Chapter Six: The New Council

Richard Fragenson was receiving distressed calls since morning. Calls that claimed ridiculous, impossible things. Apparently, Nerissa Crossnic had allowed herself to storm his office and start bossing his people around. She was back with a vengeance and a hysterical announcement. Somehow whatever she was doing was working. Security was totally paused, unable to throw her out because of her so-called "new status" she supposedly had documents to back up. Most of the people who worked for "N.C Enterprises" were utterly taken aback and unaware of what to do or say, despite their experience. Others had betrayed their boss in exchange for their positions. But he knew this was impossible. It wasn't possible for what Nerissa had told his legal team to be true. It wasn't possible for her to have acquired everything, cutting him out of the board of the directors...for crying out loud, he was the head of the board! He owned this company! He had to come to deal with this in person since everyone else was too incompetent to deal with such a ridiculous issue...

"Nerissa Crossnic! Enough with this."- he breathed hard as he struggled to catch his breath. "This farce ends now!"

The big leather chair turned around slowly and she faced him with a big smile and an eccentric sparkle in her green eyes.

"Hello, Richard."- Nerissa purred as she relaxed her long, wearing high stilettos legs on the big desk. "I'm pleased you could make it on such short notice despite your travel plans. I wanted to give you your stuff back myself, as you are, you know. Fired."

And she kicked the cardboard box down from in front of herself, sending it in Richard's feet.

"What is this bulshit?! This is not your company, Nerissa, for the last time!"- he bared his teeth. "This is not my company anymore either, it's not even a company! I sold all the shares to another name, a big one, and now they'll do with it as they please, I don't know what forged documents you showed to my people here but it doesn't matter, I'm here to remind all of them. Starting from next week, they won't have to come here anymore, they will all be highly compensated, with many new offers for investments, and you should just leave it alone! You hear me? It's over! "N.C Enterprises" is sold and all shareholders are at profit. Your father's company doesn't exist anymore! Nor do your shares!"- he spat. "I sold them all! I'm a self-made multi-millionaire now and I- "

"Self-made?"- Nerissa interrupted him and looked down at him with disgust. "You're just a leech and an ungrateful slob, that's what you are, Richard."

"Yeah, put it as you wish if that makes you feel better."- the man hissed, crossing arms on his chest. "But what I said is the truth. I will show you every document that speaks of it as proof. And if you still refuse to leave the building after that, I'll just call the police. This building is also being sold now, Nerissa, we have until next week to fully vacate it, and you? You have no right to be here even now-"

"I have every right to be here because this building and all the shares which you believe to have sold belong to me. Everything's mine. Starting from this last week. Two days before you signed with Simueltech if I'm not mistaken? Of course, I'm not."- the woman laughed as she watched his face drop. It dropped when he heard the name of the corporative giant, he had hammered a deal with...

"Transactions were made."- Richard said in a dry voice. "I-I have the documents to prove it! Simueltech's shareholders' department was authorized to complete the deal we've been discussing for months! You're talking nonsense out of spite-"

"You still don't get it, do you?"

Nerissa stood up and walked to him, placing a hand on his shoulder in a belittling manner:

"And how could you? Anyway, let me explain it to you. The deal you made wasn't with Simueltech, really, it was with me. Because I was authorized by their board of directors as a full-fledged recipient of all the shares, they were to pay out, two days prior to the deal you signed. I preempted you. You see, Richey, you could say that at the end, you sold my father's company solely to me. But I shouldn't have to pay for something's that rightfully mine, now, should I?" - Nerissa laughed heartily at Richard's utterly floored reaction.

"Which is why I refused the pending transaction, using my newfound rights. Simueltech won't pay you a dime. All shareholders are still invested in this company which is now mine. They cannot do a thing without my consent unless they want to come out at a loss, because of the policy developed by you over the years, and your shares? Well. Let's talk about your percent now."

"What the hell are you telling me? They won't pay?! You were made recipient...but why!? How?!"- Richard pulled back. He looked as if he was going to suffer a stroke. "This is a fraud! I've signed a deal transferring all this for nothing! You... you've cut me off?! I will sue you! I will sue Simueltech too! I don't know what contacts you have there and how you got your name on the final draft of the deal and that, behind the scenes, but that's illegal! Very illegal! You'll regret that, you psychopath!"

"Oh, I was afraid you'd say that."- Nerissa tsked, and for some reason, he stopped.

He was about to storm out of the office but her tone somehow made him recoil and stop. It suggested that there was more...

Richard turned around breathing like a beaten horse. This woman. She was crazy. Everything about her was crazy. The way she looked for her supposed age, her attitude, her actions, her words...

"I have two options for you."- Nerissa narrated softly yet imposingly. "The first one is very lucrative. I've already destroyed all evidence except the one copy I showed to people here today but they don't know the details behind it. They don't know about the refused transaction and the Simueltech story, they think that I simply tricked you into signing everything to my name- "

"You did exactly that, you-"

"And they will continue to think like that. You will not dig into this. You will not take it to court, you will simply let it be. I have prepared a new contract that we will sign today, a contract that will certify that you transfer everything to me in exchange for doubled compensation ... A fourth of what you would've received as a number from Simueltech, to be more exact. For the whole company. It's a lot more than you deserve, but I'm just generous like that."

