A woman gasped and sat up in her bed in the early hours of the morning. Her heart pounded in her chest, trying to shake off the remnants of a vivid nightmare. Will thought she heard Taranee scream, but it was just the echo of her fear reverberating in her ears. She reached for the lamp on her bedside table, desperately needing the comfort of its warm glow to chase away the lingering shadows of her dream. They had lost a friend two days before, and it was unknown what Cedric was doing to her. She hoped Taranee would be able to hold on. The thought of their enemies inflicting harm on her friend sent a shiver down her spine. Will sighed and cupped her head. It felt strange as if something was suddenly squeezing it. She shook her head, attempting to weaken the strange sensation. As she closed her eyes, a sharp pain shot through her temples, causing her to wince. Concerned, Will wondered if this was a result of the stress and worry weighing heavily on her mind.

Sleep eluded her as she tossed and turned in bed, her thoughts consumed by worry. Will couldn't help but replay the image of their enemies in her mind, fueling her anxiety and making it impossible to find any peace. She met with the girls yesterday, and they argued and planned how to save Taranee. However, without knowledge of where the girl was imprisoned, it was a futile endeavor. Will's heart ached with the fear of being unable to help her friend, and she couldn't shake off the nagging feeling that time was running out. As she lay in bed, the weight of responsibility pressed down on her, intensifying the strange sensation and amplifying her nerves. An ambush could be waiting for them, with Cedric and an army guarding their friend. Will's mind raced with thoughts of the potential dangers that awaited them. She knew they needed to devise a solid plan, one that would outwit Cedric and his army before the fake copy of their friend drained their magic. It was tiring, but that was the price of anonymity. They couldn't make everyone suspicious about another girl who went missing.

Will felt guilty every time he interacted with the copy. Her decision had already sealed Taranee's fate. As a result, she avoided the imposter at all costs. Now, sitting in the dark, hugging her knees, Will wondered why her life was so complicated and how many mistakes she could make. Swallowing the lump in her throat, she tried erasing the images of Phobos from her mind, but it was difficult. Was it so wrong to feel something more after everything he'd done? Will couldn't help but question her judgment and morality. Despite all the pain and suffering, Phobos had caused, a part of her still felt a strange connection to him. She wondered if it was possible to forgive someone who had done such terrible things or if she was simply losing herself in the chaos of her own emotions. The Prince was a mystery that needed to be solved. On the other hand, if he was responsible for the ambush that Elyon set up for them, she might be able to summon the familiar feelings of hatred for him. However, her heart refused to listen to the reason.

As the sun started coloring her room in reds and yellows, Will rose from the bed, getting ready for another day. She went through the motions of taking a shower, dressing and making the bed. After a light breakfast, the only thing keeping her awake was a strong cup of coffee.

The school was slow and exhausted her with an abundance of information. Will knew she needed to keep her grades up, but it felt pointless in the grand scheme of things. Everyone around her seemed naive and innocent. Or maybe she was just too jaded to care about gossip, fashion, boyfriends, and other things that girls her age wanted. As she walked through the crowded hallways, she couldn't help but feel a sense of isolation and detachment from her peers. Will had no idea how the girls dealt with their dual identities. Was she the only one who could not manage to differentiate?

Her head hurt, and the pounding in her skull made concentrating on the lesions nearly impossible. There was a constant buzzing in the ears as if someone had turned on a broken radio. Louder, quieter, louder... Will couldn't make out the clear sound, but it muffled all the background noise. She sat up straighter, silently groaning, as she listened to the teacher, but every word sounded like gibberish. If only she could sleep. Her eyelids felt heavy, and she longed for the comfort of her bed. Everything around her blurred. Maybe she was getting sick. Will closed her eyes and placed her head in her hands, but this only made the pain worse. She could feel a throbbing headache building up, pulsating with each beat of her heart. The incessant background noise seemed to amplify her discomfort, making it nearly impossible to concentrate on anything else. She considered leaving the classroom to find peace and quiet.

'Miss Vandom! Will Vandom!' The familiar voice called to her, 'Are you sleeping in my class?'

