Chapter twenty six

Denys couldn’t even look at her. She could read him like a book. Was it that obvious? He finally lifted his vibrant golden eyes to hers, popping the potion before he spoke. She had to know it did not matter whatever his eyes had to say, Ulu had nothing to fear.

“It does not matter what colors my eyes give when I am with you or whatever my heart has to say in the matter. What you should be sure of is my utmost priority will always be the kingdom and that includes fulfilling the promise my mother made your father.” He said, All of it being true.

“Your priorities are very misguided Denys. Despite all your sacrifices, The kingdom is still falling apart.” She then paused, holding back the urge to blame his mother. Persephone was the thorn in the second realm. The cause of it all. “…If wielding the trident is that important to you, I have to tell you, marrying me will be a lost cause.”

“Why would you say that?”

“It is not me. Its the prophecy. It clearly says when love blossoms.”

The prophecy? It took that much to make Ulu a selfless person. It changed the prince’s conception of her. She was concerned about the fulfillment of the prophecy even if it could cost her a millennium opportunity to become a major deity.

“I should not know that.” Denys hinted.

‘But you should. You know you should Denys. I am not going to say it all Denys but that demigod is possibly your ticket to getting the trident. You know it and yet you do not want to accept it.”

“You know very well it is for her own safety. She is in my mother’s black book. If my mother finds outs, She will go hysterical.”

Ulu grimaced. “I know but holding yourself back from fate will not change anything. Your mother wants that girl dead. The same person who wants the prophecy to be fulfilled is going out of her way to ruin this kingdom’s chances of survival. Trust me, she has plans for the future. Terrible things.”

Strange. Denys could have sworn his mother was off his back the second he debunked her suspicion. If she did not, That meant his love interest was vital to the realization of the prophecy, and if Ulu, one of the many persons his mother kept her affairs away from could sense the storms coming from the demigod, Things were only about to get darker. Yet, an optimistic part of himself was certain his mother would never stoop so low.

“Fate is futile. We are allowed to make our choices and who says I cannot love you? We can blossom together.”

Denys heard her sigh. “No. The only reason this realm is going through such a dark time is because of your mother. You say fate is futile but here we are because someone tried to bind fate. You know how much it cost. Your father gave up his immortality for her. It cost him his life. “ She paused, her eyes stinging and her voice becoming hoarse. “…Your brother was cursed to be a Pegasus and yet, it has changed nothing. Your family is still battling the consequences of their actions. I cannot be a part of that Denys. So I am telling you this. You cannot love me.”

“I…” Denys croaked, his sight becoming cloudy and a fuzzy feeling pouring into his heart.”

Ulu leaned in, planting a chaste kiss on his left cheek. “Do not fight it, Denys. You deserve to be happy.”

Denys’s heart burned. A crystalline drop escaping his eyes and dancing down his cheek. He wished he could be the one but maybe she was right. Just as Ulu turned to go, She saw a massive change in his bright gold irises, They were a stunning electric blue. A sign of friendship and a bond stronger than love.

***
“The Queen does not wish to see you.” The guard stationed in front of Persephone’s wards replied.
When a Fae was enraged, They did rash things and that was exactly what Talia did or in this case, the swirling emotions took over. A bright orange spark burst out of her palms, hitting the guard straight in the guts and sending him reeling. Without thinking, She forced her way through the doors dropping into Persephone who had her knees to the floor. If Talia did not know better, She would say her highness was in the position of a lowly maid. Startled, Persephone jumped up, Her expression morphing to that of an angry bird. It phased Talia’s newfound boldness for a brief second but then the swirl tore through her again, dissolving the fear.

“You heard what I said, Miss. Leave! Join your peers in the alchemist room.”

“Why are my powers wonky? What did you do to me?”

“I did nothing.” Persephone scoffed, walking through her spindly chairs that now sported a carpet which was not there the last time Talia visited.

“I know you did. I thought we had a deal? What kind of god does not keep her word?”

Persephone glanced over her shoulder. “Watch your tongue!”

“And what will you do if I don’t?”

Talia stood there, surprised by what she just spat. It was almost like an entirely different being took over her body. The goddess herself seemed shocked, an impressive mix of fear. Maybe what the immortal witch needed was a good ole readjustment. A friendly reminder that she could not always be the boss bitch.

“Nothing. I would not want to get Hades mad but time is ticking. Autumn is setting in the Greenlands and fires can happen. So watch your smart mouth demigod!”

The swirling emotions abandoned Talia just when she needed them the most. The nature goddess just did the pettiest thing and here she was having to listen to it. It was her mother after all. There and then, Talia knew she had to stay put.

The goddess seeing her threat had perfectly, proceeded to mark her territory.

“I put a blocking spell on your abilities. You should not even be able to shoot fireballs but a god’s powers are almost impossible to seal. So there is your answer.” Persephone then went up to a desk and retrieved a leather book. Talia knew what was to come next.

“I want them restored.”

“Your powers?” The goddess said, playing dumb. “ I cannot child. Your powers were recklessly used and almost cost the lives of two witches.”

“That was not me!”

“Sybil filled me in on every detail.” Persephone then flipped open the pages of the book and stopped at the Trueborn tree. A white paper still hid the rest of the names excluding hers. Persephone picked up a quill and handed it in Talia’s direction. ‘But you can get them back. Once you cross your name out of the book of life. You go home and I remove the block.”

She was not even trying to disguise how badly she wanted to get rid of her anymore. There was something more to it. There had to be! Why else would the goddess be so obsessed with getting rid of her completely?
Talia reached for the quill, dropping it back in its ink. “I am pretty sure I still have weeks to make my choice.”