Chapter 2: Reborn Elements
How Persephone was found by Sedna, Svafar, Helgi, and Shango is quite a long story. Persephone was haunted by memories of Gingira, Penthesilea, Abinadi, Kleobis, Biton, Svafa, and Osiris as she wept bitterly until sh found a girl sketching and leaning her back on a tree. Persephone spies on her behind a tree, but her breath was soft and heavy which startled the girl. She turned around but Persephone already ran. She ran and hid behind a tall tree however someone sneaking and startled her, "Ah-Ha!" Persephone gasped, tripped backwards and fell. There was a laugh, saying: "Works every time!" The young man looked down at her, "Well. You're the stalker, are you besotted with the fair lady?" He joked. Persephone shook her head, she duck down so no one can't tell if she's crying. That reminded her of what her best friend Abinadi. "I'm sorry, I was interested in her drawing...That's all!" sniffled Persephone. "Down Shango, chill out!" Sedna scolded, she approached Persephone with a smile. "Don't mind him, he's just being...." Sedna stopped to notice Persephone was crying as she looked concern, "Hey, are you OK?" She asked. Persephone sniffed, wiping her tears and composing herself. "It's nothing--really!" She blubbered insistently. "Nice one, Shango!" A voice called out. Persephone didn't hear the banter, she was focused on the four. They looked very familiar. Kleobis. Biton. Svafa. And Osiris. "It can't be, can it? They look like them!" Persephone thought, tears clouding her vision.
Later...
Persephone was alone in a bed chamber as she sang, "My mother--She abused me. My stepfather--He tortured me. My best friend--My Only Hope--She gathered me in her arms and embraced, telling me that love is the medicine to broken people....La-la, love is all I need." She outstretch her palm to the ceiling and said, "My friends--I love you and you are dead..." Persephone's eyes were very bloodshot. Tears dried from weeping and she looked stress. "I feel trapped.....From my past." whispered Persephone. "Stop that!" A voice hissed in her mind, "It's not them!" "No, it's them. Just--different names, but it's them!" said Persephone to the voice in her head. She curled up in a ball and moaned in agony, "Uuuuoooohhhhhhh! My mind is shattered, I'm a living dead girl that had tripped into a strange land, is this a dream or am I losing it?" Persephone couldn't stand this anguish at all. However, thinking of the people in her past turned to her Revenant form and panicked like crazy, "What's going on? I'M LOSING MYSELF!!!!" She thought. Thoughts of Jack, his Revenant form, and his past made her curled up deeper into herself, moaning and her hands became a rosy color. Throbbing her monster self. "Can't lose control, must not reveal. Mask it--Don't let them see within!" She chanted softly. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door and Persephone stops to face the door. "Who is it?" She stuttered. "It's Svafar." said a muffled voice, "Are you OK? You were moaning in pain." "I'm fine, I--I just had a bad dream." lied Persephone brightly. "OK, we'll be going. Don't let anybody in here until we get back, all right?" Sedna called. "Wait!" Persephone almost shouted. "What?" Shango called, sounding irritated. Persephone said, "Be careful." "We will." Sedna said, "See you tonight." The front door opened and then, it closed. Persephone was saddened that they left, "Don't go." She whispered tearfully. Meanwhile; Jack was pacing he floor. "I haven't seen them since the day before. I wonder if they changed their minds." He thought. Yesterday, Jack had waited for them and the four of them didn't come. Before that day, he went to Captain Krieger and Commander Rustung of four people desiring to join the Abendstern Squad. Familiar with this, Krieger takes an interest in this as he said that he would like to see them--If they're available, that is. Seeing they were taking so long; Jack decides to leave however he heard footsteps and turned around to see it was Svafar, Helgi, Shango, and Sedna. Jack smiled widely, he looked like a child in a toy factory. "Happy to see us, huh." called Shango. Jack realized this and glares at them, "Oh, you finally show up huh. Where were you guys?" He hollered back. Sedna ran to him, "Sorry. We had a sick girl to care for yesterday." She explained a little briefly. It was true, Sedna and the others escorted the emotionally disturbed Persephone back to the cottage and she decided to help them out. While cleaning a sharp knife, she had cut her wrist by accident and begin screaming when she bleeds. "HELP ME!!!" She yelled hysterically, "I'M DYING!!!! I'M DYING!!!!" She was waving her bleeding wrist, Helgi heard her and called for help.
