Chapter Three: The Stolen Portal

"A magic bean. Beta-Meridian...That fucking place! Why?! Why would you rather be there and that secretly from us? What is wrong with you?!"

Irma's frantic voice echoed in Mrs. Rudolph's old house where she had been brought for interrogation, against her will. Like a criminal. Criminal. That's exactly how Will Vandom felt as she sat on the old couch, cuffed with a magic-blocking bracelet - wicked little pieces of statement jewelry that ironically only other magic could take off.

"Will, can you please give us something? Anything?"- Taranee exclaimed desperately, shaking her shoulders. "What is the meaning of this? What is this dress?"- she shook her head, looking at the royal garments. "I have to know why were you about to just flee and leave us all behind again, like some unwanted old objects... If we hadn't outplayed you today..."

"You didn't really do anything."- Nerissa interjected, stomping her platform heels around the old living room as she paced around. She was unnerved herself. She watched the sitting woman with her piercing green eyes debating on different possibilities in her head. One thing was certain, Will's attitude was enough to put all of them on the edge. "I discovered the opening of an alternate portal in Heatherfield, I glamoured myself and bumped into your little friend, stealing her magic bean, keeping a close eye on her for hours as she ditched you effortlessly! I captured and brought her here and then called you; I don't really expect you to thank me but at least don't steal my merits."

Irma gave the ex-guardian a dirty look while Taranee reconciled:

"I stand corrected. Thank you, Nerissa. Really, we owe you."- she said sincerely. "The fact you still manage to keep an eye on Heatherfield and take action so fast while being busy with so many other social affairs makes you admirable. Thank you."

"Tara's right. We wanted to keep this from you, that Will's back, at least until we talk to her, but you helped us a lot. Thank you."- Hay Lin nodded gratefully and Nerissa's face softened a little as she triumphantly folded her arms, giving herself even more importance.

"Well..."

"Yeah, yay you, can we get to the point please?"- Irma barked, pointing at Will. "What the FUCK IS WITH YOU, WILL! ANSWER ME!"

Will tried to fight the sudden demand that Irma's mental magic gave to her brain. Everything inside her protested but her lips were out of her control and so were the words that came out of them, seconds later:

"I'm not supposed to talk to any of you! I was supposed to come here and help Matt, I am sure she already knows that I'm not taking so long because of that! She will punish us! All of us, forget me, I can't risk his life!"

"She? Who is she?"- Hay Lin exclaimed, utterly perplexed.

Taranee and Irma exchanged confused glances but Nerissa just narrowed her eyes and shot:

"Avani. I knew it. She did take you after all. Just like we originally suspected."

Avani was Phobos's elder daughter from a former concubine they had battled last year and they all knew her very well. She and her mother used to live in a world they called "Beta-Meridian", a parallel realm almost identical to Meridian. Last October, when the guardians had been fighting the concubine who had stolen the mystic powers of a few kingdoms and declared war on Phobos, for his betrayal towards her, Avani had taken advantage of every detail and had managed to kill her mother and kidnap her father and then leave with him, supposedly for Beta-Meridian. Only the girls and their allies never could open a portal to that realm again. Even with magic beans.

"Avani...we wrote the possibility off months ago."- Taranee murmured to herself. "But..."

"That crazy little bitch!"- Irma raged. "I will kill her. Why is she so dangerous anyway, Will, she doesn't have a magical source? Her powers are weaker than Elyon's-"

"Not anymore."- Will admitted grimly.

"Is that the reason you reassigned the Heart of Kandrakar to Cornelia?"- Nerissa wanted to know.

"Why would she take you, Will?"- Taranee frantically put her hands on the redhead's knees, going on her own knees in front of her. "We can help you! Leonida* (* -a former villain WITCH face in "The Dark Descendant😊) kidnapped me and enthralled me, remember? But I found my way back to you guys and escaped her and her magic bonds, you can do the same! With our help."

