Boy, Georgia would be so pissed. I am in control. I can do this. I can.
She focused on the hole, while pretending to seem interested in Georgia’s speech. She wedged her will into that small, pinpoint-size hole and could feel the magical weave give way a little, forcing it to widen ever so slightly. Her head pounded so hard, she was sure it was going to explode, but she pushed on, the hole becoming larger, now the size of a tiny piece of candy. Her powers were behind a wall, trying in desperation to reach her. She closed her eyes for a second and opened the hole even wider, now the size of a dime, and much to Sophie’s relief, a spark shot from her right pinky. Exhausted and unable to keep the hole open, it closed up and she opened her eyes.
“Sophia? Are you listening?” Georgia demanded.
“Sounds pretty straight forward,” Sophie said, wiping her face and neck on the towel Angela handed her.
“So relieved to hear,” Georgia said. “Now, let’s start from the top.”
“Let’s,” Sophie said, dropping the towel onto a chair.
My risk. My life. My Vasilikós.
It hit Sophie.
For once, Georgia told the truth. They don’t know how strong my powers will be. She’s underestimated me, like everyone has for all my life. Her spell wasn’t powerful enough to bind me. This will be my Vasilikós, not Georgia’s. Mine. Georgia is going to have to get used to me knowing what is best and for now, what Georgia doesn’t know, won’t hurt her. God, it feels so good to have control of something.
After the twenty-fifth time through the process of descending the staircase, curtsying in front of the pretend foreign Vasilikós, including the one that would force her to perform the lethal three-minute curtsy, Sophie was exhausted, but relieved when Georgia said they were done for the evening. Her head was still throbbing, as she continued to sneak moments to force her way through Georgia’s spell and make the tiny spark flicker for a few seconds before snuffing it out. She glanced at her watch, groaning at the time. It was one a.m.
“Now girls and Bennett, rehearsal will begin promptly at nine a.m. I have several other items I need to take care of, so Tammy the librarian will take over for me. Review over and over again the details we have gone over tonight because Tammy has been with our Vasilikós for over two hundred years and she is a stickler for details.” Georgia exited with Callie, party plans in hand.
“Great,” Sophie said, collapsing onto the side benches. She wished the cushions were still there, but Winnie had removed them earlier.
“If you weren’t my great, great cousin twice removed’s best friend’s sister’s brother’s cousin, I would have gotten rid of you years ago,” Sophie mocked, sending an exhausted Bennett and Angela into rolls of laughter. Sophie rested her head on Bennett’s shoulder and after a few moments of listening to his breathing in and out, and almost falling asleep, she gave him a playful shove, stood up and said goodnight. She walked up the stairs to the orchestra balcony, having been shown a shortcut to her room through the Green Room.
“Come to my room at eight a.m.?” Sophie shouted over her shoulder at Angela.
“Okay,” Angela said.
“Goodnight, Beast,” Sophie called.
“Goodnight, Muse,” Bennett replied.
“Angie, before you go, can you go through the waltz with me for a few minutes,” Bennett asked.
“Sure,” Angela said. She snapped her fingers and the CD player came to life. Bennett walked up to her, and they bowed and began waltzing.
Every muscle in Sophie’s body was screaming as she made her way up the stairs, carrying her heels in one hand. When she reached the top, she looked back at Bennett and Angela dancing and couldn’t help smiling at them. Something caught her eye and she glanced towards the open French doors on the other side of the dance floor. Her father stood there, looking up at her. She almost burst into tears, the ache of seeing her father being too much for her to bear, but she swallowed it down, as the hole in the magical weave grew bigger and an even bigger spark flickered from the center of her hand. Once again, the hole closed up again, leaving her helpless.
“It can wait, Daddy, until the ball,” Sophie mumbled. She knew she would have to somehow get an invitation to Persephone. She had to have another moment with her father.
I miss you so much, Daddy. Then she remembered Persephone.
How does someone contact a goddess in the Underworld?
Knowing that with some work she could work her way past Georgia’s binding spell made her feel safe, capable and strong.