No more than two seconds later, Persephone was being treated for her wounds as Sedna had some pretty good medical skills. During the process; Sedna managed to heal the wounds but Persephone was squealing from the stinging pain so Svafar had to hold her while Sedna soothing comforts her and heals her wounds. Persephone wasn't screaming so much but winced and wept a little. Jack looked concern, "Is she OK?" He asked. "Yeah, y'know how some people are--Their crazy enough to go bloody in the wrists." Shango joked. Sedna elbowed him in the wrist, she looked irritated. "Ignore him, he just doesn't understand the mentally insane people are lost, lonely, and misunderstood as they need some lovely companionship." She said with clenched teeth. "Oh, come on. You saw what we--" Shango started to protest. "Enough! Nobody needs to know the details of personal matters!" Svafar commanded. Jack was startled, there was something familiar about that. Reminds him of Evander. Jack realized what he was thinking of, he couldn't let his emotions get the best of him. Not now. "You all right?" Sedna asked, she looked concern as she noticed he was trembling. "You're not going to cry, are you?" Helgi inquired nervously. Jack saw his face and looked at him with shock, "No, no, no! I'm OK. I'm all right, really." He said. Helgi breathed a sigh of relief, he laughed while saying: "OK, Good. That's good, I had enough crazy--" But caught himself when he saw Sedna's face, "I mean, lost, lonely, and misunderstood mentally insane people for one day." Jack scoffs a little, but inside he felt strange. He knew he had to protect them. Jack was not going to lose them again, never again! That night; Jack was by the memorial site. He suddenly heard footsteps. "Jackie Boy!" Shango called, "You OK fella?" Jack didn't turn around but he nodded. Sedna noticed something was wrong, she walked over and genuflected beside him. "Hey, um, listen...This may not be a good time but now we're part of the Abendstern Squad." She said. Jack turned to her with enthusiasm. "Congrats, that's great." He said but something was bugging him. "Sedna? Guys? I want you to promise me something...Promise me, no matter what happens, you're not going to die on me." said Jack, "I mean, I want save all of you...." Sedna, Shango, Svafar, and Helgi looked confused. "We're not sure if we understand." Sedna said gently. Jack seized her shoulders and shouted desperately, "Please, just promise me you won't die on me!" Sedna looked worried, "OK, OK. Easy, we promise." She said. The other three promised as well. Jack looked relieved, he embraced Sedna. But nobody knew that Persephone was hidden and watching this from afar. Her eerily pale face and upper length hair was tangled and untidy. Her off the shoulder dress flowed in the breeze but her green eyes looked animal-like and envious while also having desperation. "Kleobis. Biton. Osiris. Svafa...Please don't leave me...." Persephone whispered. But she hurried back to the cottage; she hurried back to the cottage. While back in her room, Persephone managed to remove evidence of sneaking out to stalk the four of them. She heard the front door and hides her shoes and fake sleep. "Hello?" called Sedna. Persephone lift her head, "Hi." She called. Her bedchamber door opened and Sedna smiled at her, "Guess what? We passed." She announced. Persephone squealed and embraced her. "Congrats, Sedna dear." She said. She glance at her and smiled with joy, "I'm grateful for you." "Oh, before we forget, we want you to come and volunteer for the next mission." Shango said. Persephone looked up in surprise, then in horror. "The Abendstern Squad....Jack!" She thought. "You sure looked surprised." Sedna said with a laugh. "Oh yeah, I'm amazed." lied Persephone cleverly. The next day, the members of Abendstern Squad as they planned their next attack but they need to be sneaky in order to attack the Revenant. He explains that they need someone that can spy on them without being seen. That's when Sedna proposed an idea.
"Commander Rustung, I know someone who knows their way into the shadows." Sedna said. The commander glanced at her with cursioity, even Siegfried looked susipicous. "Who?" asked Adam. "Her name is Persephone. Persephone Johannes." Sedna replied. Commander Rustung looked pleased but Captain Krieger asked, "She can help, can she?" "'Course." said Shango. "Yes." Svafar replied. "Absolutely." Helgi said with a nod. "She's pretty helpful. More like loyal to whatever needs to be done." Sedna added. "So, where is she?" Siegfried asked. "Waiting outside." Sedna said. The captain looked at the commander, who nodded and said, "All right then, bring her in." Sedna went to the doorway and beckoned someone to come. For a few seconds; Persephone appeared timidly as she walked on. Bellerophon's eyes widened in horror as he rasped, "It's you!" Minerva glanced at him, "What?" She asked. "Excuse me, sir?" Persephone said, acting all innocent. "You're the girl that was spying on me and my friends!" insisted Bellrophon, confronting her. Persephone was scared but masked it to look reserved and jumped away from him a little, "I don't know you, sorry." She said innocently, "You got me confused with someone else." But it seemed Bellrophon was no fool as he continued to jab out a finger at her, "No, I know what you look like--Raven hair, sallow complexion. You're not completely human now are you?" He said. "Lieutenant?" Rustung asked. "Get this madman away from me!" Persephone begged. "What's wrong Bellerophon?" Minerva asked. "Persephone?" Sedna asked, confused by what's goign on. Persephone looked at her pleadingly, "Help me...!" She whimpered. "I. Know. You!" Bellerophon persisted. Persephone glared at him, "You. Don't." She said and turned to walk away. Bellerophon looked viscious as the then called out, "What makes you so odd?" "Shut. Up." Persephone muttered. "Bellerophon, take it easy!" Minerva said. "What's gotten into you?" Jack demanded.
