Chapter Thirty-Four: A Kandrakar Massacre Like no Other
Summary: The trials on Kandrakar continue. William, Will's brother's hearing comes up, but the demonized Altermeere Wixy attacks the Fortress and kills elders, ironically weakening the Conclave's grip on Kandrakar, eventually helping in the bigger cold war for ultimate supremacy between the Council and the Twin Conclave. Charity's past comes to bite her, suggesting an even bigger new threat that remained undetected til now. (I suggest you reread the previous chapters again, too, lol, it's been a while.)
a/n: great seeing you after so long guys, hope that you stick around because I plan to keep up this book now after a year of hiatus. xoxo, jimelization
Charity Callahan had done a lot of fine speaking, reading, and dressing in her life. Her professional life as an Elder was no different. She always followed etiquette, kept appearances and stayed on the classier side of things.
Part of the reason why she couldn't stand the thought of someone as image-distorting as a fallen from grace ex-guardian being an active part of Kandrakar's mystic Congregation..
Another part was her fear. Fear that power always came with a price...
"She's scared of me because she knows I would've been at the helm of Kandrakar, respectively, had things been different. Had I never lost the Heart and my positions, things would've been very different and even without that, the Council needs me."- Nerissa commented avidly, in her Meridian home by Magjenzian Falls. "Of my power...Of course, she's afraid. Have you seen her resume?"
"No, have you?"
"All her recorded actions as an Elder are acted on fear," the raven-haired woman went on, oblivious to her husband's more sarcastic choice of tone. Obviously, he couldn't have seen an Elder's literal resume on his own. "She's Halinor from the past in a better pantsuit, I know how to push her if I have to... Wait till she finds out not I but Will is the one she should be afraid of. She's the one who awakened the Nymph," Nerissa finished darkly, bringing the cup closer to her lips.
"You think they don't know yet?"- Julian inquired, doing the same.
He had brewed that tea himself, and he gave himself points mentally. It was good.
Nerissa shrugged. It wasn't unlikely. Halinor's Elders had a lot on their plate, but then again, Xin Jing awakening was a major thing. Could they be unaware?
No, they would definitely bring it up. Definitely at Phobos's trial...
"I don't know and I don't necessarily care right now, Julian. I care about finally getting everything and everyone off my case. Then the Conclave's failure, that would be number two on my list of taxing cares."
"So, are you going to accept the offer to join their Congregation? Even if that means giving up your Seal's power to the Collective..."
It was a windy night. The Waterfalls were beautiful and cold. Nerissa stood up, an equally beautiful and cold gaze lost in them through the window. He was right. Each time she joined Kandrakar's mystic links, each time she helped them willingly, she paid dues again and again. That was simply how it was in a magical collective, especially of this magnitude.
This time would be no different. The first major collective magic would drain her like no other mass spell she had cast on her own.
"I have no choice, Julian," she concluded in the end. "Nor any better opportunity..."
"I don't have much choice," - Charity was saying the same somewhere different. "I have to save you from them. She's a power player, but she's not what we need right now. More attention drawn while I struggle to free you," the woman kept musing to herself, moving her fingers along the frame she held and talked to.
She was in her chambers, sitting on her bed, and she was emotional. Emotional like she didn't allow herself to be seen very often. Whoever she was thinking of wasn't in the room with her. They were away. And it was up to her to save them, like she said to the picture.
"All those years...All our mistakes, our past. I wish I could just fix it in a heartbeat but I can't... I love you. I always love you, even if a part of you deemed us a mistake..."
"Charity? I'm sorry, we need you at the Congregation."
She had heard Halinor knocking and then slowly entering her chambers, but her reaction was a tad delayed. She still managed to put the framed picture away and stand up, her hands clutched in front of her.
"Of course, Ms. Clarkson. I'm coming right away,"
Halinor took another step closer to her and examined her face up close with motherly tenderness.
"Are you alright, Charity?"- she asked softly, removing a soft auburn-blonde curl from the younger woman's face. "You look distraught."
Charity blenched but locked big eyes with those of the ex-guardian:
"Aren't we all?"- she forced a smile.
Halinor shook her head:
"Indeed, we are but I assure you, all is going to be better soon. I have hope, even more so now than before Lillian Hale's trial. Charity, I know you have your concerns about our latest decision, and they're somewhat well-grounded, but trust me, she's not going to disappoint anyone here. Not in that sense..."
Charity nodded slowly. She had already made peace with that fact.
"Thank you, Ms. Clarkson. Thank you for assembling Kandrakar again... if it weren't for you, if Kandrakar was just another lost Council like the one that I worked for before the tragic events..."- Charity stammered. Dark memories had rushed into her head like muddy water flowing into a river.
"Kandrakar is Infinity, but it belongs to the elements and the guardians," the former fire guardian smiled at her. "And that is what we will make sure is known. By the Conclave, by anyone who tries to mess with it, wide of the mark,"
Will Vandom had never liked the notion that she was the leader. Leader of the guardians, leader in different social aspects of her life... With the progression of time, somehow, as much as she didn't use to believe it, it kept coming naturally to her.
