A/N So i finally managed to get some time to write this chapter. Somehow it really took longer to write it even when i had time to do it. As before I cant be sure when I can make another one but i hope it can be relatively soon. Thanks for to anyone who reviewed story so far, and supported me with it.
Chapter 12. Homecoming.
"It's your move" Figure in white robes, said in low voice to his opponent as he looked at hourglass that was about to run out.
"So it is" Bald man answered and slowly reached for white knight piece and moved it so it now threatened the black king.
"Check"he said and made slight gesture with his fingers making sand in the hourglass instantly reverse its course as it started to flow against the natural laws of gravitation. He looked at his opponent that now intensely studied the board. Less than half a minute passed before he moved his bishop to the square that was occupied by white knight who was threatening his king. He slightly touched it, as it quickly turned into dust and disappeared. Again sand in hourglass reversed direction of its flow, making it again fall downwards. Despite fact that there was only minute amount of sand in upper part of hourglass before, it was once again full, and bottom part was empty.
"Just like in this war we are fighting, this game doesn't favor rushing brother. We both are immortal, and have more time than we can use. You should have understood by now, after living for millennium, that it doesn't matter how many actions we can make, it matters that we can chose crucial ones amongst them." Bald person said as he watched his knight turn into dust, and moved his queen in place of the black bishop. Like knight before, it turned into the dust as soon as it was touched
Sand in hourglass stopped and his opponent looked at him with barely noticeable red glow in his eyes :" You want to say I didn't considered my move?"
"Perhaps"
"You talk about considering your moves and yet you were the one that recklessly sent our last brethren against the guardian to bring her here."
"True, even I make mistakes, I underestimated her. I could not predict that she could mask her presence from us, and I underestimated her powers even in her weakened form, but it does not matter as in the end she willingly or not, will come here, and it will make our victory against Kandracar final."
"You talk as though Heart of Kandracar and aurameres are you's already" short man said and looked at the board.
"I did not spent thousand of years to fail now, brother. Kandracar will fall as it should have back then"
"So be it" he answered and moved his king into white queens stead.
Moments passed and Oracle reached for white rook that was positioned on the edge of the board and moved it to the middle" Checkmate brother"
His opponent slightly smiled and leaned back in his chair" Seems I underestimated you, I never was good at this human game"
"This game somewhat fascinates me, unlike all other games it leaves nothing to a chance. By predicting every move you can overplay your opponent without fail, alas in this world there is far too many things that we cant predict."Oracle answered and touched black king figure on the board. It instantly crumbled to pieces and turned into dust ". It is so strange, to checkmate the king and still not be victorious, even when we thought we defeated our enemy it seems that most important figure on this board is just a pawn."
"Why is Wilhelmina so important to you, why couldn't we use Nerissa and end this farce half century ago.
"She became …. damaged, and thus unsuitable for us, I sent both Ion and Catherine after her because I was afraid she could end up just like her, waiting for another generation of guardians may be too long." Bald man answered as he held pawn piece in his hand.
"What do you intend to do with her once power is yours, brother"
"Her ultimate fate is not my concern, there has been enough death already because of this accursed place"
"But she's an enemy"
"Have you understand nothing? Her.." He abruptly stopped as did his partner in conversation.
Althor's eyes glowed brightly red as his gaze became unfocused.:" Someone entered this world"
"I feel it too, do you think it's her"
"I feel life forces,... two of them. One of them is... I can't... No that's not right… It's unnatural. It feels like.. Sophia, all those years back, one of them must be the keeper of the heart." Glow in his eye ceased and he stood up.
"As expected, I knew she would eventually come here, go brother and receive her, I must make preparations to set stage for the final act." Oracle answered and closed his hands together.
"It will be done, brother" He slightly bowed and turned away to leave.
"Goodbye , Trias" bald man whispered silently as he watched Althor leave. He raised his hand up and dark blue beam connected him and blue sky above. Slowly sky became darker and darker, like in a hot summer day when storm clouds fill the blue sky.
