After dismissing the Court Phobos rubbed his temples as the strain of the day triggered the mild headache. He hated the simpering of fools and their daily frivolous pandering to each other. One good thing was that after all these years the Prince trained the nobles like the dogs on the leashes. With gaze alone, he could send them running with tails between their legs, but they still yipped and barked straining in their bonds. Sometimes having a reputation of a merciless bastard worked in his favor. Feeling mildly disgusted with himself because of the actions he had to perform, Phobos left the throne room going to the private chambers with exhaustion settled on his shoulders. In long-forgotten time a Guardian was a pacifist. Oh, how the mighty had fallen. If allowed, he would spend most of his days tending the gardens, but that was just wishful thinking. Ruling the country was not the easiest job and responsibilities just pilled and piled on top of him. Sometimes Phobos wanted to scream from the unfairness of it all. He did not choose this, but he will endure until the time comes to end it.
Craving for peace and silence the Prince sighed as the day was still not over. Stopping by the study room for two tumblers and a bottle filled with amber liquid he traveled through hidden shortcuts to the medical wing. Striding into the infirmary without a care Phobos scared the healers with his sudden appearance. Hastily the Head Healer approached him as the other people returned to their work.
'Your excellency, is everything alright?' the man nervously asked, wringing his hands.
'Lord Cecric?' Phobos raised an eyebrow at the suddenly sweating man. It was not his intention to disrupt their work.
'Ah, yes… down the corridor… last… last room on the right…' he stuttered out, bowing to him.
'Dismissed.' the Prince said trying not to smile at the sometimes ridiculous ways people acted around him. As if they believed he just sent everyone to the gallows for a few wrong words. He had that power but did not abuse it without a good reason. People were either afraid of him or prepared to lick his boots for the slivers of favors granted to them. The Guardian of the Heart was an exception to the rule. She was not afraid of him and didn't want anything he could give her. It was like a fresh gulp of air after spending many days underground. He would bestow her with jewels and riches if only she asked, which she did not. Maybe he was a fool, but being honest with himself Phobos had to admit Will brought unexpected light in his otherwise dark existence. How long they play this dangerous game he could not fathom.
Walking into a patient room strongly smelling of herbs and poultices he saw Cedric half raised from the bed. The blonde man looked quite pale with his upper body encased in white bandages.
'Is this an official visit, my Lord?' he politely asked narrowing his grey eyes.
Phobos slightly shook his head turning around and carefully placing the bottle on the narrow table.
'For fucks sake Cedric, if you continuously defy my orders, I have no choice but to deliver punishment!' he growled out in considerable frustration.
'It would not be the first time… sadistic bastard…' Cedric shrugged and hissed in pain, for a second his eyes flashed to yellow.
'I always thought you were the clever one. It appears this was an incorrect assumption.' Phobos retorted, examining the cabinet mounted on the wall with various bottles and jars. Collecting a glass and filling it with water from a clay pitcher, he selected more than a few containers pouring mysterious contents into the liquid.
'For the pain...' Phobos offered the strange concoction to Cedric. He eagerly grasped the glass and downed it without a second thought.
'That was disgusting. I thought you do not use poison…' Cedric visibly shuddered.
'Most medicines taste foul… I may change my mind about it if you continue annoying me.' Phobos threatened with a smile on his lips, pouring the amber liquid into the tumblers and pushing one in Cedric's direction. The first sip burned his tongue leaving pleasant tingling behind with an aftertaste of honey. Settling down on the spare chair, the Prince took another sip, enjoying the warm sensation of the strong alcohol.
'You know I had to make an example. I will not apologize, you did cause much trouble.' Phobos said, getting more comfortable on the hard-backed chair. I had to teach Elyon a lesson. Actions have consequences, and you also skirted along the line of my orders.'
'It was humiliating…' Cedric hissed in pain and anger.
'You heal… in a few weeks even the scars will fade away' he shrugged not looking apologetic.
'You issued the order to get Elyon to trust us. I did what I had to. With this situation, if she starts distancing from us, it will set me back to the starting point.' Cedric expressed his displeasure.
'On the contrary, my friend, she will detest me. But you… Elyon will feel responsible… I see how she looks at you. Do not deny, you also recognize the affection in her gaze.' Phobos smirked.
'What will you have me to do about it?' Cedric sneered in dismay. It was an accurate assumption. The girl evidently felt an attachment to him.
'If everything else fails, seduce her…' Phobos gently tapped his finger on the glass 'she should enjoy her youth while it lasts…'
'What?' Cedric asked shocked. 'Did you just grant me permission to... to…' he could not complete the sentence finding this idea ludicrous. 'Elyon is too young and I think…still untouched…' he muttered feeling slight embarrassment discussing such topics with the family of said female.