"You're so creepy, always stalking us. And trying to fondle our emotions and memories, you're such a freak!" shouted Bellerophon. That made Persephone angry as she revealed her Revenant form as she cried, "WHO ARE YOU CALLING A FREAK?!" But seeing everyone's shocked faces; she was horrified over what she'd done. "The Revenant Girl, Bellerophon was right." thought Adam Rustung. Jack couldn't believe it, "A Revenant, just like me..." He said. "You're a Revenant. I knew it, I knew you were familiar to me." Bellerophon said. Sedna couldn't believe it, "Persephone..." She gasped. Persephone didn't want to look at her reaction, "I'm sorry." She said, and then she ran! Jack, Minerva, Bellerophon, Tristan, George, Margaret, and Henrietta chased after her however Persephone glanced at Jack, Minerva, and Bellerophon before smiling at them. The three friends haulted for a moment as they thought it looked so familiar to them. After running for so long; Persephone was so exhausted that she passed out in the fields. She didn't know how long she had been out there but the next thing she knew she found herself in a room of a cottage. Just then, a figure pops out and exclaimed out: "YOU'RE ALIVE!!!" It was a girl with brown hair in pigtails however Persephone looked at the girl who looked familiar to her. She looked like Persephone's deceased friend Penthesilea, the girl wrapped her arms around Persephone and hugged her tightly. "I thought you were dead, I told Thiavli you weren't dead, did he listened? Nooo...." The girl ranted. Persephone was dazed by this when someone came in and scolded at the girl, "Roskva, let go of her! You're crushing the wind out of her!" Persephone looked at the boy with shock, that boy somehow resembled her other deceased friend Abinadi for a moment. "Kids, stop with the arguing up there! What is going on?" asked a woman's voice. The girl, Roskva, let go as she jumped from the bed and rushed downstairs, "Mom! Momma, she woke up! She's awake, she's alive...!" She shouted with joy. Thiavli sighed, shaking his head and turned to Persephone to smile apologetically, he then held out her hand. Persephone shyly took it and was escorted down the stairs carefully. If Persephone tripped, Thiavli would catch her. As Persephone made her way downstairs, she meets Thiavli and Roskva's mother Sharon Ivashka. For some reason, Sharon reminded her of Gingira. "Is something wrong, dear?" Sharon asked. Persephone snaps out of her reverie, shaking her head. "No, it's nothing really." She claimed. And she made herself at home with the Ivashkas.
However during that time, Persephone feels a deja-vu moment like she's with Penthesilea, Abinadi, and Gingira all over again. Persephone almost started crying but she stops and wants to savor the moment. With no tears. Meanwhile; Svafar, Helgi, Shango, and Sedna were searching for Persephone as they didn't care what she was but they wanted to talk to her. They came across the Ivashka's house. During that time, Persephone was upstairs with Thiavli and Roskva when Sharon heard a knock and answered it but found Svafar, Helgi, Shango, and Sedna at the door. "Can I help you?" Sharon asked. "Do you know someone by the name 'Persephone'?" Sedna asked. Sharon turned and called out, "Persephone! You have guests!" Just then, Persephone came to the upstairs to peer over the balcony, "Oh, that's--Hi." She said as she saw the four standing there. Sedna smiled, "Persephone, you're all right. We're so happy to see you're safe." She said. Persephone was relieved to as she made her way slowly down the stairs to greet the others. "Sorry about before." Helgi said. "No, it's fine. Fine--Hey Sharon? Can you give us a moment?" Persephone asked, looking at her pleadingly. Sharon nodded, "Sure, I'll make some tea and check on the kids." She said and she went away so Persephone and the others can have some alone time.
"You know, you can't be here." said Persephone. "Because you're a Revenant? We don't care." Helgi replied. Persephone looked at him with surprise and looked at the others who agreed with him. "Yeah, I mean it was creepy but in a good way." Shango remarked. "And your past was tragic, I mean your father--" added Svafar. "Stepfather." corrected Sedna. Svafar looked annoyed, "Whatever, your stepfather and mother did to you--They made you into a Revenant and then shunned you while tormenting you and killing the people you cared about. Then you killed them and your tormentors in a roaring rampage of revenge." He explained. Persephone looked shocked at all four of them, "How did you--?" She started to say but Helgi answered: "Commander Adam Rustung was told by an ally and he told us what we knew." Persephone seemed relaxed and looked at them with a curious expression on her face. "Oh, you mean you're not scared? Of me?" She asked. "No." said Svafar, Helgi and Sedna. "Well, I'm pretty spooked." remarked Shango. Sedna elbowed him in the ribs, "Ow...!" Shango said, wincing. "He means, 'amazed'." Sedna said brightly while glaring at him. Persephone smiled, "Thanks." She said. Suddenly, they could hear commotion from upstairs. "Mom! Mom! MOM!" Thiavli screamed. Roskva called out, "Momma, help!" "Kids!!!" Sharon cried. There was grunting noises as Sharon shouted, "Persephone!" Persephone, Svafar, Helgi, Sedna, and Shango were shocked to hear this. "A Revenant?" Svafar asked. Persephone nodded, "Yes, let's go!" She said, and the five of them raced after to rescue the Ivashkas.
