The Helicon Muses Omnibus: Books 1-4

by V. J. Chambers

  All around the fire, it had gone deadly silent. Nora could hear the fire crackling. She took a drink of her wine and gazed out at the others. What had Sawyer said?

  Jack’s voice was a whisper. “No one ever told you about the massacre?”

  Phoebe had said something about that. Nora remembered their conversation about the flowers. “Nimue,” she breathed.

  “Yeah,” said Jack. “Even Nora knows about it.”

  “I don’t actually,” said Nora. “I heard Phoebe mention it once, but I have no idea what it is. It has something to do with a muse child.”

  Jack shook his head. “I don’t know about muse children. I can’t believe no one ever mentioned this to you, Sawyer.”

  “Well, it doesn’t sound good,” said Sawyer, sipping at his wine. “And I don’t think they like to tell upsetting things to large groups of small children.”

  “Don’t be glib about it,” said Jack.

  Sawyer turned to him, his expression scrubbed of any joking or sarcasm. “Tell me what happened.”

  Jack took a deep breath. “When Nimue was a human, she stole the powers of Merlin, because she was greedy and wanted them for herself. She used strong magic to keep herself alive for hundreds of years, and she traversed the dimensions, searching for more power. The more she consumed, the more twisted and empty she became. As time passed, she became more and more obsessed with her desire for power, and that is when she found Helicon. Nimue attempted to steal power from Helicon, but the muses stopped her. When she discovered she’d been thwarted, she flew into a rage. Using her ample powers, she sucked the life from all the muses who were not still children. Only a few of the adult muses escaped the scourge, and they marshaled their powers to drive Nimue from Helicon before more damage could be done. They managed to banish her, but not to completely bar her from Helicon, because she returned twice—once to leave her son here and once to take him away again.”

  “Owen,” said Nora.

  “Whoa,” breathed Sawyer. “And Helicon has been trying to repopulate ever since?”

  “The way I understand it,” said Agler, “muses have been encouraged to have as many children as possible for the past couple hundred years, ever since it happened. Before that, I don’t think they did a lot of reproducing.”

  “Wait a second,” said Nora. “A couple hundred years? That doesn’t make sense.”

  The guys all looked at her questioningly.

  “Owen told me that his parents met in Helicon, at one of the big festivals here. That’s how she got pregnant with him. She would have had to do that before she slaughtered all of the muses, right? They wouldn’t have let her attend festivals if she was a mass murderer.”

  Agler and Jack exchanged a look, then shrugged.

  “I don’t know one way or another on that,” said Jack.

  “How did Owen know this?” asked Agler. “I mean he wasn’t aware of his own conception.”

  “I don’t know how he knew. I kind of got the impression that Dionysus told him.”

  “Well, there’s a reliable source,” said Sawyer.

  “True,” said Nora. “Dionysus doesn’t seem to have the most reliable memory. He couldn’t even remember Owen’s name.” But it still bothered her.

  “Maybe Dionysus and Nimue got it on somewhere else, like in the mundane world or something,” said Jack.

  “Maybe,” said Nora. She was seized suddenly by the urge to grab Sawyer and take him someplace else so that they could talk privately. She wanted to tell him that the woman they’d seen in the inspiration thread was Nimue, and that Phoebe had gotten strange when she’d mentioned muse children. What did all of that mean? She didn’t want to discuss it in front of everyone. Of course, the people who’d all gotten quiet when Jack had mentioned the massacre had all mostly returned to their own conversations now. She guessed she could talk about it in front of Agler and Jack. It wasn’t as if they were going to tell on them about being in the cavern underneath the waterfall after all. The cavern... Had Sawyer even told Jack that was where he got the replacement stone for his necklace? Jack was wearing it now.

  Maybe it was best not to bring it up, to wait for a chance when she could talk to Sawyer alone. She chewed on her lip.

  “What’s wrong, Nora?” asked Agler. “You’ve got that look.”

  “Nothing,” she said.

  “It’s because we brought up Owen, isn’t it? You don’t like to talk about him.”

  “Well, I can see why no one in Helicon trusted him when he showed up if his mother was a crazy killer.” Nora sighed. “I don’t know why I trusted him.”

