Chapter Twenty: Hell Hath no Fury like a Hale Scorned Two
a/n: this chapter is a compilation of the major events that took place during the two-month time jump between chapters 18 and 19 and new plot points
The night of the Eye of God's debacle
Summer had just started the night the Heart of Earth called her former regents-now-knights and the guardians of Kandrakar with an important announcement. There was finally an opening. Her power, the main source of Earth magic, and her scrying had found a way to prevail over the major enemy that had pulled strings with their lives over the last months.
The timeline was especially inconvenient - it had only been two days after Will had walked in on the Heart of Earth and her Knight after an intimate night. The Knight who happened to be Will's boyfriend Matt...
This situation hadn't even been fully understood and talked through yet now they had a new one, a completely different situation, one that required everyone to put in a lot of effort and give it their full attention.
Matt and Will's thing would have to wait until after the threat of the Eye of God was dealt with- and given an opening for that was found for the first time since the enemy was fleshed out, it was of high priority.
Transformed, Will crossed her arms on her chest and waited like everyone else.
They had just discussed last strategies and were now flying above the ocean, approximately 15-20 km offshore. It was dark.
All five of them, plus Nerissa, Matt, and Lillian. Huggles and Napoleon were each given one of Kadma's flying purple Zamballan leaves, navigated by Cornelia's Earth powers.
Oh, and since Irma refused to answer any of their telepathic and mobile calls and had somehow gone beyond their radars, they had a pretty reluctant Cassidy as the fifth guardian for this mission.
She, however, wasn't going to go into the Eye's Headquarters with them; she was just going to help get there undetected.
"Irma is the active Water guardian and her powers come from her Auramere transmitting through the Heart of Kandrakar and benefiting from its magnifying power, whereas I've given you the authority to tap into the powers of my Seal to fortify your everlasting gift and water powers, Cassidy." - Nerissa declared and it was true; Cassidy was even able to transform into her guardian self for a while. "Use your powers to get us through the water, you can do that now without tampering with your life force."
Cassidy took a deep breath and got to work.
The dark ocean water immediately recognized her wielding and started to spin into a funnel, going deeper and deeper, aiming for the ocean bottom.
"This is taking too much time and is not discrete."- Lillian said after a few moments. "She's not Moses! We have to do something else."
"Like what, swim down there?"- Cornelia snapped. "That's submarine depth under us."
"Well, we can do an aquatic bubble full of air for us to travel in, but we'll need Cassidy to help navigate it once we're inside of it."- Hay Lin pointed out and the others nodded.
"She can teletransport once we're in."- Taranee agreed.
Cassidy agreed as well.
"Ready when you are, Hay Lin."
The two had just created the big balloon when they heard something. A motorboat approaching.
Everyone took offense positions, getting their magic ready to fight:
"Caleb, I told you that you shouldn't come!"- Cornelia rolled her eyes once they all saw who had come after them.
"And that with a motorboat."- Taranee growled. "Caleb, this is not exactly discrete..."
"Now it is."- Lillian snapped, covering it with an invisible glamour. "Now let's hurry up!"
But their attention was drawn by the other man in the boat that was now ostensibly not there, making it looks as if the two men were standing on the water's surface.
"Phobos..."- Will blurted out.
"I'm sorry but we all knew I wouldn't just sit the entire mission through."- Caleb smirked at them. "As for his Highness over here."- he added mockingly. "He was especially ardent about settling his score with the Eye, so I figured that he could as well do something useful for us. If not, be a human shield and distraction at its finest."
Will didn't like the second alternative at all but Nerissa seemed to approve of her son's thinking as she levitated both him and Phobos into Hay Lin and Cassidy's bubble in which they all were by now.
The Asian and the redhead nodded at each other, agreeing without words that they needed to expand their bubble a little more now and fill it with some more oxygen now that they were increased by two.
"You all know why I have bad blood with the antagonizing Eye of God."- Phobos spoke as the bubble submerged into the water. "But in order to be most effective, I will need my magic, wouldn't you agree?"
Nerissa watched him closely with a testing and rather derisive smile and then proceeded to declutch his magic-blocking cuff with her Seal.
"Don't force me into a punishment for trusting you with this."- she warned him meaningfully.
Phobos blenched ever so slightly. It was one of those detested lines that his mother had addressed him with so many times in his childhood...
Trust Nerissa, who had successfully spied on the entire kingdom for years, to be so eloquent and use it now to make the wanted impact on him.
He was still looking at her coldly by the time they were already generously deep into their travel toward the ocean floor.
There were twelve of them in the aquatic bubble. They were all close to each other. Traditionally jittery around deep, dark water, Cornelia snuggled in Caleb's chest.