Will closed her eyes tiredly. This was exactly why she hadn't wanted to be confronted by the girls. Their words, the memories they shared, all their years of friendship. When they reminded her of all that, remaining indifferent was impossible.

"Look."- she said in a weary voice. "Avani's just the tip of the iceberg. I think... I wasn't supposed to talk but now you know I did not choose this. At least not in the beginning... You have to trust me for all that is worth, girls, you have to let me go. This is the only way!"

"No!"- Hay Lin shook her head, shocked and offended by the idea. "Never, Will! We will never give up on you!"

"You bet we won't."- Irma agreed, sitting next to her. Hay Lin just hugged her.

"We will find a solution together."- Taranee said too, and Will was beginning to panic. They didn't understand and she couldn't even begin to explain. Not that they'd ever understand her, even if they knew everything...

"This is not a request, this is an order!"- Will yelled and stood up, pushing her shocked friends away. "An order from the Head Guardian and your leader! You will back off and let me go! Trust me!"

"Aren't you forgetting you're not the leader of this team, anymore?"

Everyone turned around in shock. It was Cornelia. With a cold but hurt look in her eyes as she barged in the room, followed by her little sister. Lillian tried to hold her hand as if to talk her out of the scene that was about to take place but the older Hale didn't pay attention to her or her silent words. She walked to Will and soared upon her:

"I am the leader now."- Cornelia said in a low yet domineering voice. "And I say that we will have that little slut Avani dethroned and imprisoned and end this madness once and for all. And you will help us."

And while Taranee, Irma and Hay Lin got excited and even relieved, Will was enraged and terrified:

"You can't do that, Cornelia!"- she yelled. "You don't understand! Don't meddle in this! Let it be! Let me be, it's my decision to make, for God's sake!"

"Watch me."- the blonde challenged. "Oh, no, you will do as I SAY from now on, Will. And one day soon, you will thank me. If I demand fucking obedience now, it's only for a higher good!"

That really took her aback. And as Nerissa walked over to the blonde and placed an encouraging hand on her shoulder, Will could swear. Now Cornelia was more like Nerissa than her identical copy, Mila**, had ever been.

"So, what?"- the redhead huffed annoyed but also terrified of the answer. "Now what? You will keep me as a prisoner in your house?"

(Mila**- Nerissa's Altermeere that Kadma creates in "Heart of a Mother".)

"Still can't believe this."- Caleb commented, two days later as he swept the floor in the kitchen of the old family house his mother had been raised in. "This is our Will in that cage up in the attic. Our Will who just vanished half a year ago. Now we found her and we're keeping her as a prisoner."

"Well, duh, as long as we get another magic bean and force her into assisting us in taking her puppet master down. We can't even open a portal to Beta-Meridian without her. What else do you suggest we do, hypnotize her? That's the next plan. Because the minute she gets out of the cage she'll try to escape again! For the tenth time! We tried to have her walk around freely, it just doesn't work. Would you rather she returns to being part of Avani's doll house?"

Cornelia huffed and finished her breakfast. They were staying in Nerissa's old house, where she and Julian lived when in Heatherfield, as it was away from the city, in a quiet neighborhood where no one would take notice, even if Will happened to run out of the door like a maniac.

"All I'm saying is that she has to have a good reason to want to return there."- the man said seriously, leaning over the kitchen island.

"Caleb, I know. But we all talked to her, she won't utter a word."- the blonde sighed, unraveling the collar of her formal beige blazer. To top it all, she had a a brand-related errand this morning. "She refuses to eat and drink because she knows we'll try putting truth serums in it. I literally sustain her like a plant up there, you think this is easy on me?"

"No, Cornelia, it's not easy, but I meant to point out you were wrong."

"Wrong? About-"

"Think about what you just agreed with a moment ago."- Caleb brought his finger to her forehead and gently tapped on it. "She has to have a reason. You thought she just didn't care and have even slapped her."- he pointed out. "You weren't fair from the moment she came back to help Matt."

