Welcome, my friends, to another installment of What Price Vengeance in the Whale Pit. Sorry for the long wait, but I wanted to really think about things before I put them on paper. Anyway, I want to thank all my reviewers: Wolfgurl211 (Congrats for being the first to review the chappie); DayDreamer9 (You're right...Nerissa is being very petty, isn't she.); Darev (There will be much toe-stepping later. Stay tuned); XV-Dragon (Would I kill Irma...? Laughs maniacally); Philip Gipson (I watched the T-Cats growing up. I'm familiar with them); Lost Prince (Yes, I enjoy leaving cliffhangers...love to mom); Krystal of Nol (Welcome back!!! I've missed you); Nightroad (Nerissa isn't done yet); The Pink1 (The Underdog theme...cute); Cartoonloverfan101 (Thank you for sticking with me); laserleg (Good thought...keep em coming); Nerd4eva (Careful of the hair, m'dear); Starwin (Thank you for your compliments...they mean a lot to me); Nemrut (Spelunking is a funny word, eh?); Magnafreak326 (Let's see if Irma is dead...).
Thank you all from the bottom of my heart. Your reviews keep my motivated and keep me going. Here's shout-out to Ice Silver Crystal. How you living, girl? I miss you and hope you're doing alright.
Now without further ado, may I present:
Chapter 13
...Desert...desert...
Taranee heard the words in her head and snapped her neck around to face Will.
"Will, I just heard Irma. She's in the desert."
Will pulled up sharply. She and her friends had been flying towards their enemies' last-known hideout. That happened to be a cave near a great lake on Meridian. Now as Taranee said the word "desert," Will feared they were heading in the wrong direction.
"Are you sure, T?" Will asked. "Irma doesn't have time for us to be wrong about this."
Taranee nodded. "Yes, Will, I'm sure. We need to find a desert."
"Well it's a cinch there's no desert near that cave the goons were using," Cornelia said, scanning the horizon as if she could will a desert into being.
"We need a navigator," Will said, the desperation clear in her voice. "Taranee, contact Halinor and see if she knows where on Meridian we can find a desert."
The Fire Guardian nodded and placed her fingers to her temple.
Halinor, we need your help.
Taranee, this is Halinor. Have you found Irma? Is she alright?
We haven't found her yet; that's why we need your help.
What can I do?
Halinor, we need to know where we can find a desert. I heard Irma say the word "desert" just a few minutes ago. We all think that's where we need to go.
I agree with you, Taranee. I do know of a desert on Meridian; it's called Zyroc Desert. I'm sending you a mental picture of its location, to the best of my memory.
Taranee waited while a mental map formed in her mind.
I see it, Halinor. We'll head that way now. Thank you.
Please find her, Guardians.
Taranee cut the mental link and opened her eyes.
"We need to head this way," she said, indicating a northerly direction. "I don't think we're far away."
The Guardians resumed their breakneck flight, all thinking the same thing...what if they were already too late?
–
Irma knew she was about to die, but that wasn't going to stop her from revealing Nerissa's location to her friends. Most of the pain had suddenly receded for some reason. Irma had no idea why, but she wasn't about to question her good fortune. Relief flooded her beleaguered mind as she reached out with her thoughts.
...Desert...desert...
Irma could only hope Taranee was tuned in to radio telepathy, as blackness finally claimed her.
–
"I can feel Irma!" Taranee shouted, as the Guardians neared their destination. It had only been five minutes since Halinor had sent the location of Zyroc Desert, and seven minutes since Taranee had heard Irma's last message. Still, it had seemed a lifetime to the Guardians.
Taranee suddenly pulled up short, causing Hay Lin to rush headlong into her pink-clad back.
"Oof. Taranee, what's the big id-"
The Fire witch held up her hand for silence. "It can't be," she said, after a moment.
"What is it?" Will asked impatiently. They really didn't have time for this.
"I can feel the KOV...and someone else."
Taranee turned, her face a mask of horror. Her voice was flat when she spoke.
"It's Nerissa."
"No way," Cornelia exclaimed. "That bitch is dead!"
