Page 69 of Charmed

Elric looked over at Persimmon for a moment before taking the ring and shoving into his pouch.

“I didn’t know you and Mother loved each other. That makes things different,” said Persimmon.

“Why?” asked the elf.

“Because, if I am your child then I was conceived out of love, not greed, deceit or hate.”

“Like if you were sired by King Kapion,” said Zann with a nod.

“Husband, don’t say such things,” gasped Lira.

“It’s all right.” Persimmon’s hand covered the bag holding her gazing orb. “He’s right. I wish now that I had told Stone I loved him before he stepped through the portal.”

“I heard him tell you that he loved you,” said Lira.

“Yes.” Persimmon smiled and rubbed her fingers over the bag. “Even if I never see him again, I will always love him.”

Right after she professed her love for Stone aloud while rubbing the gazing orb, she felt heat under her fingers and a slight vibration coming from the bag. “Something is happening.” Quickly, she scooped the gazing orb out of the bag and held it up with two hands in front of her.

“Persimmon? What is it?” asked Lira.

“I—I can see something in the orb. Yes, I’m sure of it. I am actually and finally scrying.”

“Really?” asked her father. “I wonder what activated your power.”

“I know exactly what it was,” she told them, smiling even more when Stone’s face emerged in the gazing ball. “It was love. My love for Stone and his for me. I guess saying it aloud was the secret.”

“Do you really think so?” asked Lira. “How wonderful.”

“Yes. I know that’s what it was. And that was why Mother was able to scry as well. Father, she loved you and you loved her. I never realized that until now.”

“You don’t have to call me Father, Persimmon.” Elric lowered his head and dragged a lazy finger over the top of the table. “Especially since we don’t even know that it is true.”

“I want to find out. I am going to find out.” She saw another vision in the gazing orb and all hope was restored of seeing Stone again. “I see in the orb that the stone I thought fell through the portal didn’t go through after all. It is still there in the cave, lodged under a rock.”

She jumped to her feet.

“Where are you going?” asked Lira.

“I have to get back to the cave to find and use that stone. I am going to open the portal and join Stone in his land of Taelgonoth.”