She was long not the self-conscious teen girl she had once been, and taking on a role of leadership came with an extended set of responsibilities, no surprise there.
And one of the biggest responsibilities so far (this year. It was only February) had to be taking her little brother to his appointed magical trial on Kandrakar for his crimes against the Fortress and the guardians.
William Collins had done his best to avoid the consequences of his actions, but alas, the day had come. He was going to be brought to justice.
His parents were all smiles as they saw him out, totally oblivious to the fact that he was very much terrified on the inside.
Susan and Dean Collins believed that their son was going on a weekend trip with his older sister to attend a convention on one of his favorite video games that was being held in Midgale.
Hence, the hearty breakfast in the morning:
"Bill, you didn't eat your pancakes!" Susan exclaimed when she returned to the kitchen table. "Do you want me to prepare something else, honey, you shouldn't travel on an empty stomach!"
"N -no, thanks, mom," the teen murmured, trying his best to act normal. He knew that his parents wouldn't be able to save him from this one anyway. "Not hungry,"
"Too excited to eat?" Dean suggested and winked at Will: "Or is it those cheeseburgers you two love so much? You're going to get some the minute you're outta Heatherfield,"
"Oh, yeah, yum. We just gotta be careful, we've already had more than we can stomach in recent times," Will said a tad too sarcastically.
"If this is about my cooking again..."- Susan began with pretend insult.
Everyone laughed. Soon enough, it was time for the siblings to get on the road.
"Seems like you were worried about their brother-sister bond for no reason," the teacher said to his wife, a couple of minutes after their children were gone. "It's normal for siblings not to get along sometimes, but Will's a responsible young woman, I was sure that she'll give her brother the time of day when she herself has it."
"Yeah, I guess you were right," Susan smiled, washing a plate and then giving it to her husband to dry with the dish towel. "But you should've seen her reaction when I asked her to look after him the last time. She was so...livid. It was like I was asking her to babysit some enemy of hers,"
Dean, of course, brushed it off with a smirk. Even Susan herself didn't realize how spot-on that description had been.
"Why didn't we just open a portal behind the house?"
"Because,"
William turned to look at his sister, who was driving. OK, she was more than unapproachable today. But his pent-up fear and frustration just came out of him:
"You don't have to be this mean, you know, I apologized so many times. I'm scared! I'm just a kid, by the way, and you made sure that I get trialed as an adult magical criminal up there, on Kandrakar, the least you can do now is talk to me!"
The boy was breathing hard. Will barely acknowledged him, though; she kept her eyes on the road:
"You wanted to be Keeper of the Heart of Kandrakar, remember?"- she scoffed. "Yet now you're a kid. Now you're too scared to face Kandrakar? You reap what you've sown, kid, get over yourself,"- she concluded coldly.
William felt like groaning and crying. He knew that; he had even made peace with the fact that the Heart was better off with his older sister. After he had experienced her connection to it first hand when she saved him from the Thaurmtaturges in the mall...
What he wished for now was to take back all the hurt he had caused her, so that she could act like his older sister again... William knew it was easier said than done. He realized that what he had done to her was inexcusable, unforgivable, almost anywhere you looked at it from.
"I'm sorry for everything," the boy said quietly. "I know it's worthless now. I know how it looks like I'm only saying it because it's literally last judgment day... but I am, Will. I am sorry I messed up your life."
There was silence for almost an entire minute. Will took the last turn she had to take to get to Mrs. Rudolph's old house. She and Halinor had essentially talked about it and decided to only establish portals between Kandrakar and Earth there.
"I am willing to believe that at this point. Not to say that I'm over... everything, but you did the right thing appealing for your friends to be left out of the trial too,"- the redhead said after she parked the car. "In the future, you might be able to turn this all around and rehabilitate yourself... in my eyes, to be more specific."- she finally met his teary eyes with her own.
William almost started whimpering out loud, but he managed to hold it in by nodding repeatedly. He couldn't manage holding her gaze for long, though. His guilt prevailed and came to the surface for the first time so entirely.
Will observed that with the corner of her eye. Not that she was going to say anything about it, she had done her best. Tolerating her brother was a start, wasn't it? But besides that, she couldn't have done anything even if she wanted to. Because there was no time.
Two hands stopped their moving by slamming against the hood of the car.
"What the... You!"- Will realized what was happening just when the window of her car was broken and she was roughly pulled through it.
Taranee chuckled at the sight of her nephew, Nathaniel, crawling closer to his cousin with the tenderness of a little pup.
Her daughter and her nephew were actively working on their bond since they spent so much time together ever since she was born.
Currently, the three of them were spending the morning in Sheffield Institute's new special toddler-friendly area - one of the new additions implemented to the brand that Sheffield now was, thanks to the PTA and the great funding programs they managed.
