La Dolce Vita

By Seniya

J is for Jealousy

Part 1

Jealousy is the fear of comparison.
Max Frisch

Phobos had not hidden the fact that Kya was dead from his sister. He did, however, neglect to mention that he was at the root of her demise. Instead, he mumbled a sad story of how the poor thing hadn't survived the journey to Meridian. Elyon, never considering that her beloved brother was a liar, a fraud or a murder, believed the whole thing and spent a good few days mourning the loss of the demon she knew as mother.

Other than that mild injection of melancholy, Elyon's first few days in Meridian were incredibly exciting for her. For the first time in years, she had her own room, a closet with her own things, her very own bed – hell, the entire kingdom was hers if she really thought about it.

Elyon had girls to braid her hair in the morning, others to change her bath water and even more to dress her and bring her meals. Elyon had protested at first, but her brother had insisted, and not wanting to offend him, she'd relented.

Otherwise, she had taken to her new life remarkably quickly. It wasn't difficult to imagine, she'd never felt at home in Heatherfield – there'd always been that peculiar feeling of being an outsider. Well, now she knew why. Besides, being a princess wasn't anything of a disappointment.

Her most favourite thing in fact, was the lessons about her family which a tutor (hired especially by Phobos for the purpose) taught her every morning after she broke her fast. Elyon loved hearing about what a kind, loyal and noble King her father was. She gobbled up stories about her mother's tender heart and legendary looks, and of course, even better were the tales about her brother – a fairer ruler, Meridian had never known.

Sometimes, Phobos would even take her on trips around the villages surrounding the castle. She loved to see the smiling faces of her subjects, eager to reach up and grab her hands. Elyon found their sweet cottages quite charming, she loved watching as the small children played across the lush green fields under the bright sunlight.

Elyon knew within those first few days that she'd never be able to return to Earth, she was home. This was what had been missing all her life. The lost piece of the puzzle in her heart.

She never even suspected that it was all a lie.

"My Dad is such a hard ass," true to her routine, Irma had been waiting for Will as she exited her Physics class. The pair trudged along with the crowd of chattering teenagers towards the school's exit. It was Friday, and of course, there was a rush. Irma stuffed gum into her mouth as she spoke, "He questioned me about Elyon today –"

"He questioned the whole school, Irma." Will deadpanned.

"Yeah, but he made me call him 'sir'." She sighed, "I mean WTF?"

"All right, if you really start substituting letters for words, I'm gonna cut you off. Cold turkey." The girls stopped by the redhead's locker as she off loaded her books, Will ensured no one was listening before she whispered, "did you tell him anything?"

"Um, like what, yeah Dad-sir, she's in an alternate universe with her serial killer brother, who has magic powers. No Will, as you can see I haven't been institutionalised."

Will rolled her eyes and grabbed her jacket. It was early November, and there was definitely an early winter this year. The winds that had come in from the north were blisteringly cold already. Outside, clouds hung low and grey. "Caleb told me that she's still alive. He says Phobos has been taking really good care of her."

"What's that about?"

Will sighed as she shoved her arms into her heavy jacket, "maybe … he's just glad to have his sister back. Maybe he really missed her all this time."

Irma made an annoying noise with her tongue and the chewing gum, "you don't seriously believe that, do you?"

"No." The smaller girl admitted. "But I had to put it out there."

"What about Elyon's mom?" Irma asked, "Is she okay too?"

"Caleb … he didn't know. They aren't being kept together."

Now, it was Irma's time to sigh, "If Elyon was really taken then it makes sense that she's the one who stole her. I doubt Phobos was all 'live and let live' about it."

Their conversation ended abruptly when they saw Cornelia, standing painfully still in front of the tiny memorial the Hospitality Club had created for Elyon. It was the fourth memorial in as many months at the school but there was still no shortage of cards, stuffed animals and flowers. Cornelia's family had contributed the lion's share apparently, including a giant framed photograph surrounded by white roses.

"Have you talked to her?" Irma whispered, because it really seemed as though she might be able to hear them from across the hall. It was that quiet.

Will shook her head, "I tried," she mumbled, "she didn't want to talk to me."

"Is she frigging serious? What does she actually blame you?" The ounce of sympathy Irma had felt for the blonde dried up like puddle in July.

Will shrugged, grasping for an air of nonchalance, but failing. "I dunno, maybe."

"We didn't know! None of us knew," Irma popped her gum, "actually, if she wants someone to blame, she should blame her precious Caleb. He knew all along."

