Chapter Twenty-Six: The Root of All Evil
Previously on "Against the Flow": Violet Martens, head of Heatherfield's anti-magic sect "The Eye of God" took Lillian, Cornelia, and Elizabeth back in time to Fanu - a sister realm to Heatehrfield, key to their family history and that of Earth magic in the late 1600s. Violet communicated through time and space and struck a deal with two local mages and the evil power they had summoned and lost control of- known as Azor, the Demon Rose. Violet's desire to become the Heart of Earth can only be parred by the bravery of Melinda, the Earth guardian of that time.
Azor has almost taken control of the current Heart of Earth but she can still be stopped if someone else takes the power. In the past, Melinda had already managed that but now with the time loop threatening even history, nothing is guaranteed.
While the protagonists struggle to stop time from crumbling and their future from changing drastically, their estranged aunt Violet is ready to do anything just to get the Heart to herself, poisoned by the unsound belief that she should've been the first reborn Heart in the first place.
Will and her friends manage to join the Hales eventually, to help them get through this quest that they helped start when agreeing to open a time loop in the first place. (to undo terrible tragedies that had happened as a result of Violet's shenanigans)
Everything seems to be coming to an end on Halloween when all magic laws go down and Hearts can be taken away by force. This is Melinda's chance to save Earth magic from Azor and Violet. The Dryad's gut-churning prophecy about the death of a guardian hangs in the air, even when things finally start to look up. What will the finale of the Heart of Earth saga truly be?
Heatherfield was celebrating Halloween big, like always, especially after the pandemic was put under control.
Every neighborhood, every building, house, and apartment was decorated. More or less, with cardboard haunted houses and fake tombstones, jack o'lanterns, and ghosts - make-shift or professionally manufactured, depending on the money capabilities of the residents.
The 31st of October was like a patron holiday of the city next to the Fields Birth Day.
Everyone of all ages loved it and took part in it.
Each year there was a big Halloween festival in town and many other festivities to celebrate All Hallows' Eve in a fashion adequate for a city so engrossed with this holiday.
Even the city's most renowned school Sheffield's patron and symbol was an old man and his pumpkin patch.
Sheffield Institute was founded over 100 years ago by Sherwood Sheffield in a pumpkin patch and later the school administrator adopted the pumpkin and integrated it into the official seal of the school. The school was designed much like a castle.
Nowadays, the school and the college of the same name were getting upper and upper positions in the states league, gaining more and more popularity, making Heatherfield more popular along the way.
It was as if Halloween was always meant to be part of the city.
This year, Sheffield was organizing a big celebration as usual. But because of the principal's unaccounted absence, the situation was a little bit undetermined. Eventually, the school board together with the PTA and the Sheffield faculty made some decisions so that their reputation wouldn't suffer.
After all, they couldn't afford it in such a favorable for the Institute's development period, a period in which "Sheffield" was becoming a brand of its own.
Susan Vandom-Collins and Taranee Cook walked out of the Institute together after the last big meeting was over. Given Susan's husband was a professor and teacher at both the college and the school and she was part of the PTA for years upon years, and Taranee had recently joined the college's faculty council, it was no surprise they had met at every meeting in a row of meetings deciding for Sheffield's future after Violet Martens's leave, the Halloween festival and so on and so on.
"Well, that was tough,"- Susan commented, doing the buttons of her marigold-colored suede coat. "I'm just glad that Sheffield's agenda will be carried on, especially the upcoming events! Do you believe what people are saying about Violet?"
Taranee, who was more than familiar with Violet's actual reasons to take this undetermined leave open her mouth:
"Uhh, you mean those rumors that something bad happened to her?"
She pretended to be absent-minded but she had been on all of these meetings. She knew very well how people had started to make up reasons already.
Because Violet had sent a letter of notification, recommendations for replacements along with her request for leave. She hadn't just left without appealing to a higher authority.
Taranee and Hay Lin had pulled back and destroyed the documents precisely to damage her image.
Because even if she came back, this evil woman had no place in Sheffield and the education system, and they weren't going to let her continue to hide her evil motives and crimes behind such important things.
"I just can't wrap my mind around why would a woman like Violet, who has been nothing but responsible ever since she came to this position, be so outrageously flippant unless something hasn't happened to her,"
Responsible, yes. Hiding Heatherfield's branch of the Eye of God as well as so other of her dirty secrets under the façade of a well-meaning principal while abusing that authority to her advantage as well.
She was resourceful, that was for sure, Taranee was willing to admit it. But then again, having access to all these resources at the same time and managing them almost too cleverly wasn't equal to being 'responsible'.
"I don't know, maybe there's some family drama. Because she did tell her husband about taking a sabbatical-"- Taranee pointed out but Susan was quick to reply:
"Oh, that's right. I saw Greg yesterday, he works in our HR team, in Simueltech."
Taranee blinked. She hadn't known that Mrs. Knickerbocker's son...
"He's concerned. He says they did have a fight and she did request being left at peace as long as she doesn't come back, but her phone has been out for days now. Greg is filling in a missing person's report. Something about Violet's sabbatical is just fishy. I mean, especially after her sister, Amanda's incarceration? I mean, God, you know what this woman and her husband tried to do better than anyone, they went after Caleb's mother and her company out of spite!"
Taranee made a face, trying to hide it from Susan.
She had almost forgotten about that mess. Both Nerissa and Violet's actions had totally pushed the Fragensons towards insanity, and now it was all general knowledge. Amanda had been a professor at Sheffield College. Violet was also a "missing person" now. How quaint.
So much crap and drama and family intrigues and relations under one umbrella. Still, Taranee couldn't think of all that for too long, because her mind kept traveling in a different direction.
While they were here, dealing with collateral damage, her friends were probably fighting Violet and her last (hopefully) despicable plan in Fanu. In the past.
"OK, Taranee, I have some things to do but I hope to see you at the party tonight."- Susan exclaimed with a smile. They had reached her vehicle. "Do you need me to drop you somewhere?"