"Foolish girl " Old, blond haired woman muttered to herself as she quickly walked into the auramere chamber and tried to catch her breath.
"Hallinor? What brings you here?" Cat like woman responded in her cold voice as she removed her attention from five circling orbs. It seemed that two of them were consumed by dark glow and seemed like a flowing voids.
Hallinor looked around confirming that there is no one else present."Do you have any news about guardians"
Lube slightly hissed, and turned back her attention to aurameres as she raised her hand above circling orbs. " You know that I can't feel that traitorous girls presence now, she is able to mask her presence from me, both earth and keeper's aurameres are cold."
"Those fools in council once again took mere children as guardians, they didn't listened to me even after disaster that Nerissa brought upon us. She was too young to be trusted with such power" Lube hissed back to Hallinor
"Will is different from Ner... "
"Different how Hallinor? Different that she isn't brought before trial yet? That remaining guardians cant find her?" Luba concentrated on orbs and continued:" Link with both water and air guardians are weakened. Both of them are wounded or worse. There is something wrong with fire auramere as well. What proof you need more, Halinor? She killed earth guardian in cold blood and now I fear for safety of other guardians. Do you remember grief that Cassidies death brought to you, or you have already forgotten that?"
"I though about what she did every day , it is why I dedicated my life to this place, I could have walked away like Kadma did, but I chose to stay so it would never come to pass again" Hallinor answered and walked forward to pedestal that held aurameres: "I know how you feel,but have ever thougth that ..."
"Is that so Hallinor" Luba cut her off:" Power corrupts , isn't that so? Even you were not above the treason, by trying to steal aurameres. Would I chose not to remain silent about that, they could have you banished for treason or worse, and you still tell me that I don't …."
"Luba" Hallinor interrupted her. Indeed when Nerissa attacked Kandracar, Luba remained silent of her transgression against aurameres. Of course Hallinor never asked for exact reason she did that, was it perhaps because of their friendship, or that she felt pity for Hallinor, or maybe the reason was much more selfish – she was afraid to admit that she failed to guard aurameres. In any case Hallinor had to be grateful to her and she was not intent on finding that out, not four years ago and certainly not at a time like this.
"Listen Luba, can I tell you something that would remain between us?" Hallinor changed topic.
"I am listening" Cat like woman answered and removed her hand from aurameres.
"I might know where Will is..."
"You know what? And you did not shared that with Council? They could and would do right to banish us from here both for just standing here with that knowledge" Luba hissed at Hallinor.
"Listen everything is much more complicated than you think, I suspect that in midst of council there might be traitor"
"Oracle spoke of that long ago, but was it not the Nerissa that hid in our shadow?"
"No, there must be much more to it, and I am afraid they have lived in our shadow much longer than Nerissa .." Hallinor spoke and looked up in the sky she abruptly stopped. It's light blue clolor darkened, and became dark purple. Both Hallinor and Luba unmistakeably recognized that sight - "the veil",shield that was supposed to guard the fortress from any enemies.
Suddenly she felt weakens in her chest and numbness in her legs, as she placed her hand against pedestal to keep her from falling. Darkness came before her eyes as Luba too couldn't keep herself standing. She staggered a little and before Hallinor could keep her from falling to the ground, she colapsed. Seconds later Hallinor felt her strength drained away as she followed Luba to stone ground.
Dark skinned girl stepped out of portal, holding unconscious body of pale haired girl, who,s hand and face was covered with barely noticeable scars. She stepped several yards forward and looked around, she was standing in a large balcony that overlooked endless sky outside of fortress.
"Welcome guardian" She heard voice and footsteps coming from one stairs that led upwards to the other sections of the fortress. Taranne looked towards voice and stopped. Only few meters separated Althor and her.
"I see that you brought keeper of heart with you, I must say that you did an excellent job, I know that it may not be easy for you, but it is the only way for her to come back to us." He continued.
"I did as you asked" dark skinned woman answered and released Will's arm from her neck as her friends body to fell to the ground. She looked at pale haired girl and directed her attention back to whitely dressed figure."Where is the Oracle"
"He will be here soon" He answered and stepped towards Will's body.