  “He used mind tricks on you, didn’t he?” said Agler.

  That was true. In the mundane world, they’d worked. She’d been free of that in Helicon and only then had she begun to see what Owen was really like. Even then, though, it had taken her months to truly realize it. She’d spent so much time making excuses for him, not seeing him for what he really was. She sighed.

  Next to her, Sawyer and Jack got up. Sawyer grinned down at her. “Out of wine. Jack’s got some in his tent. We’ll be back.”

  They wouldn’t though. Nora had witnessed similar incidents often enough to know better. When Jack and Sawyer went off together, and said they would be “right back,” they usually disappeared for hours. She didn’t know exactly what they did while they were gone, but she had a good guess. She watched Sawyer go and realized this left her alone with Agler. “I thought you hated me or something. You’ve been avoiding me.”

  He sighed. “Nora, I could never hate you. I just...”

  Neither of them said anything for a few minutes. Nora fidgeted with her wine glass. She wished Sawyer hadn’t gone away. When he was around, she always felt a little easier.

  “You want me to leave?” Agler looked as uncomfortable as she was.

  She didn’t, not really. She shook her head. “I really never have been angry with you. I’ve just been confused.”

  “Maybe I was out of line.” Agler rested his elbows on his knees and looked down at the ground. “Before, you know when I said that stuff about it not really being about Owen. Maybe I didn’t know what I was talking about. You are upset about him. I can tell. If you need time... I can wait.”

  “I don’t know when... if I’ll be...”

  “I won’t push. Take as much time as you need. But it would be nice if I could eat breakfast with you guys again.” He smiled hesitantly at her.

  Nora felt the edges of her mouth rise as well. “I never wanted you to stop eating with us anyway.”

  CHAPTER SIX

  Natalia Rowan rested one hand on her swelling belly, looking exhausted. She was standing under a pavilion in the dance enclave, surrounded by the Maypole dancers. Natalia was the choreographer for the May Day dance. Usually, she was also the May Queen in the procession. However, this year she was pregnant.

  Already that week, Natalia had regaled them with stories of why she had decided to go through her pregnancy in real time. Muses had the ability to slow their aging, which meant that a woman could conceivably become pregnant, hold her aging for nine months, and then go through the pregnancy and labor all in a matter of minutes. However, Natalia had wanted to experience her pregnancy completely. Apparently, now that she was as big as a house, she was regretting this decision.

  She shoved strands of hair her off of her sweaty forehead. “We are going to need another May Queen. Any of the dancers from last year could do it. That’s Nora, Maddie, Marianne, Lucy, and Teresa. Which one of you wants to dance with Himeros?” Himeros Star was the head of the dance enclave, a very gay man who thought Sawyer was really attractive.

  No one volunteered. Nora had been dragged back into the Maypole dance by Maddie and Sawyer, both of whom thought it was the greatest thing in Helicon ever. It wasn’t so much that Nora didn’t like being a Maypole dancer. She actually did. But after being away from the visual arts enclave for all of March, she’d felt like she had a lot of catching up to do in the sculpting depa
rtment. She hadn’t wanted another break from it in May. Sawyer was making the dresses again, and Maddie was insistent that they needed dancers. Between the two of them, they had convinced Nora that she simply had to be a Maypole dancer this year. So now, here she was.

  “Come on, someone has to do it.” Natalia sighed heavily.

  Teresa spoke up. “I don’t think any of us think we could do the dance as well as you, Natalia.”

  “Well that doesn’t really matter. I’ll be back doing the dance next year.” She rubbed her stomach. “And maybe someday this little one will be dancing on the Maypole as well.”

  “And what are you lovely ladies working on in here?” Himeros Star swept into the pavilion. He was wearing a skintight purple leotard with fringes on the shoulders.

  “Speak of the devil,” said Natalia. “We were just talking about who would be dancing with you at May Day.”

  Himeros rubbed his hands together. “Actually, I’ve been thinking about that.” He pointed at Sawyer. “What about him?”

  Natalia’s jaw dropped. “This is the May Queen we’re talking about. I hardly think having a male dance the part is appropriate.”

  Himeros chuckled. “Actually, isn’t that what they call boys like him in the mundane world? Queens?”

