Chapter Fourteen: Revenge of the Scorned
The day of the fire, 8:12 PM
The fire engulfed the big house like an unforeseen madness. Like madness panning out in the warm dusk, pierced through by the damned flames. The disaster burnt down walls and made its way inside. The toddler's cries of pure panic and horror somewhere inside were quickly muffled by the sounds of the fast-burning building. It would burn down like a torch before any firefighters could make it to the upper-class neighborhood.
Trending socialite Cornelia Hale's home would be turned to ashes. It was a small price to pay for seeing her dead. It was a price a man driven well over his edge was willing to pay in a heartbeat.
A look of pure satisfaction spilled over his face as he stood back and admired his handiwork. Now all that was left was for her to show up and try to rescue her beloved grandson as he was sure she would, and then...then Nerissa Crossnic, his biggest foe, would be done for.
"KILLIAN!"
As expected, she mindlessly rushed towards the ablaze building; she had finally noticed the flames back from the greenhouse. After two whole minutes of them taking sway. Two minutes of inattention on Nerissa's part would turn out to be fatal for her.
And as she leaped forward, like a fearful wild animal, perfect hair flying back with the wind, he left his position and proceeded to the next step.
Good riddance, bitch, the man thought and entered the eye of the fire.
38 hours earlier
"OK, I'm going out now."- Irma called once she was ready for her day at work. "I'll be at the radio just a few hours, then I will come to pick you up and we can look for Martin again. I mean, he didn't respond to our messages, calls, and even our selfie but maybe we'll manage to find a stable lead before the police if we assume he...he didn't decide to disappear on his own."
She threw a nervous smile in Mara's direction but the older woman responded with a warm one.
"You take your time and don't worry about me, Irma."- she said. "I appreciate all this, dear. You giving me a hand and a shoulder for moral support when I need it most. You didn't have to do this after you and Martin separated but the fact that you still care enough to take me in proves what a good person you are and that it was his loss. He did something to lose you."
"Aww, Mara, of course, I couldn't turn my back on you."- Irma exclaimed, already feeling awkward enough. Mara was the sweetest lady and she had no fault whatsoever for what had happened with her and her son. She was just a concerned mother and even in this state she was more than cordial to Irma, her son's ex. That was a rarity to be appreciated.
"Even after our breakup I don't wish Martin any ill or anything, and his disappearance worries me too, you know."- Irma lied.
OK, not exactly, but she twisted the truth still; the Latina knew that there was nothing strange in her ex-boyfriend' disappearance but she could never say that to his mom. She could never even imagine letting her know that Martin's superiors from the Eye of God might've done something terrible to him...
"I know, Irma. Maybe he needs time alone after the separation, but when he sees me and you on good terms, he will at least give me a call? I hope."- Mara added and smiled at her again. "I just want to know that he's OK. Again, thank you so much for helping me with that."
"No, you are the sweetest."- Irma smiled back but it was an awry smile. She couldn't be sincere with Mara and that triggered her. All Mara had ever done was support and show her great motherly affection.
Even now, she had washed all the dishes, made breakfast for them, and done the laundry before Irma even woke up for her morning shower.
God, Mara, I hope for your sake Martin's still alive, Irma thought dismally, watching the little lady tend to her pet rabbit's needs - one of the few things she had brought with herself to Irma's new place.
Mara had been living in Canada for years after her husband, Martin's father, succumbed to an illness. Martin had still been in high school at that time and he had refused to join his grieving mother who couldn't stay in the city after the loss.
He had a life of his own in Heatherfield. Dreams, a ''romantic interest'', Lair on the Air... He had always been such an ambitious and smart, good-hearted boy, that his mother had reluctantly agreed, not wanting to shatter his heart even more than his father's death already had. As a consequence, she had left for her parents' home in Canada on her own, leaving Martin alone in Heatherfield, something he had asked her to do. He had been 16. Now, almost an entire decade later, he couldn't be reached for the first time ever. It was normal for Mara to be very agitated by it.
Because you don't deserve this- this pain, not again, Mara... And he? He was my best male friend and then lover, for so long... He was always there for me, even in his betrayal. I loved that guy, your son, Irma exited the apartment before the other woman could catch her crying. There, I admitted it to myself. I hope he's OK for our sake.
Later that same day
"Irma, that's very noble but also very..."
"Very dangerous."- Nigel finished what his wife had started saying. Taranee turned to glance at him and then moved her glance back to Irma, nodding.
"Now, I know Martin's mom is not a menace by any means but if something happened to him and you're just giving her false hope now-"
"I know but I just-"- Irma groaned, stopping herself to shove another bite in her mouth. She was on lunch break with some of her friends. "-I just want to make it all easier for her. I know, I realize that Martin may as well be...dead."- she said seriously, holding the Ashcrofts' eyes. "After the Avani spectacle, especially. But a part of me believes he managed to slip away and is now in hiding. You all knew him, he was a survivor- "
"Again, Irma, that's very noble and I can see where you're coming from."- Taranee nodded. "Just be mindful, OK? Don't let your emotions get the better of you."
"I know, I know."