Cornelia felt her cheeks go red at that:

"I...I was just angry! And hurt, I believed... well, she made it seem like she didn't care! For half a year, she was away, she tried to leave again, just like that! I just... I apologized to her about the way I acted in the hospital."- she sighed. "But I can't. I just can't let her go, no matter anything. We're doing the right thing. I promise."

"I know you believe in that, baby. And I believe you."- Caleb kissed her lips as she took his hand. "I know you're just looking out for a friend. Of course, Will's actions are bizarre and odd too, no matter the reasoning behind them. I just have a strange feeling."- he frowned as he said it.

"How so?"

Caleb just walked to the sink and started washing the pan and plates left from breakfast.

"Hey, rebel guy."- the Earth guardian insisted, going after him. "You have to tell me. What is-"

"Phobos is also in Avani's 'doll house'."- Caleb just fired it, turning to meet her eyes once again. "And Phobos has been a reason for many bad things over his years. If he has anything to do with it this time, we can't even hold him responsible because the Meridian Council sold him to Leonida and her kingdom."

Cornelia blinked at him. He was right. But what could Phobos ever have to do with Will's irrational behavior:

"Maybe he joined hands with his crazy daughter and they're holding something over her head, but when we get the crazy brat, we won't have to deal with him too. We can just throw him to the Coronians, let them decide for his fate, that bastard is no longer our concern."- Cornelia viciously concluded.

"We're banned from Coronia."- Caleb reminded her but then shook his head and changed the topic: "Never mind, you just...find that magic bean we need. The sooner we see to the problem with Avani, the sooner can Will start living normally again, instead of as a prisoner in the attic."

"OK."- Cornelia smiled at him leaning in to leave another kiss on her lips. There was nothing she wanted more than this ever since Lillian managed to contact Will.

"Come on, Caleb! We're going to be late!"

The young couple turned around to see a tense Nerissa putting the last details of her daily look together. She wore a gorgeous white formal shirt with pears sewn to the collar and white leather pumps to match; the ends of the shirt she had tucked in a dark red pencil skirt that covered her knees and a short coat in the same color. And the reason for this business-professional choice of clothes today was that she and Caleb had business to attend to. And for once, it was literally a business meeting.

Nerissa's late father had a big percentage of shares in a regional company that he had created, but no longer existed, but still, he had bequeathed everything he once had to his daughter, who, in her turn, wanted to give it to Caleb. To give him a more stable and personalized income and security on Earth was her dream. Even if he was still reluctant:

"Can't we teletransport there."- Caleb groaned, looking at his watch. He was also ready, decked in a dressy pair of pants and a dark shirt, something he'd rarely wear. He was also a nervous wreck.

"No. We have to make an entrance for the media."- Nerissa retorted as if it was plain obvious. "Cornelia's father was kind enough to provide us with a driver and a car."

"Wow."- Caleb commented sarcastically. "I don't know, mom, this is really not my cup of tea. I...I don't want to disappoint but- "

"Oh, but you won't. I'll be right by your side."- Nerissa assured him with a smile on her red lips. "Everything's going to go according to plan."

"You took business and management classes over the last months, it's not that hard. You had good grades to testify for that. And as she said, you're not going to be alone in this."- Cornelia said from behind, as she helped her fiancé put on his formal jacket. It was paired with the pants and it was expensive, a graffiti-black colored that looked great with the black shirt and his tan. And the shoes... she took a step back to admire her choice; both man-wise and outfit-wise...

"But I-"

"I know, Caleb, this is so far and distant from your brilliant mind and capabilities, and your heart, no doubt."- Nerissa interrupted softly, gently placing her hands on his jaw. "But we are doing this for your son's future. We want him to have a stable and secure environment to grow up in, and Meridian is not enough in his case."

Caleb nodded and finally, he looked determined. He had been adapting to life on Earth for over a decade. This was nothing compared to his hardships with other aspects of Earth life and it was for his son and family. He was going to give a hundred percent of himself.

