Chapter Thirty: The Terrestrial Thaumaturges?
"The Terrestrial Thaumaturges,"- Charity announced unbothered, slamming an old book, marked somewhere in the middle on the table.
The guardians looked at her as if she had just opened a Playboy magazine in public for them.
"Excuse-"
"The trio that wanted your friend's core."- Charity sighed, fixing her long pretentious auburn-blonde curls aside. "Or should I say the Heart of Kandrakar. It took me a while to get to the bottom of it, mainly because this book here is the only piece on Earth and the neighboring realms that they figurate in, and that not visually. They're but outlines however the text giving more detail about them is there,"
"OK..."- Irma trailed exchanging looks with Cornelia.
They had been having coffee and pastries at this new rooftop place "Semiramide's", in Garden Plaza, before Charity appeared out of nowhere. Thankfully, as it was a high-end place full of mainly snobs, no one seemed to pay attention to them.
"You can read more about them inside,"- the elder went on. "Basically, they were an occult triad from before the Salem witches. Earth magic users that went around and collected valuable magical artifacts and relics, anything they could get their hands on. They were a force for no good for nearly a century before some Kasnoff witches managed to trap them. In this very book over here. See, someone released them from it recently and hence they're after Will."
"What?!"- Irma and Cornelia exclaimed in unison.
"The Thaumaturges have the ability to sense powerful relics and she undoubtedly holds one the power of which is hardly matched by any other... The Heart."- Charity took a seat around their table. "Yes, and judging by the way the said book reappeared when I went for it a second time, I'd say it wasn't someone occasional,"- she added meaningfully.
"So, someone purposely summoned those Thauma- what's - their -name to target Will,"- Cornelia exclaimed. "Where did you say you found this?"
"And did you tell Will?"- Irma added.
"Couldn't catch her alone. Without people unacquainted with magic around her,"- Charity lifted her shoulders. "You two are the only ones I could reach fast, so here I am. It was stored in the Ludmoore mansion. Only it wasn't there the first time I went for it. Someone realized that I'll be going and returned a tad too late, however, so, yes, I'd assume someone did try to deliberately target your friend."
Irma was just about to ask her how she knew so much about so many different things and people and just went on finding and utilizing them, but Cornelia had already made a demanding conclusion:
"Oh, my God, I knew it! Phobos did this!"
"Phobos?"- Irma furrowed her brows in puzzlement while Charity just stared at her. "Why would-"
"Yes, Phobos, you heard what Will said about him picking up all these books!"- Cornelia clicked her fingers. "And he's so mad that he's losing her, maybe he thought that he could win her again by saving her from something he sent after her! Or maybe he just wanted the Heart for himself now that Will is more likely to dump his nasty ass!"
"I don't know, Cornelia,"- Irma mumbled, torn between the convincing idea and not being able to really believe it.
Cornelia instantly saw that and pinched her, outraged.
"Ouch! What the he-"
"When did you become such a big Phobos supporter? It's like you're rooting for them to be together now!"- the blonde snapped accusingly.
"That's not true!"- Irma exclaimed. "I'm just thinking how is that possible when his magic is blocked, dummy-"
"Oh, he found a loophole, it's not like he has anything better to do,"- Cornelia waved her hand dismissingly.
Irma stared at her, amused and irritated at the same time:
"You know, you really are going to be just like grandma Hale,"
"In all honestly, trusting that Prince is foolish, no matter what has happened between him and your friend,"- Charity interjected, bringing the two guardians back to Earth. "But so was trusting Nerissa, especially in the beginning. They're bound to repeat what they've resorted to in the past, not being able to change their ways overnight. That's a reality one must be accepting of when deciding to give nefarious villains a chance at redemption,"
"Oh, you're mad-mad. About what Nerissa did last week?"- Irma taunted. She had quickly figured out how to tolerate and get under Charity's skin, who was now basically assigned as their guide and helper on Earth.
Like a Light Bearer, according to Leo, Halinor's brother, who had been that for CHYKN back in the day.
"What did she do? The scandal on Kandrakar?"- Cornelia's eyes sparkled with concern.
"That's her latest feat we're told of,"- Irma smirked sarcastically.
"It certainly didn't do wonders for our side,"- Charity replied simply before standing up.
No matter how they tried to spin it, she wasn't going to discuss the situation on Kandrakar in detail. Yes, she was not happy there was a leak of information at all; the guardians weren't supposed to know of any of this yet as far as she was concerned, they had only been exposed to some details because of Nerissa's brash actions.
"You can't keep us out of this forever, Char, babe,"- Irma declared. "Sooner or later, Halinor and you all will understand that the only way to make those arrogant elders from that other council pull out of it is together."
"Make sure to apprise your friend of who launched the attack on her,"- Charity said, ignoring her last words. She was ready to take off now. "And try to handle the situation within your guardian team. Even if you fail, we will keep in touch. Also, you didn't ask, but your brother is almost entirely ready to return home free of all memories and effects of Azor. I'll bring him back by Wednesday. Cheerio,"
"Oh, great, my mom will finally stop bugging me about where he is,"- Irma grinned and waved her goodbye.
