Will spent the day with her mother after she returned from the hospital, assuring her that everything was fine. Late at night, sitting alone in the dark room, she thought everything was not good at all. It was the second incident in a few months resulting in injuries and each time Phobos came to her aid. She ruined her chance with Matt and lied to friends about everything, and now it seemed her thoughts wanted to drown her. It felt like her life was spiraling out of control, and she didn't know how to stop it. Will desperately needed someone to talk to but didn't know who to turn to. Noticing the silence in the apartment and the sleeping appliances, she made up her mind. Rising from the bed, the red-haired girl called on the power of the Heart of Kandrakar. Warm pink light surrounded her, transforming her body, covering it with a tight green and purple uniform.
Will always felt lighter and stronger in her Guardian form, sensing the magic coursing through her veins. Taking the medallion into her hands, Will focused on the person she wanted to see and prayed. Feeling a bit silly, she opened her eyes and sighed. Nothing happened. She had no idea how traveling between the worlds worked. It was all due to mysterious Heart interference. Focusing again, Will thought about the little kiss he shared, and her heart fluttered. The mirror in her room flickered, becoming opaque and no longer reflecting the surrounding area. Will gathered the courage to touch the glass, and her palm went straight through the surface. She slipped to the other side, exiting into a long corridor through the old-fashioned gold-framed mirror on the wall. Aware of the exposure and frustrated about not finding the intended target, Will sneaked into the room with a slightly ajar door.
It was a gallery full of paintings. A few of them were covered with drapery and thick curtains. Fresh flowers were arranged in the large standing vases that were comfortably placed between the frames. When she saw Phobos gently touching the frame of a large portrait of a woman, her breath caught in her chest. She was striking, painted in an intricate green, white, and gold gown with a wide, see-through Elizabethan collar. Her brown braided hair was adorned with a green cap, which had a clear diamond drop hanging from between the eyebrows. The background was dark and muted, drawing all attention to the woman's striking features. The artist had captured every detail with such precision that it felt as if the woman was about to step out of the canvas and into the room. The entire room was filled with portraits of females dressed in various outfits, but all of them appeared regal and proud. Each portrait seemed to tell a story, capturing not just the physical features of the subject but also their personality and spirit.
'Guardian, I thought you'd never return, given that you left under less-than-ideal circumstances.' He said this without turning around, his eyes fixed on the painting.
There was no surprise in his voice. Phobos was always aware of her presence. Will approached him, her footsteps echoing in the quiet room. 'I came back to thank you,' she said softly. 'Whatever you did, it provided me with a fighting chance. I'm grateful...' Will took a few more steps, standing next to him and unconsciously shuddering. The words left a strange taste in her mouth. Being thankful to the enemy was an odd experience. Will couldn't help but wonder if she was being too trusting. After all, Phobos had been the one to put her in danger in the first place. But she pushed those thoughts aside and focused on the present moment, determined to make the most of her time with him. It took her time to sort out her feelings. Even if she blamed him for lots of things, without his interference, Will would have broken down sooner and would not have fought at all. It was a small sign for her that he wasn't as bad as everyone thought. She realized he had been trying to help in his own way, even if it wasn't always the right approach.
'Cedric went against orders. It was the least I could do… Only I have a right to kill you.' Phobos smirked, but something danced in his eyes, melting away the ice. He approached her, getting so close that Will could feel the heat radiating from his body.
'What did you do to me?' She asked the first question that came to mind, remembering the clarity and tingles coursing through her body, making everything more vivid than it had been before. Once again, remarkable power pulsed around him, and her magic restlessly throbbed with every heartbeat. Like gravity was pushing them together so close they could touch but with enough leeway to get away.
"I gave you a drop of my power, a tiny bit of magic, a piece of myself...' Phobos ran a finger down her brow between the red tresses and the invisible mark he left. "Be grateful, Guardian, for it was a valuable gift...'
'Why?' Will unconsciously lifted her head, looking up at him. Her heart fluttered inside the chest like a butterfly ready to fly.
'Consider it an impulse on my part... But can you deny the existence of a connection between us?' He murmured, trailing the exposed flesh of her neck. His blue eyes darkened into deep, dark pools.
