Chapter thirty five

Talia's words were genuine. Yes, Sybil had to admit, the pain was obviously there. Except it did not sting. Not could she feel pity for the creature. It wasn't because of all things white and black, this was the girl's darkest desire. There was nothing wrong with wanting a father's love. The only problem was it reminded Sybil a little too much of Simon's dilemma. A secret he shared with her a month before he killed Storge and went on full-on berserk.

"As sad as that might sound, I am not sure if I should feel pity for you, Talia. I once had sympathy for someone in your shoes. It blew up badly in my face."

Talia sighed, dropping her face in her palms. She took one look down and the familiar was gone.

"You won't ever stop believing I am going to turn out to be some monster-like Simon. I get that you knew him and I get that what you went through was horrible but I know deep down in my heart that I am not him and the only reason I came here was to tell you that... it gets better... That you do not have to hold on to those bad memories forever."

Talia should have known better than to lecture Sybil on how to handle pain but as the wise ones say, Malice will spread until it was contained. Talia truly wanted to help the witch. She just hoped Sybil was willing to give her that chance.

"Well, since you are going to lecture me, you should know this too. You say you won't turn out like him but trust me, Talia, I see more of him in you than you will ever know. You will hurt someone eventually and that I am certain of."

"Sybil..."

"No Talia." Sybil cut in, refusing to be interrupted. Not until she was done pouring her heart out. "Simon started just like you. He was kind and sweet. If you had met him there, You would be shocked to know he came from the bloodline of Ares. But just like you, Simon had demons. His father most especially. Like you, He craved his father's love but he could never get it. His mother was never there for him. The poor human woman went insane giving birth to him. The only person he truly had in this world was my brother, Storge." Sybil stopped, feeling a wave of emotions rise through her. She struggled to breathe as she choked down the sobs that escaped her throat. She saw Talia reach out a hand to comfort her but she refused it, drawing them backward.

Talia looked down at her eyes and numbly whispered. "What Simon was pure evil. If he truly loved your brother, He would never have done what he did."

"Except you are wrong." Sybil retorted. "Simon did love Storge. It was the fear of losing the last thing in the world that truly cared about him that made him break. It made him mad just like his father and he slipped into the darkness. He was never the same after that. You know the rest."

As usual, Talia's mouth went on a rampage before her mouth could stop it. "I thought this was supposed to reveal how similar Simon's life entwines with mine but what you told me is a tale of a demigod who neglected his mental health and lost it. Kinda reminds me of someone."

"No. What I told you is how brutal loss can be. Especially when it is the loss of a loved one. Love can make people do evil things."

"I haven't lost anyone."

Sybil bit off her retort. An outburst like that could cost everything for the second realm. But she did not want to lie to the girl. She wanted Talia to know what her fate had predestined for her.

"But you have," Sybil responded with a surprisingly powerful hold over her treacherous mouth. "You've lost the love of a father and either you admit it or not, you are slowly losing mother's love being trapped here, leagues away from home. How much more will it take to break you?"

The words sent hysteria pumping through Talia's heart. She stood to her feet, staring at the dominatrix bitch that yet again ruined her day. She would never understand what ran through the girl's mind. Sybil was good. Talia could bank on that. The game she played was a coping mechanism. A way for her to stay in control. Talia might have kept on going but even Sybil's words had gotten to her. Doubt was running wild and free through Talia's mind. It was a flicker of dark truth she was not ready to face yet. Nor was her Fae.

"I should go."Talia breathed before strutting in the direction of the door.

Behind her, Sybil's haunting voice followed. "Goodbye, Talia."

***

"I invited her to dinner mother," Denys informed his mother as they strolled through the royal garden.

"Bold move and without asking me. I already have to dine with a conniving goddess. Now you add a girl destined to raze this kingdom to the floor."

The subtle moments of flowers gracing the wind, the serenity of the whale singing above, and the darts of hidden creatures around the green failed to calm Denys. His eyes flickered a stone throw from where they stood. The trident was a shade brighter than the garden itself. It looked like it was fashioned by the sun itself as the shimmering lights bounced through it making it impossible to miss. He swallowed before craning his neck back to his mother to give a reply.

"I'm only trying to befriend her. To get her more comfortable around us. Especially you."

"And what does Ulu have to say about your insane idea?"

Denys stopped right in his tracks. Ulu? Did his mother not know?

"Ulu isn't... I thought she would have told you."

"Told me what?" Persephone asked casually. Probably because she knew Ulu quite well. She deemed the girl as a runner. One who always made it a top priority to escape situations she could not handle. Denys was unsure how she would feel if he told her the truth.

"She left mother. She said she couldn't keep it up anymore."

"I will never know why I agreed to betroth that girl to you. She is clearly not true royalty material. I will have to break my promise to her father after all."

They stopped right in front of the golden fork. With Persephone running a finger through the fist of the sculpture gripping unto the trident.

"You shouldn't think about her or about saving your fickle demigod. Your priority should be this and of course, shaming Yemoja on the night of Mareel."

Denys stared into the eyes of the haunting protector. The face of the sculpture, the fallen Poseidon was not one of joy, nor was it one of sadness. Even in his last moments, Poseidon kept the face of overbearing responsibility. It was the kind of seriousness that deep love brought and the knowledge of the protectorship. All that his father was and all that he was failing tremendously at.

"Wield it," Persephone begged.

A lump clogged Denys's throat. He looked over his shoulder to meet the hopeful smile on his mother's face. It filled him with dread. He had neglected the use of his potions to keep the dark secret that resided in the confines of his heart and Denys doubted he could wield it with will alone. His heart beat tremendously against his rib cages as he tried to bring forth an excuse.

"Mother..." He tried to say but one look at her face and the words were immediately knocked out of him. "...Ok. I'll try."

Denys walked before his mother and firmly placed his on the golden metal. It was warm. He blew out air and immediately pulled with every ounce of strength within him. The more he hoisted the fork upward, the more the trident kept pulling back. Denys felt a growing pain in his shoulder as he kept on fighting to free the salvation of the second realm from the deathly grip of its previous owner. His eyes dropped to the stony glare of the dead god. There was one thing he has missed in the stare of the sculpture, His father's cruel repulse. Even in death, his father wouldn't stop mocking him.

(I am sorry for leaving you all hanging for a long time but I was having a rough time. I am better now. Who is your fave character and why?)