"Bye,"- Cornelia said too, and the older woman left "Semiramide's".
"Now let's go talk to Will about how her favorite prince conspired against her again!"
Irma rolled her eyes:
"Hello, she's on her long weekend trip with Susan and the family? The mountain SPA thing? That's why Charity couldn't reach her and why Elyon and her new guy are in Heatherfield, looking after the favorite prince, remember?"- she finished sarcastically and slowly, almost spelling the last words for her blonde friend, who just growled impatiently:
"I'll just text her then! She has to know!"
Irma just rested her chin on her fist:
"Gee, I'm sure your unproven conspiracy thesis will make her day,"
Elyon laughed heartily as she glided over the ice. She had always loved ice skating with her best friend Cornelia, back when they were kids. Even if she had never been as good as her.
Ice-skating now, years later, as an adult with a man who had never done it before was definitely an experience.
Arel was getting the hang of it after falling over and getting all black and blue numerous times. But that was just the beauty of this sport. Like in many other aspects of life, learning by falling down is the best way to get better at it.
He gazed into her eyes and smiled widely, matching her energy.
Over the last six months, he had quickly started to do that with ease and much eagerness. Arel of Beta-Meridian didn't even realize when he had fallen for Elyon Escanor, Queen of Meridian and, ironically, aunt of his deceased former Queen and lover...
Actually, their shared grief over losing Avani forever was what had brought them together in the first place. At first, Elyon, whose first husband had died last fall, had simply invited the commander in her kingdom out of respect for Avani. Out of her great desire to honor her niece and gradually incorporate her smaller kingdom in her own, as to always keep a part of her close to her heart.
Elyon loved the girl, despite the short time they had spent together and the circumstances, and that love had been a reason for her to turn down Arel's attempts at courting her in the beginning.
But as time went by, and encouraged by Will, who spent that summer with them in Meridian, Elyon had agreed that not giving the man a chance was not wise.
He was a decent, handsome young man, who got her on a level Andan, who she had grown to love too, hadn't been able to.
And they were both so very hurt and alone. Finding comfort and excitement in each other's arms had come naturally to them.
Arel was not a royal, he was a warrior. He was courageous, well-meaning, and respectful, and Elyon loved that about him. He didn't have colossal expectations of her, which made her want to be more and better for him.
She didn't have to constantly doubt herself, trying to please him and his people like with Andan. She didn't feel sick when lied to, because she wasn't being lied to, she didn't cry herself to sleep at night, feeling alone despite sleeping in his bed...
Elyon's new relationship was something she had never truly had before, based on mutual understanding, attraction, and equality, which she was determined she'd give Arel, despite being the Queen.
"While I enjoy our time here together, Baby Cakes, I fear that your brother is trying to melt the ice beneath our feet with his churlish glare,"
Elyon giggled and tightened the grip of her arms, hooked around his neck:
"Well, I've tried my best to include him in everything, I even asked him to think of activities to do. He's churlish, as always, that's why all he'll get is sitting at that bench, glaring and sulking."
Arel chuckled and kissed her as she led his skating in the other direction. He loved that sassier side of hers that had resurfaced with the progress of their relationship.
"Baby Cakes, huh? Is that really you, Elyon? You seem like a different gal, not gonna lie there, so frisky."
Arel and Elyon turned around in surprise and saw Irma with a gleeful smile on her face and devilish sparkle in her eye She and Cornelia, making their way towards them on their skates.
"Girls!"- Elyon exclaimed happy, hugging them both. "It's great to see you, I honestly wanted to spend as much time as possible with you while we're in Heatherfield!"
"Me too, Ellie"- Cornelia held her tight.
"Me three, Baby Cakes, warming up again to an old friend you've wanted to kill most of the previous year is the best feeling ever, trust me!"
Cornelia gave the Latina an irritated look but Elyon just laughed:
"Oh, I trust you, Irma, and I know,"
"Arel, you're skating?"- Irma began slyly, gliding next to the man while Cornelia and Elyon twirled around, happy and careless for a moment.
"Barely, but I'm making progress,"- the man retorted with a smile.
"And have you gotten more handsome since the last time I saw you?"- Irma went on, almost as if determined to fluster him. "Must be the stubble beard,"- she reasoned with herself.
"Thanks?"- Arel chuckled, unsure of what else to say.
"Ah, no, that's not necessarily a good thing. I used to think Andan was dashing too, in the beginning, but that's a whole other story,"- the Water guardian waved her hand. "What I'm getting at is that Elyon's guys... I hope you and her are a match, I think that you are. You know what? As a matter of fact, don't listen to me, I'm blabbing-"
"Yeah,"- Cornelia interfered, pushing Irma away. They had skated nearby, approaching them in time to hear the last of her words but the blonde could have guessed what they had been about from the start. The other woman squalled and struggled to keep her balance despite it being a light shove on the ice. "Don't listen to her. Besides, I'm Elyon's best friend and my approval is definitely of most importance!"