"No, thanks, Mrs. Vandom, Nigel is going to-"
Taranee's words were cut short by the sudden exclamation that left her lips. She winced again, this time harder, covering her already showing belly with her hands.
She had felt some strange sort of pain there and she didn't like it.
"Taranee? Taranee, are you alright? Please, sit down!"- Susan's panicked voice rang in her ears as she opened the door of her car and carefully helped Taranee sit in the passenger seat.
"I'm f-fine,"
The Fire guardian breathed deeply, trying to relax. Less than a minute later the pain had passed, but it had left her with a bad feeling of uncertainty and worry.
"Taranee, are you sure you're alright?"- Susan looked worried. By the looks of it, she was going to see all her daughter's best friends pregnant before her and she was deeply caring about each and every one of them. "Let me wait with you, at least until Nigel comes,"
Taranee could only nod, still shaken by the sudden pain and the feeling, gratefully touching the other woman's hand on her shoulder.
Fanu
The city-state was overtaken by All Hallows' Eve festive commotion. Everyone had gathered in the ideal center of Fanu, around the big bonfire that was waiting to be lit by the Dryad itself. But Cornelia knew that they were close to another pivotal location she had been at during her mission in Fanu. The Lord of the White Rose's house was close by. She could see it from her standpoint.
Melinda had told her that was where the Heart of Earth used to live before being corrupted by the evil conjured and lost control over by Edgar and Mildred. Two sources of immense magic - the White Rose and the Heart of Earth itself.
Mary had been chased away by the Lord once she started changing. And she had fought it; she had fought with herself, but Azor's influence was too strong. Cornelia knew that from personal experience.
If only the other guardians of this time were a part of this story maybe they would've been able to save the girl holding the source of all of Earth's magic, but that wasn't the point. The past was already targeted by Violet who wanted to change it, and they had to stop it.
Cornelia fidgeted in her Wood Nymph costume (she wasn't going to dress like a beast if she had another opportunity). Waiting for any sign of the Dryad.
Well, by the looks of it, the Dryad wasn't going to leave their Sanctuary but they all assumed the fire comet that suddenly fell and started the fire was sent from the Earth Spirit.
Everyone was wearing costumes resembling beasts - animal skins and heads most of which were sewn together with materials produced by the flora rather than the fauna, despite their looks.
The center erupted in exclamations and applause. People were genuinely happy. And why wouldn't they? They had no real idea of the horrors that were happening around them.
Cornelia nodded at the red lion that had given her a sign and privily headed for the house of the Lord of the White Rose.
The courtyard she entered soon was so very familiar. Large, with palatial decoration - a mosaic of gold, silver, and royal blue on the walls. There was a fountain at the bottom, which she remembered very well. It scattered the water in small fine jets as if mixed with tiny emeralds and rubies.
In the middle of the yard grew the White Rose. Even years earlier, she was still as beautiful and majestic, perhaps even more so than the first time Cornelia had seen her because Azor had not yet touched her.
The radiant glow that enveloped the flowers of the rose bush filled the walled courtyard, overpowering the semi-darkness with its wondrous light.
Cornelia felt she had stopped breathing for a while, in her awe. Then she saw that someone had already arrived, banging at the door of the Lord's house ever so slightly:
"Melinda? Melinda, let me in!"- her voice was shaky - switching between anger and despair. She was cloaked in an ordinary dark brown robe under which her small frame didn't stand out but Cornelia already knew who this was: "Melinda, why did you call me here if you're not going to let me in? Please, Melinda, I have nowhere to go! I don't want this! I never wanted to be touched by this evil, please!"
"It's alright, Mary-"
Mary turned around, face damp with tears and Cornelia barely managed to hold her gasp.
She had hidden behind one thick bush but she could still see Mary's face. Or what was left of it, at least.
Mary's face appeared to be overtaken by dark prickles from within. Gnarly-looking thorns were painfully growing from underneath her skin, so much of which was dry, dead, and wrinkled, most definitely as a result of wounds not being able to heal properly. There was no more blood to flow through what had once been cheeks. Her right eye twitched unnaturally, definitely bothered by the thorns that surrounded it. Obstructed and reddened so much, it looked as if it would pop out whenever the poor woman moved it more. Mary's face was actually horrifying to look at, reminding of vegetation growing through a corpse put inside the Earth before it becomes one with the soil, decomposing naturally. Only she was not a corpse and there was nothing natural in the way her face, and God, perhaps other parts of her body were already looking in the process of this cruel, irreversible corruption. Mary was necrosing, turning into a beastly-looking dark plant creature.
Only her left eye, and a small patch around it was still with its original skin and look. The last thing she had to her look which was her own...
Cornelia felt sick and sad for her. She had seen Azor's thorns growing under people's skin before, turning them into alienated zombies but nothing of this sort. She knew that this had to be because of the Heart of Earth's power which the evil rose had managed to usurp.
Melinda, who was standing out in the open, looked at Mary with a sad smile.
"Melinda!"- Mary sobbed and dashed towards her, genuinely happy to see her.
"Melinda, thank you, I knew you wouldn't give up on me,"
But Cornelia's turning stomach already knew - that was exactly what Melinda had been compelled to do and what she'd now do all over again, because of Violet's shitty intervention.
It was so very depressing to even think about Mary's tragic fate and the end she would have and how it was directly related to their future legacy. Becoming descendants of a family line that would many years later birth the next Heart.
"I know, I know that you must have found a way for me to somehow undo this! To tap into the power of the Heart, to stop this pernicious change in me...!"
"Hush, Mary,"- Melinda interrupted her stoically, caressing her ginger locks. "You don't want to fret. Or you'll wake the Lord of the White Rose, he's peacefully asleep upstairs, you know he likes to take his rest time during such days when the city is in uproar..."
"B-but the protections of the Lord's house! I could go through them, Melinda, I went through them for the first time since I was touched by the evil!"- Mary was a ball of nerves. Erratic almost. She yearned for this. "This must be a sign, Melinda, it must mean that I will be free..."