The defence rose to her lips before she could stop it. "He didn't. I mean … he didn't know it was Elyon." Irma's eyes shone with something that Will hated to see, so she changed the subject. "So, did they cancel Homecoming?"

"Hell no!" Momentarily distracted, Irma rattled on, "It would take the apocalypse for us to cancel a football game."

"It's freezing out."

"If they ain't dead, they'll be playing." She grinned then, "you gonna ask Caleb to be your date?"
"What?" Will scoffed, "no. Which part of me looks like it wants to go to a dance? Tell me so I can cut it off."

"You have a vagina don't you?"

"Shut up."

Irma laughed, "Well, its tonight, so you better move fast or Cornflake might throw that sympathy card in and snatch him up."

"Irma, he's the leader of a rebellion, he doesn't have time for stupid High School dances. Hell, I don't even have time for stupid High School dances." Not that she wanted to go with Caleb. He'd probably brood and draw battle plans with the quiche. She didn't want to go period. Stupid dance, besides, it seemed so out of place to be out partying when she was supposed to be finding a way to get Elyon back.

"I make the time. I have four dates, and I'm working on a fifth."

"That's a great way to battle those slut rumours, by the way."

"Ha ha." Irma stuck out her fingers, "I have a dancing date, a date to get me snacks, one to tell me how pretty I am and one to make out with."

"Irma …"

"The fifth one is just for bragging rights."

"Glad you two are enjoying yourselves." The voice from behind them was so unbearably frigid that Irma actually jumped.

"Cornflake!" The brunette snapped, "Jesus Christ girl, you fixing to kill me?"

Cornelia, for once, ignored her. Her deep blue eyes were focused directly on Will. "When are we going to get Elyon back?"

Will gave a quick glance around the school's entrance before she whispered, "we can't talk about his here Cornelia."

"Why not?" But it wasn't really a question, it was a challenge.

"You know why not. I told you already, Elyon is safe."

"She's not safe until she is back here! You can't be seriously thinking about leaving her with that … monster!"

"What else are we supposed to do? We aren't ready. Caleb doesn't have the troops to spare and we …"

"No Will," Her voice was like needles, pricking the guilt into her skin with each syllable, "you aren't ready. The only reason we aren't there right now is because everyone is trying to protect you and that stupid sword."

"Cornelia!" Irma hissed, "Shut the hell up!"

The blonde snorted and tugged the collar of her fuzzy white coat up to her chin. "I don't see what the fuss is about. As far as I can tell both you and that sword are frigging worthless."

Will felt her fingers clench and leap forward before she could even react. Before she knew what had happened, there was a crunch of bone on bone and then Cornelia shrieked. The blonde stumbled backwards, holding onto her nose which was rapidly leaking blood.

"You hit her?" Irma was smiling from ear to ear, although she did find it in her heart to go next to the wailing blonde and ensure that she was all right. The heat of rage Will had been feeling evaporated in a second. She hadn't meant to hit her – "Cornelia, I'm so …"

"Fuck you!" Cornelia yelled, before turning around and disappearing in the corridor.

There was a long bit of silence in which the angry wind became just that much more bitter and colder and scratched Will's exposed cheeks and hands. She could still feel the heat on her knuckles where'd they had touched Cornelia's face. Will would have been quite happy to stay there and consider her actions for the rest of the evening, but of course, Irma ruined the moment by bursting into an off key rendition of "Hero".

"This is absolutely unacceptable!" Elizabeth Hale, was upset that she'd been dragged away from her afternoon pedicure and possible Swedish massage by a phone call from her daughter's school. It was bad enough that both her daughters were now in public school because of her husband's inability to stop playing the slots but these consistent phone calls were a menace. The pricey boarding school they'd both been in for years would never have dared called a parent on a Friday afternoon. These classless backwater hill-billies however, had no such concerns.

She was so incensed by her half polished toes that she almost missed the fact that someone had sucker punched her first-born. Almost. "Who did this? I want the little snot expelled!"

The principal, Mrs. Knickerbocker had perpetual worry lines creased into her face and as a result, always looked rushed and a tad bit constipated. She had been a boxer once, and had quite a solid, stocky build for a woman. The exact tale of how she'd changed from Heavyweight Champion to education was a bit blurry, but it was clear that she did love her job, despite the challenges. Challenges like the parents.

"Do you know how much money we've give to this school? I want whoever is responsible kicked out! ASAP!" She probably would have gone on, if Cornelia's self-pitying moan hadn't drawn her out of her reverie. "Well have to see Dr. Hartman about this in the spring. If it doesn't come back in straight this could ruin her entire career. Well, it needed a little fixing anyway."

