The following weeks proved to be quite difficult. While Juno and Pan were given private bedrooms, Hemera began her slow education on what it ment to be a gargoyle, everyone (especially Broadway) eager to help. However, things did not run very smoothly. Ebony never opened up to Hemera, and spent most of her time avoiding everyone or getting into fights with anyone who dared bring up the topic. This eventually caused her to nearly come to blows with Broadway several times, Ebony deeply resenting the attension he was showing Hemera. Everyone begged Goliath to step in, who had been avoiding it for as long as he can. "You cannot go on lke this Ebony," Goliath begged on day, this bringing a scowl to Ebony's face. "At least try talking to Juno. She seems to be very eager to speak with you."
Although Ebony wish to desperetly avoid this she eventually agreed and found herself the next day standing before the door to Juno's new badroom. She stared at it hatefully, her body full of nervous energy. Finally, after spending several minutes breathing in and out, wishing the exercise would slow her drumming heart; Ebony steeled herself and cautiously knocked on the door. "Come in child," rang Juno's voice, her tone surprisingly composed. Swallowing hard, Ebony turned the door handle, her hands shaking, and entered the room. It was nicely decorated in an oddly European style, with tapestries hanging from the walls and flower vases decorating every table. And seated there on a small sofa near her bed was Juno, dressed in a cotton blouse and jeans that failed to hide her striking body. Even in a human's mere form, Juno still had the presence of the goddess she once was. Poised and perfectly calm, she regarded Ebony with quick, green eyes. She smiled slightly, quickly noticing Ebony's nervousness. "Just how long were you standing out there, my dear?" she asked with a knowing glint in her eyes.
Ebony immediately scowled, her hands involuntarily clenching. "Long enough. You have a problem with that, human?" Ebony snapped, knowing the last word would surely bother Juno, whom she knew deep down was still repulsed with the fact that she was now and forever a mortal.
Juno's calm face did not waver, but her eyes hardened and the smile on her face became a tad frosty. "Not at all. It must be perfectly natural for you to feel a tad bit afraid. Hating humans and all…"
"I don't hate humans," Ebony snarled, her wings flapping, "I just hate you and all of your kind!" Ebony then paused and smiled mercilessly. "Or should I say, formally your kind."
Juno's facade finally fell and she got to her feet to glare at her niece. "Hate Feys if you dare, but remember, Avalon is a part of you no matter how much you may hate the fact." Juno then sighed and shook her head. "And the sooner you accept that, the better. You have vast potential Ebony. I see great things in store for you but only if you learn to live with yourself and accept what you are."
Ebony glared sullenly at this, unsure on what to say. She already heard that lecture a hundred times from Puck, but for some reason the discussion had always driven her into a frenzy… it constantly reminded her that she was different… unique… Tense, Ebony instinctively started another breathing exercise and averted Juno's unmoving gaze. Once more in control she returned her gaze to Juno and insolently took a seat on the floor, her tail languidly wrapped around her legs. "If I have a problem with my origins, then you might as well blame your bitch sister instead of me." Ebony said acidly.
Juno stared at Ebony, unmoving, and then with a small sigh she too sat down, her face calm but her eyes never leaving her gargoyle niece. "Very well, but that means I am not to blame either."
"Says who?! You knew about me, so why didn't you come to my aid? Or do family ties mean nothing to your kind?!" Ebony screamed, tears of pain starting to well up but Ebony did not allow them to fall, did not allow Juno to see her pain, only her anger.
Juno met Ebony's enraged face sadly, with such regret in her eyes that Ebony felt herself pause. "How I wish I could have, my dear child. You see, you and I have both been deceived. When I had asked your mother what she had done with the un-hatched egg, she said she smashed it into the rocks of the nearby sea cliffs. I was a fool. I believed her. We never told Hemera that she almost had a sibling, for your mother found the pain to great to express."
Ebony huffed but said nothing, looking away, not wanting to see the truth in those eyes. Minutes passed and Ebony finally gave in and met Juno's gaze, tears in her brilliant sky-blue eyes. "I wish you had been there. It was so hard for us Juno, growing up alone, with no one there to care if we lived or died."
Juno nodded. "Is that why you and Egor are so close? Because you two grew up together?"
Ebony nodded, smiling as she thought of her huge dark green rookery brother, her eyes going vague. "Yes… he's more then my clan-brother… he's my life friend… I would do anything for him, just like he would do anything for me. We saved each others life more times then I can count!"
Juno nodded, inwardly curious. "And what do you expect will come of this affection and endearment you hold for Egor? Do you think it will develop into something more serious?"
Ebony snapped out of her reverie and studied Juno, suspicious. "Why do you ask?"
Juno shrugged nonchalantly. "I don't know. Some of the others have said a few things, gave me their own opinions. Just call it family concern."