"Yes,"- Melinda whispered reassuringly, cupping the disfigured face. "After tonight you will find peace, love. You will find peace."
Whether Mary was too overwhelmed to detect the double meaning of that promise or not, she just kept shivering erratically, waiting for her friend to help her. But Cornelia knew perfectly well that she would, unfortunately, have to suffer a terrible betrayal.
Melinda had told them how Azor's touch had affected the young woman. It made her forget who she was, it made her dangerous. To herself and those around her, making her cling to the Heart of Earth as the last thing she had both in the face of hope for her salvation and a chance for the monstrous thorns of Azor to gain full control over the powers it possessed.
It was a sad story all possible ends to were tragic.
My call to her will keep her human. For a while, Melinda's chilling warning rang in the eldest Hale daughter's ears as she watched from her hiding spot. The hankering to be free again. Poor thing can't let go of her hope and that's the main thing hindering Azor's Touch from being in full effect. It's so dispiriting, knowing that this hope she'll merely take in the beyond... When Mary understands the truth, in her condition, she can do us all to death. All of us! Her true powers are so limitless... We must be tricky and quick and keep Violet from interfering. Otherwise, all this will be nothing but a lost cause.
Back at the center, people were drinking and celebrating. People were relaxed and contented, putting their troubles aside, feeling the reassuring presence of the Dryad in the sacred fire. But not a certain group of strangers, that the majority remained totally oblivious to, especially with the costumes on.
They were undetected. By most...
When the red lion privily started to lead a figure, hidden in lots of fox fur, away from the sacred fire, the foe that had been scrutinizing the entire center ever since the celebration had begun, saw her chance.
The screams were the first thing that posed an alert, but even with that, when she came flying on her broom like that, out of nowhere, the red lion couldn't react.
Blasted by a spell to the ground, the head of her red lion costume fell, and Will could only grunt in protest as Violet cackled before plunging an athame into the fox figure...
"I'm sorry, Jane."- she whispered, twisting her weapon deeper, making sure that her victim doesn't stand a chance. "We're of the same blood. But your children are already born. My future existence isn't threatened by your death but it surely does clear up the way for me. Because I'll have those powers to myself, at last-"- Violet's venomous speech was cut short by the fox figure pushing the athame away.
No blood. No wound. No effect from the blade going in at all. Violet was smitten:
"Don't you know, Aunt Violet, that blood magic can temporarily render your relatives' direct attacks on you powerless?"- Lillian's face came to focus when some of the furs fell away...
"Where's Jane?!"- Violet's grimacing face demanded as she took a step back. "All ways leading to the Lord's house are visible from here, you couldn't have changed the location of the transfer! Nor could you smuggle her in without me seeing it from where I stood!"- the platinum-haired woman listed more to herself than to them. It was evident that she was in fact restless herself. And unsure.
Will decisively snickered at that and stood up next to Lillian taking a position of offense.
"You're distracting me to smuggle her in now, aren't you?!"- Violet realized and attempted to quickly go cut all ways to the Lord's house, but Will quintessence-d her broom, making it useless.
"NO! I will not fail!"
Violet threw the broom aside and took another step back and two strong male hands roughly caught her by the wrists and dangled her painfully, blocking all her moves.
"I don't think so, lady,"- Caleb's militant voice sounded from under the brown bear's head.
"You thought you knew what we'll do, but you're alone and we're a group of people up against you, Violet, your chances of handling the situation by observing the entire city from atop if you will, were always much lower than ours to take you by surprise,"- Lillian said triumphantly. "After all, we took your two helpers out."
"And don't even try to cast spells, I cuffed you with one of my mother's magic blocking cuffs,"
Violet gasped when Caleb let go of her so suddenly, she found herself on the hard ground. She looked at her wrist only to see that he wasn't making it up. He had cuffed her.
"It's over. Melinda will now do what she originally did and everything will be back to normal,"- Lillian spat at her. "It's over. You lost!"
Will watched the villainous glee on the young Hale's face and tried to not cringe. Violet had been tormenting Lillian mentally and whatnot for so long, that despite their problems, the redhead was willing to let the girl celebrate her victory over her evil aunt.
"I lost,"- Violet murmured and then suddenly stood up, blasting Caleb away, making all spectators of the scene run for dear life again.
"Or not,"- she laughed coldly.
Lillian gasped in shock and she and Will pulled back, watching the other woman throw the cuff to the ground.
"I suppose that whatever spell your mother uses to forge these in our time is not sufficient here, when even the climate is so different with the current Heart of Earth that will soon belong to me,"- the platinum-haired witch told Caleb who lay a few feet away, breathing hard and in pain.
Her spell had burnt through his bear costume, exposing his chest where there was now a serious open wound.
"And now, momma bear,"- Violet snickered to herself when a bolt of lightning came at her as if out of nowhere.
She successfully repelled it.
"Ah, but of course,"- she almost laughed when the tall figure of the Plum Tulip-Fairy came out in the open. A tall figure of a woman, whose dress was shaped like the step of a tulip, covered in plum-colored petals both real and made of fabric, as well as her petalled coat and the large tulip-like hood hiding her face. "Nerissa. I should've known you'd be under the kitschiest costume. Tulip fairies are almost non-existent here, in Fanu, by the year we're in,"
"Isn't it elegiac how you're going to die in olden Fanu you've studied so much and feel so at place in?"- Nerissa replied icily before firing at the witch again.
She was skillful with her Seal and usually, she was always the one winning in a fight, but she was facing troubles here, as Violet repelled her attacks and remained unfazed no matter how agile, fast, or sly they were.
The principal pushed away the animated objects, didn't fall under the debris that she quintessence-d back at her from her spells, she even returned blows.
Violet's magic, burning in teal-greenish colors, and her magical aura, were a type of dark magic that even Nerissa herself hadn't worked with or been around much.
Kasnoff lineal magic, she thought angrily.
