So my friends, readers and reviewers, here it is! The next chapter! Enjoy.
Gentle tear drops reflected the rain as a mother looked down on to her child. Flaming red locks and bright cinnamon eyes greeted her eyes as she let out small tears of happiness. It was September, and her first daughter was born. And all the mother could do was cry. Crying tears of joy, of happiness, of glee. Though it was odd. Neither she nor her husband had red hair, but she supposed it was from her grandparents' generation. She cautiously pecked the little girl's head, smiling wildly at her as the curious little brown eyes blinked, taking in everything. She was quite like her older brother, Phobos. He too took in fine details, curious and suspicious. The nurse smiled at her kindly, gesturing for the baby. "What will her name be, my lady?" The nurse, Helena, had helped Queen Weira birth her son, Phobos and was considered a friend to the Queen in many ways. She helped her so much and the Queen greatly appreciated it. "Wilhelmina, Helena. Her name shall be Wilhelmina."
With that, Helena carried the baby out of the Queen's sight, taking her to the nursery where a tall, thin long-haired blonde boy stood, watching from the corner. "Good evening, my Prince." She curtsied, placing the little princess in the crib and covering her in the softest of woollen blankets to keep her warm. "What is it, Helena?" The boy asked, stalking towards her as he tried to see what lay in the cradle. "Tis a baby, Phobos. A new healthy baby sister." Curiosity lit his blue eyes as he gazed down at the child, allowing the nurse to leave. The little baby appeared to be sleeping, but the moment he reached out to touch her, her eyes opened. Startling cinnamon that both intrigued and unnerved him with their depth stared at him as tiny fingers gripped his hand. He expected her to cry or whine or be frightened of him and do both, but she remained quiet as if a mute. But Helena had said she was healthy and so she couldn't be mute. Her little hands pulled on his fingers, pulling him closer as one hand reached out towards him, tugging playfully on a loose lock of his blonde hair. He smiled slightly, taking her up into his arms unsurely as she played with his hair. He found she amused him, if only slightly, as she tugged on the strands. "What an interesting little thing." He whispered, pulling his hair from her grasp as she tried to experimentally put it in his mouth. A door opened, causing the prince to turn towards it where he saw his uncle, his mother's brother, smiling at him. He appeared confused as the man stared at him, trying to understand before he realized he too was smiling. Actually smiling. "You like your sister, do you Phobos?" He nodded, ducking his head slightly out of embarrassment. The man stepped towards him, grinning as he placed a hand on his back. "Do you know her name?" "She has one?" The older man chuckled out of amusement before nodding. "Wilhelmina, Phobos. That is her name." "Wilhelmina." he muttered, trying it out on his tongue before nodding. "It sounds nice...like it suits her." His uncle nodded, turning to leave and go visit his own sister before glancing back at the prince again to see the little girl had gotten a grasp of his hair, the prince smiling at her as he poked her nose. They looked...normal. Like a proper brother and sister. Jaden smiled at his nephew. Maybe there was hope for him to change yet.
****Rebel Fire****
The overhead bell of the restaurant chimed as the Guardians entered the Silver Dragon, Cornelia brooding, Taranee thinking and Hay Lin and Irma talking excitedly about making 'Rebel Fire' official. The restaurant was empty, Yan Lin having closed up early for several reasons; the lack of customers, the arrival of her friend, the disappearance of her server and the coming of the Guardians. There wasn't much point to keep it open. Yan Lin and Halinor looked up with a knowing glance at the children's arrival as Cornelia groaned, "You've barely known them for five minutes and you're already trying to set them up!" "Hush Corny! I know more about them in five minutes than you could in three days!" Taranee adjusted the frames of her glasses as Cornelia seethed at her nickname. The Fire Guardian glanced around the restaurant sparingly, taking note of the new face while Hay Lin took note of the two absences, completely oblivious to the argument about to kick-off as she asked, "Hey guys, where are Will and Caleb?" Irma tore her gaze from the blonde, glare firm in place as she looked around to find the Asian girl was right, they weren't there. She caught the silent conversation between Yan Lin and another old woman and cocked an eyebrow. Who was she?