"We saw Elyon bury her alive under tons of snow," Hay Lin gasped. "She can't be alive."
"I don't really care what she can't be," Taranee said. "I know what I feel."
"But-"
"We don't have time to argue," Will cut off Hay Lin. "Nerissa will kill Irma if we don't save her. She has to be out for blood; we have to hurry more than ever now."
The Guardians resumed their flight again, each one willing her incandescent wings to beat faster.
When they finally arrived at their intended destination, they saw the Knights of Vengeance gathered in a small circle around two figures. One was the prone, unmoving form of Irma Lair...the other, kneeling beside her, was most definitely Nerissa.
With a cry, Will sent a blast of lightning screaming towards the the old crone. Quicker than anyone would have thought possible, Nerissa spun and deflected the bolt with her staff.
Thrice more Nerissa deflected the Guardians' attempts to fell her, all the while smiling gleefully.
The Knights of Vengeance turned as one and gazed calmly up at their enemies. None of them moved a muscle, save for the twitching of their smiling lips.
The Guardians pulled up and watched the surreal scene. No way was Nerissa strong enough to deflect their attacks. They had seen her use shields before, but never had they witnessed her using her staff in that way.
"Something's different," Will observed.
"Who cares?" Hay Lin cried, not taking her eyes from her fallen friend. "We have to get to Irma, now!"
"Cornelia, can you create a sandstorm to blind the KOV while Taranee and I go for Irma?"
"One sandstorm coming up, oh Fearless Leader," Cornelia replied.
The tallest Guardian spread her arms wide and commanded the sands of the desert to rise and whirl. The grains obeyed their mistress and soon sand stung the eyes and mouths of the Knights of Vengeance. They covered their heads and howled. Nerissa only smiled and raised a shield around herself.
Will and Taranee bolted towards Irma, intent on freeing their friend from evil's grasp. A bolt of deadly lightning hit Taranee in the left shoulder, knocking her back. Through sheer force of will, and good old-fashioned stubbornness, the Fire Guardian shook off the force and continued towards her target.
Another bolt laced the sky towards the two diving girls. They dodged and continued their descent. More and more bolts lit up the sky until a small whirlwind suddenly knocked the evil sorceress off her feet. With the witch temporarily stunned, Will dove in quickly and scooped Irma off the ground.
The girl hung limply in her leader's arms.
"Hay Lin, Cornelia, some cover-fire please!" Will yelled, as she and Taranee rapidly flew towards safety. Will could feel lightning singe her back as another searing bolt came way too close for comfort.
Cornelia caused dozens of tiny pebbles to hurl themselves at the sorceress, while Hay Lin used the winds to blind her. The pebbles bounced harmlessly off the shield, but the howling sandstorm and Hay Lin's winds interfered with Nerissa's vision.
Bolts of lightning flew haphazardly around the sky, as the evil witch attempted to halt her enemies' flight. Will knew it would take just one lucky shot to fell the rescue attempt, so she stopped in midair an created a fold to Candracar.
As leader, Will knew her primary concern had to be the safety of her friends. But at the moment, her attention was focused on just one of them. Hoping that her fellow Guardians would follow her lead, Will dived through the fold, as another bolt tore the air where she had just been hovering. Nerissa had managed to create a space of calm in the storms, and was now shooting murderous lightning at the fold.
One of the deadly tendrils lashed Will across her back as she dove through the fold. The electric fingers grasped at her even as she tumbled to the floor of the Fortress Between Worlds just seconds later. Even so, the lighting continued to pound through the fold, electrifying the air of Candracar.
Several bolts struck the Guardian Leader as she lay prone, protecting her precious cargo with her body. She couldn't take the time to close the fold for fear more of the tendrils would strike Irma.
Suddenly, Will's body stopped absorbing the murderous electricity, and she chanced to look up. Luba was standing in front of the fold, between the attacking energy and the Guardians. The deadly bolts now struck the big cat.