Feeling a little lost, she raised her head and noticed Miss Rudolph's disappointed expression. There was giggling and laughing at the back of the class.

'I'm sorry, Miss Rudolph...' Will drew inward as hot blood rushed to her cheeks. It was humiliating getting caught daydreaming in front of the class. 'Won't happen again...'

'I hope not. Stay after class.' The teacher said this and went to the whiteboard, continuing the lesson. Will winced at a sharp stab in the back of the head. It seemed like with every blink, the pain became worse. She planned to go to the nurse and get some pain relievers, but Miss Rudolph needed to talk to her.

Minutes felt like hours as the clock ticked, and whatever Miss Rudolph said just flew over her head as she gritted her teeth and fought a headache. When the bell finally sounded, Will slowly stood up and went to the teacher's desk.

'Will, I'm disappointed... Are my lessons so boring that you have to sleep through them?' Miss Rudolph asked, taking off her glasses.

'I'm sorry, it was an accident; it won't happen again. I'm not feeling well...' she muttered, looking at the grainy wood table and avoiding the teacher's gaze.

'I see… Well, your grades have improved, but I cannot ignore your struggle with the material I provide you with.' Teacher Rudolph said, polishing her glasses. She took up the stick note and quickly scribbled something on the bright pink paper. 'Here, come to this address when you are free. I'll organize some private lessons in my spare time. You are an intelligent girl, and I would hate if your math grade would downgrade your whole semester.' She said, handing her a slip of paper. 'Now, dear, is everything alright? You look quite pale…'

Will accepted the note and tucked it into her notebook. Her world shifted with the sudden movement, and for a split second, everything went black. She clutched the table tightly to keep her balance.

'I feel weird…' Will muttered. Her mouth suddenly went dry. Miss Rudolph got around the desk and put a hand on her forehead, looking concerned.

'I think you have a slight fever. Come. Let me take you to the nurse.' She clasped her elbow, guiding Will through the corridors to the medical office. It was a small room with two beds, many shelves, and numerous boxes lining the walls. A mini-fridge and a small table with chairs were tucked into a corner. The room was painted a cheerful yellowish color and displayed educational and medical posters. Sitting on the bed covered with a water-resistant sheet, which made crackling sounds when moved, Will felt tired. Her blood pressure, temperature, and vision were all checked by the nurse. Everything, however, was within normal limits.

'Well, Miss Vandom, you do not have a cold, but I have to ask a few routine questions before prescribing the medicine,' she said, writing on the medical card.

'Are you feeling stressed lately?'

'Maybe…' Will shrugged. She couldn't tell the woman that the Guardians were fighting monsters in another world on adrenaline more than a few times a month. That would send her to the loony bin.

'How are your sleeping patterns?' The nurse continued, noting a few points on a piece of paper.

'I don't know… Normal, but I had a few sleepless nights.' Will lied. With all of the recent events—the fighting, the lies, and her mind racing with thoughts of Phobos and every encounter between them—she had more than a few nightmares.

'I see. Any loss of appetite or change in eating habits?'

'No, nothing like that...' Eating was never a problem for her, and all the extra calories she had were for generating magical powers. Running around for your life does wonders for your figure. She had been eating more than usual lately, trying to keep up her energy levels. However, Will didn't want to draw any attention to her magical abilities or the intense situation she was in. So, she simply replied, 'I've been managing to eat just fine.'

'Describe the pain you are now feeling?'

'It's a pounding in the head, and sometimes it becomes sharp like something is stabbing my brain. In addition, I'm hearing a strange buzzing sound in my ears. When I got up too quickly, I had some dark spots in my vision.' Will paused, her gaze fixed on the pattern on the floor. The pain did not worsen as long as her eyes were open. She continued, 'But when I close my eyes, the pain intensifies and the buzzing sound becomes louder. It's been quite difficult to focus or concentrate on anything.' Will's voice trailed off as she tried to find the right words to describe her experience.

