For the sake of Candracar, nay, the universe, we must put an end to this once and for all."

"Would you have us banish her as we did Nerissa?" the Oracle asked the one who spoke. "Look how that turned out. No. I've learned that banishment serves only to allow one's hatred and contempt to fester and grow. It only hides away the problem, not deals with it. I will have no second Nerissa."

"We certainly cannot kill the poor thing."

"ABSOLUTLEY NOT!" Roared the Oracle. "And shame on you for even bringing it up! Are we demons, perhaps? Servants of the tyrant Endarno who slaughtered countless innocents to suit his own lust for power? Nay, I tell you! As the Holy Congregation of Candracar our first duty is to preserve life, never to harm it."

"Agreed, Oracle." Came a deep, throaty voice. "Never should we allow harm to befall such an innocent child. The girl's well-being is our first and only concern."

"Then what are we to do?" asked another. "The girl grows stronger with each passing day."

"Wiser as well." Said another. "Her unlimited access to the library and our ancient scrolls has provided her with the knowledge of eons. She speaks several languages quite fluently. Never have I seen one so young absorb so much information in so short a time. It wouldn't surprise me if she is as strong as the sorceress Nerissa before the next cycle."

"Was she not made by Nerissa? How are we to know she can be trusted?"

"Yes. She is a product of the witch. We must keep an eye on her."

"Listen to yourselves! You act as if she's a pawn of the sorceress. She is good! You know that."

"Nerissa was good once, too."

"As was Phobos."

"I will not hear this. You are all letting your paranoia cloud your judgment. Oracle, please talk some sense into your Congregation."

"We all have a voice here. Last I checked we were free to express them."

"Then express ideas that will help!"

"What of the guardians? Perhaps they can help."

"A guardian is the one responsible for this mess in the first place."

"Yes, it's her fault!"

"Let's be reasonable my fellow…"

"Oh be quiet! You. What's your take on all this?"

"That we are no closer to reaching a decision now than we were when we started."

"Oh you're a big help."

"Leave him alone."

"Where is Luba? And Halinor? Should they not be here for this?"

"Should not the girl? Afterall it is her fate we are deciding."

"Why do you call her 'girl'? She's an altermere. An Astral Drop."

"She's a person."

"And Phobos was born human. That does not make him any less of a monster."

The voices went on like this for uncounted minutes. Will listened in on every word as she neared the open doorway. A part of her wanted to turn back and find "Will", to let her know everything she heard…but then the Oracle spoke. "My friends." All voices ceased at his words. Will made it to the doorway and peered inside. The Oracle was surrounded by several high-ranking members of the Congregation. She recognized Tibor and Althor, not to mention Bolgo and As-Sharwa, but most were unknown to her. They were standing in a sort of a meeting room with chairs and couches. Refreshments and snacks were laid out on the tables while a sweet-smelling fragrance filled the air with a refreshing aroma. No one sat, however, as the debate was reaching a pivotal juncture.

The Oracle regarded his fellow members with heavy eyes. It was weird, disheartening even to see such eyes on a man who radiated power and energy, but apparently this and everything preceding it had taken its toll on him. With a wave of his hand he calmed all around him and then spoke with the voice of a heavy heart. "Please. Hear me out. While I do not find consolation in your bickering, you speak truth which these ears cannot deny. The girl's very existence, while unintended, has tipped the scale out of balance. I bear her no ill will nor will I allow any harm to come by her. I made a promise to the Keeper of the Heart that I would keep her safe and I hold to my oath. Yet, I cannot belittle my duties. Her presence presents a threat to life itself. Already I feel dark energies growing in the universe. They too know she is alive. It is only a matter of time before they come looking for her."

The Congregation muttered nervously at the mention of they.

Sensing their fears, the Oracle waved them silent. "Before that happens we must take drastic measures to ensure her safety. Make no mistake about it, my friends, the girl must not fall into the wrong hands else she be twisted into a weapon of destruction. The full might of Candracar will be devoted to preventing just that. So, it is with not content I make my final judgment on the matter." The Oracle's face was one of complete and utter stoicism. "The girl once known as the altermere must never leave Candracar." A wave of approval met with his final statement.

The only disapproving voice was silent and very much in shock.