"You're hysterical."- Richard shook his head. "You're...the most brazen swindler I've ever heard of! This is a huge crime, and you think I would leave you unpunished in exchange for less than I would have received if you hadn't interfered? You think you can fuck me over like that and get away with it? You will rot in prison, witch-"

"...Then I will contact Simueltech, explain to them that the deal is off because I'm the rightful owner of the company and I'll be in charge from now on."- Nerissa continued, unfazed. "They will let it be too because I refused the transaction before the withdrawal deadline. They don't have to know how you and I got to this agreement. And everything will be great. I will have my father's company back and you won't be broke."

"Forget about it."- Richard hissed. "You will not screw me over like that and just take over what I've worked for my entire life. I don't care that you're Tom Crossnic's daughter! You've committed a dire fraud and you'll face consequences!"

Nerissa shook her head to herself. These people were always asking for it. They were dying for it.

"Then I suppose that your wife and I will be cellmates in prison because option number two involves me releasing a full body of evidence that incriminates her as a murderer. I really hoped you wouldn't choose that option, Richard."

He turned towards her again, but this time he looked sincerely terrified and aged. He looked at her in shock:

"H-how did..."

Nerissa walked back to the desk where she pulled a file from her silver leather bag. She threw it at the man and put a hand on her waist:

"Copies, of course. Don't ask how I got them; I just did. See, evidence can always be revived if you know the ropes. These are enough to put her in jail for at least ten years, even with the mitigating circumstances..."

"My wife is sick. She cannot afford to go to jail right now, she needs treatment and this fucking state doesn't offer that kind of treatment in the correction facilities!"- Richard walked to the desk looking paler and paler. "This is too cruel! How can you gamble with an innocent woman's-"

"Oh, I know she's sick, that's the only reason I'm offering you this much money to get off my back. Also, innocent? Huh! You're both no saints. I could blackmail you without paying you anything after you tried to deprive me and my son of what was left for us."- Nerissa retorted coldly and Richard recoiled. "But I'm not that cruel. You shouldn't be so greedy either. The money I'm offering will cover her treatments and last you for a decent life for years. Everyone should be aware of the limit of their role in a particular place or situation."- she added through gritted teeth. "This is and always has been my company. Remember that."

Richard was at a loss of words. He was defeated, no contest. He could just stare down at the file in his hands.

"She killed a woman because of me."- he murmured in the end. "My wife. Because-"

"The victim was your mistress, oh, I know. I did my research."- Nerissa rolled her eyes. She leaned over the desk and added darkly:

"See, Richard, I'm capable of much more than this. This is nothing. Accept the good deal I'm offering you now because you will not like me when I'm incensed. Because when I'm incensed, I can do much, much worse things than this little, soi-disant, fraud. Worse than that crime of passion your affair led to, also."

"Well...we still have many details to work through but we're getting there. I strongly believe... Kandrakar will have a new fully working Council soon."- Halinor Clarkson said with a little smile and then turned to her girlfriend, Kadma Starlighter, who nodded and picked up from there:

"We've gathered these elders from all over the magical universe. They're wise, capable, and sure. Unlike Himerish, we created a strong, eloquent vow that no one here will ever be able to break again. Everyone who is permitted in the Fortress of Light will be part of what the Fortress of Light was always supposed to be. A sure, unshakable heart of infinity, where the forces of good work for betterment and balance in all the worlds falling under Kandrakar's care. This is going to be the new, ameliorated Kandrakar! No more dark secrets and hypocrites. No more enormities of the Oracle!"

"Wow, OK. Did you do a Harvard contest and an aptitude test for your new elders too?"

Irma's joke was met with smiles. Had it been two years ago or more, Kadma would've probably lashed out at her for being immature and frivolous but now she just tightened her golden ponytail holder while smiling. They had been through a lot together in just two years and that had made them closer. Former and present guardians.

Halinor coughed softly and smoothed some invisible flying hairs from her long, big blonde doll curls.

"We're not quite ready to hold out trials yet but Phobos can stay here. Here he won't be able to do any harm and evil."

"That's what we counted on."- Matt nodded and pushed the man a tad rougher than needed. "He really needs a place to stay. Away from us."

Phobos clenched his teeth in silence; he just straightened his back once more and casually waited for what was to come next.

"Join us for some tea in the gardens."- Halinor suggested, placing a hand on Hay Lin's shoulder. "I've assigned a portal that will take your grandmother there too, once she's ready. We still have some things to discuss."

"Wait, did you say portal?"- Cornelia intervened. "I thought that you lowered the veil again after the crisis from last year was taken care of- "

"We did. But we've decided that we should keep the veil around Earth and Kandrakar. Permanently."- Kadma said and then gave final instructions to the two elders and the guards that had come for Phobos: "Get him ready for the Tower of Mists. This evil man's presence here immediately reflected on the darkness aneroids. He needs to be closed shut!"

"Yeah, but we promised-"- Hay Lin hesitated but what was interrupted by Irma:

"The what now? Androids?"

Taranee pointed at one barometer-like evacuated box on the wall.

