The Helicon Muses Omnibus: Books 1-4

by V. J. Chambers

  Agler’s voice died in his throat. He took in both Nora and Sawyer together on the blanket, both half dressed.

  Jack’s gaze caught Sawyer’s. “Oh, wow. This is really…”

  Sawyer looked away.

  Jack caught Agler by the arm. “Come on, man.”

  Agler seemed frozen.

  Jack tugged on him insistently.

  “You know,” said Nora, her voice barely a whisper, “things like this wouldn’t happen if we were allowed in each other’s tents.”

  Agler’s face was white. His jaw worked, like he was trying to say something.

  Jack yanked on him, pulling him away. “Come on, Agler.”

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Agler gulped down the shot of whiskey. The liquor burned a fiery line from his throat to his stomach. He and Jack were inside the common tent at the wine and spirits enclave. The tent was the place where muses who made alcohol could offer their latest creations. There was usually some kind of hard liquor available there, and Agler needed it.

  “Take it easy,” said Jack.

  Agler set down his empty shot glass. “Take it easy?” He wasn’t sure why it bothered him so much, but it did. For some reason, he couldn’t let Nora go. She was obviously completely over him. She had moved on. Really moved on.

  “You gotta back off on the rule,” said Jack.

  “You’re bringing that up now?” said Agler. “I don’t believe you.”

  Jack sighed. He wandered across the common tent and got himself a glass from a shelf where there were all lined up. Then he poured some beer into it. There was a barrel set up next to the shelf of glasses. It had been tapped, and it was just a matter of opening the nozzle. “Look, it was worse seeing them like that. If they were doing it in their tent, then you wouldn’t even have to know about it.”

  Agler knew that Jack was probably right.

  Jack’s glass was full of amber-colored liquid. He straightened, taking a sip. “This is really good. You want some?”

  Agler shook his head. Instead, he filled his glass back up with whiskey. “So, do you think they’ve already done it?”

  Jack sipped at his beer. “I don’t know. I don’t want to think about it. It involves picturing Nora naked, and I don’t really like naked girls. I think their bodies are kind of untidy with all those weird curves and stuff.”

  Agler took the shot.

  “Seriously, dude,” said Jack, picking up the bottle of whiskey, “you should watch it. You’re going to get wasted.”

  “That’s the idea,” said Agler.

  “She’s only a girl, Agler. There are tons of other girls out there.”

  Agler snatched the bottle of whiskey back and poured himself another shot. The world was starting to get fuzzy around the edges, but not fuzzy enough. “She’s different, though. She didn’t grow up here, and there’s something about her. I don’t know what it is, but I keep feeling like this is all wrong. Like she and I were supposed to end up together. She’s not supposed to be with Sawyer. She’s supposed to be with me.”

  “But she’s not with you,” said Jack. “She’s with Sawyer. Really with him. We just got graphic evidence of how together they are. So, you’ve got to let go.”

  Agler took the shot.

  Jack took the bottle back. “That’s enough. I mean it. I’m cutting you off. You can drink beer if you want, but no more shots.”

  Agler sat back on his chair, feeling the liquor begin to course through him. Everything felt looser now. “I don’t want her to be with him.”

  “Too bad,” said Jack. “You know, all you need is to get laid. May Day’s coming up. There’s going to be tons of drunk girls wandering around all day on May Day. You’re going to find one, you’re going to take her off in the fields, and you’re going to screw her until you forget all about Nora. Got it?”

  Agler closed his eyes. “Whatever.” He wanted another shot.

  * * *

  “Himeros is the same as the other times I saw him,” said Maddie. She plopped down next to Sawyer and Nora in the tree house.

  Nora could almost pretend it was like old times if none of them were talking. The three of them used to hang out together in the tree house all the time.

  “But the other times you saw him he was acting weird,” said Sawyer.

  “Well, yeah, he’s still really quiet and all business,” said Maddie. “He isn’t acting like himself. But maybe he’s just sad because of his breakup.”

  “No,” said Sawyer. “He wasn’t sad when he did it. He was just… cold.”

