Chapter 18

Changing of the Guard

Heatherfield

Will watched the fan as it rotated in front of her. Every five seconds or so, the blades would face Will's direction, and she would enter a state of cool, refreshing bliss. The other four seconds were spent sitting in the scorching heat, waiting for the fan to look her way. Even the doorbell seemed tired as it chimed through the house. Will reluctantly got up from the couch, and opened the door.

"Please tell me you have air conditioning." Matt said, standing in the doorway, sweat pouring down his face.

"Come on in and meet your new best friend." Will said, leading Matt to the couch and pointing at the rotating fan.

"What? No A/C? How do you live?" Matt said, slumping down on the couch.

"Painfully. And for the record, it's being installed Monday." Will replied, sitting beside him.

"So, last night?" Matt said, changing the subject and eyeing Will.

"Quite the night for you to join in on the fun." Will said with a smile, remembering their dealings with the R.E.G and the Shadow Walker. "You caught the best part."

"I should have been there from the beginning." Matt began.

"But you were there for the end." Will interrupted. "You were there for what matters."

"Yeah, I suppose I was. I asked you to include me, and you did. Took a while, but you did." Matt said. "I suppose I can't be mad."

"Good."

"Too much."

"Aw."

Matt laughed, which went a long way in relaxing Will. For the first time in what felt like months, it was just like what it had been when they had first met. There was no tension, no friction between them.

"I do appreciate you letting me come with you guys." Matt said, "but this isn't a one time thing right?"

"Right."

"Next time, you'll…"

"Let you go with us as well."

"Because I'm…?"

Will raised an eyebrow and looked at Matt suspiciously.

"Because you're very annoying and the only way to get you to be quiet is if I take you along with me." Will said with a smile.

"Meh, close enough." Matt said with a shrug. "You know I'd hug you if it wasn't so hot in here."

"I appreciate both the thought and the lack of action." Will replied.

Will was about to ask what Matt had planned for the day, when someone else knocked at the door.

"I've got it." Susan Vandom said, heading for the door.

"Thanks mom." Will replied, listening to see who it was.

"Oh, hello." Susan said. "Can I help you?"

"Yes, I'm looking for Will Vandom. Is this her residence?" Replied the person. Will and Matt recognized the voice immediately and both leapt up. They peered around the corner to see Orube standing in the doorway.

"Yes, she's here." Susan said, "And who should I say is asking for her?"

"My name is…"

"Rebecca!" Will shouted, leaping in just before Orube could finish her sentence.

"Um, yes, Rebecca." Orube said, eyeing Will suspiciously. "My name is Rebecca."

"You know this woman Will?" Susan said, also staring at her daughter.

"Uh, yeah!" Will replied, quickly thinking up a lie. "She's helping me with my swimming. Gotta get a head start on the season!"

"I didn't know you were getting swimming help." Susan replied as Will pushed Orube out the door.

"Well, now you know. Anyways, we have to go. See you later mom!" Will said, quickly leaving the room, followed by Matt.

Will closed the door on her very confused mother before cornering Orube.

"What are you doing here?" Will hissed.

"Why am I Rebecca?" Orube countered.

"Because Orube isn't a very common name here in Heatherfield. Now your turn for answers." Will said.

"I'm here because I have nothing else to do." Orube said.

Will sighed, kicking herself internally for not thinking about this earlier.

"Alright, let's talk. But not here. You hungry for lunch Matt?" Will said.

"Always." Matt replied, letting Will lead the three of them down the street.

Meridian

Cornelia strode through the fold and into the Meridian castle. Vathek, who happened to be walking down the hallway that Cornelia had appeared in, stopped and watched the Guardian appear.

"Caleb?" he asked.

"Caleb." Corenlia responded.

"You're lucky." Vathek said. "You caught him in between his morning exercise session and his afternoon exercise session. So he should be in his room."

"Thanks Vathek. Is he still acting weird?" Cornelia asked.

Vathek nodded.

"But if anyone can straighten him out it's you." Vathek added.

A look of determination appeared on Cornelia's face as she marched confidently to Caleb's room. She was going to straighten him out, one way or another. She was surprised to find that there was no fear, no anxiety. She had resigned herself to what she had to do, and whatever the result may be, she would be ready for it. Without stopping, she pushed through the doors open and burst into Caleb's room.

"Caleb! We need to talk." She said boldly.

"Oh, hello Cornelia. Thank you for knocking. Please, come on in." Caleb said sarcastically, glancing up at Cornelia.

"No, I've had it!" Cornelia continued.

"Had it with what?"

"With you!" Cornelia said. "With you not acting like you!"

"Well what am I acting like then?" Caleb asked, confused, but not backing down.

"That's the thing, I don't even know!" Cornelia said, throwing her arms in the air. "You don't laugh, you don't smile, I never see you anymore! And it's not just me, everyone's noticed it. Whether you know it or not, you've changed."

"People change, Cornelia." Caleb replied calmly.

"Not for no reason, they don't." Cornelia replied. "You're not the boy I fell in love with. The Caleb I knew was fun, and full of live. He would tell stupid jokes, just to make me laugh. He'd make me smile just by being there. I was happy when I was with him, and I was sad when I wasn't. He was the most important thing in my life, and I'm worried that he's gone. And it's ever since you went into that final chamber on Kandrakar!"

"I told you not to worry about that." Caleb said without conviction.

Cornelia took a deep breath and braced herself for what she was going to say next.

"There's this boy, named Timothy." She began. "His dad is a friend of my dad, and we've started hanging out together. He just asked me to have dinner with him alone, and I think he's starting to get serious."

"Oh." Caleb said, staring at the ground.

"You see! This! This right here is what I'm talking about!" Cornelia said.

"What? I haven't done anything!" Caleb replied defensively.

