Persephone awoke with a start from a terrible nightmare. No, it wasn't a nightmare, it was a memory. When she closes her eyes all she sees is her parents' bodies, lying dead on the ground, with that monster, Grimtrix, slicing up their hearts and consuming them.

Persephone whimpers, rolling away from the window when the glow from the moon begins to shine on her. She closes her eyes, fresh tears pearl out to drip onto her bedding.

Beyond the window, however, there was a shift in the midnight wind. The trees on the island begin to rustle playfully, and through the wind came a soft voice, that whispers: "Follow me..." It's presences finding a small nick to fit through and sweep into Persephone's bedroom. The wind picks up, pushing it forward some more until it reaches Persephone's ears. "Follow me..."

Persephone freezes, her eyes begin to dim as the voice whispers once more. "Follow me..."

'You'll never be rid of me, Simon!' Simon awoke with a start, under the soft glow of the full moon. He gasps, his throat feeling parched, and his heart pounding like a drum.

A quick gaze around his room, Simon sighs, relaxing in his bed. It was only a nightmare. One of many he's had ever since his grandfather, Sylvester the Steadfast possessed him and tried to kill Sofia...Again.

Not wanting to go back to sleep right away, Simon slowly rises from his bed and heads out to retrieve a glass of water. Each movement caused his body to ache, while the wounds he had sustained from Persephone were superficial, they still hurt terribly. Persephone had done a number on him. Not that he could blame her. When she attacked him, he thought she was doing so because he was a sorcerer. However, he was both surprised and embarrassed to have learned from Orion that he had insulted her. Touching someone's wing was very inappropriate.

It wasn't intentional, but even so, he felt terrible for putting Persephone in that position. The poor girl was already going through so much, and now he had to add more problems to it by touching her wing.

Simon sighs to himself again, pour a cold glass of water to drench his parched throat. He will have to find a way to apologize to her. Perhaps he could arrange a meeting to properly reintroduce himself and hopefully earn her favor. Would she want to see him? It has been a few days, hopefully, Persephone will be much calmer now.

Finishing his drink, Simon places the cup in the sink and heads back to bed.

As Simon starts to turn to head back to bed, he caught sight of something moving in the midnight atmosphere outside. His eyes widen when he sees Persephone's exhausted and saturated form, sluggishly moving across the front lawn. Her wings rested low on her back, torn and missing several patches of white and gray feathers, several of which are still fluttering to the floor.

Simon hurries to the front door, "Persephone, what are you doing out so late?" he calls to her but receives no response. Persephone's eyes were glazed over as if caught in a trance.

What is wrong with her?

'Follow me... Follow me... Follow me...' She was enraptured by the siren's call, every fiber in her body fights to overcome the spell cast upon her. She could hear someone call her name, it sounded like that redhaired human who had touched her wing. Panic sets in as she could not bring herself to turn away and see him. She cannot move, her body is no longer her own, but it now belonged to the siren calling her to their destination.

She fights to move, her neck aches with the effort but to no avail. She whines pathetically in the back of her throat.

'Follow me..." The siren calls again, and Persephone reaches for the door.

Something was wrong. Simon's eyes grow wide in alarm as Persephone raises her wings, stretching them wide on either side of her. The swift action caused more feathers to fly off her wings. She flaps her wings twice and takes off into the dark skies.

Something is wrong.

Simon grabs his wand and rushes out in his nightclothes, calling Persephone's name over and over again. Seeing her begin to blend into the dark-blue skies, as she flew higher and higher into the air. Simon raises his hand, magic flows like lava through his veins as he sends out multiple ropes of red magic to grasp Persephone by her ankles and wrists, pulling as hard as he could to bring her back down. She was in no position to fly, not when she was hurting herself and losing more feathers.

Persephone's wings worked harder, lifting him a foot from the ground. Simon pulls harder, using his weight to bring himself back to the ground, and steps back several steps, all the while Persephone continues to try and fly away.

"Persephone!" He yells again, and gasps when she yanks him, throwing him off balance, knocking Simon back on the seat of his pants. And she was gone.

Simon gasps, quickly he snatches Persephone's fallen shoe and runs off to get help.

"She will be here shortly," Malchior assures Grimtrix as the old sorcerer paces the area in circles. They were currently positioned in a small forest a few miles from the island where the Protectors were located, in hopes to keep themselves from being detected. Malchior's book was lying open on an old tree stump, watching with slight amusement as Grimtrix continues his rounds. "Do you believe a child can outdo you again, Grimtrix?"

The sorcerer stops and sneers at Malchior, "Don't take me for a fool, Malchior!"