I can handle Persephone. It’s one ditzy goddess. How bad could she be? She’s too busy ordering catalog crap to think about destroying the world.
“Hey Muse, you’re supposed to be in bed,” Bennett called up to her.
“I was going to say the same to you, Beast,” she said.
Bennett excused himself from Angela and raced up the stairs, taking three at a time.
“You okay?” he asked.
“Yeah, I’m fine,” Sophie said, preoccupied. She saw the concerned look on Bennett’s face. I’m such a bad girlfriend for making him worry about me. I wish I could tell him about daddy, but I can’t and he’ll figure it out if I’m not more careful.
He took her into his arms and kissed the top of her head. “Sorry, I know I’m sweaty enough for the both of us. I got to get to bed. In about five hours I have to get up and do some planting.”
“Okay,” she said, squeezing her arms around him tighter.
He still looked worried. “You sure you’re okay? Muse, if something were wrong, you’d tell me, right? After all, you are my Muse, aren’t you?”
“I guess I am, considering how sweaty and smelly you are. You reek.”
“Come on. You know my musk is one big slice of sexy. Smell my armpits,” he teased her and she laughed. “Just one whiff. If you smell my armpits, I know you’ll love me forever.”
And there it is…the word every girl wants to hear from a boy and now he’s said it.
Even though it wasn’t the way she had imagined it and wasn’t a one-hundred percent real declaration of love, he still had said it and she stood there awkwardly, wondering who would be the first one to flinch?
He kissed her on the lips and while he backed away lifted his armpit, pointing at it. Sophie backed away and shaking her head “no”. He was wearing a stretched out tank top that gave Sophie an occasional glance at his muscular torso and his broad chest.
As armpits go, that’s one sexy armpit.
She wasn’t shocked at the thoughts running through her mind, having gotten used to the way Bennett made her feel and think. But she was sure Georgia wouldn’t approve and smiled at the thought.
***
The last week leading up to the ball was even more crazed than the previous three. Sophie, Bennett and Angela continued with their rehearsal schedule. Sophie was exhausted.
Every moment she had alone, she continued her attack on Georgia’s binding spell, managing to make the dime size hole into a quarter, then into a silver dollar.
It isn’t enough.
She worked into the early morning hours, lucky to catch two hours of sleep each night. She didn’t like keeping Angela in the dark about what she was doing, but she couldn’t take the chance of her friend getting in trouble for what Sophie was trying to accomplish.
Then, there was the added security. After several bodies of villagers were found mangled, with the brand Nothos on them, Sophie locked herself in her room, refusing to eat and see anyone. From that day forward, all newspapers and talk of any news outside of the Vasilikós was hidden from her.
Added to Sophie’s frustration about not knowing what was going on outside of the Vasilikós, were the measures Georgia took to keep Sophie safe. Safe came in the embodiment of Sarah, Christine, and Bonnie—the three Furies. On loan from some of the worst dungeons of the Underworld, these vengeful goddesses were the embodiment of curses against those who went unpunished for crimes against the mortal race. An Olympian didn’t e
xist who would dare challenge the Furies. Sophie wasn’t thrilled to be forced to have the three women with her every moment of the day. The only time they left her alone was when Sophie returned to her private rooms or if she was with her mother or grandmother. The three women, dressed in black from head to toe, resembled high fashion models with their long hair slicked back into severe ponytails.
Additionally, the Furies had the annoying habit of considering every action a slight on the honor of Sophie, which caused them to argue with anyone who dared to cross Sophie’s path, along with their habit of crying tears of blood whenever Sophie would become frustrated with them. Each imaginary slight was followed by the same question, ‘May we pursue them, until death?’ Sophie stopped answering ‘no’, after the fiftieth time the question had been asked of her.
Winnie’s shouting orders throughout the Vasilikós started at five a.m. and continued until midnight as she readied the guest rooms and main congregating areas. She seemed to be a whirlwind of crazy as she conducted inventory for the event.