"Fine. Let's do this."

"So, what are the latest prospects and what do you hope to happen today at this meeting, Nerissa? What did your attorney say last? What's the course of action you agreed on?"

The tall brunette took a step back and casually flipped her long, straightened hair as she answered the other woman's question:

"Well, you know it was a trying endeavor to find the right attorney who'd serve my interests and start this...unorthodox procedure. But thankfully, this one did point out the necessary arguments that extend the validity of my father's will. If his shares still have value, and they have because they were bought by another company, another big company, years ago, we can claim some interest. And I want one hundred percent ... If we fail to reach an agreement, we will sue the shareholders and suspend the work of their enterprise while the case is pending."

Cornelia's eyes widened:

"Um, yeah, I can tell why it was hard to find an attorney who'd go through with that. Claiming a hundred percent after so many years of inaction is a little- "

"Oh, it's legal, my darling. And that is all that matters. Those shares are mine and if I don't have control over them, nobody else will."

"If not, we can always have them pay us off and invest elsewhere."- Caleb reasoned. "It's all about flexibility, you know, mom."

Nerissa smirked:

"That's what they teach you in business school nowadays, huh."- she mused, wrapping her arm around his waist. "My father didn't make millions in the 50s being flexible, he made money being a business shark! And that's exactly what we have to be today, my son. Relentless and uncharitable."

"Matt, thank you for coming. I...I know you and Will separated. I know you're not even on speaking terms, but she needs you. She needs someone right now."

"She told you that?"- Matt just blinked at Susan Vandom-Collins. He was once again stunned by that Wixy and her glibness.

"Look, Matt. She just told me you're mad at her. But this break you've been taking has escalated into a rift by now. It's been months."

Susan was definitely concerned and, in this light, she looked older than usual. She looked sad and hopeful, and Matt's heart broke for her. Especially because she and her daughter were family to him. Her real daughter, that was, not the cheap copy that was living here now, claiming to be sick.

Why would you make up you're sick, you, an unliving Altermeere that cannot get sick? To worry this poor woman who's been through so much already? Fuck you, Wixy, Matt thought grimly. Fuck you.

"...I know you were recently discharged from the hospital yourself, but they told me you're fine. Matt, I'm very happy you recovered completely and are fine now."- Susan sobbed, cupping his face in her hands like a mother. "But now Will's sick and I have to leave her alone, I...if her friends were here, I wouldn't bother you, but they're all unavailable and I have an emergency. I have to catch a plane in two hours..."

"Hey, don't worry about it, Susan, I'm here. I'll do anything you ask me to do. Be calm and do your thing."- Matt said reassuringly, enveloping her in a tight hug.

The woman just sobbed on his shoulder as she hugged him back. They remained like that for an entire minute.

"You said emergency?"- Matt suddenly realized. "Is it something serious? Can I do anything else for you?"

"No, no, it's just... William. His behavior changed so much all of a sudden about half a year ago, you probably know. Dean and I have been trying to deal with it privately but without much success. We even had to enroll him in another school, out of Heatherfield after he caused that ruckus in Sheffield and almost got that other kid k-killed. I think we're failing miserably."- Susan shook her head. "We were just called by his new principal and I have to go there to be with Dean for the talk. William has done something again and they m-might want him expelled."

Matt was literally taken aback by how many things had been happening around him while he was suffering depression and doing drugs. It was just...insane.

Could this sudden rebellious spirit and hooliganism in young William Collins be caused by him feeling that his sister was not his sister anymore?

"Susan, please go and be calm. I'm here. I will help you with everything."- the tall man promised. "Wix..Will is going to be fine too, I promise. Call me when you land."

"Thanks, Matt. It's just a cold but I'm emotional. She's emotional...she actually wanted to see you yesterday and I..."

"Hey."- Matt smiled. "No worries. Go."

