“You are a nasty piece of work,” Agatha cried.
“Agatha, control yourself. We mustn’t interfere,” Rose said.
“Hurry, Callie, Sophie is running out of time,” said Pandora.
Callie began to cry.
Georgia had regained consciousness and got to her feet. “Take me. Pandora, your fight is with me. Take me instead of my granddaughter.”
“Not an option,” Pandora replied.
Persephone forced the older Muse to her knees with a mere glance.
Sophie coughed up blood and jerked awake with a gasp. With feverish eyes she looked at her mother. Callie saw Sophie was trying to talk and she knew her daughter would be dead unless she did something, but she didn’t know what to do. She had to stall.
“I will hunt both of you down,” Callie said, limping towards Pandora. “And when I’m done with you…”
Sophie said, “No, mama.” Grabbing the creature holding her, she lifted her head and kissed its blackened cheek tenderly. Callie screamed in anguish, as she watched her daughter mount a final attack. Sophie shot a burst of energy through the back of the creature’s head. Pestilence exploded and Sophie also hit by the energy burst was thrown roughly to the ground, her body lifeless. As quickly as it had disappeared, Pestilence reappeared and joined his fellow evils as they disappeared back into Pandora.
“Bottoms up,” Persephone said. She tilted the wine decanter and began to drink.
Callie rushed towards Sophie, screaming, as Persephone threw the decanter down, smashing it.
“What the hell?” Rose said.
Pandora laughed and turned to run. She took only two steps when an Olympian in armor and tunic crashed through the ceiling, landing on top of her and crushing her into hundreds of pieces. Several pieces of Pandora continued to move on their own. Her left and right legs flopped on the floor and her right hand crawled towards her attacker. The god raised his right hand and clenched it into a fist, causing the moving pieces of Pandora to shatter. Pandora continued to scream until he located and crushed the shard of pottery that was her moving mouth.
The god looked around at the many Demigods lying either unconscious or dead. He lowered his head, clearly saddened by what he saw and grimly walked over to Sophie’s lifeless body and knelt down, cradling her head in his hands. He wept.
“My poor little soldier. You were so brave,” the Olympian said.
A hysterical Callie tried to push the god out of the way. Tears and screams of sorrow came from deep inside her. He stood up, allowing Callie the chance to hold Sophie.
Persephone tried to look for an exit, but stopped as the ground shook violently and cracked open. Hades broke through the orchestra’s staircase, sending debris shooting into the air as his chariot and horses rode past Callie and Sophie. Hades, still wearing jeans and an Ohio State University sweatshirt, jumped off of the chariot and walked barefoot toward his wife. “I think, my dear Saphie, you have caused enough trouble for today. It’s time to return to me.”
“Just when things were getting interesting,” Persephone said, pouting. ”You always have to ruin my fun.”
“You’ve attempted to ruin the balance of this mortal world. It is a balance I have pledged to uphold.”
“Why are you so serious? You know that’s your problem. You can’t kick back and…wait…what did you mean by attempted? I have ruined the balance. The Fates will cease to be. This world will wither and rot. And you, my dear, won’t have any more new shades for your stupid book club and your ridiculous bridge night. You think I didn’t know about that? You think I didn’t know about your marriage counseling sessions?”
“Do you believe I didn’t know what you were up to?” he asked her. “I’m the god of the Underworld. I know everything that happens in my realm. Had you drunk the real wine”
“Real wine? You changed the wine?”
Hades glanced over at the other Olympian standing near Callie. “Perseus. It’s been ages. Who let you out of Olympus?” Hades motioned towards Persephone. “This woman will be the death of me, Perseus.”
Hades walked towards Persephone. “I’ve always been torn about the whole pomegranate seeds thing. It was a trick not worthy of the King of the Underworld. But you see, a shade, whom I have since allowed to cross over once, asked me if I wanted to hear the truth, and I’m surprised to find out that I do. Thanks to your need for chaos, I now have removed the one block that kept me from seeing who you really are. You aren’t a victim damned to the Underworld anymore. You’re a flawed, spoiled goddess with major mommy issues. With time and counseling I’m sure we can get you cured of your obsession with death and destruction. This is the new foundation our marriage will be built on. Oh, and by the way, the wine you drank wasn’t pressed from Georgia’s vines. They were pressed from the grapevine gripping the stone entrance to the ferryman.”