There was a wheezing sound. Will recognized Azor's shadows, which were now clearly subservient to Violet as well. They had human frames but were strangely shapeless, faceless, with only burning red spheres under their hoods. The shadows floated over the ground without touching it. Their ominous appearance always sent chills down the spine of those who encountered them.
The girls never got to exactly know what these shadows were, but they were impervious to magic as evidenced by Nerissa's attacks simply passing through them. Some of them attacked the ex-guardian, and others headed for the Lord of the White Rose's house.
"The Kasnoff grimoire is my magic source here, written by powerful magic-users working in sync with the Heart. Your power sources are out of their time and league, and therefore your magic is not capable of overpowering mine!"
Violet's boasting was interrupted by the flying eagle firing green beams at her from above. Matt, no doubt. She clenched her teeth before aiming at him as well, with a spell that was going to make sure he never uses those wings again...
"Physical attacks are not going to do it either."- Violet growled, turning around.
Will had hit her with a wooden stick over the head, giving Matt time to escape her aim. But who was going to save her?
"WILL!"
Lillian jumped in front of that same spell that had wounded Caleb, managing to create a small shield with the charmed band that broke the minute it was hit but still dispersed the spell. She fell back painfully, having saved Will once, but Violet was aiming again, as if amused:
"Your love triangle was never all that entertaining, to be honest-"
The flying rake pierced her through the back, silencing the gasp in her. Violet slowly slumped to the ground, holding her wound...
"Go!"- Nerissa hissed. She had managed to repel the shadows and strike Violet with the quintessenced rake. Now that she was taken out, the spell she was using to guide the creatures was broken and they didn't seem to care about her anymore. They had another main purpose, to serve Azor...
"We don't have much time."
Nerissa knelt next to her wounded son as the others followed the shadows, who had by now all headed for the Lord of the White Rose's house.
"You're going to be alright,"- the sorceress said under her breath, carefully placing her hand over her son's wound. Unfortunately, she was no healer.
"Slow down Violet, Cornelia needs-"- Caleb growled in his pain. "...all the leverage she can get,"
Nerissa nodded, a mixture of concern over his state and determination to get him and all of them, for that matter, back - sooner and at all costs.
Her eyes then turned to the fallen principal's twitching body.
"What a freakshow,"
Nerissa flinched. She hadn't noticed when the Water guardian had come out of her hiding, dressed in her thick shepherd daughter's costume.
"Where's..."
Nerissa's question didn't require a verbal answer from Irma, who just pointed at the wheelbarrow covered with sheepskin. Elizabeth's hand could be clearly seen hanging from underneath. Irma had thought of a way to transport her around.
"Let me try to help Caleb."- the Latina suggested and Nerissa instantly agreed. "Maybe I can at least sterilize his wound and stop any blood outflow. Maybe close it up a little bit? Humans are over 90% water, so what, the skin contains at least 60%?"
"Yes, try-"
"You do something about Michael Myers over there!"
Nerissa didn't need a second invite. She aimed her Seal at the blond woman from behind and started cursing her, murmuring ancient words under her nose.
Maybe this realm and the time-loop itself were diminishing her magic, but ancient Metamorian curses could work? She had to try, nevertheless, even if her attempts only slowed Violet down...
"You too?"
Hay Lin nodded with a worried look.
She and Taranee were headed for the school festival, both dressed up for Halloween. They were currently in one empty classroom.
Hay Lin's costume was a handmade perfect Mulan, while Taranee's was...
"What were you again?"
Taranee rolled her eyes at her friend, who was changing the subject again. They didn't have time for this. They both had an agenda to look out for during this Halloween, raising funds for charity, the school, and Heatherfield's good name.
(Hay Lin had volunteered to help the Liberal Arts students from the city raise funds for new technology to help their work, while Taranee was managing the faculty's charity affairs.)
"I'm Nancy Drew,"- Taranee pointed out matter-of-factually.
To her, it was an easy guess, based on the ginger wig and sophisticated 30s green skirt and jacket.
"Never mind, Hay Lin, what I'm trying to say is that you felt it and I felt it-"
"Taranee, it's called contractions, and it's normal, maybe-"
"We got pregnant at the same time, this has to have something to do with Kandrakar!"
Hay Lin sighed. She had to agree that her friend's concern did sound valid.
"I'm sorry, Tara, you're right. After what happened before the Oracle Thalesis stepped in to change our future for the better..."
"Let's just agree to go to Kandrakar first thing after the Halloween parties,"- Taranee interrupted a little hastily.
She hated thinking about that, about the elders' dire prophecy regarding her and Hay Lin's children, about going into a rage and almost losing her unborn forever...
Hay Lin nodded again, having sensed the other woman's emotions. She put a hand on her shoulder:
"You got it. We're going to do that. And don't worry-"
But they were both worried and she knew it. They were worried that in this new future changed thanks to the time loop and their united magic with Thalesis, the prediction that threatened their unborn children with untimely deaths was still very much possible.
"Damn,"- Taranee stopped to look at her phone before they left the room.
"What is it?"- Hay Lin turned around.
"This slasher narrative... At first, everyone thought it was a Halloween joke but they just found two new victims near the school! This is insane!"
Tarnaee looked tense and annoyed, even more so than when her work was usually disrupted.
"Wait, what, there's a slasher running amok in Heatherfield? Like Ghosface,"
Hay Lin gave Taranee a disturbed look but the dark-skinned woman was more pissed if anything:
"I can't believe that some stupid teenager watched a few scary movies and is now doing this, threatening to put a hard halt to all our festivities and the hard work we've put into the educational system! This is ridiculous!"
"Tara when you say victims-"
"No, they're not dead, Hay Lin. No deaths. Yet,"- Taranee grabbed her things and urged the other guardian to follow her. "But this is getting out of hand, if the media gets a hold of this, and trust that they soon will with these three "stab survivors" as they call themselves, opening their mouths, the police is going to shut down Halloween and ruin all our chances of surpassing other regional colleges in the new season,"
Hay Lin didn't know what to say. She was well-foundedly disturbed by the mere thought that something like this was even happening in Heatherdfield, but Taranee was already walking forward with new determination.
