Muse

Prologue

“We have to split up. We’re no longer safe.” Calliope said as she stood in front of the group. “They have been hunting us for centuries and they are finally succeeding.”

“Where are we to go, sister?” Thalia demanded as she pulled the frightened toddler onto her lap.

“Anywhere. Stay hidden. Try not to stand out.” Calliope said. “We are the last of us.”

“Can Father not help?” Clio asked.

“He is trying, but he needs us to cooperate, Clio.” Calliope snapped.

“We are goddesses and all of Olympus would rather shove us into a cave!”

“We are minor goddesses, Clio. We are Muses. We are required to stay alive.” Thalia soothed. “Father will find whoever is in charge of the hunt.” She said as she adjusted their youngest sister. “Think of Alessa. If they know she exists…”

“Fine,” Clio sighed as she looked at the child who was oblivious to the situation as she played with a small doll.

The girls were the daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne, the goddess of memory. They were the goddesses of the arts and sciences. There had been only nine until three years ago when Zeus and Mnemosyne had one last fling despite Hera’s threats. Alessa was the product of that fling.

Shortly after the tenth girl’s birth, their mother was killed. Most of Olympus believed it was Hera’s doing despite the goddess’s denial. Shortly after, their sister Erato was killed. Erato was the Muse of erotic poetry. Following her death was their sister Euterpe, the muse of lyric poetry.

The seven older girls shifted their gaze to their youngest sister. No one knew what she would be the Muse for since two of their sisters were dead and there was never supposed to be a tenth Muse. She didn’t even look like the other girls who all had taken after their mother. Dark hair and eyes completed by olive skin.

Alessa was fair-skinned with pale hair and pale eyes, the color of Zeus’s silver lighting. The only thing that marked her as a muse was the black mark on her wrist. It was her astrology symbol for her name. All of the muses had one for their own name. Alessa’s was very reminiscent of their mother’s. It was only missing the top half circle.

“We need to find the seers and see what we should do then.” Clio sighed making the other girls nod in agreement.

“We will be okay, sisters,” Calliope said softly as the girls settled into familiar silence.