PERSEPHONE

Persephone eyed the stallion, an uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach. She noted hint of dissatisfaction that flashed across his face for just a second – she was not who he had expected, nor wanted to see. She listened to his introduction with a nod of acknowledgement, although her mind was distracted.

When she looked back on this moment later, she would think that there was a part of her that already knew what was coming. A part of her that was bracing itself for what was to come.

She heard the words that came out of Solomon’s mouth, though they felt foggy and muffled as they hit her ears. Of course, she had known that this man was out there for some time now. With some effort, she had even come to accept it. But it was different, of course, to know a thing in your mind than to see it stood right in front of you.

To see the man that Evren had chosen over her, even if just for a moment.

“Oh,” she said as she wrangled her feelings under control. “I see.”

She gritted her teeth and tried to swallow her emotion.

“She should be around here somewhere.”

For once, she wasn’t sure what else to say. When Solomon turned the conversation to more political matters, Persephone wasn’t sure if she was relieved or annoyed. It felt foolish to be talking like business associates when all she could think about was what he and Evren had done together – about the child that now lived under her care.

Yet the alternative was, somehow, more terrifying.

“What is it?” she asked with a tilt of her head, trying to sound as interested as she knew she should be.

all of your demons will wither away

mixed, bay varnish roan, 14.3hh