That was one very important guardian rule all of them had repeatedly struggled with over the years...
Then they were joined by Hay Lin and Eric and the rest of lunch went by in more uplifting talks, some laughs, and lots of pizza. This new pizza place that Taranee had chosen for lunch today had a lot of recipes to offer and the gang was more than willing to try them out.
"I wish Cornelia and Caleb didn't have to catch that plane yesterday and be absent for the week."- Hay Lin began in her cheerful voice, once she was stuffed and couldn't eat more.
"Yeah, but you know, when business calls."- Taranee smiled.
"Yes, but I have this big idea that I want to put together and I need you girls around!"- the Asian explained cryptically making her friends wonder what it was about.
"Is it an art thing?"- Irma asked.
"Or is it a fashion thing?"- Taranee suggested.
Hay Lin simply smiled and exchange sly looks with her boyfriend.
"A little bit of both."- Eric shrugged and winked at them.
"But not only. You'll have to wait and see. Everyone has to be available for it to take place though."
They gushed over that, chatted, and enjoyed themselves for the rest of the lunch date.
"Well, Matt and Will didn't show up either."- Taranee noted once they were all gradually starting to get ready for leaving - some back to work, others simply back to their daily routines.
Irma snorted tiredly and checked her phone as they both stood up and gathered their stuff:
"Yeah, guess she couldn't be bothered once again. Ever since the WICCA brats were sent to Kandrakar for "reforming" a.k.a a memory alteration, she's been incog, having time only for her favorite prince."- Irma made a face at that. She didn't like the sound of her own words when voicing all this. "I know her brother was part of this shenanigan and plotted behind her back, putting a knife in it, but they're back now, right? And they don't remember shit, they were given a second chance- "
"True but we never got real closure on that topic."- Taranee pointed out as she and Irma said goodbye to the others and headed for their ride - they were going in the same direction. "And Matt- "
"Matt's not going to endure much more of this."- Irma shook her head. "I'm amazed he's still so chill about it. I don't know what Will thinks but I don't trust Phobos, her judgment, or their relationship. And I don't like that we've just let it all to the flow."
"Against the flow is what she's been moving towards the last two months."- Taranee shook her head, starting the car. "I don't know what more to do, Irma. After Flamboyant Gardens, after Avani's death? They're obviously closer than ever, I find it hard to believe they're just platonic at this point."
"Have you seen the way she looks at him?"- Irma exclaimed, holding back a gruff laugh. Platonic. "Is it bad we're talking about her like that because I feel bad but I said the same to Cornelia the other day - I feel bad and sad but I can't pretend that I'm fine with it. I'm sorry but if you ask me, Will has been riding that fucking jerk ever since they were Avani's puppets."
"I hope not."- Taranee muttered but wasn't so sure anymore herself. She had observed the interactions between their friend and the evil prince closely and couldn't say they didn't look awfully suspicious on top of everything. It was really obvious that things were heading for the deep end.
"I'm honestly kinda glad she didn't show up today because these meet-ups with her and Matt trying to act normal when nothing's normal are too much for me. I want to see them as I've always seen them - fucking in love! Cheesy at times but so damn adorable, I love them too much to just be a bystander any longer. When they don't show up at least I can make excuses for not fucking putting my nose in their personal stuff."- Irma went through her phone absently but still kept her words on point. It was evident she thought about it a lot: "Cuz, trust me, babe, when I do interfere it will not be pretty. And I don't want Will to hate me right now."
Taranee nodded again, eyes focused on the road as her plump glossy lips puckered:
"She was too quick to give up on that whole Matchmaker making her and Phobos appear more intimate than they are thesis. I think she expected us to immediately pardon everything because of that revelation. Sure, the WICCA boys were responsible for some of the stuff that transpired but there was so much else Will did on her own."
"This is so against girl code."- Irma shook her head as they reached her stop. "Bye, babe."
"Well, so is falling for your sworn enemy after so many years."- Taranee remarked with one final smile before the door of her car was closed again. "Catch you later, Irma, have a good one, and good luck with the Mara thing."
Irma sent her an air kiss before disappearing into the small group of people coming in the same direction alongside her.
Will sighed. Phobos refused to leave his room again and he even refused to let her in. Depression hit home hard, and after everything he had been through in recent times, it was understandable. It would've bugged her more was he not like this, even though knowing there was nothing she could do to make him feel better was painful.
After all, they were soulmates now. They were closer than ever, thanks to magic and the turn of events and Will was unable to pretend it was any different.
She was a caring person by nature. She cared about him more than she had ever imagined she would:
"Phobos, please. You need to eat."- the redhead reasoned again, standing in front of his door like a doting parent. "I just want to see you eat and then I'm out of your hair, I promise."
No answer.
"I will not let you suffer alone. I am not."- Will continued stubbornly with tears forming in her eyes now. She was hurting because he was hurting. Because life had her go through impossible things, again and again, and it was beginning to take a toll on her sanity.
The guardian was beginning this same speech for the umpteenth time, but she didn't care. She'd keep repeating until he listened... "Avani's death knocked you down like nothing had in so long, I know that, Phobos, but you have to be strong. To believe and work for that new life of yours, you owe it to her! You owe it to yourself-"
"Whatever is this new life that you're CONSTANTLY speaking of?"