  Sawyer held up his hands. “Hold up. Before you go any further, who says I want to do it? I think Maddie would be perfect for it.” He gestured to Maddie.

  Himeros scrutinized Maddie. “Maybe when she’s lost a few pounds.”

  Maddie’s face fell.

  “Hey,” said Nora. “You don’t get to say things like that about my friend.”

  “No, he’s right,” said Maddie.

  “Maddie would be a much better choice,” said Natalia. “For one thing, she’s female.”

  “Oh, why do you have such a closed mind?” said Himeros. “If I remember correctly, we had to fight tooth and nail just to let this young man participate in the May dance last year.”

  Sawyer folded his arms over his chest. “I think we’re forgetting the fact that I haven’t actually said I want to do this.”

  Himeros turned on Sawyer. “Why on earth wouldn’t you want to do it?”

  Sawyer made a face. “I saw the dance last year. I seem to remember there was a whole lot of pelvic grinding between you and Natalia. Maybe I don’t have any interest in being that close to you.”

  Nora whipped her head over to see how Himeros would respond to that.

  He looked taken aback. “The dance is sensual,” he sputtered. “It’s a celebration of fertility.”

  “Yes,” said Natalia. “And it takes a man and a woman to be fertile. Not a man and a man.”

  Himeros glowered at Natalia. “You’re extraordinarily hetero-centric, you know that?” He turned to Sawyer. “So the problem is me?”

  Sawyer squared his shoulders. “You made me feel uncomfortable last year with all your talk of ogling and nubile-ness. The dance is sensual, but you don’t have to be smarmy about it.”

  Himeros sniffed. “Uncomfortable? Young man, all I meant to do was compliment you. You can’t possibly think that I had any sort of... questionable intentions?”

  “Well, um, yeah.” Sawyer looked directly into Himeros’ eyes.

  Nora realized that Sawyer had grown in confidence. Last year, he’d been embarrassed and afraid to confront Himeros. But after everything that had happened, Sawyer was more mature and sure of himself now.

  “Shall I introduce you to my partner? The man I’ve been faithful to for the past one hundred years?” Himeros fixed Sawyer with a steely glare.

  Sawyer looked at the ground.

  “Certainly one of the other girls wants to volunteer,” said Natalia.

  Nora nudged Maddie, but she shook her head. None of the other girls said anything.

  “Anyone?” Natalia sounded desperate.

  “Well, I think that settles it,” said Himeros. He strode over to Sawyer and put a hand on his shoulder. “This young man will be our May Queen.”

  “But I—” started Sawyer.

  “Nonsense,” said Himeros. “As I’ve already explained, you don’t have to worry about any romantic advances from me. Why, heavens, you’re only a child.”

  Natalia wrung her hands. “Honestly, Himeros, this is very irregular.”

  Himeros smiled widely. “Am I the head of the dance enclave or not?”

  “Oh, of course you are, but—”

  “Then, that’s it.” Himeros clapped Sawyer on the shoulder. “We’ll need to spend some time together practicing, of course.”

  Sawyer swallowed.

  * * *

  Sawyer wasn’t pleased. He spent most of dinner complaining. Not only was it borderline disgusting to be dancing with Himeros like that, but the extra practices to learn the part of the May Queen meant less time that Sawyer would have to make the dresses. He’d been working on the dresses for the Maypole dancers for over a month now. Last year he’d had to bust them out in two weeks, and he wasn’t about to make the same mistake this year. Even so, he had a lot of work left to do. He finished his tirade by proclaiming that if Himeros made him the least bit uncomfortable, he would quit the whole thing. Then he mumbled something about having to get to work on the dresses and stalked off to the clothing and fabric enclave.

  Nora was left with Maddie and Daryl. The food was finishing up, and the council meeting would be starting soon. Nora wasn’t in the mood to hang out for it this evening.

  Daryl started laughing. “Sorry, it’s just that Sawyer is kind of funny when he’s mad.”

  Nora didn’t think it was funny. In the mundane world, Sawyer could probably sue Himeros for sexual harassment. But Maddie was snickering as well.

  Nora rolled her eyes and stood up. “I’m going back to the tweens and rebels enclave. What are you guys getting into tonight?”

