Chapter Ninty Seven: The Motivation

It would still be a while before they could present the duplication to the Vampires however they had made immense strides. Penny and Raven had made efforts to also learn the duplication spell so that they would be able to aid in the task at hand. And though they had continuously tried, coming even close to duplication was proving to be rather difficult.

Penny specifically had the hardest time trying to master the duplication spell, or even perform it at all.

" What is wrong with me.." Penny clenched her head in frustration as she paced around the camp, trying to calm herself down so that she could think clearly. Raven noticed and approached her " Sweetie, what's wrong? ' Raven watched as Penny continued pacing around.

" I can't think clearly. Everhtime I try clear my head I just..I keep thinking about.." Penny struggled, she was distressed and Raven knew she needed to comfort her daughter somehow.

" You don't have to tall about it right now..but I think that maybe - "

" I think Ember is..she said that she..I don't know. I think she loves me" tears began rolling down Penny's face as she tried to cover it with her hands.

Raven wasn't quite sure what to say in response.

" Before we split up, she said some things and I guess it..I don't know how to take it and I'm confused and..I tried to make peace with my feelings and then she brought it back up" Penny was crying even harder now and Raven rushed to console her.

Raven had spoken with Ember before the split and couldn't help but feel partially responsible for her daughters her pain. There was almost nothing that she could say that would bring her daughter peace. And considering how volatile both Ember and Penny's relationship had been, she didn't want to provide her with any false hopes.

So instead of choosing to say anything, Raven instead decided to remain silent and simply listen.

" I just want things to make sense. I keep feeling like I'm failing..I feel like, I'm suppose to be someone strong and capable. I'm suppose to fix this broken world and yet everyone seems far better suited to dealing with the world than me. And I keep thinking about Kara and Gabriel..how she longed after him..and I feel like I'm no better than her. And that was wrong.." Penny looks to her mother for the answers that she knew her mother could never properly answer or provide. " Am I toxic? Am I going to make the same mistakes? " Penny cried and pleaded for anything that could stop her pain but Raven remained silent, hugging her daughter tightly.

" I don't know Kara In this life but I knew her in past cycles..and I don't know if I'm completely accurate on this but..I think that love is complicated. Sometimes it will work and sometimes it won't. But all you can do, is follow your heart. But if you don't want to be like Kara..then maybe don't follow love into the darkness blindly in hopes that someday it will. Hold on until you know for sure and then let go if it's not going to work. Sometimes the hardest decision, is letting go but sometimes it's the right thing to do" Raven knew her advice was not the best and yet, this was the best that she could do.

Penny back away, wiping her tears away, trying to regain her composure. " I have to focus. That was Kara's mistake. She never focused" Penny stepped further back from her mother and raised her hand, directing it towards a lone billihog in the distance where she tried her best to concentrate her energy. After a few minutes, nothing had happened. The discouraged Penny sighed, lowering her hand, and collapsing to her knees on the ground.

Keera, watching from afar, finally decided to intervene. " You know, if you would like help, then I can at least give that to you"

Penny did not move in response to the offer, and it was that silence that Prompted Keera to kneel down beside Penny so that she could possibly engage in some level of comfort for Penny. Raven watched on, feeling ashamed thar she had nothing that she could offer her daughter.

" You are trying to hard, you need to relax" Keera reached out and took Penny's hand which made Penny lift her head from facing the ground towards Keera.

" If your mind is clouded, remember to breathe. Life is never going to give you the perfect situations. You will never not be facing stress on some level. And so you have to find a way past that" Keera's hand began to course with energy and Penny could feel it, almost shocking to touch but soothing just the same.

"You are good enough. And you are strong. I can sense your energy. It's an ancient power just like your mothers. The ancients were contraversial because they dared to go places that other Witches did not. They were not stronger, hell, they weren't even all powerful. But, their drive made them stand above the rest. And in order to do that, they had to be brave. Even when everything told them that their goals were not possible, they continued to press on. So, never get discouraged. Even if you don't succeed at first, keep going" Keera moved her hand slowly off of Penny's and placed it on her own lap.

" I can't let go..of feelings" Penny confessed, whimpering as though she were a small, inoccent lost puppy who had no idea where to go or how to get there.

" Feelings happen. But feelings can be a strength" Keera lifted her hand again and launched a small green orb from her fingertip. Once it had formed, becoming perfectly smooth after its rigid form at first, Keera began to toss the small orb between her fingers in a show of absolute control and yet grace.

Penny found herself mesmerized by the control, and wished that she could achieve that. " I have to find a way.." Penny raised her finger in the air, and after a while, a green orb formed from her own finger tip. She could only maintain it for a short time but she still formed it and that brought a small smile to Penny's face and boost In Her confidence.

" Now, let's work on the duplication. Come on " Keera stood up and extended her hand down to Penny who took her hand and rose back to her feet, with a new determination.