"Mrs. Hale," Mrs. Knickerbocker straightened in her chair and cleared her throat, "I assure you, the other girl involved is being punished. The nose isn't broken, the bleeding has already stopped, just put some ice on it and you can go."

Mrs. Hale was very upset. "Look, I want to see this beast that did this to my little girl! Is it that Lair child? She is endlessly jealous of my Cornelia and I …"

"We have arranged a meeting with both parents next week."

"Next week!"

"That's what I said, now if you don't mind," Mrs. Hale did mind, especially when the Principal held her by the shoulder and forced her out of the office. Elizabeth hustled to a nearby vending machine shoved in some change and retrieved a diet cola. She shoved that on her daughter's face and without looking back she stomped through the school hallway. "I cannot believe the audacity of that woman. When I get home I'm calling the superintendent!" She stopped suddenly, when she noticed a very notorious red jaguar leaving the school parking lot. It was a tacky car. This was something she'd spoken about length for many years – she knew that car and its equally tacky owner very well. Still, what was that Jezebel doing in the school parking lot?

Unless, "was it that horrible Susan DuPont's child that hit you?"

"What? It was Will Vandom. I don't know who her Mom is."

But Elizabeth did and she took it upon herself to enlighten her daughter about Mrs. DuPont's escapades and the little illegitimate child that had just popped up this September.

The ride home in the plush leather seats of her mother's car was quiet, as it always was when mother and daughter were closely confined. Will was surprised that her mother had come to pick her up, and even more surprised that she hadn't yelled – well, yet.

In fact, the first thing she said to Will had been in the kitchen, just as the youngster was trying to make a hasty retreat upstairs. "Homecoming is tonight, I hear."

That shocked her, "um, yeah... but you know, I don't care. I wasn't gonna go or anything."

"You should," Susan even offered a half smile. "I got my advance on the book this morning." Will watched as she walked over to the linen closet and took out a sturdy, black garment bag. "I got you this."

Will froze. She was accustomed to her mother buying her things. What stood out the most in her mind was a thousand dollar Prada jacket she'd been gifted at seven years old. Usually, it was because her mother had broken some promise, or felt guilty about something else.

"I don't want …"

"It's just a dress, Will. And you should go to your homecoming dance. Really, you should. You're only sixteen once."

It was more than a little strange that she hadn't been punished, and had even been given stuff after getting into a fight at school. Her mother was definitely guilty about something. Still, Will wasn't one to look a gift horse in the mouth. "Um, yeah, OK. I'll go."

The smile that crossed her mother's face would have been heart-warming, if it hadn't been so damn suspicious.

Elyon watched solemnly as the second moon crossed the first and slowly began its decent behind the mountains of Lithor. She knew the view from her window quite well by now, she'd been keen to learn all the names of the places and the things that made up her new life. It wouldn't do for her subjects to think she was a stranger, after all.

The moon crossing took place every night. It signalled the end of the day, and the start of the next – sort of like midnight on Earth. It was something that had fascinated her the first few times she had seen it, but now, it only reminded her of how different this place was.

"What troubles you, my child?" Phobos had entered her chamber, as was accustomed. He would do so every night, to inquire of her happiness, lessons and her safety. Tonight, Elyon quickly confided, "I-I miss my f-friend."

"Friend?" Phobos' thin white brows tugged together in confusion. "What do you …"

"My friend, Cornelia. She …s-she lives on Earth. I-I … miss her a lot and she doesn't know where I am. S-She's probably really worried and I …"

"You want to see her."

Elyon's eyes widened at the possibility. "I … i-is that pos-s-ible?"

She was too overjoyed at the concept to notice the way her brother's eyes had darkened, too naïve to hear exactly how the edges of his words sharpened. "If it is what you wish, then I will do everything in my power to make it happen."

Naturally, it was Cedric who had to handle the finer points of figuring out exactly how to go to Earth and extract the girl. He brooded for hours in his dark dungeon room, taking little comfort for the ice cold dampness that tickled his exposed stomach as he lay on the floor. If he could be honest (he couldn't), he'd grown tired of these miserable orders. This foolishness and time wasting with his master's sister and the potions and all those Earth girls, while the riches of Meridian were being squandered by those peasants outside. When the rebels grew stronger with every passing day.

