A/N: Ta-Da! New chapter. ForeverACharmedOne, 50TH REVIEWER, YAY! Rock and hard place scenarios are one of many things that are so much more fun in a fictional setting, haha. And poor Polyhymnia is allergic to probably several things in the Warren. I knew you'd appreciate Pitch making an appearance! DreadDaora91, glad you're enjoying it! You'll learn more about Artemis' conflict with Tsar Lunar in this chapter. dinohuntsmen, Pitch is definitely up to something! ArouraBorialice, I guess we'll have to wait and see how Apollo and Artemis' issues play out! AkariWolfPrincess, I am delighted to have my story compared to crack, haha.
"This is once in a lifetime. Falling in love with a Mortal never has the opportunity to work out this nicely."
Chapter Nine: Bargaining
Jack hadn't been in Burgess for long, taking a moment to sit on the Bennetts' roof as the bright summer sun beat down on everything.
A thin layer of frost formed a barrier between himself and the roof. He could handle heat to a certain extent, but burning one's feet on scalding roof tiles was always a possibility and always unpleasant.
He kept his eyes fixed to the edge of the roof, below which was Jamie's bedroom window. It was crazy to think that just a few months ago he could lurk by that window, knock, and be acknowledged and welcomed.
Now it was some kind of terrible game. Would he dare set foot on the lot today? How long would he sit on the roof before peering inside or flying away? How quickly would he flee with his tail between his legs this time?
Would he stay long enough for Jamie to glance toward his window? Would he stick around to find out if Jamie still couldn't see him?
Or would he duck out of sight right away once more, too afraid of the answer?
Maybe checking in on Jamie would be too much for today. He had come by after the meeting because it was impossible not to think of Rowan and Jamie after all that, after all the discussions of the full moon. But perhaps Jack had enough on his mind already, perhaps he should spare himself any more.
Still though, the wind picked up and Jack left the roof, gliding down the side of the house so that he could glance inside the window, open slightly in an attempt to stay cool.
The room was dark and silent, not a soul inside to be seen. The box of notebooks that Rowan had left Jamie was in the middle of the room, its contents spread all around. The notebooks lay open on Jamie's bed and on his desk, a few piled on the floor.
Jack couldn't help but wonder what sort of stories were in these other notebooks, and if Jamie was planning on finishing any, as Rowan had hoped he would. If things were different, he could ask.
But things weren't different. Even if Jamie could still see him, Jack was sure he was still upset, and wouldn't be up to discussing his cousin's work with him.
To think that her stories used to be something they all loved together.
Leaving the empty room behind but keeping the empty feeling close by, Jack let the wind carry him back to his cabin, hardly enjoying the feeling of being airborne as much as he usually did.
Landing near the front door, not feeling up to climbing through the window as per usual, Jack paused, glancing around as he thought he had heard a horse whinny. He saw nothing but the trees and the shadows they cast. Maybe he was hearing things; perhaps his mind was playing tricks on him again.
It was probably time for another brief nap.
Reaching for the door, Jack paused again, hearing the sound once more. It was definitely a horse, no doubt about it.
He tightened his grip on his staff and turned around, scanning the area again. It wasn't as though wild horses just roamed around Burgess.
Could Pitch be nearby? Jack doubted it; the Nightmares could be stealthy when they needed to. Pitch relied on dark and quiet, where one's fearful thoughts would be all the louder.
Maybe it was the Headless Horseman. It wasn't like him to pay Jack a visit, as he was among the many beings that found Jack to be obnoxious, but that didn't necessarily mean he might not be scoping out the area.
"Hm," Jack said, straining to hear anything else. Perhaps it had been the Horseman, and perhaps he had already passed by. The woods here were a bit creepy, and there had been whispers of the area being haunted ever since Rowan's body had been found by the lake. It wouldn't be surprising if the Horseman, the spirit in charge of Halloween and Horror, the spirit that had rather enjoyed Rowan's company at the ball, would be taking a look.
Either that, or Jack was starting to hallucinate again, but he was certain he wasn't that tired yet.
