Chapter Text
For as long as she could remember, Wilhelmina had always considered herself to be a normal girl. Ordinary, unremarkable, one might even say boring. Of course, she stood out a bit in the crowd with her bright red hair and the big brown eyes that others often complemented on, and let’s not forget that she excelled in swimming. But all of that certainly didn't make her special. Not one bit. After her parents' divorce, her school performance left much to be desired. And her ability to fit into a new group proved to be even worse, which she confirmed for herself when she transferred to a new school after moving. There was absolutely nothing unique about Will.
So if someone had told her a few days ago that she would make four new friends, suddenly discover magical abilities, receive an ancient and powerful crystal along with the titles “Guardian of the Veil” and “Keeper of the Heart of Kandrakar,” and two days later be kidnapped from her planet to another world by giant creatures, hanging from the shoulder of a blue monster as it carried her along a gloomy deserted road to the dark castle of an evil lord... Let's be honest, Will would have laughed in the face of whoever said that with the most offensive cackle she could muster.
She shifted slightly once more, uncomfortable with the way the stranger's bulky shoulder dug into her stomach. Her bound hands in front of her ached from the tight ropes and the cold. She shivered all over as icy wind whipped through her thin clothes, designed for the warm autumn of Heatherfield, not for the harsh climate of this foreign realm. The broad body of the giant who had been carrying her for an hour provided some warmth that seeped through his leather coat, but it was not enough. He walked with confidence, holding both of Will's ankles in one hand, preventing her from kicking or running away, treating her like a sack of potatoes.
She let out a sigh, glaring at the second monster, who was walking a short distance away. He looked smaller, with dark grey skin, wearing rough armor with spikes on his shoulders, a dull sword clattering on his belt.
Will didn't dare to look up at last one bringing up the rear. She couldn’t bring herself to even look at this... thing. Every instinct screamed at her to look away. Although, she recognized it from the other day. A colossal, scaly creature with a human-like torso and a long, serpentine tail—long enough to wrap around a car a few times. In addition to its length, the serpent towered over the other two by a good meter. Even if she wanted to, she couldn't see its face from her position without straining her neck, but she could see the base of its tail: flexible and supple, muscles rolling under glistening green scales as it trailed along the ground behind them. Lord Cedric, as the blue orc called him, was terse. He had given only one command during all this time, but the sound of his voice will probably haunt Will in her sleep. A hissing, throaty growl that vibrated with guttural bass and made her want to shrivel into herself. It was as if she could still hear it. And worst of all, even though she couldn't look up at the monster, she could feel his unblinking gaze.
For some reason, even being in this situation, Will still hoped it was all a dream.
She couldn't accept what was happening, nor believe it, even though her own senses were telling her otherwise. The soreness and tingling of her numb hands, the cuts and bruises on her body from her attempts to resist, and the strained tension in her neck from her awkward position—all of it painfully, undoubtedly real. This place, as if pulled straight out of a nightmare, dark and shrouded in a twilight haze, was real. And all of her senses proved it. The alien world hidden behind the Veil was no longer just a story told by a crazy old woman, but a harsh reality.
What was it Hay Lin’s grandmother said? Meridian? The girl thought to herself, allowing her head to drop. She could ask her captors, but she knew they wouldn’t answer. They had only spoken a few words to her, and those were angry growls of “Silence!” and “Do not move!”, so Will gave up trying to get them to talk.
What surprised her the most was that they spoke a completely unfamiliar language, yet Will understood every word. She didn’t even realize at first. Only after she was hoisted onto the blue orc’s shoulder and the glimmer of the portal they’d emerged from disappeared in a thick fog did it dawn on her. Even more astonishing, Will found she could speak the language as perfectly as them when she tried to ask a question. It happened by itself. The phrases spilling from her lips were supposed to be her native language, but instead a melodic foreign tongue poured out of her. The realization stunned her into silence for a long while. Completely dazed, she stopped her futile struggles to break free and froze. Was it the magic of the Heart of Kandrakar? Will did not know.
All she knew was that she didn't have the crystal. She left it in her school bag, the same one she’d tried to use as a weapon during the kidnapping. The one she’d dropped onto the pavement. Once again, fear and anxiety gripped her insides, and she let out a choked sob. Although tears wouldn’t come yet, she believed that once the initial shock subsided, she would break down and weep like a child.