It wasn't his place to ever mutter these thoughts. He wasn't even certain why he could, even as the complaints dribbled through his mind there was a part of his heart that hissed in displeasure that he could even breathe life into such ideas. The Master is always right – always right – always –

But what if he wasn't? The Black Witch's words still rang in his mind. Could she really free him? He knew better than to trust her –

Always right –

Like all news from the palace, the plan to ambush the Earth and steal away yet another Earth girl had filtered into the rebel camp like rainwater through the city's streets. When the information came to Caleb during a meeting in his room, he would have discounted it as another one of the King's nuances had it not been for the utterance of one familiar name: Cornelia.

It was too valuable to leave to chance. He ignored the murmurs of discontent coming from within the rebels headquarters, whispers about the time he spent with the guardians, and about the fact that the girls were useless. Caleb couldn't blame the spark of malice, sadly he couldn't eradicate it either.

Still, that couldn't matter tonight. He slipped out of the rebel hideout with and into the canopy of darkness without a second thought. The Gods were with him this night, because there was a portal scant one hundred paces away from his lodgings.

The most peculiar thing about Earth was how bright it was. It could take him minutes before the white spots completely vanished from before his eyes and that was in the time they called "night".

Caleb was not so unfamiliar with Earth as before. He had learned the streets quite quickly, he'd even discovered a few short cuts over time. That troubled him. It it had been so easy for him, it must have been twice as easy for Cedric and his men. This entire world was so damn vulnerable.

Within minutes he'd arrived at HayLin's abode, intending to inform her grandmother of the news. He would not be held responsible for withholding information this time around. The rebel leader knocked a few times on the heavy wooden door, was greeted by a very formal looking Hay Lin, who took one look at him in his muddy dragon skin coat and dragged him into the basement before he could scare away the dinner customers.

"Cornelia is in danger," Caleb spoke frankly as he was accustomed and was put off by HayLin's nonchalance.

"What? Did you hear about her and Will's fight?"

That stunned him, "Will fought her?"

HayLin flicked on the downstairs lights and nodded eagerly (she rarely ever had gossip), "Yep, Irma said she got her right in the nose and there was blood and gore and everything. Cornelia is pissed."

Caleb couldn't follow. "Why would such a thing happen?"

"I dunno, Cornelia was mad about Elyon or something. Hey did you find out anything about her?"

The roundabout manner in which HayLin spoke finally had returned to a topic he could discuss. "Yes, there are rumours from the castle that Cedric plans to return to Earth to capture Cornelia. Elyon longs to see her and..."

"Tonight is Homecoming at their school." HayLin bit her lip to cover the jealousy, "you'll have to go over there or something because I've got to cover the dinner service or else Nana and my Mom will honestly freak. You can't wear that." She tugged at his coat.

Caleb blinked. Had she not heard him? Cornelia was in danger and she was complaining about his attire? "What do you..."

"Like no, there's a dress code. They won't let you a mile within the school looking so homely. I know … 'cause I tried last year. Hey, my Dad has some old tuxes upstairs. I'm sure at least the shirt and the pants can fit. And Will can take you, she doesn't have a date I think, but Irma has like seven."

"Hay Lin, slow your words. I do not follow ..."

"I'm gonna take you around the back way, through the kitchen, the health inspector gives us enough heat about this place already."

"Hay Lin! I do not have time for your dance! Tell Will to ready the others because Cedric is on his way and..."

"Tell her yourself, in your tux. Even Will could appreciate that. Seriously Caleb, five minutes."

He still wasn't certain how he was dragged through the staff entrance and into Hay Lin's standing bath, sprayed, groomed and dressed (admittedly in the five minutes which were promised) and then sent off to the school's auditorium. HayLin promised to call Will on their wireless communication device and to come over once the "night time rush" was over, but Caleb was still confused at what had transpired.

"Girls." He mumbled, which was as good an explanation as any. Still, in his burrowed garments (which were too thin or not sturdy in the least) he headed over to the School grounds, hoping that at least, Will would be sensible enough to recognise the danger.

Despite her swollen nose, puffy eyes and the fact that her date to the Homecoming dance was not the quarterback of the school's football team (he was a linebacker actually – gross) Cornelia Hale dabbed on extra concealer, whipped off her icepack and put on her Zac Posen dammit. She wasn't about to let Will Vandom know what she'd done to her! If she was photographed on her left side anyway, you could scarcely notice the swelling.

Her date, Michael … Something-or-the-other, was polite, sweet, southern and punctual. He hadn't dared asked about her swollen features and seemed genuinely happy to accompany her. And who wouldn't be? Even if she'd been attacked by a mountain of wasps, she'd still be the prettiest girl in school. She continued her mental pep-talk as Michael drove her the three blocks to the school, and might have kept it up, if he hadn't asked her about Elyon.

Now, her mood was foul.