Ebony stared at Juno, considering, then finally let out a sigh and shrugged. "Oh I don't know. Maybe… yea… I wouldn't mind. I mean, better him then Lexington or Broadway." Seeing Juno's amused smile Ebony hastily added. "Don't get me wrong, I love them to pieces but Broadway seems to be more interested in Hemera and Lex doesn't even reach my shoulders!"
Juno nodded and shifted, getting more comfortable, then reached for a nearby teapot that had been on standby. "Tea?" she asked charmingly.
Ebony nodded, secretly famished. She had been so nervous when she woke that she had avoided First Meal all together! "Yes please… with honey please, no sugar or milk… and could I have a sugar cookie with that?"
Juno smiled, amused and handed Ebony a teacup, taking a sip from her own… it wasn't anything compared to the one she often had on Avalon, but it would do. "You still have your tea in the old Celtic fashion." Juno observed.
Ebony nodded, her eyes on the reddish golden liquid swirling around in her cup, slowly stirring and blowing on it. "Yea, can't stand that fake Lipton's crap. That's not tea! That's refined monkey piss given a lemon flavor. And it's served cold. What sensible person would drink their tea cold?!" Taking a log sip from her cup, Ebony smiled and glanced up at Juno curiously. "Is Avalon like this? The older hatchling pair who used to take care of me before they died used to tell me stories about it all the time."
Juno smiled, charmed by the tone of such innocence in her voice. "Not quite… similar… but not quite." Juno murmured. Memories flashed through Juno's mind, memories of life she once led, and would never lead again. "Now, to the subject at hand. Ebony, dear, have you ever considered expanding your magical talents. I can guarantee you that there is much you don't know. From what Puck has told me, you have limitless power but no control. Why do you think that is so?"
Ebony drained her tea and quickly gobbled down the sugar cookie, her face darkening as she blushed. "I guess it is because there had never been anyone there to teach how to make sense of it all. I mean I knew that I could do so much more… but I was also afraid of what would happen. I didn't want to risk hurting Egor. By the Dragon, who knows what could have happened!"
Juno nodded, holding her teacup, her gaze faraway, but pensive. "Indeed. Very wise of you. And what about now? Puck tells me you have begun taking instruction with him."
Ebony nodded. "Aye, but it's really hard. He's teaching me how to do things differently. Sometimes I can't do it!"
Juno blinked, not expecting such an answer. "Why? What does he teach you to do?"
Ebony nervously stroked her tail, blushing some more. "He is basically teaching me how to do everything mentally. Says I depend too much on my emotions."
Juno nodded. "Well, if that's the case then I have to agree. A Fey who lets her emotions take control is Fey who will soon be driven insane. Many have suffered from lack of control." Juno smiled and winked at Ebony, seeing fear so easily expressed in those eyes. "But I doubt you will have to worry. You're young. You have plenty of time to learn."
Although Ebony wish to desperetly avoid this she eventually agreed and found herself the next day standing before the door to Juno's new badroom. She stared at it hatefully, her body full of nervous energy. Finally, after spending several minutes breathing in and out, wishing the exercise would slow her drumming heart; Ebony steeled herself and cautiously knocked on the door. "Come in child," rang Juno's voice, her tone surprisingly composed. Swallowing hard, Ebony turned the door handle, her hands shaking, and entered the room. It was nicely decorated in an oddly European style, with tapestries hanging from the walls and flower vases decorating every table. And seated there on a small sofa near her bed was Juno, dressed in a cotton blouse and jeans that failed to hide her striking body. Even in a human's mere form, Juno still had the presence of the goddess she once was. Poised and perfectly calm, she regarded Ebony with quick, green eyes. She smiled slightly, quickly noticing Ebony's nervousness. "Just how long were you standing out there, my dear?" she asked with a knowing glint in her eyes.
Ebony immediately scowled, her hands involuntarily clenching. "Long enough. You have a problem with that, human?" Ebony snapped, knowing the last word would surely bother Juno, whom she knew deep down was still repulsed with the fact that she was now and forever a mortal.
Juno's calm face did not waver, but her eyes hardened and the smile on her face became a tad frosty. "Not at all. It must be perfectly natural for you to feel a tad bit afraid. Hating humans and all…"
"I don't hate humans," Ebony snarled, her wings flapping, "I just hate you and all of your kind!" Ebony then paused and smiled mercilessly. "Or should I say, formally your kind."
Juno's facade finally fell and she got to her feet to glare at her niece. "Hate Feys if you dare, but remember, Avalon is a part of you no matter how much you may hate the fact." Juno then sighed and shook her head. "And the sooner you accept that, the better. You have vast potential Ebony. I see great things in store for you but only if you learn to live with yourself and accept what you are."
