Chapter twenty

Never had Talia been so ridden in her plight. The thought of it repulsed her. She was sure her mother couldn’t do it. A Fae’s pride cost so much more. But Talia had to remember that her mother’s love was infinite and that being, There was no path the Fae would not cross to save her daughter. As she walked back to the feast table, Talia’s mind conferred in her a new mission. She had to contact her mother. Talia flopped down on the bench, riddled with mad ideas on how to reach out to her. The only plausible method was a good old communication spell but even that simple spell required someone with dark auras and there weren't many succubi around. Talia needed a witch.

“Are you alright?” Solomon asked, “One minute, You are on a roller coaster with a god, and the second, You are seething. Did he perhaps say anything rude?”
Talia sighed. “Not helping Solomon.”

“Sorry. I was just trying to brighten your mood.”

They sat in silence for a moment. With Solomon drumming his fingers on the table in awkwardness and Talia scanning the faces of the only dark witches she knew of from the academy. The Gemini coven. They definitely were not going to help her, But, It was worth consideration.

“I think my mom had a helping hand in my release,” Talia said suddenly.

“Okay- Is that not a good thing?” Solomon inquired, A bit confused.

She could not delve into the details. As much as she wanted to share it all with Solomon, It was personal. Added that she was only acting on a vague suspicion that lacked a spine.

“Yeah, Like gods do favors for free.” Talia countered, swearing under her breath for sounding bitchy.

“Oh,” Solomon nodded with an emphatic nod. Her rather rash comment had made him understand what her worries were about. ‘So, What do you plan on doing?”

“I am not sure. I just want to contact her… Make sure she is alright.”

“How? I know for sure you cannot leave this realm, neither can any of us at the time being. Are you-” Solomon paused, tilting his head around before leaning in. “I hope you don’t have any silly idea of escaping?”

Talia took a deep breath.

“No, I am not! I was going to recruit the help of a witch but I am not so sure there will be a dark witch willing to help me.”

Again, Talia scanned the room for the witches in the halls. She was beginning to notice that the Witch ratio for white witches was next to none. Persephone seemed more interested in war-oriented supernaturals. Almost immediately, Sybil reared next to Talia, having her seat. Solomon immediately brought the subject up, implying he wanted Talia to ask for help from someone who despised her.

“Sybil, The one person I was looking for.” He began earning a glare from the witch in question.

“Why would you be looking for me, Solomon? We are not even friends.” Sybil retorted.

Talia shoved an elbow into Solomon’s side in hopes that he would shut up but that was not enough to stop the jerk from pursuing further.

“I need the help of a powerful dark witch. Is that reason enough?”

Sybil glanced at Solomon then back at Talia. Judging from the scrutiny she was facing, Talia knew Sybil suspected this was her handiwork in some way.

“It is not every day a self-acclaimed warrior whose sole purpose is to element dark magic seeks help from the primary source. Especially one who still cannot control his urges. Get what I am saying? So next time you want to cook up something to deceive a witch, Make it believable at least.” Sybil said, looking suspiciously at Talia “Your friend however looks like someone who would need my help.”

“What?” Talia said dryly, managing a forced laugh. It was however hollow and did not faze the witch.

“Talia, you know you can always ask politely if you need a favor from me. it is one of the commandments of the old god..”

Her calculated replies were shocking. Talia barely believes the words coming directly from her mouth. It was almost like her body had been taken over by a skinwalker. Because, Did Sybil just offer to assist her? At the back of her mind, Talia believed this was another game of the witch but she was desperate. Plus, what did she have to lose anyway?

“I want to contact my mom. Will you help?”

“Well, Why not?”

Now it was weird. There was something up with the way Sybil was acting. A moment ago, She was repulsed knowing Talia was alive and now she was devilishly being all angelic.

“Why exactly do you want to help me?” Talia had to ask, her mind betraying her at the worst time possible.

“Okay, you got me. I need something from you.”

“Aha! What is it?” Talia gave an exasperated sigh. Glad things were finally coming to normalcy.

“Your blood.”

It was an odd request. ‘Why do you need my blood for?”

“A spell.” Sybil managed, “So do we have a deal or not?”

Desperate times did call for desperate measures. Sybil’s response was vague and Talia still doubted that she had good intentions but this was the end of the rope for her. Believing on the knot, she was holding unto. Talia did a reckless thing.

“We have a deal.”

***
Persephone settled into bed early, The frivolities and mingling with the lesser kind were not for her. As she tried to think of sleepy thoughts, She heard the door creak open.

“Your Majesty, Lady Ulu seeks your presence.”

Persephone sat up, Pissed that the dark figure in front of her room felt it was okay to disturb her night rest. She made up her mind to deal with him the next day.

“Let her in.” Persephone waved at him.

Ulu slid into the room, red and seething. The usual banter.

“Its a few minutes before midnight. So this better be useful Ulu.”

“Oh, there is! Your son was dancing with that demigod!”

“So?”

“Don’t you hate the girl!”

“I do, but a harmless dance is not enough reason to rage upon. The funny thing is you were there. Why didn’t you do anything?”

“What could I do? I would humiliate myself right in front of those lessers.” Ulu said, stepping forward. “But one thing I did not miss was the look in his eyes. A flash of blue… Almost like he…”

Persephone lips tightened, “A flash of blue?”

“Yes?!”

Impossible!