No one knows what happened to her. The Heart of Kandrakar is still on Earth, lying somewhere in an alley, forgotten in her bag. Her new friends, whom she's only known for a few days, are unlikely to notice or call her to check if she made it home this evening. None of them were that close to her. Besides, she only gave her phone number to Irma and Taranee. Perhaps they won't even notice her absence at school tomorrow. They might think she just decided to skip picture day.
The girls had known each other for years, they were close. Like Elyon and Cornelia. Even Taranee, who joined last year, was firmly planted in the group as an integral member. Will saw it and desperately wanted to fit into their circle. To belong. When they found out about their “purpose,” a small part of her felt happy. This meant that if everything proved to be true, they could become a team. They would stand side by side, fighting evil.
Yeah, right… Will smiled grimly, staring at her dangling arms, bound with rope. Her fingertips were red from cold, skin flushed with cut off circulation.
And what about her mother? What would happen tonight, when Will didn't come home? What will she think? Will she sit by the phone all night, awake and anxious, dialing her daughter's number over and over again and waiting in vain, distant beeps as her only response? Will she go to the police in the morning? Would her helpless, petite mother stand surrounded by police officers, shouting at them, urging them to find her only daughter as soon as possible? And if Will doesn't return at all, would her mother be able to live on without her?
Would her father even notice her disappearance?
Something squeezed in her chest. The outlines of her hands suddenly blurred before her eyes, as did the flickering ogre's boots and the rocky road beneath them. The tears finally got the better of her. Couple of drops rolled down the bridge of her nose and fell onto the dusty path, immediately disappearing out of sight.
She was alone. Completely alone. Is she really going to perish here, on an alien planet, after being a Guardian for barely two days? Had it all been a set up? Unlikely... Well, at least she got to fly once, and use magic, however badly.
Will recalled what happened the moment she had to use magic for the first time. The raw power she felt. The brilliance of it. That was yesterday. But then... In a panic, not knowing what to do, she made a mistake. She didn't know how her magic worked, but she followed her gut instinct, as if long-forgotten memories had come alive somewhere in the depths of her soul. Like muscle memory, not hers, but someone who paved the way long before.
Will frowned. She ruined everything that day. Cornelia told her so, rather rudely. Yet that was probably something everyone thought, but couldn’t voice out of pity or politeness. With her inexperience, she had condemned the boy—who clearly begged for their help—to a terrible fate, sealing him behind the Veil along with the snake monster that was now rustling behind the procession. Even after listening to her intuition and successfully closing her first portal, she managed to screw up everything.
Maybe she deserved it all. She clearly doesn't belong among the Guardians. She's too clumsy, confused, without a clue of how to do anything. The others will quickly find a replacement for her, surely. Someone more skilled and confident, a true leader. Grandma Lin definitely knows another girl among their peers who is suitable for the role. Maybe Elyon. And she... the only thing she was good for is to spend the rest of her life in the dungeon of an evil prince, or worse.… It depends on what they wanted to do with her. She just wished her mom wouldn't grieve too much.
Will's self-pitying thoughts were interrupted by a sudden change in the landscape. Where previously they had been surrounded by a foggy open woods, now they found themselves in a swamp. Will couldn't see what lay ahead, but as they continued their course, she got a better view of the new surroundings. The air heavy with stench and musty haze, obscuring the shapes of large snags and the twisted, thorny roots that protruded from the murky water. Their gigantic silhouettes loomed menacingly on either side of the road, coiling in unnatural shapes, taking on terrifying forms in the blurred darkness, occasionally illuminated by flashes of lightning. Thunder rolled across the swamp, but was drowned out by the thick fog. It seemed as if they were being watched, but Will couldn't see anyone. She cautiously looked around, straining her eyes. However, the feeling of being followed by unseen eyes persisted.
Will began trembling violently now, either from fear or from chill. Goosebumps were running up and down her back, creeped under her skin, and she clenched her jaw in an attempt to stop teeth from chattering. She suddenly felt unbearably cold and anxious, as if they had crossed an invisible barrier that had enveloped her and plunged her head first into icy water.
Will couldn't explain how, but she knew it was dark magic. Something ancient, ruthless, and greedy. She had felt this magic the very first seconds of being in this world, but now it grew more intense, pressing down on her, consuming her.
We must be close, Will realized.
She dared to raise herself on her tired arms, putting her elbows on the ogre's back, and turned her head as far back as her stiff neck would allow. She managed to catch a glimpse of the landscape. The sight took her breath away, and she gaped in horror.
