Muse

Chapter 1

“Alessa,” Thalia groaned as she looked up at me. I smiled down at her from my place in the tree.

“Sister,” I answered warmly. “Is there something I can do for you?”

“Perhaps you can get down before you break your limbs?” Thalia called up to me. Her chocolate hair was pulled back from her face, allowing me to see the relaxed features on her face.

“You do not seem terribly concerned about my safety. What has you needing my company?” I asked as dropped down onto the thick branch below me.

“Father is coming to visit. You need to get washed up.” Thalia sighed finally.

“Is his wife coming?” I asked, trying to contain my disdain for the goddess.

“Olympus, no,” Thalia snorted. “That woman has far more important things, like studying her mirror.”

“I thought that was Aphrodite’s favorite way to pass the centuries?” I teased as I dropped to the ground.

“Perhaps the women spend too much time together.” She said as she grabbed my hand.

“Is father bringing anyone with him?” I asked making her smile.

“Hoping for a strapping young man?” She asked, making me roll my eyes.

“For you. Just so you’ll stop pestering me.”

“Funny,” She replied dryly as we walked down the narrow path back to the cottage.

“Are the others coming?” I asked.

“Melpomene and Terpsichore arrived this morning while you were out frolicking. Clio is coming with Father. Urania and Polymnia will arrive later.”

“Is it safe for all of us to be together?” I asked, eyeing the small cottage Thalia and I had made home the last year.

“You worry too much Sister,” Thalia said as she squeezed my hand. “Father will be here and I’m certain that Clio forced Ares to come along.”

“Ares?” I squealed. “It’s been so long!”

“You know that boy would never miss a chance to see his favorite half-sister.”

“I am not his favorite,” I huffed.

“We will never know how you managed to get not only Father but the God of War wrapped around your little fingers.” She laughed.

“And what of Calliope?” I asked when our eldest’s sister’s name was not mentioned.

“She is stuck in Olympus. Athena required assistance.”

“Why would she require the Muse of epic poetry?” I snorted.

“That,” Thalia laughed, “is a very good question.”

“Is that little Alessa?” A deep voice boomed making me look up in glee.

 Ares was the largest of all our brothers. His skin was tan from all his time training warriors. Pale scars crisscrossed all over his body. His hair was longer than it had been last time I had seen him, now falling into his eyes. His eyes were the color of amber making him look even more intimidating.

“Ares!” I shouted making him grin as I let go of Thalia to run to the giant man.

“My sister, you’ve grown to quite the beauty!” He said as he swung me in a circle.

“You’ve not seen me in nearly five years! Of course, I’ve grown you imbecile.”

“Harsh words from the youngest goddess in Olympus.” He said as he set me down.

I rolled my eyes before grinning up at him.

“Where is Father?” I asked.

“Am I not good enough company?” Ares asked as he placed a hand on his chest in mock hurt. I narrowed my eyes at him as I crossed my arms.

“Are you really going to act like a child?” I asked.

“Perhaps, you are quite humorous when you get riled up.” He said as Thalia approached.

“Ares,” She drawled making him grimace.

“Mother hen of the Muses,” He mocked

“Are you two ever going to get along?” I asked as I looked between them.

Thalia and Ares were close in age and had never gotten along from what Calliope had told me. Everything had been a competition between the two. Thalia snorted before she offered a polite smile to our brother.

“Perhaps Alessa is right,” Thalia sighed. “This childish feud has been going on far too long, brother.”

“What’s your angle?” Ares asked as he narrowed his eyes at her.

“Children, I hope you’re getting along. I’d hate to have to call Hades when Persephone just returned to him.” Father said as he placed a hand on Ares’s shoulder.

“Of course, Father,” Thalia said warmly. “I was just proposing that Ares ad I get over our childish feud.”

“Is that so?” Father asked as he looked between them. “Alessa, let’s get you away from these two before they ruin you.” He said as he held his arm out for me. I slipped mine in before waving at my siblings.

“How was your trip?” I asked him as we rounded the cottage to go to the garden.

“Long, my dear. Clio and Ares get along nearly as well as Thalia and Ares.”

“Perhaps, Ares is the fault then.” I laughed.

“Of course the boy is!” Father cried in frustration. “That boy insists on war off the battlefield.”

“Then we should be glad he does refrain from weapons with his sibling war.”

“Ah! You are right, my sweet child. You are wiser than your siblings.” He snorted. I wanted to laugh. My closest sibling was nearly two centuries older than me.

“They taught me their mistakes so I would not make them as well,” I answered fondly.

“You have grown from when I last saw you.” He said as he ruffled my hair. “You must come to visit in Olympus next time.”

“But Hera—”

“She has admitted that her ill feelings towards you are nonsense. I have plenty of children not of her womb. She does wish to meet the girl who has Ares so smitten.”

“Then I will come to visit someday.” I agreed.

“You all have been well?” He asked making me sigh.

“We grow restless. We are not meant to be in the human world for so long.” I said. “I am better than the others since we left when I was just a babe. Thalia struggles and I’d assume the others do as well. There are nights when she is feverish, and I grow worried. I tell her to go just for a night but she refuses to leave me alone.”

“Perhaps all of you should come back to Olympus. It has been nearly two decades since any of you were attacked.”

“The Parthenon will not let us sit there and put a target on all of Olympus.” I snorted.

“Daughter, in case you have forgotten, I am the deciding vote of the Parthenon.”

“The same Parthenon that had us flee in the first place.” I murmured as I turned my gaze from him to the flowers in front of us.

“Alessa,” He sighed, drawing my attention towards him. Father looked no older than thirty despite him being eons old. His hair was golden in color and his eyes were sky blue. He also looked tired which is something new.

“Has something happened?” I asked.

“No, daughter.” He said. “I feel nothing but guilt for letting the Parthenon force you girls out. They would not have done so if not for Hera’s cruel whispers.”

We do not blame you,” I assured him. “The hunters were becoming far too dangerous. If they got into Olympus who knows what would have happened.”

“Far too wise, daughter.” He said as he gave me a grin. “Come, let's find your sisters.”

“And Ares,”

“I was including him.” He laughed making me roll my eyes as I stood to follow him.

“You antagonize him far too much, tata.” I laughed.

 “I antagonize him just enough,” He said as we entered the cottage.

Voices were echoing off the walls making me wince. It took me a minute to realize that the voices were panicked. Clio was ordering them around while Thalia and Ares were hunched over someone.

“What is going on?” Father demanded.

“It’s Poly and Ura,” Mel said making me push forward to Thalia. I sucked in a sharp breath as I took in the figures on the floor. Urania was obviously dead. Her dark eyes were blank as she stared at the ceiling. Blood covered her front, making it hard to distinguish where her wound was. Polymnia was shallowly breathing but judging by the rattling of her chest, she would be following her twin.

“Polymnia, daughter, what happened?” Father asked as he knelt next to his second youngest daughter.

“They came from nowhere, tata.” She whispered, her once musical voice was gravelly and harsh now. “They came from the trees and cut Ura’s throat. I could not bear to leave her. I should have—” A rattling sob left her.

“No, daughter, she is half of you. You could not leave your half.” Father soothed. “You were so strong for getting you both home.” He whispered. “Let’s get you both back to Olympus to rest together.”

“I love you, tata,” Poly whispered before her breathing silenced completely. The rest of us refused to make a sound as father wailed in loss for his twin-souled children.