The door of his room had suddenly opened and he grabbed a hold of her just as unexpectedly, knocking the food out of her hands.
Will gasped as the soup and the fresh sandwiches became one big wet unpleasant mess and met his eyes. His pale green eyes were red and teary and he was on the verge of a crisis. An emotional crisis, something she had never imagined he could find himself in. Not the Phobos she had known...
"A new life?"- the prince repeated. "For me? Don't you understand that there's nothing left out there for me after so many failures at getting back to the throne and power, things that no longer are going to even sustain me as they managed to before... "- he was angry. Shaking but also desperate. Crestfallen. "After losing two daughters and Leonida, after being thrown around like a useless rag?"
"You haven't l-lost two, Opal is healthy and alive, she-"
"And she's never going to know about me."- he snapped.
He stopped for a minute to think about it but decided even he wasn't this selfish. No matter how much he wanted his small daughter back he owed her and her mother a chance at a better existence. One that didn't involve him. Maybe the people of Meridian, Weira's people, had been right about him and he was a curse after all. A curse he had become out of spite...
"That I'm fine with because after Avani entered my life it led to this. First her sanity, then her life. Taken away because of being in contact with me. At least Opal might see a decent future."
Will shook her head at his hard words. She felt terrible seeing and hearing him like that but she could understand that there was little to nothing she could do and say to change this.
"Phobos, it's not just your fault. None of this is."- she whispered instead. "Please... There so many factors contributing to how things are-"
The man shook his fair-haired head solemnly, gaze getting lost somewhere behind the short redhead. Flowing into the distance...
"Doesn't matter. I don't want to fight anymore, Wilhelmina. I don't want to live anymore, so no, I shall not have anything to eat! I'm broken and empty."- he finished in a low, drenched in pain voice. "And there's nothing you can do about it."
He was right. He was right and it hurt. She was powerless. She wasn't even in control of her own life what was left for the Heart of Kandrakar or any small possibility to help someone else, be as it may Phobos. She couldn't bring his daughter back from the dead, she wasn't as strong as Nerissa in that department, and honestly speaking she wouldn't even dare try getting there. Magic always came with a price. Especially this type of magic and Avani hadn't died from magic which made it practically impossible for her to be reincarnated in any shape or form without sacrificing what was left of her human nature before her terrible end...
Will sobbed barely audible. She had researched that, of course, she had... She had actually researched possible ways of bringing the dead girl back for Phobos but what she had found had only further supported her initial reasoning.
"You're right."- the redhead said in the end, brown eyes meeting pale greens. "I can't do anything to change how fucked up our lives are at this point. After everything that transpired..."
"My life has never been one worth living."- the man argued. "Yours is. You have everything one can wish for, do not give up on it just because you're empathizing with yours truly. I was meant to suffer, Wilhelmina."- he said in a firm voice, finally gaining control over his emotions again. "My own parents ritually sacrificed my happiness in the name of having a female heir. I am not just a product of that, oh no, I am a product of my own bitterness and malice. Perhaps seeing my daughter die gave me the guts needed to admit to it. Perhaps it is because I'm also nearing the end-"
"You're not!"- Will interrupted him strictly. "You are not giving up, not after you tell me not to give up! Stop talking like that! Stop talking about an end, about dying, and other despair-inspiring crap. This is not fair. I know that nothing can change the way you feel right now but I also know that if there was something I could even just say, no matter what, that could make you even a little better, I would. I would, Phobos."- she said seriously.
For a moment he looked surprised. Intrigued? Seduced... But then he returned his stony expression and muttered:
"But you mustn't. And you're well aware of it."
And with that, he disappeared back into his room, locking the door in her face, leaving her alone with her confused and frustrated thoughts. She mustn't. What did he mean by that? She mustn't what? Deep inside, Will was starting to grow wary of the answer to that and her stomach didn't miss to turn in protest.
"Hey, baby girl, you lost?"
Lillian scoffed and rolled her eyes:
"So, funny, Chris."
"I'm just saying, you are looking around like you don't know where you are."- the ginger-haired boy teased, leaning back in the driver's seat, flexing his muscles even more.
They were in his car, waiting in the parking lot of one big supermarket downtown.
Lillian gifted her boyfriend with a short but pointed look and a smile, before pulling out her phone:
"You know we have a ton of things to do today, I'm just trying to put order in my agenda. Mentally, you know-"
"Yeah, I know, you have a lot of work lately, we barely get to spend time together."- Chris complained again. "We barely have time for anything, you don't stop even when away from this place. Take New York for example. You ditched me a bunch of times. Here, in Heatherfield, you avoid me. We don't even smash like we used-"
"The last few months are busy ones, OK? You know how it is, I'm not purposely overwhelming myself, I just have to work real hard to achieve everything, babe. You understand that, don't you?"
Lillian suppressed her anger last minute and turned to him all apologetic, reasonable, and sweet-spoken. It definitely worked better than just getting into a fight with her boyfriend because of his lack of understanding for the quandary she was in. He couldn't wrap his head around it even if he wanted to, that was for sure. He didn't even suspect how hard her life was, especially as of late.