Little Malia Ashcroft was one of those brand new baby mats, surrounded by toys, most of which were meant for her cousin, but she enjoyed nonetheless.
She was a beautiful, small baby with her warm skin and warm hazel eyes. She looked a lot like Nathaniel, though his hair had more ginger tones to it (thanks to his mother's genes), while Malia's locks promised to be a shade darker than her father's maroon-red color.
Beautiful babies. Our babies are so beautiful, Taranee thought to herself, like any proud mother, and left her book aside to take a picture.
She got carried away, she didn't realize when it had become time for her brother's class to end.
Peter Lancelot Cook walked into the nursery space from behind her in his tracksuit and a smile. He doubled as one of the school's PE teachers and the Sheffield Basketball team coach. There had been a time when Peter had been at a crossroads with his mental health, his life aspirations and goals, and simultaneously discovering his girlfriend's truth about being a guardian. That had been almost three years ago, now he was a happy family man with a two-year old son and a good life.
Life was good. Even if his once-dream of being a professional player hadn't come true.
Peter smiled and patted his sister's back, making her recoil:
"Woah, you're jumpy-"- he chuckled at the sight of Taranee nearly suffering a heart attack.
She hadn't expected him like that.
"Way to sneak up on me, Peter! Are you trying to give terminal nerve damage?"
"Sorry, chill," her brother lifted his hands in retreat. "Didn't expect you to be so reeled into motherhood, you know?"
Taranee rolled her eyes at the joke. Peter suggested they go get some coffee. She opened her mouth to protest. Leaving the kids alone? That was surely...
"We'll take them with, of course,"- it was the man's turn to roll his eyes. He picked up the baby basket with his niece in it, and Taranee picked up Nathaniel.
"Cass told me there's a big thing happening today. On, you know. The K place. Why aren't you there?"
Taranee almost choked on her coffee. She stared at the man, incredulous, almost flabbergasted that he had asked:
"Why would I? It's William's trial, that doesn't concern me-"
"And Lillian?"
"Well, she doesn't...she-"
Taranee opened her mouth and just closed it. She hadn't expected to be put in the hot seat like that. She kept walking alongside her brother, but he could see her growing distant and far more defensive:
"Peter, I don't know if you're up to date with everything that transpired concerning Kandrakar last fall, but if you were, I'm quite sure you'd see why I don't necessarily have this burning desire to engage with them in general unless it's mandatory..."
"Oh, yeah, how would you know if I'm up to date when you haven't really shared much with me. Again," her brother shook his head. "T, I know, OK. I know you had a major scare. But the elders who said those terrible things would happen before the time loop are not in the picture anymore, right? You shouldn't-"
"That's even more disturbing to me, Peter,"- Taranee interrupted him, cheeks going warm again. "Things are never happening around us without a reason and those freaks suddenly vanishing, being phantoms to the rest of the Council... That is so disturbing!"
Oh, he knew. He obviously knew everything that had happened, so she decided not to feel bad about not sharing with him. Even though her brother was now connected to her double identity. She was too traumatized by the whole situation before the loop.
Actually losing the child she now held made her hold her daughter even tighter, made her want to keep her even further away from Kandrakar whose mortifying prophecy had threatened her life.
"The two elders who spoke of my daughter's ill fate are not in the picture anymore, and that's supposed to make me feel better? Hell no. It's nothing but suspicious, and the fact that there isn't anyone able to address the matter up there is why I'm not setting foot in the Fortress unless I absolutely need to!"
Taranee pushed her glasses back, looking at him sternly the entire time.
"You got that, Peter? Good! Don't bring it up again, I beg of you!'
The man knew trying to reason with her any further was a lost cause. Like trying to put out a fire by blowing at it.
"Sis, it's my last wish to upset you, but think about it,"- he said softly nonetheless. "If something's muddy up on Kandrakar, dividing you and the others is their number one goal, and so far they've achieved it with you."
Taranee froze again. What had he said? Could It be? Oh, it could...
"Are you saying that my absence at William's trial today will be a colossal stumbling stone for the guardians?"- Taranee asked furiously, sensing where her own thoughts were going.
Her brother had sown some rather unpleasant seeds of uncertainty in her and provoked the kind of doubts only a big brother can provoke in his decently responsible sister.
It was a pattern in their life.
He knew her too well, that's why he chuckled:
"Not necessarily his case, but in general. You know what I mean, Tara. You know what I'm talking about before I know what I'm talking about. Go there. Be with the girls. I'll take care of my niece, and I promise you, everything will be alright."
Taranee wanted to frown and protest, but he had already persuaded her. Maybe she did need to be by her friends' side. Perhaps evading most of her guardian life duties and extracurricular stuff for over two months was enough.
It was time she let go of her fear and defensive mechanisms and face whatever needed to be faced together with the girls.
For her, for them, and her daughter. Because they were all safer and stronger all together, weren't they now?
Elyon's life was never easy. Especially not since she had been reeled into Meridian and her heritage, her destiny, her legacy...