  “Right,” said Nora. “So, he’s definitely acting weird. He could be possessed by Owen.”

  “The problem is that we’re no farther along than we used to be,” said Maddie. “So, we know that he’s acting weird. We knew that before I started watching him. We don’t know anything new.”

  “He hasn’t done anything else suspicious?” Nora asked.

  Maddie shook her head.

  “Well, short of witnessing his making someone sick, how are we supposed to prove anything?” said Nora.

  “I don’t know,” said Maddie.

  “Maybe if we made a list of all the people who’d been affected,” said Nora. “So, there’s Theia. There’s Mellinoe. There’s Mack.”

  “Mack?” said Sawyer.

  “Yeah, I didn’t tell you that?” said Nora. “I ran into Roth one day, and he told me his dad was affected. He was a total jerk, though. Even when he’s not Loki, he’s kind of an ass.”

  “Loki,” said Sawyer, his eyes lighting up.

  “What?” said Nora.

  Sawyer grinned. “You remember what Loki gave us?”

  Nora shook her head. “He gave us something?”

  “Loki gave you something?” said Maddie.

  “The truth cordial,” said Sawyer. “Remember, he dosed everyone’s hot chocolate with it, and it made everyone tell the truth.”

  “That’s right,” said Nora. “Even Phoebe was affected by it.”

  “I still have it,” said Sawyer. “If we could spike Himeros’ drink with it, then we could get him to tell us the truth.”

  “You have something that forces people to tell the truth?” said Maddie.

  Sawyer grinned. “Yes, we do.”

  “That’s perfect,” said Nora. “But how are we going to spike his drink? Maddie, is he ever drinking stuff when you see him at the dance practices?”

  “No,” said Maddie.

  “Could you offer him something to drink?” Nora asked.

  “I don’t think so,” said Maddie. “I think we’ll have to wait until May Day. He’ll definitely be drinking then. Everyone will be.”

  * * *

  “The fire of spring is lit,” rang out Natalia’s voice. “Who joins our celebration?”

  Nora bounded forward across the tweens and rebels enclave. It was May Day, and she was excited. She’d never spent a May Day in Helicon in which she wasn’t a Maypole dancer, and she had to admit the day had been much less stressful without having to get dressed and ready to dance. She and Sawyer had enjoyed a leisurely breakfast in the food enclave. They’d even had champagne-spiked orange juice, so she was already feeling a little bit loose from the bubbly alcohol.

  Sawyer caught up to her. Along with the rest of the tweens, they went whooping through the arch of their enclave to join the procession of muses.

  They could see Himeros and Natalia at the front. The Green Man and the May Queen always led the procession. Behind them were all of the Maypole dancers, and a huge throng of muses had fallen in after them. There were a lot of drummers, pounding away. Other musicians played marching music, and the swell of the muses all singing underscored everything.

  Nora lifted her voice to join them.

  Above them, the branches of the trees were covered in brightly colored blooms. It was spring time in Helicon. Just for today. The muses changed the seasons to suit themselves.

  The May Day procession wound all over Helicon. At each enclave, the muses
lit a fire basket, and Natalia called them to join the the parade.

  Once they’d gathered up every muse in Helicon, they made their way to the Maypole.

  The muses circled the pole. Himeros, Natalia, and the dancers made up the first ring. The rest of the muses made larger, concentric circles around them.

  When everyone was in place, Phoebe made her way into the middle of the circle. She was wearing a long, flowing, pale green dress with fringes at the sleeves. She looked regal and fresh, her white hair glowing against her cinnamon-colored skin. She raised her hands above her head, exulting in the moment. “Happy May Day!”

  The muses responded with cheers and yells. The drummers pounded on their drums. Nora joined in, screaming until her voice was hoarse. She loved this part, when all the muses seemed connected and happy. It was a celebration, and it made her feel light and carefree, joy bubbling up in her.

  “Let the dance begin,” said Phoebe, backing out of the center of the circle.