Will nodded, lost in the heated stare, afraid to cross that invisible line they walked. Phobos was someone she was not supposed to be attracted to. However, being this close, she could feel his every breath. Before Will could think about pulling away, he took advantage of the situation, and his soft lips were on hers. Gentle at first, testing the waters of her submission but slowly exploring as if requesting permission for more. Will willingly surrendered, and his insistent mouth parted her lips, sending tremors through her senses from the unyielding passion with which he claimed her. Seeking even more, Phobos grasped her back and pushed his other hand into her hair, pulling them close and molding their bodies together. Will wrapped her arms around his neck, feeling the thrill of holding onto something forbidden, caressing the long, silky tresses at the back of his head. She felt like drowning in the taste of him—so dark, rich, and intense. It made her knees weak, and her body ached as the desire pooled in her belly. Will had no idea she was capable of such emotions. Something about him brought out a side of her that she had never known existed. Letting herself go, Will curiously darted her tongue into his mouth. Phobos shuddered, making a sound in the back of his throat, something between a moan and a growl. He ravaged her with fervently ignited lust, relishing the forbidden fruit. Will was swept away in the river of unfamiliar hunger. She moaned, feeling her body burning, and Phobos tensed, hearing the sensual sound. He slowed the kiss, guiding them back to innocent pecks and gentle biting until they just stood there, trying to catch their breath. Neither of them moved, afraid of shattering the moment because it would change nothing. They were still on opposing sides of a war. But for that brief moment, both people forgot about everything else and just existed in the present, overwhelmed by the sheer intensity of their emotions.
The door banged loudly against the wall somewhere in the castle, and they jumped apart in alarm. Phobos looked at Will with a slight dread and quickly pushed her behind the heavy curtain. Muttering the spell, he locked the partition in place.
'Will, you cannot be discovered… Whatever you overhear, remain silent and allow me to explain, please… ' He was breathless and could not complete the sentence, pulling away as the steps grew closer.
Hiding under the curtain, Will bit into her abused lip. Her body was still tingling with unexpected desire as if the entire world had been turned on its head. She knew kissing him was wrong, but for the first time in her life, the smoldering heat sizzled beneath her skin. It was a kiss that blew away any experience from before. The silly crush on Matt or the innocent pecks she shared with a few boys could not compare to the passion Phobos poured into her. It made her want to do things she could only imagine, and that was the crux of the problem. Their connection should have never happened. Will could not betray her friends or the mission entrusted to her. She was pulled apart by the seams—her heart wanted more, but the mind knew it was futile. Their association would result in mountains of pain. As Phobos stood there, Will could almost see the masks he was putting back on—those of a ruler, a tyrant, and the Prince the world knows. She wanted to tear it apart, see what was hiding inside and reach the unguarded man he kept hidden from the world.
'Good evening, brother. I was looking everywhere for you.' A familiar voice spoke, opening the door, and Will's world fell apart once more. Elyon entered wearing a blue robe over a green high-collar blouse. Her braided hair was adorned with a silver headband on the forehead, a sign of royalty. She walked into the room, stopping just beside Phobos, and Will wanted to scream. The similarities were uncanny. How could she have been so stupid? They looked so alike. The same hair color, even if his was lighter, and the same braids they liked to adorn. Blue eyes—in Elyon's case, more gray-blue than Phobos' icy sheen—and those high cheekbones. They looked like a family now, dressed in matching outfits. Elyon was the Meridian's missing heiress.
'Sister, is something the matter?' He asked, turning around and facing her with an arched eyebrow.
'Well, since it's so easy to get lost here, I just wanted to know where... oh!' her attention was captured by the portrait on the wall. Leaning closer, the girl almost dazedly touched the colors. It was so similar to Phobos' previous gesture that it made her heart hurt.
'Is this mother?' She asked in a reverie about the woman painted on the canvas.
'Yes, she is yours… Our mother…' Phobos sighed, looking at the beautiful picture, remembering the only person he was so familiar with.