Susan smiled through tears and nodded, grabbing her bag and things:

"Wait, let me take this for you- "

"No, no, the taxi is already downstairs. I will manage."- Susan turned to him one last time. "This is all lightweight anyway. You are a good person, Matt, you're like family. You are family. I swear to you, when you and Will had your fallout, I felt mortified. I wish it was different. I wish you were still close and together like all the years before..."

"Susan, I don't want to say anything before some things have happened but me and your daughter. We're not through. We're not over."- Matt said earnestly. "I will never give up on her, no matter what she does or where she is."

The mother of two chuckled tearfully, thankful. It was obvious this was the one positive thing she had needed to hear today. And she had definitely heard and seen the love in his eyes.

When she was officially gone and he closed the door after her, Matt's smile gradually began quenching. He had suddenly remembered that the girl he had come to see today, in this apartment he knew so fell, wasn't his Will, and that made his heart and stomach protest over and over again.

Matt grabbed the tray with tea and sweets that Susan had left on the coffee table in the living room and headed for the bedroom where he knew he'd find her. In the bed they had been together so many times. Wixy, that imposter...

"What's with the stage play, Wixy?"

She just lay there, with a T-shirt over her head. As if she was truly sick. Matt frowned:

"Hey, I'm talking to you! Get up!"

"I can't. I'm weak."- Wixy replied sharply. "That's why I wanted to talk to you."

"What are you talking about? You're an Altermeere, you're not-"

Wixy pulled him on the bed without warning, making him spill everything he had been carrying.

"What the hell?!"- Matt pushed her off himself, disgusted. She only looked like Will. She faked being Will. And that made his blood boil.

"I'm weak, Matt, I'm weak because I am not a living Altermeere and she is back! Don't you understand?"- she had her voice but he hated it. He hated everything about this poser. But what was she blabbing about now?!

"Who's back?"- he looked puzzled.

Wixy growled and slapped her forehead:

"Oh, God, you idiot! I knew they wouldn't tell you but I hoped you'd be able to put two and two together on your own! Do you think that you woke up after a week of strike coma just like that? That your depression was cured miraculously?"

Matt was dumbfounded.

"What are you saying?"

Wixy growled as she straddled him on the bed.

Matt gawked and tried to push her off again, but she pinned his arms down.

"Let me spell it out for you, dumbo."- she began in his face. "I'm an Altermeere that begins to suffer the inevitable disrepairs that the majority of the astral twins start to suffer whenever a certain someone related to their existence enters the picture. You can feel it too, you have a strong bond with her. A bond she used to wake you!"

"Will?"- Matt gasped. "Will's in Heatherfield?! How can you be sure?! Do the others know about-"

"Oh, they all know."- Wixy snorted in his neck. She was getting weaker and weaker. "The blonde witch is keeping her hostage. Together with the hag. But they all know. They didn't tell you, because your Will tried to ditch you again."

"What?!"

Finally, he pushed her off and it was his turn to pin her down. His blue eyes were full of distress and anger:

"If you're lying to me-"

"I can lead you to her. But I need magic! I need energy! You don't have magic in you right now, why?!"

Matt looked away and murmured something to himself. Thank God, she hadn't wanted to do what had crossed his mind at first. She had been all over him in a desperate attempt to feed on some magic as the parasite she was:

"Because Lillian blocked off my magic until further notice. But I will fix that now. And you will take me to Will."- his eyes grew darker as he said that. "But if you try to fool me in any way..."

Wixy gulped as he tightened his grip around her neck.

"...you're going back to that stupid astral dimension, all you glib drops sprout out of, and I won't regret it one bit."

Julian sighed. She had turned water down again, what was left for having any food. Will just stood in her electrical cage, with her blocking cuff and didn't even look at him.