Her family? The idea of her family? Well, that was something she'd never learn to let go of...
"This is madness," Arel reminded her from the other side of the study.
"I know..."- Elyon sighed. "But I have no other choice, Arel...After William's trial stands, Phobos's will come and they're not going to spare him. My initial hopes that were with Will are almost exhausted now that I've seen what happened during Lillian's trial."- The Queen looked at him, her big gray-blue eyes teary.
The man opened his mouth and closed it again, without saying anything.
"They sent her away. They killed one of theirs because he corrupted her, Arel, he corrupted her and she'll hardly ever be the same now... Those people are not the people who will be moved by Phobos's story even a little. The Concalve's grip over Kandrakar is too strong."
Arel didn't argue with that. He could tell that was the case himself. He was also smart enough not to argue with a Queen about her obsessions and beliefs. It was just that getting to know Elyon over the last months and being treated in a totally different way had given his opinions more freedom. Freedom to form and roam in his mind - with Avani, he hadn't even dared to think differently from what he was being told to do. That's how devoted and threatened he had been, despite his love for the late monarch. She had been who she had been. Not someone to be questioned, especially not by the staff.
With Elyon, though...
Oh, his new love for her was different because she was different. Her love was liberating and had freed him from a lot, he just wished he could free her of her desperate need to keep Phobos afloat...
"Arel, I know what you must think of me right now,"- Elyon smiled at him, coming closer to touch his cheek. "Many have thought the same, having known me longer and not. But I feel like the way you know me... the way we got to each other these last months, you understand that I have to do this. I have to try. I have to do something for my family..."
Arel held her gaze long and silent until he gave a small smile and even smaller nod that meant everything to her.
"Yes, I do understand, my Queen,"
And as they shared a kiss, the dark figure that had heard it all, one who had been able to spy on them, retreated, a grave premonition confirmed.
"William Collins Jr., despite his barely adolescent age, was able to cook up a significant number of distressing events which led to serious consequences on a global scale. His criminal actions went against Kandrakar, Meridian, and Earth, as well as his closest appointed by the three Hearts of the same name. His processing took a lot of retrospect, but a sentence is about ready to be given. Let's review now, shall we?"- the Elder's tedious voice rang in the courtyard up on Kandrakar.
"Yeah, let's-" Irma whispered angrily from the Gallery. "Fucking nimrod sages that like to repeat shit-"
Thankfully, no one seemed to have heard her, not even her friends, who all watched William shiver on the defendant's podium. It was hard on all of them, seeing a child who literally grew up in front of them be tried as an adult criminal. And despite Halinor's efforts to hold her own, the threat of the Conclave's influence was still very prominent in Kandrakar's fate.
To William's fate.
Taranee dared to look at Will, who was called by the stand, too, given her role in everything. This had to be terrible for her. Abominable. First, she had to live through all this shit, then recap it - first during Lillian's trial, which honestly, the Fire guardian hadn't attended, now at her own brother's.
"William Collins, do you admit to conspiring with the Heart of Earth behind your sister, the Head Guardian of Kandrakar's back. The two of you approached the late Avani Escanor and then committed the following crimes together as to reach your mutual interests-"- Tibor read out loud from the Conclave's list and Irma could swear even he looked like he was doing it reluctantly. Even Tibor! "...kidnapped Wilhelmina Vandom and Phobos Escanor, played havoc with the Heart of Kandrakar's possession, established threats to Earth and Meridian by-"
"Objection-"- Will interrupted stone-faced. "I believe we're here to discuss my brother's actions, not their mutual efforts. Otherwise, why have separate hearings and no mutual ones? What William did was approach Lillian, knowing she had a thing for Matt. Somehow, she was already corrupted enough by your person - Alpha, right?"- she pointed out coldly. "Then they had their pact with Avani - from then on, he had nothing to do with threats posed by Avani and Lillian's actions. He and his friends later tried to steal the Heart of Kandrakar from us, but that's that. They didn't, he didn't pose a large threat. I guarantee for him."
"What the fuck is she doing?"- Irma whispered to her friends.
"Trying to help her brother,"- Cornelia sighed. She could relate to how her friend was feeling. Even though their siblings had hurt them both so deeply.
"By being brazen in front of both Councils?"- Taranee raised an eyebrow. Hay Lin could only make her a sign to be quiet. She was very appreciative that her friend had decided to join her today, at this hearing she was to attend either way, she had already made up her mind. Taranee was more understanding now and had somewhat gotten over her initial horror of Kandrakar, but that didn't mean her rationalizing now had to start an inner argument between them and their friends...
"Not to mention that the pact between the three was actually founded by Lillian, so have that in mind too, will you?"
Cornelia turned around, aback. Why had Will said that?! It wasn't even relevant to William's case from her point of view, but the elders seemed intrigued.
"So, what you're getting at is you're supporting your brother's case and demanding the ultimate lessened sentence for him with your status?"- the dark-skinned woman from the Conclave, who was obviously now filling in for Alpha, their previous spokesperson, took the stand.