"Yo Yan, who's your friend?" She asked as Hay Lin furrowed her brow. A few days ago she was addressed as Mrs Lin and now she was 'Yan'? Did she miss something? Was Irma speaking with her grandmother behind her back about something other than boys or had she just lost her manners again? "Guardians," the woman nodded, "this is Halinor. The former Guardian of Fire, a past member of the Council of Candrakar and an old friend of mine. She is also Will's caretaker." Irma stared at them, arms crossed over her chest and foot tapping. On a side note, she would've teased her friend that she'd look like Halinor when she got older, wrinkled with greying hair, but she was thinking and that required…the serious face.
So, Halinor was the Fire Guardian, Yan Lin was air, Cassidy was water and Nerissa was the Keeper. But who was the Earth Guardian? Yan Lin said they were a complete set, Guardians and Keeper, but who controlled Corny's element. "You know, Mrs Lin, you still haven't said where Will and Caleb are," Taranee pointed out as the older woman, Halinor, stood from her seat, acknowledging the group with a polite nod. "The rebel leader—" "Caleb." "—right, Caleb. Caleb is returning a stolen guard's key to a spy in the castle. Wilhelmina is escorting him." Irma nodded, completely fine with it as she thought before the words registered in her mind and she jumped, her mouth forming a perfect 'o' shape as she gasped. If Will went with him to Meridian, Caleb would be on his own. The girl had wanted to stay at the palace, the Guardians had basically kidnapped her and convinced her to stay a while, but if she got the chance to go back, there would be no one preventing her. But Irma wasn't worried about her coming back, no. Halinor was here, her caretaker, Will had to come back. Irma was worried about Caleb. When Will abandoned him, as she no doubt would, Caleb would be alone in a palace full of angered guards, a pissed off Prince Phobos who would've without a doubt been worried out of his mind about his companion, and Lizard Lips. How in hell would he escape?
"We've gotta go!" Cornelia enthused. All eyes turned to her and she meekly offered, "They might need our help." The other Guardians agreed immediately, brushing off the unbelievably dark blush on the Earth Guardian's cheeks before Irma thought of something. How would they get to Meridian? After Will had pulled Caleb through with her enhanced strength, they had closed the portal. There was no way they could just reopen it. Unless Yan Lin had failed to mention that as a Guardian power. But Irma trusted the woman…somewhat, and she believed that she would've been told. Or at the very least, Yan Lin would've hinted at it and Irma would've connected the dots. But she hadn't said anything, so it was far from likely.
A series of crashes and bangs drew everyone outside to the dumpster in the alley. Trash was being flung left and right, splattering, clattering and smashing into the cement. Irma led the way to the rubbish tip, hands pressed together like a gun as she readied herself when out popped their answer. Blunk; the portal sniffing passling.
****Rebel Fire****
"You never said anything to my question," Caleb whispered. They had walked to the village in search of disguises and Angel had still not said anything regarding her name. She shrugged her shoulders, her face the image of innocence as she replied, "You never asked a question. You hinted towards a request for my name. You merely suggested I tell you, which I shall not do." He frowned as she laughed to herself, observing the many stalls and houses. She didn't venture from the castle much, and whenever she did, she was driven in a carriage with curtains drawn over the windows, never permitted to look outside into the streets. It was very dark, she noted, wet after it had rained. There were few people wandering about on the narrow streets and it only made the demand for disguises greater. "Well, I would still like to—" "Hey! You! Stop!" The duo turned around to see a guard on patrol pointing at them, hand resting on his sword hilt. "Rebel scum! I'm taking you in! Come here!" Sharing a glance, they agreed, taking off in a heated sprint around the corner, into the alley.
Speeding down the alley, they found it split into two pieces, much like the halls of the castle. "Left!" Caleb exclaimed, shoving Will in that direction and leading her through a series of zigzags. Once they were sure they had lost the guard, he pulled her arm jerking her around the next corner only to crash into four cloaked figures. "Well, fancy seeing you two here."
