Chapter Thirty Four: The Answer

Lysette Had both been caught off and yet expected this question to happen. She knew she needed to do her best to answer the question as truthfully as possible. Because in her mind, penny had no idea what she was getting herself involved with. She had no knowledge that Penny had been to the Underworld by this point. So, she had to do her best to explain her selfish actions.

" Penny, I know that right now I seem like the bad guy.. I might seem like I have acted out of selfishness. Stealing the necklace and preventing you from going to the place that you have wanted to go your entire life" by now, she had deduced that Penny would at least know what the necklace was capable of. It was bonded to her and in some way, would have let the young savior know of its purpose.

" But you have to understand that when you cross from here to there, things are not the same" Lysette continues to offer her explanations.

" My nephew and Kara came to Earth. And when they returned back, they were caught in the crossfire of things that had nothing to even do with them. They weren't ready. They were not prepared. All I'm trying to do, is prevent you from going back before you are ready" Lysette answers. This raised a whole new question to Penny. If time worked differently here as opposed to there. Then how did the Kingdoms hold up as long as they did whilst Gabriel and Kara were away? That had to be hundreds and hundreds of years in the Underworlds time. But Penny was determined to find out the answers.

" You say that you want to protect me. And, when I first discovered you had the necklace, I was dissapointed and I was angry. But I don't feel that same way anymore. Instead, all I want to know now, is the truth" Penny's tone changed to very firm and now she and Ember stood to their feet to confront Lysette.

" I want to know the truth. I want to know, is the reason that you are hesitant to have me return, because you know in order to prevent the world from resetting, To fix all of these issues, I have to erase Gabriel? " Penny asked bluntly which confirmed a fear that Lysette was truly hoping was not the case. " You have already been there..haven't you? " Lysette looked down at the ground, trying to figure out how she could possibly explain her way out of this.

" I..yes. Gabriel is important to me. And yes, I would prefer that he doesn't die. But that is not my choice to make. That is yours" Lysette confessed.

" If Gabriel has to die, then that is a casualty that I have to accept and live with. Hell, it's something I've known and lived with for a long time. But, this is so much deeper than that" Lysette had known a lot of truths within the Underworld for a long time. She had done her best to make peace with it, even though there had been times that she felt selfish, she would not let that stand in the way of the greater good.

" I should have been honest with you about everything from the beginning Penny. But you have to understand, that fixing the Underworld is bigger than just Gabriel. I wanted to prepare you for what you are going to experience there. So that you are not lead astray. So that you know the truth, and not just what people want you to perceive" Lysette continued as Penny finally decided to intervene.

" I know that it's bigger than Gabriel. But there is no real way for things to change with the way that time moves there. I mean, the Vampires have already attacked the Lycans. And that has already set Gabriel's grandparents to a major level of mistrust. And I cant just remove vampires because that would also possibly interfere with Kara's conception" Penny explained to Lysette who seemed surprised that Penny had caught on so quickly.

" And another thing that does not make sense to me is how the hell time moves so fast there. If time moves that fast there, then how the hell did it survive to begin with when Kara and Gabriel were on Earth for several years" Penny growls, frustrated by the entire situation. Lysette sighed, knowing she would have to now explain in greater detail what Penny would be tasked with fixing.

" The Underworld, meaning the world itself, is alive. And it corrects things as it sees fit. So, it does not matter who you talk to or whom advises you. If you are not listening to the world itself, you will make the wrong decision every single time" Lysette confessed.

" Originally, I had tried to fix things, because I knew what was to come. And every time I tried, it backfired. It backfired so badly that I eventually gave up. That was until you came into the picture. You, your presence was something that had never really happened before. You were new..something the world has never chose to allow for" She explained as she walked closer to Penny whose guard had dropped significantly. " Now originally, I had figured that it was just some basic random occurrence based on things I had done in the past to fix the world. But, I don't think that is the case. It seems to me, like the Underworld allowed for you, because it realized that the system, the same people, the same characters, could never be a proper solution. And thus, it had to find a way, to fix things, someone who was untainted. And so you became a thing, you were born. And now, every decision you make is important and will have consequences" Lysette had been withholding this information for a long time, waiting for the day that Penny would be ready to hear it.

" When it comes to the time differences, the world is adjusting things the way that it deems suitable. It is offering you the best advantage that it can to aid you in your task. But, just because it is aiding you, does not mean you can't fail. You still very much could. Which is why I've been trying to help, and I realize now, that maybe I should have done more for you. But dammit, I didn't want any of this for you. I really didn't. I didn't want the fate of an entire world and it's people to rest on your shoulders. Your parents didn't want that for you either" Lysette had remembered baby sitting Penny when she was a small baby. And she remembers how much Penny's parents loved her. They would have given anything to keep her safe.

" You have the necklace now, and you can keep it. I know that I should trust in you more. You are smart and capable. I know you can handle the things that need to be done. But I just want you to be safe. And if you insist, on returning back to the Underworld then I have only one request" Lysette smiled as she extended out her arms. " Please be safe" she smiled even wider as she pulled Penny into her arms, hugging her tightly. Penny, wrapped her arms around Penny, hugging back just as tight. " I do love you Lysette but I was asked to not bring you with me" Penny gave her grandfather's warnings, despite that Lysette had assured she would not interfere.

" Penny, if you feel that is what is best then I am not going to stop you. However.." Lysette released her grip so Penny could pull back from her embrace.

" Please make sure you consult with me if you need guidance. I will do the best I can to help you. And.." Lysette paused, taking a moment to summon the courage to speak the words " If you do decide..to erase Gabriel. Please..make sure you are doing the right thing. Because once that happens, there is no going back " Lysette asked of Penny who nodded.

" I will do everything in my power to make the right decisions. Its not something I really want to do..but..I am willing to make the right decisions if needed, despite how difficult they are" Penny assured Lysette who was now wiping a single tear from her eye.

" Good. And one last piece of advice here.." Lysette added. " If and when you meet your Grandfather. Understand that he speaks the truth directly from his own perception. His truth is cold, and it is hard to accept. But, just because that is the truth, does not mean that there are not other truths that exist. It is up to decide what you want your truth to be" Lysette leaned forward and kissed Penny on the forehead softly.