Hay Lin and Cassidy joined hands to have better and united control over the bubble.
It was completely dark around them; they were purposely not using any light as to avoid losing the element of surprise. Cassidy's heightened orientation within her element would have to do.
Will was on high alert, trying to detect any underwater surveillance and other technology that she'd have to tamper with anyway, to get inside the Eye's headquarters.
If Lillian's scrying was correct, they were about to enter one of the biggest and best-guarded bases of the Eye of God on the entire planet.
The most high-tech one. The most serious one. The one nearest to Heatherfield, no surprise there.
"The entrance has to be near."- Lillian spoke in a hushed tone. "I saw it in my vision. Their headquarters are inside this very prominent underwater island. This is where they keep their progress on the weapon too."
"It's still mind-blowing to me how they managed all this."- Taranee murmured. "I mean, obviously very rich and influential people have indeed joined the Eye but this looks almost surreal-"
She couldn't finish what she was saying because Huggles suddenly started growling in distress.
He was feeling something. Something near them.
Cassidy felt it too in the moving water.
"What's happening?!"- Cornelia whispered. "Why are we stopping."
"We have company, doll face."- Napoleon hushed in response, looking around himself.
He did see a lot in the dark, after all, being of feline descent.
"Members of the Eye?"- Will guessed, tensing her entire body.
"Worse."- Cassidy shook her head. "SHARKS!"
A few screams echoed around the balloon as she said that and the first shark attempted to swallow it whole.
They were not just sharks. They were huge sharks. And they were angry.
"Great Whites, holy shit!"- Matt exclaimed once Taranee finally turned the lights on.
She created a ring of magnesium white fire around them. A fire that could as well burn underwater because of producing its own oxygen and heat.
"There sharks are acting funny."- the Fire guardian pointed out as one big one literally got partially fried as it tried to go through her extra hot fire ring. "Something's blocking their natural fear of something as alien to them as fire..."
"Great, more chipped things!"- Cornelia huffed, using her telekinesis to scatter the predators away.
It wasn't that efficient due to the water resistance.
"How much do you wanna bet they'll start exploding on us soon?"
"We're just blowing our cover!"- Nerissa protested. "Extinguish that ring of fire, Taranee, it's not even effective!"
As if to prove her right, the sharks stopped trying to go through it and started to go under or above it instead.
Cornelia developed a giant formation of red and green kelp and wrapped it around the last sharks she could actually see, immobilizing them at least for a while.
"How are we supposed to survive with them in the dark?!"
But Phobos was on it.
He smiled when he felt the predator fish all around him:
"We pet them."- he murmured darkly.
As he said that, he shot countless dark roots from his sleeves.
The roots went around their bubble and managed to establish physical contact with everything that was still mindless enough to come their way.
Phobos engulfed the sharks' life force leaving them all weak and tired and retreating once his roots allowed them to.
"That was... strangely impressive in a disturbing way."- Taranee admitted once they were back to moving toward the bottom.
"You saved us all."- Will added gratefully, looking at Phobos's eyes in the dark.
He smiled at her.
Caleb made a face:
"Oh, brother-"
They had reached the top of the underwater island Lillian had spoken of.
They felt solid rock under their feet.
"Your turn, Will."- Nerissa nudged her successor. "Find the entrance and take over it."
Present days
Taranee and Hay Lin giggled as they watched their men bustle around the barbecue and hit their heads together in a moment of clumsiness.
They were out in the mountains today and they had stopped near this hut to have lunch.
Hay Lin had brought all sorts of fresh ingredients with her.
Taranee and her family had scouted these mountains around Heatherfield many times before, so the concept of taking a walk with her friends around here was actually pretty refreshing in comparison to taking a serious hike with insect repellent, tons of sunscreen, and equipment.
Well, sunscreen was still a must but everything else was much more laid-back and enjoyable.
Just what she and Hay Lin needed being pregnant together.
"Come on, boys, what's taking so long?"- Taranee asked in a joking voice.
"Coming!"- her husband called.
"OK; meat?"- Eric turned around, plates in both his hands. "Or veggies?"
"Both!"- Hay Lin and Taranee said in unison and then laughed again.
It was just one of those carefree, full of fun and joy days that could sometimes be a rare treat in a busy adult's life.
Hay Lin didn't like to think of herself as an adult at all, but now that she was on her way to motherhood, she had to recognize it; she was all grown up. That didn't mean that she would drop her optimism and funny antics, not at all.
She was planning on being not just any regular mom. She was going to be a cool mom.
Taranee was the opposite when it come to adulthood; she had always done her best to be as mature and responsible as possible and she had gladly jumped into so many different college majors, additional classes, and then her career in law.