Well, she's always been crazy about school, Hay Lin thought as she walked after her friend. Used to be all about her GPA...Now it's about the PTA...
Fanu
"Out of my way!"
Will and her friends yelped as the energy overwhelmed them from behind and blasted them away, taking them out altogether.
Melinda gasped in shock.
The protection field around the Lord of the White Rose's house had proven ineffective against her too.
Shaking the entire scene with her presence alone, the platinum-haired witch hovered in the air.
Violet's glare full of determination pierced through her.
"Run, Mary,"- Melinda whispered to the other woman, who didn't turn around. "Run towards the house! She's here not just for you! She's here to destroy it all!"
Mary hesitantly trotted towards the Lord's house, while Melinda braced herself; she had to try. She had to try her best to at least...
"NO!"- Violet screamed, having lost all her patience.
She was covered in dirt and wounds that her lineal magic were healing but even with all her harnessed dark power, she was seeing her last opportunity slipping between her fingers. She could see it and she wasn't having it.
"You will never achieve your goals!"- Melinda yelped.
She tried to connect her magic to that of the White Rose, to help her fight off the obsessive evil that was here to change the course of time.
"Not even the Lord of the White Rose himself has the strength to stop me tonight, Melinda,"- Violet sneered when Mary couldn't pass through the threshold of the house. She couldn't even open the door. And apparently, neither could Melinda.
"Because even he doesn't want her any nearer. You could get her inside the yard but the house?"- Violet laughed. "She's been touched by Azor, after all. And she's never to recover from it!"
This time Mary did turn around, appalled:
"M-melinda?"
Violet only laughed in their faces:
"Where's Jane Warren?"- she hissed, scrutinizing the place.
Was she lagging behind, where Azor's shadows would catch her since they still couldn't enter the sacred yards? No, they would've already had her in their figurative claws if that were the case.
Violet squinted her eyes at Melinda who remained alarmed but stoic.
She didn't like this. Jane Warren was the only person left able to thwart her plans after she had killed the hag, the Water guardian, and Caleb. Or so she imagined after blowing the entire town square to pieces all of a sudden while Nerissa tried to weaken her with Metamorian spells from behind.
Even if they had somehow survived, they were no longer capable of going against her on time.
Violet looked up. The moon was almost in its zenith. She had little to no time to take over the Heart of Earth's powers before the All Hallows' Eve opportunity was no longer standing.
"WHERE'S JANE-"
"You never could discover that and it's tormenting you, isn't it? What do you care? You're here, aren't you?"- Melinda said in the end. "But if you think that I'll just let you have Mary, you're sadly mis-"
"MELINDA!"
Mary screamed when Melinda's body flew a few yards, hit by the witch's sudden spell, landing hardly near the White Rose itself.
"I know a trap when I see it,"- Violet bared her teeth. "I know that you've done something to make sure Jane Warren comes and gets Mary in the end, but I'll have you know that I, on the other hand, have my sister Elizabeth taken. Taken from that hiding spot Irma had figured out for her,"- the platinum-haired witch announced malevolently. "I know you're listening, Cornelia. Or you thought that I wouldn't notice your absence?"
Violet waited but when no response followed, she sighed and conjured up dark vines that shot from the ground, clutching the screaming Mary's every limb and lifting her up in the air like a rag doll.
"Apparently, you'd like to talk about Elizabeth after I've claimed my powers? OK, Cornelia. As you wish-"
"Goodbye, Melinda. I'm sorry and thank you. Thank you for everything."- were Mary's last words before she dismembered in front of everyone's eyes, like a plant, turning into soil that went back into the ground and petals that covered it.
Will felt her breath stop. She and her friends were still trapped under a dark teal dome but they could see what was happening very well.
For a long moment, everything was silent, even Azor's shadows had stopped trying to go through the protection forcefield.
"W-what...I-!?"- Violet was at a loss for words.
She couldn't wrap her mind around what had just transpired.
"WHERE'S THE POWER? WHERE'S THE HEART-"
"Where it was always meant to be,"- Melinda said solemnly, levitating above the White Rose. "With me. Within the Warren family yet never to go near the rotten apples like yourself."
Violet stared in pure shock and astonishment, taking a step back as she watched the blonde woman's full of magic body illuminate the yards:
"N-no, how?"- she stammered. "Jane Warren's our predecessor... She was supposed to take the power, you-"
"My name is Jane Warren, Violet. Melinda Jane Warren. I'm your predecessor,"- Melinda argued calmly, smiling too. "I span the narrative like this, making you believe that Jane Warren is my protégé to confuse you and Azor. And I succeeded, didn't I? Thanks to that idea and the Dryad's blessing, none of your invasive dark spells were able to divulge the complete truth and, in the end, you fell prey to your own gluttony and ludicrous destructiveness..."
Ever since she had taken the powers from poor Mary, she felt much stronger and more confident. Today, when that had been possible. She had just needed to fool Violet into coming here, in the Lord's yards before liberating Mary from her anguish and putting an end to this frenzy once and for all.
Melinda looked into the sky again, seeing even the smallest movements of the moon. She smiled. Midnight had just passed which meant that her plan had, thankfully, been a complete success.
Violet could also tell that hence she tried to flee the scene without any further ado, only to be completely immobilized by her predecessor's newly enforced magic.
Then Melinda freed Will, Lillian, and Matt and turned to the shadows who were still at the entrance. The creatures wheezed in what looked like terror, for the first time ever; up until now, Will had assumed they were incapable of feeling anything but that was soon proven wrong.
Melinda's bright spell obliterated them until the last of their demonic shrill screams died down and they were completely gone.
