Chapter fifty one (3)

Talia collapsed to the floor and cried. 'It' was right. Persephone did something. The goddess went against her word and trapped her in some hell hole, preparing her for a second death once she had found a loophole. But why? Why would the goddess go this far just to put her out of existence? Talia bristled, wanting to say something but at the last second, she changed her mind. The flickering image walked over to her and sank down to meet the devastated look on Talia's face.

"Why did she do this, you ask?"

Talia met the gaze of the flickering image. The creature looked just like her. The only difference was the pitch-black eyes. It faded out then back into existence. She had seen those eyes before. Those eyes were what made her afraid for her life. The darkness that forced her to such a hasty resolve. Hades.

"I know why she did this," Talia revealed. "She did out of spite for you. I did not realize she would go this far but she did." Giving the apparition a direct glare, Talia continued. "Or are you going to lie to me father?"

"You still don't get it, Do you?"

"What part?"

"The part where Persephone killed your mother. The part where she made you sign your name off and trapped you in this mirror to hide her sins!"

"You are lying." Talia remained in denial. Hoping she could just wake up from this horrible nightmare. Was Persephone that hateful that she would hunt down her innocent mother in a bid to get back at Hades and make her suffer? No, Talia refused to accept it. Hades just wanted her to destroy Persephone because he couldn't do it himself. That had to be the case.

"Do you remember all that happened when Persephone cursed you to drown," His intrusive words came. Talia didn't want to hear anymore. She wanted out. Shut up, She screamed to herself. She lacked the strength to say it but she continued mentally yelling, hoping the thoughts would die within herself because at this point. The vision she got during Sybil's ritual kept playing in her head.

"Denys wasn't the one who got to you first," Hades continued, smiling at her discomfort for she knew he was right. "Your mother did. She tried saving you but Persephone's will got in the way and Maveth, that stubborn succubus wouldn't let you go. She died that day. It's why the Trueborn grimoire came to you and it's why your life became shit. So Talia, What are you going to do about it?"

Talia wanted peace but peace was what killed her mother. The good virtues she had carried in high esteem all her life had been her ruin. She had trusted Persephone completely and that fickle ideal was what got her in this predicament. All she had ever done was good and life kept fucking her up like it was karma she deserved. Talia was done being the victim. If surviving required that she lost her humanity, then so be it. Realizing how the world worked seemed to free her. A warmth unlike any other filled Talia and her entirety lit up with bright red flames. The beautiful hot ribbon of light completely engulfed her body and continued to spread across the room setting everything in its path alight, transforming them into the most transient of beauties right before they dissolved into golden dust and leaving that damn dark shadow. The apparition in front of her gently trailed a finger down her lips and kissed them. The connection seemed to strengthen the inferno as the flames turned a deep blue razing even the moving shadows and a loud explosion followed.

***
"Solomon," Bobby, a pack member roused the sleeping werewolf much to his wolf's annoyance.

Roman growled like a lion groped in the balls and prepared to swath the daring bastard but Solomon managed to tame his inner beast just as his true canines threatened to rip out the useless ones that kept them hidden.

"What Bobby?" Said Solomon as he begrudgingly sat up to meet the apprehensive Beta gaze. Other pack members had the same look. Their eyes kept flashing towards something above him like they had seen a ghost. Without hesitation, Solomon craned his neck backward, sniffing a rich familiar coppery scent. His eyes widened when he noticed the large texts written in blood. In Sybil's blood.

Solomon instinctively jumped up and walked a few steps away from where the writing was. Talia is in grave danger, It said. Sybil sent that and knowing very well the kind of relationship Sybil and Talia shared, Solomon knew it had to very bad but it was Sybil's blood, Did that mean whatever danger she discovered had put her in harm's way?

"Have you told the authorities about this?" Solomon inquired, hurriedly scattering his wardrobe for a shirt.

"We can't. The gods are in the garden having that lifting ritual...and I don't think Queen Persephone would care what happens to your friend."

Solomon threw a deadly glare at Bobby. It had to come from his mouth.

"Our witch and your friend are in deep shit," Roman commented, an opinion literally no one in the room asked for but his deep-rooted annoying voice seemed to get Solomon to dash for the door.

"Wait," Bobby's voice stopped Solomon before he could slam the door shut.

"What now?" Solomon snarled back.

Bobby ran towards him, waving a piece of paper sealed with candle wax. "Your friend, Talia gave this to me yesterday. She requested that I give this to you today."

If looks could kill, Solomon had all the requirements for a perfectly executed murder. He snatched the letter, tore the seal, and glanced through it.

"I'm going by my guts... By the time you get this letter... I will be back home..." Solomon mumbled, turning white as he realized the letter was a freaking goodbye note from Talia. She had taken Persephone's deal.

"Fuck!" Solomon muttered, barely controlling himself. He tossed the paper aside and made a run for it. Wondering what Sybil meant exactly. His goal was to save them both. He suspected Sybil had gotten to know what Persephone planned to do with Talia once she crossed out her name but there was a chance that wasn't it and it was much more worse. Talia did leave because she feared Persephone would find out Hades could now contact her.

"Fuck!" He cursed again as he made a turn right to Sybil's dorm with a lot of pushing from Roman's side. The foolish wolf couldn't even resist its lust for the witch at such a dire time like this.

"Sybil!" He practically yelled as he forced the door open. Sybil was right there, eyes closed and freaking calm like she was in a goddamn pillow ad. Was it a prank?

"I don't think so," Roman rebuked. "They are all asleep and if not one of them woke up when you burst through their door like a goddamn psycho, it must be a deep sleep."

Solomon knew his wolf. It was never wrong when it came to assumptions and wild guesses but Solomon hoped Roman was wrong this one time. It would be catastrophic if it was truly what his wolf was implying. He strode to her bed, the lower bunk.

"Sybil," He tried rousing her by giving her a light nudge. Her vitals were pretty normal excluding the fact that she was out cold. It was so similar to that sleep demon's spell but Solomon refused to believe that was what was happening. After all, he had just woken up himself. But there was a chance this was a targeted attack.

"Mark her." Roman threw into the mix.

"What the hell is wrong with you? What has that got to do with this rabid wolf?"

"Mates can empathically communicate."

"She wouldn't agree to this. You know she wouldn't."

"Would you rather remain clueless and put this realm in danger. The release of the night hag earlier was clearly not an accident. If someone selectively chose to enchant Sybil and her sisters, It is certain she has found something that might be instrumental to our cause. Mark her now and find out what it is."

Solomon's jaw tensed. "It is not like you are doing this from the goodness of your heart. You reek of desire and this is just an opportunity you are exploiting at her expense."

"A part of you want this too..." Roman trailed off, feeling quite giddy to drag Solomon into his hell.

Solomon sucked in a great deal of air. Time was probably running out and the only options he had were to mark Sybil or run into the ritual blind. Screw it! Without a moment's hesitation, Solomon tilted Sybil's delicate face away, revealing her nape. His fangs slowly doubled in size as he sighted the jugular. His teeth immediately sank into her skin culminating in a deep bite as he tasting her body, spirit, and soul.