Chapter Eight: Into his Lair
Execution!?"
Will nearly choked as she looked at the petite woman in front of herself. In utter shock. If she hadn't expected one person to ever say this, it was Elyon. But here she was now, trembling before her with this ridiculous decision, Will knew wasn't hers.
"Splendid."- Phobos called in from behind, derisively. "At last, the day has come, I've been eagerly waiting for you to perform my execution, dear sister. It was high time you lost your hope to see me repent."
Elyon sobbed, shaking her head but Will's anger wasn't aimed at her:
"I cannot believe your cruelty right now. Are you fucking happy with what you're putting her through? She's supposed to be your Queen!"- Will bared her teeth at Caleb. "And to you, she was a best friend!"- she shot at Cornelia. "Making her kill her brother now, after everything, really? After he's finally making progress? Who needs enemies with friends like you! You two are absolutely unbelievable!"
"No, you're absolutely unbelievable!"- Caleb growled, getting in front of the dazed Elyon. Will didn't budge. She glared at him and stood protectively in front of Phobos. She knew Caleb could send her flying away like a cork but she wasn't going to give up in front of his livid desire for vengeance.
"You weren't here when we fought Phobos or what? You forgot his ways?"- the former rebel leader yelled deafeningly. "His cruelty, his crimes, how he has nothing human in his darkened heart!? You've lost your right mind! I will not stand this parody unfolding anymore! Move out of my way!"
"Will, don't you understand that I am only supporting this because of you!?"- Cornelia then interfered, stopping Caleb's mad rant with a hand on his chest.
She also probably stopped him from shoving the redhead out of the way and grabbing Phobos, because they all knew that Caleb could sometimes become savage in situations like these...
"I'm not one to support the death penalty as a punishment, for almost anyone. I was absolutely fine with Phobos having a normal trial and then getting sent to the Infinite City prisons or the Tower of Mists, it has never been that important for me to see him dead! But you-"
Will scoffed and pulled back from her reach. The benevolence, she thought bitterly. She was fine with it. She didn't support it.
Who are you, Queen Victoria? Doing it because of me. Ha! Will was very angry.
"No, Cornelia, this is your sick interpretation of things."- she shook her head with angry tears in her eyes. "You don't want to understand."
"You don't understand!"- the blonde insisted almost pleadingly. "Hear me out, I am only looking out for your best interest!"
"Don't hide behind me! This is your will. Your boyfriend's dream has always been to see Phobos dead!"
"Can you blame him; he saw countless people dying because of Phobos!"- Cornelia snapped and then took a deep breath.
Will closed her eyes stubbornly...
There was a grave silence in the room for a few seconds, interrupted only by Elyon's soft weeping. Caleb put a hand on her shoulder as he struggled to take control of his raging emotions and pure wrath.
"By all means, finish this matter faster."- Phobos interfered bitterly. "Am I not evil enough to have a fast end?"
"You're asking for it, monster."
"CALEB!"
He had grabbed the wine bottle from the table and smashed it in the other man's face, knocking him to the ground. Will screamed and jumped to the floor, a mess of wine and broken glass, as Elyon just watched sadly and Cornelia pulled the rebel back...
"This is your idea of justice, huh?"- Will screamed. "Abusing authority and terrorizing the weaker as to feel avenged. To feel better about the past that's unchangeable!"
She hated this. She hated being powerless to stop everything that was so wrong. She hated how she felt and how she saw things so very differently from her friends. She feared she'd soon start hating them too.
Caleb looked daggers at her:
"I'm terrorizing the weaker?! Is he the weak one around here?"- he spat, pointing at the fallen prince. "He, who submerged Meridian into misery for years, who robbed the people of everything they had, even their life force! I fought against his tyranny my entire life; I will not put up with your short-circuited brain's distortions of the truth!"
Will scoffed through tears but didn't say anything. She just looked at the man in her lap. He was coming back to his senses after the blow he had just received. He immediately recoiled from her:
"All I'm saying is that killing Phobos now won't change or help anyone, especially not with the fucking sidereal bond that we-"
"That's exactly why we're fast-forwarding to his execution. As long as it's still possible for him to die without it affecting you."- Cornelia interrupted her. The tears rolled down her face but she looked angry too. Distanced. Perhaps it was the clashing between her friend and Caleb from just now. Will didn't have time for that, she cocked an eyebrow:
"Oh, you mean you're doing me a favor. Only I didn't ask for this, Cornelia! I didn't ask for any of this!"
"I know you didn't, that's because the bond is playing tricks with your mind. It's plaguing it!"
