A/N As always thanks everyone who reviewed and supported me on writing this.
Chapter 8. Fallen angel and devil.
"What was going on? Everything is so messed up. Nothing I saw so far makes any sense." Will watched caves ceiling as she was fighting with her thoughts. Small insight on warriors personalities that Hallinor revealed didn't made anything more clear, but one thing was, acts against her wasn't random actions, but rather part of the elaborate plan who's both purpose and prime movers was still covered by darkness.
"But what purpose they had? Would they wanted me or rest of the guardians dead, with councils resources I would be dead by now, and there would be no need for any of this charade. Was I their target?" Will tried to put pieces of what she knew together. She opened her diary and tore blank page out of it and picked up her pen. Will quickly drew five letters that symbolized her and her team, putting W on the left side of page and rest of them in the middle. Opposite side of her she wrote "council" and "?" behind them. Still it made little sense, other than that force behind council was targeting her. Former guardian thought about other powers that could possibly be involved in this equation, regents of Earth, heart of Earth, Light of Meridian. She drew several more figures on page Hallinor, Matt, Elyon, Regents, Lillian, Caleb and drew lines that connected them. Like spider in a web Cornelia was standing in the middle of it all, Elyon, Caleb, Lillian and regents that were sworn to protect her. There was no mistake, Cornelia wasn't random target chosen to perform this grim task, rather it was expertly calculated move, and her death effectively alienated every possible ally from her.
From Irma's mad rambling she understood how her agenda was positioned to her friends. To them she was power hungry madman, whose purpose was to get power at any cost. Threat that she now presented to Lillian, effectively alienated her from Matt and fact that she killed Elyons closest friend, would make meeting with her unpredictable at best.
Will tried to keep her mind clean, but somehow after she took her friends power, she felt slight tendency to become annoyed much faster than before. While she knew about possibility of feeding on other beings power for long time yet she never gave much thought why forces of good almost never use it, apart from fact that it's immoral, was her current condition because of that or stress was finally getting to her, she wasn't sure.
More she thought about what she should do, more she understood that despite Hallinors warnings she can't simply stay put and wait. If such powerful forces are involved, then finding her hideout was only matter of time, even if she severed herself from the Heart to prevent her immediate exposure. To win, she have to turn the tables on her foes, but for that her powers, even with the portion she siphoned form water guardian, it wasn't nearly enough. Even though she already faced two of her enemies and defeated them, assaulting something like Fortress of Kabdracar sounded mad to even to her. Of course she have seen Nerissa attacking it and even more she was defending it at that time, but she was bearing Heart of Meridian and planed this attack for nearly third of her life. To make attack of her own she needed more power or allies, and despite fact that she didn't had so much time as her predecessor, Will knew that apart from guardians, Kandracar didn't had many forces. Still she was unsure about extent of Oracles own power, but Will was determined to take that risk.
Not only fact that both hearts that she knew about were beyond Will's reach, and she didn't possessed means to take either of them, but more than that, last words uttered by her dying friend still haunted her, and while she didn't actually agreed to honor her last request, Will meant to honor it. To get what she needed, former guardian could only think one place which would contain number of creatures capable of magic, deep below Meridian lied place where was imprisoned number of prisoners who were loyal to Phobos regime. And while place was magically warded to prevent escape, its guards were only regular humans, not gifted by the art of magic as she was, thus they would prove only to be mere inconvenience even to her diminished power.
"It must end tonight" Will thought at herself and stood from her chair. :"Without doubt they know that I have lost hearts power, thus they must expect me to hide, and it may be only card I hold against them."
Will stretched both her hands out and concentrated to create rift that would allow her to pass to Meridian. Without direct mastery over the Heart of Kandrakar it certainly wasn't as easy as simple teleportation spell, but several minutes' later effort paid off, bluish glowing ring that would allow passage to another now world stood in front of her. Sweat was dipping from her forehead and she felt somewhat exhausted as she sat back on her chair for moment. She looked down at herself catching herself on a though that her earth clothes don't fit in Meridian, even more after she left her coat to cover knocked out Irma. Will threw her look at "mages" belongings, apart from various trinkets and books it also contained dusty, old brown robes that she often wore under the guise of mage. She took clothes and tried them on, and while sleeves were little longer than she would need, they fitted quite nicely.
Will now stood before portal she created minutes ago, and while she had made dozens of them in her life, she wasn't sure if this one would work properly, since it was created by her own power, and as such it might be unstable. She covered her head with hood, took deep breath and moved arm through the portal. Feeling usual warmth she stepped through it, and felt blinding light flashing before her eyes. When light ceased she found herself standing in the outskirts of Meridians capital. Meridians sky was already starting to become dark and sun was setting down.
