Page 105 of Simon

“With you being so young, you lost a lot of your memories when you were turned into a goat. You didn’t understand right from wrong or what even had happened to you. But you are loyal, and your true character has shone through your trials, Simon.”

I huffed, still annoyed.

“The witch, still hurt, took you to the portal to Bergarian. You would be safe there, and hopefully, she would find a way to change you back. Magic wasn’t the same back then as it is now. Magic grows, and it took a lot of planning to change things back to the way things were, back then. She wasn’t able to complete the full journey to the coven of witches in the Bergarian Realm. She did, thankfully, make it to Bergarian where you have been safe.”

Sable shrugged her shoulders sheepishly. “I am sorry it was because of a witch. I swear we aren’t all like that though, just like not all humans are selfish, evil, and want to pillage everything. Sorry,” she said to Lucy.

Lucy shrugged her shoulders as well. “No offence taken.”

Lucy’s shoulders dropped. I felt her sadness through our bond. I wrapped my arms around to comfort her this time and nuzzled my nose into her neck. “It’s alright,” I said. “I don’t remember all that time I was alone. Time had no meaning to me when I was an animal.”

I lived my days blissfully unaware, until Calliope. I ate, drank, slept, and played. I didn’t have many friendships. I knew I was different, saw animals as idiots, enjoyed my extravagant nests to sleep in, and once I met Calliope, she was a new friend that understood me. Then Lucy—the one I always knew was meant to be mine was my new light source to follow.

“You know. Technically, a few weeks ago, I was supposed to go find you, Simon,” Sable said, drawing circles in her notebook, “on Poseidon’s orders, and bring you back to the herd.”

“No!” Lucy shouted and wrapped her arms around my neck. “You can’t take him!”

I snarled and pulled Lucy away from the witch.

Sable snorted and threw her head back in laughter. “Relax!” Sable held her hand out. “The Moon Goddess told Poseidon no way! That Simon’s mate was too close, and it would ruin everything. Poseidon had no choice but to let you stay.” Sable grinned and clapped her hands. “Poseidon wasn’t overly thrilled. You being his creation and all. He was ready to reunite you with all the fauns.”

I tilted my head, not sure what to feel. Did I want to see the rest of the herd? More than I wanted my mate? The answer was difficult.

In my cherished memories, my parents radiated pure joy as they twirled gracefully amidst the vibrant wildflowers in the light source-drenched meadow. The melodic symphony of rustling leaves and chirping birds served as the soundtrack to their love-filled dances in the enchanting forest. Their lovefor one another was real, a tender bond that overflowed with affection and tenderness.

I gazed down at Lucy, her eyes full of questions. She didn’t have any judgment as she touched my face. “You can want to see them,” she said. “I’ve always wanted to see my birth mother.”

I shook my head. “I would rather have you in my arms, right now,” I said. “I will see them again. I feel it here.” I touched my chest. “Won’t I?” I asked Sable.

Sable bit her lip nervously. “Yes, you will see them again.”

Lucy and I looked at each other.

Sable let out a breath. “It will be a long while. Poseidon is very protective of his creatures. Especially after the incidents that happened on Earth.”

“More incidents? More with other creatures, you mean? Humans hunting and trying to use them?” Lucy asked.

I didn’t let go of Lucy, too scared my world would take her away from me.

Sable stood from the rock and walked closer to the stream. The clean water created a melody that drowned out the noises I could hear from my memories of the humans screaming across the meadow. I could hear their cries to catch the fauns, to capture us and take what they wanted.

I shook my head, not wanting to listen anymore.

“While all realms have their problems,” Sable began. “Humans fear the unknown. What they fear, they destroy or take to use for themselves.” Her eyebrows furrowed, and her cheeks pinkened. “And on Earth, humans were persecuted for a long while by the supernatural kind before it was outlawed during the dark ages.”

“What—” Lucy began.

Sable held up her hand. “No history lesson on that. The gods have forbidden me to speak of that history. They are trying to be seen in a better light.” She let out a shaky breath. “Now that humans are becoming stable, we don’t need to kick up thedust on Earth. Humans are open to magic. We have shifters, witches and others living amongst humans. Monsters on Earth are a possibility for the future now. We have orcs here now in Bergarian; things are progressing.”

I stood, holding Lucy in my arms. “Were orcs living on Earth?” I asked.

Sable shook her head. “No, orcs have always lived here. The only way humans know about orcs was from when the shifters went to live on Earth, and humans heard of orcs as horrible, nasty creatures from thousands of years ago. You know how legends twist among themselves.”

Lucy wiggled for me to put her down. “And these monsters, fauns, minotaurs, all these Greek gods and creatures, was it Poseidon who created them?”

Sable eyed me. “Most. Ares had some help to create wolf shifters, specifically with the Moon Goddess. Other gods had requests to create other creatures, supernaturals, monsters for purposes that I don’t understand, with Poseidon’s help.” She clamped her mouth shut as if she had said too much.

“So, everything is wrong about history. Everything we have learned is.”

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