Malchior rolls his eyes, "Apologies, Master, I forgot it is still a sore subject to you."

"Be quiet!" Grimtrix raises his wand, pointing the glowing tip at the book, "Or else I'll send you back in that dreadful chamber where I discovered you, you ungrateful whelp!"

An inhuman growl resonates from within the pages, causing the book the tremble. Grimtrix smirks, "I see that is still a sore subject to you, Malchior. You often rebuke me for my defeat, but what of yours? I am still able to move on my own, while you are trapped within the pages of your enemy's spellbook. What was his name again? Ah, yes Rorek of Nol, the famous English sorcerer who managed to defeat and trapped the great and powerful dragon Malchior. You must despise the idea that the only power you have is turning pages and rereading the same tiresome journal again and again. Perhaps I should just rid of you now and send you off to some other dimension, perhaps Azarath would be a good place for you instead of here. At least you'll find a comfortable spot with those wholesome monks who hate violence."

"Do not underestimate me, Grimtrix, I am far from powerless."

"And what's stopping you from breaking free right now? The curse? How cute."

Malchior growls, ready to deliver a harsh comment, when he senses something in the distance, "She's here."

Grimtrix grins, spinning around and sure enough, the phoenix girl came walking out from between the tree, a few twigs, and leaves stuck in her dark hair from her descent. Her dark green eyes were wide and dazed over, clearly, the spell of her lineage had worked. Grimtrix could see the lights floating overhead. Given that Persephone was still a young Phoenix Shifter it made sense that she would want to land soon to rest.

"Welcome, my dear." Grimtrix chuckles, he pulls out his wand, "Let's make this quick, shall we?" He steps closer to her, "I think you've been avoiding me for long enough." He reaches for her.

"Let her go, Grimtrix!"

The sorcerer cries in alarm as a heavy blast of red magic zaps between him and Persephone, making him step back, his wand is now withdrawn to fight. He narrows his eyes when he spots a red-haired boy, on the brink of adulthood with reddish/brown eyes holding his wand. Grimtrix notices a familiar similarity to an old associate of his from years ago. "Why if it isn't Sylvester's grandbrat. Simon the Silent. How you have grown."

Simon growls at him, raising his glowing wand in warning, "Let Persephone go!"

Grimtrix shifts a little, his eyes darting between the Protectors and the phoenix girl. It was a foolish thing to sit here and waits, but that cursed dragon had insisted that Persephone would come on her own devices, whether she wanted to or not. The phoenix girl was bound by her magic to do so and Grimtrix and his "assistant" were merely stationed to catch her along her way.

He smiles to himself, silent command was all it took to release his secret trap.

Persephone, for her part, did not notice what was going on, as much as she wanted to focus on her surroundings, she found herself staring at the dark blue skies above. Colorful bands of lights of various colors, dance playfully in the midnight fabric stretching over her head, and with it came that disembodied voice again, calling to her once again. "Follow me." Accompanying this inner voice is a strong pull like an elastic band strapped around her heart is being tugged insistently to the direction where the lights were leading. They are beautiful and almost feel like home.

Home.

She needs to follow this home. Persephone can't explain why, but she knows, deep inside her heart that the lights are meant to take her home. She has to go home. Back to Italy. No. Back to Pompeii. Her birthplace. She remembers the memories her parents showed her, the beautiful city of Pompeii, the civilians and slaves, the huge mound of earth that her parents seemed to fear. Its name rings through her head, causing a line of goosebumps to rise along the nape of her neck and the length of her dark arms. "Mount Vesuvius." Such a strong, and foreboding name. No wonder her parents had been scared of it.

She needs to follow it. She needs to go there as soon as possible. She doesn't have much time. Her wings itch, and her heart cracks a little with the impending mortality hanging over her now. Something inside, whispers "Hurry" and she raises her wings again to fly away.

Several screams snap her out of her trance.

Grimtrix was quick to snap his fingers and the forest came alive. Several thick roots, the sizes of several men shoot out of the ground and wrap themselves around the Protectors, squeezing them. One winds tightly around Simon, squeezing him until he accidentally drops his wand. When he tries to cast a spell the root tights, making him cry out in pain and lose concentration.

Grimtrix chuckles," I wouldn't struggle too much if I were you, boy."

Simon gasps as the root tighten some more, cutting off blood circulation, he can feel his magic rising to the pores of his skin and sinking into the root, draining him.