An enormous castle towered over the swamp and nearby hills, it's spires piercing into storm-filled sky that glowed with eerie, unnatural purple light. Flashes of lightning momentarily outlined gothic roofs and stone gargoyles. Numerous towers pierced the clouds, adorned with rows of spikes, and only the dim scattered dots of windows indicated life inside, shimmering like stars on the seemingly impenetrable stone walls.
The castle was indeed built in such a way that no army could siege it. In the middle of a swamp, on a high cliff that tapered downwards, supported by thick roots, the castle stood at the very top, isolated from the rest of the world. It nestled far away from the surface of the planet, from the soil, detached from the lives of ordinary people. A twisted path led to the castle, rising above the ground on the same massive roots, forming a bridge that coiled upwards, leading them towards the front gate.
Will had never seen anything as intimidating as this massive palace. Whoever built it, surely used some kind of magic. As she looked up, Will's felt dizzy, suddenly drowned by a horrible realization that once this monstrocity of a castle swallows her up whole, she might never come out. She would be trapped forever in the cold, stone prison of this place.
The girl struggled again with renewed effort, kicking her legs and slamming bound hands against the giant's back, but her joints were stiff from the cold and fear, and she could only manage a weak squirm. The blue monster only tightened his grip on her ankles, his other hand roughly clutched her around the waist to prevent her from slipping off. Not that he worried about her escaping; it seemed that he didn't want to waste time on an unnecessary delay.
The giant stopped at the gate, his thunderous voice barked the order to let Lord Cedric into the castle. A moment later a loud rattle of chains and the creaking of iron bolts came from somewhere above. Will, no longer daring to turn around, only watched hopelessly with heart beating in her throat as the vertical gate slammed shut behind the snake's back. After passing through an almost empty courtyard, they entered the next passage leading to the palace itself, and a large double door made of thick wood finally closed behind them.
The atmosphere immediately changed, but it didn't get any warmer. The echo of footsteps and the clatter of armor rolled through drafty halls. There were even more armed soldiers inside the castle, who Will assumed to be castle guards. Each carried a sword or a halberd. Some of them curiously watched the snake, the giant, and their unusual cargo—a girl in strange clothes, but no one dared to say a word.
Lord Cedric had now slithered forward, and Will could no longer see him. In silence, she was carried through dark, empty corridors with soaring ceilings. Lancet windows of dark stained-glass cast ominous streaks of light across the marble floor. Occasional flashes of lightning illuminated the dark corners, and for a second Will could make out creepy faces on portraits or equally frightening statues. Everything in the castle was deliberately menacing and intimidating, as if the owner did not want to leave any doubts about his nature to whoever entered his lair.
Exhausted, Will stopped straining her neck to look around and let her head hang helplessly. Soon, they stopped, and Will heard the sound of heavy doors opening. The oppressive feeling of discomfort increased significantly next to this door.
“Come in, Cedric," came a low, authoritative voice from somewhere far away, but Will heard it as clearly as if spoken right into her ear. The sound made her skin crawl as her heart began to pound out of her chest. Fear gripped her body even more tightly, she trembled with horror on the giant's shoulder as he carried her deeper into the huge hall. Will didn't notice the thorn-covered columns on either side, the stained-glass windows or the mosaics on the floor. Her gaze fixed on the closing double doors as she was carried farther away, the only escape slipping from her reach. She squeezed her eyes shut, forcing back tears.
She didn't want to meet the owner of the voice, didn't want to stand in front of him, shaking like a leaf. Didn't want to be in this damn castle. She wanted to go home.
Will felt nauseous.
The giant stopped in the middle of the hall and easily lifted Will off his shoulder, as if she weighed nothing. Will always was quite small and thin, but now she felt like a twig. He turned her in his arms and set her on the floor like you would a kitten. Or rather, he tried, because Will's stiff legs suddenly failed her. The girl fell to her knees with a quiet sob, the thud echoing through the empty room.
Normally, Will would have flushed with embarrassment and tried to stand up, but now she was terrified to move a muscle. She slowly looked up from the floor.
Her gaze climbed up the steps leading to the throne, over the sweep of black robes, up the tall figure and cascading silver locks—until she met the vicious, icy eyes of Prince Phobos. Will flinched as if struck. A surge of dark energy ripped through her body like a bolt of lightning. Those eyes didn’t just burn; they pierced her thoughts, piercing straight into her very soul.