The man cleared his throat:

"I don't enjoy this at all. You must know they're doing it to help you. To liberate you of whatever binds you to this secrecy and reorders your life- "

"I know they think they're helping but they're not. None of you are.'- Will groaned and sighed. She felt many different and raging emotions to be able to think straight-forwardly but she still managed to word out: "Actually, the fact that something terrible hasn't happened yet baffles me. I expected to be contacted by now. Be told of my punishment for failing. Although, now that I think of it, maybe that is my punishment. Being left in the unknown."

Julian observed her with his knowing dark eyes. For a second, they met Will's amber-browns and they both just remained silent, sharing this gaze:

"Julian. Two years ago, I put you in a cage on Mt. Thanos because you were helping Nerissa escape her prison in the old crown jewel...I don't remember if I apologized for that properly but nevertheless."- Will said in a low voice. "I did that and still couldn't stop you. She's been living among us, free, ever since. This cage won't stop me either."

The man didn't really react. He just ran a hand through his well-maintained chocolate-colored beard before putting the bottle of water on the floor, inside the cage, and then exiting the attic.

Will watched him go out and then groaned. Words, words, words... she had uttered too many words that didn't do anything. She needed actions. She needed to find a bean before her friends and escape them. Yes, but how...

When she woke up, hours later, the sun was already setting down. How and why she had fallen asleep, she didn't know, but the moment she stood up from the soft bed Cornelia had set for her in the cage, she noticed she wasn't alone. There was someone in the shadows. A man.

"Julian? Caleb?"- she hesitated for a minute. She couldn't read through that person's energy because whoever he was, he was disguising it. But she could feel his gaze on her. Penetrating her. Burning her down.

"Matt..."- the guardian whispered unwittingly.

Matt revealed himself under the light of the setting sun coming from the small ceiling window and she heard herself gasp. Her heart literally stopped for a second.

Then there was an awkward silence that none of them broke for a few minutes. Eventually, he couldn't contain himself:

"Do you know what I've been through ever since you disappeared?"- he asked in a small voice. "I was...a wreck. I didn't want to live without you and when I woke up at the hospital the other day, I felt like a burden was removed from my chest. It was not until today that I realized that it's because you're back."

Will closed her eyes in defeat and sat back on the bed. Yet another confrontation she had desperately hoped to avoid. This was definitely the hardest. The one with her boyfriend of almost thirteen years...

"What happened, Will? What is all this? Please, talk to me."

And suddenly she had an idea. A terrible idea.

"I will, Matt. But you have to release me first and I'll explain on the go."

Matt estimated her with a glance before smiling and showing her a magic bean:

"I'm already a step ahead of you. I'll come with you, Will. I'll come with you to Beta-Meridian."

Her attorney and the other investors walked out of the shading conference room to work on the final settlement suggestion, giving them some time to talk privately. Today hadn't gone as according to plan. At all. Nerissa shot the man that stood at the big table across them a venomous glare. He was a worm. A bitch. He was Richard Fragenson, a balding man in his late 40s, the grandson of her father's business partner and she officially hated him.

He refused to accept her attorney's initial suggestion and combated their arguments by proving that, although the enterprise that Tom Crossnic had owned all these years ago had been sold twice after his death, he, Richard, had always been an investor and a part of the board, hence he now legally owned everything. Everything that was supposed to be hers, that was, and why? Just because she hadn't taken any legal action towards claiming it for way over 20 years. Fucking state law system...

"I'm sorry, Nerissa."- Richard said cattily. "It was never my intention to deprive Tom's heirs of anything but you do realize that your ambition to claim everything bequeathed to you after all this time clashes with our company's policy and best interest. But I'm sure we will hammer out a deal that will do as our families were close. My lawyers-"

"This company belongs to me."- Nerissa interrupted him rudely, no longer caring about the "business etiquette and diplomatic approach" she had been advised to stick to. What was the point since she was being mocked anyway? "My father created "N.C Enterprises" single-handedly! It's literally named after me! Your grandfather was just an assistant who held his umbrella for him and took his coat!"

"Mom."- Caleb hissed. "Don't do this."