Will gave her a cold look, ignoring the whispers from Kadma and Leo's Gallery as well as that of her friends.
"Correct," she simply said. "As Head Guardian of Kandrakar, I want that to be how I should say it? Considered. I want it considered when it comes to my brother's sentencing."
Her words went over the entire Congregation like a heat wave. Charity looked too stunned to speak as Kadma yelled over the other elders' silent chatter:
"She can't be saying that! Will, come to your senses..."
The guardians looked at each other in shock as chaos threatened to overtake the entire trial. Finally, when Thalesis the Oracle saw himself obliged to bring new order in the court, the woman from the Conclave performing the questioning had just one remark left.
"When we discussed your position prior to this trial, you gave the impression you would rather disregard who you are and what you mean to Kandrakar?"- she said cattily, and Halinor could see the huge autogoal but was powerless to stop it. "Are you going to use your status for the rest of the trials? For Prince Phobos Escanor's better outcome, for example?"
Will simply raised her head, and what she said next had the Congregation and everyone present utterly floored:
"Prince Phobos? I don't particularly give a fuck about him."
"That's not fucking Will,"- Irma concluded grimly, in the back room on Kandrakar, fifteen minutes after the debacle trial of William Collins Jr. "She'd never behave like that or say what she said about Phobos. What the FU-"
"Maybe her fear of what would happen to William got the better of her, but...I don't fathom what just happened, too," Taranee tried to make some reasoning.
The four guardians were currently alone, transformed, and tense. The situation on Kandrakar as of late was disgruntling enough even without their leader and friend going berserk. Again.
"Her words, the way she acted today... It's all going to have a terrible impact on the silent war with the Conclave and their attempts to usurp Kandrakar..."- Hay Lin said, worried, and they all knew she was right.
"Yeah, well. Kandrakar's had this coming for a long time,"- Irma remarked cynically, even though she was aware it wasn't fair. Kandrakar was a gray-shaded character and force in their lives, it had always been. But the new Council, the one founded by Halinor and Kadma? It definitely didn't deserve this. None of them did, yet they were in the midst of this mess.
"And why did Will feel the need to deflect to Lillian so many times?"- Cornelia huffed, going around in circles. "I know we talked about this and that her trial is past but she assured me countless times, despite Lillian's grave fault, she wouldn't throw her under the bus! We agreed we'd do the best we could for our siblings, as much as they don't deserve it...What if they decide to never let my sister return after today? Will pointed out she's more at fault than William! After we admitted it, be as it may, in a milder tone at her trial..."
"Cornelia, they can't do that..."- Taranee murmured, even though she wasn't completely sure in her words. "Don't..."
"I know I shouldn't talk like that, I know Lillian doesn't deserve the advocating and William is younger and he has...probably a bigger chance at a quicker redemption,"- the blonde sighed. "But Will said..."
"Because that wasn't Will, in fact, we should go there and pull her out right now before she's done more damage!'- Irma demanded. "She said she doesn't care about Phobos in front of both Councils, give me a break, she'd never do that!"
"That would be right, Irma. I'm not your good friend," her hostile voice sounded behind them, making the guardians turn around.
Will had just entered the back parlor. But that look she had on her face...
"Wixy?!"- Hay Lin gasped, realizing.
"Wixy!?"- her friends repeated in disbelief.
It never got clear what Wixy's fate had been around their last struggles with the Eye, and even Lillian hadn't known. Post Fanu, no one had seen her or William's Altermeere.
No, actually, according to Martin's mother's confession, she was supposed to be a monster on the loose, but she didn't really look the part now.
Irma frowned. Last year, when they had seen themselves forced to conjure Wixy again - who had already lived and died once, fusing with Will's aura and the Heart of Kandrakar (after dying from Nerissa's hand when they had been teenagers), no one had expected for her to become such a pain in their asses. Maybe that was their mistake. Wixy and Bogus-William had been necessary at the time. Now?
"I don't know how you fooled everyone that you're Will, or why, but this is fucking insane, you quack!"- Irma yelled. "Actually, I do know. We've been practicing at being her for a while, haven't we? You think you can be Will? Oh, you thought!"
A dangerous shadow passed over Wixy's face, making her look darker than ever before.
"Where is Will, and why did you...how did you take her place today?"- Taranee asked suspiciously.
Wixy smirked and attempted to turn her back on them, but Irma was too fast; she teletransported in front of her:
"Oh, no, you're not!"- she barked, pushing Wixy back. "We brought you back from astral oblivion or wherever the heck, you shat all over us enough, you don't get to come here, pretend to be Will and then just disappear again!"
Wixy looked down at the hand that had pushed her and then back into her eyes, coldly. Almost savagely - her otherwise amber eyes appeared pitch black, but Irma was too frustrated to notice that.
"Get out of my way," the Altermeere warned. "Or you'll live to regret your temerity real fast, Irma,"
"Oh, don't give me that crap! Who do you think you are?! I'm going to send you back where you came from, bitch, keep trying me!"