His aristocratically pale, flawless face, like a wax statue, frozen in a stern mask; only his eyes seemed alive, bright as ice hit by the light. Will found the contrast eerie and unnatural. He couldn't have been more than twenty. Dull silver hair framed his sharp features, spilling in long strands down to the floor. Phobos sat with imposing grace on a stone throne, one arm resting casually on the armrest, but nervous impatience betrayed his relaxed pose. Behind him, thorns and black roots twisted into knots along the throne’s high back, clawing upward toward the ceiling.
Will didn't dare speak, throat dry and head empty. Hiding behind the red strands of hair that fell on her face, she only glared at Prince of Meridian from under her brows. Frozen, heart skipping a beat.
Serpent monster bowed, his voice rumbling through empty hall. “As-s-s per your order, my Princ-ce, the new leader of the Guardians-s-s of the Veil”
“Are you certain this is the right one?” Phobos fixed the snake with his gaze. Cedric was so much bigger than the prince—he could squeeze the white-haired head of his master in one clawed hand, and it would burst like an overripe fruit. But under Phobos's cold, imperious gaze, the snake somehow appeared much smaller than he was.
Suddenly, serpent’s body burst into a bright glow. He jerked, arching as if in pain, and roared so loudly that Will shrunk to the floor, squeezing her eyes shut. When his voice died down and she opened her eyes again, instead of the monster stood a tall, elegant man clad in a long dark robes with smoothly combed blond hair. A snake tail slowly retreating somewhere under his robe.
Predatory golden eyes glanced at her with disdain. The voice, oddly soft compared to one of his serpent form, dripping with honey, but masking a threat behind it—like the rustle of snake coils in the grass.
“Indeed, my lord. Let her prove that she really is-s the Keeper of the Heart of Kandrakar,” a thin double-ended tongue darted out between his teeth.
"If she were the new leader of the Guardians, she would be in the Guardian form," the prince now stared at Will, narrowing his eyes slightly. "Either it is not her, or she does not possess The Heart."
Will abruptly lowered her eyes, paling, afraid that Phobos would be able to read the answer in her eyes. She couldn't let him realize that she was a Guardian, let alone the Keeper—she had to pretend to be an ordinary girl from Earth. She can do that. Make him believe that the snake made a mistake. Then maybe they'll let her go? Hope began to flicker inside as Will felt a small jolt of determination.
“Well, rejoice, Cedric. It really is the Keeper," the prince said, and Will's breath caught in her throat. His eyes met hers and his lips stretched into a thin smile. "She understands us.”
She wanted to hit herself, but her hands were tied. Fool! She'd completely forgotten that she understood the language as fluently as her own, and now she was no longer just a girl from Earth in their eyes. Hope went out just as quickly as it flared up, leaving only bitter realization. Will pressed her lips tight and shut her eyes in frustration.
“I confirm, my Prince: she speaks and understands the Meridian tongue," Cedric waved his hand in her direction.
"Which means one thing..." the prince's motionless face suddenly distorted with rage. "Where is the Heart?!”
His voice boomed like thunder, lightning flashed brightly outside the window, and Will recoiled from rippling magic that immediately enveloped her. A wave of dark energy slammed into the girl, nearly knocking back her small frame. Hair whipped from her face, and she yelped, head pressed into her shoulders.
“Answer me, child, or you shall be cast into a cell to rot!”
“I know nothing!” her trembling voice sounded pathetic even to her.
Magic poured from the prince in every direction, dark and unbridled, yet Will sensed it was only a fraction of his power. It was as if the abyss had cracked open and endless darkness spilled out of Phobos, twisting the space around her. Will felt it suffocating her, she choked on in it.
The girl sank lower to the floor, curling into herself to escape the oppressive force.
“Liar!” the man extended his hand forward.
The marble under Will's knees suddenly cracked, dark green thorns bursting free, creeping up her legs. She cried out and leapt to her feet, but it was too late—crooked vines had already ensnared her. Panic surged as she struggled, but more and more branches coiled around her ankles and calves, thorns ripping through the fabric of her pants and digging into her skin. Any attempt to break free only drove the thorns deeper and drew the vines tighter.
Will hissed in pain, vision blurred as tears filled her eyes. This is not happening. This is absurd!
"Better you start talking, Keeper,” Cedric’s hiss mirrored hers. He looked amused.
Will remained stubbornly silent, wide-eyed with horror as thorns continued to entangle her. She truly didn't know where the crystal was. She had it in her bag, but someone could have taken it. She wasn’t lying when she said she has no idea!