'When that ever stopped you?' Phobos scoffed, rolling his eyes.
'Why? I do not understand... ' Cedric contemplated, feeling a bit too lost about his lieges actions.
'It is a failsafe for you… if by any means something happens to me, you will be protected… Being the new Queen's Consort is not a bad place to be… We both know, everybody waits for us to make a mistake, for they could feast on our remains…' he sighed, refiling the glass.
'You will never abdicate the throne… I am not ignorant, my Prince, are hiding something. What does it have to do with magic's disappearance? I can feel it in my bones as the shift between the forms is getting harder. From the rumors, my spy network reports this is happening all around the place. Why are you unaffected?' Cedric declared narrowing his eyes.
However, Phobos was affected more than anyone knew. Yet, he was the original Guardian mixed with the descendant of the royal line. He will be the last one to go out unless something kills him before it. Contemplating how much to tell and trust Cedric Phobos squeezed his glass tighter. The action did not slip past the scrutinizing gaze of Cedric.
'My liege, you can trust me. After all these years and things I endured under your hands… does it not prove my loyalty to you?' the blonde male bowed his head in silent submission.
'Cedric, do not use your honey-coated words on me!' Phobos sneered, 'you are a slippery and cunning bastard valuing self-preservation above all else. You are loyal until it suits your purposes. Yet I have given you power when nobody else valued your person. I wonder if given a higher purpose you would remain by my side until the very end or run away with tail between your legs.' Phobos refiled his glass not waiting for an answer. Holding a bottle he considered getting drunk and for a moment forget everything. Putting the liquid away he sighed. There was still work to do. He could not have lapses in reasoning, even when the alcohol pleasantly warmed his bones.
'I do not trust you, Cedric. There is no true friendship in this wretched place. Your actions almost cost me the one thing I was unprepared to lose… you deserved the punishment, even if it does seem unfair in your eyes…'
Cedric grimaced throwing away the blanket from his knees. Hissing through his teeth he stood up from the bed and fallen on his knees.
'What about my feelings? Do I have to crawl on my knees like a slave just for a bit of affection? What happened to you? Where is my dear Prince who created fireworks in soldier's barracks when we trained with the swords? Where is the teenager who would sneak into the kitchens for sweets in the middle of the night? Phobos, I do not recognize you anymore… Is our friendship means so little to you? I humbly apologize for my possible mistakes… it was not intended...' Cedric swayed and paled drastically, the bandages once again were painted red.
'Enough! We will not speak about this anymore!' Phobos suddenly ordered feeling the darkness consuming him from inside. Cedric was correct, but he could not afford any weaknesses. The carefree life he once had, was just a fond dream.
'Healers!' Phobos called, his voice boomed in the small room. With a flick of his luxurious robe, he turned around and left the room, letting in the people rushing to help the patient. He was so tired of everything. The constant lies and pressure, deceiving people, and the palace intrigues. They were not worth his suffering, but he couldn't abandon them to the fates, not as a ruler, not as a Guardian. To protect was his sworn duty, and he will fulfill it, whatever the cost.
Determined in his will, Phobos strode through the silent corridors. He still had one task to do until he could retire for the evening. Reaching the white double doors he nodded to the guards when they bowed in deference.
'Lady Elyon, the Prince is here to see you!' one of them knocked as the other unlocked the door allowing him through and returning to his position with a bow. Phobos entered into a pale green waiting room furnished with delicate sofas, white tables and flowers. The whole room screamed with womanly touch. It was specially decorated for the Ladies in Waiting, but only one occupant was pacing besides the window like a caged beast. Noticing the new arrival, she furiously stomped to his place.
'How could you? Cedric is your friend!' Elyon cried out in angry desperation. Phobos frowned at the blatant disrespect and her need for dramatics. However, his sister was still very immature for her age and if she wanted an argument he was furious enough to provide it. Her actions almost ruined everything he never knew he needed, and the people died in her ignorance.
'First and foremost Cedric is my general. As a ruler of the country, you will have to learn the distinction between personal and private matters. Don't be naive! Elyon, you disregarded my orders and Cedric took the blame for your actions! I had to deliver to act accordingly or did you wished to take the punishment in his stead? Just because the royal blood flows in your veins, sister, it does not mean you are free to do whatever you desire. People died, because of your foolish decisions. I am disappointed! This is not how the future ruler should act.' he hissed with displeasure and pent-up anger in his voice.
