Oh my God! So sorry. My internet got cut off and I had to wait forever to post this! Chapter 13 is in progress, BTW. So in this chapter, the truth about Will's brother will be revealed! Congrats to anyone who guessed who it was. And thanks for all the reviews and favs and follows. I greatly appreciate them. So…on with the chapter!
A little girl laughed, red hair ruffled by an older boy with long blonde hair and ocean blue eyes. He caressed her cheek with a grin. "Want to play, little one?" She nodded excitedly as he pointed to the garden just through the door behind him. "How about hide and seek, Wilhelmina?" Wilhelmina nodded again, bouncing on her toes in her little sun dress. Meridian was bright, three suns warming its face, glowing over the palace as the Prince stood from his crouch, offering the girl a hand. She took it, her hand tightly wrapped around his large fingers, pulling him towards the door with a giggle. "Wilhelmina, slow down, you'll fall. Mother won't be pleased with me for letting you fall," he chided. She agreed, slowing her pace to match his.
She loved playing with Phobos, he always wanted to spend time with her whenever he could now that he had a new sister. A blonde haired baby with the same blue eyes as the Prince. But he hated her. She irritated him with her crying, giving his features a darker edge from the lack of sleep. He never wanted the little brat as his sister, knowing from the moment he first heard her cry, that she was a pest to him. But he loved little Wilhelmina. He loved her laughter, her innocence and how she never complained or moaned or whined or cried. She accepted things, asked questions, she learned. She was like the Prince, curious and suspicious, and he loved that about the little two year old.
He loved that she was strong, curious, suspicious, independent, even at such a young age, and he loved that no matter what, she could never be manipulated, changed, moulded into something she wasn't. She was her own person. The little red-head was a force to be reckoned with, as strong and powerful as his mother, as curious and different as Phobos, as fight-ready and authoritive as his father, but she was nothing like the baby. She didn't cry, she wasn't dependent, she didn't crave attention. No, she didn't crave anything. She demanded attention without knowing, and anything she needed was given to her. Everybody adored her and left little to be imagined about how they'd react as she grew older. She would be perfect, a perfected model soldier, ruler, waiting to take the stand, to take control and lead people to the beat of her drum. She was ready to command them. And they were ready to be commanded.
But so was she, and Phobos would be more than happy to take that role.
****Rebel Fire****
At first light, Will was already showered and dressed, waiting for her minder to finish making breakfast. She hated the term babysitter, deciding minder was the slightly more mature version, and so that was what the woman was referred to. The pair owned a rather large house, like a smaller version of the castle; four bedrooms, a basement, an attic; which served as Will's bedroom that was designed in an exact replica of her room in the castle, a living room, kitchen, family room, three bathrooms, a training room, a library and a study. Walls were painted a moderately bright grey, adorned with various pictures of Meridian and Earth art with heavy burgundy curtains enclosing the windows. Various lamps were placed in the corners of most rooms, one to three lamps in every corridor, giving it an eerie lighting, a sort of creepy effect that reflected home. It was all a warm and welcome reminder of her real home. A castle away from the castle, so to speak, making Earth comfortable, tolerable and preventing home sickness.
"So, Wilhelmina, did you find council with Yannie?" The girl shook her head, leaning back in the wooden kitchen chair as the older woman nodded. "Halinor, why do you think I'd have super strength?" The blonde haired woman shrugged her shoulders, brown eyes dark as they encased themselves in thought. Halinor was a close friend of Wilhelmina's parents' and so she was chosen to care for her. She was an ex-Guardian of Yan Lin's generation, a good connection for the woman and girl to speak, and a former member of the Council of Candrakar. She knew all about Prince Phobos' tyranny and Wilhelmina's destiny as a Guardian, but paid no mind to it. Wilhelmina was her Goddaughter and she knew all of the occurrences around her. She had feared for her, warned her, protected her all she could as a Council member, as a Guardian, as a Godmother, but she couldn't do much. And so, when Phobos offered Halinor the opportunity to care for her on Earth, away from Meridian and its wars, its kidnappers, its dangers, she had jumped. It was her goal to protect the girl, for as long as she could, and failing so many times had crushed hopes of her being capable of doing what she wanted. But Phobos revived those hopes, giving her a chance to care for the girl she called family. Before she left the Council though, after notifying them of her leave, the Oracle of Candrakar, one of the most powerful beings in the known universe, had spoken to her on the matter. The bald man made no protest, encouraging her to go more than anything, only offering what little knowledge and advice he could. He warned her of possible changes, developments and problems, told her what to watch for and what to keep hidden. She took the Oracle's advice into account, guarding it as a dragon would its treasure, any knowledge from the Oracle was to be regarded as such. But under further advisement, despite her own desire to unite this generation's Guardians, Halinor had agreed to wait and not disclose any information about Wilhelmina's destiny until she was ready.