The others were feeling it too. Grimtrix smirks, "It is quite fascinating, isn't it? An ancient spell that I managed to uncover a few years ago. I kept it in mind for an occasion like this. I was hoping to use it on that pesky little princess and her bumbling sorcerer, but I feel this is much more important than any revenge ploy." He turns his attention to Persephone, who was also bound by the roots, her wings pressing uncomfortably against her back, making her whine. More feathers fall. "Once I get my immortality, I will enact my revenge and then, well, I have all the time in the world to figure out what to do next."

Persephone struggles, feeling her magic draining from her like the others. Her eyes widen when he raises his dagger, the light from the dawning sun winks off the sharp blade. The phoenix growls, baring her sharp teeth at him in a warning.

The others continue to struggle, Simon losing his strength as the roots continue to drain away his magic. Orion and Vega soon lose their wings and their enchantlets fall uselessly from their persons.

Persephone could feel the tip of the blade pressing teasingly against her chest, right above her heart. She snarls at Grimtrix in warning, as he grins sinisterly down at her, his eyes wide and full of hunger. She didn't want to die. She didn't want her people to end with just her. She continues to struggle even as the blade begins to press harder, digging into her skin, releasing a dollop of dark red blood to slide down the length of the knife.

She cannot use her magic. She cannot use her illusions. Her wings are trapped against her back.

Simon gasps seeing Grimtrix beginning to press the knife into Persephone's chest. He could not allow this to happen. The roots continue to coil tightly around him, squeezing and draining almost all of his magic.

Almost.

Deep inside he held a small reservoir, reserved for only the direst of situations. It was a dark pool inside his soul that he had sealed away along with the many memories of his grandfather. Riddling with guilt, Simon summons his dark magic to the surface, allowing it to channel throughout his person. The thick roots containing him begin to sizzle and burn against his skin, smoke rising from this as they harden into crumbly stone and break apart easily. Freeing himself, Simon reaches out his hand and screams a spell, one of the first few dark spells he had been taught by his grandfathers: "Churi gale"

The knife in Grimtrix's hand grew hot, unbearably hot before it promptly melted on his glove hand. Grimtrix cries in alarm as the heat sinks into his skin, burning him.

Persephone heard Simon's spell, and her eyes widen when the knife melted before her. The human male had saved her, even though she had attacked him. Seeing her opportunity, Persephone let out a mighty scream, and using the last bit of her strength, she stretches her neck and opens her mouth wide, her sharp teeth on full display before she lunges forward and sinks her jaws around Grimtrix's shoulder, bitting hard.

The root loosens its grip around her and the others. Persephone tackles the sorcerer, landing on top of Grimtrix to bite harder and tear out his shoulder. Blood smears across her face and mouth, she sneers at him, red lines filling the spaces between her teeth. She goes to take another bite out of him, this time aiming for his throat.

'Follow me.' She freezes, her face a mere inches from his throat. All at once, her eyes glaze over and Persephone finds herself under the spell once more. Slowly, she rises and walks away from Grimtrix, her eyes focus on the skies. The beautiful bands of lights were fading into the graying morning.

'Hurry'

She unfurls her wings and flaps, ready to take off.

"Not this time," Simon yells, he grabs his wand and shots a blast of magic that tangles around Persephone's ankle to keep her anchored on the forest floor. The phoenix girls snarl down at him, her fangs still dripping with Grimtrix fresh blood. The sight is enough to make Simon shudder. He had no idea Persephone could be so vicious, even when she had attacked him, she held back, perhaps she didn't want to hurt him. Seeing her attack Grimtrix and tear out his shoulder with her bare teeth only solidified the knowledge that this girl was not someone you want to mess with. She was powerful and ruthless when she needed to be and for that he found himself respecting her for it.

He knows that Persephone could easily kill him here and now, but he could not allow her to leave, not when she was hurt. Several feathers were fluttering off each of her wings as she uses them.

"Persephone, please stop, you're hurt!" He yells, as the two Protectors race to the injured Grimtrix. He could hear Orion talking, ready to arrest Grimtrix for his crimes and attempt to murder Persephone.

And Grimtrix laughs. Was the man cynical? Yes. Stupid question.

"You think you can keep the girl safe? What I am doing is saving her from a worse fate. If she were to die by my hands, she will not have to suffer, but by keeping her in the isles, you may as well be torturing the poor beast!"

Persephone spins around and swoops down to attack again, only to be stopped by Simon who threw himself in front of her, shouting, "No!"

Persephone screams at him, her wings raise high, more feathers falling out. She flaps her wings, casting gusts of winds that blew Simon's hair out of its traditional ponytail and ruffled his clothes some. Simon holds his hands up, speaking calmly, "I know you're upset, Persephone, and you have every reason to be, but this is not the way to go. Please, understand that if you kill him you will be just as bad as he is. Do not drop down to his level!"