Will looked up, ready to curse the person who spoke out of it when she saw a familiar face under the hood of the cloak. Irma. The Guardians. Of course they'd be here. They all smiled slightly at her and Caleb while Irma helped her up, offering her a cloak. "Got one spare, doll-face. We're going into this Phantom of the Opera style! Get hooded up!" Will complied slipping the brown material around her and pulling the hood up as she turned to Caleb. Hay Lin was trying and failing at helping him up as he sat there, humoured. Will paused a second, ready to tell him he had to get up by himself when she remembered. She had super strength. "'Scuse me." She said politely, before taking Caleb's hand and pulling him up to stand with a light tug. "Not so macho now, are ya?" She teased as he rolled his eyes. Of course she would say something like that. He was about to retort when the splash of someone running through a puddle came to their attention. The guard. "Hey!" he called out, still running, "you rebel! Get back here!" The Guardians prepared themselves for a fight, stepping forward and pushing Caleb behind them out of sight. They were about to do the same to Will when she stepped into the Guard's sight, pulling her hood down to reveal her face. "Over here!" She called out as Irma stiffened. She would betray them now? "The rebel's over here!" The Guard ran forward, missing Will's wink to the other cloaked figures, stopping to salute her before turning to Caleb. "You dirty rebel scum—" Will tapped his shoulder, noticed in the guard's peripheral vision. He offered a slightly confused look, not turning from Caleb. "Miss?" She coughed into her fist, demanding his attention, and who was he to refuse? Turning his scarred face towards her fully, he questioned again, "Miss?" only to collide with Wilhelmina's fist, immediately falling to the ground with a thud. Will paused a moment, grinning before apologizing to Caleb. Her voice dripped with false sincerity and teasing as she exclaimed, "I'm so sorry, Caleb! Now you're not the only one who walked into my fist!" The Guardians snickered as Irma turned to the rebel with the Guard's boot in hand. She held it up, sniffing it before waving away the smell with a grimace. "Urgh! Ugly packs a stench!" Throwing it to Caleb as she cringed, holding her nose, a plan formulating in her mind. "Reckon he's your shoe size?"
Caleb pulled the horse to a stop, nodding to the Guard blocking the gates to the castle. He was dressed in a far too large guard's uniform, driving a hay cart. "Hay for Prince Phobos' horses," he croaked, attempting to make his voice sound deep and mature. The guard waved him in, directing him to the stables. Taking note of his surroundings, he pulled up by the stables. Quickly surveying the area, he gave Will and the Guardians the signal to come out of the hay stack, assuring them it was safe. The Guardians merely jumped out of the hay stack, Caleb ignoring them completely as he focused in on Will. She placed her foot on the edge of the cart and Caleb quickly offered her his hand. She took it without question, a brighter gleam in her eyes as he lifted her out, setting her down beside him within breathing space. "Well it's nice to know it'll just get creepier every time we come." Irma chirped. Hay Lin giggled lightly as Cornelia turned to 'Rebel Fire' noticing how close together they stood. Caleb was holding on to her forearm, speaking in quick hushed tones. She frowned as she addressed Caleb, opting for casual rudeness as she drawled, "Well genius, how're we getting inside?" In response, he turned to Will with a grin, gesturing for her to step forward and explain. He seemed overly proud of her, like he was stunned by her, amazed by every breath she took and every move she made. Cornelia hardly saw what he saw. She saw a girl, he saw a goddess.
Will glared at him for a moment, waiting until he flinched some before looking to the Guardians in slight shyness. "I have some magic. Specifically, it's called tele-transportation and it means I can move us from here to inside a certain part of the castle. But I can't move us around because Phobos will recognise my magical imprint and come running to get me, meaning you're screwed. I can get us in and out, but we'll have to go by foot inside and give Vathek the key." Caleb grabbed her arm again, staring at her in confusion as the Guardians processed everything. He stared at her sternly, confusion and shock mixing into the blur of emotions in his shaded emeralds. "I never said Vathek's name. I never expressed thought or voiced any idea that he was the rebel spy." The Guardians looked up, curious. Irma, the most curious of them all. She was intrigued by her new ally. The girl was a mystery waiting to be unravelled and while she was sure Caleb would love to do it by himself, she found herself piecing together bits of her puzzle, bit by bit. She would discover the truth of this girl soon. But soon would be too far away if Will kept adding new secrets to her batch. The red-head only smiled at him, throwing in a wink as she replied, "What you don't know won't hurt you." Yet, Irma thought bitterly, What we don't know won't hurt us, yet.