After another rigorous rehearsal, Sophie and Angela took a break and wandered into the kitchen for a snack of cold roast beef and a glass of iced tea. Apparently the sight of Sophie, Angela and the three Furies was too much for the Hob.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Winnie demanded.
The two girls stood there, frozen to the spot. The Furies glared at Winnie.
“The day my kitchen turns into Grand Central Station is the day this Hob turns in her apron.”
“I’m sorry, Winnie,” Sophie said, feeling both shocked and pissed off at Winnie’s tone. Winnie had never spoken to her that way before. The buzzing in Sophie’s head began to become deafening. Like she had been practicing numerous times, Sophie focused on the weakest point of the binding spell's mesh. The mesh gave a little, exposing yet another quarter size opening. Warmth in the center of Sophie’s hand began to build, but instead of allowing the spark to appear, Sophie channeled the energy back towards the hole. The pain was horrible, almost sickening, but she continued to focus on the opening.
The magical mesh tore. Sophie couldn’t be sure, but it felt like it tore. Even though the mesh remained in place, the buzzing had stopped and as the spark of energy died away, the hole Sophie created in the mind mesh didn’t close.
This is new.
“Don’t you ignore me, Sophia Drago.” Winnie yelled. “Lunch is served promptly at noon each day. Breakfast at nine. Dinner is served at five-thirty. Until this event is done, you will avoid the bloody kitchen at all other times. If you need a beverage, find the nearest garden hose and turn the water on and knock yourself out. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a dessert meeting to continue with.” Winnie turned away.
Christine, the Fury turned to Sophie, “How dare she talk to you like that. May we…”
“No! For the love of God, leave me alone,” Sophie yelled and then apologized over and over again when the pretty, strawberry blond Fury began to cry tears of blood, all over her vintage black cocktail dress.
Sophie made a mental note to avoid the kitchen at all costs, along with deciding to fake a headache so she could ditch Angela and the Furies, and return to her room to continue her fight against Georgia’s spell.
Today’s small tear means freedom tomorrow. Georgia can suck it.
Chapter 31
Persephone was having a good day. Out of the many things she loved, two of her favorites were warm cookies and catalog shopping. While she sat outside the little café where she had met Sophie, she enjoyed both, along with a cup of hot chocolate into which she had deposited ten teaspoons of sugar. The goddess had received a shipment of Pottery Farm dishes and a Restoration Beautiful patio table.
She dipped a cookie into her hot chocolate and popped it into her mouth while she flipped the pages of a new Wallaby Road catalog. She was a bit frustrated that the little Muse brat had forgotten a minor detail that was going to become major if Persephone was going to get entrance into the ball. Sophie had forgotten to get the goddess an invitation. But Persephone was in a forgiving mood and, besides, she had her own methods of correcting Sophie's mistake.
A woman approached Persephone and sat down.
“I am assuming you were careful. Nobody saw you sneak out of the Vasilikos?” Persephone said, swatting the woman’s hand away as she attempted to take one of the goddess' cookies for herself.
“Well, let’s not waste time. Do you have what I asked you to get? None of this will work unless I get an official invitation. With a gathering of this size, plus the Fate sisters being there, there will be heightened security. I won’t get in without an invitation and I would hate to be discovered by blasting my way in. If I’m going to make a big splash at this party, it will be on my terms.”
The woman grabbed her purse and pulled out several invitations, handing them to the goddess.
“Good. This should take care of me and my large entourage.”
“But won’t they recognize you? A mask can only do so much. Meaning no offense, but having lived in the Underworld for such a long time, I can smell the sulfur and your pure Olympian blood flowing through your veins,” the woman said.
Persephone paused. “Trust me, I have it covered. My mother once gave me a long scarf, a wrap of sorts, created from sylph wings. It has the ability to heighten a supernatural’s ability to Glamour. Whatever supernatural creature Georgia has on security detail will be eating out of the palm of my hand. And as for my special entourage, nobody will recognize them because as of a few days ago they didn’t exist. . But enough of this. You had better get back to the Vasilikós before anyone notices you are gone.” Persephone glanced up at the woman and handed her a small box of paints. “You had better fix your face. You’ve smeared it.”