Grimtrix laughs, "Trying to tame the beast, boy?"

"Persephone isn't a beast," Orion argues, roughly seizing Grimtrix by the arms, ignoring the sorcerer's cry in pain. "She is a child that you have tried to murder in cold blood!"

"That may be so," Grimtrix winces, as his arms were forced behind him, pulling his wound open. The cool air stings his bleeding gash. Vega comes in with some gauze and starts dressing the wound. (Even if they are dealing with a horrible criminal, they still have to be better than the villains they deal with). "But I can tell she is already heading towards her deathbed even as we speak."

"What is he talking about?" Simon asks, remaining stationed in front of Persephone. Surprisingly, she doesn't attack him she appears to be contemplating his words. He genuinely hopes so.

"Oh, you don't know do you?" Grimtrix chuckles, "And I am to assume you believe it was me who cast a spell on that poor creature to bring her here."

"You're not?" Vega asks.

"No, I was just waiting until she would need to come here. You see, that beast's life is an hourglass glued to the table. See how her feathers are coming off? Soon they'll all be gone, as will her magic. She is going through something rather remarkable. A renewing cycle. That is the beauty of her immortality, she won't die, just renew herself much like a phoenix, but this isn't as brilliant as it is with those exploding birds. No, she is going through her first renewing cycle."

Persephone blinks, a pathetic whine rising in her throat, as she looks at her precious feathers falling off her wings. Renewing cycle? She looks at the skies above, the bands of lights are there but faintly, just little shimmers that one could mistake as a fading rainbow in the morning light. She still hears that voice whispering to her, 'Follow me' and 'Hurry'. Is it because of her renewing cycle?

Simon watches Persephone closely, noting her observances of the skies above. What is she looking for?

"Regardless, I don't plan on staying for long," Grimtrix chuckles aloud, "I shouldn't tell you these things, but it would be all the sweeter to have you watch as I consume her heart and then rid the world of your pests once and for all. Especially that little brat Princess Sofia!"

Simon lost it then. He spun around and threw a hard punch in Grimtrix's face, knocking the older man to the ground, "Don't you dare insult Princess Sofia."

Grimtrix chuckles, spitting up specks of blood on the grass, his voice a little hoarse and cheek already swelling up like a balloon, "I see you're not the same Simon I heard of before. You ever bit as much of a problem as your princess friend. I'm sure Sylvester the Steadfast would have been very disappointed in you, my boy. No doubt the old man is rolling in his grave right now."

"I don't care for him, or you." Simon snaps, straightening his clothes and retying his hair, "I have long since relinquished my ties with Grandfather and I will not be compared to him anymore."

"You say that, but is it true? His blood will always run through your veins, Simon. And while you can tell me until your face turns blue that you're a changed man; that will not fix the damage you had done in the past. I'm a very observant man, you know. I know what kind of trouble you caused for Sofia and her family, especially when you had tried to redeem yourself. No matter what you do, you'll never be fully rid of him."

Simon's temper begins to flare, he squares his jaw, ready to punch the man again. A firm hand on his shoulder stops him, "That's enough, Simon." Orion says calmly, squeezing Simon's shoulder, before turning him towards Persephone. "Keep her on the ground."

Grimtrix smirks as he is pulled back to his feet. "That was a strong punch, my dear Simon. I'm a little impressed, but just a little. I'm more dishearted by your sudden change. Oh well," he shrugs, "I only needed the distraction to gather my strength. Fjarskiptu!"

Before anyone could react, Grimtrix and his book both dissipate into thick plumes of purple smoke. When the smoke filters away, Grimtrix and his book are gone.

Simon glances at Persephone, the phoenix girl is still staring at the sky longingly, her wings flutter a little and more feathers slip out. She whines a little and reaches back to touch her wings, plucking a few more feathers out and examining them each.

'She looks so lost,' Simon notes silently, as Orion and Vega start sending out important messages to the other protectors via their enchantlets. 'She must feel scared and confused.' Quietly, Simon moves closer to her, making sure his movements are slow so as to not startle her.

Persephone notices him and looks away, pulling her wings close around herself as a feathery cloak.

"It's going to be okay," Simon says, "We'll figure something out soon. Don't worry." But that is a lie. If what Grimtrix had said was true, then they have every reason to worry about Persephone. She might not make it.

"Let's head back," Orion calls to them, "We'll learn what we can about Persephone's condition."

"If it's magic-related, Orion, then perhaps we should contact Merlin or Cedric."

"That's not a bad idea," Orion smiles at him and speaks to Persephone, who is still examining her fallen feather. "Not to worry, we'll help you any way we can."