"Exactly!" Cornelia said. "Remember when I started seeing Taranee's brother? Peter?"

"Yes." Caleb said, gritting his teeth.

"You stormed in, furious, and did everything you could to make things right." Cornelia said. "You made a fool out of yourself, you almost got killed, and it worked. But now, you hear about this guy, and all you can say is 'oh'."

Cornelia moved closer to Caleb, putting her hand on his shoulder gently.

"Caleb, you know how I feel about you. You know how much I care about you. I want to help you, but you have to let me. You have to tell me what you saw in that chamber."

Caleb turned to Cornelia, his eyes filled with sadness, pain and determination. And Cornelia couldn't be sure, but she thought she saw a spark of the old Caleb there as well.

"I saw you." Caleb said. "In the final chamber, I saw you."

"Dying?" Cornelia asked. "Caleb, I know…"

"No, not dying." Caleb said. "Leaving."

"Leaving?" Cornelia asked, surprised.

"You said we were too different." Caleb continued. "That you were, at the core, still an ordinary girl, and I was a warrior from another world. We come from two different pasts, and we walk two different paths. You said that it would never truly work out between us."

"And you're scared I'm going to say that?" Cornelia asked.

"I'm scared that it's the truth." Caleb said. "I'm scared it's been the truth all along."

"Caleb, you can't think that way…." Cornelia said, almost pleading.

"Can't I?" Caleb replied. "This isn't a fairly tale. There is no 'happily ever after', not in this story. People get hurt, people die, that's how my life works. Is that a life you really want to be a part of? The constant fighting, the constant struggle? It's always been a part of my life, but could you ever make it a part of yours? Besides…"

Cornelia forced herself to look Caleb in the eye. She was fighting to remain calm, and she saw the same struggle reflected back in Caleb's face.

"Can you honestly say you've never thought the same thing?" Caleb asked.

Cornelia didn't want to say it, she wanted to scream it. She wanted everyone on every world to know that what they had was special, and that there were no doubts in her mind, and that theirs was a love that could last forever. But she couldn't lie to herself, and she couldn't lie to him, so she remained silent.

"I didn't think so." Caleb said softly.

"So, if that's the way you feel, what is it you want to happen?" Cornelia asked.

"The same thing I've always wanted." Caleb answered. "The same thing I always will want. For you to be happy. I want what's best for you."

"No matter what?" Cornelia asked.

"No matter what."

The two looked at each other for what seemed like eternity, unspoken feelings and memories passing between them.

"This isn't how I want it to end." Cornelia said, struggling to keep her voice level.

"This is not the end." Caleb said. "Not for us. It's just a… transition. I don't know what happens after this. I know what I hope for…"

"Never give up hope." Cornelia said, touching Caleb's cheek.

The two hugged briefly, but warmly. Cornelia never cried once, although it felt like many times the tears would come for both her and Caleb. When she finally left that room, Cornelia felt emotionally exhausted, but ready for what was to come. She allowed herself one last glance at the door behind her. There was still part of her that wanted to fight against fate with everything she had. And even though all the evidence was clear before her, she knew deep inside that this was not where the story of Caleb and Cornelia ended.

Balsilide

"Again." Balken said, staring over the young girl's shoulder.

Selna took a deep breath, and held the Heart firmly in her left hand while raising her right. She focused her body and fired a blast of energy at a nearby wall. The target painted on the wall exploded as the blast hit it square in the bull's-eye.

"I did it!" Selna said, looking up at Balken excitedly. "That's three times in a row!"

"You're doing wonderfully!" Balken said, a smile spreading across his face. "I'm very proud of you."

Selna beamed at the compliment. The pair of them had spent much of the past day in the armory of the Palace, working on the various aspects of wielding the Heart. It was difficult for Balken to teach something he didn't know, but his words of encouragement had kept Selna motivated, and even the failures were fond memories for the girl. She was thrilled with her new found powers, and wanted to practice them all night, but her body did not have the same stamina as her mind. A yawn betrayed her exhaustion.

"I guess we better take a break." Selna said reluctantly. "Thanks for everything Balken."

"It was my pleasure little one." Balken replied warmly. "But, if you are able, there is just one last test I'd like to try."

Balken reached into his pocket and produced a small, glowing green stone, unlike any Selna had seen before.

"What is it?" She asked, staring at the strange rock.

"It's called Revell." Balken answered. "At least, that's what it's called on Balsilide."

"And what does it have to do with me?" Selna asked.

"I want you to focus your energy into this stone." Balken said, handing Selna the piece of Revell. "Put as much energy into it as you can, okay?"

"Okay." Selna said, her curiosity getting the better of her.

She closed her eyes, pumping the energy from the Heart into the small stone, squeezing it tightly. After a few seconds, Balken put his hand on hers and she stopped. Balken carefully removed the stone from her hand, and to Selna's surprise, hurled it at the far wall. Upon impact, the stone exploded with such force that Balken and Selna felt it from the other side of the room.

"What… what was that?" Selna asked.

"We'll save that question for tomorrow." Balken said, a smile on his face. "For now, get some rest. You did very well today."

Selna began heading for the door, but stopped halfway and faced Balken.

"It's not fair you know." She said. "The Shadow Walker killed my family, and he's not even being punished!"

"I know." Balken said. "But the Guardians…"

"The Guardians!" Selna said with hatred. "They're just as responsible as the Shadow Walker! Especially that Irma girl. I wish we could punish them!"

"Well," Balken said, glancing at the holes made in the wall by Selna's earlier blasts, "perhaps we should contact the Guardians tomorrow, and see what we can do about that."

Selna smiled, and hurried off to bed after that. Like the nights before, she got very little sleep. Only tonight, it was excitement that kept her up. Excitement about what tomorrow might bring.