"Well dear…it might be a build-up of mystic energy solidifying and giving you a magically enhanced strength. Or it could be your birth powers finally coming through." Will seemed to brighten at those ideas and nodded, thinking of all she'd learned on Meridian. She'd always wanted to have magic, being the only one of her siblings truly without it. Sure, she could tele-transport, an advanced skill in magic, but that was all she could do. It was the only magic she had and magic was crucial. It was an important part of her and she was always upset that she couldn't access it, that it wasn't there. Phobos had always told her not to worry, that it would come in its own time and be as powerful as she was strong-willed, that it would just take patience, but she knew he worried as well. All of her family had magic, even her father who had married into the magical family. And she always felt like less of the family because of it, no matter who told her that she was just as much a part of the family as everyone else. They'd always said that different people got different traits, and while her brother and sister had magic, maybe she'd be more physically skilled in fighting and planning, a warrior more than a sorcerer. She'd doubted it. She doubted herself. But now, now she had hope. All she had to do was get to Phobos and speak with him about it. He was the most magically advanced out of the three of them. Her sister had been kidnapped, knowing nothing of her destiny in Meridian, or her magic, and Will had often thought of her in concern, wondering how she'd react and if she'd cope. And then that turned to envy. At least she had magic.
Before her parents' death, they had tried several rituals, ceremonies and magical therapies to try and get her magic to work, but nothing ever happened, and along with everyone else, they slowly lost hope that she'd ever have magic. "So…what can I do?" She enquired. Halinor chuckled gesturing to the hard-wood door in the living room that led to the basement. "You can beat Cedric up for a start. The damn reptile shed scales in the basement again." Will laughed. It wasn't the first time. Cedric often stayed with them on scout missions or when he was checking up on them for Phobos. The Prince had successive paranoia after multiple kidnappings and attempted kidnappings of his red-headed companion and found regular reports and visits were the only way to reassure him something bad wouldn't happen. Cedric often laughed about his Lord, saying he'd have heart failure before the rebels could try to kill him again. It always made the girl scowl, one cause being it amused Cedric, the other being the thought of the people she openly despised. It was another reason for her reluctance, hesitance to accept the growing feelings for Caleb. Though she didn't know what they were exactly, she didn't understand them, she knew it was something stronger than liking him. Something stronger than friendship. There was something compelling her to be with him, talk to him, hug him, comfort him, do anything she could to make him happy. But she was cautious to accept it.
He was a rebel leader who launched attacks on Phobos, showing pure hatred and loathing of the Prince. She couldn't feel for him because of that. Because it was betrayal and it couldn't be changed. But Wilhelmina could argue that the rebel was changing, changing for the better. He had readily agreed to delay his return to the rebellion so he could learn about her; maybe she could stop him from being like the others. She could stop him from hurting people for what the rebels saw as a better world, stop him from becoming a monster, driven by the power of fear he held over people he'd hurt. Yes, she decided, she could save him if she tried, if she assured him that her feelings for him were as strong as the ones she suspected he felt for her. "Wilhelmina," Halinor called, "Come and get your breakfast dear. You need to eat before going to see Yan Lin. Wouldn't want to lose that strength because you're not full of energy now would you?" Will agreed, running over to the kitchen island and sitting down, as a steaming breakfast was placed in front of her. It would be best to begin her journey with plenty of energy. After all, Phobos wouldn't be pleased to learn she'd skipped the most important meal of her day, and it was best if she didn't anger him.
