Can I just say I'm sorry? Like super, super, super sorry that I haven't updated in forever. Yeah, I know this is a little short and not my best stuff but I kinda lost it for a while and I wasn't sure what I was doing with it so I decided I'm gonna make it a little shorter than what I originally planned and I'm gonna finish it before school starts again...hopefully. I dunno...But because one of my lovely readers (you know who you are) PM'd me and asked me to update soon, I decided I'd get it done by this weekend cuz I'm at my Dad's house and he's forcing me to go outside and...socialize (yuck!). So, I haven't had much time and then by the end of next week I'm gonna be on holiday with him where there's no internet so my summer is screwed and...Y'know what? Whatever, let's get on with it. Again, sozzles for not updating, but here it is...
Irma stared at her, dumbfounded, as she collapsed onto the couch. Her best friend…was her cousin? How the hell could she not know that? "You're my—cousin? And you think to tell me?" Will shook her head. "Remember Irma, I'm from Meridian. The only two people from your family, that I've met are Chris and Anna—my…dad's sister…" "My mom is a…a Meridianite? Holy crap!" Will shook her head, sitting on the couch beside her as Chris crawled into her lap. She smiled sympathetically at Irma, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Not exactly."
A village woman raced into the edge of the woods on horseback, a man; her husband, following her. He yelled out to her, "Don't leave me!" as she continued on. He was much slower, running barefoot in pursuit of the horse. The woman panted heavily, one hand gripping the reins tightly as the other lay carefully on her stomach. She needed to escape Meridian and the man…the man who mated to her, who drank her blood, who became part of her as she did to him…the man who mated her and married her to protect her from the soldiers. He was a good man, a local hero in his village…but he was not her love. "I fear I must, sir." She opened a fold, a bright crackling rip in the universe, then she jumped from her horse, tugging her cloak tightly around her and stepped through. The man appeared in the snow area just as the fold close, muttering a string of curses in a foreign tongue. He took three long strides towards the horse, reaching a tender hand out to stroke its mane as he stared at the place the fold had been. She had left him. His wife had run to her home world; to Earth.
Irma stared at her, even more confused. "So our Gran," she paused, waiting to see Will nod to ensure she was correct before continuing, "was from Earth?" Will nodded again. "She found a fold to Meridian and lived there for two years with a Meridian husband who went vampire and mated her to protect her from a group of rogue terrorist soldiers. She left Meridian while she was pregnant with twins, a boy and a girl." "My mother and your father?" Chris grinned, nodding his little ginger head as Will smiled at him. She'd heard the story from Anna and often explained it to Chris when she looked after him. "Go on Chris," she encouraged. He rubbed his tired eyes, yawning as Will scruffed up his hair. He nudged her with his elbow, leaning against her as he mumbled tiredly, "You tell it Willsy. Tell me a story."
Irma sighed softly, watching the duo interact. Chris was so comfortable with Will, and sure they were cousins, but this was pretty cool stuff. He barely listened to anyone other than their parents. "How did my…Uncle end up in Meridian, though?" Irma enquired as she stared at Will in befuddlement. "he was abandoned in Meridian…It was an accident, but it caused a string of bad emotions to affect his own parenting skills…he reacted violently and cruelly with my brother." Irma allowed the information to seep in, feeling a weight added o her shoulders. Will's brother…her cousin…was abused by her uncle… "What about you or your sister?" "My sister was kidnapped when I was three years old and my father …he was a good man underneath everything and he loved me a lot. He never hurt me and he died when I was younger, so I didn't have to fear that he might hurt me in the future." Will shuffled slightly, cradling Chris closely and rocking him as he fell asleep. "How exactly did my last name not give away the cousin thing?" There was a bundle of questions whizzing through her mind, but she didn't care. Detective Lair was on her own time, with her own family and it was about time someone gave her proper answers.
"My family name is…Escanor…it's a Meridian thing, don't ask, but the name I use on Earth is Vandom. So, Lair…it didn't exactly set off any alarm bells, but it sounded familiar." Irma chuckled, "I think you mean it sounded familial." Will nodded, noting Irma's sarcastic jokes and wit coming into play and gestured to Chris. "I'll put him to bed, then we can clean up down here." She stood up, lifting Chris effortlessly and allowing Irma space to think and collect those thoughts and questions. Her feet padded across the carpet and gently thudded against the stairs as Irma dwelled in the silence. It lasted a moment, then two…three…four—Shrugging her shoulders she pulled her phone from her pocket and dialled the Hale household. 'Might as well get Lillian to mess with Corny,' she thought darkly. After all, revenge was a dish best served by younger siblings.
