Muse

Chapter 4

“Lady Alessa,” A voice said softly making me look up from my book. A girl, around my age, stood with an armful of fabric and a wide smile.

“Hello,” I said as I set the book down. “Can I help you?”

“Your father sent me to help you get dressed for the meeting with the Romans.” She said warmly. I squinted at her, she was definitely not a goddess.

“What are you?” I asked as I stood.

“I am a demi, Lady Alessa. My father is Apollo and my mother was a human.” She said. I nodded, she did look similar to the brooding god. “Now, we must hurry.”

I huffed in annoyance as I tried to bundle the heavy chiton. The silks and linens were layered, creating beautiful shades of blues but it was far too long for my short stature. I rounded the final corner and saw Ares look over at me in amusement.

“Do not laugh.” I spit as I tried to catch my breath. Atlas looked over from where he stood talking to Calliope. Even his lips twitched in amusement.

“I would never,” Ares said before a chuckle escaped his lips.

“I will kill you, Ares,” I warned.

“Children, can we try to behave?” Hera hissed.

“Perhaps if you leave,” I replied making her narrow her eyes.

“You are not even a Muse. Why are you even coming? You’re no better than a demi.” Hera snapped.

“Hera!” Clio shrieked. “You are the reason she has had no connection with her gift.”

“Me?” Hera shrieked back.

“You’re the reason why we were told to leave! Alessa was far too young to be taken from Olympus!”

“Enough.” Zeus sighed. “I want no arguing. No fighting. We are a happy family today.”

“Fine,” Clio sighed. She remained silent as she fixed her crown.

“Lovely. We are meeting at Jupiter’s temple in the human world. It’s mostly closed off and away from prying eyes.”

“Let’s get a move on then,” Hermes said as he appeared from one of the halls.

I kept my mind blank this time around. I had never been to the Roman civilization. I knew nothing of their gods. The feeling of falling made me squeeze my eyes shut until the feeling disappeared. When I opened my eyes, we were in a large rectangular room. A marble statue was on the far wall, with pillars lining the outer walls.

“We were beginning to think you wouldn’t come,” A voice called. My eyes shot back to the statue. In front of it were six gods, Jupiter was easy to see. He stood tall and broad; his har was long and braided. His facial features were covered by a short beard. The tall slim woman next to him looked more of a seductress than a goddess. Her hair was crimson and her eyes matched.

“Jupiter,” Father called. “It’s lovely to see you again.”

“Do not lie to me old fool. You did not want to have this meeting.” Jupiter laughed. “You have brought many of your children. Was that for protection or trying to show off your seed?”

“They were insistent on coming.” Father sighed as he threw a glance back at us. “Line up so everyone can become acquainted.”

We shuffled into a line, similar to how the Romans were. My eyes traveled over them once more. One of them caught my eye. He looked bored with the entire meeting but his pale orbs were on me. I raised a brow at him making him mirror my action before a cruel smirk lifted his lip.

“This is my wife Juno, my brother Neptune, My son Vulcan, my son Mars and my other brother Pluto,” Jupiter said. The god, Pluto, was the one who had been staring at me. I knew little of the Roman gods so I wasn’t sure what he was the god of.

“This is my wife Hera. My brother Poseidon, my brother Hades,” I looked up to see the two uncles. I did not even notice them when we left. Hades winked at me making me glare. “My son Ares, my son Hephaestus, my son Atlas, my son Hermes, and my daughters, the Muses,” Father said.

“Do we not get the privilege of knowing the Muses’ names?” Pluto called making father stiffen.

“Surely you know their names.” Father bit.

“It’d be nice to put a face to the name.” Jupiter grinned.

“I’m Calliope, this is Thalia, Melpomene, and Terpsichore.”

“And what of her?” Pluto asked, his eyes narrowed on me. “She bears the mark of a Muse, yet you did not introduce her as such.”

“She’s not—”

“Alessa, my name is Alessa,” I said cutting Calliope off. “And I should not exist.”

“So she speaks!” Jupiter clapped. “Tell me, little Muse, why should you not exist?”

“I’m the tenth sister,” I said as I met his steely gaze.

“Oh Zeus, you have been keeping secrets.” Jupiter grinned. “Come here, child,” Jupiter purred making me stiffen. Atlas grabbed my hand and pulled me behind him.

“Forgive us, we are quite protective of little Alessa,” Ares said as he stepped forward. I peered around Atlas to meet the cold stare of Pluto once more. His face was as emotionless as the grand statue behind him.

“We will not harm the girl,” Juno called. “She is still a Muse.”

“It’s fine,” I said as I stepped around Atlas. He grabbed my arm and glared down at me.

“Do not go over there.” He hissed.

“You’re the one who wanted this meeting.” I reminded him.