"I brought her here, but I want to know what will become of her" Taranee demanded.
"She will stand trial for what she did and council will decide if she can be brought back" He continued and stepped closer, while Taranee took step away from Will :" But for now she must recover from her wounds as must you and your friends. In her reckless pursuit after power, she have inflicted grave wounds upon her own body. Until she is healed and stands trial she will be treated as guardian that she still is."
"When that will happen?"
"It is hard to tell, but you and your friends will be summoned to give their testimony once the trial begins. As for now, you are more than needed back in your world for the remaining guardians and your friends, it is never easy to pick a weapon against your friend young one " He answered and knelt near Will's body. He slowly reached for her neck, and with quick gesture tore of necklace she had around her neck. It was unusually black but it did not seemed to surprise him, and yet he felt something strange. He slowly placed his hand on her eyes, and moment later memories that he received made him instantly looked at talisman he was holding in his hand.
She materialized inside the cave, that seemed to be brightly lit. On a first glance it was everything just the same as it was four years ago. A makeshift cell, crude study, and dozens of braziers that were burning just the same as it was all that time ago. But as dark skinned guardian stepped further she noticed that first impression was deceiving. Study that should not be used for years, housed several fresh books and it was unmistakeably seems that someone was here recently.
Tarnanee carefully approached it and examined then table. There was no mistake, it held two books that she recognized as Will's diary, photo album and torn sheet from the diary that held various names, including her's with lines connecting them, whatever that meant, there was no way to tell for sure. She looked around and carefully opened the former. Last entry – the same day she disappeared.
Irmas birthday is just few days away and I still don't have any idea what should I give her for birthday. As a leader I should have best idea what to give yet somehow I feel that everyone except me knows what to give to her. I already to told T that I bought gift but said that it will be a surprise. Lying to a friend is not something I like but still I didn't wanted to be last one that buys something for her. Today I will go to Cornelia's place to discuss how we should organize her surprise party and maybe she could throw me any ideas what could I buy for her"
Taranne recalled that conversation, when she casually asked about her gift and she with unsure voice answered that it will be surprise. It was so odd, it really seemed like the Will she knew, was it perhaps that she lied even to her diary, could a friend she thought she knew so well could be that devious, or was there something else? Either way there was only one way to be sure, of what is happening inside her mind – her mind reading gift will make sure of it. Still what could it mean? Either way, even if there was more to what Irma told about Will, and what happened between them at Cornelia's grave, she was undoubtedly dangerous. She looked around and approached one of the brazier that illuminated cavern. Fire guardian effortlessly placed her hand into flames and grabed one of the smouldering embers. She could feel portion of her power leave her body as it filled ember with it. Taranee knew that three or four of such vessels of energy would be enough to raise inferno like flames upon her whim. Now it was only matter of time till she once again will meet with one she once called her friend.
She stood in dusky cavern, as one of her best friends stood just several meters away from her. Her body looked so unfamiliar that she could hardly believe that Will Vandom stood before her. And yet it was so, nightmare that Will told her friends several times before and which were always dismissed by them for being just as real , for what would happen if sun wouldn't rise tomorrow, have become reality. She was rather obsessed with Nerissa, but how could a person turn out like her overnight? Just day before she disappeared, they both talked, and Will seemed as cheerful as ever, but now she stood before her shouting nothing short of nonsense.
Ever since that day she wanted to see Will for herself, as what Irma said could never be truth, and yet here she stood only to see deeply fallen person before her. Part of her refused to believe to what her eye's were seeing, but even if it was so that she killed her best friend without hint of hesitation, she wanted to bring her back, for no matter what atrocities she had committed, Taranee would not like her to suffer same fate as Nerissa or become monster she so loathed.
"So Will, what's it gonna be?" Taranee spoke and lifted up her right hand opening her palm revealing ever growing tongues of flame upon it" You come quietly and we all try to help you or we do this the hard way?