"You girls are too much,"- Elyon laughed at her friends as Irma jumped on Cornelia's back, determined to get back at her.
But Cornelia was too good of a skater. Gold-medal good. She lifted her friend on her back and did a few impressive glides and steps with her, earning many looks and even applause.
"Show-off, just you wait until we go surfing,"- Irma said, fifteen minutes later, when they all left the rink to go get some hot cocoa.
The group of four chatted and laughed together, sipping on their hot beverages as they strolled.
And, eventually, reunited with Phobos.
Cornelia shot him down with a hate-filled glare. The man just sat there, on the bench, dressed in his tweed black coat with yet another book in his hands.
"Phobos? We're going to grab a bite for lunch,"- Elyon said. "Would you like to come with us or would you rather I call someone to pick you up?"
Phobos didn't bother looking up. Elyon frowned; after everything, after she and had accepted him and Will back on Meridian and opposed everybody to give them a chance at a new life for all their sakes... He had reverted to this. He was hostile and cold towards her again, making her think that even the slightest change of heart and will he had displayed to her, that different bearing she had finally had from her brother, which was far, far away from a loving one, had all been a lie.
"You're coming then,"- Elyon simply declared.
"I'm not,"- Phobos simply stood up and started walking away.
"Phobos, what do you think you're doing? You know that Will doesn't want you roaming the city on your own, that's why we're here!"
"No, you don't want me to be left at peace for even two minutes, she has no problem with me walking around the city,"- Phobos corrected his sister pointedly and then gave the two guardians the stink eye as if they were trash overloading the dumpster in front of his building.
Irma crossed her arms on her chest, unimpressed with the diva-ish behavior but Cornelia attacked:
"You want to be alone so much, why? To stir more shit? You may be alone before you know it. In jail. Until then, you'll do what you're told to do and you won't cause scenes, got it?!"
Phobos looked at her defiantly:
"I've grown sick and tired of you and your big mouth. Let me be! I have absolutely no desire to be around any of you, especially you and the hag!"
Cornelia narrowed her eyes and while Elyon and Arel hesitated, unwilling to cause a scene in public, she didn't. She went after Phobos and pulled him back harshly.
"Nobody gives a crap about your desires, you pig-"
Phobos yanked free, pushing her back so hard, she fell to the ground and even her gray French beret flew off her head. Cornelia winced and her friends exclaimed, but the prince didn't care.
"PHOBOS!"- Irma clenched her fists, but Phobos just slowly returned on his way. As if he was challenging them to try and stop him while people were already looking over the shoulder, staring at them.
Cornelia was livid. She stood up. He knew their priorities on Earth far too well, and he was using it against them.
"I will reconsider fighting for you when the time comes,"- Elyon called after her brother, visibly upset. "If you keep up this foul attitude of yours, brother-"
"By all means,"- Phobos scoffed. "Be my guest. There's nothing I crave more than you letting go of me,"
Elyon's face dropped at that. Arel's hardened, and he just tightened his hold around her shoulders. Once again her brother's hurtful attitude and hostile nature were getting the better of her, after the first real warmup their relationship had had over the summer.
Cornelia pulled out her phone:
"What are you-"- Irma began suspiciously, already knowing the answer before it was given:
"Calling Nerissa! She has to follow him and make him pay for his absolute-"
"Cornelaia, don't you think that adding to Nerissa's case right now is a bit reckless? She just stormed Kandrakar and challenged that Twin Council or whatever. She'll never learn how to stay out of trouble! Besides, we don't want to cause Will any more trouble either, here, while she's absent!"
Cornelia glared at her incredulously and reluctantly put the phone down:
"Fine! But when he conjures more magical threats in his butthurt spinelessness, don't say that I didn't warn you,"
"Wait,"- Elyon blinked at what she had just heard. "Magical threats? Did Phobos do something wrong?"
Irma and Cornelia exchanged glances with Irma growling:
"Cornelia thinks that he has. That he has sent those mages after Will to save her and...well, make her choose him over Matt,"
"What!?"
Elyon was taken aback. It was evident how this piece of news affected her and how she wished for her brother to never be on that path again. The path of evil; betraying them like that after she had done the unthinkable to secure him some sort of fresh start...
"It does sound a lot like your brother, Elyon, though I sincerely hope he hasn't stooped as low,"- Arel sighed.
"He totally has. He's stooped lower before, so why would this be such big of a deal?"- Cornelia huffed. "To him, or us-"
"Because he loves Will, Cornelia,"- Elyon interrupted her, her voice tiny but firm. Full of unsaid disappointment mixed with but a glimmer of hope that Phobos would prove them wrong... Cornelia stared at her: "He loves Will. If he really has gone behind her back to betray her like that hoping it would shove her back into his arms, then this betrayal of his will be equal if not greater to his part in our parents' demise,"
Meanwhile, on the other end of town, Cassidy Chacon was visiting Cobalt Blue's studios with her one-year-old son Nathaniel Chacon Cook.
She looked around herself in awe as a part of her had always been wondrous about this glamorous world; the world of showbiz was not something she was unfamiliar with; in her teens, she had dated and almost married a much older and famous actor from Heatherfield, but now, over fifty years later, a lot was different and even as a reborn young doctor, she could not not feel this teen-ish excitement.