In the meantime; Bellerophon was talking to Jack and Minerva about Persephone aka The Revenant Girl. The Moneta gave them information about her past and shocking mementos. Just then, there was one memory that the trio forgotten about. When they were kids; Jack, Minerva, and Bellerophon were taking a walk one day when Jack begins to wince at a throbbing headache, which was cause by the vision of a girl. He couldn't see the girl clearly in his head. But he saw a glimpse of the vision of her flowing dark hair, the curve of her lip, and her pink parasol. The throbbing pain stopped when the three friends saw a girl their age was skipping with a pink parasol and smiling heartrendingly at them. She wore a white shirt dress long enough to reach her knees and wearing no shoes. Once the memory was over; Jack, Minerva, and Bellerophon were shocked by the memory. Bellerophon was right, he recalled this mysterious girl from a place he had forgotten before. That jet hair and eerie complexion was a mystery to him. He thought when he saw that ghastly girl, that his mind was playing tricks on him as he didn't know if she was a mirage or not. That gave him the benefit of a doubt. Jack and his friends didn't realize this young, beautiful girl was lost, didn't know which path to take. There was nothing they could do for her, Persephone was broken and stranded as she was trying her way back to her sanity. However, she's keeping her feelings on the inside. Not letting the pain show. To conceal it and not feel it.
"I lost four people during my time with the Abendstern Squad. I could've save them but I failed...It's all my fault." Jack said with regret. Sedna and the others looked at him, "What were their names?" Sedna asked. Jack didn't looked at them but he said, "Evander Fidel, Jesse Agapito, Isadore Sophos, and Gwendolyn Wite." "Why are you telling us this?" Helgi asked. Jack turned to them and he said, "Because you remind me so much of them." Sedna was surprised and wrapped her arms around him, "I'm sorry." She said softly and tearfully. So far Persephone is now part of the Abendstern Squad but under close restrictions to not lose control. Her psychological demons had been ripped from emotional self. For some reason; Persephone found herself screaming bloody murder as she convulsed on the floor or against the wall as her Revenant was starting to lose it as she babbles like a maniac to things like, "Chaos is almost over and I'll be free...!" Then she screamed again but she screeched while almost losing it: "CHAOS REGINS NO MORE!!!" So now; Svafar, Helgi, Shango, and Sedna are her garroters--the ones who will eliminate her if her sanity slips. So, Persephone is being careful. Helgi is like a mentor to Persephone, Shango is quite the aloof and arrogant type but he is almost kind to her--He was both jerkoff and nice guy. Sedna was a mentor type to her as well. Like an older sister type. Though she is pretty humorous while bantering about with Shango, they were so much like an old married couple. And Svafar was like a father figure to Persephone, he cares deeply for her. Sharon was like a mother figure to Persephone as her kids, Thiavli and Roskva, were like brother-sister type figures to her. Although she is being careful of her sanity; Persephone vowed that she was going to protect them no matter what. One day, something unexpected happens. While working, a man came as he looked like a businessman. He looked quite frantic. Rustung and Krieger weren't around because they had an assignment to take care of. Sedna decided to handle this and she approached the man.
"Can I help you sir?" Sedna asked. The man smiled sadly as he said, "You may please. I am Chancellor Signar, my daughter Clytie is in a deep depression over the lost of her lover Evander and I need someone to help her. If any of you agree, you can save my dearest daughter." He looked around when Svafar and replied, "I'll do it." Chancellor Signar smiled happily, "Thank you." He said. Svafar smiled nodding. Later, he head towards the house by the lake. He knocked on the door and waited. In a few seconds, a woman with blonde hair and blue eyes answered. She looked so pretty that Svafar lost focused. But he remembered what he was here for. "Hello? Are you Clytie?" asked Svafar. The woman, Clytie, looked at him suspiciously. "Who are you?" She asked. Svafar introduced himself, "I'm Svafar, your father sent me here to help you." He explained but Clytie refused as she begin to resent him and did not want to talk to him. "I don't care where you came from, I didn't ask for a so-called replacement goldfish." She said and that was that. But during his time to try to help Clytie; Svafar can see her hurting heart and about her deceased lover, Evander. Curious; Svafar went to talk to Clytie, "Who was Evander? What was he like?" He asked. Clytie was hesistant for a moment and then she finally spoke, "He was my lover, we loved each other and one day...The day he was leaving; he told me that he didn't know when he was coming back. We argued about it, I was so mad that I said, 'I wouldn't wait for a liar I was in bed with.' Now I wish I could take it back." While she spoke; tears spring out of her eyes; she was so upset while speaking of him that Svafar embraced her. "I'm sorry, it must've been hard on you to lose the love of your life." He said. Clytie was stunt by his kindness as Svafar begin to pull away gently to look at the pretty woman.
Clytie smiled watery, "Thank you for comforting me, I appreciated that for a reason." She said. Svafar looked at her confused, "What?" He asked. Clytie giggled, "Sorry but...You remind me of Evander." She said. Svafar was unsurprised as he laughed, "That's not the first time I heard that." He admitted. He and Clytie laughed but Clytie burst into tears however Svafar comfort her. While the two of them spent time together; Svafar was overcome with Clytie's beauty. When he came beside her that night; Clytie seem to question his interactions. "You're beautiful, Clytie." muttered Svafar, leaning over at her. "Svafar..." Clytie gasped, the two of them kissed softly. Clytie pulled away, that liplock was familiar and wrapped her arms around his neck so tight with love. "Could you stay with me? And never leave me?" She asked softly. "I swear, I'll never leave you--Ever." whispered Svafar. He couldn't deny it, he was in love with Clytie. The next morning, Clytie was wrapped in sheets. But Svafar was clothed but he watched her sleep. He gently shook her shoulder as he said quietly, "Wake up, beautiful." "Hhhmmmgggg..." groaned Clytie. She turned over but Svafar shook her tenderly again, "Rise and shine, angel." He said. Clytie turned again and open her eyes as she stretched and yawned. "Good morning." Svafar said. Clytie looked at him tiredly but she remembered something. "Oh!" She gasped, covering herself with the sheets. She is not wearing anything other than those and looked down from the bed as she saw her clothes are on the floor. Blushing like a petunia, "We didn't, did we?" Clytie breathed. Svafar chuckled a little, "But we did. A little too fast right? I mean, 'us'? Last night? It was pretty crazy and too quick." He said. Clytie sighed as she fell back on the pillow. "Yeah, crazy. It's been awhile since I felt so lively like that." She said, thoughtfully. Svafar grinned at her with amatory, "Was I good?" He asked. Clytie blushed a dark pink, "In a way, yes..." She said. Svafar and Clytie both laugh but Clytie looked at him with tearful eyes.