Christopher sighed deeply:
"I know your family has these colossal expectations of you and magic is also...surely not easy to deal with-"
"Especially when you're the Heart of all Earth magic."- Lillian helped him and smiled, giving him a small peck on the lips. "Look, Chris, I promise you that soon we will have more time to ourselves. I just have to work harder some more and by the time you're done with school-"
"I am done. With my exams."- her boyfriend interrupted her, brow raising. "Well, you know, I didn't ace them or anything but I still passed. Hey, that's right, didn't you have your end-of-semester exams this month too?"- he realized. "I know you're a different major but still... They should've at least started?"
Lillian bit her upper lip and just brushed it off:
"Oh...yeah, I totally forgot. That's because they exempted me from most of mine. Good credits and grades and, you know, my overall performance."- she added. "I don't worry about college results; I have that under control. Now I just have to be able to say the same about my career. Magical and non-magical..."
Then Nerissa came and picked her up, leaving her grandson and her groceries with Chris, further instructing him to get them to Cornelia's house and hold the front while she and Lillian attended to business.
They had a lot of work around Hale Beauty, the beauty line, a project that was rapidly expanding and building up.
Cornelia's newly-acquired popularity from modeling again during the last year, plus Nerissa's singing career and Lillian's social starlet moment, combined with the influence of the Hales and all their connections had made it possible. And now, thanks to her getting her late father's company back to her name, Nerissa was able to turn this big family business to account, even more, setting her son and his future for life. That was her main goal.
She knew Caleb was an excellent warrior, an irreplaceable element on Meridian, iconic and valuable for the entire kingdom but on Earth? Despite it being so much time since he lived here, and despite his many strong qualities that he could utilize for greatness, he wasn't striving towards too great horizons. He was satisfied with normalcy, a more subtle and ordinary existence, really, and that his mother wasn't going to allow.
Simplicity was touching but Nerissa knew that being and having the best of the best was far more complicated and challenging, and she was always up for a new conquest. Be as it may magical or not.
"Your father and I talked to the financial manager, we are going according to plan and we have the money to launch new products for the winter as expected."- Nerissa listed casually as she and the girl made their way to her car.
"Great."- Lillian said a little distractedly.
"We'll have a huge boost after we redirect the course of the marketing of "N.C Enterprises" and start financing the Hale brand from within."
"Uh-huh."
"We have to keep everything in sharp check because our first-year sales are vital to the future of the brand and you, on your own, have to stay relevant, of course."
"Definitely."
"Cornelia and Caleb are at that gala opening where some of the guests will have their makeup done with Hale Beauty, but we mustn't miss any social event."- Nerissa threw her hair back, going through her tablet again. She quickly left it aside and started the car.
She was long a pro at this by now. Planning and sorting daily assignments and giving out instructions? Ha! She had been getting ready for that her entire "villain" career.
"Every event is an opportunity and as long as we get more and more invitations, we're a step ahead of the smaller competitors and we are going to be growing."
"Uh-huh."
"Which is why you have to attend tonight's charity by Heatherfield Community College. The Fine Arts faculty is throwing a party to gather money for one of the professors' treatments but they're really primarily gaining more attention now that the city college's been going higher and higher in the league. This is going to be a big night for Heatherfield's erudite society. I like to say that we're all benefiting from such gatherings on the social scene, so we will, naturally, do our part as a new brand. You're going to go tonight."
"Yeah..."
Nerissa stopped the car. They had arrived at their destination, the beauty center where Lillian was going to get ready and talk to some Youtubers who'd include her and the Hale brand in their vlog.
"What is it?"- she asked almost annoyed, observing the young girl's profile closely.
"What is what?"
"What's with the long face and the monotone tone."- Nerissa pushed her hair back, green eyes gleaming: "Don't tell me you're not enjoying the high and mighty process of your sister climbing higher and higher up the social ladder."- she sneered.
Lillian shook her head, as distracted as she could get:
"It might bug you in some way but I'm really not about that life. The socialite stuff and all the glam are not my true calling, I don't mind Cornelia being the leading face of what we're all doing with this project. Because it's just that - a work project and a way to stand by my family and show them that I'm not as unceremonious and deplorable as they think."
"Oh, but exactly, you aren't. You are so effortlessly overshadowing your sister at moments...at least as far as the press is concerned."- Nerissa didn't miss dishing the dirt. "You think it doesn't bug her?"
Lillian held her eyes for a few seconds before snorting:
"You don't say. I may have overplayed it a few times exactly because I know it annoys her. To see me so, how did she say it? Full of myself and spoiled...Yeah, I'm the brat even though she's the one who gets everything she wants with but the flip of her hair... Anyway, that was because I was angry with Nelia for always taking first prize in our family. I've been like that my entire life."- she added quickly seeing Nerissa's patronizing little smile. "That's a thing of the past now. Nothing special. I got over it before our parents got over me turning Brown down, so it's all good."