Shrugging the sound off, Jack opened the door of his cabin, fully intending to flop down on his bed.
However, that wasn't going to happen.
There was someone standing in his cabin. A white-haired someone with skin like leather and gold jewelry proclaiming that he was somehow important. Jack's hands shifted, gripping the staff at the ready to attack, bracing himself.
"Hey!" Jack said, "What're you doing here?"
"Down, Boy," was Apollo's response. The man sounded amused, barely sparing Jack a glance, favoring examining the photos and drawings on the wall instead.
"What are you doing here?" Jack demanded again, teeth clenched. The horses he had heard had to be Apollo's, they must be somewhere nearby where the entire chariot would have actually had the space to land. The clearing where Jack's cabin resided was not exactly roomy.
"I'm here to talk to you, Jack," Apollo said.
"What, like you talked to Cupid?" Jack said.
"Don't speak of that as though you know the whole story. I gave him life. For nearly two thousand years I have looked out for that boy. I crafted that bow of his. I gave him the opportunity to be great, I gave them all what they have now. And he betrayed all of that, and in the process put everyone I care about in danger. I have been angry with Cupid in the past and he has failed to learn from his mistakes. Now he will," Apollo said, his tone final, as though that was the end of the discussion. "But as I said, I am here to talk to you."
"And you had to break in to my home to do that?" Jack asked, glancing around as his things and suddenly wondering if they were all in the same place they had been before. How long had he been here? What all had he gone through?
He winced, remembering Rowan's reaction when she learned that Jack had been breaking into her apartment, going through her things.
If she were here, well, Jack could practically hear the sarcastic remarks and taunting I told you so's echoing around his ears.
"If you continue to dwell on such small issues, you will drive yourself mad," Apollo said simply. "What I have to say is far more important than a few bruises on Cupid or the fact that you've neglected to put a lock on your front door."
Jack scowled, annoyed, and made a mental note to get a lock. Of course, that meant he would have to start carrying around a key and for some reason that sounded like a lot of work. "What do you want?"
Apollo finally turned to face Jack. He was casually dressed, compared to the suit he had worn to the New Year's Eve Ball when Jack had first met him. Now he wore a white button-up shirt, the top few buttons undone, and a pair of black pants and shoes.
This didn't make him look relaxed, however. If anything, Apollo could wear a paper bag and still come across stern, determined, and aggressive.
"I'm sure you know by now that my sister is trying to gain control of the Muses. She's been saying for years now that I am not fit to lead them, that she would do a better job. But Artemis isn't passionate; she's logical. She doesn't serve the arts, she serves necessity," Apollo said, clearly appalled and disgusted to even be discussing his sister in the first place.
Jack opened his mouth to ask why Apollo was telling him this, but the other man simply spoke over him.
"The Muses exist because the arts exist. I created them to use their powers of influence as powers not to control people but to inspire them. I put them here to make the world a beautiful place. You can learn everything there is to know about art, you can study it until you know every theory and every term, and it won't make you an artist. It takes a spark; it takes passion and creativity. My sister doesn't have that. She wants strategy. She wants statistics. She won't be able to understand the Muses or their work," Apollo said.
"Okay but—" Jack started.
"She is the night to my day, she is dark, she is mysterious, and she is secretive. She uses secrets and lies to manipulate others to get what she wants and she will do the same to the Muses," said the man.
"Isn't that exactly what you do?" Jack said.
Apollo's eyes narrowed. "Think what you will about me, Frost, but everyone knows my intentions and my motives. The only time I've resorted to the tactics my sister employs is when I'm trying to keep the Muses safe and away from her."
Jack had never met Artemis, he had only heard about her in passing a handful of times. He had no point of reference to tell if there was any truth to what Apollo was saying or if his words were simply that of a bitter competitor about his rival.
From what he knew about Apollo, he wanted to assume the latter.
"Why are you telling me this?" Jack asked. Was there no one else for Apollo to vent about his sister to? Manny was a good listener, why didn't Apollo go to him?
