Chapter 5

Azusa greeted the five of us at Melody's apartment. Unlike her usual bouncy self, she was quiet and pale, looking slightly shaken. A small hand harp rested on the coffee table. It glittered magically like my staff - as if the strange objects waited for something. Azusa seemed unsurprised by the masked and costumed Ken, Melody, and Yuki, only looking at me and dryly commenting,

I can see that things will never be the same.

I smiled weakly.

Melody, removing her mask, sank down on the couch with a sigh. Giving Ken a reassuring smile, she turned to us.

I suppose you want answers.

Despite everything that had just happened, Chiro's humor hadn't deserted him.

That might help.

Melody began. We are the Muses of Harmony. Our duty is to
protect music and musicians.

I was confused. It seemed like such a trivial thing.

Melody's violet eyes traveled to Ken by the window. Music is a gateway to another world. It is the expression of the soul and emotions and life. But also opens the way for some things not so pure. Demons want to destroy what music gives - to turn it into something twisted. For what opens one way, leads into another. She lightly traced her violin. Music is ancient and holy. Then darkness seeped in and began to corrupt it. By the time the Muses discovered what was causing the chaos, the gateway could not be closed. Ever sense then it was decided that the responsibility to hold back the demons will be handed down to those ordained.

And that's us. Azusa stated without argument.

I had to ask. Do we have a choice?

Melody smiled sadly. There is always a choice. I made one long ago to try and run from my fate, only to find it waiting for me. She held out her hand and Ken took it. He continued,

You can choose to reject you magic. It will be hard, though it can be done. But here is something you must consider. His eyes turned cold. We find each other in times of crisis. The greater the darkness, the more of our kind we encounter. The last time we engaged Javier, Yuki found his magic. Now we have found three. I'm afraid this battle is unavoidable and we cannot do it without you.

Yuki took Azusa off into a corner, probably to persuade her to join this bizarre quest. I looked up at Chiro. He held his staff in both hands, staring at the symbol on top. He whispered,

Descendent of Zeus.

The staff flashed, and subsided. He grinned, I'm in!

Melody saw the skepticism on my face and stood.

Kiona, you have always been one of the more serious members of our group. Don't let the unexpected hold you back. You have your friends, you have your love, Chiro's possessive hand squeezed my shoulder. And you now have your magic. She picked up the staff I had leaned against the wall and held it out. Take this and say, Descendants of Zeus.

The wood felt warm in my hand. Feeling slightly foolish, I repeated,

Descendants of Zeus.

The staff flashed and images flooded into my mind.

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A huge marble hall lined with radiant people stretched before me. Nine graceful figures approached the throne at the end of the hall and accepted a charge. Glimpses of a battle snapped the glory of the deities as I watched the attempts to close the dark portal. Spirit after spirit fell, until Zeus resigned to defeat. The charge given to the Muses was to hold back the demons. In turn, the Muses gave half their powers to mortal defenders. Pictures of the nine chosen ones floated before my staff, three of which were blurred by gray mists. Startled, I saw the six of us doing everyday activities. The Ancient Muses waved their hands and the pictures glowed and vanished. The images swirled and turned into a silver haze, a whirling tornado of knowledge. Magic glowed warm in my chest and I opened my eyes realizing I had closed them. I drew a breath.

I'll accept.

Melody smiled. Azusa held her harp, Yuki's arm around her shoulders. Ken showed us his hand. A tattoo on his palm began to glow.

You know what duty is yours.

We all nodded and raise the symbols of our power.

String Music Compose Piano!

Wind Music Compose Clarinet!

String Music Compose Harp!

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My staff glowed and I spun it thoughtlessly. A ribbon of purple light sprang from the tip twirled around my body. Warm power washed though me, blooming into the same costume of Melody, except with violet highlights on the mask, belt, and sandals. Lavender ribbons wound through my hair, gently tying it back. Transformation completed, I cut the enfolding beam with the staff, freeing myself with a burst of sparks.
Chiro stood nearby, the blue, sharp-cut mask pushed back; all the highlights on his outfit were blue. He stared at me strangely.

I asked.

He shook his head, You make one heck of a super hero, Kiona.

Not Kiona, I wagged my finger at him, Mi, you have to remember.

Azusa broke through her yellow encasement. She looked down at her new wardrobe and grinned.

I wouldn't be caught dead in this outside being a Protector.

Ken quickly put an end to the enjoyment of our new selves.

Javier is moving.

Melody came and stood before each of us.

Kiona, we will call you Mi, you are the Muse of Passion. Chiro, you will be Harok, Muse of Devotion. Azusa, you are Haru, Muse of Beauty. You are now the defenders of the ancient music. The Muses are guardians of the virtues that create song. You are held by honor, oath, and magic to hold against the powers of evil. She paused and smiled. I am the Muse of Heart, my alter-name is Saya. Ken is the Muse of Understanding, he is called Nogu.

Chiro gritted his teeth. Let's go try out our new identities and crush Javier.

**********************************

Javier indeed was on the move. He had the possessed going through the campus, terrorizing and destroying anyone or anything they encountered. We arrayed ourselves on top of the cafeteria. Looking down and the rampaging instruments, Melody stated firmly,

It ends here. At all costs.

Our plan was to break up into pairs and make a three-sided sweep of the school grounds. Hopefully we could defeat most of the possessed without harm, then finish the Conductor.

Half and hour and ten demons later, things took a turn for the worst. Each time we defeated one demon, the power dispersed to the others, making them twice as hard to destroy. A cello played a blast at Chiro. With a faint click and hum, a shield unfolded from his left gauntlet. Crouching with him, I waited for the sound to subside. We nodded in agreement and leapt into the air. I waved my staff.

Key Scale!
A band of black and white keys appeared in the violet glow, and showered fiercely on the cello. Immediately after came,

Reed Spray!

Wooden darts lanced down sheathed in sky-blue energy and a brown haired girl dropped as the demon departed. Anger flared within me as I knelt to check her. She had been burned on her shoulder. Not a bad wound, but a wound nonetheless. A sign that even as the evil re-strengthened itself and the more power we had to use against them, the more the innocent suffered. Standing, I etched a circle in the air.