'You are a monster!' Elyon screamed out the hateful words which were in her mind all evening long
'Monster?' Phobos laughed out loud 'you are not so dissimilar yourself! If I recall correctly, you tortured your friend in the dungeons. Don't be a hypocrite!' he sneered at her courage to spit offenses in his face.
'It's different! They ruin everything! If nobody is doing anything I will finish them off!' Elyon yelled like a stubborn child throwing a tantrum. All her irrational anger had to have an outlet and she fixated on the Guardians for ruining her world. It did not matter that once the girls were her friends. In her mind, everything that was wrong was Guardian's fault.
'You will do no such thing!' Phobos snapped as his control crumbled.
'Foolish little sister! Stop this tantrum! I will not tolerate such disobedience! Have you learned anything from your lessons? Or you cannot give up the idyllic dream of a fairytale kingdom… Open your eyes and see. We live in a snake pit! Five people Elyon! They were murdered because of your selfish actions and incompetence!' Phobos suddenly growled pressing the magic down on her. Elyon gasped as her legs started to tremble until she fell to the floor from the continuous assault on her senses. This was a nightmare. How everything went so wrong in a span of an hour. She suddenly whimpered clutching her heart and unbeknown to Elyon, her eyes started to flash between green and white as the magic reacted to the turbulent emotions. Phobos merely grimaced looking at the pathetic woman. She was his half-sister in a sense and bore similarities to Weira, but he could love her for whom she was. He will not allow himself to feel anything for her, even if their mother never forgives him for such behavior. Elyon represented a necessary sacrifice in this game of power. Phobos could not afford the feelings of family ties cloud his judgment. The demands of many outweigh the needs of the few. With a wave of his hand, Elyon crumpled to the ground unconscious. Not wanting to abandon the girl on the floor, he gathered her into his arms and placed on the bed, examining the sleeping form. Phobos palm hovered above her chest. It hazily glowed with pale greenish light seeping into her body until the girl peacefully sighed as if an enormous weight was lightened. Phobos rose and left the room with worry on his face. Elyon's magic was getting out of control, clouding her feeling. The more she practiced it, the greater the effects were. The time was running out for all of them. His decision was correct, she needs to die. It is the only option.
'Secure the room, do not allow anyone in…' Phobos threw the orders passing by the soldiers standing in the hallway.
'By all means, my liege.' they nodded and remained standing in their silent vigil.
Somewhere in Heatherfield City, Will opened doors to the silent apartment hoping to slip by her mother unnoticed. The girls accompanied Taranee to her place explaining the creation of her copy and everything else that happened while she was gone. When they confirmed that she was finally safe at home, the girls scattered to their own places. With the hope that the parents were not aware of their adventure of skipping school. So Will was relieved then the only thing that greeted her was the darkness and silence. She hoped her mother was asleep and without a problem Will could silently go to her room for a rest. Her hopes were crushed then Will heard the alarm whisper to her:
'You are in so much trouble…' the annoying sing-song voice gloated.
Steeling herself for the fallout Will went to the kitchen and turned on the light. Susan was sitting in stony silence watching as her daughter squirmed. There were an empty cup and a phone on the table. She was clearly waiting for her.
'Where were you?' her voice was tense and full of accusation 'do you have any idea how worried I was when I did not find you at home.'
'I'm sorry, mom…' Will bowed her head in shame. She could imagine it, and it made her a bad daughter. Biting her lip Will felt tears gathering in her eyes. How close did she come to dying in an unknown world? What would happen if one day she would not return? How can she inform her mother about magic's existence? Will hid so much of herself that the girl she once was felt superficial in the eyes of her mother.
'I am disappointed in you Will.' Susan continued, 'after we moved there was a hope that our life would get better, but now I wonder if I made a mistake?'
'What? No…' Will started to say but with an angry gaze from her mother, she suppressed the rest of the words.
'Do you think I do not know about your nightly excursions? What about slipping grades and skipping school? Did you do drugs? Or joined a gang? Found a secret boyfriend? Did I not provide you with enough attention? Why this teenage rebellion? What is it, Wilhelmina… It feels like I don't know you anymore… My little child became a delinquent.' she pressed her lips in determination 'No more! I will not allow you to ruin your life! Will, you are grounded until I decide otherwise. No more playing around. I expected more from you.' she said looking at her in disappointment 'dinner is in the fridge if you are hungry…' Susan walked into her room leaving the frozen figure of her daughter standing in the middle of the kitchen. Will sniffed as the hurtful words swirled in her mind. It was untrue. She did not do any of those things… Is this what her mum thought about her? Will knew she was in trouble, but this… as if her life was not complicated enough. Feeling the dread settling in her stomach Will let the tears fall. If only she knew from this moment everything would get even worse…