One of the many additions and novelties that Halinor and Kadma had introduced to the Fortress were those scales that monitored the amount of concentrated darkness in Kandrakar. There were three main areas separated by lines, just like on a plain barometer, the first being the desired area; when the values were in it, everything was fine. The middle zone meant rising darkness and potential danger, and the third dark red zone meant serious danger and emergency.

"These are put everywhere now."- Halinor revealed as they walked along one long corridor. "They send signals to the main aneroid and thus monitor the dark forces around the entire place. Darkness is everywhere around us; it co-exists with light and forms everything else, however, we should be cautious with it."

"When Kandor's curse did what it did to the Fortress and the previous Council, the levels on these aneroids would've been in the dire zone, going through the roof. If the previous Council relied on anything more than Himerish's seer powers, many things could've been averted."- Kadma snorted, never failing to show her distaste for their former Oracle.

"Don't worry, Hay Lin. We will not lock Phobos inside the Tower of Mists before contacting Coronia and further debating this."- Halinor turned to the girls and Matt once again when they entered the gardens of Kandrakar from where one could see a lot more of the floating additional buildings and vast skies around the Fortress.

The Fortress of Light was a unique construction for sure. With many secrets and sides that even after all these years the girls hadn't really seen.

They sat on benches instead of on the soft grass and soon some new members of the Kandrakarian staff brought them tea and refreshments.

Taranee had to note that everything had a much more secular look and feel to it ever since the two former guardians were in charge.

"We're already aware of the...sensitive situation with Phobos and Will."

Matt's face hardened at that but Cornelia cleared her throat:

"There has to be a way to get rid of that sidereal bond thing they have now, right? Right? Halinor?"- she added with hope.

But Halinor disappointed her:

"We will study ways. We will put all our elders' minds and knowledge into this but I'm afraid that as for now we cannot say anything for sure, Cornelia. Everything Will said and Avani managed to figure out before any of us is true. Will and Phobos were marked to establish this bond sooner or later. It's good we caught wind of everything before it was too late..."- she finished grimly. "If this connection between them grows any stronger, Will's mind may be plagued or put under the control of this illusory feeling. She might develop-"

"We will not let that happen."- Kadma interrupted her and rolled the sleeves of her lilac robe up. Her wrists, ankles, and neck were adorned with gold but the look in her violet eyes was purely determined: "We will not let her succumb to the darkness. This is not the old Kandrakar anymore. No guardians will ever be alone again."

Halinor sighed and put a hand on her shoulder.

"Which actually brings me to another question."- Taranee interfered. "How did the previous Council not see this coming? I mean to say... when they started monitoring us and our parents because we'd be the next guardians. Before the Heart protected Will... How did they not see that she and Phobos are both marked?"

"Maybe they did and decided to stay quiet about it. Won't be the first time."- Irma folded her arms on her chest. "Nasty secretive-"

"In all honesty, Taranee, it baffles me as well."- Halinor admitted. "I personally watched over Susan Vandom during her pregnancy. We never saw this, not all of us have the power that Avani possess, intuitive empathy, I mean, but despite that. The Oracle's foreseeing should've been enough. I have no idea why no one ever noted this."- she exclaimed. "Not for Will or for Phobos...and the Council has monitored both of them."

"The former Council had a lot of bad politics, self-absorbed elders, and idiocy."- Kadma insisted. "Why do you think I refused to have anything to do with it after Cassidy's case? They said Nerissa was corrupted but the truth is that they were those truly corrupted."- she shook her head angrily, just thinking about the past. "The majority of them were judgmental sociopath beings who deserved the end they were met with. They brought it on themselves!"

"Kadma..."

A bolt of lightning flashed somewhere in the distance in the otherwise crystal-clear skies.

Then Yan Lin joined them and they discussed the novelties around the new order that was imposed after the old Council's doom. Kadma had her regent Ironwood to take care of Zamballa again as she was needed by Halinor's side. Their Earth affairs, namely the Rising Star foundation and all their work in Fadden Hills was now successfully taken care of by Ember and Tridart. Ever since they had received human forms and lives, they had been of great help to the two former guardians who had been main advocated for that change in their lives. Halinor thought of the two former knights of destruction as children of their own and it was mutual.

Some other important issues that were proving to be of greater and greater importance as time passed, Yan Lin brought up. With the reestablishing of the Council and the start of their work, they had many tasks to uphold. Watching over the worlds that were part of Kandrakar's league was just one thing. Halinor and her elders had to note the alarming new facts about Heatherfield and Avani's hijacking supposedly executed by individuals in Heatherfield...

"That's quite disquieting, indeed."- the ex-guardian agreed as she jotted down notes. "We're still building up our new team and system here, on Kandrakar, and that has proven to be quite time-consuming but I would like to see Lillian, OK, Cornelia? She's the Heart of Earth. Perhaps working with her on a higher level will help resolve the increased magical activity in Heatherfield."

"Yeah, OK. I will bring her to you."- Cornelia agreed and Halinor nodded concordantly, checking that in her notes.

"And then...do you by any chance know anything about Orube? Luba's apprentice?"- she asked. "I do have a sure person guarding the Aurameeres right now, but I did want to offer her the job too?"

"Orube, no..."- the guardians and Matt exchanged glances.