Will refused to let Luba sacrifice herself. Twisting painfully around, she held out the Heart of Candracar to close the fold, even though it would mean her friends would be effectively trapped with a murderous foe. Before the process could even begin, however, a massive crimson bubble formed around the fold, blocking and absorbing the lightning attacks. Will turned her head and saw the Oracle, his arms outstretched, standing behind her.
Turning her attention back to the fold, Will quickly closed it. Luba collapsed in a heap. The smell of burning flesh and fur filled the electrified air. Too hurt to move, Will could only cry out Luba's name.
The Oracle hurried to the fallen feline's side. The bald man stretched forth his hand and placed it on Luba's singed brow. He muttered some strange words Will couldn't quite make out, and a soft blue light began to emanate from his fingers. Gradually the light expanded until it surrounded the Caretaker. The cat's back arched, then, as the Oracle's incantation became louder and more frenzied. Will shielded her eyes as bright, white light filled the room. Then it was over; everything was as it had been before.
Will lowered her hand and blinked several times. Luba lay unmoving on the floor of the fortress.
Gradually, Will became aware of a presence behind her. Twisting her head, she wasn't surprised to see Halinor. The former Guardian was looking at her with concern-filled eyes, and trying to tend to her injuries.
"No, Halinor, I can wait," the Guardian leader said. "We need to get Irma to her Chamber. Help me please."
As Will made to stand up, her back screamed in pain, and the young Guardian collapsed with a cry. Tibor and Althor rushed forward, but Will fended off their attempts to aid her.
"Please, see to Irma. I can wait."
"Tibor and Althor will take care of Irma, Will," Halinor soothed. "But you need help, too. Let me render that aid."
"Is she alive?" Will asked, almost afraid of the answer. "Please tell me she's okay."
Tibor examined the fallen Guardian and then looked deep into Will's eyes. Sadly, he shook his big, bearded head.
Tears welled up in Will's big brown eyes and she let out a strangled cry. "No...no! Wake her up, wake her up now! She can't be dead; she wouldn't leave us!"
"Will..." Halinor said softly, reaching a hand towards the redhead's shoulder.
The Guardian shook off that hand and crawled towards her fallen friend.
"Wake up!" she shouted, pounding her fists on Irma's chest. "Wake up! Don't leave us...don't leave us."
The Council stood back and let the young Guardian vent her pain.
"The Joining...we can do the Joining," Will suddenly said, her eyes becoming brighter. "Quick, we have to get it all set up."
"No Guardian can survive two Joinings," the Oracle said softly as he joined the group around Irma. "It would kill your friend, young Guardian."
"She's already dead; what difference does it make?"
"It will not bring her back, Guardian. It is a futile gesture and would likely destroy the Elemental Chamber of Water in the process."
"I don't care! We have to try!" Will shouted.
The Oracle only stood motionless, his eyes beginning to well up.
"We all feel your loss, Guardian, but you must learn to let go now."
"No, dammit, I won't just let go," Will shouted. She began again to pound on Irma's badly-burned chest with her fists.
"Wake up, damn you," she ordered. "Fight! Don't let Nerissa defeat you; not after everything you've been through. You can't let her win; you can't."
Will sobbed openly, as she threw herself across her friend's unmoving form. She cried bitterly, her tears soaking Irma's bra.
"How are we supposed to go on without you? How will Hay Lin survive?" Will sobbed. "We need you, Irma. We all need you. Please...don't leave us. You have to fight."
Irma remained motionless, her badly-burned torso showing no signs of breathing, and her damaged heart showing no signs of beating.
–
Three Guardians saw their leader create a fold and dive through.
Good, Hay Lin thought, at least Irma is safe now.
She and her friends flew quickly towards the fold, only to be cut off by a murderous assault of lightning. The three friends quickly flew away, knowing they couldn't get through the fold under such an assault.
We have to get out of here, Taranee sent a desperate telepathic message.
No way; we can take her.
No, Cornelia, we can't. We're down two members and Nerissa has the Heart of Meridian.
What? How do you know that, Taranee?
Because, Cornelia, I saw it when Will and I were trying to get to Irma. It's in her staff; I would recognize it anywhere.
Oh crap, Hay Lin exclaimed. Now what do we do?