"Because I know that the Muses are actually considering switching sides and joining up with Artemis," Apollo said. He seemed to be choking back another rant in regards to this development, clearing his throat before continuing. "But the alliance with the Guardians has remained strong through all of this, it's a relationship they value more than you probably realize. That's why I need your help."
"My help?" Jack said, cocking a brow. This widely-worshiped, powerful, arrogant sun god was standing in Jack's humble cabin and asking him for help?
Maybe he was hallucinating.
"I need you to convince them to stay on my side," Apollo said. "It was your influence that helped get Cupid involved in the first place and it was you that called for the vote that got Pitch Black into the alliance. If you can accomplish that, then this should be a simple task for you."
"Whoa, whoa, North is really the one that got Cupid involved, I just said it would be a good idea. Actually, if anything, Cupid pestered his way in. And as far as Pitch goes, that's sure to work against me, if anything," Jack said, though he felt another sharp jab of guilt in his stomach, knowing it was all excuses.
He still felt responsible for vouching for Cupid's involvement, for arguing in favor of Pitch's involvement. He had truly believed that everything he had done was going to be for Rowan's benefit.
There had been benefits from these alliances, sure, but they had also set events into motion that had ultimately led to her death.
"Besides," Jack said. "I think you're over-estimating my influence. I've barely been a Guardian for more than a year now, and the Muses and I are only just now actively trying to be civil."
"I think you're underestimating your influence," Apollo said. "It's a great tragedy that you've been ignored and invisible for so long; your voice demands to be heard. There's a reason Tsar Lunar picked you, Boy."
Jack wasn't used to getting compliments in general, and when he did, he was used to acting smug about it for laughs. Hearing this from Apollo was strange, though, uncomfortable. He wasn't sure how to take it.
The boy shook his head. "I'm not going to try to convince the Muses to take your side. You should talk to them yourself, I'm not involved."
"Oh?" Apollo said, holding up one of the Polaroids that had been pinned to the wall, Rowan's smiling face featured there. "Not involved?"
"Give me that!" Jack said, snatching the photograph back, holding it protectively.
"Artemis picks the Mortal Muse," Apollo said. "But I am the one that brings them back as Muses."
Jack glanced at the picture, one of the tangible pieces of proof that he had that Rowan Sawyer had once been alive and well, that she had once been happy and breathing and living. He looked back at Apollo, heart pounding, "What are you saying?"
"Tell me, is there really any reason to create another Muse if they're all going to just run off and join my sister instead? How does that benefit me at all?" Apollo asked, waving his hand about until there was a bright light in the middle of the cabin, a sparkling rendition of Rowan's form.
The image, crafted from the light, hurt to look at. Though when Jack closed his eyes, she was still there, burned into his vision.
"You don't need to be a love god to know how deeply you felt for her," Apollo said, lurking behind Jack now and setting a hand to either of the boy's shoulders. "Her death was a mistake, an unfortunate accident that could have been avoided. She was so young, so beautiful; she had so much potential. Surely you've thought about the life she missed out on, the life you missed out on with her. You love her so much, you've surely thought to yourself that you'd do anything to undo what happened."
They say that there's five stages of grief, and one of these stages is bargaining. It would be a lie to say that Jack had not considered all the small choices and decisions he could have gone about differently to perhaps prevent her death. It would be a lie to say that he had not found himself lying awake at night, thinking of all the things he would gladly give up to get her back.
It would be a lie to say that he had not thought that he would do anything to undo what happened.
He chanced opening his eyes again to watch the image of Rowan that Apollo had conjured up, feeling sick knowing that it wasn't real.
"I'm giving you a chance to undo what happened, Frost," Apollo said. "If the Muses stay with me, a tenth would be a delightful addition. A Muse of Illustrative Art is long overdue. Not only would you have her back, but she would be immortal, like you, making a life with her that much easier."
An immortal. Like him.
Rowan didn't want that. She had made that clear when she was still alive that living forever sounded like a terrible burden and that she didn't want to be a Muse.
