Chapter 48 / part 2

[simtopi]

Chapter 48:
Read Part 1 here

Her head throbbed with pain, as did her shoulder. She collected her thoughts trying to remember what had happened. It all came back to her swiftly. 



Now they were gone. Wesley was gone. Willow was gone. How was she able to do that? There was no way she could have freed herself. Not without help.



It didn't matter. Willow gave her the Sorceress' book. Her words were true and the intent was clear. Clara staggered to the door, trying to ignore her body's pains. Once she was in her spell chamber, she could heal herself. But that didn't matter now.

---

Adrian: Look, I didn't mean to imply that any of this was your fault.
Jasmine: I know. It's okay, I feel like shit about it.  But I honestly didn't think anything could have happened.



Adrian: That's the funny thing dealing with stuff that's dead, huh. It's always unexpected.




Jasmine: Look at us. We're talking like we know what the hell we're talking about. It never seems like it'll  end.
Adrian: Other than bringing back that urn, there's only so much we could do.
Jasmine: I hope that's all I have to do. I don't want Cecilia to go through what she did before. 



Adrian: Knowing you, you'll do everything you can to keep that from happening.
Jasmine: Because I did so well with that tonight.
Adrian: No one knew. Just go easy on yourself and stay with Cecilia tonight okay? I'll be right around the corner. 



Even if Cecilia wanted to, she didn't know if she could go back to sleep. She could hear Jasmine and Adrian in the hall talking about her. Probably talking about how much of a freak she was. 





As much as she wanted to forget about this ghost... about Brittany's ghost, and every other formerly-living sim that she had encountered, she couldn't. This was supposedly her gift. She could see dead people. And to repay her, they all wanted to drive her insane.







The room suddenly grew colder. Cecilia shivered against the chill. But it wasn't just a draft. Something was happening. 



She was almost afraid to look.
Cecilia: Jasmine?

















An ethereal voice sneered and cackled as the ghost appeared again. It seemed brighter, and stronger, but Cecilia stared at it, frozen in her spot.  She only managed to squeak her sister's name again. The ghost only laughed louder.





"She finally has it. She has what is rightfully hers!"



"And all of you pathetic little children of Denise Markelly are doomed."








"We shall both finally be avenged!!!"




Cecila tried to hold herself against the ghost's laughter and shrieking. Everything in the room started to shake. Objects started to begin to float up as if gravity just stopped existing.

"Bring me to my daughter!" the ghost shrieked over and over again as random objects tossed themselves against Cecilia.



"Bring me to my daughter now!!!"





Jasmine rushed in hearing the commotion from inside her room. She froze at the door in horror.





It was pure chaos. Everything in her room was whirling around impossibly. She and Adrian stood stunned, helpless to do anything, unable to say a word. All they could do was watch as everything circled around in the air, held up by supernatural force.





Cecilia: Make it stop! I'll bring you to her, just make it stop!!! Please!!!





Gravity instantly returned. As if strings were cut, everything fell from the air at once. Only the urn floated slowly and carefully back to it's position on the desk.




Cecilia stared at her sister, shaking violently. 




Jasmine didn't know what to say. She had no idea what she could do at this point.




Cecilia: Jasmine, I'm sorry but I can't take this anymore!

She ran over to the desk and scooped up Abigail's urn with one hand.




She pulled Jasmine's keys off it's hook. 





Jasmine: Cecilia! 

Cecilia pushed past her as she ran out into the hall.



The commotion had pretty much woken up the entire dorm. Cecilia didn't care as everyone stared at her, some angrily, as she ran through the dorm hallways clutching the urn in her arms.  Jasmine ran out, yelling after her.

---

 She wasn't afraid. She didn't want for him to stop. He held her close and returned her kiss, closing his eyes as he drank in her warmth. She would have given all of herself to him if he allowed this to continue.




He pulled back, opening his eyes. Below him was Willow... the Willow that he knew now. But in her eyes, there was something else. It was a sort of innocence that was locked away deep within her.  Something Willow wasn't allowing to be released. He stopped, his smile leaving his face. The hesitation returned and his conscience was loud and clear.



Wesley: Willow... I can't do this. 



He pulled himself away and jumped off the bed.




For a moment, she protested, but she crashed to reality when he pulled away from her. She breathed in the cold air of the room and stared hard at him, pleading for an answer he didn't have. 

Willow: I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.



Willow: I don't know what's happening to me. I don't know what I'm even doing anymore. 



Willow: It's like something's inside me, making me do things and I don't know how to get it to stop. Or if I even want it to stop. 

He stared at her dumbfounded. He reached out instinctively to try to help her, to keep her from hurting herself.






She jumped up and ran past him instead.

Willow: I'm so sorry, Wesley.




She ran outside, past the boundaries of Sibyll's protection charm. Wesley knew he could have stopped her but he wasn't sure if he should. He stood at the doors and called out for her instead. 