  The drums began to pick up a familiar beat. The other musicians joined in. Nora recognized the music to the Maypole dance. It was the same tune every year, although it was never exactly the same. It was a variation on a theme. She recognized it, but it also surprised her.

  She watched as Natalia and Himeros did the traditional dance between the Green Man and the May Queen. He chased her. She ran from him. And then eventually, she gave in and allowed him to catch and seduce her. The dance was just as sensuous and graceful as she remembered. It was beautiful. Himeros and Natalia moved well together. If Himeros was possessed by Owen, then Owen had learned to dance.

  Then came the Maypole dance. Nora was excited to see it, because she’d never had the chance to watch it before, having always been a participant.

  The dance was gorgeous. She watched as the dancers weaved in and out of each other, their hands and feet moving in tandem to the beat. It was synchronized and stylized, and as they moved, the ribbons of the Maypole were braided together in a beautiful and intricate pattern.

  It took her breath away. It was so amazing. And it was such a lovely symbol of togetherness—the muses working together, weaving their abilities together to create something bigger than all of them. Something exquisite.

  When the dance was over, and the pole was wound completely with the braided ribbons, everyone cheered again, clapping their hands and stomping their feet.

  Phoebe made her way back to the center of the circle, holding her hands up for quiet. “This May Day is a day of happiness and joy.”

  Everyone cheered again.

  She shook her head, waving for quiet. “But it is also bittersweet, because there are many of our number who are too weak to move from their beds to come to the celebration today. We are nowhere closer to curing them or to understanding where it is that the sickness that afflicts them comes from. So, it is with heavy hearts that we come together today.”

  Nora hung her head. She felt a little guilty for enjoying everything so much when so many people were ill.

  “It is possibly for that sobering reason that we have had no couples wish to come forward to be handfasted this year,” said Phoebe.

  Really? That surprised Nora. There were usually eight or ten couples who got handfasted every May Day.

  “Perhaps we are too sad to think of love and commitment,” said Phoebe. “Or perhaps we are all happy either in our partnerships or alone. Whatever the case, I hope that the state of your relationships fosters within you the ability and the drive to create. After all, that is our purpose here. We are the creators.

  “Be inspired,” continued Phoebe. “And use your abilities to the fullest this May Day. There are many among us for whom we must pick up the slack, so to speak.”

  She paused, but no one cheered. Phoebe’s speech seemed to have taken the mirth right out of the gathering.

  But then someone began to clap, and soon everyone was clapping. Loudly. The muses applauded for Phoebe, and the sound of their clapping seemed to reverberate off the trees and sky.

  Phoebe lifted her arms again, and her face was radiant. “Enjoy yourselves today and create!” she cried out. “And I do believe the food is ready.”

  Everyone laughed. There were some cheers as well, followed by some more applause.

  The rest of the muses went in various directions. Some went to the tables, which were laden with all kinds of delectable foods. Some headed for the barrels of ale and bottles of wine that were set up. Still others began to dance to the music that the musicians had begun to play.

  But Nora and Sawyer had to get Himeros to drink the truth cordial.

  They got a goblet and filled it with wine. Sawyer got the flask that Loki had given them out of his pocket. He put a tiny amount in and mixed it with the wine.

  Nora was a lookout, making sure no one saw what he was doing.

  And then they sought out Himeros.

  He was talking to Natalia near the Maypole.

  “All right,” Sawyer said, “you hang back, Nora. If it is Owen, and we reveal him, I don’t want you close to him.”

  Nora let Sawyer walk ahead of her.

  She pretended to fade into the muses who were dancing around the Maypole, but she could hear what Sawyer was saying to Himeros.

  “Himeros, you really outdid yourself as the Green Man this year,” said Sawyer. “I brought you some wine. You deserve it.”

  “Oh, thank you, Sawyer,” said Himeros.

  Nora whirled around to see that Himeros had taken the glass of wine from Sawyer, and he was taking a drink.

  Sawyer gave her a furtive thumbs-up sign.

  Well, that had been easy. They’d been worried that Owen-as-Himeros would be suspicious.

