“Take your positions,” she said to the group escorting her and off they went, weaving into the crowd and disappearing. She scanned the room and found an alcove that would serve her purposes and placed herself behind a group of people in it. She remembered how things used to be. She had been the goddess of spring, responsible for creating new growth during the season of rebirth. But now, damned to permanent residence in the Underworld, surrounded by soil so dead nothing grew in it, her powers were diminished and the only flowers she saw were the ones she painted in her studio. Thankfully, Penny’s revenge project was just what she needed and her recent visits to the mortal realm quickly restored her powers to a decent level.
Persephone believed chaos required light brush strokes because creating a masterpiece of carnage required careful consideration of each and every detail. She took in the room and was nauseous at seeing so many Demigods enjoying themselves.
How had the unwanted mistakes of Olympus risen to power while the Olympians suffered horribly? It's disgusting. It’s taking every ounce of control not to begin killing each and every one of them. They were the abominations, not me. I was part of Zeus’ plan, not them. And yet, they walk around like they were gods, protecting mortals–of all things.
The idea of inflicting enough pain on those who for their sake she was damned to a year-round existence with her miserable husband made all of her suffering so worthwhile and satisfying. She was relieved admitting her marriage was miserable. It wasn’t about whether or not she hated Hades because she didn’t completely dislike him. Sure, to a certain degree she had a love/more hate relationship with him, but he did have some positives. But she was willing to admit she hated their life together. She hated the Underworld, but most of all, she hated Demigods and mortals, and if she was successful tonight she would doom the mortal race to an unending Hell of waste while also making her husband even more miserable. That was a win-win for her. The man, posing as her plus-one, remained with her and she glanced up at him.
“You know what to do,” she said.
“Yes,” he replied.
Persephone saw Penny in the balcony. She waved at her and Penny waved back.
“Dear me, Penny has the worst taste in clothing.” Persephone commented. “I will have to introduce her to Versace because she looks like a two-Drachma hooker.”
Persephone noticed a male Siren taking his place with the orchestra. He signaled for them to end the waltz they were playing. She watched the tall Minotaur she remembered seeing in the village square reach the top of the stairs.
The Siren banged the tall staff three times. “Attention, attention, Vasilikós and guests…it is my privilege to announce the arrival of Rose, Agatha and Cleo, the Fates."
Persephone applauded as the three sisters entered. They were near the end of their three-hundred-sixty-five days of power and looked frail. They were seated in wheelchairs at the center of the cheering crowd, and the three Fates waved and thanked everyone for their warm welcome. The Fates’ escorts moved them to an area that was corded off, where they could easily receive any additional well wishes from attendees.
Persephone turned her attention away from the Fates as the Siren banged the staff again.
“Attention, attention, Vasilikós and guests, it is my pleasure to announce Sophia, Muse to the Vasilikós of Greece and Italy, granddaughter to Grand Duchess Georgia of the Vasilikós of Greece and Italy, and daughter to Callista, Lady in Waiting to Grand Duchess Georgia and Muse to the Vasilikós of Greece and Italy.”
The door opened and Sophie stepped out. For a second, Persephone held her breath because the young Muse was breathtaking.
“Too bad you’ll be dead before the end of this evening,” the goddess said with a smirk. “Maybe I can do it without much bloodshed. I would hate to ruin her lovely dress.” Persephone focused her attention on the young couple, as the loud cheering died away and willed herself to hear the exchange between them.
“Hello, Beast,” the Muse said.
He beamed. “I don’t have words.”
The Muse smiled back at him and slipped her arm into his. “Sometimes, words aren’t necessary.”
“I love you,” he said.
“I love you, too,” the Muse replied.
Had she not been so intent on chaos, Persephone would have wept with joy. It was too sweet. Such a shame. Well, such a shame that after I rip it off of her dead body, Sophie’s dress will have to be taken in. That Muse is kind of pudgy. And just look at that miserable Gorgon mutt. It makes me sick.
