Eyes of White

Chapter 21: Parting Without Goodbyes Part 2

Persephone knew The Evil couldn't reach her, but she still shrunk back into the wall to cry. She was there for who knows how long before Zania found her.

"Persephone," she whispered urgently, her voice heavy with tears, "Persephone I know how much you've lost. I've lost the same. But there's someone I'd like you to meet."

Persephone turned around, sniffing and breathing heavily, and saw a woman who looked just like Zania except the gold streaks in her hair were purple and her eyes were a shifting rainbow of colours.

The old woman smiled. "Hello. I'm your great-aunt, Tessa. I'm here to help fix the ward."

Persephone smiled a little but then her smile became a grimace as her leg throbbed suddenly.

Tessa saw this and pulled out her phone. "I'll call hospital services. Say you were attacked by a dog. They'll be able to fix it, don't worry." She pressed 000 and offered the phone to Persephone, who took it gingerly and held it to her ear.

"Hello? Please state your name, place and problem."

"My name is Persephone. I'm at... the beach at Queenstown. My leg was mauled by a dog. The calf is almost fully gone."

Her voice was shaky and full of pain.

"Oh dear. I'll get paramedics there immediately."

"Thank you."

"Do you feel okay? Any headaches?"

"Well, other than my leg, my head is throbbing and I feel like I'm about to throw up. I'm really dizzy too."

"You might have a small concussion. When did this happen?"

"Just..." Persephone could feel her consciousness flitting away like a leaf caught in an updraft. "Just now..."

"Ma'am, focus on my voice please. Try as hard as you can to stay awake until the paramedics get there."

Persephone shook her head lightly. "I'm sorry," she slurred, her words mashing together as her brain slowly succumbed to the pulling unconsciousness. "I don't think I can, I'm just a..." What was she going to say? "Just a..." She paused to think. "Just a kid."

Sirens sounded, very close by, and Persephone quickly dragged herself over to the cave entrance, where they could see she was on the beach.

She then passed out, blackness consuming her.

At the same time, Zania and Tessa were standing near Mel and Ara. Ara sat next to Zania, while Mel sat facing the two women.

"Mellpell, do you take the honour of being Queenstown's new Living Ward?"

Penelope was curled up next to the women, unconscious. The battle was no longer being fought as The Evil was focused entirely on waking Penelope up, as she was their greatest asset. The animal army had dissipated. The Warden army were mourning the loss of Cashmere. No-one was paying attention to the cats and the old women at the end of the cave.

Mel nodded. "I do."

With a single look at each other, Zania and Tessa entwined their hands and whispered together, "Mellpell Anazandria, be the Living Ward."

Golden light shot from their hands and into Mel, who sat still and straight as The Evil ebbed, going back to wherever it came from. Penelope's wolfish form slowed its pace as her eyes became normal and her insect midsection became a mass of confused individual bugs. Penelope collapsed in pain as each bug leapt off her. She shrunk back to human form. Her eyes were clouded, not by The Evil, but by tears. Her breaths were great and shuddering.

"No! Why? Why are you leaving me?" Penelope stood and glanced at Zania and her sister. "You did this!" she snarled. "I hate you!"

"Penelope, please, I-" Zania reached out for Penelope's ghost white face.

Penelope skidded back. "I don't care! Go away!"

When neither Zania nor Tessa moved, Penelope decided to. She ran off, only stopping at Persephone, who coughed and spluttered and sat up. "Penelope!"

"What?" she snapped. "Did you help her?"

"No, they just gave me a phone and-"

"Did that help?"

"No! It was just to call an ambulance because of the leg wound YOU INFLICTED!"

"OKAY FINE! YOU KNOW WHAT? YOU'RE NOT! MY! SISTER!"

Persephone burst into tears. "You don't even seem sad that you killed your own MOTHER!"

"You know what? I hate you so much! I'm leaving. You'll never see me until The Evil rules!" Penelope ran across the beach, heard the sirens, became a bluejay and flew off. An ambulance shot onto the kerb and two paramedics leapt out, placed Persephone onto a stretcher carefully, wheeled her into the back of the van and took off.

Persephone felt really tired and fell asleep twice in the ride, only woken by the paramedic's urgent "Ma'am, you must stay awake."

When they got to the hospital, Persephone was moved to the ICU where she was allowed to sleep, although her dreams were disturbing; they were mainly of voices whispering, voices that kept getting louder until they were the only thing Persephone could hear.

++We will find you. And when we do, you will give in.++

++We will find you. And when we do, you will give in.++

The voices all spoke as one, and one voice stood out from the rest.

Penelope's.

**Suspense!

P.S: Shortest A/N ever!

P.P.S: Did you vote for the greatest chapter in the whole book?**