****Rebel Fire****
Phobos sat calmly in his throne, his diary of secrets perched on his lap as Cedric stood before him in snake form. He had grown beyond impatient with the reptilian creature, but saw it important that he completed this task. "The search for my sister has begun," he grinned, petting the book as Cedric nodded. "I have adopted a human identity in their town," the reptile announced. He saw the questioning glance in his Lord's eyes but made no rush to continue. His tail skirted about anxiously. He knew of the Prince's own anxiety to move the plan forward and didn't wish to fail him. Failing such a cruel, cold-hearted man would prove nothing but trouble to him, just as it was trouble to Miranda.
The darkness of the shadows greatly complemented the cold aura of the room as Phobos studied the book cover with a smile. "When they write my family's history, hers will be a short but eventful chapter." "And what of Wilhelmina? Shortening the girl's chapter greatly shortens hers as well. The words of the Oracle predict it." "She—" Phobos faltered, staring at the snake before allowing his eyes to drop to the ground. It was a true fact. Shortening the girl's life would end Wilhelmina's…but— "It is a necessary risk. If she dies, it is her own choice." "And what of your promise to both Diana and your sister?" Cedric retorted, slitted eyes narrowing further to needle points. "That promise was broken long ago. No matter how I deceive myself, my sister was never safe here." 'And now,' Cedric grinned, 'she shall never be again.' Phobos gestured to the door. "Leave me, friend, for it is time you pay them a visit. But evade my sister, she knows greatly of your appearance as a mortal." The serpent man bowed as he nodded. "Then I shall ensure such appearance is not recognisable."
****Rebel Fire****
Cornelia sat on her bed, fiddling with her alarm clock in preparation for tomorrow. There was no way, no way in hell that she was going to be late. She did not want to be a monkey bar scraper at the zoo again. And she certainly didn't want to be in a job with Will…or Irma. Sighing, Cornelia rubbed her face with her hands, tiredly closing her eyes. Her alarm clock sat in her lap, resting at 9:45 pm. It was getting late, and if she wanted to get up early she'd need to go to bed now. And sleep was such an alluring idea…Sleep a world of peace. A world away from all her problems, from her breaking friendships and fraying sisterhoods…
"Cornelia! Mom said you have to Wobbly Wobbly Walrus with me!" The blonde turned to the door, glaring at her younger sister Lillian as she shook the game box impatiently. Deep down, she loved her sister, but sometimes she just—"Beat it shrimp! I have to be up early tomorrow and if you do anything to disturb my beauty sleep, it'll be the last thing you do!" She hissed. Lillian stopped shaking the box, eyeing the alarm clock carefully before stomping her foot with an indignant scoff. "Fine! I didn't want you to play anyway!" Her bottom lip trembled slightly, not enough to be a huge concern for tears but enough to make Cornelia feel bad. She was the big sister after all. She was supposed to make Lillian smile and laugh; she was supposed to defend her from people's harsh words. "Lillian I—" "Get your damn beauty sleep, Corny," her sister sneered, "with looks like that, you'll need it." The door slammed shut as Cornelia climbed into bed, guilt ridden. Tomorrow was going to be awful.
Hours later, Lillian crept into her sister's room, crawling across the floor towards the bedside table where the alarm clock lay. Quickly, she took it into hands, squinting to read the button signs in the darkness. Several moments passed before she found what she was looking for and clicked it, turning the alarm off. She looked at her sister with a sticky sweet smile as she stared at the mass of sweat laced blonde frizz that covered the girl's face. "Sweet dreams, Cornelia." She muttered, a slightly evil tone to her voice before she escaped the clutched of her sister's lair, a darkened grin on her face. Tomorrow would be amusing.