It was so unusual watch Will this way, she asked how Irma was and yet she seemed so heartless and alien. Taranee knew that her power's are not as powerful as they would be in her guardian form, but Will seemingly was same position. And yet she could not be sure to the true extent of her powers, her appearance was much changed and seemingly even she had renounced power of the heart, there was no telling how powerful she is. She slightly regretted that she passed chance to assault Will when she had a chance before, and be able to take her in without risking to seriously harm Will, but even so she was confidant in her victory despite power that her opponent might potentially have.
Unfortunately for her, it seemed that Will was not about to give up that easy, and Taranne understood that there might be no other way as to use her ace in the sleeve. Will was still standing I her place with her unnatural gaze starring to her, and yet she did not made any actions. Dark skinned guardian noticed that this confrontation is nothing like she has experienced before, for all the times she watched death in its eyes, she now felt unexpected shaking in her legs. She clenched her right fist and mentally prepared to unleash energy that she had stored.
Flame on her left palm aroused even higher in her hand, seemingly dimming the rest of the light in the cavern, and it was then she finally noticed it, Will's figure that stood before her had no shadow. She instantly wanted to turn around, but before she could , she felt something cold on her neck, and she stopped dead on the spot.
"Will?", she asked to person that now was standing behind her back.
"Yes Taranee, sorry but there is no other way" person behind her back spoke, while holding two fingers to her artery.
"Will please, its not too late to come with me, we can fix this mess" she answered with tremble in her voice as she watched Will's figure before her turn into nothingness.
"I am truly glad that you still want to help me T, you are a true friend, but I can't accept your help"
"Will, don't do this" Taranee tried to stretch out time and slowly concentrated her power on her fingertips, but before she could use it she felt sharp jolt course through her body, instantly rendering nearly all her muscles powerless, making her to collapse down. Before she could hit ground Will grabbed her and slowed her fall. She tried to resist but darkness surrounded her and she could no longer keep her eyes open. With remnants of her strength she opened her eyes only to see mirror like image of herself leaning over her paralyzed body, with minor features shifting and changing across her face to match the likeness of the original.
Althor looked at talisman in his hand as it instantly turned pitch black and crumbled into dark leaves that scattered across the marble floor.
"You tricked me guardian" He shouted in unnaturally deep voice and looked at the place where fire guardian stood moment ago, but before he could, he felt strong jolt of current stream through his body, burning his very essence. He instantly fell to the ground and looked at his enemy, Dark skinned girl stood above him, with tendrils of lightning coursing across her right hand.
"You... " he gasped, and tried to stretch his hand out and slight blue flame appeared upon his palm. Instantly guardian leaped to him and before he could react made swift kick into his chest, and placed her foot on his arm, pressing it against ground as she could hear faint sound of bones crack . Althor opened his eye only to see pale haired figure standing above him, with her eye familiarly glowing.
Guardian felt fury flow through her as she increased pressure on her enemies palm. She heard it crack, but it didn't seemed that her enemy felt any pain from it. She looked down and saw red streams floating through his body. Yes, it was enemy she so longed to confront and destroy.
"How many of your kind are in Kandracar, answer me! " She demanded.
"He said I never considered my moves, guess he was right all along"She heard him quietly muttering and heard quiet laugh and slight grin in her enemies bruised face:"Even without my powers I can see what is going in your mind, rage, sense of victory over me. But do you think you won? Do you think that this trick of yours even slightly changed your fate? In the end you are just an ignorant child, toying with powers that likes of you should never have"
"Silence demon" Will shouted at him, and found herself surprised at the form she chose to name her enemy. She now recalled her dream where she saw her predecessors belittle her enemies that way.
"A true guardian, even as era change, Kandracar never changes, even if they wish for it themselves" He gasped back at the guardian that stood above him.
"I will ask you once more, how many of your kind are here, ANSWER ME DAMNIT!" She shouted and blinding lighting ball formed in her hand, fully prepared to unleash it as she increased pressure towards her victim's hand.