Apart from that, she had managed to keep up with all her hobbies for years, keep her relationship healthy despite the occasional rifts while saving people as a guardian on an almost daily basis.
Oh, and she had also managed to get married and got pregnant around her 26th Birthday.
Taranee really was a pedantic and mature for her age woman, something she had always been. Smart. Practical. Direct. Overcoming her fears on the go, like a flame desiring knowledge and development.
Hay Lin was far more chaotic, like air itself; she hadn't been in a hurry to wrap up her college life; but then again, most of her friends had dragged out a few semesters.
The young Air guardian had primarily focused on opportunities and internships, many other artsy flows as well.
She was an artist, full of life and optimism and somehow that was exactly why her friendship with Taranee was this strong; they were so different for the most part yet complimented each other's good and bad sides so well.
Maybe it wasn't a coincidence that they had become pregnant around the same time.
Maybe they were going to be the most useful and supportive to each other in this journey.
The two couples enjoyed their time together and the lunch prepared by the boys, chatting and laughing.
Eric and Nigel were both well-built, handsome young men with aspirations in life, but what made them as exceptional was the way they had integrated themselves into their girlfriends' secret lives as well.
It had been a challenge at first, of course, but now both guardians could honestly brag that they had bagged the best partners they could've wished for. And people said that high school relationships weren't destined to last.
Following in his family's steps, Eric's aspiring career as an astronomer and scientist was progressing. He was well known and constantly had to travel for work but he and Hay Lin made it work.
"Hey."- he turned to her with a smile. "Try this, I think I've outdone your dad's recipe."- the young man winked, giving his girlfriend a piece of the chicken meat with his fork.
"I think that you're right!"- Hay Lin exclaimed, chewing slowly as to get all the savor out of it. A chef's daughter was, after all, always a chef's daughter. "Just don't tell him that when he and mom return from China..."
"Yeah, I'm not that brave."- Eric laughed in response.
Nigel grinned and their interaction and met his wife's amused glance.
He had just finished yet another educational training; he wasn't done with studying, he would continue to study as long as he could, he was determined, but nonetheless, he was now officially a psychologist and had his own practice.
Nigel's career aspirations were greatly inspired by his mother's condition. Monica Ashcroft, unfortunately, suffered from quite a few mental illnesses that impacted her life greatly and most of them had been unlocked after her second birth.
Her overall condition was regarded as a rarity and a medical phenomenon in the bad meaning of it and Nigel dreamed of one day being able to establish a therapy that would help his mom live a life as ordinary as possible, keeping her illnesses in tight check.
"Taranee, what's next."- he turned to his wife with a smile. A loving, warming smile as usual, especially for her. He had always admired and respected her, and that was why she had fallen in love with him.
That and because he was fascinated with her just the way she was. He loved the real her and he never gave up on her, even when all odds have been against them.
Taranee smiles as she thinks of that and how lucky she is for eventually ending up with Nigel as her husband. Because there had been other people in their life, they had had their breaks and mistakes were made...
But he was her endgame and she was sure of that for a while now.
"What-what's next?"- she blinked a little puzzled, returning to the question he had asked her.
She had gotten lost in her own thoughts there for a second.
Nigel smiled knowingly and touched his wife's hand:
"I mean like for today, babe, what do you want to do when we get back to the city? We've been talking about this the last few minutes."
"Yeah, we were thinking we could catch a movie?"- Eric interjected. "If you're not tired of us already, of course."- he added innocently, flashing her a smile.
"Please, how can anyone get tired of you two."- Taranee rolled her eyes at the picture-perfect couple that Hay Lin and Eric were, and their cute sitting hug. "A movie sounds great, as long it's not just some mediocre thriller or sci-fi alien thing, Hay Lin, I'm looking at you!"
Hay Lin stuck her tongue out at her and they all just laughed.
The night of the Eye of God's debacle
"Lillian, wait! If that underwater thing was just the weapon and we got rid of it, what now? Why are you so tense, we got them! We got ahead of them!"- Cornelia tried to reason with her sister but it was pointless.
Lillian was restless and angry and couldn't find herself a spot to stay in for more than a few moments without fidgeting and giving in to the nerve-wracking feelings that wanted to dominate her.
"That's not enough what we did there, Cornelia!"- the younger Hale snapped. It would never be. Until that group of terrible people was on to her, breathing in her neck... "We have to terminate the threat, period! My vision deceived me, that's why I'm so tense! That underwater island should've been the base of the Eye in Heatherfield! It should have!"
Not her vision but the one who had brought her the vision wasn't in the right and that bugged her even more.
