Story: Remember me

Plot: A battle with Phobos proves to be difficult and life threatening, as a certain guardian is affected the most. Will the rest of W.I.T.C.H and the rebels be able to bring her back?

Chapter 28: Held Back

"So you understand?"

"Yes, Will, as much as I don't agree with this, I understand perfectly."

Will sighed. This was going to be a lot harder than she thought. "I'm sorry, Elyon, we know that-"

"-That my people are in danger and I have no opportunity to help you all stop Phobos once and for all?"

"...Well, yes, actually-"

"And that my people are counting on me to protect them and yet here I am at the Infinite City hiding from all the chaos?"

Cassandra suddenly intervened, "Queen Elyon, I think Will's right. Your people need you safe."

Elyon sighed and looked down at her hands in her lap, before mumbling, "...I...I know. I just feel so useless."

Will placed a hand on her shoulder, "I'm sorry, Elyon. It's just too much of a risk for you and for us."

...

Caleb groaned as he slashed his sword against the hard wood of the practise dummy outside the Infinite City. He needed as much training as possible, being the only member of the group that had no powers.

"Dude, you're still out here?"

He turned around to see Matt walking towards him.

Caleb created another gash through the dummy, "Well, since we have no fixed strategy, I need to focus on my training."

Matt shook his head, "You've been out here for almost two hours."

Caleb finally stopped and dropped his sword to the ground. He sat on the grass with his hands behind his neck as he looked up at the sky and closed his eyes.

Matt sighed as he sat down on the grass next to him. "Can you believe that Will kept this all a secret?"

"What?" Caleb turned to face him and sat up, leaning on his elbows.

"This." Matt used his fingers to gesture around them and towards the castle. "I could've helped her since this battle started with Phobos a few months ago."

Caleb shook his head, "Maybe she did it for you."

Matt looked down, "I know but...we've been together for almost two years. I don't want any secrets to break us up, you know?"

Caleb nodded slightly as he turned to face Matt, "You think we're doing the right thing?"

"About what?"

"About Elyon and Cornelia."

Matt paused for a while until he continued, "Elyon? Yes. Cornelia? Not so sure..."

"Well, what do you mean?"

Matt stood up and brushed the dirt of his pants, "So you mean to tell me that you're not letting her go for her own sake? Or you're not letting her go because of fear?"

Caleb looked to the ground for a while as he thought about what Matt had just said. Maybe he was right. Maybe they were all making this hasty decision out of panic.

He shook his thoughts away and tried taking his mind away from Cornelia. Keeping her protected in the Infinite City was his only way of not risking losing her again. And Caleb intended to keep it that way.

...

Hay Lin wondered around the Infinite City, peering through rooms and past pillars. She walked for a few minutes until her gaze finally landed on who she was looking for.

"Hi."

Cornelia looked up at her from her seat and forced a tiny smile.

"What's wrong?"

The blonde shook her head, "I'm fine."

"You don't seem fine to me, Cornelia."

There was a pause. Cornelia fidgeted with her nails as Hay Lin tried to think of something to say.

"How's your leg?"

Cornelia moved her leg around in the air. Just before they had arrived from the Infinite City from Earth, the girls had transformed and decided to fly over the forest. Even though Cornelia's powers had improved significantly, her flying ability wasn't as strong and so she ended up falling to the ground in pain.

"It's...better."

The bruise had now almost healed and Cornelia's leg felt less stiff. She placed her leg back on to the bed and closed her eyes.

Hay Lin nodded slowly before standing up and placing a hand on Cornelia's shoulder, "You should probably get some sleep. I'll be with the others if you need me."

Cornelia nodded as Hay Lin left the room and went to find the other girls.

...

Taranee shivered inside her blanket. It was just one more night before they would face Phobos. Without a plan. Without a strategy. It would be unexpected, spontaneous and completely unpredictable. For Taranee, these very words were horrifying.

She suddenly shot up from her bed and gasped. Beads of sweat trickled down her forehead as she suddenly felt her body overheating, almost as if she were on fire.

"Taranee? Everything alright?"

Irma turned in her sleep and rubbed her eyes lazily, as she sat up in the bed just next to hers.

Taranee mumbled as she stood up and made her way out of the room, "Just need some water."

Irma shrugged and turned on her side, before drifting off to sleep.

...

Caleb paced around his room, deep in thought. He was pretty sure that the girls would be sleeping right now, as they had to get up early in the morning and prepare. He knew he should be sleeping, too, but an unfinished task lay ahead. There was something he wanted to do.

Just talk to her.

Caleb finally made his way over to Cornelia's room, until realising that he had spent most of the time thinking of seeing her than actually doing it. He scowled at himself, before slowing down.

And she's most likely going to be sleeping right now. Nice going, Caleb.

He shook his head and turned to go back, when he bumped into someone. He stepped back slightly to see who it was, and then panic started to fill his thoughts.

"Cornelia, what are you doing out? Is everything alright?"

The blonde nodded her head, "I just needed a short walk, that's all."

Caleb visibly relaxed and, as if realising her thoughts, looked down to see her awkwardly standing. Her leg wasn't fully healed. "But your leg-"

"It's fine...I just needed to stretch a little."

Caleb bit his lip, "Are you tired?"

She looked up, "A little..."

"I'll help you back to your room." He held out his arm for Cornelia to use for support, and they slowly walked over to the door.

Cornelia turned the handle of the door and opened it up. She then turned her head back, "Goodnight."

Caleb was just about to reply, when he remembered that he wanted to talk to her. "Wait!"

She turned around and limped towards him, waiting for him to continue.

"I...Uh..." he swallowed before scratching the back of his head, "I just wanted to see you...before we leave tomorrow morning."

Cornelia gave him a surprised look, as a moment of silence passed between the two.

Caleb clasped his hands together behind his back and looked at the ground, "I know I should have told you before but...I just thought...I didn't want it to be difficult...I didn't think-"

He suddenly stopped as he felt Cornelia's arms around him. He froze as he felt her rest her head on his chest and he slowly lifted his arms and placed them around her.

She looked up at him and whispered, "Stay safe."

Caleb nodded as they embraced once more and she planted a delicate kiss on his cheek. Cornelia then slowly shut the door behind her and climbed into bed, as Caleb made his way back to his own room.

A/N: Sorry for the wait! Next chapter will be when the group actually leave and then there'll be a few surprises on the way. Yeah...not much happened in this chapter. So, Elyon and Cornelia are staying at the Infinite City and the group are heading out early morning to stay ahead. The whole 'go with the flow' thing has really gotten to a few members of the group, like Taranee, for instance. Let's hope that doesn't cause trouble.

Oh and one more thing! I have posted the improved version of 'Forbidden', and the first two chapters are already up! I've gotten a few emails about that and so go ahead and read it!

Take care and thank you for reading/reviewing.