She glances at him but does not say a word. From the looks of it, Persephone's tired and disinterested look in her eyes spoke volumes to them. She does not believe they can help her.

"May I ask why you gave them such vital information, Master." Malchior spits, his voice dripping with annoyance as he was placed down on a wooden stand. Grimtrix smirks at him before gathering a few supplies and packing them away. "It sounds counterproductive to your cause if you're only wanting to gain immortality."

"It is part of my game, Malchior. I know they are going to do whatever they can to save the girl, and thus it will be all the sweeter to see their hopes die along with the phoenix girl."

Malchior hums, unamused, "So you sabotage yourself for your hubris?"

Grimtrix glares at him half-heartedly before rolling his eyes and moving around his workshop to retrieve some supplies. "I don't consider myself a ruthless man. I have done terrible things for my benefit, but I am nothing if not a cautious individual. Knowing how the Protectors are, they will understandably call that pesky princess and possibly her sorcerer friend as well. If I am to have my revenge I want to enjoy the look in their eyes as they realize their fates are sealed." He smirks, grabbing a crystal ball and levitating it over to its small stand. Carefully he moves his hands around it, watching as thick plumes of dark smoke start to fill the inside of the crystal and a green glow shines from deep within. Silhouettes of two individuals, one wearing a purple robe with a green bow around his neck, and the other wearing a lovely pink dress with the Amulet of Avalor glowing brightly on her neck.

"I want to see their hopes crash and burn before my eyes. I want to enjoy every moment of my revenge, taste it like the sweetest fruit, and that girl, the phoenix shifter, will be the only one who can give me my truest desire."

"Your lust for more will become your downfall, Grimtrix. I probably should mention this, but from what I have heard Princess Sofia is no longer an innocent, naive child. She has grown much more powerful since you've last faced her. Surely you don't expect to have the upper hand merely because I am giving you the information."

Grimtrix glares at Malchior and raises his wand. Malchior's book levitates to him. "Don't patronize me, dragon. I still hold the key to your freedom. Remember our deal? If I succeed in my conquest, I'll let you roam free once more and you'll seek your revenge too."

"I certainly hope so," Malchior grumbles lowly, "That sorcerer will pay dearly for his actions against me. I may have lost my chance to kill him, but his descendants are all for the slaughter. I will hunt down every last member of his lineage and devour them until none are left."

"Yes, I'm sure that will satisfy your hunger, won't it?"

"Yes," Malchior hisses lowly, "However, I do expect you to keep your end of the promise." He narrows his eyes at Grimtrix, a dark aura surrounds his book, reflecting the power still boiling deep inside him that he sadly could not fully access. "You will keep your word to me, Grimtrix." He states with no room for argument.

Grimtrix stifles a laugh. How cute, that the cursed dragon still feels he's in any position to hold threats. "Yes, once I get my immortality, I will free you."

"You best," Malchior states, his voice cold and foreboding. Of course, Grimtrix did not pay his ally's threat to any mind. If Malchior truly wanted to harm, he would have done so instead of giving Grimtrix empty threats. He smiles at the crystal ball, the shadowy image changes, to the two sorcerers speaking to who he believes is Orion.

Grimtrix grins to himself, rubbing his hands together, "Oh this will be delicious."

Malchior snorts, "You are digging your own grave, Grimtrix. Why don't you set me free now and I can get rid of those pesky humans for you."

Grimtrix shoots him a nasty look, "As easy as that would be, Malchior, I prefer to take care of this myself. I am a man who believes that if you want something done right, you best do it yourself."

"And you still feel you are in control, even though you essentially gave away your entire plan to the Protectors?"

Grimtrix smirks at him, "Oh, and what fun would there be if I hadn't. Surely you understand the nature of sport do you not, Malchior. As a dragon, I'm sure you have had the instinct to hunt your prey down and defend it from potential predators, correct?" The sorcerer returns his attention to the crystal globe and smiles deviously, "A hunter must earn his right to feast. And I intend to enjoy every last morsel of her heart."

AN: I don't own Sylvester the Steadfast or anyone really aside from Persephone. I know it was pretty gory, but I wanted to show that Persephone isn't someone who is "civil" when it comes to her wellbeing. In a fight or flight response, Persephone is very much a fighter. :D I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter, thank you for reading!

If you're wanting to learn more about Simon and Sylvester, please check out AquaTurquoise's stories:

Silhouettes,

Villain Symposium,

Simon Says,

Reprise,

and Sins of the Past.

AquaTurquoise is an awesome writer, so please give her lots of love for creating these characters! :D