The young blonde then noticed all eyes on herself;
She had sent Huggles and Napoleon away. Cassidy had left too, with Peter, who had been there to "pick them up", having borrowed Eric's yacht after the underwater part of the mission.
Others that didn't exactly have her in their highest regard anymore were still here though.
Like Nerissa.
Like all the guardians.
"Maybe your vision meant to help us take away their trump card, that weapon."- Taranee interjected reservedly. "Isn't that what Martin said, anyway? That was what alarmed us, other than that, the Eye remains an Earth-based anti-magic organization like they've been for centuries."
"Yeah and if they continue to pick at this because of the whole Heart of Earth concept they will inevitably clash with us again."- Hay Lin added. "I think that we're starting to show them just about how bad for them it is to challenge us. We're too strong for them; I mean, come on, we just got rid of the weapon they've put so much time, money, and effort into- "
"Which is exactly why they shouldn't be left just like that. They should be stopped. And this is personal."- Lillian nailed her words as if with a hammer.
"Evidently, the only way that the Eye can get anywhere from here on will be through stealth and trickery and not by displaying their capabilities that are never going to be a match for all the magic power that opposes them in your face."- Phobos pointed out calmly.
Yes. Phobos was still here too and so was Matt.
And it was awkward.
"You can all go if you don't agree. But I will not give up. I will finish what I've started."- Lillian declared, pretending she hadn't heard the man at all; what he had so say was irrelevant to her either way.
She knew more than anyone about the matter and she wasn't about to share it.
"He's right though, do you want to fall into a trap or something? Especially if all of us just go."
Will was talking to her for the first time since their encounter in Matt's hotel room.
Lillian couldn't help but stare at her.
She looked right back, unbudging but yet reserved.
"We're staying, Lillian."- Cornelia said firmly. "If you think that we should end this tonight, let's try to end it tonight but together."
No one else said anything to that. The resentful mood still lingered in the air for what Matt and Lillian had done. No one would accept it.
No one would want to be close to any of them so soon if it weren't for the mission, they were all in on together.
"Then we may as well try to do Coven Convergence Weaving."- Nerissa spoke, stepping forward. "There are enough of us here either way."
"What's that?"
"A supposedly powerful scrying technique used by covens of witches to find things that are beyond their reach."- Phobos snorted at the answer he had somehow automatically given to Caleb's question.
"The Eye have magic users shielding them and blocking direct psychic powers."- Lillian argued. "You think that if it were that easy, I wouldn't have managed on my own by now? I don't need a coven to-"
"Oh, yes you do, and this is not psychic magic."- Nerissa tsked. "That weapon we just disposed of was drenched in Eye member energy and essence. So many of them have worked so hard to make it. If we use that energy and weave it into our teleportation spell in convergence, we should be able to teleport to the place where this energy is most concentrated. The base you want to reach so very much. And for that, you do need a coven."
For one, Lillian didn't have an answer to that. That was a magical practice she hadn't known of.
"But we've never done anything like that before."- Will pointed out what they all wanted to say.
"Oh, how would you, my dear, this is black magic."- Phobos smirked. "They don't teach you that in Kandrakar, no?"
"Kandrakar never taught us anything, in particular, we've always studied our powers on our own."- Cornelia snapped. "Let's do this, Nerissa."- she turned to her mother-in-law.
"We will need some preparations first."
"Seven commonplace ingredients for six people. Shouldn't be that arduous, one would think."- Phobos mused, almost half an hour later as he waited back at the Shell Beach cave with Nerissa and Caleb. "Then again, the young Heart is too stubborn and self-righteous for her own good and the guardians are, well, mundane as usual under the Earth guardian's leadership-"
"Shut up."- Caleb turned to him warningly. "You're of zero help as expected, don't ramble on top of it! Don't say anything about Cornelia, or anyone else for that matter. Except for Will, I guess, she helped you earn that right to talk on her behalf."- he finished coldly, glaring at the other man.
"I would help find the said ingredients faster were I allowed to leave your sight."- Phobos sneered in response.
He just leaned back against one big rock casually and evaded the rebel leader's glare.
"Doubt it. Now shut it."
Phobos was about to say something snarky in response to Caleb's short blunt order but the others returned with the ingredients.
Nerissa had already drawn the hexagram. They could start placing everything.
"Eye of newt, and toe of frog,
Wool of bat, and tongue of dog,
Adder's fork, and blind-worm's sting,
Lizard's leg, and howlet's wing,-
For a charm of powerful trouble,
Like a hell-broth boil and bubble."
Taranee read everything once again and looked down at what they had gathered. Thank God, everything was actually just nicknames for herbs, and plants and not parts of actual living things. Except for an actual dog's tooth which had taken them the longest to get; Cornelia had manifested most of the plants with her powers.