“Disgusting. I can smell the Gorgon from all the way over here.”
Persephone caught Sophie’s eye and blew a kiss to her. The goddess nudged the man standing next to her. He wore a black bird-beak mask that covered most of his face. He waved and Persephone could see the Muse fighting back tears.
“Enjoy it, while you can,” Persephone said.
Chapter 37
Much to Sophie’s relief, she had made it through the curtsy marathon without a single Vasilikós leaving her for dead in that low, miserable position. With her final curtsy done, Bennett helped her kneel and she took her oath.
She watched Georgia making her way towards her and her heart leapt into her throat.
There’s no turning back. Oh, God, what am I doing? Do I really want to do this?
Georgia took her place and began. “Sophia, Muse to the Vasilikós of Greece and Italy, do you pledge to serve this Vasilikós and its leader?”
It’s your fate. Accept it. Sophie replied, “I do.”
“Sophia, Muse to the Vasilikós of Greece and Italy, do you pledge to protect the Olympic Portal, thereby preserving the safety of Demigods and Humankind?”
“I do.”
Georgia asked the final question. “Sophia, Muse to the Vasilikós of Greece and Italy, do you pledge to protect the mortals of this world without whom we would have no purpose, and do you also pledge to guide those mortals onto the right path, giving them free will to do what they will do?”
Sophie replied, “I do.”
The crowd froze as it waited for Bennett to help Sophie to her feet and Angela to straighten Sophie’s train.
“Everyone, I am blessed and proud to present my granddaughter, Sophia. May Zeus continue to smile upon us.” Georgia shouted the words for all to hear.
Angela raised her arms, “Let the heavens rain down on us.” Glitter and confetti fell from the ceiling onto the crowd. The entire room erupted into a roar as everyone rushed forward to congratulate Sophie, Callie and Georgia.
Thirty minutes of well wishes had passed when Georgia signaled the orchestra. Sophie, with the help of Bennett and Angela, took her place on the dance floor. Her train had been removed to allow her to dance.
“I could get used to this,” Bennett said smiling, taking Sophie’s hand and placing his as close to her waist as his height would allow.
In-between her second and third waltz, Sophie saw Georgia signal for the Fates’ wine to be brought forward and placed into Georgia’s hands.
After the third waltz, Sophie knew it was tradition for the newly inducted Muse to select another partner to dance with for at least one waltz. She scanned the crowd and decided now was the time. She could see her father and walked to him. He stepped forward, bowed and while smiling, extended his hand for her to accept. Without hesitation, Sophie took it. They faced each other and before they began to dance, he bestowed a single kiss unto Sophie’s forehead. His lips were ice cold and left a painful burning sensation on her skin.
That’s strange. My father never kissed me on my forehead. He always kissed me on my cheek.
Sophie didn’t feel well. Her skin was on fire and the burning sensation was at its worst where her father had kissed her. She tried to walk away, tried to signal someone to help her, but before she could, he pulled her closer and whispered in her ear.
“We’re in grave danger. Don’t let anyone know you know. Unless you listen to me, we will all die.”
“What are you talk
ing about? Daddy, I’m not feeling so well. I need to stop.”
“Listen to me,” he said, beginning to waltz. “This ball isn’t what you think it is. Persephone has tricked you. She’s tricked us all. We aren’t at the ball. We aren’t even in the Vasilikós. Persephone has dragged you down into the Underworld. All of this is an illusion. We’ve got to get out of here.”
He pulled her closer and Sophie was sure she was going to vomit. A wave of sickness fell over her and with feverous eyes she looked up at her father.
What is that awful stench? Is it coming from my father?
“Look around,” he said. “This isn’t a ballroom. It’s the clearing in front of the River Styx. These aren’t your friends. They aren’t even Muses. They’re demons. Hades has sent his demons to kill us.”
