Chapter Text
Irma's POV
After years of battles, bruises and fear, the one thing we thought impossible finally happened. Cedric, the serpant who fought battles for Phobos was finally defeated. Gone. Nothing left of the man who has tormented us for years.
Naturally, there are celebrations. I watch as everyone dances around Kandraka, hugging, cheering 'We have defeated Cedric'
But why are we happy?
We once defeated them, they were imprisoned, but Phobos' power proved too much, and once again he rules Meridian. Elyon stepped down, and now rules Kandraka and does her best to keep the peace in other worlds.
The real problem is Phobos, and we are nowhere close to beating him. A knot of anxiety tightens in my stomach.
"Why are you sat here looking miserable?" Cornelia asks, plopping down beside me with her usual grace. Her perfumed scent fills the air, a stark contrast to the heavy atmosphere I'm feeling.
"One word... Phobos." I say, barely above a whisper. I don't expect her to truly understand or care, though. In my opinion, all she cares about is shopping and her appearance.
"Don't be a downer, Irmy," she chides, patting my arm dismissively. "The snake is dead. Be happy for once."
Easy for you to say, I think bitterly. You're not the one Phobos has been visiting when the sun goes down. You don't have nightmares that leave you gasping for breath in the middle of the night.
"Just go away, Corny," I mutter, turning away from her. I can't be dealing with her blonde, bubbly ways right now. I need to wallow in my fear and dread.
"Just a friendly warning..." she says, her tone hardening slightly. "Smile or leave, because no one needs you here if you're going to act like this."
Wow, that's a bit out of order, even for her. Does she have any idea what I am going through?
"Fine." I stand up abruptly, needing to escape her judgment. I spot Will with Elyon near the edge of the crowd, so I walk over to them, hoping for a little understanding.
"Hey, Irma," Will says, her brow furrowing with concern. "Are you alright?"
"I have a migraine," I lie, hoping it's a believable excuse. "Could you open the portal home for me?"
She nods without question, her green eyes filled with sympathy. "Of course. Feel better, okay?"
"Thank you," I say, offering a weak smile. "Bye Will, Elyon."
Will opens the portal with a flick of her wrist, and I walk through, the familiar tingle washing over me. In an instant, I find myself at my house and, thankfully, back in my human form. The transformation still makes me uneasy.
"Irma!" I hear my dad yell from somewhere deeper in the house. "Your mum, brother, and I are going away to Grandma's for the weekend. I know you need space to do the assignment for Collage."
When school finished a few months ago, we all agreed to stick around Heatherfield. With the ongoing war in Meridian, the counsel needed to ensure we were always around. No life, no fun.
It hurts to know I could have been in another state, or another country, studying Music. But that's not a choice anymore.
I watch as my dad packs up the car, praying someone intervenes so they will stay with me.
"Can't I come?" I ask, trying to keep the desperation from my voice.
"You need to complete the project, sweetheart," my mother says, appearing in the doorway with a suitcase in hand. "You've been putting it off too long."
"But you can't leave me, I..." I trail off, unable to articulate the fear that's clawing at my throat.
"Will be fine," she finishes for me, kissing my head lightly. "We'll see you Tuesday."
I watch, helpless, as they climb into the car and drive off, leaving me alone in the empty house.
"I'm scared, Mum," I whisper to the empty driveway. It's not like me to be scared, to admit to such vulnerability, but they haven't been through what I have. They haven't had the prince of evil invade their mind, haunt their dreams, and violate the safety of their home. I don't want to be afraid, but I am.
I slowly walk into the house and flick on all the lights, as if the brightness can scare off the darkness that threatens to engulf me. It doesn't seem like anyone is here, at least not yet.
"Please don't come to me tonight, please," I plead to the empty air, knowing it's pointless.
I sit on the sofa and turn on the TV, hoping to distract myself, but nothing amazing is on. I flick through channels aimlessly, the noise my only companionship.
Five minutes later, the lights flicker ominously, and my heart stops in my chest.
I know he's here. Phobos is in my house.