Covering her mouth, Will hurried away as silently as her feet would allow.


"I swear next chance I get I'm stealing the Heart." Caleb grumbled. "See how she likes it." He lost track of the Will he'd been following and cursed himself for falling into their little girly game of hide and go seek. This place was huge. He could search for days and not find head nor tail of either girl. If only Blunk were around. The passling would sniff them out like nobody's business.

Gritting his teeth, Caleb searched what looked like a passage he passed a hundred times. "Ugh! I am so lost!" He wanted to pull his hair out in frustration but knew that would only give the girls more reason to point and laugh.

He heard footsteps coming down the opposite end of where he entered this particular wing of the citadel. The ceiling was thirty feet up and curved into an arch much like the churches he'd seen in Heatherfield. The floor was a polished marble so clear he could see his own reflection on its surface. His own steps were silenced by the magic of his boots which is why his ears were able to pick up the approaching steps from around the corner. The corner was at least twenty feet away from him but the footfalls grew louder which each second and it wasn't difficult to ascertain where they were coming from.

Caleb listened; they were light steps made by a smaller person. Most members of the Congregation were full-grown adults and never ran unless in an emergency. He could then make out the labored breaths of a female. He decided to take a chance. Hiding behind the closest pillar to the side, he waited. The girl came rushing down the end of the hall and was making her way near Caleb's position. The closer she got the more Caleb knew he had the right girl…or least one of them. Whoever she was she was about to pay for making him look like a fool. Only Cornelia could do that—and Hay Lin, and Irma, and Taranee, and Queen Elyon…and Nerissa…and Will…and 'Will'…agh!

"Hold it!" Caleb leaped out in front of Will causing her to yelp in surprise. Before she could get away, Caleb grabbed her and pulled her in close so that her forehead was just beneath his chin. He waited till she looked up so that he could berate her. "Gotcha!" Triumphant, Caleb half grimaced half smirked as his eyes bore in on the now hapless girl. "All right, Will, you've had your fun. Now hand over the locket and don't even think on going all guardian on me cause when I see Cornelia again I'll make sure she knows she has you to thank for its loss."

Will stared at Caleb as if she did not know him. Her eyes began to gloss over and before his features could soften she buried herself in his chest and began to wail openly. Startled, Caleb became rigid as her sobs shook both her body and his. She grabbed his waist to pull him in tighter and continued to cry and cry and cry. Feeling this was all his fault, Caleb said, "L-Look Will I'm sorry. I didn't mean it that way. Cornelia would never hurt you. Knowing her she'd take it out on me for losing the damn thing. You know her temper. Will? I'm sorry. Please stop crying."

The guardian sobbed but tried to regain herself as much as her distraught mind would allow. Looking up, her eyes pleading, Will fought through the sobs to speak with him. "T-They're not going to let her g-go. My s-sister…'Will.' They're going to keep her here in Candracar."

"Where did you hear this?"

"The Oracle. He and the C-Congregation want to have her imprisoned for the rest of her life. C-Caleb please…we can't let them do this."

"But why? What could they gain by keeping her here? There's no reason for 'Will' not,"

"Caleb." She cut him off. She needed to tell him something. This charade had gone on long enough and she couldn't bear to lie to one of her few friends. "I need to tell you something. It's about…" She hushed her mouth when she heard footsteps coming down the other hall. Many footsteps. Oh no! She pulled Caleb along with her as she ran down the other way, having him stumble and stub the toes of his right foot. The boots may be able to shroud his steps but that didn't mean they absented pain. He cried "Crap" while hobbling after the terrified girl. "Will, what the,"

"Shh." She told him as she pulled him out of the great hall and behind the wall. Peering out, she saw a group of Council members walking across the other side. One of them looked her way as if he heard something, then decided it was nothing and returned to join the procession. Will recognized several of the group who were among the meeting with the Oracle. They must be talking about the Oracle's decision concerning the altermere.

Caleb was standing next to Will while rubbing his aching foot. "The hell was that all about?"

"We have to go."

"Does it have to be in such a hurry?"