"Now," Wilhelmina looked the group over with calculating eyes as she enquired, "Who hates planes?" They seemed caught off guard and well, no one could blame them. It was quite a random question to ask in the middle of a rescue mission, but then again, many surprises came from Will. Cornelia and Taranee shyly raised their hands, as if embarrassed, while Caleb enquired what a plane was. He didn't like that there was so much he didn't know. So much he didn't understand. But he supposed, he'd have to adapt. Learn to lean on others and ask for help. It would be a new experience, difficult, but he was willing to try. Will sighed, looking at the pair in sympathy. "Then you're going to hate this," she beamed as they disappeared in a flash of green light, leaving only the dust.
****Rebel Fire****
Cornelia fell to the ground, landing on her ass as Taranee leaned against the wall for support before looking at it in amazement. That hadn't been there a second ago. "You did it!" She shrieked before Will hushed her. She beckoned them forward, watching a green-faced Gaea in caution before walking on with Caleb. The sound of mindless chatter reached their ears as Gaea started squirming. Her skin felt like it was being rubbed raw, itching as she stumbled her way forward, barely catching Irma looking at Will and muttering, "Is this small, blood-sucking insect what I think it is?" Caleb stopped at a corner, pulling the other Guardians behind him as Cornelia continued walking. She reached into her cloak, turning away from the sniggering red-head who nodded solemnly, and tugged out an identical bug before screeching in horror, "Fleas!" Caleb's eyes flashed up in silence as the same fell over the chatter. Looking around the corner, he mentally face-palmed. The Guard's Room. The equivalent to a small army stared up at Cornelia as the three other Guardians rushed to stand by her with a grin. Cloaks flew to the ground in a dramatic fashion as Irma cracked her knuckles, working the creak out of her neck with a shit-eating grin as she exclaimed, "Let's get this party started!"
The Guards all glared at the Guardians, fighting them in large groups. Cornelia stood spinning gleefully on a wooden table she'd brought to life, Taranee throwing fireballs and large flaming rings at her attackers with more confidence than ever seen before. Hay Lin was diving in between the men, laughing as she flew through them, clusters of guards smashing into each other as they failed to catch her. Irma was using her hands like a gun, shooting bursts of water at them in her own psychotic laughter, making wise cracks. It all seemed to go well, even for Caleb who slammed shields into their faces, fighting like only a trained warrior could as he tried to draw all their attention away from his girl, before a guard escaped him and attacked Will.
The axe landed hard in the stone floor, barely a centimetre between it and her foot. She stared at its wielder incredulously as she gulped heavily, thoughts crowing in on her. This wasn't the first time her brother's promise was broken. And after many attempted and successful kidnappings, she had accepted that the rebels and Phobos' other enemies would ensure she was never safe at home; it was one of the reasons she lived in Earth's safety with Halinor. But never, not once, had a member of her brother's guard attacked her. Never had the young princess been harmed by any guard or creature under her brother's control. The beastly man looked her in the eyes with pure hatred burning in their depths before it shifted, faded and was replaced with another emotion. He began stumbling backwards, as if only now realizing who she was, and he clambered back in fear.
Prince Phobos used to bring Wilhelmina to the throne room, often using her to scare or torture people, threaten them and instil the fear of the Gods into their hearts. Any guard who joined the ranks was warned, cautioned and threatened that should they anger, harm or frighten the Princess, then they were at her mercy. And not even Phobos could intervene.
"I-I-I'm so s-s-sorry, maje—" Slap!
The sound of skin hitting skin, flesh colliding against flesh echoed in the hall as everyone stopped their own battles, watching as the guard tumbled to the ground several feet away from where Will was stood after backhanding him. He coughed slightly, blood protruding from a cut in his face as he shook. He didn't dare move in fear she'd only kill him. A burning red rage, as hot as the once burning three faces of Meridian's suns, encased her as she strode towards him, lifting him by the diagonal leather strap of his sheathe and glowering at him. Fear was etched into every feature ass he held him up for the crowd of men. The Guardians had backed out of their circle of enemies, coming closer together in a protective stance as Will stood glaring into the packs of guards who cowered before her. "Do you know who I am?" She enquired as they quickly nodded. She was the child of fire. White hot rage burned in her veins and the flames of her fury licked at her enemies, scorching them as fear melted into them, becoming blood. "Then you should be able to understand that what I say is rule." They nodded again. Her confidence returned as she thought of her brother and his act of betrayal to her that she now knew as truth. But she brushed it off and continued with her demand. "The Guardians shall not be harmed. You will cease fighting them at once." Many nodded, grudgingly but accepting it until one voice called out, "Why! So they may escape? We follow no orders of a traitor!" Instantly the man who spoke was flat on his back with the guard Will had held on top of him as she hissed, "I am no traitor!"
