Chapter Twenty-Nine: The Twin Conclave
Matt managed to push his attacker off, coughing blood. His wounds were too many. Too many by now and if he didn't receive immediate medical help...
Christopher Lair was strong and merciless. He laughed at Matt's attempts to save his life. He hated him. He HATED the object of Lillian's affection and obsession, the reason their relationship had failed.
Matt was that reason. Which was why he had to die.
"You ruined all of our lives,"- Chris hissed at him and aimed the knife at his chest. Matt spluttered something but the other man wasn't listening. He slowly kept pushing the blade, overpowering his weakened limbs. Matt had lost blood. A lot of blood.
"And don't say you're not at fault for her actions. You gave her something. Hope? You must have,"- Chris said and finally plunged the weapon deep into the dark-haired man's chest, despite his pleads and screams. Despite Cornelia and Will emerging through the back door just then.
"CHRIS!"
He had no time to experience glee at the moment. Before he could properly stand up from his victim, his real victim's blood-covered body, Cornelia yeeted him back, into the dumpsters in the back of the alley.
She immediately descended, shocked and shaking, in the pool of blood surrounding the man. He wasn't breathing. She had to use her healing powers on him immediately.
"Chris, you shouldn't have done this!"- Will turned her attention to the boy who stood up and attempted to make a run for it.
But the redhead's quintessence turning the dumpsters alive halted him as the heavy containers pushed him back again, trapping him between each other and the wall in the back.
"And why not? Huh?"- Chris challenged, out of breath. Out of breath, but gleeful. Gleeful for what he had just done. "You care for him still? I thought you're fucking that long-haired asshole, what happened, Will? Changed your mind again?"
"You're sick!"- Will spat, unable to believe her eyes and ears. "What the fuck is this about?"
Another one of their younger siblings- unhinged. The siblings of the guardians. She was beginning to think they were cursed.
"What do you think it's about?"- Chris bared his teeth at her.
"You're the slasher! You're the slasher of Heatherfield! Taranee figured it out and texted us, and suddenly, I knew we had to come here, the Heart was uneasy and it was right, you attacked again!"- Will yelled, almost forgetting they had to avoid drawing attention.
The night was cold and the music in the club was loud, there was no one around the back alley, yet still.
"But I wasn't. I was the wannabe slasher. The feeble slasher."- Chris corrected her. "Until tonight! Now I've lived up to people's expectations."
"Did you do all this because of what Lillian did, are you nuts, what were you thinking?!"- Will demanded. She still couldn't believe it.
"H-he's dead,"- Cornelia announced from the ground. She looked shocked and despondent. "I c-can't close any more of his wounds, if they stopped closing with my magic and he's stopped breathing, h-he's dead..."
Will looked at her as if she had just slapped her. She was floored. Shocked. Now what?
But Chris seemed to enjoy himself as he laughed and pulled at the ends of his blood-stained black hoodie.
"I slashed him! I slashed Matt Olsen!"- his blue eyes then turned an abnormal shade. A demonic shade... "Now I can find peace in my lonesomeness..."
"Matt?"- Will blinked in bewilderment.
"What the fuck are you talking about, you idiot?!"- Cornelia stood up and conjured vines out of her hand.
Vines that wrapped around Chris, trapping him for good, but not before slamming him hard against the two dumpsters, pushing them to both sides.
"Who the fuck gave you the right to do this, you little shit? To us? To your sister, your family!"- she listed, angry. "One terrible breakup and you become a murderer, are you for real?"
"Not just any murderer, Matt's murderer!"- Chris hissed hatefully and the two women could only exchange even more flummoxed glances.
"Matt,"- Will repeated again.
But Cornelia exploded:
"Are you blind or stupid, or are you just giga high and wasted, which is it? Who is this man? Who is the man you just killed?! It's NO MATT, NOT OUR MATT FOR SURE,"
Chris's eyes become normal for a minute. Will noticed it the first time; if it hadn't been for his outrageous claim, she would've probably called it out by now:
"W-what?"- now, taking a second look at his victim, the ginger realized they were right.
The dead man. Wasn't. Matt.
He was dark-haired. Well-built, yes. He was almost dressed like Matt would dress but he wasn't him. He was at least ten years his senior and he was indeed no Matt. Nor was he alive anymore.
Because Chris had killed him in his blind rage.
"But I-I, I saw him, he got out of that car and..."
Just then Caleb and Matt himself emerged from the club. They had been ready for action but what they saw caught them both off guard:
"Is he...is he no more?"- Caleb asked, nodding towards the body.
"Chris?!"- Matt exclaimed in shock and denial. "Y-you're the slasher?! But why-"
"AND I SHOULD'VE SLAIN YOU, MOTHERFUCKER-"- Chris's mouth was immediately shut by the prickly flower that bloomed in white hues from Cornelia's vine.
"Keep your voice down, you beast!"- she hissed. "Keep it down while we try to fix this damn mess!"
"How are we going to fix it?"- Will asked, her throat dry. Matt came behind her, putting his hand on her shoulder and Chris raged and raged at his failure, held tightly by the vines that Cornelia had made stronger than ship ropes.
"He's dead. This is not a magical case either, covering up would be very wrong-"
"I know,"- Cornelia whispered. The gravity of the situation was just now hitting her and she realized she felt like crying. "But we can't just..."
"We have to take that decision fast because people will see this,"- Caleb said, alarmed by the lights that approached them but it was just Martin's car.
With a shaken and desperate Irma and a panting Taranee, who jumped out of it first:
"Chris? Girls, wha-"- the Latina's high-pitched voice full of stress and fear croaked at the sight. At the sight of the body...The blood on her brother's clothes.
Never in her life had she wanted for Taranee to be wrong more. For that locator's potion to have been flunked. But no. It was all true. She had seen it herself, sealed in the water in his room, all the hatred, rage, and alienation that her brother had been feeling. It was all true yet she couldn't accept it:
"He's dead, Irma,"- Will began in a tiny voice, trying to hold her friend for comfort. "Chris t-thought it was Matt from behind and killed..."
Matt blenched at that but Irma just pulled away swiftly and screamed like she rarely did:
"NO! NO, MY BROTHER'S N-NOT A KILLER, this can't be"!- her state, her uncontrollable emotions were peaking.