“Well, I wondered why the wine didn’t finish as nice as…. Wait…You tricked me again. You made me think”
“I did no such thing. You did it to yourself.” Hades walked to where his wife stood and threw her over his shoulders while she kicked and protested.
“I will make you wish you never were born, Haddie. I hate you. You will wish I never ate those damn seeds.”
“Don’t worry, Saphie,” he said. “I’ll bring you some company.” Hades snapped his fingers and the crushed pieces of Pandora fell into a black box strapped to the back of the chariot. Once the last piece flew into it, the box slammed shut. Hades tugged on his reins and the horses charged, taking the chariot back into the dark hole they had come from, the rubble filling in.
Aletheria appeared in a cloud of ink and stood before the remaining Olympian who watched Callie cradle Sophie.
“You must do it, Perseus,” Aletheria said to the man. “It is the only reason bringing you from Mount Olympus was worth the risk. It isn’t her time.”
“I know,” he said.
“Don’t you do it, Perseus.” Rose shouted from across the room. “I just got finished cutting her thread. I hate exceptions! Damn it, Cleo. Measure out another thread.”
Callie had been so distraught at the sight of her lifeless daughter; she didn’t have a chance to look at the god who’d defeated Pandora, but now watched as he took Sophie into his arms and brought her cheek to his lips, kissing it lightly. A burst of light shot from him, consuming Sophie.
Sophie screamed and writhed, gasping for air, and coughing out the remaining blood from her windpipe. She opened her eyes.
“Hi, Daddy,” she said.
“Hi, baby,” Perseus, formerly known as Angelo Drago, replied.
Acknowledgments
The journey from idea to finished work has been over five years for Muse, Unexpected and I would be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge all of those individuals who supported me along the way.
To my publishers, Stephanie Murray and Marlene Castricato with Crescent Moon Press. Thank you for believing in Sophie’s story and the crazy world I’ve created.
To the Crescent Moon Press family of authors. Your advice and friendship has been invaluable to me.
To my editor, Kerri Nelson. Thank you for your patience and for leaving me only slightly bloodied.
To Grace and Christine Day. Two Muses who never cease to inspire me.
To Reverend and Mrs. Charles Frederick. You’ve given me so much. I would need several lifetimes to thank you correctly.
Uncle Steven, for the last time, Olive will not do Spider-pig. Now stop asking.
Special thanks to the first person who ever said, “I love it”—Paula Friedrich, your love and support has meant the world to me.
You supported and pushed me. I love you, Aunt Maryann.
To my two youngest tween test readers, Sarah Thieken and Abigail Neibert, thank you, now go do your homework.
To the many supporters, whose continued belief and support were greatly appreciated. Thank you: Alice Patterson, Angie and Troy Halstead, Bev and Howard Hickman, Carolyn and Bob Hayzlett, Charley and Mi
chelle Maghes, Chris and Milissa Ettrich, Colleen and Steve Andrasko, Dan and Melissa Parker, Danny and Marybeth Pierce, Deb Corder, Estelle Wallace, Frances Gagne, James Meyer, Jane Gilbert, Jean Herr, Jeannie Andrews, Jill Cottone, Karen and Steve McDaniel, Kelley Bright, Kirk & Jan Hilliard, Laura Dutton, Laura Gunn, Laurie Barr, Layne Ogden, Mark and Dennis Velco, Matt, Lorena, Max and Sophia Ritchey, Michael Casey, Michael Box, Michelle Umali, Rhonda, Joe, Josh and Rachel Weithman, and Susan Van Kley.
V.C. Birlidis
V.C. Birlidis grew up in Miami, Florida, but now calls Columbus, Ohio and its many seasons home. He earned degrees at Capital University and North Central State College. When he’s not dabbling in the world of Muses, he works for the award-winning agency, SBC Advertising, as the Director of Marketing. This is his first novel. Visit him on the web at: www.vcbirlidis.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/vcbirlidis.
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