Irma and Hay Lin shivered, feeling ice tingle their spines at the coldness of her voice. She was commanding and scary now, not like what she was before. Her playfulness and wit had disappeared, replaced with cold detachment and fierce anger. Irma gathered the Guardians behind the red-head, watching the guards squirm under her scrutiny. She believed what Will had said, understanding in her shame, that maybe she was wrong about the girl. Will was trying to protect them, and for that, she stood behind her, allowing the girl to do so. "What will Phobos think, milady? He shall see you a traitor." The man who spoke, one of the officers, stepped forward and Will's shoulders slumped slightly as she replied, "He shall see what he sees. Hear what he hears." She paused, turning around, her head hanging low, "But he shall hear nothing from you." Looking straight at Irma and Hay Lin, jabbing her thumb in the opposite direction with a, for lack of a better word, evil smirk on her face, she asked, "Think you can wrap this up?" The duo looked at each other, bobbing their heads in agreement as they took to the air, combining their elements before any could react, freezing the men in place as Caleb approached. "We need to find Vathek." Will shook her head, gesturing for them to follow her as she ran out of the room, calling over her shoulder. "It's too late! This way! They'll throw him into the Abyss of Shadows."
****Rebel Fire****
The Abyss of Shadows was a seemingly bottomless put where extremely dangerous enemies or traitors to Phobos were thrown. It was in a cavern a short distance away from the dungeons and the Guard's Room. The large stone walls turned into rock and clay, natural earth with its stalactites and stalagmites. Rumour had it that you fell forever, your screams echoing in the cavern for all eternity. The Abyss wasn't created; it was just there in the heart of the castle, the royals' home having been built around it. There was legend, a fable or a true tale, no one knew, but there was a story, of the first prince of the palace. It was said the young Prince discovered the Abyss while exploring his new home. Supposedly, the Abyss was alive and cared not for the difference between royal and traitor, swallowing the prince and ensuring he was never seen again. It was Phobos' fear of the Abyss that prevented Will from ever seeing it, but she never believed the stories. She believed that those who respected the pit wouldn't be consumed and that Phobos feared because he had no respect.
"Will, where is it?" Hay Lin enquired before the sound of more chatter reached their ears. Manipulating the winds, she allowed the others to hear the words quite clearly. "Say hello to the other conspirators for me!" Instantly Will's legs pumped harder as she sprinted into the cavern. "You'll get to do that yourself," she snarked, jumping up and preparing to punch the man when he was revealed, turning in time to catch her fist. "Milady Wilhelmina." He smiled as she gasped. Raythor. He pulled her into a quick hug, releasing her just as fast when he received no reply. "Milady, do you not recognise me? It is I, Raythor, your protector!" She nodded, feeling rather numb about what she'd have to do when the Guardians entered the cavern, Irma bending over her knees as she panted, "Jesus Will! You run fast!" Raythor pulled the princess behind him, out of fear as Irma looked up. Her face paled dramatically and she thought she was going to be sick. She wasn't wrong. Will was going to betray them, here and now. It was obvious. The temporary Guardian Leader glanced towards Taranee to see her taking care of the furry Lurden. A fireball was swinging back and forth in front of the hairy creature's eyes as Taranee spoke monotonously, "You are sleepy, not to mention ugly." Hypnosis. Of course. It seemed to work though, as the Lurden quickly collapsed, his eyes crossed under his eyelids.
"Milady, run, I shall take care of the Guardians—" The warrior reached for his sword only to find it missing. Spinning to face Will, he found her hands tightly gripping the handle, the sword's blade pointed at his throat. The Guardians' eyes widened as did Caleb's. He had heard of Raythor protecting a companion of Phobos'. If it was Will, then their bond was told to be unbreakable, and she was about to harm the man who treated her as a daughter. "I offer you a chance, Raythor." Irma barely withheld a gasp. The crystal…the image…That was Raythor? She examined him and nodded to herself, earning a questioning glance from Cornelia, but she shrugged it off. She couldn't possibly force Will to sacrifice her protector, her guard, her friend for the Guardians, could she? The answer came when she made no movement, no sound coming from her other than her breathing. She could.