But Richard Fragenson reacted at once:

"Then sue me as you planned to. But you won't, after you were told that you have no legal ground to claim anything after you've long missed the deadlines."- he sneered, crossing his palms on the big table. "You can't just wake up one morning and decide to be in business, Nerissa Crossnic. If you are Nerissa at all. Nerissa was born in-"

"Don't you dare!"- Nerissa stood up and threw the file he was going to read her birth year from, across the room. Richard was taken aback:

"Are you crazy?!"

"I am Nerissa, you fool. Ask your grandmother Elida about it, she knows me! I've presented all the needed documents to prove that I'm not some con-artist trying to claim something that doesn't belong to them."- she hissed and pounded the table with her hands. "I am trying to claim my father's legacy!"

"Now I see, you do have Nerissa's notorious terrible attitude."- Richard shook all the way up as he was standing from his chair. He was still shorter than her and just the table between them saved him from her claws when he added:

"But you're too late, you entitled plastic-surgery model Karen. You can't just claim the firm my family has worked for with years after your father's passing and you didn't bother to show up."

"Hey, watch your mouth, pal, or I'll throw you through the window of your firm."- Caleb interfered militantly making the other man recoil instantly. "Who do you think you are to talk to my mother like that?"

"I'll call security!"- Richard decided. "Right away!"

But that was when the lawyers returned to the room and handed Nerissa an envelope. The final settlement suggestion that the enterprise had for her, to send her away without further drama. She was beside herself, already knowing that nothing these people offered her would be enough to satisfy her given the unfairness of it all that, but when she saw the cash inside the envelope, she saw red:

"5000 dollars for my father's million-dollar shares?"- the brunette turned to her attorney. "What is this supposed to mean?!"

"Inflation, Mrs. Crossnic. Taxes...You haven't paid taxes in years, everything had to be covered from your family's deposits once you returned to the US..."- he justified. "... and the fact that they're selling everything to another company is- "

"You're fired!"- Nerissa yelled in his face, startling him, but Caleb stopped her:

"Wait. They're selling everything? To whom? We weren't told that today- "

"That's because you're not investors. It's none of your business, so to say."- Richard went over the long table and carefully snatched the envelope with the money back. "This is no longer offered to you either. I was going to make an exception for old time's sake and in Tom's memory, but now that I've met you, you reminded me he was a son of a bitch and his daughter- "

Suddenly he couldn't speak anymore. He caught his own throat as if something was choking him. Something made him croak like a frog, and in a moment, he was running for the restrooms in utter despair...

Caleb just blinked, knowing this was magic, but before he could say anything, his mother was already going through the rest of the files on Richard's side of the table.

"Ma'am, that's confidential information, what are you doing?!"

"Simuletech... It can't be."- she slid her nail over the name. She had found what she had been searching for and it was the first good thing to happen ever since their arrival here today.

"Mrs. Crossnic, security is on their way, you and your son better leave on your own or they'll throw you-"

The young woman, part of Richard's legal team, gasped when the ex-guardian stood within inches from her face and smiled down at her:

"I have what I came for."

And with that, she grabbed her baffled son's hand and her things and walked out of the conference room with a high head. Caleb was sick of business and investors in this city already; on Meridian, no matter who they were, people at least respected them in person.

"Thank you, Matt. I know you have a lot of questions and I'll answer them. Just as soon as we cross over there, where it's safe."

His car stopped on the outskirts of the city, near one old junkyard the Heart of Kandrakar had once engulfed the Seal of Phobos in. Matt gently grabbed her hand and she blenched. His touch made her feel things she was trying to make herself forget over the last half a year, but it was hard. Everything was way harder than she'd like it to be.

"Will, I...I know."- he breathed in her hair. "I know that whatever you're doing, you're not doing it for yourself. But I missed you. I missed you so much.

Matt's hands were lovingly going over her body. They craved her. They missed her and wanted more of her, and she wasn't ready to resist. God, this person had been her sanctuary and the love of her life.