"I'm sure it is, you are sisters after all. Go to your appointment now, I'll see you at the Fine Arts Faculty party tonight."
One final cordial nod and Lillian was out of the vehicle, with her things in hand.
"Nerissa, is there something specific you want to say?"- she couldn't help but turn around. She had to know more about this exchange they just had.
Nerissa smiled again:
"Like what?"- she breathed playfully, drumming her long fingers against the steering wheel. "I'm just making conversation, playing around. Nothing special, dear Heart."
Lillian eyed her before saying one last goodbye and disappearing into the beauty center. She could see that as very possible but for some reason, she couldn't shake off the strange sensation Nerissa's seemingly ordinary words had provoked.
The night of the faculty charity, 23 hours before the fire...
Will had to join Matt on the said charity night, even though leaving Phobos alone and locked with magic like an animal felt wrong. So wrong. But still and all, Sheffield and the city college of the same name were chasing league places. The Idea of Heatherfield Old Man Sheffield College becoming one of the more desired choices across the neighboring states was too enticing not to be taken seriously, and, as usual, anyone who was someone in the society was there. Joining hands around dreams and personal goals in the name of the city's further flourishing.
It would be touching, really, how close-knit Heatherfield's middle and upper-classers were as a society if it weren't for people like her father, Tony Vandom, or his ex-Serena...
Will shivered at the thought and decided she had to chase it away no matter what. She couldn't remember the woman responsible for his miscarriage again, she had promised herself that.
There are fruit parasites in every orchard. Then there are true gnats.
Phobos had told her that and she couldn't not give him credit for being so right. Maybe she was judging society unfairly. After all, Tony and Serena were both not in Heatherfield anymore for one reason or another.
But there still are and always will be gnats. Leeches. People who take advantage of others' pain and try building their own prosperity over it.
The redhead shook her head and let go of Matt's arm as he was going to mix and talk to people and she didn't necessarily need to be clutched to him like an accessory.
She lifted the skirts of her dress for the night- a midi satin dark-plum spaghetti strap piece and headed for the cocktail islands to grab a drink.
She had worn more formal outfits and gone to more charities, events, and fundraisers in the last two months than she had over the last two years. It was just how life was when an item with the city's very own mega rockstar, club holder, and producer - further developed as city PTA vice president and on board with the educational sponsors...
Will rolled her eyes.
Was there anything Matt couldn't do, after his band Cobalt Blue had made him such a big deal over the years, ever since high school? Probably not. Then again, Heatherfield and the modern world, in general, always gave famous people privileges of all types. Not that Matt didn't deserve it. He had worked hard for everything he had achieved, they all had.
Most of her friends and family were high achievers and even local celebrities at the very least. With the progression of time, almost everyone had surpassed her career-wise and status-wise, not that she couldn't care less. Money and fame weren't something she had ever striven towards. Social recognition? Not for Will Vandom.
Well, maybe except for being an Olympic swimmer, but that ship had sailed.
For over a decade now Will had been the Keeper of the Heart and that was always her main thing, her biggest responsibility, and aptitude, eating up bits of her personal life even. That was what she had always been the best at, leading her team of guardians and helping other worlds. Saving other worlds. Saving people and changing their lives for the better.
Welp, not anymore, now Cornelia held the Heart due to the unpleasant circumstances that had changed the redhead's life like nothing before, but she wasn't complaining about it. She couldn't complain about anything because, in spite of the hardships and adversities, she had achieved everything, she had ever wanted...up until now.
Now that the Heart was no longer her sole purpose and burden, she was beginning to see other angles, opportunities, and goals she had been oblivious to for years.
Will took a sip from her wine and passed her brown eyes over the big hall. The Fine Arts faculty had taken care of everything, from food and drinks to seats and décor. The entire building was accommodated to the needs of tonight's charity and generously welcomed the numerous guests that attended. There were many familiar faces across the room too, Heatherfield wasn't a small town but it wasn't huge either. If relatively the same people in NYC and Hollywood constantly met each other at functions, what was left for Heatherfield's secular society, many of whom she had met over and over around Matt and her friends.
The middle-class go-getters and climbers and upper-class socialites always circled together around such events.
Susan Vandom- Collins was making her way towards the cocktail tables with a brisk step and caught up with her daughter before she could mix with the crowd and lose her.
Will almost rolled her eyes when her mother came to her and attacked her with her usual talk about life, Matt and their relationship, and "tonight's event".
Ugh, they were constantly meeting up at events these days but it was only natural since Susan was a tech-savvy big gun married to one of the most loved and notable professors in town. She was invited to almost everything and they had many points of contact with Matt's new PTA avocation.
"Will, you look overwrought."- Susan had to note once her daughter's vague replies scalded her initial enthusiasm. "Is something the matter? You've been like this for a while now, I noticed, I just didn't want to bring it up. Since you and Matt got back together...do you still have problems? You can talk to me, you know. I'm your mom."
Will opened her mouth unsure of what to reply to that at first. She loved her mother with all her heart and they had been through so much together, but her secret life as a Kandrakar guardian was still a secret she'd never share. It was too touchy, too surreal for Susan or anyone else from the parents, and unfortunately, that still led to many misunderstandings and falling out of touch moments between them. Even after all these years.