The soldier reached for the hilt of a small dagger, sneakily, but Will swatted his hand with the weapon, drawing blood as it grazed his skin. "You are a good man, Raythor and have defended me well, but some things with the Prince are not adding up." Her eyes glazed over slightly as she thought of her newest knowledge. The Prince, her brother had lied to her. It wasn't a possibility, it was true. Phobos had lied to her and it shook her at her core. But she steeled. "He has told me so much and most of it…lies." "Milady, what're you talking abou—" "I saw the village, Raythor. The people live in poverty! It is lies and until I find something of truth," she breathed in heavily as Caleb's brow furrowed, she'd never seen the village? She didn't know that the people lived in poverty? Maybe with this new frame of mind… "I'm siding with the Guardians."
Irma gulped heavily as she thought of her former accusations to the red haired girl. She thought she would betray them, and yet here she was, telling her trusted protector that she was siding with the Guardians. She felt like slapping herself, but ignored it as Will continued. It was in everyone's best interest if they paid attention. "I shall uncover my own truth. So, I offer you a choice. Leave with me or by yourself at the very least, or be used to allow Vathek his place in the Guard—" "But he is a traitor!" Will glared at him. A sight the man hadn't seen since she was first assigned a guard that she felt she didn't need, and he found himself wounded. Not by the weapon, but by the daggers her eyes sent towards him. "He is no traitor to me. He defended me just as valiantly as you did and if it weren't for Vathek, I wouldn't know who I am in this world. I would be just as ignorant as my sister." The guard stepped back, bowing his head as Will continued to hold the sword at his neck height, the Guardians merely letting her lead this event. They could all tell that she needed to do this, and most were happy to allow her to lead, she had lead them this far and could finish the mission. Although someone didn't appreciate her leadership, she too agreed it was a good idea, an unspoken one, but an intelligent one. "What must I do?" "Call another guard; tell him to watch the prisoner. Hay Lin and Taranee will move further back into the hallway. They'll 'attack' you and then fake kidnap you. We've got here covered. We'll meet up back at the portal, okay?" Raythor grudgingly nodded, accepting his weapon back and embracing the young girl. He truly did worry for her. "I hope you understand what Phobos will do to you should he find out." "It is time he understands I am old enough to choose for myself. He has no right to dictate me anymore." Raythor released her, holding her by the shoulders as he whispered, "A fine Queen you will be." A statement far from any truth when fate intervened.
Raythor stared harshly at the guard. The man was foolish but no idiot and so for Raythor acting as himself without any glitches was important. "The traitor has made a last request for water. Guard him and make no attempt to leave or abuse him in my absence. His suffering will be in the Abyss and in the Abyss alone." The guard, Turk, jerked his head in understanding and Raythor quickly wandered out of the cavern, taking the desired hallway only to meet the fire and air Guardians. They were waiting for him as planned.
Suddenly, he was caught in a barrage of winds and fireballs until his sword was clattering to the ground with him several feet away. The duo seemed to share a common thought, almost like they had telepathy as they approached him. "Betray us," the fire Guardian, Taranee, hissed, flames licking her fingers, "and Will won't be able to save you." He shook his head. The Guardians didn't frighten him at all in comparison to the Prince. He had seen some of Princess Wilhelmina's punishments and lessons, he had even witnessed several 'kidnappings' and they had forced his loyalty from the Tyrant. It had been lost from him long ago. He would always side with Wilhelmina if it meant being able to protect her, the girl he viewed as his daughter, from that monstrosity. "No one could force me to betray my loyalty." "You're betraying your Prince." The air Guardian countered. She seemed to be calculating something, studying him and it unnerved the soldier. "The Prince is not my Prince. He rules with fear and abuse and has never held my loyalty. Only the lady Wilhelmina." The Guardians nodded, seemingly satisfied before they grabbed him under his arms and carried him to the nearest window. It appeared Will had quite the effect with the guards of the castle. Good or bad, they weren't quite sure. But no one would know until they knew her.