'Can you tell me more about her?' Elyon asked quietly, still unsure how to act around him after being an only child her entire life. Phobos looked at the girl standing nearby. So alike in appearance but very different from him. Even though they had the same blood flowing through their veins, he had no sibling attachment to this person. It must have been hard for her to abandon everything she knew about life. On the other hand, if he does not act like a brother, it will be harder to steer the girl toward the fate planned for her. 'Accept my apology, Weira… I must finish this, even if you never forgive me…' he bitterly thought, glancing at the portrait. How quickly the wheel turned. A moment ago, he was lost in burning desire, almost crossing the line. The pliable Guardian's body in his arms awakened an all-consuming thirst. It wrecked his reasoning. It made him forget about things and how dangerous their connection was. Now, with his sister standing beside him, Phobos knew the moment with Will was over. She will flee after witnessing this betrayal. Swallowing the rising resentment, he answered Elyon's question.
'Mother was kind and clever. She was stubborn too, with a steel core running through her spine. Weira was a force to be reckoned with when she chose to be both extremely protective and nurturing. I may be contradicting myself, but Mother... was everything I cared about... She would have loved you like no one else...' He smiled slightly as he recalled the woman who had given him the world.
'I hate it. It's all their fault… Kandrakar, Guardians, and Rebels—they stole the life I could have!' Elyon cried out in anger, squeezing her hands into the fists.
'You had a life on Earth. Was it that terrible?' He inquired with curiosity, wanting to know what she thought about abandoning her friends.
'It was a lie! That life was one big fat lie! My friends betrayed me, and my parents were imposters! All I wanted was to fit in, but always felt different from everybody else, never knowing why! Now Kandrakar is destroying my home! I will show them what a true fight feels like. It's a pity Cedric did not kill the Guardian!' The young woman fumed, pacing around, angry with the situation and the world. All that anger had nowhere to go, consuming her from within. There was an urge to shred everything apart and let them taste the pain she felt when learning the truth about her origins. Reacting to the rapidly changing emotions, magic gathered in her, whipping her hair in all directions and popping pale sparks around her body.
'Leave the Guardians alone. You are not strong enough to challenge them and control yourself!' Phobos instantly ordered, grabbing Elyon by the elbow, and attempting to push her magic away.
'Disregard everything learned on Earth. You are currently the Princess of the Meridian. Show some decorum! You have an image to uphold!' He dictated and let her go, searching for any signs of calm, to no avail.
'Nobody orders me around!' Elyon hissed, her eyes glazed over and gained a pale green, almost white sheen. Magic crackled in the air, charging it with bolts all around. Will gasped quickly, covering her mouth to stop the sound, seeing the proof that her friend had magical abilities. Immense tension permeated the room. Only Phobos stood tall, unaffected by the chaos around him.
'Sister! Stop your foolishness!' He called, unleashing the power of his voice. It almost echoed through the room. To Will's surprise, Elyon stopped, panting heavily and wobbling on unsteady legs. She leaned against the wall, but her eyes were clear.
'Sorry… I don't know what happened… I am so sorry…' The girl stammered, lowering her eyes, trying not to look at her brother. What has she done? Shame seized her. Phobos was the only family out here, and she acted like a crazy person. He was an intimidating figure, and now there was no chance they would talk as normal siblings do. Elyon wished she could take back her outburst, but the damage was already done.
'Never allow magic to control you, or you will suffer the consequences. I may be your brother, but I am also your Prince. You will obey me!' Phobos furiously hissed, towering above his sister. Will never heard his voice so enraged, shivering with understanding why people were frightened of him. She saw him in a variety of moods, but this was cold fury bubbling beneath the surface. Anger combined with his massive magical reserves was an overwhelming duet. Will looked at the cowed woman, secretly enjoying her humiliation. Her worst fears seemed to have come true. She betrayed them all and wanted the Guardians dead. Whatever fabricated story Elyon discovered made her dangerous. How could their friend be so cold-hearted?
Swallowing the unexpected tears, Will despaired about what to tell the rest of the girls. Nobody would believe her without proof, and any evidence Will could provide was obtained from the enemy's hands. Her heart ached as she realized that Elyon's betrayal had not only put them all in danger but had also shattered their trust in each other. They will be facing an enemy who was once their friend, and the thought of having to fight her was almost too much to bear. She soared high above the ground, feeling unforgettable passion, and then crashed down to the earth due to an unexpected betrayal by a friend.
