Chapter forty seven (1)

"I'm truly sorry for what Talia did, Your Majesty." Solomon apologized, torn between darting out of the room to pacify Talia or making sure Queen Persephone did not hold this against the girl. It would be safe to assume that Talia was safe considering Zeus had commanded that her life be spared but considering Persephone already attempted to kill Talia the second she arose from her slumber, Solomon couldn't help but fear. He could barely believe how reckless Talia had been. She knew her place and she chose to defy common sense. Solomon did suspect it had something to do with her time in the dream realm. How else would she have learned who her father was?

Persephone seemed to ignore  Solomon's babbling. She was undoubtedly focused on Sybil as the last embers of the demon fragments tainted the white thread a beautiful jet black. Her eyes widened when Sybil stepped out of the circle.

"Is that it?" Persephone demanded. "Is that cursed demon sealed?"

"Yes," Sybil answered, her raven-black hair waved lightly in the cold breeze. A single bead of sweat glistened as it trickled down the side of her face. She then proceeded to hand over the dreamcatcher to Persephone.

Persephone took one look at it and the question lingering at the back of her mind hit her once again. How did Murmur escape? She clearly remembered the demon saying she was released. It had to have been someone. She had believed it was Talia at first but even the girl had been a victim. It was someone else. Someone who wanted to send a message. It was as if the last statement hit a nerve. Persephone withdrew her hands from the dreamcatcher at the last second. Yemoja. It had to be her. No one else knew where the seal was hidden, Murmur conveniently escaped as soon as she settled to the Northern Kingdom and she was the only person who stood to win anything out of such insanity.

"Your Majesty,"  Sybil whispered, "Are you okay?"

No. Persephone wasn't okay. She had been a target. An occurrence that hadn't happened for a millennium It was a horrible feeling; a feeling that suddenly made her nauseated with rage. Persephone turned to face Sybil, her hands clumping up into a fist as she spoke.

"Sybil, hold on to the dreamcatcher. I have to go."

"Okay." Sybil breathed in agreement.

With that, Persephone stormed out of the room. Her knuckles were white as she carouseled her way to the guest rooms. From her vantage point of view, she saw the designated chambers and without another moment’s hesitation, she scrambled over and in a very unladylike manner kicked the doors open.

"This is new," Yemoja muttered, staring mellow outside her window.

"Cut the crap out. You freed Murmur, Didn't you?" Yemoja accused.

Yemoja frowned. Her skin seemed to shimmer in the warm morning sun only making Persephone's eyes water.

"And why would I do that?" The Western Queen retorted. "You really think I would work with demons just to get to you?"

"Oh, I am certain you did this. Only you, Hades, and I knew where the seal was hidden. Isn't it convenient it was broken just when you arrived? After all these years..."

"Maybe it is a coincidence. I too was under Murmur's spell."

"Bullshit!" Persephone called Yemoja out. There was no way the yemoja she knew would be in this calm euphoria if she had been attacked by murmur. She for one knew what Yemoja's weakness was and she chose to exploit it. "Tell me then, What did that demon wreck your mind with? The fact that you never ended up with Poseidon no matter how hard you tried?"

"Shut up!" Yemoja screeched causing a glass of water by her bed to shatter as the liquid within slashed midair like a scythe before plopping to the floor seconds after.

"That is a lot of crap coming from you." The Western Queen continued. "Was it something Murmur tormented you with? Let me guess, the day you tore apart two brothers because you wanted to become a god?"

"I never asked Hades to give up his realm for my sake."

"But you led him on Persephone. Up until he gave up the realm of the sea for the underworld and you became an honorary divine. Once you became a goddess, you ran to Poseidon, married him, and ruined my life in the process. Don't come here acting like a saint. Not after you almost murdered an innocent girl to save your own skin. You are not the victim here. I dare say you are in fact the villain. You were always the antagonist."

Persephone was speechless. Yemoja had a good grip on her and it hurt. It stung to be reminded that she was the reason why her firstborn now had the name Pegasus, even worse that her husband died for her sake. Of course, the whole thing painted her as a terrible person but it was much more than that. If her fate hadn't been tampered with, Persephone stood a chance to stand as an ancient god having a Titan father but it had skipped a generation. Her lack of divinity was when all her troubles began. She had never meant to involve herself in a cruel triangle between brothers. Her only goal had been to strip away her mortal status. If she had known Hades' love was his obsession. Perhaps she would have never threaded the path she did.

"See you at brunch." Persephone finally said, getting a grip on her emotions.

"Of course, Your Majesty." Yemoja chuckled, doing a mock bow as Persephone stormed outside promising to expose the Western Queen for her crimes.

***
Once Persephone was far into the halls, Sybil looked down at the dreamcatcher then back at Solomon. She noticed him grinning and could only guess why.

"You look happy," She noted, facing him as she waited for a reply.

"Why wouldn't I?" Solomon mused. "We just singlehandedly stopped a demon and perhaps even saved this realm. All without killing? It is enough to be grateful about."

"Interesting," Sybil said softly as she picked up her spellbook. "I truly thought you were happy your girlfriend isn't sleeping beauty anymore."

Solomon knew a tease. His wolf could tell she was flirting and it seemed elated. Too elated.

"I suspect you are only trying to rob this information out of me because of the kiss we shared earlier."

"Really?" Sybil swung her gaze back at Solomon. The look she had on her face suggested the kiss had merely been a fluke and did not mean a thing but her cheeks were bright pink and told an entirely different story.  "Why would you think that?"

"Let's see, shall we? You helped put Persephone back in the dream state when she tried to kill Talia despite knowing it could have awakened your sisters. I have a vague suspicion it was for my sake and you agreed to do the spell despite knowing it might not work with dawn dangerously approaching. So I have a theory Sybil, Do you like me or are you just that good of a person?"

Sybil burst into a fit of laughter."What gave you that idea?"

"I don't know. You were the one who put those thoughts in my head when you kissed me."

"Valid point." Sybil smiled. "But I only did it to shut you up."

He stopped. Sybil suspected she had gotten him to stop his chase. She did like him but a relationship between a witch and a shifter would never work.

"See you, Garner," Sybil said making her way to the door.

Halfway out, Solomon said something that made her face go full-on tomato red

"I guess all I have to do then is make you mad enough to kiss me again."