Chapter fifty one (2)

BIt felt like a dream. It had to be a dream. Talia jumped at her mom, feeling the tears she reined in pour out as her arms squeezed a little firmly, each breath taking her mother's scent and each muscle melting slowly into Maveth. This was real, She thought.

"You are here," Talia wept. "Why didn't you call? Why didn't you come for me? I was afraid mom. I was afraid I would die and never see you again..."

"I'm sorry," Maveth cooed, patting Talia by the head. "I tried. I did all I could but it was beyond me. I begged Zeus...I prayed to any god that could hear my cries but still, I... failed you as a mother."

"No, Mom. I should have listened. You probably knew. It's why you never wanted me anywhere near them. I should be the one apologizing."

Maveth broke the hug and studied her daughter. The poor thing was unraveled. She seemed happy yet the slow shimmer in her golden-yellow orbs implied she refused to believe the sight she saw.

"You look cold, Talia." Maveth sniffed. "We should go home. You can tell me the rest when we are home."

Talia was hesitant about it. Of course, she was. Persephone might have promised amnesty but even with her word, Talia refused to take the goddess' word for it. Talia wished she could tell the whole of it but the Fae was so happy to see her again. Talia could not bear to ruin her happy mood with the impending danger they were both in but putting her wild guess to use, Talia theorized they had a day to themselves. If Denys did win and wield his father's trident, Persephone would have other matters to attend to than some petty bad blood and if he didn't, Persephone's attention would be thrown into ruining the Western Kingdom. It would be a win-win.

"You are right." Talia agreed, giving a nervous laugh. "We should get home first."

Hours later, they were back at the Greenlands. Talia smiled, seeing her little house peek out amidst others. Nothing had changed. It looked just as it did when she left it. It was frightening how the world moved on perfectly even after one was removed from the equation.

"Mother, Isn't that the girl?" A little voice disrupted Talia's train of thoughts.

She looked down at the little fae who blurted the jawbreaker. Talia hadn't once set eyes on her but the girl knew she was. In fact, Talia was stupid to think she could return home and be the insignificant wingless girl who always had her hoodie on. The girl noticed Talia staring too hard and ran for her mother's safety. Just like her daughter, the adult fae looked like she had seen a ghost when she and Talia's eyes met. Talia noticed she clutched hard unto her daughter like she was expecting something horrible from her part. Talia tried her best to give a warm smile but all it earned her was a shudder and the two went in their way half running.

"It must be a bit unnerving to many to see you again. Most of them believe your fate had been set in stone. They must think you are some apparition I have conjured." Maveth who had been quiet all the while Talia faced the ordeal spoke.

Talia felt a weight propped onto her already crippling anxiety. How was she supposed to cope? It would be worse when they discovered her name had been canceled out of the book of life. Her mother would be deemed a freak but at least, they would be out of their hair soon. There were several villages ready to welcome a stray Fae. Talia put in a smile for her mother's sake and together they ran down the hills, not stopping until they were at their front door.

"Go in," Maveth nudged Talia, handing over a bunch of keys.

"Where are you going?" Talia asked with fear engraved deeply in her voice. She had just set eyes on her mother after everything they both had been subjected to. It made Talia very reluctant to let her out of her sight again. Her eyes cautiously darted around the sturdy trees that blanketed their small village. She felt like she was being watched. Her distrust of Persephone ran very deep. Perhaps she was right. Maybe there wasn't time for them to enjoy a well deserved family reunion...

"To get truffles for your cake," Maveth replied.

She remembered... Of course, she remembered. It could be the reason why she was balling her eyes out at the banks earlier. Again, Talia was glad she made the choice. The latter part of her still pondered on whether Denys or Solomon had read her letter. How were they now? Had Denys finally gotten over his fear of failing those he cared about? No, She didn't need to think of that. It was the last time she would ever meet any of them again. Talia gave her mother a graceful smile and collected the keys. She remained rooted where she stood, patiently watching Maveth disappear to the backyard to go truffle picking. Once Maveth had vanished from her line of sight, Talia headed to the front door and unlocked it. The familiar scent of home almost immediately hit her. The fridge with mother's sticky note, the old throw-around couch, everything was the same. Just as Talia turned to close the door, her eyes caught something that should not be there. The pen. Her eyes lingered at the enchanted sphere for another minute. It was the same one Denys had brought her. She was certain it was the one. But she didn't remember taking it with her when she escaped the second realm. Talia left the door ajar and walked up to the sphere. What was happening, She asked herself. Her fingers trailed around the sphere's smooth surface and suddenly, it disintegrated into a pile of gold dust.

Holy shit! In place of where the pen had sat, there was a darkness that seemed to be alive. Talia stepped backward at the unholy sight.

"You are beginning to sense it, Aren't you?" A voice behind her snickered.

Talia froze. She turned towards the voice with uncertainty. It was like staring at your reflection. Except for the fact that the reflection staring back looked living and breathing. The image wasn't a copy of her. It had a life of its own. The form wavered like it was hello but solid enough to be dangerous.

"Mom?" Talia stammered, calling on the powers within herself to come forth if the need be.

"Talia, your mom is dead." The apparition said with a conviction that scared Talia.

"What did you do?"

"It isn't what I did, It's what Persephone did, It is what Persephone is doing."

Orange red flames burst forth Talia's fingers like a raging inferno. Now she was sure she had to defend herself. She had no idea what this creature was but it knew things.

"Mom!" Talia screamed again, expecting an answer before she blasted this bitch wearing her face into oblivion.

"Is anything wrong?" Talia heard Maveth yell from the backyard and the next minute, she was running towards the front door. The basket of truffles went scattering on the floor. The figure had its hands firmly put against Maveth's throat.

"This is not your mother." The figure said, seemingly proceeding to tighten his grip upon the poor fae's throat as she struggled, scratched, and kicked for air.

"Stop!" Talia shrieked, throwing a ball of flame directly at the creature. The creature however slid out of its path. The fireball soared a few feet and burst apart like it hit a target. Golden dust hit the earth and right where the fireball seemed to die off, there was some sort of moving pitch blackness dominating the space.

"You feel it. I know you do," The apparition continued. "This is too perfect. It feels like a dream because that is what the Aphrodite mirror does."

Why were things vanishing? What did that darkness have to do with reality? Talia did not want to believe this...thing but there had to be some truth in what she said. The scenario that played out when she jumped into the first realm had been the unrealistic hopes she had if she saw her mother again. But Talia desperately wanted to hold on to something, anything.

"You're lying!" Talia was practically shaking. Her eyes were glued to her mother who was held high by the being and still struggled to breathe. Why wasn't she moving, Talia asked herself. Did she believe it? Her mother looked real. There was no way she was a figment of her potent imagination.

"We will have to see then, shall we?" And without relent, the apparition snapped Maveth's neck. Bright golden dust floated to the ground and in the air hung a shadowy darkness black as night.