"Well, she was on Earth over a year ago but then she just...picked herself up and left."- Cornelia trailed and Taranee nodded. "We never really got to that. We just figured that she wants to move on with her life or has something urgent to deal with."

"Now that I hear you say it, we might've made a mistake."- the Fire guardian pushed her glasses back. "We should've looked for her-"

"Well, Will was already gone, you think we really even thought of Orube? Come on, give me a break with these missing friends."- Irma rolled her eyes.

"Irma!"- Hay Lin scolded her.

"OK, OK, calm down."- Halinor appealed. "Just do tell me if she comes into contact with you. It's not urgent. I just wanted to offer her the position of her once teacher."

"Can't you just, you know, use the seeing power of the Fortress to track her down?"- Matt suggested. "I don't think she would block Kandrakar's eye or whatever you guys used to do during your war with Nerissa."

His question seemed to have caught them off-guard. Kadma and Halinor just exchanged vague glances before Yan Lin took the word:

"Kandrakar's eye has many ways of seeing."- she began. "Kandrakar just doesn't have a seer to put those powers into best use right now..."

"Wait what?!"- Taranee and Irma exclaimed in unison.

"You didn't recruit a seer?"- Cornelia blinked.

"But isn't it like...impossible for Kandrakar to be effective without a seer?"- Hay Lin asked carefully. "Without...an Oracle?"

"We're working on it...it has just."- Halinor mumbled. "Proven to be difficult."

"How."- Irma began sarcastically. "As far as I can remember, the last time-"

"Because people with seer powers can hardly be trusted. They scheme, lie and do things to float their own boat. It's hard to find someone worthy of being...Oracle."- Kadma closed her eyes in irritation. "Himerish himself was hardly a good fit for the position. In fact, he was a terrible one for me! We don't want to risk giving someone worthless this much power and authority."

Will nervously stomped her foot as she waited. It had been a long day spent undoing all the damage their Altermeeres had caused. Mostly her brother's Altermeere. William's identical copy, or Bogus-William as she called him, was quite a brat. Not only had he completely tarnished her brother's reputation in front of all his family, peers, and teachers, he had caused serious trouble which had forced Dean and Susan to enroll him in a school in a different town. Bogus-William had gotten himself kicked out of there as well. Will could only guess as to why her brother's copy had been so vindictive and vile but it didn't matter anymore; he and Wixy, her very own Altermeere, had made a run for it. They were out of the picture at least for now. Now she and William had to live in the aftermath.

"I told you it's stupid."- William groaned still looking down. "My life's ruined. Sometimes I wish we just stayed in that stupid Beta place. At least we had a castle."

"Billy, first of all, don't say that you wish we were still Avani's dolls."- his sister groaned even though a part of her could see where he was coming from. "And lose the long face, OK? You have to claim your life back. You're William Collins and no one can just distort everything like that for you to no return. You have to fight in life. For almost everything. You should come to terms with it the more you learn about Kandrakar and all that now that you're almost a teen. When I was your age- "

"OK, OK. Please don't give me another lecture. Dad's long ones are enough."- William interrupted her and blew the messy brown hair off his forehead. "When you were my age at least you didn't have this basic-ass name. William Collins."

Will opened her mouth to say something but decided she couldn't argue with that one. Her brother's name did sound a little too traditional and old-fashioned to her too:

"Well, look it on the bright side, at least it sounds classy and it's definitely better than Wilhelmina!"

The boy rolled his eyes. The more he matured the more his personality changed. But then again, he had witnessed a lot of magic already too. That was always life-changing. Added to going through puberty? Wow, he was actually holding up decently.

Appearance-wise he was also maturing. He looked like her a lot. His hair was slightly longer in the front and a bit darker than Dean's. His skin was a bit lighter than Susan's and her own, but his eyes were identical to theirs. Overall, he was not bad-looking at all, even in this awkward stage of his development.

He's definitely cuter than me at 12, Will thought and sighed. Although now that I look at pictures, I feel like I may have been too hard on myself.

Growing up, Will had been a tad self-conscious. Especially in her preteens and earlier teens. She had been more of a tomboy too, she actually thought she had rocked an outfit similar to the one her brother had on today. (maybe even baggier.)

For years, she had thought she was unlucky she didn't exactly have her mother's beauty but now, as a young woman, she had to admit they looked a lot like each other minus the hair. She had come to accept she was beautiful. As a woman, as a person, and as a guardian.

The door of the principal's office opened and Susan Vandom-Collins started approaching them followed by a woman Will was unfamiliar with.

"They're coming together."- she whispered in her brother's ear as they both stood up from their seats. "That means that the school board didn't turn the request down. Who's that anyway, the school secretary?"

"That's the principal."- William murmured in response.

"What?"

Will was genuinely surprised but the woman who had already made it to them smiled and offered her a hand to shake:

"Hello, Ms. Vandom, I'm Violet Martens- Knickerbocker. I go by Martens here. I've heard a lot about you. I read that letter you wrote to my mother-in-law regarding your brother."

The woman was taller than her and her brother, slim, dressed in a black pencil skirt and a matching jacket. She had shoulder-length platinum blonde hair and looked like she was in her 40s.