She had always wanted to be in a girl band and she and her friends had almost had that for a good couple of months before their different interests prevailed. She and Nerissa were the ones interested and enraptured by music and now, looking around herself and the premises of one of the most successful musical labels in the state, Cassidy had to congratulate her friend:
"Woah, Rissy, you really are out to get each and every one of your dreams fulfilled, aren't you?"
Nerissa smirked from behind the desk; she was doing something on her laptop but was wrapping up. Her friend was here, after all, and she was going to spend time with her:
"You're one to speak. How's that next promotion, medical professor Cassidy?"
"I'm getting there,"- Cassidy laughed, sitting in the comfortable lime-green chair in front of the desk.
Everything in the room she was in was modern and polished, like the rest of Cobalt's building. White expensive interior, modern furniture, excellent lighting, and pops of colors here and there. It was crazy to think that all this had been initiated by a boy band less than fifteen years ago.
"Is this your office? I mean, I've watched your music videos and I know you're a big deal, but I didn't know you're a corporation babe now too,"
"Matt's office,"- Nerissa replied, clicking away. "It took him a while to trust me in here but I've been getting a lot off his back in recent times. After the summer tour, we're like family-"
"Maybe don't say that,"- Cassidy interrupted, surprising her. "I know you're both artists but some of your music videos are on the racy side if you get me,"
Nerissa rolled her eyes in amusement and removed her blue-light-blocking glasses:
"Family is a stretching concept, sweetheart. Now, how wave you been?"
They ordered coffee and moved to the sitting area in the office where they chatted and spent time together. Nerissa played with Nathaniel, tossing him in the air and ticking him. They had to set up a play date with Killian again soon.
Nerissa and Cassidy had always been close. So close as teenagers, Nerissa loved Cassidy and Cassidy loved her. Time went by before they knew it and soon the redhead started looking at her watch:
"It's been two hours already?"- she exclaimed. "Gee, I hate to say it but I'll have to go soon, Rissy-"
"What's the rush?"- Nerissa retorted softly, moving her long legs in Senso Zandar high-heeled boots aside. "I thought you could join us for dinner. Julian is cooking, he didn't need to go by the Dragon today."
"It would've been lovely, but Peter is flying back from Reykjavik today and he is surely going to be exhausted. Those are some killer boots, Rissy-"
Nerissa looked down at her feet with a smile and nodded, taking the ginger-haired's hand:
"Another time then. You came here by Uber, didn't you? Let's go, I'm with the car, I'll give you and Nate a lift,"
The two women walked together in the cold evening, towards the parking lot of the building, each in their outerwear. Cassidy in her navy parka and Nerissa in her cinched in the waist husky-gray and white fur coat.
The sun was almost completely down. A light shower of snow started to fall like powdered sugar from the soft cotton candy-like gray clouds that nested in the skies.
They were already in the car, on their way to Peter and Cassidy's new place when the former Water guardian suddenly remembered. Nathaniel was in the baby chair that Nerissa always had for her grandson. Nerissa was driving when her friend's question made her grip the stirring wheel a tad too roughly:
"Oh, it almost completely slipped my mind. What happened on Kandrakar, Rissy? Why is everyone so tense? Yanny doesn't even get down here, in Heatherfield; she left your family in charge of their restaurants while Chen and his wife are in China and she's up there... You know I usually shy away from Kandrakar-related matters as much as I can, but from what I've gathered, whatever's happening this time is major..."
Nerissa didn't retort at once. She just thought about it. The Twin Conclave... She had no stellar opinion of them in the first place, but after last week she hated them passionately.
"They call themselves the Twin Conclave and unfortunately, they possess the legitimate power to do what they're doing. They're trialing Halinor's elders for opening the time loop. Disrespecting the Nymph-Goddesses they call it. When I barged in, they were draining the new Oracle's blood, ritually, in front of everyone-"
"What?!"
"They had barely seen me before they attacked me for my mistakes, or as they called it my impudent benefits. I miscalculated"- Nerissa lifted her chin and met the younger woman's distressed orbs for a moment. "They're already in the Fortress, whereas I believed that we can still keep them out... The blood drain, it's a purifying rite; Thalesis's fate is the worst right now. As the Oracle, the biggest fraction of responsibility lies on his shoulders,"
Cassidy looked more than uncomfortable at that. Nerissa stoically endured the silence, lost in her thoughts and concerns. Oh, she was concerned. Big time. Because nothing like this had ever happened to them before, a council so foreign yet powerful, opposing them when they were alone.
No matter how much she hated Himerish's guts, the ex-guardian wished he was here in this case. Because back then, there had been people on Kandrakar, who had repulsed her. Who had mainly sentenced her as they had. Ruthless parties that the Oracle wasn't completely above. Dangerous, twisted hypocrites they were, but those of the Conclave? They made them look like mere groupies.
"What are they aiming to achieve with all that?"