"I never thought that we would be following a Shakespeare witch recipe-"
"On its own, it's not exactly a master act. But he was obviously gifted with knowledge from beyond when he wrote it because it's a good base. With our powers, this little chant can do much more than what the Earth witches in the mid centuries used for mere healing of wounds."- Nerissa threw her hair back and gestured them to come closer.
"It's more than a poetic revenge since those are exactly the stuff the Eye of God is so frantically afraid of and trying to eradicate."- Will pointed out.
Only she, Nerissa, Lillian, and the guardians would participate in the Coven Convergence.
Everything was ready soon. The cave was turned into a real witch's lair.
Taranee lit the ingredients in the middle on fire.
They could start.
Nerissa made the old book she had read from to revise the Convergence ritual disappear:
"Good."- she said when they all locked hands. "Now a warning."
"Now a warning!?"- Will exclaimed indignantly.
The ex-guardian raised her hand up to assure them that it was alright:
"It's just a superstition, really, I almost spared you this one but it says in that old book that it shouldn't be practiced by witches who are either pregnant or on their period, so-"
"I'm on my period!"- Taranee and Hay Lin exclaimed in unison, flabbergasting everyone.
"You're both on your period?"- Cornelia exclaimed.
"Umm.. yeah, I guess. Weird."- Hay Lin laughed it off and exchanged glances with Taranee who could only smile nervously.
"So, now what."- Lillian rolled her eyes.
"Matt and Phobos will have to take your places in the hexagram then."- Nerissa said. "As-"
"Isn't a Coven of Witches supposed to be joined by females only-"
"That's just an urban legend. In the Middle Ages, women and men didn't mingle like that socially, hence. Anyone with magic can take part in a Coven. Now hurry up and get to business."
Present Days
Lillian sobbed as she did her makeup.
Black, blue and purple.
Lots of shadow. Dark red lips. Pale foundation and harsh contour.
She had a short leather dark blue dress on, with a zipper in the front, strapless, and with a puff skirt.
Today was her Birthday but she didn't have anyone to spend it with. Her twentieth Birthday. She was all alone.
Yes, her mother had sent her a happy birthday message out of courtesy. She didn't particularly hate her, she supposed, but that was about it.
Not many friends. Those she had had, and most of her family, she had pushed away for food after going rogue.
And, most miserably, no Matt.
She had ruined everything between herself and Matt forever by confessing her mad love for him, and she knew it.
Lillian stared at her reflection for a while, combing through her long natural blonde hair, which she had turned even lighter over the last year.
Many had disapproved of that change; they preferred her old style, the preppy Malibu Barbie over her new goth looks.
She hadn't listened to them just like she didn't listen to her common sense when it tried to stop her from doing all that she had done.
But now it was too late.
And it was no time for regrets.
She was driving herself to Matt's place tonight. He had moved back to his apartment during the last two miserable months they had.
He still saw her all the time, they still practiced but that didn't mean anything.
Matt had been crystal clear when he said he'd never feel anything romantic for her.
Lillian got out of her car, which, ironically was still pink, she had received it for her Birthday two years ago; she was just getting out when she almost bumped into someone.
He had been standing there. Ambushing her.
"You..."- she glared at the boy that smiled up at her: "What do you want?"
"Happy Birthday, Lillian. Oh, my bad, I meant Heart of Earth. Or Matchmaker."- William Collins said in a snide voice. "Some match you made, right? Matt and you...it seems you achieved your goal, after all."
"Get out of my way."- Lillian bared her teeth and walked past him.
But the teen didn't give up:
"But if you were indeed satisfied, why the long face then and why the destructive attitude? I can only imagine that things didn't go the way you envisioned them. Let me guess, Matt didn't fall for you? He gave you the boot?"
The boy laughed again.
"You went to great lengths for nothing, Lillian. Hope you're proud of everything."
"Right back at you, squirt."- Lillian snapped, throwing him a hateful glare over her shoulder. "You and your friends were exposed. Everyone knows just what you really are - envious criminal brats. You got to keep your minds with memories unwept and for what? A second chance maybe? Wake up call, doofus, your sister moved dimensions and took the Heart of Kandrakar with herself. So, who cares? Who cares about you? Not she. Not I! Get out of here!"
She was sick of everybody. Tired of all this.
Especially of this brat.
William Collins had been on her case ever since last fall.
He had been there when he wasn't supposed to. He had 'persuaded' her that he could be of assistance. That what they were both after could be achieved simultaneously. That they needed each other to survive the Eye of God later on.
He was a menace, Lillian believed it now, he was a menace greater than her.
He was an evil little troll and she had had enough of him.
