Tuesday 28 August 2018, Arcturus Prison
I've really decided to do this, after about five months in prison she'll be visited and we'll talk again, I've told the girls what's been going on all my life, the things that have happened over time, they now know my secrets, I haven't had to hide them, my journey has really been full of things, but now it's time to continue it, now I'm here.
I get to the prison door, where I'm searched and checked, I leave my things in a bag where the guards leave them in a place for me to pick up later, since I have to go in empty-handed, the only thing they let me pass is a cake I've made especially for Croix, going through everything it's time to start talking to her, I wait for the siren to sound... It starts ringing and I walk through the door, going to sit down at one of the tables where I could see she was, I sit down and she sits down too, waiting for me.
"Hello Chariot, you've finally come, I've been waiting a long time for you to come here, I didn't realise you'd be visiting me so soon" I didn't either, but I ended up telling you a lot and I needed to do this after delaying for so long.
"I ended up coming after all, we've been through a lot haven't we, still a little intrigued by what you talked to me about the day we saved the world" I say to Meridies and she's with a little smile about that whole thing.
"I know you've been quite perplexed by this, look I even tried to hide saying it, but they made me say it, my sentence was going to be 50 years if I didn't say anything, which I ended up confessing everything I could and in exchange for that my sentence was reduced to 20 years, but that can be reduced with the help of bail and also some services, in short, I'll do my best to get out of here one day, I can find a cure for Wagandea and that's enough" Oh Croix, why has it come to this.
"Good luck with that Croix, I hope you manage to do it, by the way, now Diana knows everything too, just like my mum, I've told her everything we've been through, soon Akko will know my true story too, it was a very interesting few days in the summer talking to Diana about my adolescence with you" I say to her as she eats the cake I've given her and I think she's liking a lot.
"So Diana finally knows about the connection you have with each other, that's good for her, you're not hiding the truth, the important thing is that soon Daryl will stop here, it's a good sign, I hope things really work out for you, you deserve it after everything we've caused" said Croix.
"You're really talking all different from what I thought, you're not trying to prove yourself or anything, you're just really despondent to be honest, I've never seen you like this before" she shrugs.
"That's what prison does to you, I've kind of done everything on my journey, so I don't care about anything else, I did the damage I did, I tried what I tried, in the end the whole thing worked out, it wasn't me, it wasn't you, it was them who worked it out, I don't need to prove anything anymore, I tried to be a hero, but in the end I ruined everything... I just want to sit here and mull over my regrets, I've lost everything Chariot, I could have had the happiest life in the world by your side, look at the two of us, if I hadn't done what I did we'd be married, with some children, saving the world, but... None of that happened, we're just here, even Daniella, even with her you can't have the life you wanted, I knew how you were almost married, I was rooting for your happiness and when I heard you were missing I was worried, I knew there was something wrong and I felt like my hands were tied, with so many people for the world to hurt, it had to be you soon Chariot, I don't know if you'll ever forgive me, if you'll ever be happy again, but I'm glad you came to visit me in this place" Croix is even crying.
I could see in her eyes how different they were, I didn't see a look like that when she was a teenager and motivated to change the world, nor when she was older and was a teacher here, she's just desolate, she even tries to smile, you can see how she's in deep regret, poor woman... Oh Croix, one day I might be able to forgive you, but it won't be today, I still want to be able to hear more of her talking and also find out if she really means well.
[...]
Friday 7 December 2018, Arcturus Prison
I've visited Croix a lot in prison, she's really changing the tone of her voice and the way she behaves, opening up more and more as we talk to each other, I'm happy to see her in good spirits, it's time to pay her another visit, it's already becoming a bit of a habit, but I'm really enjoying seeing her chatting and talking about how well she's behaving and accepting an offer that brings her time in prison down to 15 years, it might even be optimistic for her in the end.
I get to the drawing room, I even take a deep breath, I'm looking forward to seeing her again, since at the same time she said it might be a surprise, I go and sit down at the table and leave my cake and she brings something that seems to come in a jar
"Hello Chariot, I'm glad you're coming round more often, I hope you like the present I've brought you, I guarantee it will be worth drinking" said Meridies, handing me the bottle and picking up the cake.
"And what is this? How can I trust a mysterious liquid that you brought me, who knows if it's not poison or not?" I want to know, because I have to be suspicious.