She couldn’t move her head. The pain shooting through her body was unbearable. She didn’t know why she felt so awful. The ballroom was hazy, like asphalt on a hot Ohio highway. Things began to change around her. The polished wooden floors seeped with a foul-smelling muck and piles of the dead, their white bodies glowing, were scattered throughout the room.
Daddy’s right, but I’m not in the Underworld. I’m in Hell.
To her right was a couple dancing beside them who smiled and nodded. The woman’s face melted away, her skin bubbling and dripping, exposing a blistering, horrific face with burning red eyes. She laughed at Sophie. Her partner leered at her, causing his face to slice open in various spots, leaving the man’s once handsome face into bloody shreds. They twirled around Sophie and her father, before disappearing. Every couple around her was changing into hideous creatures. A couple with reptilian skin and intertwined horns danced by them, while two half-decomposed corpses seemed to float by, their lifeless feet a few inches above the ground. Sophie stifled a scream as her father yanked her face back, forcing her to look up at him.
“Don’t scream,” he whispered. “Stay calm and we’ll get out of this."
“Daddy, you’re hurting me.” She said, pushing his hand away from her chin. His nail scratched her chin and chills began to wrack her body.
She took her eyes away from him and looked to her right and then to her left. Every person around her was more horrific than the person next to them. A tall, monstrous creature dressed in what she knew was Bennett’s kilt, swooshed by her, with a horrific Gorgon in his arms. The Gorgon had two heads fused into one. It screeched at her as its long, eel-like snakes whipped around, trying to bite anyone who was close. Several of the snakes ripped off pieces of flesh from several couples and they swallowed the chucks whole. Sophie covered her mouth and retched into her glove.
“You have to do it. You have to attack them. Focus. They’re trying to stop me from helping you and I fear—I can’t hold on much longer.”
“I don’t know how.” Sophie began to weep. “Get me out of here, Daddy. I want to go home.”
“Concentrate. Close your eyes and focus on my voice.”
Sophie did as she was told. The sounds of the creatures around here began to die away. She heard her heart and her breaths calming as her father soothed her with his words. Suddenly his words changed and she was frightened.
“They killed me, Sophie. They murdered me as I drove home to be with you and Mommy. They took me away. How does that make you feel?”
The burning sensation associated with her powers began to build in Sophie’s core and she fought the instinct to cry out in pain. Her blood was boiling and it scalded her veins as it coursed toward her heart and out toward her hands.
“Sad, angry…. furious,” Sophie said, lost in her father’s voice.
“What do they deserve for killing me, Sophie? What do they deserve for taking me away from you and ruining your life?
“I don’t…”
“They ruined any chance for you to be happy.”
“I used to be happy, back in Ohio.”
“And now, where are you? You’re surrounded by all of these freaks. These mutts with their filthy, Demigod ways are beneath you. You’re pure, a true Olympian. That’s why you feel so sick. That’s why you have pain.”
“Daddy, I feel so bad. I want it all to stop.” Sophie whimpered.
“You have to wipe them off the face of the Earth. You have to do what is right. They killed me, Sophie. They, the Demigods killed me. They tortured me for hours, threw my body into our car and smashed it against a tree. They killed me. They’re filthy mutts, aren’t they?”
“They’re all filthy mutts.”
“What do they deserve?”
“They deserve pain.”
“But why stop at that? What do they truly deserve?”
“They deserve to die. They all deserve to die.”
“Then kill them. Kill them all, baby.”
Chapter 38
Callie stood next to Bennett and listened to the mindless chatter around her.
She was frustrated. The ballroom was hot and sticky, packed shoulder-to-shoulder with people. Even if she could ignore the deafening noise from all the conversations taking place, her gut told her something wasn’t right.
Dread. Something is about to break and it isn’t good. My gut is never wrong.
She couldn’t concentrate with all of the distractions. She turned and watched Sophie dance with a man she didn’t recognize.
No, that’s not correct. He does look familiar. Who the hell is he?
The man’s mask hid his face, expect for his jaw line and lips. He was whispering something in Sophie’s ear. Her thoughts were interrupted.