Nerissa scoffed bitterly:
"Balance. Symmetry in the Grand Design,"- she stressed. "They say that all that we've been doing, especially over the last months since the old Council's doom, has seriously warped it. But I say that they want dominance. They want to dominate the Aurameeres and the elements."
There was grave silence in the car for the next two traffic lights.
"Poor Hallie... she wanted to help rebuild Kandrakar, not get in the way of something like this. If I remember correctly, even the Oracle...I mean Himerish was afraid of them. What are we going to do?"
Nerissa shook her head. She didn't know. For the first time in her life, especially ever since she was back from Weira's jewel, she had to take a seat and really think twice about it because far too much was at stake to be reckless.
"Oh my God, Rissy, look OUT-"
Nerissa got over the zoning out and hit the brakes before she could hit the man who had suddenly appeared in front of her car near the old bookshop...
"Hey, isn't that Phobos?!"
Nerissa's eyes widened and then narrowed again, meeting his. It was indeed Phobos, hands pressed against her car. He had appeared as if out of nowhere but she instantly realized he had been in the bookshop again.
Phobos tried to walk away as if nothing had happened but the ex-guardian left him no such opportunity:
"Get in the car. Immediately,"- she ordered through the open window.
Phobos's lips became a thin line. "I prefer to walk, thank you-"
"I said get in, or else,"
Nerissa growled, her eyes sparkling with magic.
"I better go sit in the back, so that he can... yeah,"- Cassidy smiled awkwardly and did just that. She moved. Nerissa was almost blocking the entire flow of traffic by now. "Hi,"- the doctor greeted the man who reluctantly sat in the passenger's seat.
"Good evening,"- Phobos retorted coldly, cursing his luck in the back of his mind.
Nerissa wasted no time in an awkward setting:
"What do you think you're doing going back to that bookshop, unsupervised?"- she took the next turn smoothly, getting on the main road leading to Cassidy's neighborhood and her new home. "I do know Will experiments with this whole entire additional freedom concept for you, her pet, but I prefer you chained and locked up in her absence especially,"
"How am I supposed to integrate myself in society around here, as your nephew, if I'm constantly chained and locked,"- Phobos returned the ball mockingly. He had something else on his mind, different things to think about than the hag's attacks. "That's what you wanted, no?"
"No, I want to not think of you at all, don't tell me what I've wanted,"- Nerissa snapped, sharp-tongued, glaring at the man. Suddenly, she felt her patience wearing thin and her nerves strained- she knew why, but Phobos? He was going to be on the receiving end of her anger and frustration because he deserved it.
"Likewise,"- the man retorted, voice cold. "I sincerely want nothing to do with any of you, and after Wilhelmina makes her final choice, I will gladly return to Meridian if needed be, to wait for my so-called trial. If she chooses me, then I'm afraid you'll have to keep enduring me here. Oh, but wait,"- the prince paused mockingly. "You're the Mage there, so I suppose you'll have the delight of seeing more of me regardless. Being as across-the-board as you has its perks and disadvantages, has it not?"
Nerissa abruptly stopped. They had reached Cassidy's building. Her friend hesitated whether to leave her right now, feeling her anger hanging in the air, but Nerissa was quick to reassure her, promising she'd call from home. Then she kissed Cassidy and Nathaniel and they left, leaving her and Phobos. Alone.
Nerissa started the car and reversed, heading for the Crossnic manor. Her eyes caught Phobos looking at her in the mirror and she just patted her French updo with an unspoken glare.
A few minutes of silence later Phobos seemed to realize that they were far away from Will's apartment but Nerissa cut him off before he could protest:
"Why are you not-"
"You did not answer my initial question,"
Phobos raised a derisive brow:
"No? It was definitely my intention to do, not-"
"What were you doing in that bookshop and did you happen to send those Thaumaturges after your precious Wilhelmina, answer me right now, foolish brat!"- Nerissa spat right into his face. "If you annoy me some more tonight, there will be grave consequences,"
For a moment, Phobos was dumbfounded:
"You still insist that I've tried harming her, really?"- he exclaimed. "You are amazing, all of you. Despicable, think what you wish, I am tired of repeating myself! None of you will ever give our relationship any value anyway-"
"Boo-hoo!"- the Mage mocked him. "If you value her so much you would've taken note of what I told you last week,"
"Which I did but not because of you. I stopped talking to her family after she got attacked because she was unfit for days. Those Thaumaturges as you called them had a bad effect on her,"- Phobos growled. "And at this point, any suffering of Wilhelmina's that I can ward off, I will. So, do not insinuate that I would send those men after her. Obviously, it was her brother,"
Nerissa had stopped the car again. It was her turn to raise her eyebrows in ridicule:
"Really? And have you told her that?"
The man's frown intensified:
"No. But it's rather obvious, is it not? He never got his memory altered and he had that pact with Avani and Lillian Hale. His desired benefit of that pact was his sister's position and power,"
Nerissa nodded, tongue-in-cheekily. She knew that. With Lillian and Avani out of the picture, little William Collins was the last villainous element of that pact still out there, and what a villain he had turned out to be.