Being unable to share so many things because of Kandrakar sometimes created an unnecessary distance, something Will was fighting with right now. Among other things...
"I'm just...tired, mom."- the redhead fired in the end, cursing herself for the unoriginality.
But what else could she say? Especially about the Matt thing. He had taken that break with Wixy, in her absence, but now they had the problems. Problems he was pretending weren't there for the most part. How was she supposed to talk to her mother, who had rightfully turned into one of Matt's hottest supporters about it? How could she explain the situation when she didn't completely understand what was happening herself?
You mustn't. And you're well aware of it, Phobos's words suddenly echoed in her brain, but thankfully Anna Bannister-Lair spotted them and appeared to rid Will of the major inconvenience.
"No, Susan, I don't know why our city's been targeted by cyber terrorists but it is."- the Latina said and Will perked up her ears. Cyber terrorists? Oh, shit, they were talking about the way the Eye of God had stolen the entire electrical power of Sheffield Institute and rocked it through Avani's body... "I hope that they won't strike again tonight. They might ruin the fundraising for professor Martens."
"Cyber terrorists?"- Susan exclaimed. "You mean that the attack on the school from Benevolence Day...God, what do these people want, are they against the development of our educational institution or something?"
"I'm afraid it may be worse. We did an episode like that on "Wife Undercover." The terrorists wanted to set an entire city back, to stop them from flourishing and developing because they had personal interests in some of the residents..."- Anna retorted. "Now look, this is confidential information unavailable to the public yet but people are talking already...they always do. What they don't know is that whoever stole the power of the school that night is probably in or about to proclaim cyber war, and given how much of everything is already digitalized, they better stop them sooner. And this is not fiction anymore, this is very real, Tom is baffled and so is his entire team, they contacted the FBI a few times already but we're still waiting. Waiting is dangerous if you ask me. Because we might degrade as a city, losing so much we've all worked hard for years."
"Oh, my God, is it that serious?"- Susan nearly gasped, knowing that a cyber war would target tech names such as Simueltech undoubtedly. "I thought that it could be just electricity theft, you know, like in the 80s-"
"Not with the software they used to get into the city systems, it can't."- Mrs. Lair shook her head, using her hand to volumize her new-cut classic bangs. "The police are on pins and needles. So are the tech departments and even the special forces. We're talking about a software weapon the magnitude of CRU or NASA...if not even better. Whoever has their hands on something like that is a national threat."
The Eye of God, Will confirmed bitterly, and excused herself, leaving the older women alone. And the residents they have an interest in are we...and Lillian. Could they threaten the entire city to get it their way? To get to the Heart of Earth? After the way they had killed Avani...
We underestimate them. We have to do something before it's too late, Will decided and mixed with the other guests.
"Do you have to be as bad as her grandma? This is so dumb."- Chris Lair was annoyed. Very annoyed. Not only did another social event steal his girlfriend from him yet again, but he was also forced to walk after Nerissa in a fucking tux.
"You're a singer working with a makeup company, why is this even relevant to you? Why do you care so much about social shit anyway, weren't you supposed to be Empress of the Universe or something?"- the ginger added, even more annoyed that the brunette paid no attention to his rants.
Nerissa stopped greeting and smiling at people, unperturbed as ever, and took the two glasses of champagne that one waiter was offering her.
"Why did you come here tonight, Christopher?"- she finally addressed him, lack of interest evident in her voice. "You could've stayed home with Julian and Killian, God knows you could have been doing anything right now, you're long not a child. Don't you have, oh, I don't know, guy friends to drink beer with and do...whatever it is that boys your age these days do."- she finally turned to him, perfect dress and hair dancing with her moves, "...instead you annoy me with your pointless whines."
Chris looked down at his shoes and murmured:
"I promised Lillian that I wouldn't...I wouldn't disappoint her again and I'm determined to keep that word."
And he attempted to take the second drink from Nerissa's hand but she moved it out of his reach:
"Good."- she raised her eyebrows somewhat derisively. "Then don't drink from her glass before her."
She and the sulking young Lair then headed for the large group of people, standing in the foyer around someone.
"Nerissa, over here!"- Lillian smiled and waved at the pair. "I just met Mrs. Martens, the professor we're here to raise funds for. I think that a pic with her is a nice gesture, isn't it?"
Nerissa beamed in response and quickly approached them but the moment she saw the face of the woman next to the young Hale, her own face dropped:
"Amanda Fragenson."- slipped from her lips and she just blinked in perplexity.
"Amanda Martens Fragenson."- Amanda corrected her with a smile.
The ex-guardian was taken aback. She allowed the other woman to pull her next to herself for the posing but her brain was squirming on the inside. How had this happened?! How had she not known this...
Amanda Fragenson, Richard's wife, was the professor this whole charity was about...
"Smile, Nerissa!"- someone shouted.
Chris.
He pointed his phone at the three women:
"A nice gesture for Instagram and tomorrow's media outlets coming right away."- he murmured under his nose as he took the picture.