The redhead just stared at her:
"What the fu-"
"Don't pretend that you don't know this, Will!"- Cornelia insisted, getting angrier. "The way this sidereal bond works is by gradually making two souls think and feel like one! It's a fucking curse to you because you're getting drawn to Phobos, you're losing yourself in the process! Without the Heart, it's corrupting you! I don't want to see your life falling apart because of him!"
"Oh, my God."- was the only thing Will could say as she finally made Phobos sit down at the table again. "I can't believe it. Why is it that you can't just trust that I know what I'm doing! You think I'm that weak?!"
Cornelia just sniggered incredulously:
"I'm sorry, what!? This is not about what I think about your strength of character, it's about helping you! Saving you! You're my friend and I can see all the changes in you ever since this heinous shit started. This may be my last chance to save you from self-destruction, how is that a sick interpretation of this situation!?"
"Will..."- Elyon sobbed. "She's r-right. She's looking out for you. Listen to me, Will. You have a beautiful family, a pretty great life in Heatherfield, friends, a fantastic man next to you."- the straw blonde took her hands in hers. The tears from her gray-blue eyes fell on Will's palms as she talked to her: "This thing. This thing Avani provoked between you and Phobos will destroy all that. It will destroy you with time, I don't want that to happen, Will. That's why I agreed..."
"None of us want any of this but it must be done before it's too late for you."- Cornelia added. "We have to put you first."
Will looked at the two of them and then at Phobos who didn't say anything. He didn't even look back at her.
"Look."- she sighed. "I know that you mean well. But this is exactly why I didn't want you to know about this between me and Phobos. Because you don't understand it, you don't understand what I feel! I feel that I can help him. Isn't that what you've always wanted, Elyon? To see your brother repent? I can make that happen! I just need time, trust, and support, and if not, at least not such sharp opposition..."
Elyon blinked in shock and started opening her mouth but Cornelia was faster:
"This feeling is deceitful. It's due to the bond getting stronger."- she insisted, irritated. "Stop it, Will. You're contradicting yourself every other day. You didn't want him in the Tower of Mists, you don't want him dead but you would've supposedly been alright with him being on Coronia again. How would you change him if he was there? We're banned from Coronia."
"Maybe I would've visited them."- Will shrugged stubbornly. "I don't know, Cornelia, I would've thought of something had it happened. Besides, you guys were banned, I wasn't there when that happened."
"Can you not put so much stress on something so useless and annoying and go back to your life already?"- Cornelia shot. "Forget fucking Phobos!"
"Can you not boss me around like that? I'm pretty sure I won't be able to forget his murder that you claim will fix everything!"- the other woman replied sarcastically, making the fair-haired man a sign to keep quiet.
Cornelia groaned in frustration and turned her back on them. This just wasn't happening. She felt like she wanted to puke from all this.
"You're acting like a senseless child!"- Caleb spat. "We're trying to help you and the rest of the universe by finally putting the threat of Phobos in forever past tense. You? What are you even doing? Do you have any idea yourself?! You just make yourself look and sound profoundly unreflecting and objectionable!"
"I'm sorry, Caleb, I'm not going to take all this shit from you after everything we all put up with, in the name of your mother's so-called redemption."- Will yelled back. He had insulted her far too many times today. "I get it, you were a kid from the rebellion who suffered in war times. Like many others, you wanted the oppressor down, you got him down, I think it's high time we admit wars are never unilateral-"
"You're not to decide for this oppressor's sentencing fate, not after all his crimes, you're in no position to do that. And don't you dare say that ever again!"- the tall man exploded after what she had just said. How dare she...She had almost made it sound like they were at fault for the tyranny they had been victims of... "You're nobody, you're not even the guardian leader anymore!"
"Enough!"
They all shut up and stared at her. Elyon's voice was strong and decisive for the first time today. She slowly removed her eyes from Will as she spoke again. Speaking like a Queen now:
"This is making things worse. We have to postpone it. You have to talk it through and so do I. With the Meridian Council..."- she announced breathlessly, stopping Cornelia and Caleb from interrupting her. "I think you're right, Cornelia, you both are but seeing this, I also think Halinor's elders might be wrong. It might already be too late to take my brother out like that..."- she whispered. " I'm afraid that doing this now will hurt more than it will help. I will be going. Give it some time. Time helps everything..."
"Elyon, no, wait- "
But she had already teletransported. Will couldn't stop the smile from spreading over her face. Phobos sneered:
"Pity. Does that mean that my fated execution is postponed? And here I was getting all so excited..."