  “I think we’re going to stay for the council meeting and then probably for the drum circle,” said Daryl.

  “Yeah,” said Maddie. “I feel like dancing.”

  Daryl tickled her playfully. “You always feel like dancing.”

  Maddie squealed, trying to get away from his fingers. Daryl grabbed her and pulled her close. He kissed her.

  Nora turned away. Ever since her conversation with Daryl, it seemed he made a point of kissing Maddie thoroughly. In front of Nora. As if he wanted to prove it to Nora that he was capable of sticking his tongue in her mouth. Watching all the public displays of affection sometimes made Nora feel a little uncomfortable.

  “I’ll see you guys.” Nora headed back to the tweens and rebels enclave. She walked slowly, basking in the last rays of the warm sun as it sank below the horizon. She dawdled a bit on the bridge, gazing down at the stream of water trickling over pebbles and rocks. Everything was so beautiful in Helicon. She breathed deeply.

  By the time she was back at the tweens and rebels enclave, she was in quite a good mood. She hummed to herself as she made her way to her tent. Agler was on the other side of the fire pit, and she waved to him. He waved back and started over to meet her.

  Since the conversation at the end of March, she and Agler had been comfortable enough around each other. There hadn’t been any more physical intimacy. No kissing. But they weren’t ignoring each other anymore, and they weren’t angry anymore. While the thought of being in a relationship with anyone still made Nora’s stomach turn over, she liked to tell herself that the sensation was less and less these days. As near as she could tell, Agler wasn’t seeing anyone yet. He really was waiting for her.

  “Hey there,” said Nora. “What are you doing here? I didn’t think you ever missed a council meeting.”

  Agler grinned. “I’ve been known to skip out on a council meeting from time to time. Just so happens, I wasn’t in the mood tonight.” He glanced around the nearly-empty enclave. “Looks like practically everyone else was in the mood, however.”

  “Yup.”

  “So what are you up to? Meeting up with Sawyer?”

&nb
sp; Nora shook her head. “Sawyer’s working on dresses. I’m on my own.”

  “You, um, want to go on a walk or something?” Agler shoved his hands in his pockets. “I mean, if I’m overstepping my bounds or whatever...”

  Nora smiled. “A walk sounds nice.”

  They sent out into the woods near the tweens and rebels enclave. As they walked amongst the tree trunks, they chatted about casual topics. The upcoming May Day celebration. The food at dinner that night. While they walked, the sun dipped lower and lower into the sky, and twilight overtook Helicon. They emerged from the woods in near darkness. Stars were peeping out overhead.

  Nora craned her head up to look at them. “It’s always so beautiful here. Back in the mundane world, I remember that sometimes there were so many lights that you couldn’t even see the stars.”

  “Lights?” Agler threw over his shoulder. He had kept walking, while Nora had stopped.

  Nora caught up to him and matched his pace. “Yeah. Artificial lights. In the big cities, there’s so many of them, they create this big glowing halo over everything.”

  “That sounds kind of pretty.”

  Nora shrugged. “It could be, I guess. But I think it’s prettier here.”

  “So you never miss it? You grew up there. It never feels like you left home?”

  “Oh no. Ever since I got here, Helicon has felt like home. It’s like there something in the air. It speaks to me. In the mundane world, I always felt like I didn’t fit. Here, I’m sure I do.”

  Agler’s fingers brushed hers. “I’m glad you’re here.” He let his fingers linger against hers, so that as they walked their arms swung together.

  Nora looked over at him. “I am too.”

  He gazed into her eyes questioningly. Then he grabbed her fingers with his own so that they were holding hands. They walked like that in silence for a while, hands joined, looking at each other.

  Nora’s breath was beginning to become a little shallower. She liked Agler. She really did. He was a good guy. Maybe she was being silly about everything. Maybe there wouldn’t be anything all that scary about having a boyfriend. Holding hands was nice. She slowed her steps. Agler did too. They turned to face each other. Agler took her other hand. She looked up at him. Even in the darkness, she could see how green his eyes were, but his freckles were completely blotted out. He slowly bent, his face coming closer and closer to hers. She tilted her head back, parted her lips.