Taranee felt many things but she was also scared. Scared of and for Irma. It was a miracle her raging emotions had triggered a flood by now.
Then again, this situation it was...
"This is madness, it can't be happening,"- Martin shook his head. "I've known this boy since he was a child, I've seen him grown up, he couldn't have done this,"
Cornelia who was crying barely managed to hold back the snarky snap she had for him. Something along the lines they had thought the same about him before his darn truth got revealed.
"He thought he was murdering Matt and got this man by mistake, I don't get it,"- Taranee squalled, pushing her glasses back. "Why did he attack these three kids on Halloween if this was out of jealousy all along, I still-"
"Well, didn't you say you had some connection, I don't know what to say, Tara, this is just too-"- Will shrugged, at a loss for words.
For the first time in her guardian career, she truly didn't know how to proceed with this.
"I thought it was some sort of love vendetta but not because of Lillian, I'm confused...only Chris can tell us-"
"Love vendetta, my ass! That bitch Jerry had it coming and so did Lola who ratted me out to her and her boyfriend in the first place. Then Jerry sent pictures to Lillian, they're at fault for her decision to dump me, because they let her know about a stupid slip, a hookup that meant nothing!"- Chris yelled till he was out of breath, having spat the flower, shocking everyone, but mainly his sister, who looked at him with big, wet, unbelieving eyes.
She couldn't believe this was her brother.
"You cheated on her first?"- Cornelia could only blink. "And she knew?"
"Trust me, she didn't go insane because of that,"- Will crossed her arms on her chest. "She wanted Matt,"
"And your perceptions, Christopher, are just as deluded as hers, how could you do that, blaming those kids for your mistake and blaming Matt for Lillian's craziness, and your solution?"- Taranee expressed her indignation. "Your solution was to hurt and try to kill, are you absolutely out of your mind!?"
"LILLIAN!"- Irma suddenly spat. "She did this! She bewitched him or something, turned him evil...to finish her deed if she couldn't do it, or SOMETHING! BUT this-this is not my brother, he didn't kill that man!"- she went on frantically, pointing at Chris and then at the corpse. "This is magic!"
Before the others could say anything, Will narrowed her eyes. She had noticed something just a few minutes ago. His eyes. Maybe there was some truth to that... to reveal it, she held the Heart of Kandrakar up and shined its light on Chris.
At first, he only hissed but then the thorn that came out of his cheek from the inside made them realize. Chris's alienated eyes and his groans only brought further evidence...
"Azor's Touch,"- Caleb frowned deeply. "How? Her roots were dying out, isn't that what they said?"
"They are to die out, eventually,"- Will murmured, remembering Kadma's words. "We didn't know she has other hosts, that she has touched people here too..."
"The painting,"- Cornelia suddenly realized. It had been at Chris's new place for so long... "She infected him through the painting. Oh, I'm sick of this! Why didn't Kandrakar do anything about it after we brought them fucking Azor!"
"See, my brother isn't at fault for any of this! Azor makes people go nuts!"- Irma insisted frantically. "T-this murder is not on him!"
Yet it happened, Taranee thought sadly, closing her eyes.
Will just looked at them, unable to muster anything. Yes, it was good to know that Chris hadn't done so much evil willingly, but still the consequences...
They all remained quiet for a few seconds, even the infected Chris. And then came the rain, finally, but it was not angry and out of control, because Irma wasn't that anymore.
It was mellow, sad, and...warm. Confused, as if it was a summer rain. Reflecting on her emotions of sadness, confusion, and helplessness for the situation. The situation with her brother Chris was terrible. Because this wasn't him. He hadn't acted of his own free will, but what was she to tell people? Her family?
They couldn't explain that an evil ancient demon rose had possessed him to do what was done.
What was done was terrible and irreversible.
"We can still get rid of the body,"- Martin began carefully. "We can-"
"That's not an option, genius, we're guardians, not hitwomen!"- Cornelia snapped at him through sobs.
"Why? The case is magical,"- Martin insisted.
"But the victim isn't, we can't just do that,"- Will remarked sharply.
"You're not really going to let Chris suffer the consequences of Azor's actions, are you?"
"Of course, not, Martin, but-"
"But what? Come on now, you're pardoning far worse people and this is not even true for him, he's done nothing wrong, he was urged to do it by something more powerful than you alone!"
Martin was ardent but even Irma had to sigh and just hug him for support:
"Babe, that's all true but we can't just pretend it didn't happen to this man. He died uncalled for, we don't do things like that..."
"It would be disrespectful and wrong to his memory and close ones too,"- Taranee pointed out. She had long sucked out most of the warmth from Chris's body getting his vitals, especially those of the plant infector in him numb and lethargic so that he couldn't cause more scenes and attract someone.
"Exactly, we don't even let injustice like that happen usually, especially to non-magical people..."
"You let it happen. With Officer Alexis,"- Martin remarked and they and all just stared at him as if he had just claimed Earth to be flat.
OK, maybe Cornelia had set them up to fail with that one. They tried but truth be told sometimes non-magical people took the rap.
Officer Jessie Alexis, the corrupt cop brother of Serena Sanchez had pursued revenge over the Vandoms and had even gone as far as to cause Will's miscarriage last year.
But that was all past now. He had been a terrible person who had died while trying to run away from them...
"Listen, Martin, if you're going to be playing this game of pointing the finger and stirring the pot, better yet just leave."- Caleb interfered sternly, taking a step towards the shorter man. He didn't especially like him ever since the Eye. "Of course, they won't let Chris take the blame. You're not the only one seen him grow up, thinking of his best. But they can't scrap this dead man's existence either, they have some morals and principles that be as they may compromise according to a certain situation, are there. For you, I'm not as sure,"- he added coldly.
"Let's just calm down, people,"- Matt appealed. He had just gone to lock the back doors of the club with his master key to avoid any unwanted spectators. "Azor's root infected Chris and pushed him towards this, but-"
"I'll take the blame,"- Martin said stubbornly, all of a sudden, shocking everyone, Caleb included.
"What?!"