"I'm glad someone can trust me."- Will added, hitting the back of his neck in a reprimanding fashion. The Prince really didn't miss an opportunity to open his big mouth. Though she had to give him credit for how relatively neutral he had remained in this fight, even with the magnitude of it. "Elyon is- "
"Trust you?"- Cornelia repeated venomously glaring at her and the prince. "She doesn't trust you, she chickened out because she saw how unhinged you are! I am beyond shocked by your new philosophy myself! You need to see a magic shrink or something!"
"Guys? What's happening?"
It was Matt. He had returned from his errands in town and gave the four and the mess on the floor a puzzled look. But Caleb just darted past him not uttering another word. He was incensed. Absolutely incensed.
Cornelia stuck around for another minute or so. Enough to glare at Will one last time and then just hug Matt, puzzling him even more:
"Cornelia? You alright?"- the man asked wrapping an arm around her waist as confused as he could get.
Cornelia sobbed:
"I'm sorry."- she said, squeezing his back. "I'm sorry, Matt. We're l-losing her and I can't do anything about it."
Will felt her stomach tighten as she heard that. She felt like she wasn't even in the room with them at this point. She opened her mouth to protest but the blonde had already gone after her fiancé, exiting the apartment.
Irma rummaged through her abandoned belongings in the old bedroom. Her old bedroom where she had lived a great part of her life, in her family's house, had always been a mess. Irma wasn't the tidiest girl out there and everyone who knew her was aware. That was why this place was such waste storage. Her mother would've probably tried putting it into order if Irma didn't keep the door locked.
Irma had moved out of her parents' house the minute she was 18. She had switched up a few living spaces since then, she had rented, crashed with the girls, lived with boyfriends until finally settling in with Martin in his new apartment. And for a good amount of time, it had been great. Martin truly loved her and she loved him too, despite the way he had been all over her in their early teens, one-sidedly...
They had both matured and reinvented each other and their relationship. Martin was probably her best relationship, actually. After men like Joel, Stephen, and Andrew Hornby, who had all disappointed her at some point, Martin had been the literal embodiment of the saying "don't judge a book by its cover." He supported and took care of her. But the magic of that had obviously run out as well because the last months had been a constant low point for their relationship. And now nothing would be the same again.
Irma sighed and stopped rummaging through old things for a minute.
Martin. What changed, she thought to herself. Why did you give up on me? On us... Is it me? Am I the drama? I don't think I'm the drama...
She rolled her eyes and decided not to even bother finishing the infamous TikTok sound in her mind. It wasn't funny. Her failing relationship wasn't even remotely funny but, as usual, Irma Lair was joking to escape her feelings and the graveness of them.
"Hey there, stranger."
"Chris, oh my fucking God!"- she took a moment to catch her breath before glaring back at her brother and his stupid grin at the threshold. "You scared the shit outta me!"
"Sorry."- he chuckled and entered the room. "What are you doing here though, creeping around like ghost face? I didn't hear you come in."
Chris was 19 now, tall, muscular and pretty dashing. Nothing in him even resembled the small boy Irma often remembered him as, except the ginger hair and the freckles.
"Oh, shut up, I'm looking for, you know, you've seen it, this old...wait what are you doing here, I thought you and Lillian were supposed to be in New York for the weekend."- the Latina crossed her arms on her chest. She wanted to dodge the question hence she returned the ball.
"We are."- Chris shrugged. "Will be. I hope...she had something urgent to do before that and we're catching the next flight. Though I kinda feel like she doesn't really want to go."
"Really?"- Irma murmured absent-mindedly, returning to her searching. "I thought that she prefers anything over grandma Hale's obnoxiousness."
"She does."- her brother nodded, walking toward her. "But she can only do as much about it. You know she signed a contract with the old bat-"
"Crazy, right."
Chris gave his sister a skeptical look. Those synthetic reactions weren't like her. He knew her well enough to feel when something was really bugging her.
"Irma, what's the matter? What are you looking for and what is this actually about? You look too dejected to me."
His sister sulked and huffed:
"Since when are you such an expert mood analyst."
Chris rolled his eyes:
"I'm looking for a ring."- she finally admitted. "A plastic ring Martin gave me years ago."- she added when her brother looked at her in puzzlement.
"Huh?"- the ginger frowned. "A ring- "
"Yeah, it was a symbol of our new beginning. He gave it to me and it was this...moment of endearment or whatever."- Irma nodded with annoyance. Talking about this was making her feel things she had promised herself not to. Not after she had spent months trying to salvage this love story alone. "The start of our relationship. Romantic relationship. It's stupid, actually, I guess I just wanted to be petty and return it tonight. When I officially break up with Martin Tubbs."
