Page 72 of Charmed

“And now you have found me, daughter,” said Helix, holding out his hand. “Come with me. Let us go back to my castle where you belong.”

“Nay!” shouted Stone, fighting off another guard. “Don’t do it. Persimmon, he is evil. He just wants you for your stones and powers.”

“I’m confused,” she said, looking at him with tears streaming down her face. “Stone, this might be my true father. If so, I’d like to get to know him.”

“Nay, you don’t want to know him. I assure you, he is evil. Walk away now while you still can.”

“Come, Persimmon. I’ve been trying to get to you since that night your mother and I conceived you. There is so much I want to tell you.”

“That’s a lie, Persimmon,” Stone warned her. “He didn’t even know you were born until I foolishly mentioned it when I returned.”

“Oh, Stone. I have lived my life without a true father. It has been a hole in my heart. Mayhap you should go without me.”

“I won’t do that,” he said. “You are coming with me and not staying here. You’re confused. I won’t let you do it.”

“You can’t give her the life she deserves, but I can,” said the king, walking forward, still holding out his hand. “Come, daughter. We have many years to make up for.”

“F—Father?” asked Persimmon, tears streaming down her cheeks.

“That’s right,” the king answered with a smile.

“Did you love my mother, Luna?” she asked, surprising Stone that now is the time she chose to ask that.

The king stopped and blink. “Why would you ask that? What does it matter?”

“I need to know. Did you love her when you coupled with her?”

“Don’t be silly,” spat the king, laughing. “No man truly loves his wife. It’s unheard of. Besides, I wasn’t married to Luna. We were just having a little fun.”

“Persimmon, please. I can’t hold them off much longer and the portal is closing,” cried Stone, still fighting off man after man.

“She’s coming with me.” The king grabbed her hand and pulled her to him.

“Naaaay!” cried Stone. “I love her. And even if I can’t give her all that you can, I will still treat her like a princess with my love.”

“That is nonsense and means nothing,” yelled the king.

“Well, it means the world to me.” Persimmon used her powers to throw the king across the room. And when a slew of his guards rushed forward with their blades drawn, she used her mind power to stop them, pushing them away as well.

“I love you, Stone, and I believe we can be very happy together.” She took his hand in hers. “Let’s go home.”

They stepped through the portal together just as it closed. Since they’d barely made it, they were thrown to the ground with force as the portal snapped closed and disappeared behind them.

“We made it. We’re back.” Stone looked up smiling, but then he groaned. “Oh, no. I forgot about the damned gnomes.”

Whooping and hollering, dozens of gnomes sped forward and rappelled down from the cave roof. Each of them had their weapon of choice, and they were all aimed directly at Stone.

“Get up, sweetheart. Hurry.” He pulled Persimmon to her feet. “We’ve got to get out of this cave. We’re being attacked by gnomes.”

“Don’t worry about that,” she said with a smile. “Father. Fang? Can you help us out?”

“What?” asked Stone, turning to see the crazy elf sitting atop Stone’s dog.

“I could use my powers to rid us of the gnomes, but I’m afraid I might hurt them,” Persimmon told him. “I think this way is much better.”

Elric bolted around the room atop the dog and the gnomes ran in fright. Elric shouted nonsense and Fang barked.

“Good to see you, Fang,” said Stone, laughing.

“We’ve got everything handled,” she said with a wink, reaching up to kiss him.

“Yes, I can see that. Everything is exactly how it should be.” He kissed her back and took her hand, heading out of the cave. Damn, it felt good to be back on Mura.