"Caleb," She turned to him. "We have to get 'Will' out of here now. There's no telling how this news will affect her. We're cut from the same cloth and I tend to get very grumpy whenever my mom grounds me." She turned to Caleb. "She has powers, Caleb. Just like me. Who knows what she'll do when she's told she can never leave. She might very well explode this time and take the whole place with her."

Suddenly forgetting about his foot, "What?"

"You see?"

"Dammit." Caleb said. "I've been chasing her all this time. I lost her a little while back. Do you think you can find her? Maybe if you use the Heart."

"No." She said and with a very disapproving look. "Using the Heart may alert the Oracle and I don't want him to become suspicious."

"Then how,"

"I know her. When I used to play hide and go seek with my mother I would almost always hide under a table or couch, anyplace where I could squeeze in complete darkness. Figured if I couldn't see her then she couldn't see me." She saw Caleb gawking at her. "I was four, okay? Anyway, she'll try to hide in the dark. Someplace where there isn't too much light."

"This is Candracar. Trying to find darkness here is like trying to find a clean place to sit in Blunk's hideout."

Had this situation not been so dire, she might have laughed. "There may be one place. The Oracle's Inner Sanctum. There is foliage there, plants so big they're as big as trees. She could be hiding underneath one of the larger plants thinking you won't find her."

"Then that's where we're headed." Caleb scanned the area. "Only question is how do we get there?"

"There may be a way." Will thought a moment. It was risky but she had to chance it. "The aurameres. I may be able to contact her via a psychic link. It's a lot like what Taranee does except I'll be using an accessory."

"Where'd you learn that?"

"Guardian stuff. Come on it's this way." Will ran off in one direction, her shoes making the only audible noise of the two. Only when she heard someone walking towards them in the direction they were heading did she screech to a halt. Fearing the sound may have been heard, and hearing the approaching steps getting louder, Will twisted around, grabbing Caleb and forcing him to go the other way. "Looks like we're taking the scenic route."


The bad part about hiding underneath a fern as large as a Volvo was that it tended to have residents with many legs and sharp teeth. The new visitor was welcomed for dinner, or rather, as dinner; and a hundred hungry morsels delved onto whatever exposed flesh they could find and began to have themselves and good old-fashioned barbecue. Did she mention it burned as well as stung?

"That's it!" The Astral Drop said as she crawled out of her hiding place and into the light. She'd been hiding there far longer than she wanted and figured it just wasn't worth being eaten alive just to bother Caleb. Speaking of which, the hell was that boy?

Scratching herself all over only made it worse but damn if it wasn't the only thing that soothed her. If only she had Hay Lin's power of invisibility she wouldn't have to duck under bug infested plants with a taste for altermere meat.

The Sanctum itself was beautiful. No wonder the Oracle spent so much of his time loitering around this place. Corny would love it…or would Taranee? No wait, maybe it's Hay Lin. Who was the nature lover again? Certainly not Irma. Gosh it's been so long.

A hand reached out behind her.

"AHH!

She spun around so fast she heard something crack and wondered if anyone in Candracar was an experienced chiropractor because her neck was shot. Halinor and Luba stood there, the later being the one who had touched her. "What do you think you are doing here?" the guardian of the aurameres asked. "Where are Caleb and the Keeper? Shouldn't they be with you?"

"The Keeper?" The girl glanced at them funny before recalling her attire. "Wait! That's me."

The caretakers shared confused stares before Halinor spoke. "Will Vandom?"

Will nodded derisorily. "Guilty as charged."

"Explain yourself! What are you doing impersonating the altermere?" Luba demanded of her with a severe glare.

"And why were you hiding underneath the Cabala leaf? Don't you know it's mating season for the tiny creatures?" Halinor asked.

Feeling busted (and stupid) Will Vandom, the real Will Vandom, began to shrug her shoulders until her neck creaked. She winced and tried to sooth the aching bone but only winced again. "Ouch. Serves me right for playing the fool."

"No argument here, child. Come." Luba went over around Will's back and with her nimble hands popped the loose bone back into place. Will whimpered but soon found the pain gone. "Now," Luba's hand clasped her shoulder blade. "Explain yourself."

Trapped beneath two powerful and very frightening women, Will could only keep her eyes to the floor as she began. "We were playing a practical joke on Caleb. We switched clothes and pretended to be the other. Then we took his locket and had him chase us before splitting up. Last I saw he was still chasing me." The Keeper gazed up and blushed. "Pretty funny, huh?"