"You're right, I'm not going to be surprised by you Chariot, the truth is that I've spent months studying and discovering the ingredients for this potion, I went to the trouble of making it and tested it in various ways, even on myself and in the end it worked, this is Wagandea's healing potion, I managed to remove the effects that can prevent you from flying Chariot, I spent a while making it, I really hope it works on you, after all it will reduce 5 years on my sentence if I do something important of this level" Did she really do that? If it's true, I think it'll be worth it.
I don't think there's much I can do, I decide to drink it, I take a deep breath and pour it in, the taste isn't the best, but it's not bad either, after a while it starts to taste better, the consistency, it was like drinking cold milk, not bad, It went down my throat and I swallowed it, and then I felt my body reacting and wow, the magic is flowing through my body, you can feel it, a slight burning sensation all over my body and I even floated slightly until I was back on the ground and I looked at myself happily.
"Did it really work?" I ask myself and look at Croix.
"Test it out, there's a broom right there" I nod.
I walk over to the broom and just concentrate as I feel it leave the ground, still with my eyes closed, I open them and see that it's really working, I'm floating! It's marvellous, I look at Croix, she's silently clapping her hands at me, then I land and wow, it really works, I look at my hands, at my body and I run to hug her, after all the curse has been broken.
"I said, the curse gone" She's happy with me and I with her, that's very good and important.
"Wow, Croix, how did you do that? I really want to know everything" I ask curiously.
"I'll tell you about it, since you're so excited today, I'll tell you about how I went on a journey to find Wagandea's cure, thanks to that I also got five years less in prison, I'm grateful that you proposed to test it, your mum wanted to know too, so she would pay bail, where I probably have a chance of my sentence being reduced to just house arrest" Meridies said and I'm very curious to see.
I'm even paying more attention and I'm eating a cake, I can now find out how to spread the cure for this thing too, it's something that's going to revolutionise magic, if things go optimistically Croix will soon be able to go home and we'll also be able to see each other more often, even if this prison is closer to Luna Nova, just wait and see.
[...]
Friday 21 December 2018, Arcturus Prison
I arrive at another visit to Croix, this month I've been every week at least, now I'm going to be able to visit her once more, this version of Croix has really been better, I'm already doing all the prison protocol, so I'm going to pass and once again another visit, with everything clean, I get to the visiting room, take a deep breath and sit down, waiting for her to come in after me, and she sits down looking at me with a bit of a smile, one thing I've noticed is how Croix has grown her hair back, but she's walking around with it tied up all the time.
"Hello Chariot, you came before me, what a surprise, how have you been?" Meridies asks.
"I'm mostly talking to Akko as the days go by, showing her how the years have gone, she's getting to the part where I arrive in Luna Nova, she's even being surprised at how hard it was to get there, now she'll know, since the whole summer was spent in Japan, in short, life is going on, I'm surprisingly starting to stop smoking, you know? Things are going more smoothly, they're getting lighter" I tell her cheerfully.
"That's very good Chariot, I'm glad you're quitting smoking, it must be very difficult, but it's good to hear from you, by the way I have wonderful news, from the turn of the year I will be under house arrest, I will stay in
Dublin wearing an electronic anklet, I can't leave the city, but for the most part I will be close to everyone I love, your mum paid my bail, mine too, everyone wanted to spend a bit for this, I think I should appreciate this a lot more, the way that despite everything there are people who have some feeling of love for me" I'm proud to see how Croix has matured.
"By the way, I didn't stop smoking completely, I just started using vape, but it was because I saw it as an alternative to giving up nicotine, we're going to go after Daryl as soon as I get out of prison, the dossier will be revealed and this woman will finally be arrested, this time she won't get away" I even see a smile on her face.
"I hope it all works out, we'll finally do what we've been waiting so many years for, she'll pay for her crimes, Diana will be left in peace and without being threatened, without risking her life, are you really ready for that? What if she does something?" We're ready for anything.
"Lucy also came here, everyone, we're already planning everything, just wait" everything will work out in the end.
"Good luck to you all, as soon as I go to Dublin we can celebrate" The problem is having to go back to Luna Nova afterwards, but it'll be better anyway.
