Muse Unexpected (12 page)

Aletheria faced Sophie. “That was another world, another life.”

Sophie’s face burned as a surge of anger rip through her. “I know this is another world,” she said through gritted teeth. “How can I not know? I wake up earlier today to find I’ve changed physically. I don’t recognize myself and I’ve got things shooting out of my hands and to make matters worse, I’m guessing I have no clothes to wear because my old ones are too big on me. I mean, whose clothes am I wearing? And now, on top of all of this, I have to believe in Greek gods or gods that aren’t gods. No sir, they’re angels, demi-angels…”

“Demigods,” Aletheria corrected.

“I want to speak to my mother.” Sophie stood up and began walking.

“You’re going the wrong way.” Aletheria shouted.

Sophie swiveled and headed back, walking past a stone wall with the word “Nothos” painted on it.

An old woman named Penny stood hidden behind a large bush, holding her breadth, gripping her cane with such force she thought her fingers would shatter into a million pieces. The can of red spray paint she held fell from her hand.

Damn arthritis.
She decided the pain of retrieving the can of paint wasn’t worth the effort. She had plenty other cans in her oversized purse and at home.

She didn’t move until she knew for sure the Oracle had left. She saw the witch rush in the direction of what she assumed had to be the young Muse her visions had foretold. She heard the entire conversation and couldn’t help but grin to herself. The young Muse was ignorant of her situation. Even if Aletheria would tell her everything, it wouldn’t help the girl avoid her fate. She smacked her lips in delight, licking her upper lip, savoring the salty taste of her sweat. When Penny knew it was safe, she stepped from behind the bush and walked towards the lane leading her to the desolate house she had lived in for more years than she cared to remember. The heavy burden she carried for these many millennia seemed heavier today. Her legs and back groaned as she followed the long, winding street, and for a moment she thought her aches and pains would cause her to not make it.

It is the heat.
It always made her feel worse. The mere thought that she would soon seek revenge for her hellish existence made her almost feel young and hopeful. She could picture in her mind the terrors awaiting the girl and Callie, and Georgia’s screams of agony would be music to her ears.

Not a single day had gone by when Penny didn’t think of ways to torture Georgia, of ways to prolong the pain she wished to inflict on the woman. She thought it ironic that Georgia was thinking she was preparing herself for such greatness, when in fact she was digging her own grave.

On her walk, Penny stopped every so often and pulled out another can of red spray paint. Glancing around and making sure no one would see her, she marked several walls and doors with the word, “Nothos.” She thought her artwork was excellent.

How many millennia ago had God instructed Moses and the Jews to mark their doors with lamb’s blood?

She thought it was fitting for her to mark the villager’s doors the same way, except instead of sparing the life of the first son born in the household, she would murder everyone in the house and brand them “Nothos.”

They all pitied old Penny.
They all came around with their gifts of food and support because poor old Penny had no one.
Their pity and casseroles were disgusting reminders of what was and should have been for the old goddess and she would make them pay. Spray-painting doors was only the beginning. Her powers and strength were returning to her and as they did, she knew she would become bored with continuing her simple vandalism.

But I need to be careful.
If I become too greedy and exhaust my powers, I’ll have to wait another unbearable nine cycles of the moon before they replenish again. Sending the Black Omen to that Nothos,
Callista
, and killing a group of filthy mortals in Ohio nearly left me helpless for months.

Thinking of the horrors she could unleash made Penny feel young again.

“Well, youngish,” she muttered.

Sophie kept walking, wanting to leave the Oracle and her stories behind her. She heard Aletheria shouting for her to wait, but she didn’t care.

“Look, I know this is a lot to take in, but you don’t know enough about the island to go wandering off. Sophia, please stop.”

Sophie stopped and stared at the Oracle.

“I know we just met, but I want you to know I feel a true maternal instinct for you.”

Sophie smirked. “My mother didn’t raise me to be an idiot. You don’t know me, so you’ll have to forgive me if I say you’re full of crap.”

“Okay, so you don’t trust me. I understand and I accept I’ll have to earn your trust, but please, let me take you back to the Vasilikós.”

Sophie knew Aletheria was right. “Okay,” Sophie said, waiting for the Oracle to show her the way at home.

“It will take us forever to walk to Georgia’s. We’ll ride this.” Aletheria pointed to the empty space in front of them, as black scribbles drew a scooter.