****Rebel Fire****
Elyon stood with the group just outside the sign-up board's crowd, all of them wondering where Cornelia was. It was now around eight forty and the leader of the group was beyond late, but they were coping. Caleb, who Elyon had learned was the strong and silent type, stood observing Taranee and Hay Lin as they conversed. Despite his many efforts, Will was still giving him the cold shoulder. Though Elyon could see why. It was obvious that both Will and Caleb liked each other, but it appeared Cornelia, full of lust, want and the need for company and comfort had jumped in; drawing Caleb's attention. And Will, had therefore lost her man…or at least she thought she had. Will thought she'd lost Caleb, Taranee though Will had lost Caleb and Hay Lin thought she'd lost Caleb. They all believed that there was nothing to be done, that he had made his choice and his choice was to hurt Will. But Elyon knew, or believed rather, (she didn't have the nerve to ask if it was true or not), that Caleb didn't understand dating, maybe because he'd never had a girlfriend, but she believed because of his naivety that he didn't understand how he'd hurt Will's feelings. He didn't understand that seeing him act like Cornelia's puppy hurt her and blew her confidence with him away. "—and she reset the alarm?" Will enquired as Elyon looked to them. Alarm? "Did you guys do something to Cornelia?" She snarled on first instinct, immediately running to her concerned bestie mode as Will snickered lightly, gesturing to Irma with a pointed finger who merely shrugged innocently. Maybe Will wasn't as innocent as she seemed…Glaring at Irma, she requested an answer. "I got Lillian to rest her alarm. She should be running through the doors right about…now," she finished just as the school doors crashed open and a flash of blonde dove into the crowd around the sign-up sheet. Cornelia was here.
****Rebel Fire****
Irma grimaced, panting as she licked another envelope before sealing it shut. Taranee groaned in the seat beside her, staring at the mountain of envelopes before them. Their job was sealing envelopes at city hall while the others got slightly better jobs, less tiring. Sighing Irma gestured to the envelopes, turning to Taranee as she said, or stuttered rather, "In half as hour, you lick envelopes." Taranee looked at her, clearly affronted as she gestured to her stick dry tongue, completely spitless. "I licked for two hours this morning!" Just as they started arguing, Mr Collins walked in, grinning a friendly "hello". Envelopes stuck to dry tongues they muttered their own "hello". Hearing their difficulty speaking (Dean) Mr Collins turned to them and was overcome with amusement. "Girls, what are you doing?" "Licking envelopes." "Didn't you know," he lifted a bowl of water with two dark, damp sponges, "you're supposed to use the special sponge tongues." Irma cocked an eyebrow at Taranee who lit up with realization and remembrance. "Sponge tongues," she mouths before her eyes widened in complete understanding. "We've been…" "Mmhmm." "…and there were…" "Mmhmm." Irma frowned deeply, glaring at the bowl that was placed in front of them. Oh Christ!
Hay Lin smiled on the opposite side of the train tracks as Will angrily splattered paint on to a wall, covering the graffiti in a disgusting shade of what appeared to be white. This was their job (minus the anger), to paint the graffiti on the walls of the train station, though it was a shamble of a place, barely used as nearly everyone in Heatherfield owned a car. It was an easy task, peaceful…if maybe Caleb wasn't there. But of course, being the only two new students that had all the same classes, some ungodly being had decided that they should have the same job, so Will was stuck with Caleb. Hay Lin stood on one side of the tracks, grinning, while Caleb stood on the other side with Will, trying to somehow convince her to talk to him as she pelted the wall with a paint soaked brush. Aiming to slap another coat of paint over the offensive graffiti, Will raised the brush violently when a hand caught her. Following the hand up its owner's arm she found that it was Caleb. Oh joy! "Stop. One spot facing your violence for fifteen minutes is more than long enough." She glared at him, not with the hot red anger he'd love to see, but with two cold frigid eyes that resented him and his existence. "Why're you angry with me?" She frowned. He didn't know she was angry with him. He had no proof! …But maybe that was because she wasn't angry with him. She was just upset about what he'd done—leading her on. "I'm not—" "Yes you are. Look, I may not be from here and I may not understand the customs here, but I'm not stupid. I know I've done something to upset you and whatever it is, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to." Will stared at him for mere seconds.