“May I be so bold as to say you look beautiful tonight?” Bennett said to Angela.
“You may,” Angela said. “Not that my many admirers haven’t already told me many times over.”
“I see,” he said. “Would that include my Honor Guard who you keep undressing with your eyes?”
“I have not.” Angela said and Bennett snorted.
Callie dug her fingernails into her palm, as she tried to focus. Dear lord, give me the strength not to tell these two to shut up.
“Okay, listen. He was asking me about you and I was going to tell him you were interested, but if you would rather me tell him otherwise.” Bennett said
“Bennett, I would not be opposed to you mentioning I admire his swimming abilities.”
“You admire his six-pack abs,” Bennett muttered.
“Yours didn’t hurt your case for winning Sophie,” Angela commented.
“Well, it took me a while, but she came around.” Bennett said.
I think I’m going to be sick. Was I this vapid when I was their age? Probably.
“You almost lost her with your Miranda crap.” Angela said.
“Miranda crap? What are you talking about?” Bennett asked.
“It’s not my place.”
“Oh, no you don’t. You opened it up; now spit it out, Pandora.”
“She knows you kissed Miranda.”
“Yeah, over a year ago.” Bennett glanced at Callie and shook his head no.
“You kissed someone else, other than my daughter?” Callie said, reluctantly turning her attention away from Sophie. When Bennett didn’t have a quick answer for her, she went back to watching her daughter.
Sophie looks ill. Maybe I should go to her. No, I’ll wait for her to signal. If she’s sick, she’ll signal for me to help her.
“I haven’t seen Miranda for a long time. I haven’t kissed anyone but your daughter,” Bennett said to Callie. “What have I got to be forgiven for?”
“For kissing Miranda,” Angela said. “You have to have known for the past several weeks Miranda has been serving as Sophie’s personal assistant.”
“Are you joking?” Bennett said. “Miranda isn’t here. There is no way she could be.”
“Isn’t that her, over there?” Angela pointed across the dance floor and Bennett shook his head no.
“Angela, who is that?” Bennett asked.
“Who the hell is Miranda?” Callie asked, wanting to bring the con
versation to an end.
“I have no idea who that is, but I can say it isn’t Miranda. Even without the mask, Miranda was a redhead and several inches taller than that woman. I’ve seen her in the Vasilikós, but I have not kissed her. I don’t know what bloody game she’s playing, but it isn’t funny.”
Georgia walked up and grabbed Callie’s arm.
“What is wrong with you? Pay attention to the cues I’m giving you. We need to start the wine ceremony.”
“Before you go, can we have a second?” Angela asked Callie.
“Not a good time. We’re about to start the wine ceremony for the Fates.” Callie said.
“Did you and Georgia assign a girl by the name of Miranda to serve as Sophie’s personal assistant?”
“What are you two talking about?” Georgia said, overhearing part of the conversation. “Angela is Sophia’s Lady in Waiting for this event and serves as her assistant. The only Miranda I know of was a young Muse who transferred to the Italy Vasilikós, but she’s not here. She’s on a special assignment in Milan.”
“Out of all of the Muses to select from, why would we choose a girl who dated my daughter’s boyfriend?” Callie said, but as the words left her mouth, they all turned towards Georgia.
“Do not even think it, Callista. If that girl is here, it has nothing to do with me,” Georgia said.
“Georgia, look at me.”
Georgia looked directly into Callie’s eyes. “By all I hold dear, my position in our society, by my family, which you seem to believe I don’t care about, I swear the only girl I assigned to Sophia was Angela. If you can’t trust a Gorgon to keep your granddaughter safe, who else can you trust?”
Angela winced.
“Which girl are you talking about?” Callie asked. Angela scanned the ballroom and spotted her.
“There.” Angela pointed.
Callie focused on the girl. “Well, she kind of looks familiar. Wait, very familiar, but I can’t make her out because her mask is hiding her face.”
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