The news is good for her, but not so good for me. I won't be able to visit her as often as I used to, since Arcturus prison is somewhat closer to Luna Nova than Dublin, unless a portal from the Ley line is opened to connect the two places, which I don't think is that impossible.
[...]
Sunday 23 December 2018, Edinburgh, Scotland
We're all meeting with the WCI, Daryl has been found for the last time at home, the dossier has finally been spread, now there's no way she can do anything, what we did was get close to the Cavendish mansion and we came across an explosion and then a fire, all very far away, we ran to get closer, we used our brooms and right in front of the mansion she was coming out with a gun in her hand.
"Surrender now, Daryl Cavendish, you're under arrest in the name of the law" said Aunt Rose, pointing a gun at her, who just kept laughing.
"You look like you've done it, don't you, but you can't stop it all from collapsing, if I fall the Cavendishes will go too" Daryl pointed the gun at himself.
"Daryl, you bastard, where are your daughters?" Lucy said.
"Ah, they're in there, I guess it's good to be quick enough, since you're their mum too, you don't want to see them turn to ashes along with the Cavendish mansion, do you?" Why is she doing this? Now that we're almost there, she's going to kill herself out of the blue.
"Damn you!" Lucy said angrily and she was being held by Mum.
"Don't take a single step or I'll shoot" My mum simply started walking and getting so close that she ran and stood right in front of her.
"Now shoot" Wow, I didn't expect that from Mum Laura.
She even came back and I saw Daryl's expression change completely, she was trying to be scary before, but then she got scared, everyone around her was staring at her seriously, what we heard was the sound of a gunshot, right in the head, she shot herself and it was with magic, the shot itself blew her head all off in front of us, I just watched that scene horrified, this can't be real, from that scene it came out like flames and they went towards the mansion.
"Damn it, she really did kill herself" said my mum.
"I have to save my daughters, get out of the way Laura!" Lucy pushed my mum and went into the mansion on fire.
"I'll help!" Diana also ran inside.
"No Diana! Ugh stubborn girl, I have to help too, she can't go alone in a house on fire" Damn what do I do now, I just saw a scene like that in horror, this time we even took Akko with us and she saw a head bursting, I'm even shaking from it.
"Because... Because scenes like that still happen and stay in my head, I won't forget it, Daryl's head exploding in front of me, she may be the bastard she was... But she should pay by being arrested" I say, still scared.
"Chariot, help me with the flames so that they don't spread, we have to save them from the worst happening" I nodded without having much to do, I could see Akko's shocked face next to me.
I took out my wand and started to use water, but nothing worked, it only served to make the fire even more intense, it only caused the flames to start making blocks of ice, but they melted on the spot and did nothing to extinguish the flames, they were spreading and getting intense to the point that we even had to take steps back and start calling the fire brigade, witches' magic may not be enough for this, we really are in the worst shape.
"I'm not going to stand here, Diana could be in danger!" Akko's going this time.
"Akko, no! You could die!" Ugh, I have to follow her before the worst happens.
"No Chariot!" This time it's Aunt Rose who's shouting at me.
I run inside and Hellene follows me, my little sister has also appeared since she's in Luna Nova, the fire is intense, I wonder where they are, I could hear cries for help, so I go looking for my sister using ice spells to create a wall and taking the opportunity to create masks to withstand the smoke, which I already found with Akko on the way and I make one with magic.
"You're madAkko, we can't breathe in the smoke openly or we'll suffocate to death!" I say to her and realise that she's getting closer.
We follow the sounds as the mansion goes up in flames and we come to a room that has been locked. Hellene quickly uses her hand and throws a punch, breaking the door and everything around it, opening the way for Lucy and Laura to come out, carrying the two fainted women and Diana, who is coughing.
"Diana!" Akko said desperately, going over to her friend.
"Come on this smoke is making me dizzy already, I'm trying to save magic for an emergency" This is the emergency Mum.
We're running through the house, the corridors and the smoke are getting intense, so I'm creating a bubble so we can get out safely and the heat is very intense, we arrive at the living room, right at the entrance door which I prioritised getting everyone out of here, I threw my mother in with one of the twins and Lucy, then Diana with Akko and finally Hellene left, but when it was my turn a pillar ended up falling on the door and I tried to get it out, but it's heavy and on fire, even Hellene tries to use something to hit it, but it's no use.
"Chariot!" I can't die.