"That's enough keeper" She heard voice coming from her back. Even though Will was in fury she should have noticed someone approach her, and yet she couldn't sense that presence before she heard that voice. Pale haired woman tried to instantly turn toward the voice, but before she could she felt strange feeling surged through her body as though torn out from sleep.
"Will, you hear me?" Will heard and felt hear and felt her leg twitch as she found herself lying on her back with closed eyes. She felt something soft touch her forehead as she tried to open her eyes.
"Mrs Vandom, Will is awake" She heard familiar voice call for her mother. She felt nauseated and her head hurt as she tried to open her eyes. Before her eyes she saw familiar face with light skin and perfect features, and blond hair, without doubt it was Cornelia. Will looked around and found herself lying on the bed in rather unfamiliar but still room. In corner she saw stash of balloons and other stuff that would be necessary for a party.
She tried to lift herself up but Cornelia placed her hand against her shoulder preventing her from sitting.:"Careful Will, you got hit yourself quite bad, you must not move"
"What happened. How did I got here." Will inquired. She felt nauseated and everything she experienced felt like a dream. With each passing second she felt memories of those events fade from her memory as she could no longer could pull together those events. Was it really just a dream, she felt relief overtake her body as she fell back on the bed. "Somehow I cant remember that"
"You were tying balloons and you fell from the table and hit your head, your mom wanted to call doctors, but I persuaded not to, I know how you hate that cardboard they call food there." Cornelia answered and sat besides her on the side of bed and passed her glass of water:" How are you feeling Will?"
Will felt relaxed – just a dream. Everything was just a dream. Her head still hurt and she felt she would throw up, but still she was OK. She slowly picked herself up and unexpectedly placed her hands around her:" Cornelia!"
Blonde girl outstretched her hands trying to not spill remaining water trying to place glass down."Yes, I love you too Will, just let me have some breath too" She slowly answered, with confused voice.
"You start to worry me Will " She said and slowly escaped hug Will was giving," I think I should ask your mom to drive you to doctor"
"Wait, Wait, I will be OK, we,v been through worse, and still going to P.E next day." Will was trying to calm her friend down. Indeed their duty as the guardians had ocassionally left them at worst physical condition at times,that their nature as guardians, allowed them to mend with little effort.
"So be it, just if it doesn't blow over I want you to check with doctor or at least with Cas, Your mom seriously freaked out, she would kill us all if she would know what we do in our spare time" Cornelia stood up.
"Thanks Corny"Will said with some grin.
"Don't call me Cor.., can you all lay it of for once, it not like one Irma teasing me is not enough"Cornelia called back as she heard silent giggle at her outburst, and she tried to calm herself as not to give any more reason to pick on herself. She knew the more she rages for such teasing the more she would get it.
"Ok, ok Corny.. lia" Will continued with slight giggle:" Where is she by the way"
"Eeeh Earth to Will, we bribed Hay Lin so she keep her as far as possible from here and dont spoil surprise, it was your idea after all. Will you are starting to scare me, I think you should visit doctor tomorrow or even today"
"No it's OK, I just got bit confused. Just had this weird dream and I freaked out a little, it seemed so real" Will tried to justify her actions.
"Dream?"
"It's nothing, just forget it"
"Will"
"Ok, Ok , just don't call me crazy. It just seemed so real. We were both as guardians, and I...and you died. I became like much like Nerissa, and rest of you were out there to hunt me and..."
"Will, you lately are too obsessed with that hag. Just let her go for god's sake, even in your dreams she doesn't let you go"
"Nerissa? Who's that." They heard familiar voice from door frame. Woman with blueish hair stood near the door. It seemed so long time that she hadn't seen her, or was it? Was it perhaps just few hours ago that she saw her for last time? Will touched her forehead, it swelled and she could feel it hurt as she touched it. Slight sense of vertigo and headache still tormented her.
"Ehh Nerissa?" Will was unsure what to say, and she saw Cornelia twitch her face mimicking her to be silent"She is, just a.."
"She's one of students at college where we both study, just Will have some obsessive idea, that she's gonna steal her work. " Cornelia interrupted Will, and lied to her mother with calm face.