Meridian, she hadn't visited it for at least half a year and she hoped that her comeback here would be under much pleasant conditions, still it couldn't be helped. Luckily she emerged in almost exact place she wanted to, just less than hundred yards away was located one of the entrances to the infinite city, where deep below rebels kept their imprisoned foes.
Portal behind Will's back disappeared and she started to move, searching for entrance. She hadn't been there for past four years, and hopefully she could only hope to find her objective in the maze below. After half an hour of circling around the endless hallways, she finally found right passageway. She doesn't encounter any people in them, but without doubt, the cell block will be guarded tightly, and to tell truth Will knew that she hadn't given much thought about the way she will be bypassing them. She bowed her head down for hood to obscure her face and slowly moved to the gates.
She made slight look forward, noticing three figures guarding gates, one of them was Vathek, while two other were guards armed with halberds, and she didn't recognized latter two. Without doubt guards at gates weren't only ones that guarded prison block. Asides from guards, Will knew that if things go badly, guards will raise alarm that would summon half of queen's forces in a matter of minutes. That meant that once she will reveal herself, she will have to act quickly.
Former guardian slowly approached gate with bowed head, when she heard guards crossing their weapons and on of them shouting at her:"Halt, who goes there"
Vathek stepped forward to confront figure dressed in robes:"Who are you, this place is off limits to civilians"
"I need you to let me pass Vathek" she answered.
Hearing Wills voice he noticeably startled. :"Will? , why are you here? Queens's orders, no one is allowed to pass, also I have orders to restrain you and deliver to the queen Elyon"
Will lifted her head revealing her face and pale hair and slowly placed her right arm behind her back:" And do you intend to obey them?"
"I have sworn loyalty to her; I have no other choice but to obey."
Will summoned slight lightning charge on fingertips:" You know as well as I do that you don't have chance against me, and I have no intention to fight you"
"Guardian you know that.."
"Vathek, just leave this place without a word and pretend I was never here, situation I am in at the moment, leaves me with little choice but to go on"
"I still must ask you to stand down and surrender and I will escort you to the queen Guardian" He said and made slight wave at two guards that were standing behind him as they both pointed weapons towards Will.
"Vathek, you leave me with no choice" Will answered as she took step backwards. She bit he lower lip in hesitation and stretched out her fingers. She closed her eyes and whipped her right hand against guards, causing it to cast out blinding flash of light that instantly enveloped all three of her adversaries. All three of them instantly fell to the ground, shaking in convulsions.
"I am sorry Vathek" Will said as she stepped over her defeated foes and stepped inside cell block.
Eyes of every prisoner were now tied to the person who just now stepped in through the gates, and some of them even started to cheer for the intruder. Miranda was standing close to the bars in her human form, it seemed that even after all those years time had no effect on her human form, and she was keeping her hands behind her back with a vague smile noticeable on her lips. Several guards, who were guarding interior of the room, grabbed their weapons, but before they could close to interloper their weapons became energized and left their hands pointing at their previous owners.
"Everyone, leave this place. Now!" Will shouted and pointed towards exit. Seeing as little option they have left, they quickly ran away.
When last guard left the room, Will turned around and touched mechanism that controlled portcullis silently invoked her power, causing gate to slam shut and become enveloped in lighting streams. She turned and lowered her hood from her head revealing her scarred eye and silver hair. Former guardian slowly turned around and started to walk over the bridge towards central cell. Resident of it instantly moved his attention to her, noticing her identity and started to laugh while every other prisoner watched with curiosity at the attacker.
"So the prodigal leader of fairies came here" Silver haired man mocked Will as she slowly approached. Will looked around and uncomfortable feeling overtook her. Half inmates that resided here she delivered here herself. Miranda, Cedric, Frost and many others, they were persons who were labeled as enemies of Meridian, and perhaps if it wouldn't be ruled by so merciful person they shouldn't be even alive, although being imprisoned in single cells without chance to ever leave probably wasn't much better fate. Will shrugged at the single thought about being labelled as enemy of this world and being added to them.
"So your masters don't need you anymore? Have your purpose for their schemes have finally ran its course, or did you finally decided to drop leash they are holding you to." He laughed and was looking right in Wills eyes as she approached, while maintaining her silence.
"So let me ask you this Guardian, why did you come here, do you seek my council or are you desperate enough to seek help here?" Phobos asked with faked curiosity.
Will felt her blood starting to boil from his words, but she tried to retain her calm demeanor. She continued to walk forward as she heard sound of horn in the distance, someone already sounded alarm. It was now only a matter of time now, before additional soldiers of Meridians army will come after her, she had to act quickly.