The woman took out a compact, grabbed the paints and excused herself to the bathroom. She returned and walked past Persephone, giving the goddess a chance to review the overall effect. Persephone nodded in approval.
“It’s always such a pleasure seeing you,” Persephone said as she watched the woman smile and walk away. She gulped down her hot cocoa and threw some money down on the table before grabbing her catalogs and the gold coin on a chain around her neck. She had to twist Penny’s arm off to get her to realize she needed to use one of the five coins Penny had hidden from Charon. She loved the incredible power of the Aphrodite coins. They allowed the owner to travel a certain number of times between the Underworld and the mortal realm virtually undetected. She knew she needed to get back to the Underworld because she was waiting for another delivery of table linens that hadn’t come in her last shipment. She had a feeling Charon will be delivering it any moment and she had to sign for the package.
Chapter 32
Much to Sophie’s dismay, Miranda was waiting back at her room with one of Georgia’s lists. Half of the items were scratched out, but the remaining items were for her to complete.
Miranda hadn't even given the Furies a chance to enter the room by slamming the door in their faces. Sophie winced when she heard Bonnie argue with Christine, as Sarah’s muffled cries told Sophie another outfit was ruined with bloodstains. “We have some important activities today,” Miranda said, sitting down at Sophie’s new desk.
“As you know, we have one day before the event. Today, we have the arrival of the other Vasilikós. They’ll be here around one p.m. We will gather in Georgia’s office for a pre-arrival meeting at eleven-thirty. Do not, and I stress this, do not be late.”
“Got it,” she said, sitting up.
“Are you writing any of this down?”
“Don’t need to,” Sophie said, pointing to her head.
“I thought so. I’ve made you a copy of my notes.” Miranda handed Sophie a copy.
“You dot your i’s with hearts?”
Miranda frowned, but continued. “So, at nine a.m., you have breakfast. At ten, you have a quick rehearsal in the ballroom. That lasts until eleven, which will give you about twenty minutes to get back to your ro
om for a quick shower and back downstairs for Georgia’s meeting at eleven-thirty. The meeting is expected to last thirty minutes. You will then have forty-five minutes to race back to your room, where several Muses and your attendant, Angela, will help you dress for the arrival event.”
“Umm, not necessary and kind of strange,” Sophie said.
“As a new Muse, that is the tradition and you know Georgia is a stickler for tradition.”
“But...”
Miranda stopped and glared at Sophie. “Sophie, look, I know it’s kind of strange, the whole thing with you dating my boyfriend.”
“Ex-boyfriend,” Angela said as she walked into the room.
“Yes, sorry, ex-boyfriend. And I know I’ve been a real pain.”
“I second that,” Angela offered, climbing onto Sophie’s new bed. The room was almost finished and Sophie loved it, especially her new king-size box springs and mattress.
“Do you mind?” Miranda responded. “What I’m trying to say is I’m sorry. I could say I’ve been under a lot of pressure and that’s the reason why I’ve been out of sorts.”
“And been a total nasty piece of work,” Angela said.
“But, if I’m being completely honest, seeing Bennett so happy has been a bit of a blow to my ego and the kiss I shared with him yesterday meant nothing. I’m being serious. It wasn’t anything. So just put it out of your mind. It was passionate, but truly, nothing to worry about.”
Did she just say, ‘kiss’? Did that witch just say she kissed my boyfriend? That little—
“Whew, I feel so much better. Well, I’ve got a few items to work on,” Miranda continued. “So I’ll be off. I’m so glad we had this talk. By the way, Angela, Georgia wants to see you in her office. ” Miranda walked towards the open door. “Don’t worry, I’ll get the door.”
Sophie looked at Angela.
“Come one, Soph. It’s right out of the playbook of every bad chick flick. Don’t you dare let that miserable little Harpy—”
Muse Unexpected Page 23