"Ev, it is you." thought Clytie. Later, Persephone is seen twirling in her bedchambers as she begin to sing: "If you broke the glass than I fly. You don't have anyone to catch me when I take a dive, I remain the same, afraid of change. World I have to rotate, only in rain. If you broke the glass than I fly. You don't have anyone to catch me when I take a dive, I remain the same, afraid of change. World I have to rotate, only in rain...." She stopped when she walked over and glance out to see Clytie sitting alone on the porch bench, she pities her; waiting like this. So she decided to join her by sitting next to her. "Ahhh..." sighed Clytie, wiping away a few tears, "Feels like deja-vu for me. I haven't done something like this since Evander." Persephone nodded, "You must really love him." She said, it sounded halfly like a question. "Yes, Svafar reminds me so much of him....Ugh, I try not to fall, I try...." Clytie said softly but she wept again. "It's like my darling Evander has been reborn again." She admitted, "But with a different name." "Does he know?" Persephone asked. "Um, yes. He didn't mind but he laughed and said, 'It's not the first time anyone said that.' I laughed with him too...And cried....He embraced me...." Clytie said. She was silent for a moment, "Did you know? On the day that they told me Evander was dead but before that....I kept waiting for him, for the day he'd come back for me." said Clytie. "I didn't know that." Persephone replied. "Yes, he told me before he left that one day he and I would wed soon....But it never did." Clytie said, she sniffled and her eyes were red. "Ugh, I'm telling you something so melancholy. I must've looked like a fool." Clytie moaned. "Don't say that, I'm glad. You never told anyone about this, haven't you?" asked Persephone. "No, not since his death. I kept all the feelings in...." Clytie admitted. She rather not talk about however they both were happy to see Svafar return. That night, Svafar had Persephone in his lap where she rested there like a daughter does to a father. Clytie watched them with comfort but noticed what time it is.
"It's getting late. Persephone, you should get some sleep dear." Clytie said. Svafar glanced at Persephone, "Hey Persephone, you heard Clytie right?" He asked. Persephone nodded, "Yes, I wish I could stay. Here." She admitted. Svafar helped her up, "Come on, you need some rest." He chided gently. Persephone nodded. "OK, Good night." She said, kissing his cheek before going off to bed. "'Night." Svafar said. He watched her go as Persephone says goodnight to Clytie, who replies it back to her. Once Persephone was gone; Svafar gestured Clytie, "Come." He said. Clytie giggles, snuggling him next to him. "You sure are being romantic." She noted. "Well, you looked pretty sad." Svafar remarked. Clytie's sad smile faded, "Yeah, I mean, I know this isn't a good time to say but if you leave...I'll wait for you until you return--Just like....Just like I did with--Him....." She begin to blubber and weep. Svafar looked at her with sympathy, "Clytie..." He breathed. Clytie try to leave as she continued to cry, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't cry--Like this!" She spluttered. Svafar pulled her gently back and kissed her, he pulled away as he breathed against her skin, "Shh, Clytie. I got you, it's all right my love." His lips brushed against her nape which made Clytie tingly. It was moderately yet lightly to her as she could hear him breathing out the words, "Poor soul...poor thing...." Unknown to them; Persephone was leaning against the wall as she can hear them with concern, she couldn't help but feel a little bit desirous because of Clytie. She felt her heart beating. It wasn't so strong, but it felt like something was smooth and small but it felt comfort with a hint of lovesick tone. In the morning; Persephone was bathing in the pond with some sort of scented soap against her skin. After she got herself washed in the pond and dressed in her room; she went out to see someone was coming. She knew who it was, "Jack!" cried Persephone, she rushed outside in her racer back tank top and charcoal heather pants as she cried out, "Hello Jack!" But stopped when she saw Jack with somebody! "Oh, Hi Persephone." Jack greeted, "Have you two met? Persephone, this is my friend Cassandra Endymion." Cassandra waved, "Hi." She said. Persephone smiled but she felt envious again because Jack has a girl with her! Someone she was all too familiar with. Persephone saw Svafar and greeted him with an embrace but Svafar can smell something beautiful coming off her skin.