“Alessa,”

“It’s fine, Atlas,” I said as I gently removed his hand from my bare arm. “They cannot help if we will not trust them.”

He sighed but nodded. Ares grabbed me as I tried to pass making me sigh.

“Alessa,”

“Let the girl go,” Pluto called making Ares stiffen.

“Friend, I suggest you not try to command young Ares.” Uncle Hades called from behind us. “He can be quite temperamental.”

“Hades, your nephews are becoming a bother,” Pluto said before Ares’s hand was removed from my arm.

I blinked up at Hades. His hair was nearly black and his eyes matched.

“Uncle Hades,” I drawled.

“Alessa,” He warned making me grin.

“I’m glad to see your hair is back to the natural color.” I teased.

“Yes, try that again and I will ensure you live your years with me.” He bit.

“But you are my favorite uncle.” I laughed.

“Hey!” Poseidon called.

“How is Persephone?” I asked making him narrow his eyes on me.

“Less amused now that the blue is gone. Ares go back to your siblings.”

“But—”

“Now,” Hades barked. “Now, dear niece, let’s show our friends how well you can behave.”

“I am not a child, Hades.” I snapped making him raise a brow.

“You are a mere two decades old. You are a babe to everyone in this room.”

“I must agree with Hades,” Jupiter said as Hades and I neared. “You are just a child in a woman’s body.”

“Okay, rude.” I huffed as I placed my hands on my hips to glare at the man. “I think my life of isolation and fear has at least granted me the title of an adolescent in a woman’s body.”

“Oh, you are much like Hades.” Jupiter laughed.

“I did say he was my favorite.”

“It’s not me she’s portraying. It’s a young Ares. The boy carries his war off the battlefield.”

“Interesting, are you two to be wed?” Jupiter asked. I recoiled in horror.

“Gross! No!” I shrieked. “He is my brother.”

“Little Muse, we marry our siblings all the time. There are very few options.” Jupiter said. “I believe you and Ares would make a powerful match.”

“Absolutely not!” I squeaked. “I would sooner marry into your Parthenon.”

“That could be arranged,” Mars called, making me look at him. He was handsome, very rugged.

“Hades,” I whined making my uncle ruffle my hair.

“You got yourself into this mess.”

“I’m talking to Persephone when this is done,” I warned.

“Mars, do not taunt her. If she’s going to take her anger out it’s not going to be on me.” Hades said quickly.

“Can we carry on with this conversation? I’m in no mood to discuss weddings.” Pluto drawled as he moved to stand next to Jupiter.

I stumbled back in surprise as I craned my neck to look up at his face. He was stunning. The pale ice blue eyes peered out from midnight hair. He narrowed those cold eyes on me making me take another step back.

“You are so impatient,” Jupiter sighed but he moved to walk closer to me.

“What are you looking for?” I asked as he circled around me. I jumped when his warm finger touched my bare shoulder.

“You are quite different from your sisters.” He said softly. “You have a mark like a muse but you do not have the same aura. Yours is similar to Ares and Hades. Even Mars and Pluto.”

“What does that mean?” I asked as I looked at my uncle.

“She is Zeus’s daughter with Mnemosyne,” Hades said. “There is no question.”

“That is also true, hence her mark.” Jupiter conceded. “My dear, you read more like a true goddess, almost identical to Morta.”

“Who’s Morta?” I asked as Hades burst out laughing.

“This girl squeals at the idea of death! Old friend, surely you must be wrong.” Hades said.

“Who is Morta?” I asked again.

“She was our goddess of death. Similar to your Mortai. She was killed by the hunters while she was collecting souls.”

“I cannot do that,” I said as I took a step away from them, wrapping my arms around myself.

“But—”

“Alessa,” Pluto murmured over Jupiter, making me look up at him. “What has you so afraid of death?” He asked.

I blinked at him for a moment as the thought of holding Ura’s dead body made me want to vomit.

“Everything,” I whispered. “Besides, I am a Muse.”

“Maybe you are the Muse of death,” Jupiter grinned.

“That is not even a thing!” I hissed. “Father!”

“Listen to them, Alessa,” Father called, making me whirl to glare at him.

“None of you are being helpful!”

“Calm down, sweet girl,” Juno said as she placed her hands on my shoulders, forcing me to look at her. “Everything will be okay.” She promised.

“But—”

“Hush, now, Husband I do think there is a matter of safety that needs to be discussed. We can learn more about young Alessa later.”

“Right,” Jupiter sighed. Hades pulled me back towards our family and I ran straight to Ares and Atlas. Atlas curled an arm around my shoulders before tipping my chin up to look at him.

“Are you alright?” He murmured.

“I’m fine,” I mumbled as Thalia came to join us. Humor danced in her eyes making me glare at her.

“Not one word,” I warned her. She held her hands up in surrender before we all turned our attention to the Roman Parthenon.