Sophie couldn’t help but think all of this was insane.
But maybe it's time to put such thoughts away.

Aletheria handed to Sophie a freshly sketched helmet and Sophie slid it on her head, as she hopped onto the back of the new scooter. Her hands were sticky from the still wet ink.

“Hold on.” Aletheria shouted, as the scooter roared to life. “This is going to be a fast trip and with a little luck, we won’t kill anyone.”

Sophie laughed, but wasted no time gripping Aletheria’s waist right as the Oracle sent the scooter flying into the street.

“This is so thrilling.” Aletheria shouted. “I’ve always wanted to do this. Look out.” She yelled at a teenager, who wasn’t watching where he was going and almost stepped in front of the scooter. They zoomed in and out of alleys and lanes, barely missing several small, elderly nuns shrouded in black from head to toe.

“Sorry.” Sophie called after them.

A group of young men sat in a café near the water, and upon seeing Aletheria stood up, proclaiming their love for her. Aletheria laughed and brought the scooter to an abrupt halt. The Oracle flirted, baiting the young men to come closer. The men straightened their Tshirts, which were tight and showed off their well-toned torsos. As the men were close enough to almost touch, Aletheria sped off, screaming with laughter, shouting Greek taunts. “Poor boys,” she shouted to Sophie. “They still have mother’s milk on their chins.”

They continued their ride for another twenty minutes until Aletheria pulled up to a small stone house on a desolate section of road. The Oracle got off, placed her helmet on the vacated seat and walked towards the house.

“Ummm, Aletheria?” Sophie said. “This can’t be right. The bathroom I took a shower in was easily the size of this whole house."

Sophie watched Aletheria open the door, walk inside and slam it shut with an echoing bang. The wind picked up, clearly pushing Sophie towards the door.

“All right, I get the point,” Sophie said to the wind.

The front door to the little stone cottage didn’t open up into the room Sophie expected. She didn’t expect to walk into her bedroom in Ohio, but it’s what she found behind the door.

The shock of seeing the life she knew before was too much for her. Her mind had been aching for something familiar, for any kind of normality she could grasp onto and, as if she had rubbed some sort of magical lamp, it found her.

She went to her most prized possession. Sitting in a faded and paint-chipped wooden frame was a family picture. It was Sophie’s favorite picture of the three of them. Callie lovingly gazing at Angelo and Angelo was looking up at a three-year-old Sophie who sat on his shoulders laughing and clapping.

Her lips trembled as the picture began to fade into a blurry puddle of colors, shapes and shadows. She blinked as the tears fell onto her cheeks, and she lifted a hand to wipe them away. With all of the talk of Muses, gods and Oracles, she had forgotten about her father, and the guilt of it slammed on top of her heart like a ten-ton weight and she found it hard to breathe. She remembered crying for her father before the change, but the wave of emotion wracking her body was so intense she thought her heart would burst.

She was doubled over in agony and fell onto her bed, crawling into a tight ball. Exhausted and mentally drained, she cried herself to sleep.

Georgia
stood lost in her thoughts, clipping a few wayward tendrils away from one of the oldest vines in the entire vineyard. After saying a prayer in Greek, she placed the clippings into a basket. A slight breeze caressed her cheek and frowned.

“You know I don’t like to be disturbed when I am tending to my vines,” Georgia said over her shoulder as she removed her garden gloves.

“Well,” the Oracle began, “I have learned we live in a world where rules are made to be broken.”

An interrogation was not on my schedule for today.

“Aletheria, I don’t have time for idle chatter. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a lot of work to do. Having my granddaughter here has taken up a lot of my time and these vines are in horrible condition.”

Aletheria grabbed Georgia’s wrist. “Did you think I wouldn’t find out? Manipulation of the Oracle to this Vasilikós is not part of the deal I struck with Zoe, who I might remind you is a higher authority than you. Do you take me for a fool?”

“How dare you touch me, you rotten, festering book.” Georgia shouted as she attempted to yank her wrist away, but the Oracle held fast.

“How
dare
I?” Aletheria screeched, dragging Georgia towards the main gates of the vineyards. “Let me remind you of who you are dealing with,” the Oracle said as she ripped Georgia away from the vineyard in a blast of black ink.

Before Georgia could blink, she stood inside the ancient chapel attached to the main Vasilikós. The Orthodox Church was small, with eight rows of seating. Looking down from a domed ceiling was a massive mosaic of the Madonna holding the Christ child. Callie knelt in the front pew. With all the commotion, she swung around to face the interruption, as Aletheria materialized behind Georgia.