The thorny branches had already coiled around Will’s waist, tearing her clothes and tightening their grip. Suddenly, buds sprouted along the stems and burst open at once. Dozens of red roses bloomed around her, and she let out a terrified squeal. Never had beautiful roses looked so menacing.
"My patience wears thin," Phobos's voice came to her as if through water. "Where is the Heart of Kandrakar?!”
“I don’t know!!” she cried, tears falling. Fear and pain mixed up into a nasty cocktail, but the roar of blood in her ears drowned out panic, keeping her from a complete breakdown at the same time.
The faces of her friends suddenly flashed before her eyes. Concerned, for some reason, full of anxiety, they looked at her through the veil of time and space. The vision rippled and vanished as quickly as it came. She blinked.
That was enough. She didn’t know what she just saw, but she understood one thing clearly: she had to pull herself together and fight. She had to get home, to them, to mom. She's the Guardian of the Veil or what?
Breathe, Will, she told herself. Inhale, exhale.
The tremor subsided. One more deep inhale and her breathing steadied. She raised her eyes and looked straight into the Prince's furious eyes, defiance clear on her face.
Phobos noticed a subtle change. One eyebrow raised, he looked slightly surprised. Will thought she saw something flash in his eyes for a moment. Or was it just her imagination?
“Cedric,” the prince addressed the shapeshifter, his eyes never leaving Will, “the interrogation serves no purpose here. Cast her into the oubliette. We shall resume tomorrow… with torture.”
A wave of horror washed away the sudden rush of relief. Will’s heart plummeted. God, what have I gotten myself into?
The stems and roses that had ensnared her crumbled into dust in an instant. Will suddenly felt a massive hand on her shoulder; it spun her around and dragged her docile body away. Stumbling on shaky legs, the girl cast one last glance at the tyrant. He watched her with icy eyes, but his gaze seemed pensive. Cedric remained silent beside him.
Once outside the throne room, a faint swept over Will, as if the weight that had been crushing her lungs had lifted. The oppressive dark energy still pressed down, but she finally managed to take a deep breath.
Will didn't remember the way to the underground prisons. She was exhausted, body ached, limbs still numb with cold, and she longed for her warm bed. Fortunately, Will felt too shaken to think about anything. It kept her from spiralling. Occasionally noticing when the stairs and ascents began and ended, Will mostly stared into the void in front of her.
They had been walking through the prison catacombs for what felt like hours, now accompanied by two armoured monsters. Bars and torches on the walls raced past her eyes. Will came to her senses when the giant stopped in a dark, damp dungeon. The room was vast, lined with stone and soaring upward like a giant well. The ceiling stretched so high that it disappeared in the dark, cages and chains hung from it, some with prisoners or their skeletal remains. Numerous stone pits gaped like black mouths around the perimeter. The oubliettes.
They stopped at the edge of one, which went far down, plunging into darkness. No bottom could be seen that for all she knew it might've been endless.
They aren't going to throw me down there, are they? Will backed away, but the blue giant loomed right behind her. He took out a knife, and before she could flinch, promptly cut the rope.
Only then did Will realize how much her hands had been hurting all this time. A deep, burning ache spread as blood returned to her fingers. The giant fastened a pair of chained shackles around her wrists where the rope had been only moments ago. The heavy iron pulled on her arms, relentless as a sentence.
The giant whistled. Metal clanged from above. A small cage rattled downward on a chain, meant to lower her into the pit. The bottom of the cage seeemed to open with some kind of mechanism, but she was shoved inside through a small door on its side.
Will turned around the moment the bars clanged shut behind her. Inside the cage, wide-eyed with terror, Will gripped the bars with trembling fingers as the guards prepared to lower her.
“Please, I really don't know anything! Please, don’t put me down there…”
“That’s right, Guardian of the Veil,” blue monster rumbled with a deep frown. “You’re going down there with a rebel leader.” In the torchlight, Will could swear she glimpsed pity in his small eyes, but light flickered and it disappeared.
The cage began descending slowly. Through the thick bars, all she could see were the figures of the giant and his subordinates slowly disappearing over the rim of the pit. They soon were gone from sight, leaving only the stone walls in front of Will's eyes. She looked up, last bits of hope dying along with receding light. The sound of retreating heavy footsteps echoing farther and farther away.
A reflection of distant torchlight dancing on the damp stone walls was the last thing she saw before she plunged into the cold darkness.