****Rebel Fire****
"Hey guys! What's up?" A pale blonde haired, blue orphan Annie eyed, thirteen year old Elyon Brown walked towards the Guardians. She was their best friend, or rather, she was everyone else's friend and Cornelia's best friend. The Earth Guardian had picked her out of a group of bullies, befriending her and offering protection from the cheerleaders, bringing her into their tight knit group and making them all friends. The taller blonde welcomed her with Hay Lin while Taranee peered over Irma's shoulder, offering a misdirected wave. Elyon didn't question it, knowing Taranee was probably doing something important, which the dark-skinned girl thought she was. The Fire Guardian was trying to monitor Irma's texting.
Before Will had left the Silver Dragon, Irma had found the girl's phone and used it to call her own phone, giving Will her number and Irma Will's number. Saving Red's number under speed dial #4, she did the same for Will, putting the other three Guardians' numbers into the device before the red-head could protest. The Water Guardian had been hoping to see Will at school that morning, but she'd failed to turn up and it was now lunch, the first chance she'd gotten to text the girl. So, the moment she stepped outside, she'd whipped out her phone and decided to text her. Taranee, reverting to her more over-cautious persona, something that had immediately caught the Water Guardian's attention, was now supervising her in case she did something rude or cursed the poor girl out of it. "What're you doing, Irma?" Irma didn't look up from her phone as she hit 'send', answering Elyon's question with a simple, "Texting Will." The now confused girl looked to the others for answers and received their brief explanation of running into Will and Caleb, two friends they'd made over 'summer break' and finding out they'd moved to Heatherfield. It wasn't the greatest lie, but it was good enough that it wouldn't get too many questions, just little ones they had planned answers for. Taranee then told her that Will wasn't at school and Irma was texting her to find out why, when they were interrupted by Irma's grumbling.
"That's just brilliant!" She turned to the group, looking away from her phone to stare at her friends with a sour expression. "Will doesn't start school 'till Monday! That's almost a whole week!" The Guardian frowned as Cornelia shrugged, uncaring, and Hay Lin and Taranee merely smiled sympathetically. Elyon, who didn't even know the girl, seemed to have a more sincere and apologetic look; like she was genuinely sorry that Irma's newest friend couldn't be here. As if to confirm the suspicion, Elyon spoke, "I'm sorry she's not here Irma, I'd love to meet her. She sounds like a really nice person." Irma nodded her head, muttering, "She is" and giving her other friends a steely eyed gaze. It seemed Irma and Elyon were the only two readily agreeing to be Will's friends, even if Elyon hadn't voiced it, she was the new girl once and if it weren't for Cornelia and the others, she wouldn't have had any friends. So she would do the same for the new girl, not only because Irma was already her friend, but because she understood what it was like. But the fact that the others, who knew her to some extent, had met her, spent time with her, rescued her and had basically kidnapped her weren't even willing to give her a chance, was annoying Irma. It was the least they could do.
But, she sighed, it'll just take a while. Not everyone makes fast friends like I do. And, she supposed, my friends are just some of those people. The bell rang at the same time a new text arrived. Looking down again, she opened the message, hushing Taranee who was trying to pull her away. Tapping her foot anxiously, she watched the screen as it loaded at an unbearably slow pace. It seemed technology had decided to hate her. Maybe as an act of revenge to how she viciously typed texts on her phone. "Oh come on!" The phone bleeped and the screen lit up with four confusing lines, tagged at the end with a W.
'Sand sees every move,
mention not who you are in fear of the ocean who watches,
waiting to strike.
Remain cautious no matter where you are—W'
Irma cocked an eyebrow, blue eyes wandering through the words again. Well, Will certainly had the whole cryptic thing perfected to a fine art. But maybe it was something about Phobos. Something she couldn't say outright because it was seen as a betrayal…maybe it was a hint. And if Irma just so happened to guess what it was, then it wouldn't be Will's fault, right? Ocean?…well what's an ocean…water… "Blue! Blue that watches…eyes…So blue eyes—" "Irma come on! We're late!" Taranee yanked her arm, causing the phone to fall, crashing to the ground. Her eyes widened as Irma failed to catch it and it landed with a thud followed by a whimper. Taranee turned away, irritated as Irma fussed over the phone. Rushing to pick it up, her horrified shriek called the others' attention. Taranee groaned and grudgingly walked over as Irma hammered on the phone violently.