“So, tell me Georgia, shall I begin or will you? Who will be the first to tell your daughter what you have done?” Aletheria demanded.

Callie put down her prayer book and lifted her head. “Can’t I have a few moments to mourn my husband?”

“Aletheria. This is neither the time nor the place for this kind of discussion. Can’t you see my daughter is still in mourning?” Georgia demanded.

Aletheria laughed. “Thank goodness I know you, Georgia, or else I’d believe you were a concerned mother.”

“Georgia. What is she talking about?” Callie asked.

“Honey, I don’t know. She’s lost her mind. Maybe it’s a bad case of bookworms or binding rot. Let’s go back to the Vasilikós”

“All right,” Aletheria said. “We’ll do it the hard way. But first, allow me to give Callista a gift.”

The Oracle reached over and placed her hand on the top of Callie’s head. Callie began to scream as ink seeped from Aletheria’s hand and the Oracle ripped away the invisible veil Georgia had placed over Callie’s mind. Aletheria stepped back as Callie fell back into the pew.

“Callista,” the Oracle began, “it would appear your mother has either been dabbling in the craft or had one of her many witch friends make you into the dutiful daughter she’s always wanted. What was it, Georgia? A veil of obedience created with nightshade, lavender and mint-flavored Harpy tears?”

Georgia
turned away as both women glared back at her.

“You see, Callista, it isn’t any of my business what Georgia does. I don’t care, as long as the integrity of this Vasilikós remains intact. However, when she decides to do something to
me
, well, my dear, I have to take action.”

Callie gripped the back of the pew in front of her. “Is what she says true?”

Georgia
sighed and sat down in the pew nearest to her.

“Yes,” Georgia said wearily. “I didn’t want to do it, anyway, but I had to get both of you back here. I had to and I’m sorry.”

“I have to admit I’m completely disgusted with you, Georgia. I wish I could say I’m surprised. I went crazy wondering what the buzzing was in my head and, now that I think about it, it came back each time I tried to stand up to you. I always knew you were a bit of a control freak, but this goes beyond— why? Just tell me why?”

Georgia
clasped her hands. “If I told you it was for your and Sophia’s safety that I needed you to return and do what you were born to do, I’m guessing you wouldn’t believe me and you'd shut me out forever. I knew if I told you the truth about Sophia you would have done everything within your power to keep her away from me and her destiny.”

“You’re insane. There is and was no destiny for Sophie, beyond living a normal life in Ohio. You created this mess and for what? Another Muse the world didn’t need? ”

“A ruler,” Aletheria said with a smile. “Georgia wants to elevate this Vasilikós above all others.”

Callie laughed. “Ruler? Do you know how ridiculous this sounds?”

Georgia
ignored the comment.

“What have you done, Georgia?” Callie asked.

“I didn’t do anything. How powerful do you think I am? This whole thing goes far beyond my capabilities. You need to come to terms with the idea that Sophie is something special and she will take her place as Queen over all of the Vasilikós.”

“Another one of your power plays, Georgia?” said Callie. “Isn’t it enough you have control of one of the oldest and most powerful Vasilikós?”

Georgia
pressed her lips into a frown. “Callista, listen to me, now, because I am being upfront with you now. No lies, no agendas, just the truth.”

Callie snorted. “Georgia, you wouldn’t know the truth if it bit you on your as—”

“The Fallen Ones are trying to rise again, Callista. They are trying to take their place as gods to rule over this Earth and the Heavens. They’re trying to reestablish Olympus. The hunting will begin again. You can’t deny the signs.”

The color drained from Callie’s face, as she walked towards Georgia, stopping a few inches from the woman. “So, let me get this straight. You’re telling me the Fallen Ones are back, trying to take things over and instead of protecting your family; you…you…you shove us right into the middle of a potential Olympian war? This is why you’re back in my life?”

“Do you think I wanted this?” Georgia spat back. “I always knew you were a bit vapid, but
this is rich
. This whole situation was created way before you and I were even born. What would you have had me do? Pretend they would have left you alone? For the past two decades I have done exactly what you asked of me. I stayed away. Do you know how hard it was for me? I know what you think of me. The disgust you feel. Even though all I ever wanted was your and Sophia’s happiness.”

“Don’t try the guilt card on me, Georgia. You’ve played that hand before and it never worked on me.” Callie spat back.