I look at a window next door, it's on fire, but I have to risk it, for the nine witches, for everything I have in this life, I just hold my breath, I run out, propelling myself with magic and I go towards the window, I close my eyes, shield my face and feel the heat consume me, I jump out of the window, I feel the fire burning me and I walk forwards until I hit the ground and the flames go out, I breathe a sigh of relief and I see the mansion in the background burning brightly.
"Everything we had... was lost" said Diana.
"Who would have thought that this would be Daryl's final move" said Aunt Rosemary.
We're left coughing a little, Diana and Lucy are trying to see if Maril and Merrill are all right, the two are given a little oxygen and then wake up, somewhat shocked, as we see the mansion completely destroyed by the fire, with nothing left, the good thing there was no one else inside.
"What about the employees?" My mum asks.
"They all left, they... My mum asked everyone to leave, she knew... That they would come" Merrill said coughing.
"Oh well" said Mum, relieved.
"She betrayed... To us... She wanted to abandon us and leave us to burn, but you saved us, even you saved me Diana, Aunt Laura... You're back..." They both keep coughing, Daryl is really an evil person, now she's on hell at least.
"I'm amazed they still remember anything about me" Mum's even coughing and both of the twins are smiling to mom.
I then saw Lucy hugging the two crying girls, both girls didn't understand anything, but I bet they still have no idea of the news that's about to hit them, I've never really seen Lucy Watson like this, she's getting really worried and acting like a loving mum, it must have really shaken her up.
Diana is being looked after byAkko, it's great to see that the two of them have also decided to settle down, after all now at least things can be okay.
"And now... What will become of us?" Maril asks.
"You can live with me or with your mum, the same one who's hugging you, she's refused to come near you at all costs, she's been threatened with death by Daryl, but she's never stopped thinking about you two, or you can just stay at my house, we're going to rebuild the Cavendish house... We're going to start new times from now on" I stare at the flames still consuming the castle and then the firemen arrive and put out the flames.
I can see the girls' surprised faces, they had no idea that Lucy was their mum, now it's the end and the beginning, the mansion is all destroyed, we're going to have to rebuild and start again, I could see the expression of shock on all of their faces, and then we simply saw the twins staring in shock as they saw Daryl's body still lying on the floor without his head.
It's over, not the way we wanted, but knowing Daryl, things always have to end in disaster in the end, everything can't go smoothly, but in the end the threats have stopped, life will be peaceful from now on, but for now I have to support those left with trauma, including myself.
[...]
Tuesday 1 January 2019, Dublin, Ireland
New Year's was wonderful, as was Christmas, seeing how happy Diana was to finally see her sisters and her other mum's family is heart-warming, it was the first Christmas and New Year we've spent as a family, the day is starting now, it's going to be new times, we'll soon be taking the Ley line and heading straight back to Luna Nova tonight.
I was walking around the house and I could see how much fun everyone was having in the living room, Megan and Phoebe now dating, Diana and Akko too, my little sisters having fun with them, Mum with a smile on her face and we heard a noise at the door so we looked over and when we saw the door just Croix and Aunt April coming in.
"Hello, looks like I'm back" Croix! I run to hug her, she's back, I know it's only house arrest, but I'm still all happy and excited.
"Look who's turned up here" said Meg.
"She arrived here just now, I took her home, she got changed and well, now she's going to live here in Dublin with everyone, she just can't leave the city, unless she has very special permission to do so, anyway we're finally freer, we've been cooking something special and this could reduce Croix's sentence, we're preparing something that will improve the quality of life for many people, the generators will be sold en masse with me and Croix making them, it'll be another five years off if they approve" Aunt April said.
"Now they're recognising the potential of magic, if I show them how it works and they approve, I'll only stay until 2028, until I'm free, the generator removes all use of polluting energy and uses magic as a source, it'll be a revolution for this world, but anyway, how are you all doing, look at Meg finally decide to take steps towards Phoebe, look how you're all doing, I'm glad we're back" Meridies said excitedly and went to see everyone.
"By the way, I've missed you a lot too Chariot, I know we've been seeing each other all week, but seeing you together here is surprising, I also have a surprise for you, someone who will be seeing you soon, since I've got in touch with her" Oh that's interesting.