'Well, then it's a migraine attack. I will give you painkillers, but the best medicine is some quiet. I will write an excuse for the remaining lesions if you go straight home.' The nurse said, handing her a few tablets from the box and a bottle of water from the fridge. Will swallowed the pills, hoping they would make everything better. As she thanked the nurse and headed towards the exit, Will couldn't help but feel a sense of relief, knowing that she had a valid reason to take some time off.

'Should I contact your guardian to take you home?'

'No, thank you. I'll do it myself.' Will said. She took her backpack and went to the school lockers after saying her goodbyes. Putting on the jacket and wrapping herself in a scarf, she quickly texted her mother and the girls to explain why she was returning home.

The cold, crisp air outside felt refreshing. Will took a deep breath, admiring the bright blue sky with a few white clouds and the cool weather. Whatever the nurse gave her helped to dull the pain. She couldn't figure out why she had a headache. After gaining their powers, she never even caught a cold. Physical injuries aside, she and the other girls were in perfect health. The magic in their blood prevented them from falling ill.

When she arrived home, the apartment was empty. Nobody was around, except for the silent whispering of the electrical appliances. It was not surprising because her mother was at work and returned before school ended. Feeling tired and drained, Will changed into green, soft cotton pants with a simple white t-shirt. She crawled into bed after finding the warmest blanket.

Will had no idea how long she had been asleep. Her uneasy dreams were filled with pain and fear. Phobos stabbed her repeatedly and watched as she bled out with impassive eyes... Cedric stole her magic as she struggled to break free... Elyon smirked and laughed with Taranee encased in a crystal bubble... Phobos, Cedric, Elyon... the faces blurred... Taranee is begging, shouting, and crying...

She awoke with her hand tightly clutching her chest. Kandrakar's heart burned within her. Somebody was shaking her. Disoriented, she trashed on the bed, not comprehending what was happening. Will screamed as she felt white-hot pain in her skull and heard an unfamiliar wailing echo in her ears.

'Will! Wilhelmina! Wake up!'

She opened her eyes, seeing her mother's worried face. 'Mommy?'

'Oh, thank god! You are running a fever.' Susan explained in a soothing tone.

There was a cold towel on her head, but the burning did not stop, nor did the voices. Her eyes widened as she realized who she was overhearing. Taranee was begging for the pain to stop.

'I feel sick…' Will stumbled out of bed, nearly falling on her face as the blanket wrapped around her legs. She reached for the toilet, clutching her stomach, and vomited the food she had eaten for lunch. Her stomach convulsed as if it had nothing to give, and the nauseating feeling persisted even after her head rested on the cold bathroom tiles. Concerned, Susan offered her a glass of water. Rinsing her mouth of the nasty aftertaste, Will drank another glass of water, quenching the thirst. Everything hurt. It felt like her body was set ablaze, and the Heart of Kandrakar pulsed in her chest with every heartbeat.

Will leaned on her mom, trying to get from the bathroom to her room without stumbling. After reaching the bed and slumping on it, Will drank the offered medicine. When her mother went back to sleep, she rolled into the small ball covering her ears, hoping it would silence the things from the other side.

Will had no idea how or when the connection happened. She sensed and heard what the enemy was doing to Taranee. Perhaps because the other girl was a telepath and sought help in the only way she knew how, oblivious to the consequences. Will required assistance, both physical and magical. Finding her phone and sending messages to the girls, she waited for the morning, fighting the unexpected bouts of pain.

It came slowly, as the ongoing assault on her mind did not allow her to rest. Will could taste the copper in her mouth as she gritted her teeth and bit back the screams. Her mother soon began preparing for work in the kitchen. Will pretended to sleep when she came over. Maybe, because she looked like a mess, her mom let her skip school for one day. Will sighed with relief when Susan left because she no longer had to pretend. The dam burst, and the girl sobbed, clutching her knees. Oh, it hurt... Every move was painful... If it continued, she'd probably go insane, or Taranee would break first. An hour, maybe two had passed. Finally, there was a knock on the door, but she didn't have the energy to answer it. The knocks on the door grew louder, accompanied by a familiar voice calling out her name.

'Will! Hey, Will!' Cornelia shouted, with a voice muffled by the door. 'Let me in! I skipped school. I don't want to be seen by your neighbors.'