Behind her, Luba looked at Halinor and sighed. "I tell the Oracle these girls are too young to be guardians but he didn't listen. It's stunts like this that make them difficult to take seriously."

"We may be young, but we can still do the job. Just ask Phobos and Nerissa."

"What about Phobos and Nerissa?" all spun around to find the Oracle approaching them with Tibor, Althor and other high-ranking members of the Confrontation approaching. "Luba. Halinor." His eyes fell on Will. "You're not the altermere."

"How…"

"Did he know?" Luba scoffed. "He's the Oracle. He knows everything."

"Not necessarily but thanks for the vote of confidence, Luba. I simply sensed her spirit was different from the other girl's. You may have been one once, but your souls are now separate entities. That is how I knew. Well, that and the real altermere has spent enough time in my garden to know better than to hide beneath a Cabala during mating season."

At that, the guardians' face reddened.

"But I thought I told you two to keep and eye on our guests." He directed this statement to the caretakers and Luba spoke up. "You did, Holy Oracle, but Halinor here thought it would be wise if they had some time alone."

"They were only playing a game, Luba. You act as if something bad came of all this."

"It just might have." The Oracle said suddenly as his eyes shot up. "Luba…"

"The aurameres!" The cat-woman growled. Being entwined with their protection her eyes lit up when she sensed a foreign presence in the room. "I must get back."

"Gather around me." The Oracle said. Luba, Halinor and Will did just that and together he transported them out of the Sanctum and into the Chamber of the Aurameres leaving behind a baffled lot of Candracar residents.

"Wish I could do that." One of the lesser known of the group said.


Some time before the invisible alarm sounded off to alert the Oracle and Luba, Will Vandom and Caleb arrived at the doorstep to the chamber where the aurameres resided. They made it there in record time. Will seemed to know all the shortcuts and side passages that enabled them to bypass wandering residents without being seen.

Caleb was impressed in how his companion directed them without stopping. He'd been to Candracar several times himself; more if you include all the diplomatic missions he'd be sent by the Queen. Will had an outstanding memory, but he never thought she'd be so familiar with the lower levels of the citadel. Halinor stated the she too sometimes got lost now and then and she lived here for over forty years!

"This is it." Will said about to open the door.

"Will." Caleb stopped her. "How did you know how to get here so fast?"

"The auramere is part of the Heart. The Heart is part of the auramere. The two are connected and so I just followed the trail."

"But where is the Heart? I haven't seen you use it since we ran into each other." Caleb was accustomed to seeing the familiar bulge of the pendant between Will's breasts under her shirt. At the very least he expected to see a radiant light or hear some kind of chime that would have led them here. Maybe it was just some guardian thing that he didn't understand.

"You don't trust me?"

"Of course."

"Then help me." The door proved heavier than even she could bulge and it took Caleb's aid before it creaked open. Before them stood the five ethereal aurameres; the source of the guardians' powers. "There they are." Will approached the aurameres with long, confident steps as if she knew exactly what she was going to do. She stopped before the five celestial orbs of power, her hand reaching for the one bearing the mark of quintessence.

"Will,"

She stopped when she heard him say her name. "What is it?"

Caleb held his breath a moment, and then, "I like your shirt."

She smiled back at him. "Thanks. It's one of my favorites."

"Will."

Sighing. "Caleb, we have to find her before,"

"I meant 'Will' the altermere. Step away from the aurameres and tell me what you're planning to do." Caleb moved toward her with heavy steps that while soundless epitomized the seriousness of his mood. His hands were clenched at his sides as and his face was as stern as the altermere had ever seen. "You're not fooling me anymore."

The girl moved to retort him but then closed her eyes. When they opened they were as solemn as they had ever been. "I see that now. Your comment on the shirt was not how Will would have responded, is it? Guess I have more to learn about my sister before I can pretend being her."