"Matt..."- Will protested ever-so-slightly when his lips found hers and passionately started kissing her. She couldn't say more after that. His kisses drove her mad with desire, longing, and...anguish. Because nothing was the same anymore. Because their love was unfairly oppressed. Because she didn't know who she was anymore...

But at that moment, when he was pulling her over himself, in the driver's seat, touching her body, she didn't think anything. She just indulged in the moment of passion.

"Matt, I have to tell you something- "

"Don't. Don't talk now."- he whispered through kisses.

She had never been more willing to shut up. Somehow, hearing him ask not to hear the harrowing new facts around her made her feel better about her conscience. Even if it was plain delusive.

"Just be mine again, Will."- Matt whispered and her stomach turned.

There was nothing she would've liked more. Had it been possible... She pulled away for a moment, staring into his eyes with tears in her own. He had already removed the shirt Cornelia had given her to wear in the cage; his hoodie was also removed and he was about to pull his pants down. The woman slid her hands over his thighs and then just stared at him with an unspoken sigh. He was still the same, handsome, kind...hot as hell. The boy she had fallen in love with.

"I can't do this, Matt. I can't...Not like this."

Not when I can't promise you a future...

"Will!"

But she had already opened the door and jumped out of the car, pulling her shirt back down. And in her hand... the magic bean.

"You stole the bean!?"- Matt got out of the car as well, not bothering to get dressed. He was just shirtless and quite the eye-candy anyway...But while his eyes were full of hurt and confusion, Will's eyes were full of tears and determination.

"Why did you do that, I was going to give it to you!"- he exclaimed. "I was going to come with you, be by your side no matter what, through everything!"

"Matt, you can't come with me. You don't understand!"- Will sighed desperately as he chased after her.

The sun was down for the day. They had reached a hill looking at the city from above.

"Then help me understand, God, damn it!"- he yelled. "I cannot believe you right now, I couldn't understand why Cornelia and the others would put you behind bars but Wixy's words start to make a lot more sense now!"

"My Altermeere?"- Will sobbed. She was getting ready to throw the bean on the ground, trigger her portal and escape Heatherfield and everyone once again, but for some reason, she couldn't go before she heard his anger. His disappointment and disillusionment. In her...

"Yeah, she said you wanted to vanish again without even seeing me first! I would never in a million years have believed that, were you not doing what you're doing right now. In front of me. What did I do wrong and when, Will? Why don't you want me to be a part of your life anymore?"

Matt's eyes were full of tears now too. He looked broken and hurt. Heartbroken... She couldn't bear to see him like that.

"I'm so sorry..."- Will shut her inconsolable weeps with the back of her hand before opening the big yellow portal that would lead her to Beta-Meridian.

The wind created by the opening blew the man back and he found himself on the ground but he didn't even wince. He just stared into the portal blankly. Giving up on everything...

"Matt! Matt, I knew you wouldn't listen to me! God, I hoped she'd reconsider when you show up with the bean!"- Lillian appeared out of nowhere and knelt down next to him, enveloping him in a tight hug. Apparently, she had followed them.

"God, what is wrong with her!"- the teen exclaimed, stroking Matt's hair reassuringly. "She just...doesn't want to interact with any of us, I don't get it."

The man didn't say anything. He just kept looking at the portal that was getting smaller and smaller with every passing moment...

"HEY!"

Irma, Taranee, and Hay Lin joined the scene as well. They had been running. Irma just panted and pointed at the yellow portal:

"Did Will just go through- "

"Yes, but what are you girls do- "- before Lillian could finish, the water-witch threw another magic bean inside the portal, instantly restoring its big sizes and keeping it steady.

"Great timing, Irma."- Taranee cheered, pushing her glasses back. " Now this portal isn't going anywhere and we no longer have to worry about finding the spell-hidden location of Beta-Meridian, because Will paved a sure way to it herself."