Taking the device away, the screen revealed one message. Text deleted.
****Rebel Fire****
Halinor stood in the Lin kitchen with Yan Lin, the duo watching Wilhelmina and Caleb interact. "Yeah well…not half as cute as you." Will's face became unseemly hot, blood rushing to the surface as she ducked her head slightly. Blushes, laughter and shy smiles were exchanged on both sides, but Will's reactions caused Halinor to smile almost giddily.
She'd never seen her like that before, so vulnerable and open, especially not with boys. The thought of Will and Caleb being together, in love, sent a burst of curiosity through her. She wondered what made him so different from the boys she turned down, when she saw it—Caleb spoke to her. Not down to her, not about her, he spoke to her. He flattered her, he complimented her, he unknowingly flirted with her, but it was always him speaking to her, with her. He was direct, as was she, and it merely affirmed the belief that they would be together. "They suit each other," Yan Lin nodded her agreement before turning to Halinor with a serious expression, having noticed some things of her own. Will had come, she knew, to ask questions and get advice, to enquire about new developments. But the second she had seen Caleb, she'd strayed from the path to the woman, asking the rebel if he wanted to talk. He'd immediately welcomed the idea with more enthusiasm than Hay Lin, leading Yan Lin to see more than friendship burning between the duo. But the two former Guardians had yet to engage in conversation, having been watching the teenagers. "Hali," she began, "why is it you have come?" Halinor grimaced, eyes still on the couple. "Wilhelmina wishes to know why she suddenly possesses enhanced strength. She wishes to enquire about your theories seeing the only magic she has ever been able to perform was tele-transportation. Meridian magic is extremely potent, she knows that and she knows it would've shown when she was younger. Even the younger princess' magic showed after birth and we both know she was the weakest of the three of them."
Yan Lin hesitated, frowning in her thoughts. It was obviously the curious nature of the red-head that led to so much knowledge on her birth magic. And Phobos no doubt concerned, probably taught the girl more in hope she would discover a trigger. He always was a worry-wart. Ironic against flawless skin. But Wilhelmina was a chink in his royal armour. An opening to take a shot at him. Their relationship had always been odd, sometimes dysfunctional and other times…normal. Sometimes, he remained in his normal role, other times he was a father to her. A father who had no idea how to be one, his own father never being as caring or loving as he tried to be. Punishments were his weaker suit, often being too harsh in comparison to the punishments of average children, but it was how he was punished as a child, it was the only way he knew to punish children. But no matter what other qualities or flaws he had, he always worried over Wilhelmina, making sure she had everything she wanted, knew everything she needed to. It was the side that only Wilhelmina saw. It was the good side of her big brother. "What theory did you suggest, Hali?" "A build-up of mystic energy or the prevalence of her birth powers. She seemed to enjoy both ideas." Nodding again, the older woman delved into her thoughts. She could agree with Halinor, but Wilhelmina had her brother's tendency to be over-suspicious. The girl might think they were lying and that Halinor had told Yan Lin to agree. No matter how long the girl had known the ex-Guardians, she still always read too much into things, doubting her own knowledge of people to go with her suspicions. It was true in most cases that her suspicions were correct, being based from her gut instinct, a thing stronger than any magic.
Thoughts jumbled and mixed together, ideas spewing about before coming to a stop as one presented itself. A blockage, magical obviously, could explain it to the girl. Yan Lin could say there was a seal that may have been placed on her, blocking her powers and that it was deteriorating slowly, allowing the magic to flow freely. But the chances Phobos had thought of it and done something to remove any block, were too high. There was too much of a risk, and even if there wasn't, a blockage could only explain so much. And the moment she was revealed to be a Guardian, any trust or belief in the two old women would be lost. Any faith formed in the Guardians could be lost and she could turn to Phobos fully.