"Good. Because Matt has taken the liberty of dealing with William,"- Nerissa revealed smugly, watching Phobos's face twist in surprise and hatred. "So, I guess it's best you stay out of it indeed."
She enjoyed watching him be dispirited like that but she still demanded:
"And the bookshop? You were there because? Do not tell me you grew so tired of your sister and her new lover's company already,"
Phobos didn't reply. At the mention of Matt, he had lost all his desire to discuss anything. It didn't matter what Nerissa did or said, he knew she wouldn't kill him and at this point, it still mattered. Being alive, even after everything.
Because Wilhelmina was still possible.
Suddenly, Phobos understood her desire to stall. As long as she stalled, the skies were still open. Possible. The gates weren't completely closed. There was still a them.
"Are you not going to answer?"- Nerissa snapped, voice weighting with boredom. She had strangely calmed down. Almost as if she had wanted to prove something to herself, perhaps that he was not out of control and she had him where she wanted him?
In this pitiful Earth avatar of Philip, her helpless, useless nephew. Someone she could push around without having to worry about him snapping back.
Phobos had no desire to try reading the hag's unhinged motives right now. And, quite honestly, he hardly cared.
"Fine then, get out,"- Nerissa ordered. She could've kept pushing him as to get the answers she wanted but she no longer cared either. She had already scrutinized that bookshop herself; there was hardly anything that he could use for ungood there.
Phobos stared at her. They were miles away from Will's apartment. The hag's stupid manor was out of the city itself; there was a forest all around. Did she want him to walk all that on foot through the dark, cold night? He met her eyes and his face hardened.
Of course, she wanted that.
"You did say you preferred to move on foot, no?"- Nerissa mocked him one last time, a big malicious smile on her otherwise beautiful features.
Phobos didn't say anything again, he just left her door open and started walking away.
The woman made an amused face, closed the hanging door, and drove away, leaving the prince unceremoniously.
Less than ten minutes later, as he walked alone through the night, with the snow falling on his face, his phone rang. Phobos searched his pockets annoyed. Perhaps it was Elyon. Though she'd maybe prefer to use a spell. Maybe Wilhelmina?
He was disappointed to see an unknown number on his screen but given he had nothing better to do as he walked, he picked up:
"Philip listening,"
"Philip, hey? You must really like that character you're playing,"- came from the other line.
At first, he was caught by surprise, not recognizing the young voice.
"Who is this?"
But he quickly realized on his own:
"What do you want, William,"- Phobos hissed hatefully, not caring that he was talking to a 13-year-old. That 13-year-old had done more harm than him once upon a time. OK, perhaps not...
"Nothing much. Do you want to be with my sister or not?"- the boy asked bluntly.
Phobos felt even angrier at that:
"Not your concern. Hang up and go to bed or jump out the window, for all I care,"- he said. "Primarily, stay away from Wilhelmina. You don't have her best interest in mind, that's for certain-"
"Oh, no? But you do, right?"- William taunted. "Here's what, Philip. Matt's here. He just arrived."
Phobos stopped walking, an arrow of concern and jealousy going right through him. He gripped his mobile hard, contemplating what he had just heard in silence. Were everyone out to test and irritate him tonight, with that they knew would affect him most?!
"Thought you should know what's happening while you're glued to your sis's skirt back in Heatherfield. I can get you here too, if you want. Magically. But you'll have to hear me out first thing when you do arrive,"
It didn't take the prince long to make up his mind:
"I'll be all ears,"
William hadn't lied; he managed to send a teletransportation calling spell once he knew the prince's exact coordinates; apparently, his power was progressing just fine with time, despite his failure at becoming a Keeper.
Phobos looked around himself, undoing the buttons of his coat.
It was warm. He was in some sort of living room. The hotel they're staying in during their long weekend, Phobos realized and attempted to walk out:
"Hey, you said you'd hear me out if I bring you here, stop!"- William called after him, annoyance creeping into his voice. "Don't do nonsense, OK? My parents are at dinner,"
"Where are Wilhelmina and the regent?"- Phobos demanded, soaring upon him.
"I will tell you and you'll do what? Barge in on them?"- William rolled his eyes. "You have to think and be more subtle before you've ruined your chances with her, smartass-"
"Why would you want to aid your sister's relationship with me over that she has with Matthew,"- Phobos shot. A relevant question indeed. Of course, a part of him was already sure the brat had called him here to want something in exchange.
William shrugged:
"I'm going to be honest, I just offer a favor for a favor,"
Phobos narrowed his eyes scornfully:
"Of course you do... Forget about it. I shall never assist you!"
"No? Not even for Will? Then I guess I'll just send you back to that forest,"- William pretended not to care.
The man glared daggers at him. This little brat. He was not going to take his glibness after taking Nerissa's...
"I just want you to help me rebuild my relationship with Will myself, OK?"- the teenager began once he was confident the prince would listen due to having no other choice. "I was too extreme...I regret a lot now because I've found out that there are many other situations and ways in which I can grow my magical power and talent and do useful things... Even without the Heart of Kandrakar,"- he concluded. "So, naturally, I don't want to be trialed as an adult on Kandrakar and be deprived of that chance forever. Will's very angry with me. I think she actually hates me, but if she's willing to help your case for the sake of your relationship, maybe by rooting for that relationship she can do the same for me and...forgive me. I'm still a kid, you know?"