Georgia
smirked. “You’re right and I deserve that. And before you think it, I’m not trying to be a martyr. I did everything to keep both of you hidden from their eyes, but you didn’t behave. You didn’t forsake your powers like you said you would.”

“What are you talking about?” Callie said.

Georgia
couldn’t help but laugh. “Oh, Callista, now look who is being deceitful. You are too much. All of those cupcakes, all of those meals prepared for charities. Why, every meal you created had a little inspiration sprinkled in, even if you didn’t know you were doing it. It was one twinkling light after another, pointing directly to the wretched Ohio hut you called home.”

“Are you serious? A few cupcakes and my cooking at home is not an expansive use of my power. It shouldn’t have even attracted a flea, let alone the Fallen Ones.”

Georgia
scoffed. “And I won’t even begin to list the many other people you touched. A chance meeting between you and a young girl wanting to be a celebrity chef and poof, Suzy Sunbeam. Another chance meeting with a struggling Savannah mother and poof, Stella Dubois for some down-home southern cooking? Dare I even go into the little shots of inspiration that created
Top Cook
,
King of Cake
s and
The Meal Network
?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Callie said.

Georgia
took a step closer to Callie, and Callie diverted her eyes.

“You wear your guilt wonderfully, my deceitful child.”

“It was nothing.”

“Who’s the liar now, Callista?” Georgia remarked. “You at least have to lay claim to Ingrid Malworth. You picked a woman as distant as your own mother to thumb your nose in my face.”

Callie turned away from Georgia.

“Well my dear, if I noticed, I can assure you
they
noticed and
they
took action to try to ensure Sophia’s destiny was not realized. We wouldn’t be having this conversation at all had you decided to meet Angelo at the airport.”

“Angelo. They killed Angelo and I’m to blame.” Callie whispered the words, as she covered her mouth. Fresh tears slid down her face.

“And they would have killed both of you had they had the chance. That’s all it takes to undo everything—a chance."

“This is too much,” Callie said to herself. “Too much to digest.”

“So what would you have me do? Sit back and watch them kill my daughter and granddaughter? There was one way to protect you. I had to have you and Sophia here and I had to have Sophia come into her birthright. It was the only way. If she didn’t, she would have been branded a Nothos and slaughtered. We had to fulfill what the Fates predicted. We all have roles to play in this war, Callista, and I won’t deny it gives me great satisfaction to know both of you are back where I’ve always thought you belonged. I won’t even attempt to hide my jubilation in knowing my granddaughter will raise our family to new heights of power because I can no longer deny the obvious. We are destined for greatness.”

“She’s a run-of-the-mill Muse. What greatness are you talking about?”

“Sophia will lead the Vasilikós and usher in a new renaissance, another Golden Era. She is the final defense from the rise of the Fallen Ones. She is our only hope of defeating the utter evil and darkness the Fallen Ones represent. That is her true destiny. She is our warrior.”

Callie turned into the direction of the Oracle.

Aletheria lowered her head. “What she has told you is the truth. Your daughter carries a heavy burden.”

“So, Georgia,” Callie began, “I’m sure you’ve got it all figured out. What do we do now?”

“We prepare Sophia. We protect her and we all get ready for the battle to come,” Georgia said.

Callie gathered her tissues and shoved them into the right pocket of her jeans.

“One thing, Georgia, while I will never understand why you did the things you did, and as hard as it is for me to get beyond our past, I assume I still have to thank you. However, let me give you one small warning. If you ever attempt to hide anything from me, attempt to cast or have any spells put on Sophie or me in order to fulfill your ambitions, I will make it my own personal crusade to make sure you never have anything to do with Sophie ever again. Do you understand me?”

Georgia
knew she was surrounded on all sides. Her hand had been forced and she'd been forced to tell things she wasn’t ready to tell. Every secret revealed meant the potential for failure and failure wasn’t something she could accept. Not to mention the very idea of her daughter thinking it was appropriate to speak to her mother in such a threatening tone didn’t sit well with her. She didn’t like it.

Not at all.
So, do I put my daughter in her proper place? Tell her to keep her opinions and empty threats to herself? Show her what I am truly capable of?
She swallowed down her anger.

“Finally, the backbone I always knew you had,” Georgia said.

“In the mean time, how do you plan to protect Sophie?” Callie said.

Georgia
stood up. “I’ve already put things in motion about that.”