"A lot more. Will would never place her feelings above her duties no matter how much she might want to. Countermanding the Oracle's decision, lying to me, and then sneaking into the auramere chamber like a thief is not something Will Vandom would have done. Nerissa definitely, but not Will. She'd have confronted the Oracle. She would have stood up for you against the Congregation and the Oracle regardless of the stakes against her. Will does not hide from her enemies, nor is she dishonest with her friends. If you were truly like her you'd know that by now."

"You try holding onto your creeds when your own future is decided by a man you trusted would do the right thing for you."

"We'll talk to the Oracle. All of us. We'll find some way to overturn his decision."

The altermere chuckled. "I'd think you know the Oracle better than that by now. Isn't he the man who imprisoned your own mother in a cave up on a lonely mountain and never telling you the truth? Isn't he the same man who stood by while Phobos murdered his own family and seized the throne before cutting off Meridian from the rest of the universe? Open your eyes, Caleb. He only thinks of the universe, not the people in it. If a few have to suffer so that the whole may live than so be it. But what about me? What have I done to deserve this? He keeps his secrets and falsehoods only to himself until the point where you need his help and then he denies it. The entire Congregation is a pack of cowardly fools who believe themselves above the woes of others."

"That's not true."

"How many friends did you lose in the war, Caleb? How many could have been saved had he warned the Queen of Phobos' betrayal?" this stopped the warrior in his tracks, his eyes widening with harsh realizations. "Struck a cord, have I? So answer me then. What is the price of your loyalty to a man whose done nothing for you, your friends or your family? Even now your own mother lies trapped in a prison of her own making. Is that not the same as banishing her to Mount Thanos? Whose to say she won't still be evil should she break out again? Does that sound like justice?"

She turned to face him, her eyes brimming with an inner fire. "And what of me? I didn't ask to exist. To put the universe in peril. And what peril is it? I ask you, how could one girl's existence prove harmful to life as we know it? I only want to see the world, explore it, make friends, make love and have many adventures. Am I not a living being? Not according to certain members of the Congregation. Even Luba, my own caretaker, refers to me as the altermere. What is it about my kind they all hate so much? If they do not like us then they should not have created us in the first place." She grit her teeth. "No. That's not right. We have as much right to exist as any human, lurden, or passling. We are not tools to be used at your convenience."

Caleb was only a few feet from her but listening to her words right had placed and invisible wall between them. Her words rang with so much truth that he could not help but giver her his ear.

"Will…my dear sister. She created me so I could do her laundry. Her laundry! Then she'd go off to the party, have fun before coming home and absorbing me back into the heart. It's not right. IT'S NOT RIGHT!" She yelled at Caleb. "Being stuck in here is like being stuck in that accursed pendant for the rest of my days. I will not have it! The Oracle, Will, the guardians, the entire Congregation can be damned into the inferno for all I care but I'd rather die and enter into oblivion than have my life controlled by people who pretend to care for me."

"That's not true. We all care for you."

"Then help me…please." He begged, cupping her hands together.

"But I don't know what you plan to do."

"Escape. Please, Caleb. Help me escape."

"A breakout?"

"Please."

"But I'm a representative of the Queen. If I help you do this then it will hurt relations between Candracar and the kingdom."

"Just once can't you put your duties aside for me? You're one of the only friends I've ever had. Don't cast me aside."

"I'd never. But Will I,"

"Don't!" She spat. "I do not want to live the rest of my life carrying another's identity."

"Then what am I supposed to call you?"

"Alexandria. My name is Alexandria." She smiled at him. "But you may call me Alex, if you wish." (6)

"Fine. Alex then. I need you to step away from the aurameres so that we can talk about this. We can find another way."

"So you will not help me then?" Alex asked.

"I will. Just not like this." He offered her his hand. "What do you say?"

A part of her wanted to take his hand. How could she not trust that face? Those eyes? His smile? Caleb was beautiful in more than just appearance. His soul was kind and gentle. He's the type that would die for his beliefs and his friends. She knew she could trust him. She knew he'd never do her wrong.

Behind her the aurameres began to resonate.

"Alex?" Caleb asked, still holding out his hand.

She stood silent for a long while before lifting her own hand to touch his. Maybe together they would find a way…

The Oracle, Luba, Halinor and Will materialized directly behind Caleb. Their eyes widened when they saw the girl so close to the orbs of power.