I stand up and run to the door, desperation lending speed to my feet, but a hand slams it shut, the force of the impact rattling the frame.
"Phobos." The name is a curse on my lips as I turn and see the blonde demon standing there, his eyes gleaming with a cruel amusement.
"Grief is a funny thing," he says, his voice smooth and menacing. "First you're sad, then confused, then you're overwhelmed with anger!" He grabs my shirt and throws me to the ground, the attack taking my breath away.
"You're grieving for Cedric? Why?" I ask, trying to buy myself some time.
"He was my pet," Phobos sneers, pacing back and forth. "I spent ages training him, teaching him the ways. And you guardians took him from me... I lied before, I'm not sad or confused, I'm angry."
"What's new?" I retort, my voice trembling.
Phobos raises his hand and hits me across the face, the blow sending a jolt of pain through my skull.
"I didn't care much for that beast," he continues, ignoring my pain. "He was in the middle of a task."
"I don't care..." I mumble, spitting blood from my mouth.
"Oh, you will," he says, his eyes narrowing. "I'm in need, Irma."
"In need of what? Help?" I ask sarcastically, watching as more anger flashes across his face, but he doesn't strike.
"The only way I can be king of Meridian is if I have a prince."
"I don't understand," I say, my confusion growing.
"My plan with Elyon failed. You ruined that for me too."
"Why are you telling me all this?" I ask, my voice barely a whisper. "Why are you coming to me?"
"I like you, Irma," he says, his words sending a shiver down my spine. "You're not like the rest. You have a mind of your own, you're independent, smart, and cunning."
I just stare at him, dumbfounded.
"Please just leave me alone," I beg, tears pricking at my eyes.
"Not until I get what I came for," he replies, his voice low and dangerous.
"And what is that?"
"A son, my dear girl. A son you will give me."
"No... please, Phobos, no," I plead, tears now streaming down my face. I back away from him, but he grabs my arm, his grip like a vise.
"You will do this," he says, tightening his grip, which makes me whimper a little. "Or never see this world again."
"No, you can't," I gasp, struggling against his hold.
"Oh, but I can, and I will." He creates a ball of light in his hand, its intensity burning into my eyes. He throws it at me, and I feel pain hit me like a ton of bricks. I scream loudly, my eyes shut tight, and I feel tears form and spill down my cheeks as the darkness closes in around me.
Then, as suddenly as it began, it stops. I gasp, struggling to catch my breath, and slowly open my eyes. The world swims back into focus, and I find myself in a cold, damp cell. Phobos stands outside the bars, his face unreadable.
"What have you done to me?" I ask, my voice trembling. "I'm not..."
He nods, a disturbingly satisfied look on his face. "All done, water guardian. You are now the carrier of my child."
I look down at my stomach, and a wave of nausea washes over me. Where there was nothing before, now there's a small, almost imperceptible bump. The reality of his words slams into me with brutal force.
"How is this possible?" I whisper, my voice barely audible. "How?"
He chuckles, a dry, humorless sound. "Well, you see, I've wanted to retire this prince position for a long while. Elyon was one hope, and seemed to be the easiest route, but you ruined that for me, and I nearly lost everything. But I was told the other way was to have a child, an heir. Now, I wasn't about to risk it and have it not turn out right. So I had him created, a perfect prince. A prince created so that one look of this place would draw him to this world with a natural connection, but I could only do so much in the creation process. He needed a place to grow more, a incubator if you will."
Hearing this is sickening, realizing the extent of his twisted plans. He has created this evil child, this... thing, and is making me carry it, nurture it. I'm nothing more than a vessel to him.
"Why me?" I whisper, the words laced with despair.
"He'll gain your power, my dear. And he will be more powerful than you can ever imagine."
"I will not do this. I won't!" I shout, my voice rising in defiance.
"I don't think you have a choice. Goodnight... my dear."
Despair threatens to engulf me, but a spark of defiance flickers within. I can't give up. I won't let him win. I know what I have to do.
"Taranee, it's Irma... can you hear me?" I close my eyes and focus, reaching out with my mind, desperately hoping she can hear me.