"I think you'd be pleased to know that we decided to have him back as our student. Given the family he comes from and what you've done for Sheffield. And your boyfriend vouched for him and volunteered in the PTA. I think that William deserves a second chance. "

"Oh, that's right I've heard about you too, you're Mrs. Knickerbocker's son's wife and the new principal."- Will exclaimed and the woman nodded with a smile. "Thanks a lot, Mrs. Martens-"

"Call me Violet."

"Thanks, Violet, William won't disappoint you again."

But then the last part of Violet's sentence sounded in her mind again and she opened her mouth to ask:

"Wait? My boyfriend volunteered in the PTA?"

"Matt really helped us with that. He persuaded the other parents to give William a second chance, actually."- Susan intervened with a smile.

It was evident she was pleased. Her son, his future, their reputation in Heatherfield; it finally looked better for them. Not to mention there was a colossal betterment in William's attitude for the first time in many months. She couldn't be happier.

Will didn't say anything. She didn't know about this endeavor of Matt's. She figured he had wanted to surprise her and do something nice for them. That was... nice.

"Thanks, Mrs. Martens. I appreciate the new chance and the trust you have in my family."- William said as if reading from a textbook and ten minutes later, he, his sister, and their mother were in the parking lot of the school, ready to leave.

"God, I'm so happy."- Susan exclaimed once again, opening the door of her car. "I was discouraged in the beginning but you were right, Will. Everything is finally falling into its place. As if our good fortune has returned from somewhere after a long time! Let's go celebrate this, what do you think, kids? I crave donuts..."

"Sounds great, mom, but I just remembered I have some work to catch up with."

William gave her the dirty look but she just nodded encouragingly. She would get to them later. Now she had to hear more about some important things like the trip to Kandrakar, where Cornelia had refused to take her, for example.

Just thinking about that made her angry again. She got it. Her situation was different. Nagging even. Things had changed drastically ever since she had reassigned the Heart. But that didn't mean they could treat her like that. Her own friends. As if she was not just some inconvenience but an incapable child as well.

"Hey, it's Matt. Do the message thing."

"Oh, my God! Why aren't you picking up now?!"- Will groaned, hitting the stirring wheel of her car in irritation.

She was suddenly very annoyed. How dare they mistreat her. How dare they all just keep her in the dark about every fucking thing. And that damn voicemail opening? Gosh, it had been the last straw, the spark that had ignited the fuse of her accumulated rage.

Seriously, Matt, it was the same when you were 14. You still haven't changed even the recording itself!

"Is anyone going to take notice of me or am I supposed to wait for a Christmas miracle?"

Her car was practically flying on the roads. There wasn't much traffic, it was still a little after noon, and she was deliberately choosing smaller streets, but that didn't really matter anyway. At that moment, traffic was the last thing on her mind.

Will groaned and abruptly stopped the vehicle. She had reached a secluded forested area. Somehow, while driving in frustration, she had made it to one of Heatherfield's fanciest neighborhoods. White Mountain was quite literally a mountain neighborhood, situated higher than the rest of the city. Surrounded by forested areas.

She threw her hair back; it was getting longer. She couldn't even remember the last time it had covered her shoulders completely like it did now. Then she glanced at her phone again and discovered she had been driving for over half an hour as if without taking a breath. Aimlessly. Just because.

"Man, I'm not alright at all."- she concluded and hugged her left knee, sitting in a more comfortable position.

One minute everything's fine, I'm helping my brother get his life back into his own hands then something little enrages me and gets me off track, the redhead thought. What is wrong with me? Why am I so nervous, restless, and emotional? Ugh. Am I finally going completely crazy?

"No, you're not. Snap out of it."- she said to herself in the rear-view mirror and rolled her eyes. A sane person usually doesn't talk like that to themself, though. Take notes, Will...

Then her phone rang and the frown on her face returned. It was Matt who she had probably called ten times while driving. Of course, he was now calling her back.

"Hello."- she picked up trying to hide her irritation from him.

"Hey, Will?! Will, are you OK? When I saw I've missed all these calls from you-"

She sighed and pulled the phone away from her ear for a moment. His distressed voice and smothering concern weren't helping one bit. He needed to chill if he ever wanted her to return to her normal self. She was beginning to realize that ever since she was back in Heatherfield, Matt's "perfect boyfriend" ways were taking a toll on her and that was making her stomach protest.

"I'm fine. I'm just annoyed at you."- she snapped.

"Annoyed at me? Why? What have I done? Is- "

"Shut up, Matt! Let me finish for once!"- she practically yelled. He immediately fell silent on the other side of the line. That was better. "Why would you volunteer in the PTA without telling me?"- she just shot. "You paid them off, didn't you? Pulled a few strings and bam, Billy's back at school. Don't you think that you should've discussed this with me first?"

"Will, I didn't pay them off! Susan was so down, I just wanted to help. "- the man exclaimed. "I just offered Violet and the PTA some improvements, like a donation, I didn't think that you'd mind, we all wanted to restore Billy's life to normal after what the Altermeere-"

"Same thing, Matt."- Will argued. "He's only back at school because of his influential family and friends! You may not know this but that's taking a toll on him. The other kids are teasing him for getting things his way without working hard for it, all the time. Because his dad's a dean in the University league and a teacher, practically a household name for this city! His mom is well-known in Heatherfield and so are you! You should've asked me, Matt."