"Just answer the question, Wixy,"- Cornelia called from behind her, annoyed and tired. It had been a long trial. This was the last she needed today. "Why and how did you come here today?"
"WE ASKED..."
"Easy."- Wixy shrugged nonchalantly, interrupting the Water guardian with peculiar success. "I needed William so I came here, made sure he gets to go free. I wasn't going to uncover my truth to you but I don't care anymore. I have what I wanted. Oh, and I replaced Will after I, you know, sorta killed her earlier."
There was a grave silence after her grave statement, and the four young women in the room needed a minute to start hearing again after it. To get over the shock of the said and not knowing how to react to it. How to respond to it...
"You...you're out of your mind!"- Cornelia was able to finally squeal, her throat feeling thick and stuffed. "What nonsense are you blabbering and WHY, YOU-?!"
In a swift, ominous second, Wixy's arm became unnaturally elongated and shaped like a sword, piercing Cornelia's shoulder, provoking a terrible scream and lots of blood. As well as lots of distress...
'WHAT THE HE-"
Irma was horror-stricken; she fell to the ground, ducking a lazy swing. The blood just kept flowing up from Cornelia's wound.
The girls screamed and tried to defend themselves from the sudden, vicious attacks. But Wixy was too fast and too eerie; in the matter of seconds, she went through Taranee's firewall and almost grabbed her by the head. Thankfully, Hay Lin's strong winds were able to slam her into the opposite wall as Irma managed to help a panting Cornelia up.
Wixy smiled malevolently as the air kept her glued like a bug.
But she was not a bug. She enjoyed the terror in the guardians' eyes. For once, they looked like they'd never underestimate her again.
"What's the matter with her!?"- Taranee screamed, still in shock and disbelief but Wixy was starting to go through the air wall that kept her glued.
"Who cares, stop her! Fucking defuse that thing!"- Irma screamed, horrified.
But demonic Wixy seemed unstoppable. Just when Hay Lin started fearing that the clamor of their battle would remain unnoticed because of everything else happening on Kandrakar, a siren sound echoed across the room.
The darkness aneroids, the system that was supposed to monitor the levels of darkness present in Kandrakar had caught up on the Altermeere's bloodlust. They broadcast danger, alarming the entire fortress. Highest danger. The Altermeere turned around and hissed at the Elders who had come.
"LOOK OU-"
Wixykilledone of the Elders on the spot with her fast moves and the inhumane claws that she could grow and grow, and grow...
The other Elder was saved by the guardians who combined their magic to fend off the beast, but it looked like it wasn't enough. Nothing was enough to contain her, and she still attacked; she attacked every new person that she could, as there were now swarms of Elders and Fortress Soldiers coming their way; the weaker and slower suffered wounds, and others died, to Cornelia's shock and terror.
They couldn't stop this. They were responsible for this Altermeere, and they just couldn't stop her from hurting people, she was too savage and strong...
"This isn't working, people, don't, I repeat, don't come towards the back parlor behind the Gallery!"- Hay Lin's magically elevated voice sounded above everything. She was fretful, she feared that not only more people could be endangered but, worst of all, her grandmother could come too close to the danger and be hurt badly... "She's demonic...this is a very strong spell, please don't come in her way!"
How this monstrosity had come to be was a bizarre thought no one could give an answer to at this point, but the slaughter was a fact. Taranee felt sick at the sight of the blood that was now smeared on the floors and some of the walls.
How many had died while she and her friends got pushed around and nearly killed, too, like useless rags? Two now, maybe at least four victims?
Taranee screamed in terror and conjured a new wall of green, boiling flames that she tried closing around Wixy. How was she able to go through them? The temperature of her flames was mind-boggling, she entire parlor was flaming from it, the air was dry and hot, yet the monster moved and moved, escaping through the circling flames and going at people who had to now keep safe from both her and the hell fires...
Irma and Hay fortified the ice shield that they had managed to hide all the elders behind, though it was also melting due to the heat...
"Tone it down, Taranee, it's not getting to her, it's going to kill us!"- Cornelia screamed. She had barricaded the doors of the parlor. Wixy was contained inside for now.
It was not that they were completely incapable of dealing with her - it was the velocity of it all; all this had happened in a matter of less than four minutes; four deaths in less than four minutes, and Wixy's inhumane speed and newfound abilities.
A killing machine. She's a killing machine, Cornelia thought and frowned. Where had she heard this metaphor before?
Wixy screamed, suddenly smitten by burning pain. Pain, like not one of the guardians' attacks had been able to bring her thus far.
It was Thalesis and Nerissa.
"Guardians, retreat, secure the Fortress and make sure the Conclave has retreated to their own and are there to stay,"- the Oracle instructed as calmly as he could be whilst holding the monstrous Wixy down in pain.
The spell that he weaved looked like an ethereal mint-green energy wrapping itself around a black shard of some sort, like a tail. The shard projected more energy, cutting directly into Wixy and obviously bringing her a great deal of pain.