"Martin, what are you, nuts?"- Irma turned to him and slapped his chest; "Forget about it, there has to be another way, you're not becoming the slasher of Heatherfield for our sake-"
"I want to, Irma, there's no other way for your morals and principles to not be compromised in this situation."- the spectacled man assured her, putting his hand on her forearm. "I love you and I'll do it,"
"Martin, this is not a solution, you might get 20 years or life without parole for this crime you have nothing to do with,"- Taranee insisted. "Besides, framing you is not going to be easy, this is-"
"This is an idea,"- a new female voice interfered.
To the group's terror, someone had stumbled upon their crime scene. A beautiful middle-aged woman in an expensive white pantsuit, with long almond-red hair in exquisite spiral curls.
"Shi-"
"Relax, I was sent by Kandrakar,"- the woman stopped them before their panic could take sway, holding out her wallet, and showing them the coat of arms on it. It was Xin Jing's figure holding the Heart of Infinity...
And it made sense. How this woman had just appeared like that in the dark, not too-clean alley near the dumpsters, in this pristine look.
There was something very chic and urban to her but also aristocratic. She wasn't your typical elder for sure.
"My brother, he was infected by one of Azor's roots through the stupid painting, you have to help him somehow, please!"- Irma rushed towards the woman.
"I know everything,"- the woman stopped her and extended her hand for a shake: "My name's Charity. And I know all about you, guardians, and the current situation. I was sent here by the Mistress of Ceremonies, Halinor, who wishes she could've come herself, yet is obstructed by the case of the guardians who came from the past. You know about them, however. The Oracle sensed that our interference might be needed which is why I'm here,"
Cornelia and Will exchanged glances. This was definitely new. Never before had Kandrakar sent them envoys like that to try to help them, usually they had to beg and demand help at the Fortress while being shamed and looked down upon by the previous Council.
"Charity, listen, my boyfriend said what he said, but I don't consent to him being framed for this,"- Irma said seriously. "I want my brother to keep his freedom and be freed of this...this shitass root! But I don't want that to be at my boyfriend's expense."
Charity held her gaze firmly without saying anything until she smiled:
"Don't worry about it. Go, all of you. And leave this to me,"
The group hesitated:
"But-"
"There's a busy night inside,"- Matt tried to tell her, pointing at the club.
"Oh, I know,"- Charity nodded. "That's what I count on. But now go. Leave this place without Christopher. I promise by morning, the issue will be properly resolved,"
Will took a step forward:
"We're not going anywhere before you tell us how exactly that will happen,"
The redhead was firm. Charity looked down at her almost in disbelief:
"If trust is not in the picture, I'm afraid that my help here will not be effectively received. I'm sent by Kandrakar to help you resolve your issue but if you wish to deal with it on your own, be my guest,"
The group exchanged glances again. They had no better choice right now. And even if Will didn't exactly have complete trust in the current picture, she knew she had to reconcile.
"Your mother requested to have breakfast with us and your family. I said yes,"- Phobos announced unceremoniously and threw the dress at her.
Will blinked in perplexity. She was still in bed, thankfully in brand-new froggy PJs, but Phobos didn't seem to notice or care. Not about her privacy, not about her schedule.
"What?"- Will shouted after him, but he just left the room.
He was already dressed - in a pair of semi-formal dark pants and a cobalt-colored shirt. (They had gone shopping together a few times, he liked the activity). The prince knew what looked good and what looked even better on him.
But that didn't mean he had the right to do things like this. When had Susan even called? It was still 9:30 AM.
"Must I always repeat myself?"- Phobos sighed in the living room, not turning back when she followed him. "Your mother-"
"No, I heard you the first time, what I meant was what gave you the idea to agree to my mother's request without asking me about it first,"
Will was getting angry. She knew Phobos was acting up ever since they were on hiatus, ever since the future was once again uncertain and he was mad at her about it. But enough was enough; she wasn't going to put up with this attitude.
The prince turned around and smiled at her with a devious flame in his eye:
"I sense your patience's wearing thin? Maybe soon enough you are going to gather the strength and courage to end this farce once and for all,"
Will felt her stomach turn but didn't reply. She didn't know what to say to that because it was spot-on. Now she realized why he was doing it. He wanted her to break these new stalemate conditions she had created, that were unfavorable to all three of them.
He wanted her to make her choice. Duh.
"I'm going to get ready,"- the redhead changed the topic. "Where's this noble breakfast supposed to take place?"
Phobos just smirked:
"The Grotto,"
Will furrowed her brows. The Grotto was a new café bar by the dockside where people smoke hookahs and had cocktails and maybe some brunch, but a place for breakfast? Chosen by Susan?
"Did my mother pick that out, or-"
"No,"- Phobos made a meaningful pause. "Your brother."
All her already southing mood went completely sour. Her brother. That little shit had no prudence whatsoever.
"I swear I'll demand the harshest sentencing for that little felon,"- Will growled and slammed the door after herself.
She needed to take a shower and get ready. After her busy day and work night yesterday and the horrific freak accident that had finished it, she looked like crap.
The redhead growled again and tugged at her skin. In the mirror, she looked tired, yellow, and dull. Like a run-over raccoon with a red toupee. The guardian frowned at herself and proceeded to undress and get into the shower.
Fifteen minutes later, she was putting her makeup on when she heard the commotion and familiar voices. Cornelia was definitely in the apartment:
"Out of my way, you leper troll! And don't think that just because you've dressed up and put on an act, Susan will support your relationship with her daughter. She has an eye and nose for trash men,"
"Oh, don't be so certain about it, haughty guardian,"- Phobos didn't remain obligated. "You know not what my charm is capable of yet and quite frankly it's none of your concern,"
Will made a face. Her friend and Phobos had already been able to get into a fight and it was still morning. Great. Irma just stood there, next to Cornelia looking too overstrung for herself.
"I wouldn't be so smug if I were you. Your trial is yet to come,"- the blonde woman told the blond man, glowering at him like he was something ugly stuck to her tire.
"As is that of your sister, no?"
"Just because Will lets you storm Heatherfield now, unguarded, means nothing! You'll be where you really belong soon!"
Phobos just scoffed:
"I surely hope so,"
"Phobos, if you don't shut up, I'm gonna punch you in the face!"- Irma finally interfered and Will took that as her cue to join them as well. Secretly, she had wanted to watch them interact for a while. From the side.