"I... I'm sorry. I really am, I had no idea."- Matt stammered. It was obvious he felt bad but she didn't care. She just wanted to let the steam out:

"Yeah, I guess you didn't. But I did, I wrote a long-ass letter to Mrs. Knickerbocker. Mrs. Kate Knickerbocker, she would've understood the issue. But you had already gone to Violet behind my back and settled things."

"Let me talk to Violet again. Then to Billy."- Matt suggested. "I'm sure that we can arrange something like community service or something like that, which will-"

"Don't bother."- Will interrupted him. Even though it wasn't a bad idea. It would actually help her brother with his peers and his self-esteem... "I will talk to her myself. Forget that."- she closed her eyes. "I don't even know why I went so hard on you about it. How did it go on Kandrakar?"

"No problem. It was my mistake."- Matt apologized, annoying her again. "And I will fix it."

She huffed. Did he not listen to her at all? Or did he purposely try to bug her!?

"I SAID don't bother, I want to talk about Kandrakar now!"

"I will tell you everything. Let's go grab a coffee or something? I can pick you up-"

Will clenched her teeth.

Oh, my God! I should just agree or I'll get an aneurysm. He's walking on my last nerve.

"Fine, let's meet up at the new Starbucks in White Mountain. And don't bother picking me up. I'm already in the neighborhood."

"Bottoms up, dears. This meat must be soaked in wine. Dessert is yet to be served too. Stay tuned."

Nerissa was more than enticing tonight. She smiled and laughed and entertained with her wits in her sparkling soft pink outfit. The evening just unfolded with good moods, laughs, and good food, which she had cooked herself. Everyone was enjoying themselves, especially the Hales who were guests in Caleb and Cornelia's home.

The meal was three-course, and Nerissa had insisted she takes care of it. Cornelia had agreed as cooking wasn't her thing anyway. And inviting her parents, Lillian, and grandmother Hale for dinner was actually more refreshing than expected. The night was a good one which wasn't happening that often when her relatives were all together for a longer period of time.

An appetizer of arugula with olive oil and a mix of three types of cheese, small cherry tomatoes, and prosciutto, followed by the main course of tender beef with mushroom, spices, and sweet potato sauce. And great wine too. Harold raised his fourth glass and said:

"Everything's very delicious, Missus. You are a gourmet chef and, honestly, one would never guess by just looking at you. My darling Beth couldn't boil an egg in her youth days when she was most beautiful and delicate. You know how it is, Julian."- Harold went on winking at Julian who pretended he indeed did understand the other man's wine-induced ponderings. "You marry a beautiful, desirable woman, she often doesn't know to do a thing in the housewifely department. Of course, we have always had help. She learned over time, of course, but..."- he gulped meeting his wife's glare, and decided to drop it: "Great food, great."

"What Harold doesn't understand is that when you travel the world and gather experience like you've had the chance to, Nerissa."- Elizabeth smiled reservedly. "You learn skills like that."

"Are you trying to complain you haven't traveled the world enough?!"- Vera didn't miss looking down at the blonde from her seat next to Lillian and Julian. Elizabeth opened her mouth at the provocation:

"Well, no, I-"

"Don't be a hypocrite, Babette-"

"Thank you, thank you."- Nerissa interfered smoothly before mother and daughter-in-law could get into another one of their verbal fights. She had the host seat, facing Cornelia, who sat in the other host seat. "I'm in a very uplifted mood today, Harold, I'm celebrating a big achievement. Though I must say I'm not that delicate at all. I'm actually pretty hardcore usually."

Her confession stirred up the spirits. Julian grinned softly and Lillian raised her eyebrows down at her plate but Nerissa drowned it all in a ring of laughter.

"Let me serve dessert and I'll be back with you."

"Do you want help?"- Cornelia offered.

"No, sweetie. It will be just a minute."

"Mom, so when will you tell us the news that got you in this uplifted mood? Is this about the company shares?"- Caleb began when she returned from the kitchen and placed her apple and caramel whip cream cake in the center of the table.

Nerissa smiled and rested her hands on her son's broad shoulders:

"Let's just say that we're on the rights tracks when it comes to your grandfather's legacy being saved. Richard and I found common language."

"Really?"- Cornelia exclaimed a tad surprised. "How did that happen, I thought he wanted to sell the company?"

"I have my ways with his family. I know his relatives."- Nerissa smiled cryptically. "It wasn't that hard."

Cornelia raised an eyebrow, already feeling like there was something not so diplomatic behind this sudden reverse of events but her grandmother took the word:

"So, you are Tom Crossnic's daughter. But I have personally met Tom Crossnic and asked you about it when we were first introduced. Two years ago, you said you weren't his child."- Vera noted.

"That's right, I recall asking about it too because the surname did ring a bell."- Elizabeth interjected. "It's not an unknown name, especially historically speaking. I even have paintings in the gallery that belonged to the Crossnic family for generations."

Cornelia bit the inside of her cheek as she and Caleb exchanged alarmed glances.

