Chapter thirty eight

"Have you done as I have asked?" A commanding baritone voice came from beyond the room. His face was shrouded in darkness but Yemoja could recognize those calm collected eyes anywhere.

"Hades, " Yemoja giggled slightly, sitting on the edge of her four-poster bed. "You shouldn't be here. You know how Persephone gets when she senses your aura."

"That isn't what I asked you, Yemoja." He retorted, calm, and collected. "Is it done?"

"Yes. I have freed your night hag. Though, I must say it baffles me that you would want to torment your own daughter. So tell me Hades, Why?"

For a moment, he did not speak but Yemoja did not need the answer. There could only be one thing that could make the high and mighty god of the underworld so reckless and obsessed. Persephone...  How she hated that name. She just couldn't get it. What could be so special about Demeter's rejected offspring?

"You are not the one making the bargain here. It's me. I gave you what you wanted and now you've paid the price for your bargain. It's been a pleasure doing business with you." Hades said, walking over to her with the poise of a skillful wolf. Unlike his brother, the whites in his eyes were ink-black, further making him an enigma of mystery. On his right hand was the sword of night, the key of his realm. The red gem infused at the base seemed to glint as his hips moved. "Or is there some other bargain you would like to strike?"

"No. I just wanted to ask you, Was it worth it?" Yemoja asked, crossing her arms over her chest.

"What exactly?"

"Betraying your brother for her. Spawning a child to play a pawn in this wicked game of yours?"

He laughed. "Well, " He began, focusing on Yemoja with mad intent. "That is a pretty bold stance considering you've played wicked games yourself or need I remind you? You also spawned a child for your own twisted games."

Yemoja was taken aback by his response. She immediately lashed back. "I did it for love!"

"And what makes you think all I am doing isn't for love? You inseminated yourself with Poseidon's seed to take hold of the trident. We are not that different Yemoja. What we do, We do it for love. I want Persephone and you, You want revenge on her for denying you the one thing you wanted, Poseidon's love."

It ripped right through Persephone's heart. Yes, Poseidon's love was all she wanted. It was the only thing she hadn't been able to attain and that was because Demeter decided to drop her ill-fated offspring to the doors of the old one and that ill-fated child had inadvertently put two brothers at loggerheads but one was always sure to win because, at the time, He had nothing to lose. Yemoja had to confess, She understood Hades vendetta. That familiar fiery anger had snuck its way up to her heart tainting her blu when Poseidon and declared to make Persephone his bride. Once again, that fire wretched into her tenfold. She reminded herself that Hades' plans simply matched with her agenda. There was no need to ask questions. She wanted revenge and she was getting it. The smug look Persephone had always had on her entitled face was slowly wearing off. Soon it would all blow up her face and with one singular act; When Poseidon's true son, their son took hold of the trident.

"I guess I deserved that," Yemoja said, brushing off the lingering aftereffects of Hade's poison. In truth, She should have minded her goddamn business. Perhaps in her truest of hearts, She had compassion for Hade's spawn. The girl had no idea what battleground she had been thrown to. That was what made the difference. She paused to observe Hade's demeanor before chipping in, "How is Poseidon?"

He smiled proudly, "Wagging his tongue with curses strong enough to break a brother." "Good night." And before Yemoja could protest, he was gone. It was like he dissolved into the very air she was breathing and drifted away.

Almost immediately, the door to her quarters creaked open and her son Oba quietly stepped inside. He sauntered over to his mother and looked her dead in the eye.

"Mother, I checked. Most of the inhabitants of this castle are under the hold of the night hag, sleeping like babes. Most especially the high and mighty Persephone."

A grin eagerly crept up to Yemoja's face. She wanted to know how that butch would maneuver her way out of it. There was absolutely no way the truth could be kept from the girl now. Not even Hades could protect his beloved from the wrath of the spawn beneath his groin.

"Splendid. I guess we'll just have to wait it to out." Yemoja said, urging her son to join her at the side of her bed but he took a step back. There was a peculiar look he had on. A look that frightened her.

"You also never mentioned that Poseidon was my father." He said weakly, narrowing his eyes.

Yemoja cursed under her breath. How could she be so careless? This was also kind of Hades fault. That tiny piece of information had been one of her well-kept secrets. Now in the blink of an eye, it was gone. Lying was not an option now. Oba might be a demigod but he had the calculated mind of a sociopath and he did not like to be manipulated. Not even by his mother. That was what made him dangerous and made him perfect for the role his father left open.

"Because it wasn't time for you to know. Neither is it their time to know. That trident is your birthright." Yemoja said gallantly, facing her son with confidence unlike any other. "Persephone has no idea what is in store for her."

***
For the third time, Solomon poked the sharp metal into Talia's skin and watched blood leach out. It was just like she instructed him to so but it wasn't working. He was getting worried and from where he stood, if something happened to Talia, He would live with that guilt all his life.

"Talia!" He yelled, shaking her with bullish force. It wasn't working.

Roman gave a snarky laugh at his brother's feeble attempts to rouse a far whose soul danced in the realm of daydreams and nightmares.

"Do you really think that would be enough to wake her?" His wolf blatantly demanded and it was sort of right. This was magic related. As much as Solomon didn't want to put Talia in trouble, She was better off alive than dead. "The goddess knows what mess she has gotten herself into there." Roman was sure to chip in.

"Just shut up!" Solomon lashed out, managing to block out Roman's negativity. He needed to get help and fast. His mind went far and wide for someone he could reach out to. Someone strong enough to help and keep it being minimal if there was a chance Talia's little spell wasn't going to get out of hand and put her in harm's way.

Solomon held on to Talia and whispered, "Talia, if you can hear me, I'm going to get help. Give me a sign if you can hear me."

She was motionless. Her eyes were still shut tight and her breathing was shallow. Instinctively, Solomon raced for the door.

As he walked through the halls, hoping to get to Sybil as quickly as possible. Solomon wondered what had gone wrong. He had taken a peek into the book. The spell was said to have risks but none of them had it that Talia would be calm whilst dying. They had convulsions, violent jerkings as the souls abandoned the body. Solomon feared this was something else.

"Solomon?" A voice called.

His head shot up when he realized he was the one being referred to. Her dark eyes were pearly black and her tone was shaky. This was Sybil. Spitfire Sybil, the queen bee of the Gemini witches. Only something truly shocking could melt down her stone walls.

Sybil immediately approached him, muffling words of happiness as she came closer.

"What's wrong?" He had to ask.

Sybil swallowed, nodding in response to his question. "Something is wrong... My sisters... They won't wake..."