"Morning, girls, sorry, I was getting ready,"- Will interjected and Phobos finally moved aside, exposing the two women to her sight. "My mom...never mind, is there any news on how Charity- "
"Yes,"- Irma snapped before Cornelia could. "She framed another person who was at the club last night. About everything. She made him to be the slasher,"
"Don't you read the news?"- Cornelia added. "It's everywhere, all portals are reporting on some Rufus Matthews, a 30-year-old video game manufacturer; apparently, he made full confessions,"
Will had the urge to gawk and then groan:
"Fuck, I knew it! I knew that she'll do something sketchy to "resolve the issue". Trust in the picture my ass,"
"Yeah, and they took Chris, they only told us after we tried contacting them,"- Cornelia added, crossing her arms on her chest. "Obviously they had to, to remove the root from him. Kandrakar's decided to also alter his memories in order for him to "live a normal guilt-free life over what he didn't do of his free will". That's not the issue, they are trying to shut us out. Come on, bffr, how busy can they really be with those two guardians from Melinda's time?"
"Which is why we want to go talk to the Council today. When you're done with Susan, of course,"- Irma added and sighed. A part of her knew that Kandrakar had done the most they could in this situation, but this man, who had confessed? The man that had just died in front of them too? It couldn't leave her without a terribly unpleasant feeling in her chest.
A feeling that would linger for a while.
Will nodded. Honestly, their actions were pretty adequate apart from framing a random guy for it.
"OK, guys. We'll go together. I'll call you,"
Breakfast with Susan, Dean, and William wasn't too bad. They kept it casual for the most part, even if Will could see the look of conflict in her mother's eyes. She appeared to be in conflict with herself. A part of her wanted to doubt Will's actions but a part of her knew that was wrong and hence she was just that. Casual.
Phobos was the one who really gave his all to enrapture the pair. He acted to effortlessly swish, Will felt like she was in some twisted romcom, where the man was cunningly trying to win over his future bride's family.
She quickly brushed that thought away and sought clarity in Dean's eyes.
Her stepfather smiled at her encouragingly. Sure, he knew Matt too and liked him but he wouldn't try to tell his daughter who to be with. Not at this point at least, when he still didn't know enough about 'Philip'.
Philip who acted as if they were a couple, despite Will trying to explain that she was currently rather single, torn between which one of her "exes" she should choose for the long run.
It was actually amazing how her thinking had changed in just a year. Never before had she expected to be in this set of conditions, in this situation with these people.
"Maybe living together isn't really telling Matt that you haven't made up your mind, Will?"- Susan suggested at one point. "Not to be rude, Philip, but I think you understand what I mean,"
Will opened her mouth but before she could make up a lie suitable enough for the situation and for in front of her mother, Philip had already answered meaningfully:
"Precisely, Susan, and I hope that it discourages him. Though I know him well enough to be realistic about it, knowing that it won't. Matthew won't just leave your daughter's side,"
Will glared at him. He was crossing the line again, but Dean was more intrigued by something else:
"You say you know Matt well enough? From where?"
Phobos wiped the corners of his mouth with his napkin and almost pursed his lips:
"We've...worked together,"
"Have you worked as a musician or producer as well?"
"More like a magician,"- William suddenly blurted winning himself stares and glares.
Will, who was trying her best to ignore him so far, got the urge to slam his head in his eggs Benedict:
"I mean entertainer, so Will's told me over the summer,"- the teen quickly specified. "That's how he and Matt know each other, from the business..."
But Phobos's poisonous glare made the boy quickly drop the topic and busy himself with his food again. The prince had a special piece of hatred for him for everything he had done but especially for fooling him, having a part in his use for a puppet, and, last but not least, hurting Will like he had...
Susan then changed the topic to weddings and her dreams for her daughter which Phobos took as a golden ticket. He basically said he was ready to marry her, much to Will's pure shock and anger.
This breakfast was just that, a compilation of shockers meant to taste her lying and acting skills and her patience while greatly upsetting her.
In the next fifteen minutes, Phobos's stories got so enticingly vivid, even William was almost ready to buy them for completely true. He had to give it to the villain, he knew how to charm people.
William looked over at his mother and father, especially his mother, who looked almost stunned.
Phobos asked for their blessing. Assured them he'll respect whatever Will chooses, but insisted to tell his own first. He wanted to marry her and make her his wife, to start a new life with her, because he loved her. Truly. Despite their short acquaintance, he racilly suggested they've seen each other before and sparks have flown.
He assured Susan and Dean his intentions were pure and coming from his heart, and that he didn't wish to badmouth Matt, but a wedding, or at least an engagement in all their years as a couple, might've been a solid idea, no?
After all, even her friend Cornelia and her longtime boyfriend, who had a child together, at least had their longtime engagement. Taranee was already a married woman expecting too.
Phobos voiced his opinion of how Will's also deserving of that.
Will couldn't take it anymore, she excused herself and fled into the bathroom, where she stared at her reflection and tried to collect herself before coming apart.
He was purposely pushing her buttons to force her to make up her mind but did he realize what he was doing to her in the process?
Man, it would've been so much easier if I didn't care about you, bastard, Will thought angrily, trying not to cry. The last thing she wanted was for her family to see her like that and come at her with more questions.
After all, she was already sure they'd be a ton of them after today. Phobos was slowly learning his way under her mother's skin, and Will knew it was about time for her to act up as well.
And why was her devil brother here too? The redhead felt like raging. She was just about to storm out of the restroom and make up some excuse as to leave this breakfast from hell earlier when her mother entered:
Ah, great, Will thought and forced a smile. Here we go now...
Susan looked into her with her big concern-filled eyes:
"Mom? What are you doing, I was just coming back to you guys- "
"Will, I'm going to be honest with you but I want the same from you. I want honesty,"- Susan directly said, making her daughter's insides swirl.
"I lied that I'll just powder my face but I wanted to ask you, is something the matter? Is there something you're omitting, Will? I've been watching you,"- Susan took her hands in her own. "Will, Philip is not a bad guy at first sight. He says all these wonderful things but I see you and I don't see you sharing his elation, sweetie, I don't see you speak for yourself enough. All I see is him speaking for the both of you. Why?"- her mother asked relevant questions. She looked worried and conflicted, and Will knew she was right. She was so right, but she couldn't admit it...
"Will, please tell me. Is there any part of your relationship with that man that makes you feel obligated to oblige him? Do you want what he wants, Will?"
