Chapter thirty one

Solomon Garner. Sybil wasn’t going to stand there and be deemed weak. There was a stupid reputation she had to protect. One that mattered far more than her mental health. She hoisted herself upright and walked past him.

“Excuse me.”Solomon stopped her, holding an arm to block her path.

“What?” Sybil shot back, returning a stare.

“I am just going to assume that you are having a really bad day and it is very within your rights to push me away but if you want to, You can tell me what is going on. Maybe get it off your chest.”

Sybil said nothing. The tear that escaped her eye at the moment said it all and Sybil hated it. She wanted the negative energy out and without the chaos bursting out in literal flames anymore. She was shackled. She needed release. It was all at the tip of her tongue. An acidity to ruin someone’s day just to make herself feel better and drown the grief engulfing her. But she could not bring herself to do it. He was concerned, genuinely concerned. Surprisingly for someone out of her specie. Under the werewolf’s study, Sybil broke down.

“She made me remember even if I did not want to.” Sybil sobbed. All the emotions she had put under key bursting out again.

Solomon was not sure what she was talking about but he let her continue. A flame like that in a witch was deadly. Sybil kept talking.

“I still see Storge,” She muttered. “I can still hear his cries like it just happened. I can still see the shock Simon had on his face when I caught him red-handed.” The visible sadness in her face suddenly twisted into a menacing frown. “And it is all because of that demigod!”

Sybil paused. She went for his eyes. He was calm despite what she said and knowing her relationship with Talia. No! It was something else. She could almost taste it. Conflict. So she asked.

“Are you not bothered I will do something horrible to your friend?”

“I know you wouldn't do that. I do not think you are a bad person.” He replied, flashing a warm smile.

As kind as his words were, Sybil knew they were far from the truth. She was a bad person. She had been the one to send her brother to his death and while she was in the room with the murderer, She fled. That was the truth and Sybil knew it.

“So,” Solomon began unevenly. “Is that why you hate her? Because she kind off reminds you of the past?”

“I do not hate her because she reminds me of the past. I despise her because she is starting out just like Simon. Sweet, kind, and innocent until their true intentions surfaces.” Sybil said, staring at the nothingness as she relived a gruesome trip down memory lane.

“She is not Simon. She is not born of war or strife. It was always Simon’s nature to revert to his natural state. It was his fate.”

Sybil scoffed. “You believe death is different from war?”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

Sybil froze. Persephone had made her promise that she would keep that tiny piece of information to herself but here she was spilling secrets. Sybil took a shuddery breath and replied, “Nothing. It was just a ramble.” He seemed to buy it so she continued, effortlessly pushing his thoughts off the strange comment. “But there is still a sense in the ramble Solomon Garner, Be careful with Talia. It would be horrible for you to share my brother’s cruel fate. Someone out there loves you. More than you will ever know.”

There was a shaken look of uncertainty clouding Solomon’s mind as Sybil took a step backward. Her words were in puzzles but he could clearly make out from what she said that Talia was a threat. Solomon suspected Talia felt the same way. That was why she pushed him away in the first place. He had been a selfish friend. Talia needed help. He took one last look at Sybil. Her grey eyes were holding secrets, Secrets she managed to veil.

Sybil beamed as she continued to stride forward. “Thank you for your time Solomon. I feel a lot better.”

Well, He didn’t.

***
Denys hurried across the royal court, pushing his way midst the masses that looked like foreigners. He could not indulge in questions. He was saving them all for his mother. He was still reeling from the big revelation. He fumed. How was it possible that his mother had changed from the bubbly nature goddess to a scheming uncaring queen? It burned more that she kept the wicked secret to herself and was only manipulating Talia to win the game of her creation. Denys suspected it had something to do with the prophecy. As he got closer to the Queen’s chambers, he felt like the wind had been knocked out of him. He struggled to keep breathing. What was he going to say? How was he going to bring it up?

“Tell the queen I am here to see her,” Denys ordered the guard planted at the door.

The man nodded and stumbled inside to deliver his message. He returned a few moments later with a reply.

“She awaits you, My Prince.” He informed, head bowed in courtesy.

Denys walked in, shutting the door behind him. His mother was by an open window staring at nothing in particular.

“Where did you go, Denys?” She immediately demanded.

‘The first realm.” He admitted, stepping further into his mother’s territory.

“Are you dumb?” Persephone chastised. “We are making a lot of sacrifices for you to carry your father’s legacy but you do not seem to care Denys. This reckless nature has to stop!”

Denys looked down for a moment. He found it hard to go through with what he intended to do but knowing his mother well enough, this was the only way.

“Reckless? Maybe it is in my blood mother.” Denys said, bringing up the dark subject.

“I beg your pardon!”

“Stop it, mother!” He lashed out, finally losing grasp on all the emotions he was holding back. “ I know your reckless decision to murder the demigod also cost her mother’s life. That is why you have refused to let her go. That is why you keep making that girl’s life a living hell.”

Shock splintered through Persephone. Did he visit the first realm for that sole purpose? Why would he go that far for an insignificant half god? Then the haunting line of the prophecy began echoing in her skull on repeat.

“Why…” She sought to ask but stopped mid-sentence. Persephone knew she had to keep it together before everything came flying to her face. “…I do not know what you heard, neither do I care but let me tell you this, The Western kingdom is here.”

Denys stood his ground, His golden orbs flickering blue. “That was not the reply I am expecting mother.”

Persephone emitted a sardonic laugh, her nostrils flaring. “Yes I am keeping her here for selfish reasons but trust me, It is for the good of all the realms. Even for her sake. We cannot afford another half-god going berserk…”

She is not berserk!” Denys retorted, his mouth twisted in derision. “ And if she does become the monster you claim she is, She will have every right too. She has been treated in the worst way possible. She has been lied to and manipulated. You have to stop this never-ending game mother. I cannot keep being one of your pawns and frankly, I just want the heroine I grew up to love and respect.”

Despite the look of indifference planted on her face, Denys’ words cut like a knife. It engulfed her in rejection. The look Denys had on his eyes. It was disappointment. It was disgust. Small pearly liquid tainted her cheeks, sliding all the way to her chin.

“Every shameful thing I have ever done, I did it for you and I do not care how you see me now but you will look back son and you will thank me.”

“No mother. You did it for you. You did it from the paranoia of whatever prophesy the oracle gave.”

“And why wouldn’t I?” Persephone said helplessly. “ She is the death I inadvertently brought to this realm. She is Hades' daughter!”