"So you know about situation I am in" Will finally broke her silence.
"Even as I sit here, I still know everything Guardian. There are a lot of people who shorten my time by telling me of outside world; my sister is hungering for your blood, isn't it so? You killed her precious friend if I am correct? Now tell me Heartbearer, what it felt to murder another guardian" He laughed as he knew that he managed to press right strings in Will's soul to make her angry.
"You!» Will snapped and with single step, jumped to his cell and tried to hit him with her hand, but he jumped backwards thus avoiding Will's punch.
"Aren't we angry today" He laughed and continued:"Fact that you came here for whatever purpose, it means you are desperate, aren't you? When our beloved queen will finally get to you she will either execute you on the spot with her own hands, or you will join us in here. After all we are of the same blood, and even if she maintains her mask of the saint and innocent, deep down she isn't different from me. Maybe you can ask her favour for old time's sake, maybe she will give you nice cell near me, that way we could catch up on old time when we were against each other and shorten eternity we have will have to spend here, we have lot more in common than you think"
"Do you think that by mocking me you will achieve anything Phobos?" Will tried to regain her senses and calmed down.
"No, not really, but as you see my options for entertainments is quite limited here, not even my only blood relative visits me here, she thinks that once she forgets about me I will cease to exists and her hands will be clean" He calmly answered and took step forward: "That aside the fact that you came here, it means you are looking for allies and power, perhaps we can find a way to help each other"
"I am listening" Will answered and stood closer to lightning like bars of the cell.
"You help me get out of this pit and reclaim my power from our dear queen, and I will share power with you to fight your masters, and also you will be granted asylum in this world from your former friends. As no doubt you are aware, it is within my powers to reclaim that power that is rightfully mine."
"And what would prevent you from disposing from me after I would be no longer useful, o prince of meridian" Will answered in slightly mocking tone.
"I can swear on Meridians power, once it would be mine, you would be safe from me"
"You see Phobos, I am not sure how things are done in your world, however back on the Earth we have a proverb, fool me once, and fool me twice…. well it doesn't matter, fact is that you don't exactly instil trust into me. Already once I asked your help, but as predicted you betrayed me in the very moment you didn't needed us anymore, asides from that I have no intention of endangering or going against queen Elyon. Besides I have no intention in associating myself with garbage like you" Will calmly answered.
"Then why have you come here?"
"Because you carry something I need"
"And that would be?"
"Quintessence!" Will uttered as Phoboses body was slammed against bars and before he could fall to the ground Will grabbed him by his neck. While his cell was covered in dim light, at this range she could see even smallest features on his face; his eyes were empty from concussion he just received. She looked around noticing dozens of pairs of eyes focusing at her, some of the prisoners that were formerly commanders in Phboses army, watched Wills actions in horror. When she directed her attention back to Phobos, Will took deep look in his eyes, and to her shock she noticed that resemblance between her, Phobos, and former keeper of the Heart wasn't only in her actions but now also in her appearance. Since her defection, her hair gradually lost their colour, turning pale, hardening this resemblance. Dread overtook her body and she shrugged, and tried to suppress any thought that could sway her away from her original intention.
Will concentrated power in her hands and tried to synchronize her life force with her victims, once she felt presence of another life force she started to consume it. Once it entered her body, she felt influx of power unlike anything before, amount of power she felt was unlike that of Irmas or woman's she consumed days ago, but more than that feeling she experienced from that power was also unlike anything she had felt before. While power vitalized her, she felt that absorbed power makes her mind intoxicated, and while she hadn't ever consumed alcohol enough to become drunk before, she now experienced her mind becoming clouded like she would have drunk several bottles of alcohol.
Some of the scars that covered her left arm and eye instantly closed, but last remaining traces of her red hair turned pale. Feeling grip of control over her own actions slipping from her, she tried to release Phobos from her grip, but compulsion to keep her hold was simply too great. Unable to stop, she let her newfound power course freely through her body. Soon she felt complete loss of control over her emotions, as she couldn't hold them back, much to shock of almost every other inmate, she started to hysterically laugh while holding prince by his neck.
Moments later she heard thunder like sound behind her back, and she tried to clear her mind at least for a moment. Gate that Will had sealed when she entered room, melted down in an instant, revealing person in almost completely black dress and long, blond hair. Will hoped avoid this person but even in her intoxicated state she understood that to leave; she would have to go past her. Her mind instantly became clear and she forced herself to stop laughing and threw motionless body to back of the cell. Will could see genuine horror on her face from her actions and appearance. Rebellious guardian stood up, wiped her forehead from sweat, and turned around to face queen of this world.
TBC