So much, Will thought. There's so much obliging me. Tearing me apart. You couldn't possibly ever know, mom... It's not simple at all... And I know he's doing this to provoke me.
"Will!"
Her mother's yell almost made her flinch:
"N-no, mom, I told you already, I'm not sure what to do. I still care for Matt and I love him but I'm not sure...we had this rocky period, you know, and..."- Will mumbled word after word. Words compiled from the conversations they had already had. She didn't know what to say to her mother. Damn, she didn't even know how to answer her mother's questions honestly for herself to hear.
Phobos looked towards the restrooms, annoyed. They were taking too long. Maybe they were talking a lot in private. That was unfortunate; he had just been closer to the part in his agenda where he drops the bomb about Matt's infidelity with the young Hale girl, that crazed Heart.
But now he had no audience for it.
The teacher was politely looking at him, but he could feel his reservedness.
The boy? The twisted boy knew everything except how the prince would punish him too; just like he would punish Lillian on his own, for their teamwork that had blown his life to pieces.
Susan was the one Phobos could feel opening up to new possibilities. Her shell was breaking. She, who wanted the best for her daughter could be on his side if he played his cards right, but in order for that to happen...
"Ça fait longtemps, dis donc*, if it isn't my dear nephew," (*(long time no see) french)
That voice...Phobos's stomach felt on fire and ice all at once. He knew this was doomed even before he looked up and saw her, by the teacher's side... She had appeared out of nowhere with the veteran rebel after her, though the prince already knew.
The Earth guardian had sent her for she had heard they'd be here...
Hell's bells, Phobos thought as he watched his nemesis exchange warm greetings with Dean, who, of course, invited them to their table.
"To hell with you,"- Phobos murmured to himself, glowering at the pair.
Nerissa swiftly took her place around the table while her husband went to fetch an extra chair and an extra table.
Her extra-long straightened black hair fell freely down the long-sleeved red sequined top with a deep V-shaped neckline, exposing her big chest.
It had been a while since he had seen the sorceress and he knew that her appearance here today was meant to halt all his progress:
"How have you been?"- Dean wanted to know.
"You know how it is, always better with time. Thankfully, some problems got resolved. How are things at your home?"
He and Julian made some small talk while Nerissa shifted her attention toward Phobos. Her eyes shone like two green stars, alarming and intimidating him, even though he'd never admit it out loud. Nerissa shot through him with those dangerous eyes of hers, already shaking her head in a smug and determined fashion.
An insane fashion with so much over-confidence and self-righteousness that was to be expected from her and only her.
Phobos looked away. He missed the summer, when they had been together, Wilhelmina and him, on Meridian doing so much away from everyone, and especially the hag in maiden skin...
"Nerissa?"
Susan and Will were back.
"What a lovely surprise, "- Susan exclaimed, smoothening her asymmetrical white skirt with big embroidered black flowers and leaves on it. "How did you choose this place? It is because it's new? I honestly wasn't too sure about it but our son really sold it to us,"
The conversation run naturally and for one, Will was thankful for Nerissa's interference. Her gripping charisma deflected Phobos's act from before she came so much, even Susan looked like she had stopped thinking about it as intensely.
Among her stories about her busy work schedule with the Cobalt Blue label and celeb liabilities and experiences, she even managed to insert in a few words about Philip. Undermining him, no surprise there.
Phobos gritted his teeth at her concocted story but said nothing:
"When his mother died, she left him with so much yet he chose to have his sister look after their lands. He took on many undertakings at heart, which I'm sure he hasn't even bragged about. It was a surprise to me when he and Will connected and I wasn't sure what to make of their relationship..."
"Why?"- Susan immediately asked; she got over the fact that Philip's sister was in fact Elyon, who had been adopted by the Browns due to a family crisis, quicker than expected. After all, she didn't know Elyon and her family at all when they moved to Heatherfield and didn't have much time to get close to them before the Brown's departure.
Nerissa pretended to be cautiously pensive:
"He has other responsibilities; he might need to leave Heatherfield soon and tend to his extended family's needs and affairs...I'm thrilled about him and Will exploring each other, though I'm not so certain about long-distance relationships,"
Phobos was shaking from within. He should've killed the hag while he still could, though, coming to think of it, he never really had an open and felicitous opportunity to do it. Phobos openly glared at the older pair; Julian and Nerissa. They had greatly helped destroy his kingdom once. Now they were at it again.
Will, though she was still flustered, felt like she could breathe a little easier now, not having to be on pins and needles for what the prince would say and how her family would perceive it. In Nerissa's presence, he was powerless. She had enough trust in the ex-guardian by now to trust her in this.
Had someone told her about this breakfast scenario she was currently living through, a couple of years ago, the redhead would've never believed them.
About forty minutes later, everyone was ready to say their goodbyes and leave, each to go on with their day.
"Thanks,"- Will said in the parking lot, once her parents left. Nerissa and Julian had somehow managed to park next to her, so they were with them.
Phobos was already sulking in the passenger seat, greatly irked and dissatisfied over a wasted opportunity to make the redhead crack.
Julian also got in their car. Nerissa turned to Will:
"I'm guessing Cornelia's told you about this breakfast and I really didn't handle it well, because-"
"You don't have to explain yourself to me,"- Nerissa interrupted her and Will stopped.
She looked at the taller woman.
"Wow,"- she laughed nervously. "I've always felt like that's exactly what you'd want-"
Nerissa smirked softly but became serious again:
"You don't have to handle this anymore either. Handle him for that matter,"- she nodded toward the car with Phobos in it. "We talked about this but he is getting out of hand and you know it. He's showing his true nature. At this point whatever attraction there was can be overpowered."- her eyes shone like two emeralds as she added: "After all, your attraction towards Matt hasn't vanished either, not even on a physical level. You dreamt of him!"
Will gaped. She couldn't believe Cornelia had told Nerissa about that too and she dreaded knowing what details she had incorporated...
"I-"
"Will?"
Her brother was calling for her, a few feet away. Now what?! Hadn't he left with his parents? Will frowned and decided she'd ignore him, but William kept waving at her, bothering and distracting her. She didn't know what to say to Nerissa anymore anyway, and she was very reluctant to discuss her wet dreams, so eventually she excused herself for a moment. She was just going to see what he wants and then she'd be back.
