Page 61 of Charmed

“Be careful! It’s hot,” warned Persimmon.

“Nay, it’s not. It’s cold.” Stone tossed it up and down in his palm. It no longer glowed.

“What?” Elric spun around. His hand slapped against the pouch at his side. “How did you get that? Give it to me.” He sped over to Stone in a blur, but Stone was ready for him. He closed his fingers tightly over the gem.

“Not so fast, little man.” Stone chuckled and held out his finger, pointing at him. “Tell us the truth. These gemstones hold great power. Power that you know is somehow connected to Persimmon. That is why you want to keep them from my king, and why King Kapion would have wanted to take Persimmon if he’d ever come back. And for some strange reason, you want to keep these stones away from Persimmon as well. You have ill intentions, admit it. I’ll bet you were the one who used Luna for your own purposes. It wasn’t the other way around at all, was it?”

“The gemstones are from the gods, I swear it,” said Elric, sounding extremely agitated now.

“Yes, we know that part,” said Stone. “You stole them and are trying not to be punished.”

“It is true that they hold great power?” asked Lira.

“It’s power that can only be used by a chosen one,” said Elric.

“Chosen one?” asked Persimmon. “Are you saying I was chosen by your gods for something?”

Elric scrunched up his face, fastened the bag of gems to his waist and looked the other way.

Elric wanted to be chosen, said her mother. He wanted that power for himself, Luna told her. You weren’t old enough to handle the power before so it didn’t matter that you didn’t have the stones. But you are of age now, daughter.

“Mother, who is my true father?” asked Persimmon, needing to know.

I can’t tell you that. And now I must leave you. Forever.

“Nay, don’t leave,” Persimmon begged her. “I need you.”

I am sorry I abandoned you, but you have Stone Nightstalker to look after you now. He will make you happy, Persimmon. You deserve it. Don’t lose him.

“Wait, Mother. I need to know how to be able to use the gazing orb. How did you do it?”

That is something you will need to find out for yourself. Goodbye, my dear. I love you.

“Nay, Mother, don’t leave.”

“What’s happening?” asked Elric. “Where is she going? What did she say?”

“She’s gone,” Persimmon answered with a deep sigh. Even though her mother’s ghost had frightened her before, this time it seemed to calm her and make her feel better.

“Persimmon? Who did she say was your father?” asked Stone, reaching out and placing his hand over hers.

“She said she couldn’t tell me. I am not sure if she knew or not, but I intend to find out that answer on my own.”

“What are you saying?” snapped Elric. “How do you think you are going to get that answer when I don’t even know?”

“I need to meet King Kapion and determine for myself if he or you are my true father.”

“Don’t be silly,” said the elf. “You don’t want to go anywhere near that evil man. And please don’t even think of giving him the gemstones. He can’t use the powers so they are no good to him.”

“Nay, but I can use them,” said Persimmon, feeling her heart beat faster. “And if King Kapion is my father, he needs to know that I am a chosen one of your gods.”

“This is a bad idea. Really bad.” Elric paced back and forth and rubbed his hands through his hair.

“Elric,” said Stone. “What I don’t understand, is how did you even get an opportunity to steal the stones from the gods in the first place?”

“My father is a messenger of the gods and goddesses of Mura,” explained Lira.

“What? Nay. That’s a jest, right?” Stone chuckled.