AN: For some reason every next chapter takes longer time to be written, Its always gets harder to make myself sit at keyboard and start to write. I really hope I can dish chapter out more regularly but can't really promise that. That's all who reviewed past chapters, and thanks in advance for all who will r&r this one.
Chapter 6 : Blossoms of deception.
"Lord Ion, they have found us and launched attack to the city" man in medieval noble outfit said in calm voice to me.
"Where is the master?" I asked and picked up sword from nearby table.
"He already left this place, but they are creating barrier around the city, we must escape before they have stabilized it, and we don't stand a chance in open battle."
"And countess?"
"She already took small band of humans to protect her and is leaving this place. My lord we must hurry before this place is overwhelmed. Human forces won't keep them at bay for too long, they can only buy us some more time, but to them they are merely inconvenience."
"Guess you are right, go to library and burn our books and set this castle on fire. We can't allow our enemy to discover our plans even if we perish here, once done escape this place with others, if necessary assume new shell." I said and walked to balcony that revealed view on the city. Most houses below were already consumed in blaze, and streets were covered by charred corpses. Evening's sky was lit bright by flames and flying cinders from burning town. I looked around to see attackers, but amidst of chaos it was hard to distinguish anything. Only occasional blazes and sound of shattering ground was noticeable as city was razed by unseen attackers.
"Are they getting desperate? I never tough they would go so far as to purge whole city and kill their own kind just to finish us of. Lets go there is no time to waste" I said and waved him to go. He bowed and quickly left.
Will opened her eyes and felt that her head was wet from sweat. "It was just a dream, a fever dream, nightmare, no it was something more than simply that" she though and wiped her eyes and forehead. Guardian slowly lifted her head from the table she slept on and was struck when she saw Hallinor sitting on the opposite side of the table. It wasn't mere illusion or astral projection, she had came here herself. Will was shocked to see her and couldn't find words and gazed blankly on her new mentor.
"So you are awake at last. You slept for almost whole day." Hallinor spoke.
"Hallinor? You came here. Why?" Will asked in a quite confused tone.
"I wanted to see you with my own eyes. What you did yesterday… I searched Kandracars archives all day. There is no single mention of the beings you spoke of in your vision, but now you carry one of them in yourself."
"I can see them Hallinor. I see them flowing through my body. I feel how "it" tries to take over my body, but it can't. I don't know why. Now I feel it's dormant, but I can still see it" Will said and looked upon her left arm.
"You look terrible and exhausted, Will. You need some rest before we make our next move. It seems that fact that you absorbed one of them, made you able to see them, but it proves to have destructive effect upon your body. You are unconsciously fighting it. You will need to absorb more energy or your condition will worsen. Your body is still is weak from severing from auramere, and you still haven't fully adapted to living without it and now this. Come let me help you get last crystal." Hallinor said and walked up to Will and offered her hand. She accepted in slowly stood up from the chair.
"Hallinor I want to visit her grave before we move on." Will said as she slowly walked towards last crystal and Hallinor placed her hand around her shoulders to support her..
"You're in no shape to walk let alone fight. You need to rest. You now posses gift to expose corruption in the midst of the Council. We just need set up stage for that, but we can't risk unnecessary moves now."
"But Hallinor, I wa…. "Will didn't manage to finish as she felt sudden numbness and she passed out.
Will slowly opened her eyes. It seemed like an instant, but she didn't know how long she was unconscious. She looked around and found herself lying on her back as Hallinor was sitting along her side, holding her right hand. She slowly slid her other hand palm over the back of Wills hand.
"You passed out. You're still weak." Hallinor said and placed Wills palm on crystal that Hallinor placed near her.
"Quench it" Hallinor commanded. "It will make you feel better for now. Even tough its last one we have"
Will concentrated and absorbed power from crystal. Instantly she felt better as crystal crumbled into charcoal dust. She sat up from her back and sat against wall. Even tough she felt energy from crystal flowing through her veins, it was somewhat less than she expected.
"Will, for now we must think of the way how to confront council and expose its corruption. I only know that probably Oracle is affected. I don't have any idea of its extent. For now you must hide here. Energy you just consumed should be able to support you for a while if you won't waste any of it for fighting. Can you do it Will?" Hallinor asked.
Will sat silently as Hallinor was waiting for an answer. Moments passed as Will though what to answer. She didn't want to lie, but neither had she wanted to give promise she might not be able to hold. She slightly nodded head that could be interpreted as both yes or no. Hallinor slightly smirked, and disappeared in a flash of light.