Nerissa agreed and used the opportunity to abruptly open Phobos's door:
"Look at you. Pathetic,"- she taunted when he refused to even look at her. "It's almost as if you were diminished to some low-class jokester whose cheap attempts are once again a failure. Then again, deep down, you know that's what you've always been. A joke. You know, observing you over the last year per se, I almost believed. I almost believe you're capable of change on some level, because I saw it. With your daughter, with Leonida, there was care there, something that someone like me knows cannot be feigned. Which is why a part of me was willing to believe you have care and affection for Will now too, after everything that you went through together. It sounds so touching and romantic, doesn't it?"
Nerissa stopped the observe the effects of her words on the still unbudging prince. She could see, even if he was almost perfectly hiding it; she could see him tense up in protest. In fear. In aversion and conflict...
The sorceress smiled and pushed a strand away from her face:
"It would've been a poetic sad, lovely story of a forbidden romance between enemies who are not supposed to feel like that for each other and will not eventually be together, but the tragic aspect of it would've been truly something to inspire...wistfulness. Respect. Feelings of that nature, feelings that no one will feel soon, not even Will, because you've displayed what you truly want and think. You're unable to make her forget her love for Matt and that fills you with hate and rage, doesn't it, your Highness?"- Nerissa went on venomously, in her narrating, gloating voice that maddened him. "Helpless, you turned to your malicious nature that you tried to subdue...but you can't. Not with your upcoming trial you can't. And what did you do when nothing else worked? You tried to embarrass and put her at crossroads with her mother and family, to go your way, as one last desperate attempt to cling to the power and privilege that dating the Head Guardian of Kandrakar would represent for you at your trial!"- Nerissa spat. "You need her for what she has! The Heart. Not her heart!"
"If you believe that, then you must really be sicker but also blinder than ever before,"- Phobos finally turned to her at that provocation, his voice soaked in contempt and firmness. "That may be what she is for you, not me-"
"Oh, please, you're weak without her status and you know it, and that's why you need her power, it's what you've always done!"- Nerissa laughed sarcastically, looking at him with hatred.
Phobos looked up, matching the hatred just fine, and fired back:
"You keep describing yourself, you go after power when you feel too weak, isn't that exactly what you did repeatedly over the last two years when you feared me? Today or ten years ago, this hasn't changed, your methods are all the same, Nerissa, you'll go after any power source there is, I only did that after I failed at getting back what was rightfully mine because of Kandrakar and you all, and Wilhelmina? She is not a power source to me-"
"Hypocrite,"- Nerissa interrupted him. What was his, rightfully? "All you've ever done is steal, none of this was ever rightfully yours, including, Wilhelmina! And hurt her because of your wounded ego, you won't-"
"I'd never hurt her, not after I've opened up to her and she has cared about me, I've never double-crossed those who've truly done that for me, for they're far too few,"- Phobos hissed, almost indignant that she was even suggesting it.
Their heated scandal between them was escalating as Nerissa grabbed his jaw roughly. He could've tried to push her back wasn't her grip as enforced by magic...
"Yes, you will keep that word. And you will not hurt her by making her look like a nimrod in front of her family also, not with me around,'"- she shook her head authoritatively. Despotically. Like the bitch, wannabe world leader she was. Phobos clenched his jaw and looked into her dilatating with magic eyes as she spat: "Or have you forgotten that I'm in charge? Here, on Meridian, everywhere you turn, I will be there to remind you,"
Phobos kept his teeth bared but said nothing more. What could he say? How could he fight off the Mage, high on magical power, while his was locked away?
A sudden shout from behind them broke off their quarrel.
Julian was the first to take notice of it; by the time Nerissa and Phobos turned around it was already happening. And that too near to too many people passing by the urbanized docks...
"Let go of her!"- William yelled pushing one of the men away.
The three men dressed in dark blood-red robes that had appeared as if out of nowhere and were now pulling an unconscious Will away.
The one that William pushed over quickly got back up and grabbed the raging boy by the collar.
"Stop, you fools,"- Nerissa demanded and held her open palm with the Mage ring and the Seal in its ring form up, making sure they know what that means.
Because these men were magical, she could instantly tell, not only due to their looks but because of the sudden magical tension all around them. And even with that, they didn't seem impressed or in awe.
"What do you think you're doing on my domain?"- Nerissa snarled when one of the three wizards threw a spell above her head.
Phobos immediately jumped out of the car and dashed forward, not thinking about himself.
All he wanted was to get Wilhelmina away from them.
He dodged their dark spells and pounced on them. He managed to push two of them down, pinning them to the ground as William kicked the other one in the face and knelt down to his fallen sister.
Nerissa looked behind herself to make sure that the glamour curtain she had just cast would keep civilian eyes away from them in case more serious magic was to be displayed.
Julian walked next to her with two swords he conveniently kept in their car; just some of the weaponry...
"Nerissa, they are trying to get Will,"- Julian pointed out and only his reflecting sword and fast reflexes saved his wife from the blast that was sent her way. "We have to give Phobos a chance to fend them off and defend himself before he dies!"
The battle was intensifying fast as the wizards regrouped, two of them kept holding Will's unconscious body by the arms, and the third battling William and Phobos's attacks and attempts to get to her. They were too skilled to be taken down without magic as it seemed.
Nerissa nodded reluctantly. She could see the water in the distance moving unnaturally. Where the first spell had been fired. That needed her full attention before some of the civilian pedestrians...
"No!"- she could only gasp before materializing her Seal in scepter form and flying into the air, just in time; she managed to push the long sea-monster head back into the water and extend the glamour curtain before it could strike the pizza place above...
Meanwhile, Julian had given Phobos one of the swords and, together, they managed to repel the magic attacks thrown at them while cornering one of the wizards and kicking him unconscious to the curb while William acted as a human stumbling block, knocking the man on the left off his feet.
Finally able to pull the redhead away from them, Phobos quickly took a defensive position, leaving Julian and the kid in the front.
Nerissa clenched her teeth from her standpoint, as she kept battling the heads of the monster that the wizards had conjured up. They were long, almost entirely made out of energy, and they attacked one after the other. When she blasted at one with her Seal, sending it dazed and defeated into the water, another head came up.