But the idea of a second chance made him more hopeful than it probably should. He liked the idea of no longer worrying that she was going to age and out-grow him. He liked the idea of no more lies or cover stories. He liked the idea of actually entertaining long-term plans because the things that had been problems before would no longer be problems.
He missed her.
"This is once in a lifetime. Falling in love with a Mortal never has the opportunity to work out this nicely," Apollo said, waving his hand through the image of Rowan, causing it to fade out and disappear. "If you can assure that the Muses will stay with me, I can assure that come January, you'll have her back."
Jack swallowed, glancing back at the photograph again.
Provided that he could even pull off what Apollo was asking, was this really a decision he should be making for Rowan? Particularly when he knew it went against her wishes?
He knew she was content where she was, that she was fine with being dead.
Bitterly, he had to wonder if it was too much to ask that she could be content here, with him, as well.
Making a deal with Apollo didn't feel right.
"I'll tell you what," Apollo said, stepping to the cabin door. "You take some time and think about it."
As if Jack could possibly think of anything else now.
Artemis greeted Calliope like an old friend, pulling her into a warm embrace and kissing her cheek.
Calliope supposed that in a way, they were old friends. Artemis had always been good to the Muses in the past. It wasn't until everything with Cupid was revealed that any of them had felt particularly negative toward the moon goddess.
Artemis had a tendency to be there when Apollo was not. She was there through Erato's pregnancy and Cupid's birth. She had helped calm early, vicious arguments between Thalia and Melpomene. She was a wonderful listener when she was around.
It was rare for Apollo to react to any of this positively. He seemed convinced that everything Artemis did was an attempt to steal the Muses away from him, to turn them against him.
It was easier not to speak with Artemis as much than it was to deal with Apollo's seemingly irrational anger.
But that was just it, wasn't it? As Artemis made herself comfortable near the fire in a beautiful clearing and gestured for Calliope to do the same, Calliope couldn't help but wonder just how irrational Apollo's anger had been.
After all, wasn't he correct? Wasn't Artemis out to lead the Muses herself?
"I am so glad that we finally get to talk, Calliope," Artemis said pleasantly as the Muse took a seat.
"So am I," Calliope said, forcing a smile. Her eyes caught a doe in the bushes, watching them curiously.
"I suppose we should just get right to it then, shouldn't we? I'm sure you know by now, I want the Muses to leave Apollo's rule," Artemis said. The doe walked over cautiously, stopping by Artemis, who gently pet the creature's head.
"And start living under yours," Calliope added. The doe curled up beside Artemis, who continued to stroke the creature's fur. Artemis always had a way with animals. Animals were supposed to be a good judge of character, weren't they?
"Precisely," Artemis said with a nod.
"I'm not sure it's that easy, Artemis, we've been with Apollo for… well, forever," Calliope said.
"Change is good, dear, and it's necessary. I'll take so much better care of you than my brother has," Artemis said. The doe closed her eyes contently, like a well-behaved dog as Artemis rubbed her ear.
"I don't know," Calliope sighed. "We're… well, we're not so comfortable with what you did with Cupid and the Shadow People."
"I understand, and I apologize for the unfortunate events that followed," Artemis nodded. "But with Apollo out of the way, such tactics won't be necessary."
Calliope was unsure what to say about that, glancing back toward the fire in silence. She wanted to ask why Artemis wouldn't just put up with Apollo's backlash and just help them anyway, but knew it wasn't that easy.
As stated earlier, it was easier to just avoid Apollo's anger.
"Listen, what is my brother offering you that's good enough to stay, hm? He hardly talks to you directly, it's always through messenger. Only Tsar Lunar," Artemis said the name as though it left a bitter taste in her mouth, "speaks to the Guardians less than Apollo speaks to you."
"This is true," Calliope said with a sigh. It had long been one of her great frustrations with Apollo.
"Besides, it's a bit archaic, isn't it? One man in charge of nine powerful women? Keeping an eye on them like they're his fragile little playthings?" Artemis asked. "Not to mention all the people that assume you all must have slept with him."
Calliope made a face, disgusted at the concept. It was true, though, that it was often assumed that the Muses must also be sexual playthings for Apollo.