We get out of here and hide as best we can. We have to move quickly.
The three friends took off at breakneck speed, hoping desperately to escape their murderous enemy.
"You cannot hide, Guardians," Nerissa shouted. "Anywhere you go I will find you. I will kill you all!"
The Guardians paid the witch no heed as they made their escape. None of them had any doubt she would make good on that promise if she got the chance.
"Run, Guardians, run!" Nerissa shouted, laughing gleefully. "I love a good hunt!"
The witch continued to laugh as the friends disappeared from view. With a wave of her staff, she stopped the sandstorm and the howling winds. The Knights of Vengeance rubbed their eyes and coughed the sand from their lungs.
"They're gone," Raythor observed after a time. "And they've taken the Water Guardian with them."
Nerissa smiled and nodded. "Yes, that's true."
"But your vengeance..."
"Can now be focused on the remaining Guardians. The Water Brat is already dead, so I let them all go. I expect her friends will be coming for some vengeance of their own. I will crush them like ants and force Will to surrender the Heart of Candracar before I kill her friends in front of her. She shall be the last to go."
Raythor had no doubt his mistress could do everything she said. After all, she had the Heart of Meridian, and the Guardians would be severely weakened without one of their number. Not to mention they would be enraged and prone to make mistakes. In this condition, there was no way they could stand up to Nerissa. Raythor smiled evilly and joined his mistress in her mirth.
–
Will cried quietly, silent tears rolling down her cheeks. She lay prone over her friend's torso, her shoulders shaking with her sobs. She began to blow great breaths of air into Irma's mouth, just like she had seen Cornelia do at the cave weeks ago. She didn't care if she was doing it wrong...Irma was already dead, after all; what could it hurt?
All of a sudden, Irma's chest rose and she took a great gasp of air. Her eyes flew open and she began to cough. Will was so shocked she fell back. She grunted in pain as she landed on her injured back.
The council's eyes all widened at the miracle and they turned to the Oracle. The bald man simply shook his head.
"You all know I cannot heal a Guardian."
Irma's blue eyes darted around the room, her breathing coming in ragged, wheezing gasps. She seemed confused and frightened.
Will struggled to her knees and placed her hands gently on Irma's ravaged cheeks.
"Irma, don't try to talk. You're safe now."
Irma's frightened eyes try to focus on her leader, only to screw themselves up with pain.
"Will..."
"We must get the Guardian to her Chamber," the Oracle said, motioning to Tibor. The big man stepped forward and lifted Irma into his powerful arms. The young Guardian cried out in pain as Tibor lifted her. Her pathetic whimpers could be heard as he exited.
The Oracle turned his attention to Will. "I will assist you to your Chamber, Guardian. You are gravely injured, and require attention."
"What just happened? Irma was dead then suddenly she was alive. How is it possible?"
"I can only surmise your efforts to revive her proved successful. By beating on her chest, it is likely you caused her heart to beat, albeit erratically. Your breath of life brought her back to us. Well done, Guardian. I praise you for your diligence and your unwillingness to give in. Now allow me to assist you to your Chamber."
"No. My friends need help. I have to get back to them."
"Your devotion to the other Guardians is admirable. However, you are in no condition to assist them now. You must recover for a few hours then go to them."
"No," Will said, pushing herself painfully to her feet. "I have to...ahhh!"
She collapsed to the floor, her eyes squeezed shut and her hand flying to her injured back. She felt herself lifted off the floor and carried from the room. As the great door closed behind her, she opened her eyes and saw the Oracle carrying her. Normally Will would have been mortified by this, but she was barely conscious due to the pain.
"Thank you," she muttered.
"You are welcome, Guardian."
"Wait...Luba. What about Luba?"
"Halinor and Althor are attending her."
"But is she okay?"
"I have healed her. She must rest for a time."
"She saved my life," Will said softly. "I've never seen anything so brave."
"Luba has great courage."
"And she'll be alright?"
"She will," the Oracle nodded.
"Thank goodness," Will sighed, laying her head against the Oracle's shoulder. She felt exhausted.