"Irma, is everything alright? We went to your house, and you weren't there. We were so worried." Okay good, she can hear me. Relief washes over me, a small beacon of hope in the darkness.
"I need your help. I've been taken by Phobos. Something terrible has happened."
"Irma, tell us where you are. We will come and get you. Just hold on."
I sigh in relief, the knot in my stomach loosening slightly. "I'm his prisoner, in the dungeons. Please hurry." I sever the mental connection with Taranee, not wanting to risk Phobos detecting us. I sit back against the cold stone wall, and within moments, a shimmering portal appears in the center of the cell. Will steps through, followed by the rest of the girls. "Will." I jump up and throw my arms around her, clinging to her for support. "Thank you."
"We have to leave. Come on." I follow the girls back through the portal, and we end up in Hay Lin's basement, the familiar clutter and comforting scents a welcome change from the oppressive atmosphere of the dungeon.
"Irma, what happened? How did you end up there?" Will asks, her brow furrowed with concern.
"Phobos has been coming to me in the night..." I pause, my voice cracking with emotion as I break down into Will's arms, sobbing uncontrollably. "I told him to go away, but... he chose me."
"Chose you? For what?" Cornelia asks, her voice sharp with suspicion.
I look at everyone, my eyes filled with shame and fear, and slowly unzip my jacket, revealing the small but undeniable bump on my stomach.
"He created a baby. He needed someone to carry it." I look at the horror etched on the girls' faces, unsure how they will react to this impossible situation, what they will say. This is insane.
"So you're now pregnant?" Cornelia says, her voice flat with disbelief.
I nod, unable to meet her gaze. "It looks that way."
"I'll get my grandmother." Hay Lin says, her eyes wide with a mixture of shock and concern. "She'll know what to do." She squeezes my hand in reassurance and hurries out of the room.
"I want it out of me, Will. I don't want to have this baby." I start crying again, the tears flowing freely. This isn't me. This is some kind of nightmare. "I was always so brave, so sarcastic, so...me. Now I'm so afraid." Taranee gives me a hug, her touch warm and comforting. It's comforting knowing I have the girls here, that I'm not alone in this.
"We'll do everything in our power to protect you from Phobos. He will not get to you again. We won't leave you alone for a second. You'll be safe with us." Will says, her voice firm with determination.
"Thank you."
Hay Lin returns with her Grandmother Yan Lin then, and I cling to the hope that she can help me, that she can offer some way out of this impossible situation.
"Irma, I know your situation. This has happened before, many years ago. There is a way from keeping that baby away from Phobos and making sure it chooses it's own destiny, not his."
"Yan Lin, I want it out of me. I don't want it at all."
"I'm afraid getting rid of it altogether is too dangerous for you. It could kill you, Irma." Great, so I have to have it. "Irma, you need to have this baby."
"But it will be evil."
"Not necessarily my dear. All he can do is create a baby, a blank slate. He can't make it good or bad, but... he can control how the baby thinks when he is born, what influences it will have..."
"Yeah he said one look at this place will draw him to this world."
"Irma, you need to keep your distance from Meridian. Let the baby be born in this world, surrounded by the energies of Earth."
"Phobos will find me. He knows where I live."
"Calm yourself, child. With the help of the guardians, you will be safe. We will protect you."
"So this is my life now? I have to become a mother to a child that's not mine, a child created by my enemy. What will I tell my parents?"
"I think it's time you... and I tell your parents the truth."
"Tell them the truth? Are you crazy? They'll freak out! This is not something they can just easily digest"
"Irma, we have no choice." Will says, her gaze unwavering. "They have to know. They deserve to know."
"Fine." I say, my shoulders slumping with resignation. "They're not home until Tuesday."
"Neither are you. You'll stay here until then." Hay Lin says, squeezing my hand again. "I promise nothing bad will happen." I hope she's right. I'm responsible for this child now, a responsibility I didn't ask for but one I have to bear. I have to make sure nothing will happen to him, and that he doesn't end up like his father.