"Wow. You're breaking up with him?"- Chris was genuinely surprised. His sister couldn't remember the last time something she had said provoked such a visible strong emotion in him. He usually disparaged her and she was usually clowning around. But not this time and her brother could tell. One thing she liked about him ever since he was older was that he knew when to offer support and how to be a good listener.
"But why, Irma? He's the best boyfriend you've had. Period. What happened?"
"Long story, kid."- Irma sighed and closed the trunk she had been searching through.
"I have some time. And you can make me a sandwich while we talk about it."
"I've been trying to pull him back for months. He's been acting weird and cold from even before Will's...Will's vanishing. Hmmm... But you know about that. For a minute I thought I fucked up."- Irma narrated hastily, making food for her brother in the kitchen a few minutes later.
"About Will? Yeah, is she really obsessing over the evil guy now?"
Irma snorted:
"Don't even ask. Anyway, about Martin. He's been distant. I've been trying. Trying to fix this, look for the wrongs in myself. I tried to make amends with him so many fucking times, not even knowing why he's like that, and he pushed me away each and every time. He's shutting me out, he's constantly away, we don't spend time together, he doesn't kiss me, he doesn't touch me, we don't fuck anymore, it's been too long! I'm sick of this!"
She drove the knife into the cutting board with such force, she almost bent it. She breathed in frustration before finishing the big dark bread sandwich off with some olives and giving her brother the plate. She had put salad, tomatoes, jalapenos, 3 types of meat, and sauces inside of the toasted baguette. It looked delicious, even if a little chaotic.
Chris looked up at her:
"Thanks."- he murmured. "I hate when shit like that happens. I actually liked Martin."
Irma smiled bitterly and sat at the table with him.
"Yeah, well. So did I."
"Maybe that breakup thing will scare him into doing better? As a boyfriend, I mean."- Chris reasoned taking a huge bite. "Cuz there must be a reason for this. It's either something you've said or done or-"
"Or he has a new relationship."- Irma finished and made a grim face." No, I haven't done anything! I'm sure of it, he just gradually distanced himself. He's just fucking someone else."
Her brother didn't know what else to say.
"If he does, I'm gonna make him swallow his glasses."
"Since when are you the doting protective brother?"- Irma taunted but gave him a hug nonetheless. "Love you, dweeb. Take care in New York and don't do stupid shit."
"When have I ever?"- Chris replied in an innocent voice and hugged his big sister back: "Love you too. Hey, what about the station? The studious, "Lair on the Air" and all that?"
"What about it?"- Irma raised an eyebrow, not sure what her brother meant when he asked about her radio station, her main source of income, and main day job. Over the last years, "Lair on the Air" had gradually become one of Heatherfield's top radio stations as well as a major online media and a successful profitable brand.
"Oh, that."- the Latina quickly grasped what he meant while he was still opening his mouth: "Yeah, Martin helped me and the radio a lot over the years but it's still mine. I'm not that big of a bitch, I won't kick him out of there or anything. He can keep his job."
"Yeah, but still. Won't it be...awkward?"
Irma thought about her brother's words. Yes, it would. It would definitely be awkward to keep working with Martin after their breakup, but it was what it was.
"No, don't thank me, thank you. This is possible thanks to you."- Elyon Brown spoke to the person inside the small alley. They had met here as to avoid getting seen together. It was for the best right now. "I am very, very distraught and weak right now. If you hadn't reached out to me, I would've most probably just s-sent my brother to die because I can't fight anymore. I can't fight for his soul."
Elyon was agitated. Excited. Her cheeks were flushed with color.
"Everyone knows what seeing my brother rehabilitated would mean to me."- she narrated guiltily. "One can easily guess that is why I kept him in the dungeons for years; I sent my advisors to him, trying to reach him, to help him understand but he turned everything and everyone down. No one has ever wanted to help earnestly. People judge me for this, they call it a weakness and it probably is... Phobos is stubborn...but after last year I had just lost all faith. Even though I could tell he has matured and become more sensible...he didn't allow innocent lives go to waste in the battles. He relied on more diplomatic usurpation techniques. He got to experience fatherhood, even if vaguely. I just... I just wished that he'd see the right way after so long, knowing that it was most surely impossible...I had a slight moment of hope when Magana took him but then Avani had to come and ruin everything."- Elyon shook her head at the bitter memories. "But maybe... Now that you said it, I believe. I cannot fight for him anymore but maybe she can! Will might be able to turn Phobos's head towards the right path! She could change him, right?"- the breathless queen sought reassurance. "That's why I "postponed" the dreaded execution last minute, this execution is really the last thing I can do but also the last thing I would like to do..."