"Let this be an eloquent message to your mistress; I'm coming for her!"- Melinda vowed. "I can already feel it; her poisonous roots that had spread all over Fanu, desperate to make a run for it. Even Azor didn't expect this rapid change of power, for no one would've been able to master the Heart of Earth's power as fast as me. I've been getting ready for this all my life. And when she took over Mary's physical body, I knew this was the only way to save and protect all of Earth magic from her evil,"- that last part of her narration was more for Will, Matt, and Lillian who all stood by her now.
"Now, Violet,"- the Heart turned to the villain-turned-captive in a short while. "Where's your sister?"
Will couldn't help but notice the imperious tone in her voice and that look in her eye. Even if she wouldn't admit it, Melinda was already different from before as the Heart of Earth. Obviously, as it had been part of her rescue plan all along, she was triumphant, but there was more to that.
Will could clearly remember her friends discussing her attitude during their war with Nerissa from over ten years ago, wondering if going rogue is a "keeper of the Heart-automatic". Even the Dryad had mentioned it in their prophecy. They had seen it, many times, what greater power did. How it changed people. The price magic always had...
So, the redhead couldn't help but wonder; was the Heart of Earth also too much for any single person to hold?
It was more than possible given what they had already seen it or even the idea of it do to Violet and Lillian and knowing how limitless its powers were. Limitless to an extent they could probably challenge the Heart of Kandrakar itself...
"I asked where is Elizabeth-"
"Go to hell!"- Violet hissed but Melinda remained unfazed.
Instead, she just forced her eyes into a duel with hers. When they started glowing and Violet winced, Lillian already knew what her n-times great-great-grandmother was doing. Invading Violet's psyche...
"In the well nearby, there is a sewer system maze underneath. Elizabeth is guarded by two of Azor's shadows who might be away by the time we retrieve her; after all, the rancor is attempting to escape..."- Melinda and Violet ominously recited in unison, as the Heart read her mind forcibly. "Not to worry! I'll send my forest spirits. They will get Elizabeth back while I undo the damages Violet caused to the city. Then when I purge Azor forevermore, I will send you all back to your time and close the remaining time loop once and for all,"
Will exchanged glances with the others. Honestly, it sounded more than good. To be over with this horror once and for all.
"My spirits will fetch Elizabeth. In the meantime, you go inside the Lord's house. Cornelia's there, tending to her in-law's needs... I redirected Nerissa's teletransportaion spell to have them there. I sense that they might be hurt after Violet's attempt at exploding them. Off you go now!"
"And what about Violet..."- Lillian murmured only for Melinda to nearly snap at her:
"I'll take care of her,"- Melinda masked that ominous promise with a big smile before disappearing in a flash together with Violet.
"I was going to say I don't know how the Eye is going to get this woman in her future but I'm starting to see it,"- Matt commented on the awkward way to the house. After all, he was walking between his ex-girlfriend and the girl who was obsessed with him. "She's already a few plums short of a fruit pie-"
"Matt! Hush!"- Will hissed even though she shared his opinion. "...Melinda shouldn't hear that part. She can't suspect her future fate..."
"OK, OK, I know. She left though-"
"It does take a toll on you. And I know that I'm the last person to speak,"- Lillian interjected. "But being a living Heart isn't easy and it isn't for everyone; that's why it usually chooses you and not the other way around. I realize that if Melinda hadn't done what she did everything would've been forsaken, including our present and future, but that doesn't change the fact that this power didn't choose her."
Putting all the tension and bad blood between them aside once again, Will thought about the younger woman's words and had to agree with them.
"If this is the Lord of the White Rose's house, where's the Lord?"
"Sleeping. In his chambers, and no, you cannot wake him up, Irma."
Irma made a face. As if she would've actually considered that.
Cornelia was still tense even though they had won. A part of her could understand that.
She and her friends were all waiting for Melinda to come back, to the royal house.
It was interesting to be here because even though they had already visited, near the White Rose, the guardians had never actually entered the house itself.
"Ugh, what's taking her so long!"- Cornelia growled, pacing around the large sitting room. "She said her spirits will bring Mom while she fixes up the city, didn't she? Then why aren't they coming? It's been forever!"
Caleb, who had just been completely healed thanks to the power boost Melinda had sent Cornelia and her healing power, caught her hand reassuringly:
"Maybe she's rearranging your mom's memories or something. The power is safe and secure as she planned it, right? Relax, soon all this will be past us,"
Cornelia frowned ever so. She was a ball of nerves but she hoped. She hoped and knew that he had to be right, right?
"Maybe..."
"Or not,"- Will murmured at the other end of the room so that only Nerissa could hear her. "We still have Thalesis's theory that Azor somehow influenced Lillian into being... a total villain and bitch. And that she'll be the reason Lillian becomes powerless... How exactly is that supposed to happen when after leaving this place and closing the loop once and for all, Lillian will be back to being the Heart of Earth in our time?"
"And the Dryad's augury,"- Nerissa added darkly, moving her calculating green orbs between Cornelia, her son, and Lillian, who approached them.
Will felt her stomach turning. That's right. A guardian's death is what the Dryad had foretold...
Their problems were being gradually sorted out but definitely not resolved.
And to think about all the other personal things she'd have to deal with once the Heart of Earth-time-travel- Fanu saga was over...
It gave Will a headache she was not mentally ready for.
"Nelia, it's going to be OK. And don't worry. Once we're back, I will face Kandrakar. Face trials. Relinquish my power. All that needed stuff,"- Lillian promised, taking her sister's hand in hers. "I know that I put you all through a lot. But especially you. I realize that barely anything will make up for it but the time we spent here, the time we spent fighting Violet together and just being...just being sisters, it did sober me up, I guess. The least I can do is face the consequences of my actions willingly and not be a liability to all of you any longer."
Irma and Will exchanged glances.
Nerissa raised her eyebrows somewhat sarcastically but didn't say anything.
"I regret many things. But at the same time, I don't. Because now I know, Nelia,"- Lillian went on, nevertheless, looking into her sister's glistening eyes, a tear rolling down her own cheek. "That you loved me enough and more than enough to never give up on me despite seeing me for the monster I became."