Who were these wizards and why was their magic so sustainable, even to her quintessence?
This wasn't going to work. And despite her glamour curtain that stopped people's eyes from seeing what was really happening, time was pressing her.
"Unhand the witch,"- one of the wizards ordered. They all faced the other three men, who now had Will on their part of the board, like chess figures... "She comes with us,"
"Not even in your dreams,"- Phobos hissed, tightening his arms around the redhead protectively.
"Who are you? Why do you want her?"- Julian demanded.
The cloaked wizards' faces were somewhat visible under their hoods as they all looked at the veteran rebel and replied in unison:
"Her core. The Nymph,"
"Oh, of course, you do,"- William murmured ironically and then threw a look over his shoulder.
Nerissa was busy trying to slay the raging sea monster that had by now turned into a hydra. And her attempts to drive it away from the docks were almost unsuccessful; she kept scattering its heads, creating impromptu rain over the unsuspecting civilians' heads.
She span her Seal swiftly but all her spells met resistance.
"Darn this!"- Nerissa yelled from above the ocean...
William realized they had to do this on their own. They had to somehow repel the wizards...
"My magic, I need my magic,"- Phobos turned to Julian and then nodded at all his magic-blocking cuff, designed especially for his needs. "If that sword is enchanted to cut through magic, it should be capable of taking the cuff off, then I can help save Wilhelmina, this is our sole chance!"
"It is not,"- Julian retorted firmly, meeting the other man's glare. "...enchanted to do that, besides you're not to be trusted-"
"It's not the time to lie or mistrust, we have to stop them,"- Phobos insisted. "If they can keep your omnipotent wife occupied like so, do you really believe that they can be stopped otherwise by you? They want Wilhelmina, and I'm not letting her be taken!"
Julian seemed to hesitate but seeing the wizards join hands, starting some sort of convert rite, he realized time was running short.
"William, take your sister to the car now!"- the bearded man commanded, throwing the keys at the boy. "We are not going to let them take her!"
William nodded frantically, but before he could start properly pulling his sister's body towards the car, a red energy tentacle emerged from the wizard's side, slamming him against the front of the vehicle. Leaving Will behind and close to them. Too close.
Julian was starting to seriously doubt their chances and would've actually fulfilled Phobos's request to have his cuff taken off, had another presence not interfered, sending the three wizards flying back, into something green that looked like a mixture between a space fold and a portal.
Matt Olsen's firmness was immaculate, even with his Shagon mask on that hid his face. Phobos's eyes twitched but he didn't say anything. He was relieved that Wilhelmina would be safe, regardless of the way her safety was being secured.
The three wizards and their energy hydra were yeeted away into the green energy space slit in a matter of minutes with Matt's power. After all, he was a Knight of the Heart of Earth...
"Matt,"- Julian exclaimed in relief as the other man quickly picked Will up once the danger had passed. "Thank God."
"Are they eliminated?"- Phobos wanted to know, eyeing the other man holding the redhead's body... "Those wizards, for good, I mean-"
"No. It's the new power boost Kandrakar gave me and the boys after Lillian relinquished her powers,"- Matt explained, more to Julian and Nerissa, who teletransported next to him, than to Phobos. "To maintain the realm... I sensed the major glamouring curtain and I could banish them from Earth, but that's not permanent. Who were they again and what did they want?"
"Will..."- William murmured from behind.
"Huh? But why-"
"That's what we ought to find out."- Nerissa, who was still flummoxed but also irritated by the events, added, before opening a portal straight to Kandrakar.
Will rubbed her sore head as she waited for Halinor and her elders together with her friends, all of whom had arrived on short notice.
Almost an entire hour had passed and they were still in the Orchid Room on Kandrakar, in the wait.
Needless to say, everyone was getting more than annoyed with this.
"OK, what the hell? How are they so busy, no one is even coming here to update us on Chris? On what that Charity hoe did to 'help' him?"- Irma raved, walking around in circles. "Not to mention Will was attacked in Heatherfied, in broad daylight! I didn't think that would happen again any time soon with the Eye of God being pared off and Violet and Lillian out of the picture!"
"Irma-"- Taranee called meaningfully.
"I'm so fucking annoyed, Taranee, I'm scared too. My little brother-"
"Is being treated the best he can."- a familiar voice of an elderly Chinese lady said. "There's no need to be scared, Irma"
Everyone's attention was drawn by Charity, Halinor, and Yan Lin who finally appeared in the Orchid Room all dressed in white.
Hay Lin immediately went to her grandmother's side, giving her a hug.
"Oh, that's right, because Charity justified the trust she sought?"- Irma shot sarcastically, feeling her boiling anger all the way up her lungs.
"Pardon me?"- Charity looked sincerely muddled by that statement.
"You framed some random guy for that man's death!"- Irma snapped, irritated and upset she had to relieve it and talk about it all again. "You know, the man my brother killed because of Azor?"
Charity shook her head:
"And what of it? What else did you have in mind?"
"What of it?!"- Irma couldn't believe her ears.
"I'm sorry but what she and all of us had in mind was definitely not sacrificing more innocence,"- Taranee rushed to her friend's aid.
"Innocence? And how did you make up that the two were innocent?"
Everyone stared at the elder.
Charity threw her hair back ever so slightly before explaining:
"Usually, I don't have to get into details like this but I suppose this means that you guardians evidently are serious about what you do... Or have severe trust issues at the very least."- she added with pursed lips, winning herself more glares.
"The man who Azor killed was abusing his wife and two kids physically and emotionally and sent the three of them to the ICU. A few times over the last year. And the man I "framed'?"- Charity stopped to reflect on the effect her revelations had. The five young women look floored and rightfully so. "He was a registered sex offender whose latest victim committed suicide the same night he was pardoned for nearly mutilating her in the process of his crime, a few states away from your home. So, guardians. How is that for innocence? Isn't it amazing what not knowing about people can do for your opinion of them and those in the know, and how fates are always entangled? No innocence was at harm last night. No one but your brother, who Kandrakar will take care of, Irma. Unless you feel distrustful of that too?"
Irma looked down in a mixture of shame and anger. She wasn't happy being berated like that but that didn't matter. At least knowing all that now she'd be able to sleep at night.
The auburn-haired elder looked like she was about to say something else too but Halinor made her a sign to stop.