The other person in the deadlocked alley stopped her from her rant by saying something short but meaningful. Elyon's eyes shimmered with hope:
"Oh, you have no idea what this means to me! Never has anyone ever wanted to truly help me with this. Everyone hates Phobos but you...you're sincere, I can tell you are. You really want to give this a try."- she smiled and extended her hand to touch the other person's face. "And you're not just anyone. You're basically..."
The dark figure stopped her again. Whatever it said to her made Elyon even happier. Happy tears started rolling down. But the shadow of concern fell over her face once again as she asked:
"This...this isn't going to be for Will's account in any way, right? I mean...other than temporarily fighting with the others. I cannot risk anything in Will's life for the sake of Phobos. That would be too selfish and unfair, especially after all the heroic things she has done for so many, including myself."
The other person seemed to have reassured her again because Elyon just took a deep breath and nodded collectedly:
"OK then. We'll stay in touch. We must make sure that giving Will and Phobos's bond time to expand and work towards a better change won't backfire in our faces."
Matt turned the wireless vacuum cleaner off and stopped his eyes on him with a scowl. Whether Phobos didn't notice his eyes on him or he pretended he didn't notice was hard to distinguish. He just sat at the same table, reading his book with the small cut that the breaking of the bottle in his face had left him with. It was annoying how calm he had remained even after he was the reason Cornelia and Caleb had nearly gone through a nervous breakdown and he had gotten into yet another fight with Will.
Matt shook his head. What had his life turned into.
"The Count of Monte Cristo. You're kidding."- he rolled his eyes when he noticed which book exactly the prince had taken into his hands.
Phobos ignored him and just went to the next page.
"Tell me one thing, Phobos. What's with the fake composure you're keeping. What's with the acting."- the dark-haired man insisted, hitting both his fists on the table and leaning on them. "You're not like this at all. These are not your true colors. You're spoiled, overbearing, and rotten. So, what is this pretend humility? Are you faking it to avoid death or are you doing it because of Will?"
The mentioning of her name finally made Phobos react. Even if with visible annoyance. He left his book aside, marking the page he was on, and met Matt's eyes unperturbed:
"And how did you, pray tell, reach this ingenious conclusion? That I'm showing humility? That my silence has anything to do with any of you? As far as I'm concerned, Elyon gave up on my death as per usual. I'm merely waiting for your next group decision regarding my fate. What do you want me to do in the meanwhile, recite poems for you?"
Мatt scoffed:
"You're not as deep as you think you are, jerk. Everyone knows that you're being spared because of Will. Hell, you know it full well too. And I know that this bond between the two of you isn't harmless and indifferent to either. I can see that you're trying to fake it, to impress her. This...cooler façade. This "newer version" of yourself. To get under her skin and continue to suck her into the damned game your daughter started! But I'm still here, asshole. I'm here and I won't allow that, remember it."
Phobos's eyes remained cold and indifferent but a spark of greater annoyance could be noticed when he spoke:
"That you are. Of course, as long as you're sober and avoid getting shut in Earth institutions for abusing illegal substances once again."
"I will be sober, bastard. Don't you worry about that."- Matt gritted his teeth, barely restraining himself from driving a fist to the other man's face. He was so impudent as usual...But that was a good thing. He was finally being truer to himself and Will would see him for who he was again. Matt smiled victoriously:
"I will be sober and I will be strong because she's back. Don't you get it? I was only weak and desperate because she wasn't by my side. But now that the woman I love more than anything else can be back here, I will do anything to protect her and our relationship. At all costs!"
Phobos smiled derisively:
"So, that is why you volunteered to offer me shelter."
"See, you're finally following up."- Matt replied bitterly. "I have to keep a closer eye on a snake like you."
"How noble indeed, Earth Knight. But also - quite pathetic."- the prince noted.
"Said the man who was bought for a princess like some pup."- Matt sneered. "You're a joke and a pussy. But even that didn't work out for you, did it. "
"I have no interest in taking your love away not because your words intimidate me but because she's not someone, or something I desire!"- Phobos hissed, infuriated by the blow at his relationship with Leonida and how her mother had bought him from Meridian. How dare that Earth commoner - turned angel of malice by chance, mock what he and Leonida had?
"Trust me that if she was a romantic interest of mine, you'd actually have to kill me to stop me from taking her away from your heart and embrace! If I wanted Wilhelmina I would have her, despite you calling me a vagina to my face in the comfort of your home and the magic-blocking cuff on my hand! Maybe we'd even duel for her and then we'd see who's the weakling if I ACTUALLY wanted her, you revolting, insecure villager!"