Wesley:  You're not safe out there, Willow.
Willow: I know, but I can't stay here. I shouldn't stay here. I don't want to hurt anyone else, especially you. You've done enough for me. 





Willow: But I don't know where to go to find all the answers. 
Wesley: Where are you going then?




Willow: To Clara's. I need my Book back.





Before he could say or do anything else, she was gone.

---

She could read the spells. But the Book still resisted her in a way that only magical objects could.  It didn't infuse it's knowledge into her as it would have for Willow.  Clara read enough, particularly the spells that she had been seeking, but she didn't know everything that was hidden away in it's pages. That would have to come in time.





As with everything else, Clara was determined to learn everything this Book had to teach her.  For now, she had to stop reading. Someone was at her door.




Clara: Was I such a perfect hostess that you couldn't keep away?





Clara: You really do need someone to teach you manners. It's rather rude to leave your host unconcious in the basement when you go. 
Willow: You know why I'm here. I came back for my Book.
Clara: Nooo, that's not quite how I understood things. I clearly heard you tell me that it's now mine.




Willow: Right. And I need it back now.
Clara: Oh honey, it's really quite rude to ask for your gifts back. Ask me in a few days, and maybe I'll consider. 
Willow: I'm not leaving here without it. I know what you're capable of, I can't let you keep it.

Willow wasn't exactly sure what she was doing. She let the magic flow through her and the spell she needed instantly came to her as it has before. 



Clara laughed, but the curse still struck her. She gritted her teeth, forcing her smile through the pain as she cast the spell that would absorb it and heal her. 

Clara: What do you think you're doing?  




Clara: Sigh. Isn't it adorable how children like to pretend they could play with the big girls.

Clara thrust a spell back at Willow. Surprised, Willow wasn't able to counter it in time.   






She finally knew what it was like to be held by that spell. Intense pain flooded her as it pulled her off her feet into the air.



Clara: You know, maybe I will keep the Book after all. It is quite excellent reading, and you won't need it once I'm done with you.



The counter spell, Willow thought. Again the spell she needed came to her and with a word she freed herself.





She gasped, once she was back on the ashphalt. What are you doing Willow? Did you really think she would have stayed unconcious all this time, that you could just march in and take the Book back? 



Clara laughed and began to cast again.



She hurled another explosive spell at Willow. Willow saw it coming and dodged it quickly. 



Clara kept casting.



Willow dodged the spells exploding around her. Everything was happening too quickly for her to think. 




Clara cackled loudly, taking too much delight in Willow's fear and confusion. 

Clara: And to think. They chose YOU to be the Sorceress' heir. You don't know what I know and you certainly don't have my skill. You're a sad, pathetic excuse for a witch.  You can't even survive a duel. 




Above her the sky darkened and thunder rumbled. Willow held in her breath and looked up cautiously. She had seen this before. 





She knew what was coming. 






Lightning broke through the sky towards her. Willow literally had less than a second to think. She needed more than a counter spell. She needed something that could protect her and rechannel the energy... 





The beam of lightning seemed to hold on to her. She could feel her hands burning but she had to concentrate to keep it from harming her more. 




In another breath she released it all back to Clara.




Willow watched with hope, but it seemed to last forever.  Clara didn't seem like she was being hurt at all.



Clara: You idiot. You're not the only one who could do counter spells. Pro-tip... it's a lot easier when the spell you're countering is your own.




Clara: But you wouldn't know that. You're just a sad little amateur. 

Flames encircled Clara's hands.



Maybe she was too much of an amateur. The energy of that spell nearly drained her. Willow felt out of breath, as if she had just sprinted a mile. Her head swirled around and she was barely able to see.  She didn't know what Clara was doing or if she could protect herself from it. 




Energy suddenly began to tingle behind her. Willow wasn't sure what was happening... if this was another one of Clara's spells.




Instead three figures appeared.




"Clara St. Julien."

Hearing her name made her freeze, an instance of fear passing through her. 







Malcolm: Please forgive us this intrusion. We've been searching you for days, but you've been a little difficult to track lately. We're very glad we found you safe.
Willow: Wait... you were looking for me? Who are you people?



She knew who they were, but everything was happening so quickly. She was getting confused. Malcolm stood in front of her as his two minions walked swiftly and with determination towards Clara.

Malcolm: We are, and have always been, at your service Miss Marlen. I only hope you do not judge us all by Clara's actions. 
Willow: You're the Coven... of Dark witches?
Malcolm: Yes. And Clara was one of our own. Until we learned of her betrayal. 





Clara: This is your Heir, Malcolm? She's one sorry excuse for a witch, and she'll do nothing except bring you and the Coven down. I would have done much more for the Coven than she would have. Don't you dare come near me...




She tried to cast but the enforcers were ready. 



True to her strength, it took both of them to bind her; One to hold her physically and one to keep her from casting.  They relished in their mission.  There was no regard for how much pain she felt. 





Malcolm: You lied to me, Clara. I'm extremely disappointed in you.
Clara: You can't do this, Malcolm.
Malcolm: On the contrary, I think I'm doing "this" right now.