"You sold us out first, Miss Matchmaker, don't forget that."- he called after her. "You felt like you were too big of a deal for actual teamwork."
Lillian clenched her jaw again. She had had no actual choice; because of Nerissa and Phobos putting their noses in everything, she had been compelled to sell the WICCA boys out the night at Sheffield, when the Eye had killed Avani in response.
The Eye had been very angry with her because she didn't do as they said and threatened to expose her again that night. They had stuff on her. Mainly because of Avani opening her mouth.
Lillian huffed under her nose. Why was she even standing here to listen to the boy's crap? They had both ruined their images in front of everyone. Everyone despised them and had a thing in mind about them for one reason or another.
Did anything from the past matter anymore?
Yes, it did.
Matt mattered. And he was going to be hers one way or another.
William blocked her way again:
"So, what do you plan to do now?"
"What do you care?"- Lillian didn't remain obligated. "It doesn't concern you."
"But it does."- William smirked strangely and still didn't let her go.
He was really beginning to get to her.
Lillian clenched her fist:
"Listen, dweeb, you do not want to be on my bad side tonight."- she hissed in his face. He was shorter than her.
"I just-"
She grabbed his ear and pulled it back.
William exclaimed in pain and surprise as she twisted his ear again:
"Don't ever think that you can mess with me again and get away with it."- the young Hale whispered darkly. "All benefits from the past are no longer effective, regardless of what you say you have on me. Do you really think that after annihilating all of the Eye of God in Heatherfield I will think twice when it comes to you?"
Lillian pushed him back with her magic and the teen boy ended face down on the hard ground.
She glared at him venomously:
"I'll crush you like an ant, you jerk, just fucking dare hinder me or come in my way again in any shape and form!"
The night of the Eye of God's debacle
"She...she destroyed the entire building; made it disappear together will everyone and everything inside! It wasn't empty or anything, there were people. Eye Members maybe but all the same- people. I'm sorry, I don't think that is what we're supposed to do as guardians."
Lillian glared at the redhead who reported to Kandrakar. She knew that deep inside this was her anger speaking. Will's wrath for her and Matt having sex.
The rest of the guardians just stood there like statues; Caleb and Nerissa had left with Phobos, escorting him back to his "home" in Will's apartment.
Will? She was beside herself and Lillian knew that it had been piling up.
"Well, that's what they wanted to do to the majority of Heatherfield with that weapon of theirs. They weren't innocent people, Will."- Lillian defended. "I told you, this was my personal battle with those people who were after me!"
Will turned to her angrily. Their eyes met in a heated duel:
"Your battle that we became minions in!"- she snapped. "Being an accomplice to mass murder isn't my thing, I'm sorry, you could've at least given a warning and I wouldn't have taken part in that mission at all. Like Irma."
"Don't be so dramatic."- Lillian rolled her eyes. "I saved my power and my realm from the Eye of God at the price of their existence. But it's not exactly mass murder, is it?"
"Besides."- Will didn't give up, turning to Halinor and her elders who just exchanged glances. "You guys said that eradicating the Eye of God altogether will tamper with the balance on Earth, right? Between Earth magic and non-magics, I remember that Kadma said-"
"Indeed, Will, but in this case, the Heatherfield branch of the Eye that the Heart of Earth managed to annihilate tonight."- Halinor interrupted her softly. "...will most probably serve as a demonstration that shall remind the rest members of all anti-magic groups on Earth of their place."
"We don't sense any more activity in Heatherfield and that's good."- Kadma added. "The Heatherfield branch of the Eye was too frantic for their own good. They challenged forces that have never been challenged like that by any commoner from Earth before... They challenged Kandrakar! They were radical and have gone against their own tenants to get to Lillian, in the end, their demise isn't as unfavorable as it sounds."
Will felt sick. That was how everyone deemed this. What haughty words and beliefs... What hallow statements and that from women who had once been guardians themselves.
But what was she even thinking when her own friends, the present guardians, were too biased to talk about it?
And she? Her gut feeling, telling her that something was still wrong. Very wrong.
How did they not see it?
"So, you approve of this, is that it?"- she asked coldly. "Kandrakar approves of Lillian's actions?"
Halinor and Kadma exchanged glances and Lillian just smiled to herself:
"We...don't commend the means but we have to think on a larger scale here, Will."- Halinor shook her head. "The threat had to be dealt with, one way or another, and it was high time; the stakes were too great for us to just wait around and-"
"Got it."- Will just nodded. "I got the point."
"Will..."
Matt touched her shoulder and she just recoiled.
The last thing she needed was more of Matt after he had basically given up on everything they ever had because of "betraying her".