Matt frowned deeply but didn't say anything because the door closed abruptly and Will walked towards the bedrooms without saying anything. Phobos followed her with his eyes and a strange feeling in his chest. He hadn't heard her coming back into the apartment but apparently, Matt had because he flashed him a big smile:
"That's who you are."- he whispered, nailing his index finger in the other man's chest. "Overbearing, invidious, and full of yourself. Thank you for displaying it in front of my girlfriend again after so much time of fooling her that you're becoming something better."
Some nights are full of distrust and every shadow looks darker and scarier. But every next morning comes with new hope and dreams of a better future, especially after a night of melting the ice with lust and passionate communication.
Martin's return of good will and the long-waited talk had made her change her mind. Instead of breaking up with him, they had mended their relations. Completely. They had spent the night making up for other things too, and Irma couldn't be more relieved, happy, and calm. She was in a great mental and emotional place for the first time in months, now that all misunderstandings were taken care of and her boyfriend had demonstrated how much he actually cares about her, and how he would do anything for her.
What woman doesn't want that, right?
The Latina walked into her studio as if she was stepping on clouds that morning. That didn't go unnoticed:
"Well, well, well. The storm clouds that followed you around have finally dispersed, I take it? I wonder why. Julian?"
Nerissa was sitting at the big podcast table next to her husband and the coffee and snacks, the staff had served them, with a mischievous smile. Julian smiled as well and gave a little nod towards the back where Martin could be seen working on some speakers behind the big glass wall.
"I would say because a certain someone is back on duty."
Irma gave them a big grin as she took her place around the table. Today she was doing a podcast episode with them as a couple Q&A. Nerissa's fame in Heatherfield and overall success had the fans on-demand. This podcast was going to be beneficial to all sides, even if Julian and the Mage had to change up a few things in their original story to meet Earth standards.
"Ah, babe. Podcast. Usually means no visual."- Irma taunted a few minutes later when Nerissa took a small mirror to apply more lipstick.
"My dear, there's always Instagram for that matter."
Irma made a comic face as the other woman leaned in for a selfie. After a bunch of pics and a good twenty minutes into the podcast, it was time for taking in calls from listeners, like in every good old radio show. Thus far, everything had gone smooth, Irma hadn't even doubted it. Nerissa was a natural in every aspect of performing and public speaking, so she managed everything with enviable ease.
"Okaay, people, last call."- Irma announced on her microphone. "I know that today has been a blast but we have air time around here. Maybe we can do another podcast with our sensational babe Nerissa soon. Many of you say that she's the new Karmilla if not better than her."
Nerissa raised her eyebrows with a little smile.
"I have to agree to disagree, as a Karmilla stan, she was an artist who marked my teen years, but I have to give it to her - Nerissa's talent and voice are indeed one of a kind. Anddd, now, enough blabbing from me, we give the word to our last participating listener for today's ep. I'm saying hello to?"
"My name's not that important."- the female voice on the other side of the line argued. "I am calling from Heatherfield. I want to ask Nerissa a question of increased difficulty."
"Alright."- Nerissa agreed softly. "Shoot."
"You're the daughter of Tom and Katherine Crossnic, Heatherfield socialites from decades ago, right?"
"Yes, I am related to them."- Nerissa tossed her hair back looking down at the microphone with growing suspicions already.
"Related to them or birthed by them, you have to be more concrete?"
"Why does it matter? Did you know them?"
"Maybe. You say that you're about 50 years old, are you not, Mrs. Crossnic?"
"I don't do age questions but I will say that I have a son who'll be 28 this year."
Nerissa made Irma a hasty sign. She didn't like this. This caller wasn't to her taste. Irma shrugged but before she could interrupt them, the woman on the other side shot:
"Because I think that you went to school with my mother and she graduated from Sheffield Institute in the late sixties..."
Nerissa's face almost paled at that. She just looked at Julian who looked equally as shocked. Irma also didn't know what to say. This last call was plain awkward but she couldn't just interrupt it like that. She gave Nerissa a sign to say something else.
20 more seconds, she urged her mentally. Now, cover it up!
"You're clearly mistaken, that would make me an elderly lady. Do I look like an elderly person to you?"- she asked with annoyance.
"No, not at all. That's what is so astonishing to me when I hear you claim to be Tom Crossnic's daughter."- the woman on the call said calmly. "I think you look remarkable. It's hardly believable you are the mother of a man in his late 20s, what is left-"
"Thank you, I take pride in my appearance and good care of myself."- Nerissa cut her off. "If you're interested in beauty secrets, buy "Hale Beauty", their products keep me young nowadays."- she added brazenly.