Irma looked out through the windows. The Twin Conclave Fortress which was a smaller building floating in Kandrakar territory as a threatening element ever since the time loop fiasco, looked dark. But it was too late. Wixy had already...
"She killed one of them,"- Halinor's horrified voice echoed from the corridor behind the parlor. "She killed one of the Conclave members..."
"Don't come here, Halinor,"- Nerissa ordered. She threw Wixy a death glare. "She's not out of order yet-"
"We have bigger problems," Taranee said uneasily as she and her friends were finally able to stand still after the massacre.
The massacre that Wixy had initiated had left blood on the walls... One dead body was in the parlor, another had flown out, a third one was obviously out in the corridor...
Three of Halinor's elders and one of the Conclave were all unfortunately dead. It was bizarre to think what else she had claimed...
"She s-said she...Will, she said that before she came..."- Cornelia struggled to find the words as she healed her wound...
"I threw her lifeless body off that bridge,"- Wixy said in a hoarse voice and then laughed. "How else did I take her place during the trial, and none of you caught wind? Fools."
"Oracle, is she saying the truth...Is Will..."- Hay Lin whispered, tears already going down her face.
They all dreaded the answer. Thalesis seemed hesitant at first, but his firm reply that came then was:
"I don't presume. If Will were dead by an enemy's hand, the Heart of Kandrakar would have most probably reverted either to this Fortress or one of its previous owners to avoid being tainted by the Keeper's murderer... Only in very specific cases does it go to the killing hand that..."
"It never does, it cannot be taken by force or assassination!"- Nerissa hissed and aimed all her anger at Wixy. "You lying spawn! You couldn't kill a Keeper if it were your sole purpose; you're just a shadow possessed by blasted Kasnoff magic, and this is going to be blamed on us! I never should've allowed you be back!"
Wixy smirked at the green-eyed witch's face as she knelt down before her.
This woman had turned her into an Altermeere, tried to use her, and then killed her all these years ago. It was high time they settled their scores.
The former guardian winced in surprise and pain.
Sharp nails grabbed Nerissa's jaw, puncturing the skin.
"Maybe you shouldn't have. Because now I'm going to gorge your eyes out and crush your skull,"
"NO!"- Thalesis repeated, his voice the only thing tearing through the united horror hanging in the air at that moment.
"Bitch!"- Wixy roared.
Nerissa had teletransported away. She had also teletransported the black shard into Wixy's side.
"Why don't you really die for once, you wight,"- Nerissa hissed venomously now from afar, absorbing the blood from around her jaw.
Everyone stared as Wixy's eyes closed and she turned into a totally black, seemingly lifeless body double of their friend. It was more than disturbing.
Because she didn't die. She recuperated. Faster and more dangerous than before.
Thalesis saw himself obliged to take the girls inside a mystical shield-veil. They knew they had to, but they also didn't want to just flee. He made sure they did. It was getting... ugly. An understatement, actually.
The wight's frame towered above her, and as Nerissa took a step back herself, looking at the horror that was left of Wixy unfolding, a distraught Charity made her way to her and they shared a quick glance...
"I feel as though I lack the capacity needed to verbally or in writing put into structure all that has transpired since... since the massacre in the fortress. An Altermeere turned demonic by old family lineal magic and her own bitterness over an, admittedly, noxious, unfortunate existence. Made her nearly unstoppable on Kandrakar... she could only be stopped by the Keeper and the Nymph herself...because the Nymph was awoken. When Will appeared and disposed of the butcher in the face of her once Altermeere, she wasn't just Will. She was Xin Jing. Xin Jing had nursed her back to life. Xin Jing had brought her to stop the wight from killing more...Xin Jing was awakened. Why was she awakened, however?"
Almost one month post the events of the so-called massacre on Kandrakar that had taken the life of five, Charity was still uncertain of the answer to that.
She finished her entry and decided to finish her cup of tea as well. She could do that now because she felt so much more at peace. Charity reveled in the change of scenery Kandrkar had seen in just a month's time. The grip of the enemy around them was weakened, and why?
Because of the massacre. The massacre had ironically killed not one but two member of the Conclave, and that had lessened their threat and grip so much due to the fact that they functioned as a collective...
Once she was finished, Charity gathered her things and left the table. She saw the man coming her way as she entered the elevator, and at first she thought nothing of it. She was carrying her things and was calm. Calmer for the first time in many months. The Conclave drama was left to Halinor and her elders, Nerissa and the New Oracle and thanks to the shift of powers, they were going to soon prevail.
Charity was content. Now all she had to do was keep following the girls, as their White Lighter of sorts, wait for the wrap-up of the remaining trials, and wait for the most felicitous moment to execute her own motives.
I will get you back, Harry. I will get you out, and now that those tiring witches are finished, no one is going to stand in my way!
"Charity Callahan?"