Will groaned and stood up, leaning against the wall, as she went to answer the door. When the lock clicked, she just slumped on the floor. Cornelia rushed into the room with concern etched on her face. She knelt beside Will, gently placing a hand on her shoulder. 'Will? Are you alright?' The crisp smell of cold weather and the sweet scent of Cornelia's perfume invaded her nose.

'Irma and Hay Lin will be over here soon, and you look like shit… Come on, let me help you…' The blonde girl hugged her shoulders, helped her stand, and escorted her to the couch. The world spun around. Will heard doors opening and closing. The shrill whistle of the kettle. Everything else was hard to understand with her muddled brain.

'Here, drink it.' A friend's worried blue eyes and a steaming cup of tea appeared in front of her nose.

'Thank you,' she muttered, but her hands shook, so she set it on the table, afraid of spilling the hot liquid on herself.

'Anybody in here?' Hay Lin shouted from the corridor. 'The door is unlocked! We are coming in!'

The noise continued. The boots hitting the floor, jackets placed on the rack, girls chattering. Will just wanted to sleep.

'Is everything alright?' A cold hand on her brow felt heavenly. Opening her eyes, she saw a handful of black hair and the peering face of Hay Lin, along with other girls gathered around the sofa.

'It's Taranee…' Her mouth was dry as she uttered those words. 'They're torturing her... I can feel it in my head... I need help...' Tears welled up in the corners of her eyes as a new wave of pain assaulted her body.

'Oh, God!' The pale faces of the girls stared down at her as they realized the horrifying truth. Hay Lin quickly grabbed her hand and squeezed it reassuringly, her voice filled with determination. 'We have to find a way to save Taranee, no matter what it takes.'

'I'm sorry… It's my fault…' Will apologized, hiding her face, ashamed of her actions. She should have helped Taranee instead of abandoning her on a foreign planet. They should have fought, but she chose to flee.

'We will fix this!' Irma's voice was determined 'Cornelia can heal you? Right?' She eagerly urged her friend.

'I can try… But I don't know anything about this,' the girl uncertainly answered. However, she knelt on the floor and placed her hands on Will's body. Her eyes narrowed in concentration, and her palms began to glow a dark green color. The magic swirled around her, seeping into her body, but nothing changed. It only dulled her perception of the surroundings. As the magic faded, Cornelia's face fell with disappointment. She slowly stood up, feeling defeated. 'I'm sorry, Will,' she whispered sadly. 'I couldn't heal you.'

'It's okay... We have to save Taranee. It's the only choice...' Will shook her head, feeling no respite.

'How? They will be expecting us, and without Taranee and you out of commission, I don't think it's possible.' Irma bluntly told the harsh truth. 'You are in any position to fight.'

'Maybe we do not have to fight?' Hay Lin tentatively suggested. 'We could infiltrate the palace?'

'Yeah, maybe, but do you know where Taranee is?' Irma asked sarcastically. It felt like every choice they made led to failure. Hay Lin sighed, feeling the weight of their predicament. 'No, but we have to try something. We can't just sit here and do nothing while Taranee and Will are in danger.'

'We should go to Caleb. They have healers and know more about magic than we do. In the best-case scenario, maybe he will even support us in freeing Taranee.' Cornelia said, considering the possibilities.

'He will if you direct those lovely blue eyes in his direction.' Irma snorted. The blonde girl rolled her eyes at Irma's comment. 'This is serious, Irma. We need to focus on finding a solution. Regardless of Caleb's feelings, we should gather all the help we can get to save Taranee and Will,' she said firmly.

'Stop it. Now, it's not the time…' Hay Lin interrupted, her voice filled with urgency. 'Will, can you transform and direct us to Meridian?'

'I can try, but I don't have enough strength for my transformation…' She sighed and then silently whispered the words, 'Earth, Water, Air! Guardians unite!' Will slumped back on the pillows as the light show began. She mustered the strength to lift her arm in the air while clutching the medallion under her shirt and the girls clasped their hands together. She thought about the rebel base, and the Heart of Kandrakar blinked. Her vision tunneled out and everything went dark…