Ebony glared sullenly at this, unsure on what to say. She already heard that lecture a hundred times from Puck, but for some reason the discussion had always driven her into a frenzy… it constantly reminded her that she was different… unique… Tense, Ebony instinctively started another breathing exercise and averted Juno's unmoving gaze. Once more in control she returned her gaze to Juno and insolently took a seat on the floor, her tail languidly wrapped around her legs. "If I have a problem with my origins, then you might as well blame your bitch sister instead of me." Ebony said acidly.
Juno stared at Ebony, unmoving, and then with a small sigh she too sat down, her face calm but her eyes never leaving her gargoyle niece. "Very well, but that means I am not to blame either."
"Says who?! You knew about me, so why didn't you come to my aid? Or do family ties mean nothing to your kind?!" Ebony screamed, tears of pain starting to well up but Ebony did not allow them to fall, did not allow Juno to see her pain, only her anger.
Juno met Ebony's enraged face sadly, with such regret in her eyes that Ebony felt herself pause. "How I wish I could have, my dear child. You see, you and I have both been deceived. When I had asked your mother what she had done with the un-hatched egg, she said she smashed it into the rocks of the nearby sea cliffs. I was a fool. I believed her. We never told Hemera that she almost had a sibling, for your mother found the pain to great to express."
Ebony huffed but said nothing, looking away, not wanting to see the truth in those eyes. Minutes passed and Ebony finally gave in and met Juno's gaze, tears in her brilliant sky-blue eyes. "I wish you had been there. It was so hard for us Juno, growing up alone, with no one there to care if we lived or died."
Juno nodded. "Is that why you and Egor are so close? Because you two grew up together?"
Ebony nodded, smiling as she thought of her huge dark green rookery brother, her eyes going vague. "Yes… he's more then my clan-brother… he's my life friend… I would do anything for him, just like he would do anything for me. We saved each others life more times then I can count!"
Juno nodded, inwardly curious. "And what do you expect will come of this affection and endearment you hold for Egor? Do you think it will develop into something more serious?"
Ebony snapped out of her reverie and studied Juno, suspicious. "Why do you ask?"
Juno shrugged nonchalantly. "I don't know. Some of the others have said a few things, gave me their own opinions. Just call it family concern."
Ebony stared at Juno, considering, then finally let out a sigh and shrugged. "Oh I don't know. Maybe… yea… I wouldn't mind. I mean, better him then Lexington or Broadway." Seeing Juno's amused smile Ebony hastily added. "Don't get me wrong, I love them to pieces but Broadway seems to be more interested in Hemera and Lex doesn't even reach my shoulders!"
Juno nodded and shifted, getting more comfortable, then reached for a nearby teapot that had been on standby. "Tea?" she asked charmingly.
Ebony nodded, secretly famished. She had been so nervous when she woke that she had avoided First Meal all together! "Yes please… with honey please, no sugar or milk… and could I have a sugar cookie with that?"
Juno smiled, amused and handed Ebony a teacup, taking a sip from her own… it wasn't anything compared to the one she often had on Avalon, but it would do. "You still have your tea in the old Celtic fashion." Juno observed.
Ebony nodded, her eyes on the reddish golden liquid swirling around in her cup, slowly stirring and blowing on it. "Yea, can't stand that fake Lipton's crap. That's not tea! That's refined monkey piss given a lemon flavor. And it's served cold. What sensible person would drink their tea cold?!" Taking a log sip from her cup, Ebony smiled and glanced up at Juno curiously. "Is Avalon like this? The older hatchling pair who used to take care of me before they died used to tell me stories about it all the time."
Juno smiled, charmed by the tone of such innocence in her voice. "Not quite… similar… but not quite." Juno murmured. Memories flashed through Juno's mind, memories of life she once led, and would never lead again. "Now, to the subject at hand. Ebony, dear, have you ever considered expanding your magical talents. I can guarantee you that there is much you don't know. From what Puck has told me, you have limitless power but no control. Why do you think that is so?"
Ebony drained her tea and quickly gobbled down the sugar cookie, her face darkening as she blushed. "I guess it is because there had never been anyone there to teach how to make sense of it all. I mean I knew that I could do so much more… but I was also afraid of what would happen. I didn't want to risk hurting Egor. By the Dragon, who knows what could have happened!"
Juno nodded, holding her teacup, her gaze faraway, but pensive. "Indeed. Very wise of you. And what about now? Puck tells me you have begun taking instruction with him."
Ebony nodded. "Aye, but it's really hard. He's teaching me how to do things differently. Sometimes I can't do it!"
Juno blinked, not expecting such an answer. "Why? What does he teach you to do?"
Ebony nervously stroked her tail, blushing some more. "He is basically teaching me how to do everything mentally. Says I depend too much on my emotions."
Juno nodded. "Well, if that's the case then I have to agree. A Fey who lets her emotions take control is Fey who will soon be driven insane. Many have suffered from lack of control." Juno smiled and winked at Ebony, seeing fear so easily expressed in those eyes. "But I doubt you will have to worry. You're young. You have plenty of time to learn."