"I have a photo-"
Now her face really did go white and she didn't know what to say. A photo? A photo of her from years ago? Where had this person found it, this was impossible!
"Sure, you can take a photo together, just make sure to come to Nerissa's next big gig. Heatherdome, at the end of the month. Tickets can be bought online."- Julian interfered, covering up and avoiding a more unpleasant situation.
"Aw, unfortunately, the time's up. We have to put an end to today's episode but don't be too mad at me, and remember to be back for more! "Lair on the Air"..."- Irma began her closing speech but the ex-guardian wasn't listening to her anymore.
Julian patted her hand to comfort her. Nerissa caught his thankfully but she couldn't get over what she had just heard. It was impossible for just about anyone to find old information about her from before Thanos. It was impossible... Kandrakar's magic had erased her existence on Earth almost completely. They had only allowed those closest to her to keep a memory of who she had been as if to prove they could be even crueler... But her closest ones weren't that many. They had never been. Who was the woman who had called today and how did she know this much? Who!?
"That was fucking strange, wasn't it?"- Irma shook her head and took a sip from her coffee. "Do you think this lady was someone who knew you?"
"No, I think she was trying to intimidate me."
"Huh? Why? And who the hell would do that in Heatherfield?"
Nerissa nodded to herself and glanced at the glass wall. Martin was still tinkering with something back there. Then she locked eyes with Julian and suddenly had an idea.
"Can you trace that last call? Ask him to do it!"
Irma followed her eyes to Martin and opened her mouth in surprise:
"Woah, miss girl, that's illegal, you know it, don't you? We can't just track down people who call us, what will happen if someone found out? Moreover, there are so many digital firewalls these days, people want their privacy!"
"I'm sure that your boyfriend can manage."- Nerissa insisted. "Just this once. This might be of major importance! Talk to him. Now that you've clearly made up, he shouldn't turn your request down. This is very crucial, Irma, trust me."
Irma didn't know what to say. She looked into her headstrong green eyes and rolled her own:
"Fine! I will."
But other nights come to expose the real horror that the light of the day keeps hidden with deceptive rays that make it appear less scary than it actually is, drowning the truth with the hopes and joys of the sun...
Irma was happy that night. At least at the beginning of it, she had been... She was waiting for her boyfriend to come back home. He was finishing up some work at the radio, probably wrapping up the assignment she had given him too, tracing the call made last during the podcast.
After that, they were going to have a peaceful movie night at home. Some crazy thriller they'd both love, good food, wine, and each other's company. Irma knew she was getting old when this type of date night started sounding so perfect to her. But then again, there was also the fact that she and Martin were finally moving forward in their relationship, for the better, so doing these at-home couple activities sounded like the best idea.
"Even with that, after Covid, I thought I'd never enjoy staying home again. Yeah, who knew. Right, babe."
She talked on the phone with Hay Lin as she combed through her long curls and waited for her fake lashes to dry. Her outfit for the night - already on, a sizzling-hot sunflower-yellow strapless jumpsuit with shorts and small drop-shaped buttons all the way up from the crotch area. Some leather white heels and she was good to go.
"And what are you doing tonight, huh? Taking Eric's yacht again for some ocean night-"
"Just working late at the restaurant, Irma. You know that Eric and I are living here for the moment."- Hay Lin interrupted her softly on the other side of the line. "Especially after grandma had to go to Kandrakar to help Halinor and Kadma with the new Council..."
"Oh, yeah. That's right."- Irma remembered, bobby pins in her mouth. She was tying a half Ariana Grande ponytail on the top of her head. "That's still great though, some time away from parents and grandparents...Fuck!"
"What?"- Hay Lin exclaimed. "What happened?"
"I tore my bra when I raised my hands up! I knew I had to get the larger size of these fucking silicon "invisible" bras! Now I have to get dressed again! And I just buttoned this!"
"No, you can fix it, Irma!"- Hay Lin said. "Just get some stapler."
"Oh, yeah, alright. I'll call you later, OK, Hay-Hay?"
Martin definitely had to have a stapler or two in his office, right? She still had time to fix her stupid bra before he was back. Not that he'd care if she was braless... But she hadn't spent 30 dollars on this shit for nothing.
Irma was rummaging through the drawers of one of the desks when she heard it again. The nagging pipes back at it.
"Are you kidding me?!"- Irma roared. "Again!? These plumbers are asking for me to go full-on Karen on them!"
She stuck her ear to one of the walls and just listened. This time she was determined to use her water powers to locate and terminate whatever the problem was. She had tried once before but it hadn't worked for some reason. Now she was going to try again because this fucking obnoxious sound wasn't going to be here for her night with Martin!