****Rebel Fire****
The new guard, Tork, laughed as he faced Vathek. "Raythor is too honourable!" He scoffed before raising his hand to slap the traitor. Will shivered from her hiding place with the Guardians and Caleb as a wind blew through the cavern, stopping the man where he stood as a voice whispered in the air, "Those who lack respect are swallowed." The trio behind the young princess looked frightened, but Will merely whispered in what she hoped was reassurance, "It's just the Abyss. Those of no respect are swallowed; those who show and earn respect are honoured with their lives." Another wind whispered in the hallow area, snaking around her as it whistled in the tunnels, a voice as cold as ice speaking again, "The lady is correct. Honest in her ways. And for that respect ye are spared." "What lady?" Tork bellowed before Will rose from her perch behind a rock, signalling their plan was in motion. The sudden shuffling of her feet dragged the guard's attention to her as he scoffed again. "She is no lady. Just a wench."
If Will was not annoyed and angry already, then at that moment she sure as hell was. But no emotion was displayed on her face as she tilted her head to the side in an inquiring fashion. "Is that any way to treat the child of fire?" Caleb gasped, drawing Irma's attention as well as Cornelia's. Evidently he'd heard of this other name Will was addressed by, and from his expression, it was not a good thing. He signalled for them to stand and they revealed themselves to the guard, Caleb cracking his knuckles intimidatingly. Tork shook where he stood as Will stepped forward, slamming her fist into his face as she nodded, "Thought not." She extended a hand as she gestured for Vathek to come closer, readying him for his moment. Her extended hand was filled with the cold of a key which she quickly placed under the guard's holster. "Vathek," she nodded as he cupped his hands over his mouth like a megaphone, and yelled out, "Guardians! Help! There are Guardians in the castle!" Will lay him down on the ground, making him appear as though he'd been hit and stood with the others. "Let's just hope this works." She muttered as Irma gestured for her to go, before her tele-transported away to find Taranee and Hay Lin, leaving the trio to face the coming storm.
****Rebel Fire****
The serpent man rounded the corner, seeing the Guardians of Water and Earth with the rebel leader. He noticed a guard and the prisoner on the ground, seemingly unconscious and yelled out on instinct, "S-Seize them!" The Earth Guardian mocked a wave, raising her hands to the rock ceiling. She grinned at him as her fingers crunched and the rock above fell in an avalanche.
Gritting his teeth, he groaned, shoving rubble away and clearing his sight only to learnt the intruders had left. He turned to his platoon and yelled, "S-Search the tunnels-s!" They quickly ran off, each gripping their weapons tightly as they tried to escape the snake's wrath. Fuming, he slithered his way towards the guard. Cedric yanked him up by the holster as he woke, immediately sputtering out, "It was the Guardians! They took me by surprise, sir! Must've come for this traitor." Cedric shook him angrily. Guards were idiots! "Then why did he call the alarm! Why did they leave him here?!" The guard shrugged his shoulders and something clattered to the ground. Looking down, Cedric found the metal of a key entered his sight. The missing key. Tork looked fearfully into the snake's fiery eyes as he stuttered, "N-No, I-I didn't!"
Vathek slowly stirred, pretending to wake, rubbing his head as if he'd been injured. The lizard man turned to him, throwing Tork to the ground beside him like the trash he viewed him as. "Where is Raythor?" he questioned as Vathek groaned. "My las request was a drink of water. He went to fetch it and never returned. Then the Guardians attacked—" "Take the guard to the pris-sons-ss! Then back to your pos-st!" Vathek nodded, internally beaming, grabbed the man by his arms and dragged him away as another guard, an advisor to the general approached. "Sir," he saluted as Cedric nodded, intrigued. "Evidence of two Guardians was found in a tunnel along with this—" he paused before pulling out a freshly polished and sharpened sword, engraved with the name 'Ceral'. Raythor's dead wife's name. His sword. Cedric's slitted eyes widened at the implications. Raythor never let anyone touch his weapon, the sword was always in his possession. For this to have happened—"I must speak with Prince Phobos." He announced, slithering off towards the throne room. The Prince would not be pleased. Especially not on this day.