"And it did make sense to me you weren't related, Nerissa, Tom would be over a hundred if he were alive today."- Vera went on, giving her daughter-in-law the stink eye for interfering with her speech. "His family-"

"Granddaughter, actually."

Nerissa tightened her lips in a stiff smile as she met her husband's shocked eyes and she instantly knew it. She had screwed up. The lie she had just used could be suicidal for her image in the city...

"But you said-"

"Did I say granddaughter? I meant that I could pass for his granddaughter because he was in his fifties when I was born. My mother was younger, young enough, that is; her family is known for its women who easily conceive after forty. Genetics..."- she finished looking down at her own son who was the living proof of that. "I know I dodged the matter in the past, forgive me for that, I wasn't supposed to publicly associate with the Crossnic name for legal reasons. My attorneys fought to prove some things in the will and then my inheritance status... I was just following the guidelines. But not anymore. Not tonight. Tonight, I invited you here to share the news and my happiness with all of you."

It was a bit of a stretch but the Hales looked satisfied with the answer. Then she cut the cake and started serving with a smile. She had gone back on her words saving the situation this time. It wasn't that bad. The Hales knew she had a complicated family history already. That didn't mean they knew details; she could still use their ineluctable lack of enlightenment about it to her advantage. Nobody knew the full truth as she and a small handful of people knew it, and it would remain this way forever.

Half an hour later, the Hales had left. Nerissa and Julian were getting ready to head back home too. But Cornelia wanted to have a word with the ex-guardian first. Their uber had come, Julian headed for it while she stayed back for a few more moments to tickle and snuggle Killian in his nursery.

"What the hell was this, Nerissa?"

Nerissa turned around in surprise seeing the blonde at the door:

"What was what?"

"That fiasco at dinner? Look, I know you didn't find mutual grounds or language or whatever you said about that deal you and that man from the company supposedly made."- she declared. Cornelia approached her with a strict look in her blue eyes: "I am sure you're sharking him into giving you everything you wanted, I know you."

Nerissa made a face but she didn't reply at once. She kissed her dozy grandson and put him in his crib.

"Keep your voice down, I just lulled him to sleep."

"Thanks, but I don't need you doing that. I can take care of my son; I need you to not cause trouble. This is going to come back to bite you. I already see it."

"I deal with your nosy grandmother all the time, if that's what enraged you so much, I am used to pulling the wool over her eyes."- Nerissa crossed her arms on her chest. "It's really not my fault she met my father some time at some social event."

"It's not just her, more people are going to grow suspicious of your identity. You're pushing it way too much!"- Cornelia glared at her. How was she unable to understand it? "You're a celebrity now, on the social scene, and you're going around Heatherfield putting your name and image on everything you do more than ever before! That's risky enough as it is but we decided we can handle it. What we surely cannot handle is your greed and claims on your late father's company! You should've just dropped it when they turned you down that day with Caleb, not literally give more and more people grounds to suspect who you are, where you were for years, or why you look like this when you're supposed to be seventy!"

Nerissa nearly gasped before glaring back at her and hissing:

"Don't be so ridiculous! I can handle my life and everything I do in it, in Heatherfield, on Meridian, on Thanos, everywhere! I've been doing this for many years, many years before you were even born! What is the reason for this sudden distrust from you again, I thought we were long over that!"

Cornelia groaned. She wasn't surprised by the other woman's reaction at all. She just didn't exactly know how to answer her last question.

"You know I keep the Heart now. The Heart of Kandrakar."- she said in the end. "I may not have a strong connection with it like Will but it still makes me feel things. Shows me things sometimes."- she paused. "I feel something. Some...dread hanging in the air. Like something's about to happen."- she whispered seriously. "Something bad."

Nerissa sneered and put her hands on her waist:

"And you thought that bad will sprout out of my public image?"

"I don't want to take any chances."

"Then don't."- the brunette shook her head coldly.

She walked over to the younger guardian so that their heels were only an inch or two away from each other and whispered:

"The unexplainable increased magical activity in Heatherfield. Beta-Meridian's case. Your friend and her little soulmate? Perhaps look into those matters first, they sound mightily menacing in comparison to what I'm doing to get back something mine."

Cornelia frowned and just watched her leave.

"I hope that you won't hurt the family with your decisions. The family that we share."- she called after her, making her stop. "Because if you do, I will not forgive you. Not again."

Richard Fragenson was drunk. Very drunk. He came back home that night and just collapsed on the big bed, not even looking at his wife, no matter how much she tried talking to him. He was wasted beyond it. He would sleep for hours before being able to have a conversation but she had spoken to his attorney beforehand. She would probably drink till loose of consciousness too if it wouldn't interfere with her treatments lethally.

Amanda Fragenson's story wasn't a happy one. She was in her 40s but she was battling a rare disease thought of as terminal just until very recently. She was one of the first patients to ever be promised recovery from it but the way to a complete recuperation was very hard, painful, and expensive. Health is wealth, Amanda had learned that the hard way. And even though they were supposedly promised enough money to cover the extra medical bills, as the attorney had put it, their lifestyle was going to be downgraded. Considerably. And their lavish lifestyle was one of the last things that managed to make Amanda happy. After a broken marriage and almost five years of constant episodes of poor health, she couldn't handle any more drastic changes. Changes were for the worst. They always were with her.