"Get away from there, altermere!" Luba commanded with an upraised finger. "I told you never to come into this room without my permission."

"Luba, please." Halinor said. "'Will' please come here. We need to speak with you."

"Caleb." Will rushed to his side. "What's going on?" She gazed at Alex. "What are you doing?"

Alex's line of sight stretched behind them towards the Oracle whose face was blank until a moment later when, "She knows." He whispered through clenched lips.

Indeed I do.

With a sudden turn she reached out to grab the auramere. Next to him, Will cried out as the Heart began to burn her skin and she cringed to the floor writhing in pain. "Will!" Caleb rushed Alex. "Stop it!" Bolts of electricity struck the Meridianite, sending him spiraling to the ground next to Will. The blast was not meant to hurt him, only stun him. The only thing was that with his magic-shielded shirt on, Caleb was still very much mobile and got back to his feet. He would have charged her again had Will not reach up to touch him. "S-stop her." She cried. Her other hand reached to pull the Heart out of her robes which was beginning to smoke. "Please."

Please. A word Alex had said to him not that long ago. Two women, both who bore the face of somebody he cared about were asking for his help. The only question is, to whom did he choose. Will was his friend and loyal companion. Alex was an innocent yearning to be free. Everyone seemed to look to him to put a stop to this. Why didn't the Oracle do anything? The all-powerful guy was just standing there watching events unfold. Why doesn't he just make it all stop?

Will was hurting. The Heart glowed with fuchsia light and Caleb saw that the same power was coming from Alex's hand. She held the auramere, taking it out of its circle with the others, and raising it up for all to see. The auramere began to change form. It became smaller, more compact, and soon it was no bigger than the Heart of Candracar. In fact, it was the Heart of Candracar.

"She created an Astral Drop of the Heart!" Caleb uttered in sheer awe. "But how is that even possible?"

"We are one, the guardian and I." Alex said as if to answer him. "What one has, so does the other, and now I have hold the power of Candracar in my hand." Her eyes burned at the Oracle. "I will not be your prisoner. My time here has been well spent and I will use all that I know to see that no other innocent such as I will be mistreated ever again. Do not try to find me for I do not wish to be found." Then she looked to Caleb. "I hoped you would join me, but I see now where your loyalties lie." Then to Will. Their exchange was the longest. "Farewell, dear sister."

"Wait!" Will cried but by then they were all blinded by a great light and when it was gone so was the girl…and the auramere. "No."

Luba stepped forward. "What is this? What just happened?"

"She grew up, I guess." Halinor stated plainly. "Looks like we have our work cut out for us, doesn't it Oracle?"

He said nothing.

Caleb helped Will to her feet. She'd begun to cry. "Why? Why did she do this? What happened, Caleb?" She turned to look at him. "What's happened to Will?"

"I don't know." He shook his head. "But I do know this. She is no longer the same girl… and her name is Alex.


1 – This is a referral to the Battle of the Philippine Islands fought during the Pacific Campaign of the Second World War from June 19th-20th, 1944. More directly, it is referring to the "Great Marianas Turkey Shoot" in which scores of Japanese planes were shot down or severely damaged during a botched raid attempt against U.S. Naval positions.

2 – Jellin' is a term I picked off the popular Kim Possible television series. By the way, I'm a fan.

3 – Funny note, I wrote a report dealing with the demonic imagery in The Duchess of Malfi during my Introduction to Literary Study English course. I hated the book but I did receive an A on both the report and the class. Seeing as how Will was in English class I thought it fit in rather nicely.

4 – During the summer, I visited China and Tibet. In Tibet, our guide was a man named DP (D'Pe). This quote is actually based off his own words and while I do not remember exactly how he said it, it has always stayed with me. Very insightful, wouldn't you agree.

5 – If you recall in the previous chapter, Caleb asked to see the Heart and Will, remembering how sneaky Nerissa was, told him to forget it. It's a little continuity that I hope you all caught.

6 – I came up with the name Alexandria all on my own. I wanted something that sounded as pretty and ancient as Wilhelmina but could still be cut down into a boyish nickname. Alexandria becomes Alex. Wilhelmina becomes Will. Koolkame has been kind enough to help me come up with names. His assistance will greatly influence my later chapters.