"It's disgusting, and condescending," Artemis continued. "I'm the goddess of women, you know it would be different with me. We would be ten amazing, inspirational women. A force to be reckoned with. We would show them all just how capable we could be."
It was a nice concept, it really was. Artemis was a strong woman, a strong woman offering to be a more available leader than Apollo ever was. She was a strong woman offering a new image for the Muses.
After what had happened during the full moon back in January, a new image might not be a bad thing.
"Not to mention, I know about the, uh, incident with the bomb," Artemis said, as though reading Calliope's mind. "If and when that gets out, you'll need as many allies as you can get, because the public opinion of the Muses and Guardians is going to take a turn for the worst. You need to do damage control now so you don't end up the people that almost made an entire group of mythical beings go extinct and killed a mortal girl all in one night. I know it's more complicated than that and you know it's more complicated than that, but no one's going to listen once they're angry.
"And that's where I come in. Athena is my dear friend and would, of course, be on our side if you were to join up with me. Then there's the nymphs, the Nü Gui, the banshees, Baba Yaga, and that's just the tip of the iceburg."
Calliope had to hand it to Artemis, she had used the information Cupid had given her to her advantage and come up with a great strategy to make her seem like not only the better choice for leader, but possibly the only choice.
"But what about everyone that will only be on our side if we're with Apollo?" Calliope had to ask.
"Sacrifices have to be made," Artemis said, waving away Calliope's concern. "Although, that does remind me of one condition I do have."
"Yes?" Calliope asked. Wasn't potentially switching sides already a huge condition? Wasn't Apollo's inevitable rage already a huge condition?
"You, of course, know all about how I feel about Tsar Lunar," Artemis said. Calliope winced and nodded. It wasn't much of a secret that Artemis and the Man in the Moon had a huge disagreement over who rightfully had control and claim over the moon.
Tsar Lunar argued that the moon was his parents' space ship and therefore it belonged to him. Artemis argued that the moon hadn't been useful as a spaceship in thousands of years, and as it had loitered in it's gravitational pull for that entire time, it belonged to the earth. She argued that since so many people on the earth had worshiped her in association with the moon, she had a greater claim to it than he did.
The disagreement hadn't escalated to much, mostly because Tsar Lunar seemed unwilling to actually engage in any conflict with Artemis.
Because of this, the goddess viewed him as a terrible, terrible coward.
"If you were to join with me," Artemis said, "You would have to cut all ties with him. That means that your alliance with the Guardians? That would be over."
Calliope's heart seemed to drop into her stomach at the notion. The doe curled up closer to Artemis, blissfully unaware of the giant condition that the woman had just dropped.
"We can't do that, we've… we've been allies with the Guardians for—" Calliope started.
"For about as long as you've been with Apollo. Like I said, change is necessary, and it is good," Artemis said with a nod. "With all the allies I'll bring to the table, you won't need them. Their blind attachment to a leader that won't even spare them the time for a conversation isn't just holding them back, it's holding all of you back."
Calliope shook her head. "It's not that easy, it's not just politics, Artemis! They are our allies, yes, but they're also our friends. Not to mention, Sanderson and I—"
"Perhaps you've gotten comfortable," Artemis suggested. "You're so used to them, so used to the Sandman. They're familiar and easy to deal with. But don't you deserve something challenging, Calliope? Something more exciting than familiar? You and the other Muses have the potential for so much more than childhood superstitions can offer."
"Sanderson is a great man, he's a great warrior and a great artist," Calliope said, nostrils flaring and eyes narrowing. "I will not have you speak of him that way."
"Who do you care about more, Calliope? Your boyfriend or your sisters? Because if you stay with the Guardians, if the full extent of the damage the bomb caused gets out, you will go down with them. I'm offering you a way out," Artemis said.
"Bunny and Clio made that bomb. The Guardians and the Muses are in this together, there's not another option," Calliope said, hoping to reason with the other woman.
"I'll tell you what," Artemis said, focusing her attention to the doe. "You take some time and think about it."