She blenched as the elevator doors closed and the elevator started going up, towards the roof parking lot. It was almost as if she hadn't noticed the man in his dark suit who had just spoken to her, knowing her name and all.
"It's you, isn't it?'- the man exclaimed despite her cold and awkward silence. "It's Edward. Edward Miles. We went to school together in Townside."
Charity's left eye twitched. God, so much time had passed since she had been in school; she had almost entirely forsaken all her ties with her life back then. Back when she first became a witch and lived through a series of unfortunate events because of magic...
"E-edward, of course, how did you even recognize me... It's been a while," she spoke cautiously, pushing an auburn blonde strand of hair back.
"You haven't changed at all," the man replied with a small smile. "Still as beautiful."
Charity looked at him, but inside, she was a statue. Now she could recognize him as well.
This isn't happening. This isn't happening...
She still managed to smile and did some more small talk until they reached their floor. Keeping appearances. She was a pro at keeping appearances. Both of them had their cars parked up here, as it seemed.
It was so more-than-rare for her to meet people from so many years ago, back when she and her sister had still been in school...
It was not possible.
Wake up, she told herself. Snap out of it! This is an illusion. This is just a mind game.
"You're in Heatherfield now? I will see you around then, perhaps. Perhaps more than you think."
Charity felt herself stopping nailed in her place.
"I don't think so. I... I won't be in town long, but good seeing you, Edward."
Edward just smiled and kept walking. It didn't sit right with her. Every pore on Charity Callahan's body was drenched with fret and fear. Because this wasn't possible. Not unless she had just walked into a trap.
But who could ever set such a trap for her?
"How are you here, Edward?"- the woman called after him, her voice cold, no longer tolerating this. She was done playing. This little game seemed to amuse him. Put a smile on his lips even as he kept walking towards his vehicle, even if at a slower pace. So slow and disparaging as if meaning to annoy her.
"Oh, I know you. I know you want to know, but I'd say not today. As I said, we will be seeing each other."
"Did they send you here?"- Charity insisted. "Because if they did, and you're relying on them for protection, you've misjudged the situation. The Conclave has bigger worries than me right now,"
Edward snickered and opened his car:
"I have no idea what you're talking about, Chay,"
That did it. No one here had ever called her that. No one in this Universe.
Charity threw her auburn-strawberry blonde ponytail back and opened her big white leather purse, pulling out a small clock, the bright blue lights from which engulfed the parking lot, temporarily putting it on stop and freeze, cloaking it from every other party and eye in the Multiverse.
"Edward Miles was never in this Universe, never knew anything about Heatherfeild or the Twin Conclave."- the woman began dangerously, her big eyes piercing the man who was the only other breathing being that her spell had left unaffected. "You have 60 seconds to save yourself. So, start talking!"
"What did you do?"- the man exclaimed, horrified, looking around himself, seeing how everything was completely still, even the set of birds that had been flying outside the open parking...
"Don't worry too much about my piece of the Time of Breathspell. Just something from Kandrakar."- Charity smiled ominously in that generically polite, wise mean girl fashion of hers. "So. Who are you, and why did you reveal yourself to me today? You didn't expect this turn of events?"- she almost mocked. "I thought you said you knew me,"
Edward looked over at her uneasily but didn't say anything.
"Is this a glamour? Are you even Edward?"- Charity went on methodically, materializing her neon purple binding whip in a flash.
"You k-know it's me, Chay, we dated in school, nobody else just calls you that-"- the man wheezed in terror as her whip tightened around his neck dangerously and slammed him back.
"The Edward I dated thirty years ago is not a dimension-crossing card who comes and threatens me openly, what do you want? How are you here!?"- Charity yelled (most probably for the first time since her arrival in Heatherfield last fall) the man's body against his car, then picked him up and threw him on the roof of the vehicle, all with her energy whip.
It was a bizarre sight to see this elegant, smartly dressed, beautiful woman with such offhand magical power resulting in physical might.
"T-he Eye of God,"-Edward wheezed again, this time capturing her full attention.
Charity's eyes widened:
"What?"
"I was never going to speak about it, but this spell of yours cloaks us and stops time in a way, doesn't it? So, I can tell you without being watched. Not by that Conclave of yours. By the Eye!"
Edward rubbed his sore neck and watched the woman who had just released him carefully.
"The Eye of God were defeated. Their most radical branch, the Heatherfield one, died with the principal."- Charity snapped, looking the rugged man in the eye. He was ruggedly handsome if anything. "So, what are you on about, Miles? What do you know about the Eye of God and magic either way!"
"What if I told you that there's someone bigger and badder than Violet Martens Knickerbocker at play right now, aiming to do damage equal if not greater than her dream of usurping the Heart of Earth?"
Charity blenched in shock but allowed him to come closer to her. Edward came as close to her as he could. He knew so much... He knew everything, but how? It could only mean that what he was saying was... true?
"I know. I've known a lot about magic and the Eye of God, but I've certainly acquired even more knowledge since you dumped me for Harry Greenwood."