Michael, like a true Southerner, might have slit his wrists because he'd upset her. He got her flowers, and opened doors and apologised, several times. There was a cold breeze out, it nipped at her shoulders so he gave her his jacket. Nope, still pissed. He got her extra punch when they were inside, and asked her very sweet questions about her interests and family and all that jazz. Still pissed. There'd be no helping her mood tonight, she decided. It was confirmed when Wilhelmina Vandom, with that atrocious mop of fire-engine red hair, sauntered into the auditorium wearing her damn Zac Posen dress, with Caleb by her side.

The dress was stupid. Her hair was stupid. The heavy make up on her face was stupid and to make matters worse, all of her stupid classmates had now either heard about her fight with Cornelia and either hated her more or wanted to be her friend.

She'd only gone to placate her mother, who had been rather insistent that she show up and "cheer herself up". Whatever that meant. Apparently her mother thought her social life was even more dismal that she did. Actually, Susan was the one who'd brandished the curling iron and MAC brushes to make her offspring presentable. Will had to admit, she didn't look terrible – if she'd care about that stuff – never mind the fact that she was damn uncomfortable and self conscious. Not to mention that Caleb was beside her, looking just as uncomfortable in his starched pants and shirt as she felt in the super shiny weird dress her mother had bought. He looked good though, despite the fact that she'd tried not to notice. She'd failed. Although she had forced herself to stop glancing over at the way his arms pressed against the fabric of his shirt –

God, she almost rolled her eyes at herself. All that crap Irma had been telling her was finally getting into her head.

Apparently Cedric was planning to kidnap Cornelia, which is why she had a guitar case with a sword in it strapped to her side, rather than a cute clutch. It was really going to be a peachy night. It would be topped off by figuring out how to get two hundred teenagers out of the school before the giant evil snake attacked and stole a member of the Homecoming court and possibly ate everyone else.

"All right, you go tell Cornelia that Cedric is after her and to watch out."

She knew Caleb hated listening to her, so Will expected the rebuttal even before she heard it. "I have to secure the exits, why don't you tell her."

"Because she hates me, duh. I'll secure the exits."

Caleb almost laughed. "You shall not, you cannot even see over the tops of the doors."

"Shut up Caleb. Why don't you just do everything then?" She didn't like how everyone was looking at them, probably wondering who her date was, what she was hissing at him and why he didn't look like a homeless troll like her. "I'm going on the roof to be a look-out. I'll tell you when he's coming."

She ran up the fire-escape built into the side of the gym before he could offer any resistance. She just had to get out of that stupid room with that stupid generic summer pop on the speakers running her nerves to bits. How could Cedric attack now? What if he took Cornelia too? That'd be all her fault if she couldn't stop him. Just like Elyon and her mother. Just like how she couldn't save Lydia or anyone else...

'Heavy is the head that wears the crown.' A voice cooed in her ears and Will rolled her eyes. "Dammit, Nerissa, go away."

To her surprise the voice replied, 'I was only trying to help.'

Up on the roof was freezing. The half empty branches of trees waved maliciously at her while trying to snatch the stars from the sky. No Cedric.

All right, she'd bite. "How can you help me?" She was alone on the outside of the building. Perched on the roof like a little red bird with a shiny collar. If Cedric was coming, she'd see him. Unless... he came from the inside. Will clicked her tongue – she really couldn't win this.

'I can tell you that you and I are very similar and that the sooner you realise that, the easier everything will be.'

"I'm nothing like you." But Will's blood had run cold at the mere mention of the possibility.

'I know I've been vilified over time but it doesn't have to be an insult child. I was quite popular in my time.'

"How come you can talk to me?"

She refused to answer. Instead, she muttered, 'the only difference is that I hit my guardians much, much harder.'

And then the voice was gone. Now, there was nothing more than the November breeze laughing in her ears and the heat of blood inflaming her veins.

Author: I'm back. I actually wrote this a while ago and was just adding more because I didn't want to have to split the chapter up. Today I finally realised I'd have to split it so now I'm posting it.

The Phobos saga is almost over, it will finish in M is for Monster. After this we have K is for Kin and L is for Leader. Then it is N is for Nerissa which was probably one of the first chapters I planned. I'm really excited to get out of the Phobos arc because he was just a very important means to an end for my real story. Yay. Part two should be up soon. I've got some fluff written in my little notepad around here, so you WillxCaleb people finally get some love. I decided Caleb should look like Chris Hemsworth aka Thor. Except with brown hair. That man could hit it girls. HIT IT. Anyways reviews are always appreciate. Thanks for all the support so far.