We walked together, me with Aunt April, she picked up her mobile phone and I went to the tree house, where she called me on the video call and I saw the name of the contact on Whatsapp, it's Daniella, what is she doing here, it's her, the video call was answered and I could see her face again, she recognised me too.
"Chariot!" She shouted in surprise.
"Daniela..." I see you so beautiful and so happy to see me.
"Love! Chariot is alive! She's here! She's older! She finally came to me" You don't have to shout so much, but I'm here.
"I'm sorry for everything, I had to abandon everything so as not to threaten your lives... Daryl threatened my life if I didn't leave, I didn't want to risk it and that's why I had to go far away... I know you must be..." She nods.
"I'm glad I know you're alive, I didn't feel abandoned Chariot, but I thought I'd either died or had to hide, I knew you wouldn't abandon me, but in the meantime I ended up getting married, I have a daughter today, my life is different, I had to move on, but rest assured, Hank takes good care of me, one day I'll come and visit you, you can be sure, I know the news that's been going around, that damn Daryl is dead isn't she? Croix in jail, she's coming round it seems and you're back, I'm glad everything's going well after all" She knows a lot of things.
"I'm glad your life is going well Daniella, it was important for you to move on, it took me about eight years just to turn up, imagine the pain you wouldn't be in until I came back" I say rubbing the back of my neck.
"I tried to wait too long, but Hank's care and everything else made me happy to be by his side, but how are things going? By the way, Becca missed you a lot too, we have to get together for the summer, everyone in Dalystown now" We certainly do.
"Now I'm trying to process new things, Croix is proving to be a better and better person, I'll tell you that this time she had to be beaten up a bit to get the hang of it, apart from that I'm a Luna Nova teacher, I'm much loved by the students, a bit hated by the teachers, now I'm finally reunited with my sisters, they're all marvellous, Diana, Hellene, Holly, they've grown up so much, they've become so beautiful, apart from the fact that they're incredible witches" I'm going to talk to Parker.
"Look, it was really nice talking to you, Chariot, one day we'll see each other again, we'll have to get everyone together, in the summer in Dalystown for a long break, me, you, Becca, maybe Croix, your mum, your sisters, the friends she made in Luna Nova, it'll certainly be a lot of fun" And with that the call ended.
She waved to me and said goodbye, which made me very emotional, even a few tears fell to the ground, it's a shame she's with this guy, but that's life, she had to move on, I soon see Croix appearing and she's also climbed the tree house, she's staying by my side and Aunt April is leaving with her mobile phone, I think it's a moment just for us, being together, it reminds me a bit of the old days.
"To think that thirteen years ago we were living the same moment here in the tree house, remember how much simpler everything was when we were younger? I was a first-class arsehole with you, I wonder if one day you'll..." I look at her and hold her hand.
"Look Croix, I've forgiven you since what happened back in Arcturus, the fact that you still want my forgiveness shows how sorry you are for everything you've done, but I'm sure that in this new version of you things will be different, you're reinventing yourself, in fact you're still as beautiful as ever, you're still the same girl I met in 2005, the one we spent New Year's Eve with, my first year in Luna Nova, Aunt April's mysterious daughter, the one we spent the summer in Dalystown having fun with, the one who made me travel to different places, gave me adventures in Luna Nova, I'll never forget what we experienced Croix, what we can still experience from now on, I believe in your redemption" I say holding her by the hand.
"I'm amazed at how you're still a person with a pure heart, the same girl I knew, you don't change at all, one day we can live a better life, we went through the ordeal and the worst that was to come, in the end Woodward's message was a punch in the face, isn't it, but I think I understood everything, now I'm trying to change the world as best I can" Meridies said.
"I know you will, you don't need a Claiomh Solais for that, now everything that stopped us before no longer exists, the world is more tolerant, things are getting better, we will appear as the solution, I hope at least" I say holding her hand and then look into her face.
We got closer and closer, very close, I felt her breathing and I couldn't resist, I gave her a big kiss, I felt the affection, the warmth, something I hadn't felt since my first kisses with Croix, she was carrying so much feeling and I hadn't kissed her since last year, after a good few years without kissing either, but this kiss gave me the same feeling as when I had kissed her last year, I think that in the end I do fall in love with these types of people, I don't know why, but Croix charms me a lot, she deserves a second chance maybe, who knows.
See you, prison witches...