Cornelia, who felt like she had been run by a steam engine could find some liberation and relief in her sister's words of remorse even though she knew wished that it they could've come earlier.
"I know that at times my attitude and actions made you question my love and your importance to me,"- she nearly croaked, voice heavy with emotion.
"Well,"- Lillian's lip curled as the tears wet her face. "I was stupid. And I know I can't reverse the damage I caused,"- she looked over her shoulder at Matt and Will. The looks on their faces, they themselves... it still made her uneasy on so many levels but after Fanu, primarily uneasy with herself. Then she looked back at her sister, whimpering. "B-but at least I can stop being the cause of it."
Cornelia sobbed and embraced her, gently but firmly at the same time. Her baby sister was a villain. But she was still her baby sister.
Caleb stood up to give the two women more space and walked over to his mother, who like the rest of them watched the scene.
"How are you, my sweet pea,"- Nerissa turned to him with a smile, having felt his hand on her back.
"I'm fine, like brand new actually. Everything's healed."- Caleb assured her. He looked deep into her sealed in unrest features. "Hey, maa, you think maybe that's what that Oracle foresaw? That's how Azor will become the reason for Lillian to abdicate her position and power because Fanu and everything that happened to her opened her eyes? I've been thinking about it ever since we met Melinda."
"It is possible,"- Nerissa confessed. Actually, it was, even if she hadn't thought about it like that up until now. Maybe her son was right and they wouldn't have to go through another round of hell with the little Hale sister.
But the Dryad's words... That and something else was still keeping her on the edge and Nerissa failed at concealing it:
"Is there something else bothering you? Mom?"
"No, Caleb,"- she was quick to feign a smile and hug him tight, planting a little kiss on his jawline.
Caleb wasn't too sure about that. He knew his mother well enough to doubt her words as he held her. He was definitely more collected and calmer now with Cornelia back with him, but that didn't mean that their worries were all taken care of.
Behind his back, Nerissa thought the same with pensive green eyes flowing into the distance and plum lips puckering in tension ever so as she got lost in her thoughts again.
"You will not remember most of this, child, but I want you to remember one thing. Your daughters. Their sisterhood. They need you to move past all this,"- Melinda's hypnotic voice brushed against Elizabeth's ears. "I know not what is to happen with Lillian after this but you will remember this much from me. Be there for them, even though they've decided to keep magic hidden from you. Be there in other ways. In other phases of their life. Lillian has reached a perilous edge however she didn't fall into the abyss like Violet, your sister..."
The young woman smiled and caressed the Hale mother's hair. They were all her children. Of her lineage. And she loved and cared for them.
Violet scoffed at that. She hated all this. She hated how she hadn't known the truth despite working so hard on this plan her entire adult life. She had done the unthinkable to become the Heart of Earth because she had been denied that right and so many others. Because the Eye of God, the organization she had become a part of and envisioned differently could only work best if Earth magic was their ally and not enemy.
Instead of that, she was forced to follow Melinda Warren, a person she hadn't even suspected is their predecessor known to her as Jane Warren up until an hour ago and watch her playact with her newfound powers.
"I feared that Lillian is off the deep end,"- Elizabeth confessed. "I'm so sorry I couldn't stop her..."
In the magical trance that she was she was aware of the truth yet would be oblivious to most of it once again once back in her time. All thanks to the Heart of Earth.
Melinda smiled at that as she finished last repairs around the city center with her magic. She had many more things to set straight like dealing with the people from the Eye who had made their way into Fanu and any other overbearing Kasnoff determined to fail them all by doing something outrageous.
She had to protect Earth magic and the White Rose and once again make Fanu unbeknownst to just any mortal. Purge Azor's evil completely.
Melinda's life full of hardship and sacrifice finally looked promising again. She would have a goal. A purpose and the upper hand, for the first time in quite a while.
But first, she had to send her descendants and their friends back home.
"You didn't know what she was going through as the Heart of Earth, my dear. But after this adventure, you will know that she is never going to sink if you're there for her. Cornelia will know that too and this dreadful situation will never be repeated. Lillian may not be the Heart of Earth anymore after she returns but one day, she will have a steady life again."
"I doubt it,"- Violet called spitefully from the back. "The little bitch has gotten a taste of power and dark desire over something she shouldn't have. Even if she says that she regrets it now, that won't last. You can't naturally make someone get over all that! Not the Heart of Earth, I'm sure-"
"How dare you judge my daughter's capabilities when you're half as responsible as her for everything that has happened?"- Elizabeth turned to her estranged sister angrily. "That raw power chose my daughter for a reason, and that reason is her strength! She is not like you, Violet. And say, what do you know about being the Heart of Earth anyway?"
Violet clenched her jaw at that jab at her, irked and piqued, but then scoffed again.
"Please. Melinda's magic speaking through you like a ventriloquist isn't going to impress me, Elizabeth."
"Surely nothing can impress a woman determined to go through her own sister and her nieces just because she wanted magic!"
"You're not a sister to me. My sister Amanda who I actually care about I sold short for this opportunity."- Violet shook her head darkly. "You know nothing about me! And you and your daughters who get to inherit all that magic even though I was the obvious choice in the first place? I hate the guts of the three of you! And if I don't gut you, my name will no longer be Violet Vivian Martens,"
"Don't mind her, Elizabeth. You will not remember the contumelious image of your estranged sister once you're back in Heatherfield,"- Melinda promised. "She still believes that she has a chance to keep up her mindless and destructive evil though? Why is that, Violet?"- she turned to the platinum-haired witch. "You have so much faith in your grimoire or in Azor?"
"You see, I know what you're doing, using your power to try to get into my head, Melinda, but you will not like what you'll find there. You may even learn a thing or two about your future, now how is that for a change?"- Violet hissed venomously. "You don't, but I know when and what happens to you. Did I pique your curiosity?"
Melinda remained unfazed, glancing at her opponent with calm but insightful eyes.