A crash from the basement drew the older pair's attention. "Just like old times," she cracked as Halinor led the way down. There was scuttling, rummaging before a green blob threw itself at them. Halinor reacted first, hurling the creature into the far wall with a blast of magic. The two women covered their eyes from the harsh light of the blast, waiting 'till it cleared to reveal…A passling. But not just any passling. It was Blunk, the passling who'd shared the oubliette with Will and Caleb. About to reprimand the creature, Halinor stepped forward when a glint of silver caught her eyes. A key. Picking it up, Halinor turned the key in her hands before she saw it. It was undeniable whose key this was as soon as she saw the seal of Phobos in the metal. It was the Guard's key.
Caleb gripped the passling by the throat, sneering at him in anger as he lectured him about stealing the key. Vathek was going to be discovered or killed for not having the key if Caleb didn't get it back soon. It was the danger of being a spy. A danger Vathek welcomed, trusting Caleb to put the key back and for it to be there. But if it wasn't returned soon, all faith in Caleb would be lost and the rebel would be shamed in the rebellion, distrusted. Will was being restrained from beating the rebel senseless by Halinor, she was ready to pummel him for man-handling Blunk, though, as Caleb wasn't yet a man, she supposed, it was more boy-handling Blunk or bullying. Either way it was seriously annoying her and she wanted to do something about it. "Caleb, stop!" He shook his head, rattling the passling when suddenly he was shaking Will.
Gasping, he pulled back, releasing her and muttering various curses and apologies as she nodded. His face was ghostly white and she was almost certain he'd fall over. Just imagine if she'd used super-strength to hammer his ass. The poor boy would've passed out. "How did—did you—" "Do that?" He nodded stiffly, still wondering how Angel could do that now but not in the oubliette. Though his theory was probably right and she had more or less confirmed it that she couldn't leave on her own, this was magic and it had different rules. "It's magic, called tele-transportation. The only magic I currently have…" she trailed off, blowing a strand of hair out of her face. Caleb knew almost instantaneously that she was leaving something out. But it wasn't lying, just not telling him everything, and he could probably find out later. It probably wasn't that big of a deal. "And—" "No. The oubliettes are magic proof. But, it is how I hit you in the face the day we met." Well, he blushed, great memories. He could hear Halinor and Yan Lin laughing, cackling away like old hags, neither of them trying to stifle it. It seemed, no matter where the rebel travelled to, people didn't mind teasing, humiliating or embarrassing him. And it became apparent that it never got old either.
"So…I'm going to bring this back to the castle—" "I'm coming!" He groaned, face-palming for even thinking he could finish a sentence before he finally registered her words. He shook his head immediately, about to protest, deny her the right to go when she offered several valid points, reasons why she should in fact be brought along. "I can tele-transport you around and I know the castle better than anyone. I can help." There seemed to be an undertone in her voice, but he couldn't translate it, decode it; understand it. Angel looked to the two women for support, a glint in her eyes and received their strong agreement, both explaining the odds of them surviving together would be much higher than Caleb by himself. Though both women knew, if Will went with Caleb, they would have more time to plot their excuse and anticipate questions. "So….you're taking me, then?" He groaned loudly, tilting his head back and feeling a heated stare on him. Angel's. He realized he was flexing a moment later, fighting back a grin and finally grumbling, "Yes." She jumped up and down a few times before hugging him and at that moment, he didn't mind that she was coming. Maybe something good would come of it.
Stepping outside the restaurant, they allowed Blunk to lead them towards the portal, walking side by side as the passling scampered ahead. The Guardians were still at school and would be told about their adventure later in the day, when they gathered at the restaurant. It would do no good to pull them out in the middle of class, or sending them texts only for them to get detention. "You know…" His hand brushed against hers, sparks sending jolts of electricity arcing through her fingers as his larger ones interlaced with hers. She bit back a shiver at his touch, instead choosing to watch their hands as they swung back and forth between them. "I still don't know your real name." He hinted as Will bobbed her head. She was actually contemplating telling him, giving it over for his personal use, in hatred, in love, in whatever emotion he would act with after learning it. She was really considering giving it to him because of what she hoped to accomplish on this 'mission'. She wanted to go home, and here Caleb was, unknowingly giving her that opportunity. This was her chance, but if she took it, it almost ensured that she'd never see Caleb again until Phobos decided to arrest and execute him for touching his little sister.