Will didn't know what to think anymore, but this closeness between Matt and Lillian Hale that had escalated like that had never made her angrier.
It wasn't fair. Everything that was happening wasn't fair and Lillian was really beginning to get on her nerves.
First, she got herself fucked by her boyfriend, then she killed all these people ruthlessly and ended up having an attitude about it?
And the worst thing was Matt's point of view; Matt was giving her "space" in the worst possible way.
"You said you weren't going to talk to me until you've figured yourself out again, remember?"- Will interrupted him coldly, pushing his hand away. "Don't, Matt. Just don't."
"I deserve that."- Matt sighed. "I-"
"You agree with Lillian's decision as well. As everyone else."- Will helped him. "Never mind. It's too late to discuss any of that anyway. Those people are dead."
They all left Kandrakar through a portal. It was more than uncomfortable and honestly, Will couldn't wait for all of them to just part.
There was insane tension and drama hanging in the air, waiting to unwind.
And, unfortunately, it was going to unwind.
"Wait a minute, Will."- Lillian stopped her when they all de-transformed.
They were still on Shell Beach, near their cave. It was a warm night.
The other guardians and Matt stopped too. Actually, Will, who had been walking in the front was the last one to reluctantly stop.
She didn't want to have to say anything more, especially to this girl but she did anyway:
"What."
Lillian walked to her:
"I just wanted to say that I'm sorry. Sorry for dragging you into this tonight, I get that whatever happened was against your beliefs. I'm also sorry about, you know...the other day."
Will frowned. Honestly, she was a little surprised at first:
"Don't mention it."- she just grumbled. It was insanely awkward anyway. All of it.
But Lillian wasn't done stirring the pot:
"No, let me finish."- she insisted. "I'm sorry that it happened the way it did but let's be honest. Both were inevitable. The deaths of those who plotted against the city and me and Matt having to unload somewhere. I mean, what you put him through...
Will gaped as if she had just slapped her:
"Excuse me?"
"It's no surprise that you feel bad for those who do wrong, after all, you did fall for Phobos."- Lillian went on somewhat derisively. Maliciously. There wasn't anything ostensibly wrong about the way she said it, but somehow Will saw that this was her.
The real her.
The real her had changed just like her appearance and she wasn't a bubbly mischievous girl anymore.
No, she was a powerful and very prominently relating to darkness young woman who obviously held a grudge against her.
"What the fuck are you trying to say to me, Lillian?"- the redhead looked at under furrowed brows.
She felt weirded out but also angry. Very angry.
Will hadn't exactly addressed the entire situation yet with her because of so many things, but this girl was asking for it.
She had, after all, slept with her boyfriend.
Her boyfriend. It wasn't OK.
It wasn't OK to speak like that on top of everything but that was exactly what Lillian did:
"I'm trying to say that you put horns on that boyfriend of yours, so what did you expect? After you made him a cuckold for the prince? I mean, come on, Will."- she sneered. "Are you surprised he ended up "betraying you"?"
"I don't know what has gotten into you but I'll tell you something very clearly."- Will snapped. "I will have you know that I've done no such thing; all that I've had with Phobos during all these months has been close friendship. And I was going to tell Matt that I've overcome it all, the fucking bond that changed everything like it did when I saw you there!"
"Oh, I think you know."- Lillian smiled. "What has gotten into me. Something that hasn't exactly been in you in a long time, huh? And let me tell you, it's bigger than I imagined..."
Will was at a loss for words. She just saw red. This insolence she couldn't take. Not on top of everything else.
She took a step back and tried to take a deep breath but the salty air and the heat around her made it impossible to hold back at all.
Will just growled and assaulted the glib blonde with a punch to her face that almost dislocated her teeth.
A fucking punch.
That was when all hell broke loose.
"Lillian!"
The girls and Matt, who had been mere spectators up until now, acted shocked and surprised and rushed to her side.
"Lillian, are you OK?"
"My God!"
"Will, what the fuck?!"
"Have you completely lost it?"
"Didn't you just hear what I-"- Will tried to reason with Hay Lin and Taranee's bewilderment and reproach.
But Cornelia had the deadliest blow for her. As usual when Will ended up stepping on her tail:
"This is unacceptable!"- she shouted, holding her sister's head between her arms and glaring up at her assailant: "Enough is enough, Wilhelmina, we put up with all your shit for months, and now you can't even contain yourself? You seriously just punched my little sister, you're a riot! Maybe what happened with her and Matt wouldn't have happened if you hadn't stopped us from helping you overcome the Phobos thing so many times! But you know why you actually stopped us and wanted this? No, it's not because it was confusing and pressuring on you!"