"Hey."- she said when the person she had been calling finally picked up. "Finally. What took you so long? Do you have any idea what I'm going through?!"

She sobbed and snuggled with the blanket on the sofa. She was in the living room. Drowning her newest woes in grape juice as she wasn't allowed any alcohol and that was the second-best thing. Not really, but Amanda had to lie to herself to make herself feel better often, so it was fine.

"I'm sorry, Ames, I have a lot of work, as you know. I just got home."- the woman on the other side of the line replied. "What's the matter? Are you OK? Wait, you didn't have a doctor's appointment today, did you-"

"No! It's not that. I sent you something. Check your email."- Amanda sighed. "I'll wait. I don't even know where to start."

The other woman took a few seconds to open her email on her phone. Almost a minute later she didn't know what to say either:

"Oh, my God, Ames..."

"I know."- Amanda sobbed. "This is real. This is terrible and Richard is giving up. He's giving the company up. What are we going to do after that? My medical bills will eat up a huge amount of what he was offered..."

"Why is he doing this? Is this the woman who came back from the dead, that Crossnic lady- "

"Yes."- Amanda replied grimly. "Vivi, I think... I think that they're using you know what to make Richard sign this ridiculous deal...I-"

"Amanda!"- Vivi scolded her. "Don't even speak about that over the phone! You know these things can be spied on-"

"OK, Vivi, I'm sorry but there's no other explanation."- Amanda sighed, pushing a strand of brown hair behind her ear. "Richard was sure that he'll sell all the shares to Simueltech. He had big plans, he was going to receive millions of dollars and he was going to invest in a new fast-profiting cryptocurrency making even more money with the progression of time, and then this...this woman just persuades him like that?! It's either you know what she's using against him or he's banging her too!"

There was a grave silence in the darkened saloon for almost an entire minute. Amanda just hyperventilated, dreading the possibility her husband was being unfaithful again...

"This woman is at least 50 years old. Though she doesn't look like it, I will give her that. She's not unknown, she's making these music videos and sings here and there. She's grown extremely popular in recent times; I've seen her on TV."

"So what of it."- Amanda closed her eyes. "Apparently money's never enough for anyone these days. And how does her age matter if she looks good-"

"These days? Please, Ames. It's always been this way. Maybe we can contact the media and make the details around this deal she's forcing Richard into public. I bet she's really cautious when it comes to how she's perceived in the media. Maybe we can even blackmail her and- "

"Read the whole thing, Vivi. There's a confidentiality clause."- Amanda shook her head. "If any of this becomes public, we will owe her more than she's giving us. That's why I'm saying the deal's ridiculous. It sounds more like a fable story than a legal text to me but Richard put his name under it. That can only mean- "

"Amanda, listen to me."- the woman on the other line became stern but determined. "I will help you. This will not happen. You will not lose so much money to some greedy starlet's cheap bloodsucking blackmail! Let's meet for lunch tomorrow. This is not something to discuss over the phone."

"Can you make it? I mean, I know you're very busy right now with all the-"

"Yes, don't worry. I'll text you to confirm the details."

Amanda finally managed to smile faintly:

"Thanks, Vivi, I knew I could count on you."

In another part of Heatherfield, Will Vandom was tossing restlessly in her sleep. Something was haunting her dreams. Something was cutting her breath short, preventing her brain from taking even a few seconds to rest. This wasn't the first time, but tonight was more hardcore than ever before. Her talk with Matt from the previous day had actually soothed her nerves but apparently just for a while.

"Phobos is safe. He's in the parlor of the Tower of Mists, where magic just doesn't work. He's not treated as a prisoner yet because he's Coronia's legal property. Halinor will contact them and ask them to collect him."- Matt had said and Will had been primarily relieved.

Happy? Not really, but knowing that Phobos would have a second chance to be with Leonida, the woman he had loved, and their child, as it had originally supposed to be, made her feel better about everything. About this entire mess with them, their sidereal bond and how their perceptions of life had inevitably changed because of it.

But not in her sleep. In her dreams, Will was restless and tense. Phobos wasn't safe. He wasn't happy nor in a better place. He was suffering in the Tower of Mists...

She woke up drenched in sweat. She had seen his face. Felt his voiding emotions. Felt his pain and loneliness and it burnt and iced her at the same time. He was in a terrible place. Emotionally, physically and mentally... Was it possible Matt lied to her? Could it be that her friends were actually getting rid of Phobos behind her back like they had wanted to for the longest time...

Will kicked the covers away from herself and stood up.

No, I'm sure that something's wrong, she thought grimly. She had to do something. She had to go to the Tower of Mists immediately. But how was she supposed to get to Kandrakar? The Heart was no longer under her patronage. The redhead frowned. She was beginning to despise her past decision of giving the talisman to Cornelia. Yes, perhaps it hadn't been safe with Avani as her puppet master but boy how much it would've helped her. On so many occasions...

A sudden gust of wind came out of nowhere followed by a purple portal that opened right in front of her bed. Will gawked in disbelief. Had she just...opened a portal solely with her own magical willpower?

"Don't look a gift portal in the mouth."- she said to herself before walking through it decisively.