Rephrase that; for touching his favourite little sister. After all, Will was one of two sisters of the Prince, there had to be a significant difference other than the fact she was the only red-head in three generations of the family and that she was older than the other Princess by a year and one month. That and the fact she was the only powerless child, so to speak. But if Phobos found out she was infatuated with a rebel leader, which no matter how much she denied it, she was, then he'd try to kill Caleb. "Portal here! Here! Here!" And no matter what methods she used to hide it, no matter what she'd done, he always found out. "…Caleb…" He looked at her, the words on her lips as the last thought of Phobos echoed in her head. Always.
****Rebel Fire****
"Ms Lair!" Her maths teacher hollered. She looked up from the scribbles that coated two full pages of her math's copy and quickly slammed it shut as she answered, "Yes Mr Finch?" "That looks very interesting. Rather creative. Care to share with the class?" Several students looked over at her with intrigued stares as she shook her head politely. The enquiring gazes of Elyon, Cornelia and Hay Lin met hers and they quickly turned around as she glared at the two Guardians pointedly, instead offering Elyon a 'tell ya later' smile. Taranee stayed face down in her copy, writing down the equations from the board. She knew what it was about. Irma had fumed at her for ten minutes about the 'unbelievably important super cryptic mega crucial text' Will had sent and had continuously repeated what she could remember until she'd written it down. And now, she'd spent the better part of three classes trying to decode it, stating it was a warning about Phobos. "No thanks sir, people might try and steal my creative vision." The teacher let out an amused chuckle, sending her a look she knew all too well and then turning to the board to continue explaining how to solve simultaneous linear equations. He and Irma got on fairly well. She had a very plan-wise brain that was capable of doing an awful lot of complicated maths and Mr Finch appreciated her casualness about it. So whenever she slacked off or didn't pay attention, he'd let it slide with the look, the 'pass the next exam or you get detention next time' look. It was their silent agreement that as long as Irma passed tests and exams, then she would get away with certain things in class.
Sending a lop-sided grin at the staring pupils, she opened her copy and picked up her pen, preparing herself to try and decode and remember more when a thought occurred to her. What were Will and Caleb doing right now? She'd seen the rebel that morning, who'd immediately become flustered when Will was mentioned, though she'd filled Hay Lin in on the 'name game' and so they'd referred to her as 'Carrot Top', 'Red Riding Hood', which Caleb seemed to understand the basic gist of after Hay Lin explained a bunch of random fairy tales to him when he arrived, and 'Angel'. In those few moments of adorable awkwardness, Will and Caleb had become her new favourite couple, having just signed themselves up on Hay Lin and Irma's matchmaking list. On one page of her copy, was the text message, the translations and the words she'd subbed in for what she couldn't remember and then subsequently crossed out because they didn't fit. On the other page of her copy were possible couple names for Will and Caleb. It seemed to frustrate her as much as the text message because she just couldn't find the right one, let alone think of a decent one. 'Willeb' sounded weird. 'Calill' sounded too much like a boy's name. And they were the first two normal ones. The more wacky and random included; 'Puppy Brown Eyes', 'Meridian Mysteries' and 'Carrot Top and Thumper'. Irma had discovered that morning; Caleb had a habit of tapping his foot in odd and uncomfortable silences, instantly reminding her of the little bunny from 'Bambi'.
Brushing everything out of her mind, she concentrated. She focused on things they did, who they were. Well, she thought, Will is fiery and Caleb is… Snapping her fingers she hastily wrote down the idea, ignoring her teacher's befuddled look as she grinned insanely. She had got it. The perfect couple name. Their name; Rebel Fire.
So, there you have it. In case it wasn't obvious to some people, or the clues and statements didn't make sense, because I do tend to not make sense sometimes, Phobos is Will's brother and she's his favourite sister. Chapter 13 will finish up about the key and will clue Irma in on certain things. Till next time!