"You smell nice." Svafar said. "Thanks, it's raspberry champagne & gardenia petals with crystallized amber. I made it myself." Persephone said. "It's a nice scent, it suits you." replied Svafar. Persephone beamed, "Thanks, I just want to be average and maybe not so different." She answered. "C'mon, it's not your fault that you're a green horn." Shango said with lightheartedness in his voice. Those words struck a chord in Persephone, a memory that made her bitter. "Yeah, at least I'm not a snarker." She snapped. Shango wasn't offended by this, "Oh ho ho. Snarker, well me think you're exaggerating." He said. "Oh please, you telling me I'm a damn greenhorn--I'm more than that." Persephone chastised harshly. "How different are you? You look more the same except less freaky." Shango joked. Persephone could hear giggling, she wanted to laugh along but she would be riding down memory lane. "Very funny, 'freak'? You could insult me so much better. You're not so much mundane. All I can see is a sore loser that eats shit." berated Persephone. Now the giggling faded but Shango didn't mind, "Wow, I'm offended." He said. Persephone then upbraided him with something she would regret, "You should be for being an orphaned screwball probably with no life or childhood!" She exclaimed. Now Shango was surprised and offended. He was no longer joking. Helgi glared at her, "Persephone!" He scolded. "You gonna cry, cry you little baby!" Persephone screamed and she runs away, slamming the door. The rest of the four were shocked by this. In her room; Persephone was in her room, her crying was muffled as memories as the four friends who befriended her. "It's not your fault that you're different." said Osiris with a laugh in her memories. Her gagged weeping continues, she thought more memories about them. "They remind me so much of them." thought Persephone tearfully, "Kleobis. Biton. Osiris. Svafa." She felt so guilty of what she said earlier that she could not bare herself to go out there. She was so ashamed. Persephone begin crying in the pillow all over again, "Shango, I'm so sorry. I'm an awful person." She wept in the pillow so hard and made sure no one will hear her cry. She got up, wrote a note, and put it on the bedside as she went out the window to get some air. Unknown to her that danger lies ahead.
While taking a walk; Persephone was wiping her eyes and sniffling. "Dammit, I hurt--What have I done?" She wondered. She stumbles across a field of tall grass strands and flowers. There was a tree nearby in the meadows and Persephone went underneath it. The tall grass made her want to hide in there just in case. As she sat under the tree to rest; Persephone begin to hear rustling coming from the fields and sat up alert. And then, a Revenant came out from the meadows and tried to attack but Persephone went into her Revenant form as she fought back. The Revenant ran away while Revenant Persephone chased after it, she lost sight of it during the pursuit and heard a scream. Revenant Persephone to see Clytie struggled against the Revenant so Persephone lunged at the monster and tackled it as Clytie watched with wide eyed horror. Revenant Persephone bite into the creature's neck and ripped a bit of flesh from its throat. The Revenant's nape oozed of red plasma from it. Then with one last drop; it died and Persephone scampered away. Clytie was dazed as she wondered what just happened. Svafar came to her, "Are you OK? I heard you scream." He said. "I'm fine." replied Clytie, "I was attacked by a Revenant when a female Revenant came and saved me." Svafar looked at her with shock, "Wha--Did you say 'Female Revenant'?" He asked. In the meantime; Persephone hunts down Cassandra as she tries to fight her but Cassandra recognized her and tries to talk some sense into her. But she was surprised to hear Persephone's thoughts and discovered something that completely shocked her.
"Persephone, do you have a crush on Jack?" Cassandra asked suspiciously. Persephone laughed at her, "That's absurd. A crazy allegation." She said. Cassandra looked at her. "Is that why you hate me?" She asked, "Because I was hanging out with him? Listen, I have a confession to make. I'm only 22 and he's now 16. One year ago, I kissed him before but then it was so weird that we decided to be better off as friends. He's all yours if you want him. He's a close friend of mine, really. No romance, no sparks--Nothing." Persephone stopped as she then admitted her confession: "Yes, I do....I am in love with Jack." Cassandra smiled at her, "It's OK, thank you. I don't hate you, I forgive you." She said. Persephone nodded and smiled back, "You sure are a nice girl, Cassandra Endymion." replied Persephone. Down beneath an oak tree; Persephone was hugging her knees, which were crouched in a ball. She rocked a little as her face hidden in her arms. "Hey, are you OK?" Someone called out, Persephone looked up startled. "Who's there?" She called out. Clytie appeared, smiling at her. "It's me, Clytie. Remember?" She asked. Persephone squinted in the darkness, "Clytie....Signar?" She said. Clytie grinned with joy, "Yes, thank you for saving me back there. I was sent here by the Abendstern Squad to find out where you have gone." She explained. "I can't go back there." Persephone said. Clytie looked at her, "Why?" She asked. Persephone begin to cry again, "I did something hurtful to one of the members." She spluttered. "Really? Can you tell me what it is?" Clytie asked gently. "He--Shango--called me a greenhorn as a joke but I took it seriously to heart for a reason and said things that I didn't mean. I felt so bad--Felt so--I cared about them so much, I want to appease the whole situation more than just apologizing, I'm the one that's been doing wrong." stuttered Persephone through her tears.