"The Guardians have what? I beg your pardon, Cedric, I must've miss-heard you. I believe you said the Guardians have kidnapped one of my generals." He seethed. The Prince was in an especially foul mood. Today was one of a lot of days in the year when he was worse than Earth's Satan. There were many days, in one month and he just, couldn't control himself. He hated everything and many found that to approach the Prince on these days, would be signing your own death certificate. No, he was not PMSing. This day was one of the many days frowned upon by the Prince as on this day, six years ago, his favourite sister was kidnapped. Sure, it happened many times, and most of them were his fault. But this one kidnapping, that caused cold-fear, was the only one where he failed in finding her. Nobody dared to disturb his brooding on this day or may the Gods save them. "I did, sire. It is true. And it gets worse—" "Worse? I'm sorry, how could this get worse!" "They appeared at the Abyss of Shadows. Not even the rebels know where that is in the castle." The younger man clicked his tongue, frowning. "What are you implying, Cedric?" The serpent himself cringed as he prepared to answer. If any other man were to say this, they would cower too, but he steeled. "I believe Princess Wilhelmina has assisted them. I believe," he breathed, "she has betrayed you."
****Rebel Fire****
The green light, slowly becoming familiar to the Guardians appeared, disappearing as fast as it had come and leaving Will, Caleb, Irma and Cornelia in its place. Hay Lin, Taranee and Raythor had been collected and left by the portal, waiting for Will to get the others. They were surprised it took as long as it did but surprise was quickly placed with concern and sympathy when they saw Caleb was basically holding Will up. Her breathing was laboured and a light sheen of sweat was covering her face. "You okay Will?" Hay Lin asked as the older girl nodded. "I'm fine, just tele-transporting takes a lot of energy. You guys will be able to do it soon too, but you're connected to these balls of mystic energy called aurameers. It's where you draw your magic from. But I draw magic from myself, so it takes my own energy. I'll rest up and be fine," she looked pointedly at Caleb and he agreed offering a simple, "It helped." Irma's brow furrowed again, something that Cornelia had told her would put worry lines in her skin, but she didn't care. Wasn't Will connected to an aurameers as well, even if she hadn't officially claimed the title of Keeper? Or would she be connected to the aurameer when she was connected to the Heart? It seemed so confusing, yet Will seemed to know so much, yet she was oblivious to her fate. "Hey Irma! You comin'?" The red-head and her brunette walking stick were the last two on Meridian's side of the portal. They were waiting for her. Or Will was waiting for her and she was forcing Caleb to hand back and wait too. The Guardian could hear Will saying waiting for friends was important as Caleb argued that they could wait on the other side of the portal. Irma perked up a bit. Maybe Cornelia was right. It took more than five minutes to know a person. But maybe it only took five minutes to like them. To become friends.
Will lay in bed that night in her night-gown, reading. A glass of water sat on her bedside table and her lamp glared harsh light at her, but she didn't mind. She was trying not to worry, to just clear her mind. "Dear, may I sit?" She jumped at the sound of Halinor's voice. The girl hadn't even noticed her come in. Nodding, Wilhelmina put in her bookmark, leaving the novel closed on her table. "What're you thinking about, Wilhelmina?" The older woman knew her Goddaughter well enough to know she read to escape the worries of this world and delve into another world with more problems than she had. It helped put things in perspective. It made her feel better, think clearer, see things she had missed. "What if Cedric comes here? He'll see Raythor." The woman shook her head, brown eyes warm. "The Oracle has promised me a favour. And that favour has been….cashed in, you could say. Cedric won't come here." Will nodded again, wriggling further down into her bed and pulling the covers closer. "What else, dear?" "It's nothing just…I am—siding with the Guardians," she whispered before quickly adding, "I still love my brother, I don't wish to betray him. But he's lied to me." Halinor looked at her curiously, brushing some red tendrils from her forehead as she asked, "How did you discover he lied to you, pet?" She sighed, tears in her voice as she croaked out, "The village. He said the streets were bright, full of people and that they had nothing to want for that they wouldn't get, but they live in poverty and the village is in shambles…and I just wish to know the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. But no one can give me that except myself. I do not wish to be told what people think is the truth, I wish to find out what I know is the truth." Halinor bobbed her head in understanding, internally cheering. Placing a kiss on her forehead, she turned off the light and made her way out of the attic. It seemed Will no longer wanted council about anything right now, whether it be enhanced strength or what to do about Phobos. For now, the child just wanted to rest.
So Halinor left the girl in peace, glad that she had set herself on this mission to discover what she needed to know. It meant that Phobos was no longer blinding herself and that she would soon see who he really was. Who knows, maybe the Guardians would be together sooner than believed.