"Thanks to each and every one of you that are here tonight once again. It's extremely daunting for my family, the situation that we are in right now. Barely having enough money for my treatments."- Amanda wrapped her speech up, twenty minutes later, when all guests were gathered in one big amphitheatrical lecture hall.
Nerissa rolled her eyes. What a liar. She had given them enough money to cover their medical expenses, what she had not given them was the chance to keep her and her son out of what was rightfully theirs. But of course, Amanda couldn't talk about that and she wouldn't. Oh, how wrong the following moments proved that to be...
"You don't know this but that my husband had to give up the company because the legitimate heiress of Tom Crossnic's legacy made claims. And of course, she would, it's her right. She owns N.C Enterprises now. I am just glad that this night allowed me and my husband to balance off the hefty financial weight of my illness."
Nerissa stood up in shock even before she heard her next line. She was utterly floored.
No, she had not... How had she?! How had Amanda Fragenson allowed herself to publicly defame her like that?! How...
"I would like to ask Mrs. Nerissa Crossnic to join me here now. She's here tonight."- Amanda smiled victoriously, from the stage, as all eyes turned around to look at the standing brunette.
They were looking at her judgmentally. Scornfully, even. This was going to have a terrible impact on her career. A terrible impact on her name in Heatherfield, after all her hard work.
"Please, Nerissa. Let us show people we harbor no grudges against each other."- Amanda called from the stage and Nerissa glared at her with all her hatred.
"In business, there is no time to waste on old grudges, am I not right?"
"How dare you do that, you sick fool!?"- Nerissa yelled, ten minutes later, when she followed her to the restrooms.
The charity event was over and so was her good reputation. But Nerissa wasn't going to let that slide. She was going to destroy the Fragensons.
"Oh, I knew you'd come."- Amanda cooed from the neighbor stall. The one neighbor to the one Nerissa had just kicked open.
Amanda emerged from inside of it, arms crossed on her chest, and met the other woman's flaming glare with a smug one.
"To this charity, after me now...You're too predictable. Let me guess, now you're going to say that you're going to give us nothing? That we will not see even a dime from your father's company that we've worked for the last decades during which no one from your family bothered?"
Nerissa narrowed her eyes with contempt, crossing her arms on her ample chest:
"Of course, you'll get nothing, you already got yours from this fundraiser, didn't you?!"- she hissed. "You are just a greedy, consuming, sick, ungrateful woman and I will not have you cross me again! Did you forget that I still hold evidence against you? You defamed me tonight but all that I'll render pointless when I send you to prison!"
"Will you now? Oh, Nerissa. Mrs. Nerissa, you do think that you can do just about anything, don't you? You're so entitled."- Amanda laughed softly and stared back at her brazenly. "But you're not well informed. The only other main auctioneer who shares your authority, your son, has granted the banks access earlier than planned, you obviously don't know, I guess to start sponsoring some other crazy project like all your music videos or the brand of that Hale girl, his girlfriend. The company that you stole from us has already started working, all the accounts you froze while claiming everything have been unfrozen, and with that, the pending transaction you scheduled for my husband's account has been paid off, I personally withdrew the amount this morning. Cash."
"What...what pending transaction, you worm, I haven't-"
"Ah, yes, you haven't. But we still have people loyal to us in that company, ma'am."- Amanda retorted mockingly and smiled again. "All that was needed was the green light to the banks and your son unwittingly helped us out by giving that yesterday. Now, even if you throw the entire financial department out it won't change a thing. Because we're worms, we're inferior, aren't we? You really believe that and yet you just lost your hold of the bargain."
She was triumphant. And how else? She had weaseled her way into her financial department, using her connections and Caleb's preliminary resumption of the company's work...
And then she had raised more money for her forsaken family and had defamed her. Amanda had defamed her for a quarter of what SHE had inherited!
Nerissa never really cared about money. All she truly cared about was her father's legacy and her son's future. And her good name in Heatherfield, of course, as that was key to both objectives mentioned above...
This hors de combat Amanda had mocked everything!
Nerissa was shaking from hatred and outrage.
"You cachectic, greedy mediocre gull!"- she yelled, startling the shorter woman. "I was going to give you that money anyway! I was willing to cover all your treatments had you ASKED me to, but you decided to fight me instead, by slandering me over something that is and always has been rightfully mine! You made a terrible mistake, now I will show you no mercy!"
"It's not slander if it's true!"- Amanda fired back, taking a step back as well.
She actually was intimidated by the dark-haired woman who was glaring daggers her way, looking as if she would tear her apart any minute now.
"You inherited that company many years ago, but you couldn't be bothered up until recently?"- she cried, nonetheless. "And you think that it's fair? I don't need your pittance from my husband's hard work! You got what you deserved, Nerissa Crossnic!"
"So will you once I expose your past crime, murderer!"- Nerissa roared and attempted to turn her back on her but the other woman's shrill, cough-like laugh stopped her dead in her tracks.
When the ex-guardian turned to look at the professor again, Amanda's face was sweating. She nearly bent over as she added:
"Expose me? How? Do you really have evidence? I think you have to check again. Something tells me that you no longer have that file."