"You can still make it right." Clytie urged. Persephone looked at her, "I can?" "Yes." Clytie said. Persephone sniffed, "What if it's too late?" She said. Clytie shook her head, "You're just in time. Besides someone is waiting for you." She remarked. "Who?" Clytie smiled and pointed to the light, "See for yourself, come with me." She said. The two girls came out of the hole from underneath the tree. "Persephone?" Someone called out to her, Persephone turn around and gasped, "Svafar...!" Svafar rushed over and embraced her, "You're alive!" He sighed with relief. He could smell the scent of raspberry champagne, gardenia petals, and crystallized amber that was coming off her skin. "My God, it's you." breathed Svafar. Persephone wept, "Svafar...." She said. "It's OK, you're safe now." soothed Svafar. Afterwards, Persephone and Svafar were lying side by side clothed but Persephone begin to mutter to herself quietly. "Svafar..." Persephone muttered. "Are you asleep, Persephone?" asked Svafar. Perephone turned to him, looking at him in the eyes, "No, I--Are you OK Svafar?" Svafar smiled at her, "Yes, thanks for asking." He said. He looked down to think and then he replied. "Did I ever told you that I knew Shango, Helgi, and Sedna since we were little? In a orphanage?" Svafar said. Persephone was horrified as she remembered her words. "Oh, I'm so sorry." She said in a broken voice. "It's fine, you didn't know." Svafar assured her. Persephone was guilty, "I'll never be able to forgive myself." She said. Then she looked at him and said, "Hold me, I'm cold...." Svafar held her tight like a paternal guardian would to his daughter, "I'm here." He said softly. In the morning; Persephone learns that Svafar, Helgi, Shango, and Sedna are going to their monthly squadron and will be back the next month after. Persephone is distressed however she is horrified to find out that this is something they have to do and it's what they wanted. She sunk into a depression, staying in her room all day. That night before the day they leave. Her door opens, Persephone jumped.
"Persephone, you still awake?" Sedna asked softly. Perephone nodded, "Yes." She said. "You want to eat dinner?" Sedna asked gently. "You mean your last meal before you leave me?" Persephone inquired miserably. Sedna, Helgi, Svafar, and Shango looked shocked at her. "No, we couldn't possibly...Do that." Helgi said. Persephone turned away from them, "You don't need me anymore, no more.....You don't." She said. The four of them left, hurt by what she said. After they left; Persephone slumped on the floor and begin to cry, while the other four are hurt by her anguish. The next day; it was time to bid Svafar, Helgi, Shango, and Sedna farewell until they can come back next month. Cassandra, Jack, Minerva, and Bellerophon came to say goodbye. While saying goodbye; Shango said to Jack, "Hey Jack, you gonna be all right?" Jack looked at him, "Sure, why?" He asked. Shango grinned, "Well don't you cry on us--We'll be back soon." He said. Jack smiled but a tear shedded. "Ugh! Promised myself I wasn't going to cry, such an idiot." He groaned. Svafar laughed, "It's only for one month, we'll be back soon." He said. Jack pulled it together and smiled. "Got it." He said. During this time; Svafar, Helgi, Shango, and Sedna were looking out for Persephone--They didn't want to leave her without saying goodbye. In the meantime, Persephone was finishing the touches to the quilt she made for her four friends--It was of the four elements: Air, earth, fire, and water. She wonders if she can make it there in time before they leave so she can give this to them. However she sensed that a vehicle was leaving and she rushed after it. However she learns she was too late: "See ya!" Cassandra called. "Good luck!" Bellerophon hollered. "Farewell!" replied Minerva. "Take care! Bye!" said Jack. Just then, Persephone was running past them as she cried out, "Svafar! Helgi! Shango! Sedna! Don't go, wait!" Cassandra looked at her with surprise, "Persephone?" She gasped. Persephone broke down as she called out, "I'm sorry! I am an awful person to all of you, but it's because I was hiding my deepest depression for that Sharon, Thiavli, Roskva, and all of you remind me of people from my past! The ones that I lost dear! The Ivashkas remind me of Gingira and her children who were my best friends, Abinadi and Penthesilea. But you four--You remind me of those that became my friends....Kleobis. Biton. Osiris. Svafa. Those four out of the seven were so nice to me since I was in my coming of age days! I was rejected and alone back then, I was so distant and reserved, cold hearted...Because I didn't want to lose you again. I made this for you--Please! Don't go away...." She was too late, she couldn't get there fast enough.