That wasn't the only reason she was upset. She'd lost her sister and any chance of ever finding her, she'd been beaten by a lizard and given a riddle she couldn't understand except for… "I forgive you." She muttered numbly, but there was a touch of sincerity in her voice that she hoped he heard. "Thank the Mage," he whispered before he reached out, wrapped his arms around her and dragged Will's body to his in a tight hug. Hay Lin watched fondly, awing to herself and wishing she was invisible, if only so she wouldn't disturb them. She continued watching in hushed silence as a strange sensation swelled in her gut. Will quickly pulled away from Caleb's embrace as unbeknownst to her her eyes flashed sending Caleb into a world of headaches. He sighed, turning to speak with Hay Lin only to find—she was gone! Will seemed to follow his eyes as she turned, paint brush in hand, only to find…well—nothing. "Oh my freakin' bejesus! She abandoned me!" Hay Lin cocked her head to the side. What the fudge was Will wiggin' out about? Wh abandoned her? The red-head quickly dashed across the train tracks, jumping on to Hay Lin's platform and staring at the space in wonder. Was this a Guardian power? Will vaguely remembered Phobos telling her about Guardians advancing to secondary levels of their powers…something that was always distantly related to their element. Well…the wind was invisible, wasn't it? So maybe Hay Lin was just invisible as well. "Lin? Hay-Hay? You there?" "Totally, why?" Caleb jumped, seemingly startled as Hay Lin giggled, still unseen by her two friends. "You're invisible, you know that right?" "I'm invisi-what now?" Caleb seemed confused as well as he stared at the space Hay Lin's voice had come from. She was certainly there, that much was true, but he wanted to know how. How was she invisible? How did Will know she was invisible? It wasn't a guess. She wasn't calling out to find out if Hay Lin had left, she really did know she was there. She knew so much and he was so intrigued by her knowledge. "Invisible, Hay Lin, invisible." "Oh!...I still don't get it…" Will resisted the urge to facepalm at the girl's response. She was such an…air head… 'Hmm,' she thought dizzily, 'Maybe there's more to their powers then I thought…maybe they become more like them…' The bucket beside her tipped over, a large groan and a thud following it as Will was shoved into the wall. Caleb's eyes widened, as Hay Lin muttered childish profanities in between apologies but Will seemed to know nothing of them. Her head throbbed as she carded a hand through her hair, feeling for the sensitive spot that'd been thumped. She felt like she'd been hit by a mallet shaped Lurden. "Fuck!" She grumbled, steadying herself on the wall before feeling a presence hover near her. "Willsy! Blunk see Willsy hold small Irma!"
Will wasn't sure which feeling was more overwhelming, her joy at seeing the small passling that'd become such a good accomplice, or her annoyance at having him tackle her back into the wall as he continuously muttered 'Willsy' the dreaded nickname she only allowed small Chris (or as Blunk called him, small Irma) to call her. Caleb seemed slightly irritated as well, but probably because he'd been able to convince Blunk to return to Meridian and spy for him and yet the passling was here pestering Will.
"Okay Blunkers, c'mere would ya?" Will whispered, tugging the young Passling into the alleyway where her crus—Caleb, where Caleb was waiting. A small frown was present on his face as he buried his hands into the pockets of his custom-made-Hay Lin-branded jeans. "Where Blunk go?" "Right here, Blunkers." Caleb teased as he crouched to his level, pulling a long tangled chain out of his pocket and waving it back and forth like a pendulum as Blunk's eyes caught on the polished stone dangling in the middle. "Give to Blunk? Blunk give good deal!" he stated, pulling out a rotting rat from God-knows-where and offering it in exchange as Will watched the scene with narrowed eyes. This was damn awful. She was helping the guy who'd torn out her fucking soul cheat her friend into working for him! What kind of respectable Meridianite was she? Will's attention turned to the boys…boy and passling as she realized she'd sort of zoned out. Caleb stood up, stretching slightly and smiled as Blunk greedily snatched the chain, turning to show Will what he had as she offered her own stiff smile. "We're done, thanks Will." She offered him no reply as she took Blunk's hand and led him away, tempted to flip the boy the bird but keeping in full control as she thought of the dirtiest insults possible. She wasn't forgiving him any time soon.
"Willsy?" Blunk enquired, his furry green hands gripping at her clothes as she stared at the wall she was leaning against, her fingers running over the writing on it. Meridian writing. The language of the Beasts to be precise. Her entranced eyes followed each rough line and curve as her brain quickly switched on, beginning to translate it. The connection has been made… She thought, moving on to the next word when she stopped at the sudden ache in her head. Her mind felt a little fuzzy as she slipped back a step. "Will?" Hay Lin muttered, the paint brush that was in her hand stopping as she noticed the falter of her friend. "What's wrong?" "The-the writing—" was all she heard as the red head collapsed, bleary eyed to the pavement, Caleb failing to catch her before her head hit the concrete and everything seemed to fade to black around her. The last thing she heard were the shouts and screams of her two acquaintances as her mind dulled and she fell into unconsciousness…
So, I was reading this story and because I was a little stuck on what to do with the chapter because Will knows who Cedric is and what he looks like so it'd be easier to get the beast, I decided to use the trick from the Charmed story I was reading where they wrote Paige in but every time she doesn't fit she's unconscious. So here we go, Will's gonna be unconscious and for the majority of the next chapter, we'll be looking at what's going on inside her head. A lot of the little bits and pieces of her past will be unveiled, a brighter side to Phobos, a worse side to Will, a little insight and a couple of puzzles...Until next time...