Susan smirked as she came closer:" You feeling well honey?, I was so worried when you fell."
"Its cool mom, I am fine. Can you bring me something cold to drink, I am thirsty"
"Yes honey, if you have concussion then you should remain asleep and move as less as possible, and don't worry I help girls prepare for party till tomorrow." She answered and disappeared into the back of the room.
"Phew, that was close Will, we gonna slip our guardian business that way someday."
"Wonder how all generations of guardians managed to never exposed themselves"
"Considering Irma's and Hay Lin's antics we can as well become pioneers in this matter." Cornelia giggled taking Will with her.
"Yeah, still what would baldy do if we mess up" Will laughed, when Cornelia motioned her to stop." Careful, you shouldn't move that much if you got concussion"
Will slid back into bed and wiped her forehead of sweat. :"Can you help me get up Cornelia" She asked and gave her hand to her blonde friend.
Will stepped through bathroom's doorway and looked at the mirror that was positioned above the sink. It was rather pale, covered by sweat and with red bruise on the right side of her forehead., still it was natural. There no longer was scars over her eye, and her hair had it's scarlet color. Crimson haired guardian, slid her palm over her head, leaving few streaks of hair in her hand
" Red, their red. nothing has changed" She sighed as she watched crimson streaks in her hands, and watched her right hand that had no signs of her elements symbol burned in it. She opened faucet and splashed water on her face. She still felt like she was about to throw up, maybe Cornelia and her mother was right, she should check with doctors. No, what the heck, she had been hit by Cedricks tail and still walked on her two. Will took several deep breaths – it should help with her head spinning, and should reduce her nausea. Yes that's it – it's gonna be good.
Red hair opened her eyes after she made deep breath, and cold shivers ran through her back, she could swear there was someone behind her back in mirror. She turned around – no one there.
"I need to lay down" She though at herself as she wanted to walk back to her bed.
"They are not real, keeper. " Will heard slight voice in her head, and looked around.
"It is such a simple trick, but it seems that even strongest warrior of Kandracar fell for it" It continued. She again looked around and could swear that with corner of her eye she again saw a man standing behind her. Voice too became more familiar, just its tone was unusual. :"Warrior that instilled fear onto my army just by mentioning your name, subjugated by mere desire, you are here because you wished for it guardian"
Will placed her hands around her head and walked to mirror when she heard another voice:" She not yours to take mortal prince"
"Who are you to order me, creature" It rebuked. Will felt as though her head would explode She placed hand on the mirror as it cracked." Your world around her shatters, creature. You cannot contain her in your illusions."
"What we are, does not concern you mortal one" Will again heard voice, and again it too seemed familiar. It was creature she housed in her body, it finally wasn't dormant anymore. Crack that crossed mirror extended in every direction as it overtook whole room and pieces of wall started to crumble leaving white nothingness in its stead. :"You wont interfere with use prince"
Will could still hear Phobos voice, but it became so silent she could no longer hear it.
"Her mind overcame it" she once again heard voice.
"Nothing less was expected from Kandracars warrior" a previously unfamiliar voice answered" But it served it's purpose, I would be fool to expect her mind to not resist any longer"
Memories of her past few days started to return to her, as she saw her body to return to her scarred self. Her hair turned pale and symbol upon her arm became obvious as she stood in white nothingness. Was she fooled so easy, was everything just another lie from her enemies? "Its a lie" she screamed on her inside as nothingness that surrounded her returned her to Kandracars scenery.
Body of her friend in dark leather jacket was still lying on the ground along with white robed figure that seemed seriously wounded. Still she could see red streams circling through his smoking body. But more than that before stood person that she longed to see the most, a bald figure that wore white robes. His eyes flashed with red light and Will could see with her left eye as his body was filled with alien energy who's power was unmatched by none of his kind that Will had seen before.
Oracle stood silently before her and quietly clapped his hands before finally breaking silence:" So you are finally here, I hoped you would be here sooner, but it no longer plan guardian, but unfortunately it wont change anything now.
"Who are you?" Pale haired guardian demanded
TBC