It was definitely the pipe behind the metal drawer. She leaned, trying to use her powers on it through the wall but instead she lost balance and pushed the metal drawer with her body. It bounced due to the impact and revealed something that left the woman mildly-said confused. She didn't even bother to curse from the pain from the fall. She just stared at the small, discrete button that had been hidden behind the drawer.
Who hides a button like that if it's not to agitate a secret passageway or something...
No, Irma thought to herself as she leaned towards it hesitantly. She was about to press it just in case, but she was sure that it was something else. After all, what kind of secret passageway could her boyfriend have in his office? That was just...
"Insane..."- she finished when the other wall trembled and moved in front of her eyes, forming a rectangular-shaped narrow entrance that led to an even narrower metal staircase. It was a secret passage. And the hidden button had activated it.
Irma slowly made her way to it and just stared down at the staircase. It went down and down, and down...probably a few floors below the apartment. But why would Martin's apartment be connected to such a secret staircase? Where did the staircase lead to? What was happening around here!?
There's only one way to find out for sure, Irma thought, even though she had a nasty feeling creeping in. She took a step forward and just took the stairs. She had to know what was going on. She just had to. She soon reached it. The most peculiar sealed gate with numerous locks. She had been mistaken at first, whatever this was, it wasn't that much below the sixth floor, the floor of their apartment. The staircase was just dark, it wasn't that long. It was an approximate couple-second jog down from Martin's office.
Irma sighed and touched the strong gate. This was probably a mistake. Whatever this was, Martin had it under control. It was probably some sort of storage space or old shaft.
But why would Martin have a hidden button that opens a fucking hole in the wall of his office leading to an old shaft, Irma! Are you fucking stupid?! She then said to herself and shook her head. No, she had to see what was behind this gate. She just had to.
Water, she thought with a racing heart, channeling her powers. She knew how to open this gate after over a decade of being a guardian. She had to use her water-pressure magic to a very high degree. Ice wouldn't be enough, perhaps, so she didn't even try that technique. This gate was very secure and it looked high-tech... But water pressure is merciless to everything. The deeper down in the ocean, the higher the pressure. And Irma just happened to have the power to concentrate that pressure and overwhelm every hard surface if she put her mind to it.
A few minutes of hard attempts and a lot of concentrated magic later, the gate finally conceded. After a few more hard hits that Irma inflicted on it with her entire body weight, it just fell down with a loud noise, letting her inside the next premise.
The automated lights flickered and illuminated the room she had just gotten herself into and what she saw before herself made her blood freeze. It wasn't just any room. And it definitely wasn't an old storage space of shaft... It was a legit base. A base. Military-looking but also very stalker-ish...
And the stalker had many, many pictures of her together with notes on one of the walls. Pictures of her from around town. Pictures of her from Meridian...
"What the fucking hell..."- she whistled and just stared at the mind-boggling sight before herself. So many photos. So many documented events from different years. God, there were even photos of her friends.
Irma took another step forward. The further inside this lair she was, the more she felt sick to her stomach. There were many folders all over the place. A large area with a huge computer and many monitors, surrounding a leather chair. Maps. Sticky notes, papers. Papers and photos everywhere. Primarily hers... Then she noticed a big trunk. When she opened it, she discovered it was full of her old things, things she had either thrown away or lost...
"No..."- Irma whispered, feeling her eyes filling with tears. "No, this can't be. T-this can't be!"
But the more she thought about it, the more she realized; it was real. It was the truth and it was repulsing. Horrifying...
Irma felt like the world was spinning before her eyes. This disgusting lair was spinning. She got the urge to cover her eyes and ears with her arms and scream in agony. In betrayal. In denial...
It was all true. Her boyfriend, Martin. He was a stalker. And this was his lair...and judging by the photos and the dates on the walls and his carefully-made boards he had known about her secret way before she had told him. It was probably why he had taken it so lightly when she had told him. It was probably why he had suddenly become so distant because he was sick and something had gone rogue...
He was dangerous, Irma realized with tears rolling down her face. He was not who he said he was...
The pipes, she suddenly remembered with a sinking heart, when she heard it again. But it wasn't nagging anymore. It was ominous and it was coming from the very same terrifying room she was in. From down here, it didn't sound like water inside a pipe at all. It didn't even sound like something getting stuck inside a pipe. It sounded like metal banging against the outer shell of a pipe...
Irma took a deep breath and turned toward the source of the ominous jingle. The moment her eyes fell on it, her mouth opened, involuntarily, and she let out a blood-curdling scream.