After a time, Will said, "My friends...they need me. Can't I please just open a fold for them to come through?"
"Your friends, if they are wise, are long gone from your battlefield. They will not stay to battle an enemy that outnumbers them."
"I have to contact Taranee."
We should ask Halinor to do that. You must rest now, Guardian."
"I'm well enough to contact Taranee and find out where she is. I can open a fold and get them through. Please put me down for a second."
The Oracle sighed but did as Will requested. He helped her slowly sit down against a silver wall. Will closed her eyes and concentrated on her friend.
Taranee, can you hear me?
Will! What happened? Is Irma alright?
Irma's okay...sort of.
What do you mean, 'sort of?'
Taranee, she was dead for several minutes. So much so that the Oracle told me to let her go. But I brought her back by imitating Cornelia. She's in her Chamber now.
Taranee was silent.
T?
I'm here, Will. Just trying to soak it all in. That's twice she's killed Irma, now. We have to stop her or she'll just keep going after her.
I agree. Where are you? I want to send a fold.
Not really sure. We're just sort of flying and trying to stay ahead of the lightning. Gargoyle keeps throwing rocks, too. One of them hit Corny; I think her arm is broken.
Will gritted her teeth. She should never have left them. Can you get back to where you were? Maybe double-back or something? I can't send a fold if I don't know where you are. And...I'm too hurt to come after you right now.
What happened, Will?
Will gritted her teeth against the pain that threatened to overwhelm her. I got hit by lightning several times. It came right through the fold.
Oh, Will, how bad is it?
It hurts quite a lot, actually. I don't think I can walk on my own. The Oracle, of all people, is carrying me to my Chamber.
We'll try to get back to where we were. I'll contact you when we get there. Take care of yourself, Will.
You be careful, Taranee.
Will cut the mental link and looked imploringly at the Oracle.
"I need to wait until Taranee contacts me again. They're on the run from Nerissa and her goons."
The Oracle nodded. "I am warmed by your devotion to your friends, Guardian. It shall be as you wish."
They sat in silence for a time, until Will spoke up.
"You don't seem terribly surprised that Nerissa is back."
"Quite the contrary," the Oracle replied. "I, too, believed she was gone for good."
"Yet when I just said my friends are running from Nerissa, you didn't even blink."
"I do not know what other power could create such precise lightning strikes other than Quintessence. As unlikely as it may seem, the most logical explanation was that Nerissa is not as dead as we would believe."
Will blinked...she supposed it was pretty logical. Still, seeing that old bag had been quite a shock to her system.
"Well it surprised me," she said.
The Oracle nodded and smiled thinly. "Of that, I am certain."
They sat in awkward silence, waiting for Taranee's signal.
–
We have to what?
We have to double-back, Hay Lin. Will can't send us a fold unless she knows where we are, and our last know location was in that desert.
That's gong to take us right back through the line of fire.
I know, Cornelia, but what choice do we have? We can't just keep running, and we need to get out of here fast.
We could turn around and kick some ass...
Cornelia, you know we can't. As long as Nerissa's in the mix, we don't stand a chance. She's got a Heart, we're down two members, and you're hurt. Tell me how those odds are good.
Not for them, anyway.
Taranee had to smile at Cornelia's confidence. She knew her friend had to be in pain, yet she was still putting up a brave front.
Sorry, Cornelia, but we have to think smart now. We can try to...ughn.
A bolt of lightning struck Taranee in the back, and sent her plummeting towards the ground. Hay Lin reacted quickly and caught her friend before she could hit the unforgiving earth.
"Taranee? Are you okay?"
"Oh...I-I think so. There's no way we can double-back; Nerissa just brings too much firepower to the party. We'll just have to try and hide until Will can find us."
"That's going to be easier said than done..." Hay Lin said, as another bolt of lightning whizzed past her ear.
The three friends resumed their flight and hoped they could stay ahead of their pursuers.
–
There it folks, chapter 13. I know it was kind of short by my standards, but hey...at least I wrote something. Let me know what you thought, if you should feel so inclined. If not, that's okay too...I appreciate y'all taking the time to read. Have a lovely.