Phobos had listened with sealed lips and he had to mentally note that this kid was indeed something else. So conniving and opportunistic.
"You were extreme too much you say? Let me tell you something my advisors told me the first time I displayed even an ounce of second thoughts after I usurped the throne when I was your age,"- Phobos began in a pretend caring voice that morphed into a haunting mockery in the next part: "...once you've pulled the sword out and razed with it, you no longer have the right to look back being pusillanimous. You are to reap what you've sown,"
"And yet here you are. On your way to being with the Keeper of the Heart after everything,"- William didn't back down.
He was shorter and looked like the child he was when facing Phobos but he was one mean player. He made a Phobos a sign to wait a second.
Phobos on the other hand was losing patience. Who knew what the needy Earth Knight was already doing with Wilhelmina while he lost time here?
He needed to show up. To interrupt them. Even if it only enraged her and actually helped Matthew's side gain points.
"Tell me where your sister is,"- Phobos demanded, having lost patience.
William's magic, however, pushed him back, in the other end of the room, to the ground. Phobos was taken aback. That magic...it had frighteningly looked like the fifth element.
Quintessence.
Had the boy somehow gotten powers like his sister?! Was it possible...
He knew that the Light of Meridian also possesses partial properties of the fifth element. As did he, with a lot of work over the years but it always cost him a lot of life force too, as he didn't have the Heart of Meridian or any other in himself or on himself.
And again, none of them had quintessence like Will or Nerissa.
How was William doing it?
"That's not everything,"- William spoke up again. "If we are to help each other, there will be other benefits too. I found something in "Ye Olde Bookshop" a few months ago..."
Phobos felt his heartbeat go more rapid. The bookshop. Cedric's bookshop?! Could it be that...
"I wasn't sure in the start, but now I know where your friend is."- William shrugged again, but this time he smiled too. "Imagine Will's positive surprise when we tell her we've found him together. His word at your trial will definitely mean something, don't you agree?"
Cedric, Phobos thought, his mind racing unsteadily between everything that he was suddenly in the middle of.
Matt made his way into the damp, steamy room with so many aromatic candles and oils enriching the air even more. His last text from Susan let him know that she and Dean were going on a night ATV drive around the woods with a group. Uncanny but definitely an activity he'd participate in gladly.
But that was not why he was here. According to Susan, after dinner, Will had gone to the SPA to enjoy a free massage she had won at some game earlier.
Actually, there was no such thing. Matt and Susan had planned it and he was going to get into the room dressed as a masseur to surprise Will.
At first, he had not been too keen on the idea, but after talking to Caleb after the three wizards had attacked Will, he had made up his mind. Will was torn between the two of them either way. Him and Phobos the royal jerk. Waiting around was stupid. He had to man up and act.
Just waiting for Will to make such a decision wasn't going to do it. He had given her enough time and space, if he kept it like that, she could as well forget he was interested.
No matter the risk, the man had to show her. He had to show her how much he cared about her and loved her, and that there was nothing more he wanted than for them to be together again without Phobos in the picture. Maybe that wasn't possible. Maybe she'd care for Phobos forever after their bond, but at least he wouldn't be her romantic interest.
Matt's heart skipped a beat when he saw her, with just a towel over her butt. On the massage table. All ready for her massage from him.
Matt smiled and approached her timidly, as if it was his first time touching her. It was not. Definitely not. It was even harder and more nerve-wracking, because he loved this woman and he dreaded she could choose to leave him behind.
Something that he had been sure their relationship could never even come close to.
"Harder on the shoulders please,"- Will spoke up, face down, thinking she was talking to a random masseur. "I feel like the tension will never disappear anyway-"
"Tell me about it,"- another female voice suddenly called, startling Matt.
It was now he realized there was another massage table and another woman in here, behind the screen.
"I feel broken after my latest race!"
Will chuckled more out of politeness than anything. Her case was a little bit different than that for sure. Like a magical attack that had messed up her head.
To Matt's horror, the woman on the other end of the screen seemed to notice him before he could even properly start massaging Will. As if it wasn't enough, she was here, halting what he had hoped would be a romantic moment, now she was saying:
"Oh, crap, they said everyone's shift is over but only one masseur? I'm sorry, do you mind if he does us both? I really need this,"- she was a young brunette and that was about anything Matt could tell; her face was covered in a mud mask and she had cucumber slices on her eyes, which she had barely removed for a few seconds, just to scan the place, not even looking him up in the eyes.
"Yes, sure, if he can manage,"- Will replied.
I CAN'T MANAGE, Matt thought but removed the screen between the two tables nonetheless, pushing them closer together. That's so not what I imagined; he gulped as he stared at the two naked women that were now laying next to each other.