Will was now alone. For an hour she simply sat in corner and watched in ceiling of the cave, trying to make up her mind and thinking what she saw while dreaming, she didn't felt fear, in fact she didn't remember when she felt fear for the last time, even when she was in danger as guardian, fear wasn't emotion she felt. The longer time she spent as a guardian, the more she was alienated from such emotions. But now it was unquenchable worry what will happen to her or how it will turn out. In just few moments everything she had in her life, was taken away from her for some sick game. For now she would give everything to change fact that she accepted talisman from Hay-Lins grandma, and be regular girl, not a soldier for some higher force.
Hour later she found herself on the same thoughts as while ago, she knew she was replaying same moment when she killed her friend over and over, trying to think if it there was something she could change. She tried to dismiss those thoughts as fruitless and stood up. Will had to find something else to do before this loneliness drives her out her mind. She walked up to study where was Nersissas notes and where she placed books she picked up from her home.
Red haired guardian slowly listed pages of the heavy book as she caught herself that some of the glyphs are familiar to her. Surprised she looked at pages more carefully. There was no mistake; she now could at least partially understand that language. Somehow entity that now resided inside her, gave some of its memories to her. Will smirked and quickly turned pages to place where drawing of the twin daggers was. She couldn't understand most of it, but it gave her some insight. She quickly took one of them in her hand and made slight cut in one of her fingers, letting few blood drops to fall on the blade. Blade instantly became agitated and stream of lighting appeared that connected her and the weapon. She symbiotically could feel blade linked to her. She knew that power of that energy was several time more powerful than she simply could create without being in contact with the Heart. As she felt power slowly drained from her, Will quickly wiped blood drops in sleeve of her shirt. Blade instantly became dormant.
Smile appeared on the face of the guardian. She now possessed weapon to combat her foes. Of course Will understood irony in fact that it is like a gift from her former enemy and she is carrying her legacy, but she wasn't in position to make any choices. She felt confidant to leaves this place despite Hallinors warnings. Despite this fact she knew that she needs a disguise to freely walk around. Will opened photo album, and browsed photos for few minutes, until she stumbled across picture of her old class. Few moments of thinking and the choice fell on a girl that was good friend of Elyon, Alchemy. Few tries of glamour and her face was looking almost exactly like one on the photo. She waved her hand to create portal and stepped through it to the city.
An hour later she stood at the entrance of Heatherfields cemetery holding two red roses in her hand Wll took deep breath and stepped inside. It was morning of the working day and there were almost no people in sight. Despite the fact that Will lost her watch and cell phone, she knew that time couldn't be more than eight or nine in the morning. She walked for about ten minutes seeking the right place. Even tough morning was really sunny and warm, cold dread went through Wills body. She noticed that place becomes covered with cold fog, that carried some unnatural, untraceable feeling of dread. Moments later she noticed source of that and froze in place. It was Irma, her friend, standing in front of gravestone and clenching her fists. Will couldn't move for few moments, and couldn't decide what to do. She never saw Irma so carelessly releasing her power before, and if Irma felt at least portion of that dread that she emitted from her, Will knew that it's better to leave, least for time being.
She wanted to leave, but before she could overcome her numbness in her legs she noticed that Irma turned her head around and surprised said: "Alchemy?"
Her voice was more relaxed as if thought there was someone else before: "I though you were someone else."
Will still stood frozen. Leaving now wasn't an option anymore. She made steps forward
" I came to place these." Will said and lifted her had where she held two flowers. She tried to bluff, as she didn't knew how her friend would react if she knew who actually is standing before her. But it was obvious she is in a lot of grief and anger. Hallinors warning now seemed more real than when it was said. Will decided not to risk and leave as fast as possible after she will place flowers. Mist chilled her to the bone, while it was seems that Irma is oblivious of its presence. Only couple yards now separated Will and her friend.
"Look natural "Will tried to set her thoughts, but her heart was betraying her as it started to beat faster. She tried not to look at Irmas face, when suddenly water guardian sharply turned towards Will. : "You!. How dare to come here Wilma?! Drop your mask Will, I know it is you. I can feel it, this water around us; it tells me that you're different than something I see with my eyes. You think such trick can fool me. Drop it and watch me in my eyes."
Will froze in her place. She knew that she was exposed, but she couldn't think what to do; although Irmas extent of power was lower than Will's, former keeper of the heart didn't wanted to get in fight with her friend. Will stood still, compelled to obey angry voice of her friend as she dismissed glamour, revealing her real face.
Irma's face turned even angrier as she felt disgusted, by Will appearance. She looked in Will eyes and blue light appeared in her right palm:" How dare you come here? You came to mock her even after death or do you seek forgiveness for what you done to her!?
Several nearby vases shattered, and Will noticed that water streams from them coiled around both of her hands like snakes.