  “It was so nice of you to bring wine to Himeros,” said Natalia, but her tone was pointed. Clearly, she was annoyed that Sawyer hadn’t brought any for her.

  “I’m just in awe of his work,” said Sawyer, smiling at her.

  Nora twirled again, and her back was to them.

  “Himeros, I wonder if I could ask you a few questions,” said Sawyer.

  “Excuse me,” said Natalia, “Himeros and I were in the middle of a conversation.” She sounded even more annoyed.

  “Oh, Natalia, go away,” said Himeros. “I’d much rather talk to Sawyer than you.”

  Natalia huffed. “Well, if that’s how you feel.”

  “It is,” said Himeros. “And by the way, you really haven’t lost all the baby weight yet. It’s torture trying to do the lifts. I can hardly pick you up.”

  Nora spun back around just in time to see the expression on Natalia’s face. She was shocked and appalled. She sputtered.

  The truth cordial was obviously already working.

  Natalia drew herself up. “I don’t have to listen to this.”

  “By all means,” said Himeros. “I’ll talk to you later.”

  “I don’t think you will, actually,” said Natalia. She stalked away.

  Sawyer peered after her. “You might have pissed her off a little bit. Sorry about that.”

  “Who cares what she thinks?” said Himeros. “I certainly don’t.”

  “Right,” said Sawyer. “So, um, you’re Himeros, aren’t you? There’s no one controlling your body or anything like that?”

  “Well, that’s an odd question, boy. You know, I’ve always thought that you were a lot prettier than you were smart, if you know what I mean.”

  Nora danced closer so that she could watch.

  Sawyer cleared his throat. “Well, leaving me aside for a minute, you’ve been acting strangely lately.”

  “Oh,” said Himeros. “You sound like Ren. All you young boys are the same. I think I’m getting too old for it, I have to say. I can’t handle it. That’s why I had to break up with him. I think I’m moving into a different stage in my life. I’ve seen other muses do it, but I never understood until now. I’m just tired. I don’t know how else to explain it. I’ve started aging again. I think it’s time.”

  Sawyer raised his e
yebrows. “You’re aging again?”

  The muses in Helicon had the ability to halt their aging whenever they wanted to. It meant that they could live seemingly forever, although most muses eventually seemed to decide to fade out.

  “Yes,” said Himeros. “I want my body to match my mind, you see. I’m an old man, Sawyer. It’s time for me to be an old man. It’s not time for me to gallivant around, pretending to be young. That’s why I’m different.”

  “Well, why didn’t you tell Ren that?” said Sawyer.

  “Of course I told Ren,” said Himeros. “He doesn’t want me to age. He’s not ready to yet. It comes to all of the muses in its own time, you know. At any rate, how is my relationship with Ren any of your business?”

  “Uh…”

  “I’m sorry if I gave you a different impression, Sawyer, but I’m really not interested in you. You’re just a little too fem for me, and besides, you’re practically a child.” He patted Sawyer on the cheek. “I’m sure you’ll find a nice boy to make you very happy.”

  Sawyer backed away. “Yeah, okay, thanks. Um, just for the record, though, you’re not possessed by Owen?”

  “Owen Asher?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Of course not. Not possessed by him at all. Why would you say that? You really are very stupid, aren’t you?”

  Sawyer rolled his eyes.

  “I’ll tell you this, though,” said Himeros. “If I had the chance, I’d love to watch you and Owen Asher dance the May Queen/Green Man dance. He’s very attractive, don’t you think?”

  Sawyer laughed. “I… not really, no.”

  “I know he’s evil or whatever, but that almost makes him more attractive, you know? And the two of you? His dark coloring with your light coloring. It would be like a joining of opposites.”

  “Right,” said Sawyer. “You know, um, I just remembered that I have a thing I’m supposed to be doing.” He backed away from Himeros. “A big, important thing. So, I’m going to have to go.” He picked up his speed.

  Nora danced away, and moved into place to intercept him as he hurried away from Himeros.