Chapter twenty eight

The next… He let her go. Taking a precautionary step behind like he was face to face with one of the seven deadly demons. Talia felt silly. The kind one gets when you stare in the direction of your crush and they stare back. It felt good and hurt at the same time. She would be lying to herself if she said she did not feel their connection. They had something but he was holding back and so was she. Well, She was trying. She did not need the quiet part in her head to tell her she was failing.

“I… Sorry, Not sure what came over me.”

“It is fine.” He returned, managing a small grin. “I should go now.

Talia nodded in response, effortlessly stopping herself from saying or doing something far stupid. Denys did a polite bow then walked out. Talia remained watching, imagining what he would like without the white shirt and leather pants.

Damn, She needed help.
Managing to overcome her thirst, Talia hid the spellbook in the confines of her wardrobe. The least she could do whilst expecting a reply from her mother was play Persephone’s game. She then filed out for the alchemist room. The honorable, beautiful and kind Persephone had decided to put the spell casters into use by making them the kingdom’s personal chemists. The werewolves and vampires had it easy. They were tasked with protecting the Kingdom, A fancy term for Palace guarding. Still, it was much more fun than what the spell casters had on their hands. Talia gave a long sigh before pushing the door open. The chattering ‘lowers’ stopped for a minute, giving her an awkward stare. Her instinct immediately rattled and pleaded with her to escape while there was still time. It was paranoia. She was facing the same set of people she once sought acceptance from. Talia’s gaze drifted to Sybil who was quite busy reading. She wished she could deny it but judging from the dirty stares she received from all eyes, It was impossible not to succumb to the cruel truth. They had not changed one bit. The fear ran deep, deep in their bones.

“They still let her practice? After everything she has done?” A witch whispered loud enough for Talia to eavesdrop on.
As much as she wanted to give a snarky reply, Talia knew it was smart to keep her opinions to herself. She now had two Gemini witches she was certain had it for her. But she still had questions about the incident. The only one who could give her an answer was Sybil.

“Hey,’ Talia greeted, trying hard not to puke from sniffing whatever a witch next to Sybil was cooking. It smelt like a garter snake. Add in a tang of rotten fish.
Sybil rolled her eyes as she threw a glance at Talia. “You do know we are not friends right?”

“The feeling is mutual,” Talia shot back, suppressing the urge not to call her the ‘B’ word. “But I have questions and if you are so bent on getting me out of your hair. Give me answers.”

Sybil slammed her book closed, dropping a jar of amber liquid. She sent a threatening glare to the curious lots who were wondering what an A-plus witch and a walking nightmare had in common.

“Well, Make it quick.” Sybil snapped.

Talia rubbed her sweaty palms warm as she tried to picture what she wanted to say. Well, it was simple. The synthetic memory that had rushed through her during the incantation had refused to pop out of her head. She just wanted to sure if it was just a fluke, some side effect of the spell, or something more. Talia had the utmost faith her mother had been there.

“When we held hands during that spell? Did you manage to contact my mom in any way?” Talia inquired.

Sybil looked confused. “I did not see anything. Did you perhaps contact her?”

Talia swallowed, nervous about sharing the terrible memory. “I did not contact her. But I had this weird playback to when I drowned.”

“Maybe it was a side effect considering you interrupted the spell. How can a Fae even think of practicing dark magic?”

“Wrong…” Talia looked away, biting her lower lips so hard that it almost bled. She was dangerously close to revealing her secret. To giving every single person in the room reason to fear her even more. “…Did you have one?”

“One what? A blast of some godawful memory? No. No, I did not.”

Talia observed her intently. Her lips quivered when she spoke and small beads of sweat were forming on her forehead. She was lying. A godawful memory… The only thing Talia wanted to forget was her disobedience and of course, Her almost gruesome end. Sybil was indeed lying because Talia knew the only memory she wanted to forget was her brother’s murder. Just as she realized the hidden truth, She saw Sybil’s hand turn glow bright orange.

***
“Your Majesty,” A guard chorused from outside just as Persephone covered the purple scar between her chest. Persephone ignored his repeated shouts, focused on the pain the girl had caused her. The prophecy was much darker than she anticipated. The thought of it made her stomach turn. Hades had executed his plots well. She doubted the demigod knew who spawned her but she still was not taking chances. She had penned down a letter concerning the matter to Hades. She was sure the bastard already knew. That was why he spared the girl in the first place… Hades asked him too and he would not have a choice but to fulfill the king of the underworld’s desire. The girl had to go. All she needed was to sign the book. That seemed to be the only loophole Persephone could find. If the girl killed herself, She would not be bound to what the imperial god had decreed.

“Your Majesty!” came the guard’s voice one more time. This time it was loud and filled with frustration.

With a flick of her fingers, She permitted him to deliver whatever news he had to give.

“Speak.”
“Your Majesty, You have visitors.” The guard informed, His head facing the marble floor.

Visitors? Persephone wondered who it could be. The kingdom was not expecting anyone for moons. She sat back and gave it a thought. There was nothing in the books and Zeus would have just jumped in rather than follow protocol.

“Who are they?”

“Royals.” The guard replied, his eyes still very rooted to the ground. There was concern in his face and his ambiguous answer further confirmed the goddess’s suspicion. He had something to hide.

“I asked a simple question. Who are they!”She repeated, venom laced in between.

“The... Eh… westerners.”

Persephone’s mouth went dry. The western kingdom? Here? She immediately scampered up, pushed past the fool as she raced to the upper rampart of the castle to investigate. Stretching as far as her eyes could see, Persephone saw a troop of greyish skin, green-haired people marching through the streets to the Castle.

“Bottom-feeders!” Persephone snarled. Yemoja and her people could only be here for one thing. The savages wanted to wield Poseidon’s trident. She would have to die first.

“Position warriors at the entrance of the castle and prepare to go offensive,” Persephone informed the guard from before. He shakily nodded and got on his way but then Persephone remembered another task she needed him to fulfill.

“Also get me the Prince.”

The guard looked back at her with troubled eyes. Another secret he feared would make her insane. “Your Majesty, The prince… left. He took Cetus.”

That kind of ride would only mean he was leaving the realm, Persephone thought. The irresponsible destined king abandoned the kingdom when his people needed him the most and at the close to the Mareel ritual. Insane was an understatement.