Will couldn't answer anything, she never seen her as angry, Irma lunged forward and punched her in the chest. Hit wasn't as painful as Will expected, but it did made her stagger few feet back and fall on one of her knees as she kept balance by holding her right hand against the ground. Both roses she held in her hand fell to the ground as she tried to regain her breath after the hit, but each next attempt to breath was becoming harder as she felt that her lung are filling with water. Will tried to cough, but it was futile as some unseen power kept water in her lungs suffocating her.
Will lifted her face and saw Irma standing over her, as water streams coiled around her arms and blue power was glowing in her right hand. Will lift arm against Irma and tried to say something, but she could barely breathe. Noticing that, Irma angrily kicked her in the chest making her fall on her back. Pain ran through her chest and it became even harder to breather.
Water that coiled around her left hand slowly formed it in her palm, forming spear like form that instantly froze. Will never seen Irma using her water mastery this way, she knew that her powers have progressed just like theirs, but she never used her gifts to drown her foes before or to create weapons made of ice. Anger somehow amplified her power as it no more was as elegant as before, yet it was more powerful now. Even without wings she could easily maintain such extent of control over her element.
Will turned over and tried to pick her up with left hand while holding right hand on her injured chest. Pain in her chest and inability to breath interfered with her ability to use her powers or defend herself. She was now at her former friend's mercy, defeated by a single hit from water guardian. She heard voice from behind: "You killed her, and for what? More power? You are pathetic. She died for someone she cared about, and you killed because she refused to follow you. I will make sure she stays safe and Cornelias death isn't in vain, that is what I promised her. I don't care what becomes of me, perhaps I will lose my powers for it, but I don't care. You don't have future anymore. We both go to hell for what we did"
Irma was now standing in front of her, holding fully formed spike made of ice in her hand. She kneeled down and lifted Wills face with her hand and made deep look in her eyes.
"Do you want to die Will? Do you want her death to be in vain?" Will heard familiar voice in her head. She looked past Irma and saw ghostly figure of Hallinor floating above the ground.
"No! Tell her to stop" Will mentally begged former fire guardian.
"She can't see me, only you can. I can save you but you must wish for it yourself. I can only give you power to do it, but you must use it yourself." Hallinor said and made several gestures with her hands, followed by chant in some unknown language. Instantly Will felt sharp burn on her right hand. Two lines symbolizing her element appeared glowing with energy, bursting to be released. She felt that one move and energy that was stored in it would be released.
"I want to see same glare you gave her, when you killed her" Irma shouted and lifted spike she held in her hand. Moments later she noticed tears in her opponents begging eyes and Irma hesitated.
"Use it Will" Hallinors apparition commanded Will." You know as well as I do that she can't control herself"
Even more tears appeared in Will eyes as she hesitated to release energy that resided in sigil etched on her hand.
"Use it damn it, don't let her become murderer because you hesitated. You wish her to live all her life with that sin on her soul?"
Will closed her eye and released energy. Bright flash of light appeared as lighting like streams emitted from Will throwing Irma several yards back as she hit nearby tree with her back. Lighting streams still lurked around chaining unconscious water guardian in convulsions to the ground.
With water guardians power gone she instantly felt that water is leaving her lungs and she can breathe freely again. Will slowly stood up and approached lying water guardian. She looked at her right hand and noticed that glowing symbol now turned into two dormant black, burned scars in shape of her element. Spike that Irma held in her hand was shattered and it already started to melt. She was now standing over unconscious body of her friend as apparition of Hallinor flew near her. "Now you see how they work, I tried to warn you, but you didn't believe me. Now Will, you exposed yourself. I ask you that you trust me now. I know it is going to be hard but you must do what I will now tell you to do."
Will looked at apparition and waited for she was going to ask.
"I need you to take her power; she is connected to the aurameres. You will need her power if we want to succeed."
Shocked guardian felt compelled to do what she was told. With shaking hands she leaned down and placed her hand around her neck and channeled power through her hand, siphoning portion of her energy into her body. It felt great for Will as she received power that she recently lost, she felt as if though she got to drink after long hot day. Moments later she noticed that few Irmas hair turned pale and she instantly pulled her hand away, shocked at what she just did.
"You tricked me!" Will suddenly said to Hallinor.: "You etched sigil upon my hand while I was unconscious. You knew I will come here, you knew she will be here, you orchestrated it so I gain this power from her."
Hallinor stood silent for a moment then said:" I won't lie to you, yes I did it, and I predicted it will happen. But there was no other way. You need that power in order to..."
"Shut up, I am not some toy to you, you manipulated me same way they do and now you expect me to believe you?" Will shouted as she tried to see if Irma isn't seriously hurt.