Will was breathing hard, too immersed in the heat of the moment to even ask them if they hadn't heard Lillian fucking provoking her as she had.
All she could do was breathe and stare into Cornelia's enraged bluebottle eyes:
"You didn't want our help because Phobos did grow on you, and you did want him, and you still do! You only chose to go back to Matt because of your growing guilt and because, in the end, you had to pretend to be a goody-two-shoes who always has the best judgment! But it was a too little too late case, Wilhelmina!"- Cornelia finished her poisonous speech. "You brought this on yourself! It's your fault Matt and Lillian crossed the line! First, you ruined Matt's life then you blame it on my sister, that's fucking rich!"
Present Days
A tear rolled down Cornelia Hale's face as she watched her sister disappear into the building.
She had seen everything with her own eyes. And now it was confirmed. Her sister was behind so many crimes and injustices.
Her sister was a villain. She had become a villain, most probably beyond redemption...
"I told you."- William Collins dusted his clothes off. "She started everything. Avani, Lillian, and I had a pact. We each wanted something that was supposedly going to be easily accomplished if we were together. But they both broke the pact and things went south. More than they already had..."- he added quickly, looking down somewhat abashed.
Cornelia sobbed again and shook her head. The teenager had a point. He had provided his memory stone too, even more evidence against Lillian, but she had already known that he was going to be of use. Hence, she had gone to him after Lillian had that error in the hospital.
She had spoken about the WICCA boys. Something she hadn't known everything about. Precisely the part in which the five boys were actually after the Heart of Kandrakar, something she had known because of the pact but she hadn't considered it in the heat of the moment.
"I'm such an idiot."- Cornelia closed her eyes but her tears still fell down. "I've been blind for all this for so long, and it was under my nose all along. All this...even my grandmother was aware that Lillian's been crushing on Matt. I just...can't believe that it took me so long to understand what she's become."
"Hey, it's not your fault, Cornelia, please cut the crap. You are a victim of a cruel delusion and conspiracy, we all are."
Cornelia turned to her and smiled through tears. If anything, she hadn't expected Will to respond so quickly after everything, but here she was.
She was her friend. They were so close yet she manage to hurt her whenever she was rubbed the wrong way:
"Will, I was a bitch again, two months ago-"
"Hey, if it weren't for you, I'd still be in the dark about all this. You got to the bottom of it on your own, I just fled to Meridian like some touchy brat. I should've gauged that your sister's cast a big glamour curtain that didn't allow you to see how she provoked me before I punched her and all that...shit that went down after that."- Will interrupted her with a small smile. "I mean, duh, that's what her magic does. If anything, we were both played for fools by our siblings. Let's just don't let that affect our relationship."
Cornelia just hugged her and the redhead hugged her back. The good thing about their fallouts was how quickly they rebounded and got back to being best of friends each time; over the years, they were getting better at forgiving each other's unintentional mistakes too.
"You and your sibling can still set things between each other straight."- Cornelia insisted and nodded toward William.
Will's smile died down a little at that. She wiped her wet eyes but refused to look at the boy.
She wasn't so sure about that. Of all people, his hurt and betrayal hurt her most and she wasn't sure she'd ever be able to trust him again, let alone look at him the same way.
"Will, I'm so sorry"- her brother said in a small voice.
"He helped me."- Cornelia went on. "Helped us and he's still just a boy, Will, while Lillian-"
"Lillian's corrupted by her power and perverted desire to have Matt, don't get me wrong, she's majorly twisted but what exactly is my brother's motivation for all this?"- Will interrupted her again and this time looked at William.
Her stern eyes made him shrink in his clothes.
"I will never forget what you did to me, William. You...you're not forgiven. You weren't forced into all this, you went there and offered Avani and Lillian to help them! That, I will always remember when I look at you."
Cornelia sighed. She couldn't justify the boy's doings either but she didn't have time for that anyway.
She had to go and confront her own sister.
Once and for all see to the problem with her greater power and her misuse of it.
"Lillian's going up there right now and she'll try to make Matt a thrall or something. She'll take his free will away because he denied her love."- William changed the topic, seeing that his sister was still quite unforgiving when it came to his betrayal. "She didn't want to, but she knows she's near the end and there's no other way. I know her well."
"Yeah, I'm sure you do after skimming with her for months."- Will snapped.
But Cornelia was already taking the next step:
"Lillian's crimes end tonight. I'll make sure of it."
"I'll come with you, Cornelia, it's too dangerous."- Will said. "You don't know what she can do in her rage-"
"She's right."- William agreed, meeting his sister's angry eyes again.
Cornelia hesitated for a moment but in the end, she had to agree with them.
"OK."
She and Will locked hands and started making their way to the apartment complex.