"You had the right to seek clarification, girls,"- she simply told them much to Charity's distaste. "Worry not. But right now we have a huge load of work here and if there's something else that we can be useful with, now's the time-"- her eyes stopped on Phobos who stood stoically by Will's side.
"Yes,"- Nerissa interjected before anyone else could. She gave Matt an encouraging nod and he just showed them with his powers.
The image of the three wizards that he had been able to visually memorize with his magic when sending them off Earth.
"Will was attacked by them. They are strong and unfamiliar, and their magic had no problem going through the veil."
"They said they wanted my core. The Nymph,"- Will added.
She was still dizzy; hence she was still sitting.
Halinor just stared into the image of the wizards, visibly distressed and confused.
"I don't understand how...magic isn't as concentrated on Earth right now..."
"Maybe another one of Azor's roots?"- Taranee offered an explanation but Charity was quick to turn it down:
"Impossible. We have the last of them under supervision until they wither completely, and none is connected to a group of unknown occultists..."
"Maybe Lillian's Knights weren't the only magic users who got a power boost when she abdicated her position and her power was forcefully put on pause,"- Yan Lin said.
"There's logic in that,"- Phobos butted in, getting everyone's attention (mainly negative such). "The Heart's magic is a part of the ecosystem, and all colossal impact and changes on it are bound to create permutations affecting different the flora, fauna, and beings differently, even those who aren't direct users with magical properties."
"Usually it's a temporary phenomenon,"- Yan Lin agreed and then nodded at the image of the wizards. "Somehow those fellas are using the moment to make the most if it,"
"If they attacked Will like that once, they'll probably strike again, we can't wait for those magical permutations to cease,"- Cornelia pointed out. "We have to be ready to get them,"
"Charity, please take care of this matter and help the guardians study this enemy and all ways to stop them,"- Halinor said hastily in the end. It was visible she was under a lot of pressure; her nerves were strained.
Will opened her mouth but decided that declaring she doesn't want Charity's help of all people, would just worsen the situation and make her sound like a stupid brat.
Charity nodded and pulled out an Iphone she used to take a picture of Will's attackers.
- Wow, Irma said sarcastically in telepathy, so that only her friends heard it. Productive and modern.
With that, Halinor was more than ready to send everyone away. Whatever was happening on Kandrakar right now, it was draining her of everything, even her heightened sense of courtesy.
And as everyone left through the authorized portal, Nerissa didn't. She stopped her friends before they could leave the Orchid room:
"Wait, Halinor, I wanted to talk to you. What's the matter? You don't appear like yourself, what is happening?"
Halinor sighed. She never could evade her once leader's intuition.
"We have an emergent situation at our hands, Rissy,"- the blonde confessed and turned to her friend. "The guardians from the 1600s...created it. Now my entire order is being scrutinized. Doubted. They want to have a say in the upcoming trials, they...they don't think that Kandrakar's effective like it used to be."
"Who has the authority to interfere in all that?"- Nerissa was totally dumbfounded.
Her friends were at the helm of Kandrakar. Kandrakar. Nothing was bigger than Kandrakar across the known worlds, now, was it?
"The Twin Conclave, Nerissa,"- Yan Lin answered.
"A smaller council but don't be fooled - powerful as Kandrakar's, merely on a different plain. The Conclave operates solely with the function of preventing catastrophes that warp the Grand Design. Like eradication of entire worlds, Avatars, time crisis..."
"She knows what they do, Charity,"- Yan Lin interrupted the other elder's introductive speech. "We've studied them as guardians. Many years ago..."- she met Nerissa's flustered green orbs and went on: "The reason she's so surprised is that we were told that no matter what, The Twin Conclave never interferes with Kandrakar. Never... Our old Oracle, Himerish..."
"Well, Himerish is not around anymore and they've decided otherwise,"- Halinor whispered and closed her eyes. Out of all the adversities and possible hardships, she had been terrified of when starting the Council of Kandrakar from scratch...
She hadn't even thought of something as bad as The Twin Conclave challenging their morals and ways but here they were.
"They want to take advantage of you, they think that you're weaker than Himerish,"- Nerissa shook her head ardently, anger and fear written on her face. "Those corrupted bastards have wanted to pervade Kandrakar for hundreds of years! Do you remember what Himerish said to us..."
"The Fortress of Infinity must never be tampered with, especially not by other parties with power, with other morals, with other values that don't match ours."- Himerish had told them once, when they had been 14. "Many wish to tamper with the balance between all worlds entrusted to us. The Elements and the Heart of Infinity...They desperately want to have them, to use them to paint their own bigger picture. Many people with nefarious intentions want to get their hands on all of this, guardians. Many people who, unfortunately, are vigorously on the side of good. And there is no greater evil than that, strong enough to one day challenge Kandrakar in such a way..."
Halinor sobbed.
"Yes, I realize there's that grave possibility...which is why we have to resist with all our dignity intact and show them that no matter what, we will not allow their ways in this Fortress. In the end, the two councils must not merge...I'm fretful, Rissy. How are we going to resist and fight all these battles on so many fronts."- the blonde whispered, tears forming in her eyes. "We're all so very agitated,"
Nerissa's face was twisted in emotion. It was unfair. Unfair for her friend to have to go through this because of the stupid guardians from the past...
Because of the new Oracle.
"Where is he?"- the ex-guardian suddenly shot, anger for the injustice that her friends were going through clouding even her eyes.
The three women looked at her puzzled by her sudden sharpness:
"Who?"
"The New Oracle, of course,"- Nerissa remarked, materializing her Seal in all its glory. "Even if what he did was needed to remedy a certain... situation with Violet and the Heart of Earth, none of this would be happening if he had stopped the crisis before the time loop was needed. All this sprouts from that time loop, all of it. And he was supposed to be our new obedient seer, wasn't he? He failed you and Kandrakar before his first mandate anniversary!"
"Nerissa,"- Yan Lin called warningly, not liking that tone and the look in her friend's eyes. "Don't do nonsense, will ya, you're coming from a place of emotion, this isn't going to change anything!"
"Nerissa!"
"He's not-"
They yelled after her, but Nerissa didn't listen to anyone, she barged into the inside of the Fortress she knew so very well, headed for the Hall of the Congregation.