Clara: But you will never hold me. I swear to you Malcolm, I will destroy you all.
Malcolm: Is that so? The way I see it, all you're doing is cawing like a pinned bird. You almost succeeded in harming Willow and you no longer have my protection. You are at the mercy of the Tribunal now.
Clara: Malcolm!



Malcolm's words were clear and succinct. There was no trace of emotion in his voice at all.
Malcolm: Take her.

The enforcers bowed to Malcolm and Willow as Clara disappeared into the aether. Her screams echoed throughout the empty street before they faded away completely. 




The witches quietly followed, leaving Malcolm alone with Willow.




Willow: I know who you are. You're Malcolm Landgraab.
Malcolm: The Fourth. Yes.
Willow: I saw you at the club where Denise was playing.  You were with Cecilia.
Malcolm: I remember. And we've been keeping a close watch on you for a long while now. Kimberly Cordial had taught you well. 





Willow: Miss Cordial... she was part of all this too wasn't she. This is so messed up,  I  don't know what to do anymore.
Malcolm: Just go home, Willow and stay there for a while.  We will return the Book to you as soon as we are able. There is no need for you to do anything else. Someone will come for you when it is time.
Willow: Time for what?





Malcolm: Unfortunately I am not at liberty to say now. All you need to know is that we are with you. You have nothing to fear from us.
Willow: I... I don't know about that. 
Malcolm: Please, trust me. I wish I could stay and explain everything but this situation with Clara requires my full attention.
Willow: What do you plan to do with her?




Malcolm: You needn't worry. Clara will receive what she deserves. She will not hurt you again.  It has been my honour to serve you, Miss Marlen. 




Willow: Right. Because I'm the "Heir".

If he heard her, he didn't answer.  Malcolm  just smiled courteously  and disappeared. The sky cleared again and there was nothing around to give any evidence that a confrontation of witches had happened here at all.  Go home, he told her. Back to that cottage in the woods they undoubtedly gave her. She couldn't go back to her real home... not to Mom and Dad. Not to Rowan or Linden. Not to Jasmine. Not to Gabriel. She couldn't go back to Wesley.

Everything was different now. Clara was dealt with. Willow had access to magic that was supposedly more powerful than she could even handle.  She had an entire Coven who'd protect her and she had no idea why. What made her so important?  Kimberly couldn't tell her anything, dead or alive, and she knew she wouldn't find those answers with Malcolm either.

The worse thing about all of this was that she wasn't sure if any of this was all that bad.

---

Jasmine: So what did you plan to do, Cecilia? Drive off in the middle of the night and throw the urn through Clara's window?



Cecilia: And why can't I do just that? I can't keep this around me. You saw how pissed off that ghost was!
Jasmine: Yeah, I did. I never doubted you, Cecilia.




Cecilia: But why me, Jasmine? Why do I get to be the one that has to see all this scary shit. I never asked for any of this. I don't want to know about dead people's problems! I just want them to stop talking to me.
Jasmine: Me too.




Jasmine: I didn't mean for this to happen tonight... I didn't think anything would. I guess I didn't take it seriously enough.
Cecilia: After you saw what happened to me at the Secret Society?!
Jasmine: I know and I'm sorry. How many times do you want me to say it?!




Cecilia: Brittany was a bad one. She almost made me kill people. But Jasmine, I get the sense that this ghost... Abigail... she's so much worse. Why do I have to go through this?
Jasmine: You won't go through it alone, okay?



Jasmine: Look, we'll put the urn in the basement. I won't leave you tonight, I promise. Tomorrow, we'll bring it back to Clara.
Cecilia: I don't know if it's as easy as that anymore. I'm so scared Jasmine.




Cecilia: This is bad. Really bad.

Next » [ Chapter 49: First Light ]

---

Notes:

* Thank you to starling_1 and amochan8878 for the enforcers. (they first appeared in Chapter 34) They look pretty bad-ass, IMO ^_^
* this chapter looked a lot different than it did when I planned it out a while ago. I removed a scene (that took place in the Lulu Lounge), to another chapter because it just wasn't working. So it goes...
* thank you so much for reading. As always, let me know what you think!

Comments

[smart-spell.livejournal.com]

Awesome, action-packed chapter! You updated this just as I was going to bed, so this was great reading material before I hit the hay last night. I'm very curious as to the witches and what each side is really after, even though it's all based on the individual of course. In the story, it seems to be that the alignments are not quite so black and white, but rather structured based on where either side places emphasis (like protection, nurturing, discipline, defense, etc).

Also, I gotta say, my shipper heart was very happy with the Wesley/Willow interactions. :D

[simtopi]

Action packed chapters are always fun! I'm glad you got a chance to read it. You're right about the alignments in the story not being a matter of good vs. evil, though I will say that the Coven really are an ambitious sort. And another Wesley/Willow shipper! :D Thank you! :)