"As you wish, Violet. I'll be casting a memory-altering mass spell to reduce the side effects of your time travel anyway. You're not going to achieve anything no matter what no more. And I wouldn't trust Azor's help if I were you. She's so evil, Violet, you're not realizing who you're comrading with-"
"I know full well, don't you worry about me,"- Violet hissed again. "Besides, what else do you expect of me? To embrace my fate under your thumb? To be left back in time before you close the loop?"
Everyone had gathered in the open space behind the Lord's house. Everything was ready. They were ready to leave Fanu behind and close the loop as well as this complicated, stressful page.
Time travel, Will thought. Never again! I'll avoid it at all costs!
"Goodbye, everyone,"- Melinda turned to them with a wistful smile. "It was a pleasure to get to know all of you. But it's time to go."
"Melinda, thank you,"- Cornelia exclaimed, overwhelmed with emotion.
Caleb let go of her shoulders so that she and her sister could properly take their goodbyes with their many-times great-grandmother. "We wouldn't be going home if it weren't for you-"
"No, I wouldn't be able to protect Earth magic if it weren't for you girls. Because we're all of the same family and we're all chosen for that by our mother Earth, a long time ago before we ever came to be,"- Melinda smiled again, wiping a stray tear. "Blessed be, my girls,"
Lillian watched her without saying anything but she smiled too and nodded, having felt her mother Elizabeth's hand on her shoulder.
Things had settled better than she could've hoped. And even though a long journey awaited her before any possible redemption was in question, she now knew she was willing and ready for it.
Will and the others were quicker to bid their abideu. Actually, the redhead's opinion had changed again. Seeing how Melinda handled everything, she no longer thought that the power had kicked her off her rocker so much.
Maybe this was indeed for the best not only because there was no other choice.
"Once you go through this portal, everything will be up to you. Elizabeth's memory, everything will be in your hands. And as for Violet; she is going to be powerless and ready to be taken to Kandrakar once I send her back. In an hour or so,"- the Earth guardian promised before showing them to the big portal, illuminating the dark night with its mystical light green colors.
It was a very different sight. It looked like the one Nerissa, Will, and the others had used to get here only bigger, fueled by the Heart of Earth itself.
"And the painting-"
"You have to destroy it. Because even after the loop is closed, Azor might try to get to you through it. I actually suspect that is her last resort. Destroy the painting and the loop between our time and yours will be fully closed and Azor's evil will be purged. She cannot have crossed to your time on her own, not completely at least. Her main root is still here. But I will dispose of it."
Will and Nerissa exchanged glances and nodded. They both knew what the other was thinking, the Dryad's words...Yet it was not the time to discuss them.
Matt, Irma, and Will were the first to cross through the big portal, followed by the Hale sisters, their mother, Nerissa, and Caleb.
Lillian and Cornelia turned around one last time, smiling at Melinda, beholden.
Violet was the last one to remain and look at the still-open portal with a stony expression.
"Let's go, Violet. Don't look after them, the portal will close on its own but you will not be crossing through it before that,"- Melinda, who had already turned her back on the said portal said. "You will go through the painting you originally used to come here,"
Violet didn't react at once. Instead, she just looked up. There was something in the sky that had drawn her attention...
Three sparkling dots.
At first, they were the size of mere stars in the distance, but with every passing minute their size increased and the intensity of their glow did too.
Were they...comets? Falling stars?
No, they were definitely full of magic but they were very much...
Violet's jaw hung open.
"What is it?"- Melinda demanded but before she could turn around a large black root sprouted as if out of nowhere, relentlessly aiming for her heart.
The only thing that saved the young blonde was the magical attack that came from the sky, pushing the monstrous root away.
"Azor!"- Violet exclaimed.
Melinda was too stunned to react at once, not so much by Azor's ambush but rather by the interference of the three mystical objects that had just saved her life. What were they doing here!? She opened her mouth, making their outlines now but couldn't speak, because Azor attacked again:
"I will purge you! Your last root! I knew you'd show up, entity!"- Melinda shouted, aiming her magic at the ground. "Get back, Violet! It's going to kill you!"
But Violet didn't listen to her; the sudden attack had broken the Heart of Earth's concentration, weakening her benumbing spell over the platinum-haired witch's body and she used that to her advantage, running away as fast as possible towards the still-open portal.
"NO!"- Melinda screamed.
Her vast magical aura had finally located the main root. The monstrous root underneath them but as had to give it her all to eradicate it...
The demonic Rose wasn't an easy opponent, and she had gathered more life force and energy than ever before during the months she had been running amok...
If Melinda wanted to hold her down and destroy her which she had to do, she couldn't go after Violet. Damn it!
Apparently, they got the message and wanted to help her out. One of the three silhouettes that had come through the sky went after the fugitive, still in its' energetic form. But that was a dire mistake.
Melinda opened her mouth to scream a warning but it was too late; Azor strafed again, her thick prickly root going right through the energy body and then stopping right before Violet.
Melinda screamed in shock as the entire ground beneath them shook and she lost her balance.
The energetic form was human again and she lay there dead. Her very good friend and fellow guardian- killed on the spot.
"Reya!"- the other two cried from above before finally coming down. "Reya, NO!"
But it was too late. Reya was dead by the time Melinda reached her and desperately tried healing her.
"You took Mary, you took Reya from me, I WILL NOT SPARE YOU, AZOR!"
But Azor worked fast and without any words. The last of her thorn-like parasite roots hovered all around Violet like a tornado before plunging into her skin despite her shocked and shrill screams of fear and protest.
"YOU HAVE TO KILL HER, SHE'S BECOME THE HOST!"
Melinda was a mess by this point. By the time she lifted her hands up to do as she was told, Violet had already managed to dodge her other friends' attacks and jump through the portal, escaping them just before the loop was closed too.
a/n: it's been a journey, this arc, but it's finally over. We will be primarily exploring new things, characters, and plots from now on. Including Phobos and Will's future fate. Let me in on your thoughts! xoxo,