"You can still make it right." Clytie urged. Persephone looked at her, "I can?" "Yes." Clytie said. Persephone sniffed, "What if it's too late?" She said. Clytie shook her head, "You're just in time. Besides someone is waiting for you." She remarked. "Who?" Clytie smiled and pointed to the light, "See for yourself, come with me." She said. The two girls came out of the hole from underneath the tree. "Persephone?" Someone called out to her, Persephone turn around and gasped, "Svafar...!" Svafar rushed over and embraced her, "You're alive!" He sighed with relief. He could smell the scent of raspberry champagne, gardenia petals, and crystallized amber that was coming off her skin. "My God, it's you." breathed Svafar. Persephone wept, "Svafar...." She said. "It's OK, you're safe now." soothed Svafar. Afterwards, Persephone and Svafar were lying side by side clothed but Persephone begin to mutter to herself quietly. "Svafar..." Persephone muttered. "Are you asleep, Persephone?" asked Svafar. Perephone turned to him, looking at him in the eyes, "No, I--Are you OK Svafar?" Svafar smiled at her, "Yes, thanks for asking." He said. He looked down to think and then he replied. "Did I ever told you that I knew Shango, Helgi, and Sedna since we were little? In a orphanage?" Svafar said. Persephone was horrified as she remembered her words. "Oh, I'm so sorry." She said in a broken voice. "It's fine, you didn't know." Svafar assured her. Persephone was guilty, "I'll never be able to forgive myself." She said. Then she looked at him and said, "Hold me, I'm cold...." Svafar held her tight like a paternal guardian would to his daughter, "I'm here." He said softly. In the morning; Persephone learns that Svafar, Helgi, Shango, and Sedna are going to their monthly squadron and will be back the next month after. Persephone is distressed however she is horrified to find out that this is something they have to do and it's what they wanted. She sunk into a depression, staying in her room all day. That night before the day they leave. Her door opens, Persephone jumped.
"Persephone, you still awake?" Sedna asked softly. Perephone nodded, "Yes." She said. "You want to eat dinner?" Sedna asked gently. "You mean your last meal before you leave me?" Persephone inquired miserably. Sedna, Helgi, Svafar, and Shango looked shocked at her. "No, we couldn't possibly...Do that." Helgi said. Persephone turned away from them, "You don't need me anymore, no more.....You don't." She said. The four of them left, hurt by what she said. After they left; Persephone slumped on the floor and begin to cry, while the other four are hurt by her anguish. The next day; it was time to bid Svafar, Helgi, Shango, and Sedna farewell until they can come back next month. Cassandra, Jack, Minerva, and Bellerophon came to say goodbye. While saying goodbye; Shango said to Jack, "Hey Jack, you gonna be all right?" Jack looked at him, "Sure, why?" He asked. Shango grinned, "Well don't you cry on us--We'll be back soon." He said. Jack smiled but a tear shedded. "Ugh! Promised myself I wasn't going to cry, such an idiot." He groaned. Svafar laughed, "It's only for one month, we'll be back soon." He said. Jack pulled it together and smiled. "Got it." He said. During this time; Svafar, Helgi, Shango, and Sedna were looking out for Persephone--They didn't want to leave her without saying goodbye. In the meantime, Persephone was finishing the touches to the quilt she made for her four friends--It was of the four elements: Air, earth, fire, and water. She wonders if she can make it there in time before they leave so she can give this to them. However she sensed that a vehicle was leaving and she rushed after it. However she learns she was too late: "See ya!" Cassandra called. "Good luck!" Bellerophon hollered. "Farewell!" replied Minerva. "Take care! Bye!" said Jack. Just then, Persephone was running past them as she cried out, "Svafar! Helgi! Shango! Sedna! Don't go, wait!" Cassandra looked at her with surprise, "Persephone?" She gasped. Persephone broke down as she called out, "I'm sorry! I am an awful person to all of you, but it's because I was hiding my deepest depression for that Sharon, Thiavli, Roskva, and all of you remind me of people from my past! The ones that I lost dear! The Ivashkas remind me of Gingira and her children who were my best friends, Abinadi and Penthesilea. But you four--You remind me of those that became my friends....Kleobis. Biton. Osiris. Svafa. Those four out of the seven were so nice to me since I was in my coming of age days! I was rejected and alone back then, I was so distant and reserved, cold hearted...Because I didn't want to lose you again. I made this for you--Please! Don't go away...." She was too late, she couldn't get there fast enough.
Tearful at this; Persephone let the Element Quilt she made float away in the breeze and walked away sadly. She sniffed as she wiped a few tears away, she breathed heavily as she would cry there for good. Just then, she looked down to see the quilt she made was there! She looked surprised at this. Persephone heard laughter behind her as her tears became glee, she turned around and was embraced by a familiar foursome members! "Svafar! Helgi! Shango! Sedna!" Persephone said, she was crying so much that she could hardly talk. "Did you really think we would leave without saying goodbye?" Shango asked. Persephone shrugged, it was hard to talk when she was crying so much. "We'll be back, one month." Sedna promised. Persephone nodded, she embraced the four of them. She was still crying, but they were tears of happiness. Watching this, Cassandra wiped her own tears away while seeing this. Later, Cassandra was telling this heart-rending story to Ophelia, who was crying over this story; "That's the most touching story ever. I wonder if Persephone will ever get better." blubbered Ophelia. "She will." assured Cassandra, "It takes practice. Day by day." "Hey Cass, do you think Persephone was reminded her deceased loved ones, is that why she was what she was?" asked Ophelia. "You know, Ophelia, people bottle up their feelings to try and hide them but when memories become more painful, they have to open their hearts and let the emotions go." explained Cassandra. "Really?" Ophelia asked, "You think we should tell Persephone?" "Nah." said Cassandra with a smile, "I think she already knows."
At sunset; Thiavli, Roskva, and Sharon are playing the tall grass and flowers meadow as Elpis and Clytie watched this with smiles but they looked over at the sleeping Persephone who was holding a picture frame of her, Svafar, Helgi, Shango, Sedna, and Jack were in the frame. One fine day, they'll be back. Safe and sound.
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