"For now you must leave this place before they find you again, we talk again when you come to your senses." Hallinor said and disappeared.
Will picked up her friend and dragged her to nearby bench, and placed her on it. She didn't seemed to be heavily hurt, but still she was unconscious and rather pale after what Will did to her. She searched her pockets for phone and took it out. It contained several unanswered calls from Taranee and few unread sms. She quickly dialed 911, and cleared throat to sound as calm as possible, moments later woman's voice answered" 911 service, do you have emergency"
"There is girl lying unconscious at the Heatherfields cemetery. She breathing but she isn't waking up."
"Does she have any visible physical trauma?"
"No, but she seems kind of pale, can you hurry please" Will nerves started to give up.
"Calm down please, can you state your name miss"
Will closed phone down and dropped it near Irma, she took of her own coat off and covered Irma with it and moved away from the graveyard.
Half an hour later she was sitting in her sanctuary, angry that she was so easily deceived. She felt familiar feeling as apparition appeared and she heard voice in her head. "Will?"
"What do you want?!" Will roughly asked
"I want to talk to you"
"About what, because of you my friend is in hospital now"
"You wanted to die instead then?"
"I don't know anymore, maybe it would be better if I died, people suffer because of me" Will irrationally shouted back.
"You believe that yourself? Do you even thought what burden your friend would have to carry if you would have allowed her to kill you? "
"What do you know? I already took two of my friends down. One is dead, another is lying in hospital."
"I know more than you can think. Let me share small story with you. I never told anyone and I hoped to take it to the grave with me. Only person besides me is your friend's grandma. It happened few days after Cassidy was murdered. Khandracars diviners had just found Nerissas hideout. She was far too arrogant to refuse hearts power, she knew she can be found because of it, but she was sure that she can take anything council will send against her. I believe she didn't even hide. She chose part of beach as place for this showdown. She was actually good tactician. She knew we don't have water guardian with us and beach has really few vegetation, nor source for fire to not give us advantage."
Kadma stepped forward on beach sands and shouted to Nerrisa. She turned around while holding staff in her hand and smirked evil smile as tough as she taunted us. Earth guardian wanted to finish this fight in one hit and formed barrier made of rocks and sand to imprison former keeper, but as soon as she formed wall she received powerful blow of energy on her back. Nerrisa was standing behind them and her form amidst of created barrier disappeared as nothing more than simple illusion.
"Yan-Lee, Kadma is injured" I shouted and as I saw her body covered by lightning streams fall to the ground, I turned around to face Nerrisa. Anger ran through my veins for both Cassidy and for what she did to Kadma, while Yan- Lee kept fully undisturbed cool on her face. Battle went for several minutes. Even though Nerrisas power was higher than each of individually she fell down after Yan- Lee managed to press her against ground. She was now at our mercy. Even stronger anger ran through me and I ran to her. She was looking through me with empty eyes, which made me even madder. I didn't want to burn her, it would be too impersonal, I wanted to press her life out of her with my own hand. I made several punches to her chest in anger while I was completely oblivious of Yan-Lee as she shouted at me:"Stop it Halli, she is defeated already, what are you doing? We must get her back to council. Don't hurt her."
She ran up to me and tried to pull me away from pinned Nerrisa but I was blinded with rage and instinctively released my power that made Yan-Lee retreat several yards back and cover her face from heat. I placed my hand on her neck and tried to strangle her as she gasped for air, when suddenly I felt darkness before my eyes as I didn't had anything to breathe. I fell unconscious and awaked in one of the rooms at the fortress. Yan-Lee was sitting besides my bed as I opened my eyes. Anger was gone and she kindly said:"Glad you're awake, we captured her, it will be ok"
"I am sorry I lost control back there" I said to her. But she only obliviously watched me as if tough she don't know what I am talking about. She never spoke of that again and I was thankful.
Weeks passed and I though what would happed if she wouldn't have stopped me. Ultimately I couldn't thank her enough for it. Moments of rage could turn into life time of regret for me.
"So you see that I was in her shoes, before. Ultimately she will understand that it was for the better just as I did" Hallinor finished her story as Will listened and tried to hold her tears back.
Her body now contained power that cost Irma such high price; she hated everything that was happening to her. She couldn't hold back as tears appeared in her eyes, she simply wanted everything back to way it used to be. She knew she will to fight back now if she wanted to change something, but for now she wanted to simply rest.
Hay-Lin was dully listening to music as her phone rang. She slowly picked it up as she heard Tarannes voice: "Hay-li? There was an accident with Irma, she is in hospital now."
"Whats with her" She instantly switched off music and stood up:" Is it because of her?"
"She's in coma now, it seems she was drained. I think Will finally have made her move"
TBC