He didn't know where to start and what to do, but he quickly picked up pace. He could as well just wrap up this unplanned double massage and then reveal himself to Will. Without the brunette around. She ruined everything but he still rubbed her.
At first, whenever he concentrated more on the redhead, the other woman let out groans of protest but then, as he abandoned Will's legs that he was putting oil on, she would moan in dissatisfaction, wanting more attention.
In the end, he seemed to have managed to please both of them. Matt wasn't one to brag, but his backrubs had always been requested.
Apparently, the brunette was a little too happy because her next request:
"You have such strong nice hands. Wanna remove my towel too?"
Matt gawked, certain he had misheard:
"Yeah, I'm good."- Will called, thankfully. "Actually, it's been nice but I'm good to go,"
"Relax, I'm kidding,"- the brunette laughed and Matt rolled his eyes. Who makes such a joke, especially with some other stranger woman around.
"I take it that you have a boyfriend?"
"Not exactly,"- Will groaned, happy for Matt relieving her shoulder blades. He himself perked up his ears at the topic:
"Then you're a prude?"- the unknown brunette suggested playfully.
Will made a face down the massage table.
You should hear about my dreams.
"I actually have someone. Two of them. I think I want to be with both of them and that's...you know, obviously moronic. I have to make up my mind I just can't yet,"
"OK, I take that prude comment back. You're a slut,"
Matt gawked again, even harder than he had upon the towel comment and Will's confession which honestly had surprised him the least.
Will just let out a hollow laugh:
"Hey, I'm not the one begging the hunky masseur to massage my ass right now, hon,"
The brunette laughed in response.
Matt was just flustered. Was Will drunk? She wouldn't usually tolerate such a comment from a stranger, even if it was meant as a joke. Then again, this situation the three of them found themselves in was pretty unconventional.
"The hunky masseur must think we're outrageous or morons, he hasn't said a word ever since we started this session,"- the brunette pointed out playfully.
"I don't blame him. In fact, I would rather not hear his voice because once all this pink wine evaporates from my system, I won't be able to look him up in the eye if I recognize him,"
Matt grinned at that.
"Fine, don't look at his face. He has sexy feet as well,"
The brunette had obviously removed the cucumbers; hence she was making that comment.
Matt stirred uncomfortably.
"OK, this is a hair's breadth away from turning into a sexual assault case, girlfriend,"
Ten minutes and two satisfied customers later, Matt removed himself from the scene, giving the two women time to stand up, get dressed, and so on. It had been an interesting experience but not what he had wanted, so he was a little bit disappointed. Anyway, he was going to find another way to surprise Will and if not, he'd just come out and talk to her.
Just let the brunette leave first...
"Mandy?"
"Oh, my god, Will Vandom? Is that you?"
"I couldn't recognize you, your voice-"- Will near stammered.
Matt ceased washing his hands and peeked behind the big screen door, curious to see what the commotion was about.
He could see Will talking to that other girl, whose back was turned towards him. She had finally lost that towel and hence he could see her naked ass.
"My voice is different because I had vocal cords surgery twice, but I'm the idiot for not recognizing yours, which is the same,"- the brunette laughed and that was when Matt connected the dots, and finally recognized her.
By the birthmark on her left ass cheek.
Nerissa threw her long hair to the back as she straddled her husband graciously yet violently. Like a feral cat.
She was in his lap and he was kissing her, undressing her. Touching her.
So immersed they were in the heat of the moment and their passion, it took her a while to hear the intercom:
"Is someone at the gate?"- Julian wondered, out of breath.
Nerissa groaned in protest when he removed his lips from hers but now she was hearing it too.
Who could that be!?
Annoyed, the ex-guardian nearly knocked her wine glass down while removing herself from the couch and his lap. She pulled her baggy pearl-gray sweater up as a dress.
Her annoyance only grew when she saw who it was and opened the automatic gates from within, then the doors:
"Elyon and her posse,"- she answered to Julian's quizzical eyebrows while he struggled to zip up his pants.
Nerissa rested her left hand on the heavy frame of the door, already imagining what this was about.
So, it was no surprise when a minute later:
"We can't find Phobos! He never returned to Will's place!"
"You left him on the forest road?!"
"Gee, maybe we're in luck and a bear has eaten him,"
"There are zero bears around these woods, wiseacre,"
Nerissa ignored their indignation and banter and kept prepping up her scrying spell.
Elyon, Cornelia, Irma, and Arel were in the main office of her manor, after all. And even though Elyon kept saying how she had scryed unsuccessfully, she knew she could do better:
"We were there, the crystal didn't land anywhere on the map,"- Cornelia pointed out. "Which means he's not in Heatherfield..."
"Yes...Where did you say Will and her family were?"- Nerissa questioned as she passed the crystal over her map which had the neighboring states on it too.
"...here,"- Irma made a face as the crystal stopped exactly on the mountain resort that the Collins' had gone to.
"How did he make it there so fast without magic?! It's a four-hour drive!"
"Oh, no,"- Elyon sighed.
Nerissa just pulled the sweater down her naked shoulder and looked back at them, nonchalantly:
"Perhaps that question should be answered by Will."