"What?"- Nerissa asked gravely, hair bristling at the sight of the other woman's smug smile.
No. She was bluffing. It was impossible! All the evidence was in her ancestral house, she couldn't have... Or could she. Could Amanda have someone break in there while she and Julian were staying at Cornelia and Caleb's house, miles away, to take care of Killian in his parents' absence?
"That evidence was in my house. It was digitally copied too."- the brunette whispered darkly, pinning Amanda down with her dangerous green eyes. "You have been to my house uninvited? You've broken into my house!?"
"No more physical evidence. Nor digital. It's all gone. Evanesco."- Amanda replied in mute tones, confirming her darkest suspicions.
Amanda was gleeful. Full of herself. Of course, she thought that her opponent was defeated and incensed. Who wouldn't be after getting beaten in such an elaborate way?
But there was a much darker storm of emotions in Nerissa's chest she was unaware of. That's why she didn't expect it when the ex-guardian grabbed hold of the hair on the back of her head and dragged her to one of the walls:
"What are you doing? Let go! Let me go, you psychopath!"- Amanda screamed in terror.
Nerissa, however, had no such intention:
"How did you do it!?"- she demanded like crazy. "How!? How did you break in, it's impossible to break into my house! My house is guarded by MORE than you can imagine, wretch! How did you do that!? Who helped you, answer me, or I'll kill you like a fly!"
Amanda's horrified eyes darted across the room. She tried to push back and wrap hands around Nerissa's neck, but she was much stronger and just swung them behind her back, against the wall she had pinned the professor's entire body.
"TELL ME HOW-"
"What's going on here!?"
Will who had just entered the bathroom could only stare at the scene in shock.
And since Nerissa paid almost no attention to her in her rage, she saw herself compelled to pull her and Amanda apart:
"Nerissa, what the hell!"- the redhead clenched her jaw. "We have to go right now! There's an emergency, why are you here, offline and manhandling Mrs. Martens!?"
"Let go of me!"- Nerissa didn't remain obligated and yanked free of her grip.
Then she turned to the breathless Amanda, who was resting against the sinks, and warned her, pointing at her with her long finger:
"This is not over. You will be very sorry for everything you did!"
"We have to go! Stop it!"- Will demanded and thus they both fled the restrooms in a haste.
The day of the fire, 8:14 PM...
Coughing from the smoke, Nerissa escaped the burning house, holding her grandson who was wrapped in her wet blouse. Thankfully, he was unharmed. A little shook up but unharmed. She had reached him just before the disaster had, on the second floor
The fire was retreating in front of her strong magic. Rain had started to fall the minute she was aware of the danger, triggered by the Heart of Nimbus in her Seal... The house was still burning but it wasn't as severe. The firefighters had to be here soon.
They had to, but all that mattered was that her grandson was not hurt.
Nerissa finally managed to take a deep breath as she held him at a safe distance from the still burning house. The last 65 seconds in which she had been flying to get her son's baby out had been horrific but now she could breathe.
How had this happened? A moment had drastically changed this warm evening. Everything had been OK; she had left little Killian alone in his playpen for just two minutes.
She had been meaning to go take herbs from Cornelia's greenhouse in the back of the lot, for dinner... And then this had happened. Such a strong, sudden fire. If she didn't know better, she'd say it was magic but she could feel that it wasn't.
This fire was started by a man's hand.
The woman narrowed her eyes at the flames. A man's hand or some freak accident... but what were the odds? What could possibly cause this if not arson!?
Perhaps she could do something more to save her son's Earth home from further damage? Yes, indeed. First, she got dressed again, with magic, as she had been in just a skimpy bra and a short jean skirt up until now; she had instinctively taken off and wetted her top to protect Killian during the run.
Then she summoned her Seal and slowly began to absorb the flames in an electric power-consuming sphere. Even if not naturally and masterly like Halinor and Taranee, she could partially work with fire thanks to her element and experience...
Thankfully there was one else in the house this evening. Or was there!? Nerissa squinted her eyes again as the flames kept receding in front of her will and the smoke cleared too, revealing the figure of a man struggling to limp out of the building.
A man who had no business being in the building in the first place. It wasn't an accident after all.
Rage clouded the former guardian's gaze and mind.
"You!"- Nerissa hissed and grabbed the coughing man's collar before he even knew he was out.
"You prick! You did this, didn't you?"- she suddenly realized, growing even more infuriated.
He had set the house on fire. He had tried to harm, forget her, but Killian. He had almost harmed Killian. She wasn't going to spare him this time.
The house was not on fire anymore. The soft warm rain kept falling, as a soothed Killian sat on the grass and soon busied himself with crawling and games.
Nerissa aimed all her anger toward Richard Fragenson as she pushed him down, livid, and pointed at him with her Seal:
"I pitied your sick wife but I will not let you go! I've had it with you and your goodman family! You asked for it."
The Fragensons co-owned and had full control over the company that was founded by Nerissa's father, and she forced them to hand it back to her in the previous chapters. That's why they were after her, trying to take their revenge on her in this one. But is there more to that story? And what's going to happen next? Stay tuned!