Why was her life so complicated? Everything around her was collapsing like a house of cards.
'I believe you should leave, sister. You still have a great deal to learn.' Phobos tightly contained voice ushered a distraught Elyon out of the room.
The girl stopped at the doorstep, saying, 'I will learn… I'll show you. I can be useful…' she promised with determination in her eyes, 'and I sincerely apologize for what happened, I don't know what came over me. It will never happen again.' Elyon made a small nod and turned around.
'We will see… Go and find Cedric. He will help with your control issues.' Phobos shut the door and listened to her steps as the young woman walked away. Satisfied that his sister was as far away as possible, he pushed the curtain away, releasing the magic around the Guardian. What the prince saw was the distraught girl huddling down on the floor. He wished to take her into his arms and ease her pain, but couldn't. It was a harsh reminder of their positions. One heated kiss could not erase the things they both knew… They would never be free of their obligations, even if he wanted to kiss her senselessly and teach her things she could barely imagine. It was not meant to be. Phobos hesitated before gently touching her shoulder. The man knew he had to let her go, even though it pained him to do so.
'Will? She is gone…' The prince gently lifted her head. Tears streamed down the pale cheeks. Witnessing how torn she was, Phobos knew the kiss was a mistake. It was inevitable because the circumstances were against them from the start. Regret washed over him now that he had tasted something he should not have.
'Elyon is wrong. Kandrakar is not destroying your planet! We are helping people!' Will shouted in a strangled voice. How could she believe those lies? Elyon wanted to kill them even though Guardians never harm innocent people. It was a terrifying thought, and Will had no idea how she would have to fight someone who was a former friend.
'Is she? You were thrust into a war without any preparation, Will. Guardians are just tools for Kandrakar to do their bidding. When was the last time you went there? When did they ever assist in anything? If you ask questions, you will not receive answers.' Phobos scoffed in disapproval, crossing his arms over his chest. Why did Guardian have to be so naive and oblivious to the reality in front of her and the contradictions that surrounded it? Will felt a pang of frustration at the truth in his words. She had always believed that being a Guardian meant protecting the innocent and fighting for what was right, but now she realized it was more complicated than that.
'You lie!' She cried out, not wanting to hear more bitter words from his lips.
'I may twist the truth to my advantage or completely avoid it, but I never lie, especially to you.' Phobos replied, attempting to convey that not everything in their world is black and white. He knew that his words were enough to convince her, but he hoped she would understand his perspective someday.
'I cannot do this… We cannot do this.' Will whispered in a broken voice. She stood up, steeling her spine, looking at him with a mix of sadness and anger. 'I thought that maybe there was something inside you I could reach.' She said, shaking her head, 'but now I see we are too different.' Tears welled in her eyes, but Will blinked them away. 'We can pretend our meetings never happened and you are as cold and heartless as I thought before.'
'I understand…' Phobos agreed, closing his eyes with a silent sigh of rejection. He admired her raw strength and courage, having witnessed them in various situations, but she had never been scared of him. 'You are familiar with my cruelty. I already proved I can hurt you.' He chuckled bitterly. 'Why don't you fear me?'
Will remembering their every meeting, looked at him with a calm expression, hiding her turbulent feelings inside. One thing became clear: he always pushed her away, so Will answered, 'Because you never hurt me unless I gave you a reason to.' Her words hit him hard, making him realize she might understand him better than he thought.
They stood there looking at each other, lamenting things that could have been or had already happened. The only signs of vulnerability were the glistening in her eyes and his tightly clenched fist cutting into the skin and drawing out blood.
'At our next meeting, we will be on opposing sides...' Will said in a slightly trembling voice, yet resolute in her decision. It felt like she was making the biggest mistake of her life.
'I know, but remember that only I can kill you.' Phobos smiled sadly, and the mask was back on.
'I won't go without a fight.' Will nodded, her eyes saying volumes of unspoken words.
'I would expect nothing less from you.' He replied, his voice barely above a whisper. The last thing she saw before walking away was Phobos standing alone. His back was straight, and his eyes were cold and unreadable, like an ice statue. This was the man everyone feared.
'Goodbye...' Will murmured before slipping away, feeling as if a piece of her had been left behind in that room.