The Search for the Lost Mousai
Chapter Five
A dark sphere formed at the abandon theater. Walking out of the sphere, Aidan looked around. His eyes glowed as he looked at the massive mountain of sewage. He noticed bodies among the sewage. She turned and noticed two men bowing at him.
Aidan glared at Kyle, who rose to his feet. He swallowed hard and took a deep breath before bowing.
"You have failed me for the second time," Aidan said.
"I am sorry, Master. I am ready to face the consequences," Kyle said.
Aidan simply nodded as a red light formed around Kyle's neck. Snapping his fingers, Kyle's eyes went lifeless, and he dropped to the ground. Moment later Kyle's body disappeared.
Aidan turned to the cloak man, who pulled back his hood, revealing his short black hair and crimson red eyes.
"Give me a reason to spare you," Aidan said, looking at the man.
"I've collected the muse's essence," the man said.
"Show me,"
The man stood up and ran behind the stage when he returned with a large flask filled to the top with pale blue sparkling liquid. Handing it to Aidan, he bowed. Looking it over the flask, a small smile tugged at the corner of Aidan's lips.
"What is your name?" Aidan asked.
"Josh sir."
"My name is Aidan, second to the great one." Aidan said. "Tell you, how did you collect the essence?"
"Every time she performed for us, some of her essence was collected into the flask." Josh said.
"Interesting, so even if the muses are taken, we still might have enough for the ceremony." Aidan said, looking at the flask. "Very well, I will spare you.
"Thank you, sir," Josh said, bowing.
"Go help the others collect the essences from the other muses," Aidan commanded.
"Yes sir," Josh said as he disappeared.
Aidan looked up at the sky. "Master, you maybe coming back sooner than we thought."
Meanwhile, back at the camp, Percy emerged from the bath tent clean with fresh clothes on, much to everyone's delight.
Melpomene emerged from the other tent, clean as well. A sigh left her lips. She raised her hands to stretch, only to feel someone have their hands around her waist. Looking down, Mel smiled. It was Thalia who buried her head in her chest. Mel smiled as she rubbed her sister's back.
Percy looked over at Mel and Thalia. hugging Percy smiled. Mel looked at him nodding, mouthing the word "Thank you." Percy nodded.
"I'll be with you in a bit Mel said, still rubbing Thalia's back.
"Take all the time you need," Percy said, heading to the main tent.
Pulling away from Thalia, Mel took a hold of her hand as Thalia led Mel to a tent. Once inside, the two of them sat down on the cot. Thalia refuses to let go of Mel's hand. Her body was shaking as tears fell from her eyes.
This was far from the life they had in the mansion. Spoiled, lazy and pampered, the word was their oyster and father loved to give us anything to make them smile. Pulled away from a life of luxury and dropped in a word of darkness where she thought she would never escape, really opened her eyes that even Goddess immortal can face such torment. But there was Mel and Percy, the light that freed her from the darkness. She only hopes she could be the light for her other sisters.
If only she could shake off the darkness that still lingered in her mind, then maybe she could be like her sister and help.
Thalia looked at Mel, who's smiling face welcomed her as she pulled her into a hug.
"I am sorry for all the things I said back then," Thalia said.
"Silly girl, I have already forgiven you. I am glad you're okay." Mel said.
"I am glad you're okay too,"
A yawn escaped Thalia's lips as she laid down on the cot.
"I have so many things I want to ask you," Thalia said, followed by another yawn.
"And I will answer them the best I can, but for now rest," Mel said, squeezing Thalia's hand.
Thalia closed her eyes for a moment before she opened one eye. Mel chuckled.
"I am still here,"
Thalia smiled as she closed her eyes. Mel smiled as Thalia's light snores escaped her lips, but she kept a firm grip on Mel's hand.
Mel smiled, sighing contently. "Oh Morpheus, please bless my sister with pleasant dreams,"
Percy stood outside the main tent where two women stood in black leather armor with hoods. They bowed to Percy. Nodding, Percy took a deep breath and walked inside.
The moment Percy entered, a smiling Jessica welcomed him sitting at a desk where a shimmering was. He glances around at the various maps along the walls of the tent, along with other pieces of paper. A sword leaning on a small end table where a lamp sat lighting up the whole tent.
Percy walked over and sat down by Jessica.
Percy looked at the crystal and noticed the image of a woman in a lab coat with long, light brown hair and brown eyes.
"This is Louise. She works in our science department," Jessica explained.
"Nice to meet you," Percy said. "Can you explain why were not teleported back to the library?"
Louise nodded. The image changed to in front of the library. Dozens of ghostly skeletal creatures surrounded the front of the library. Its image changed, showing more of them hovering above the library as well. Then it pans over to the librarians, where dozens upon dozens of them stood with their weapons ready on the other side of the door. With even some of the with bows aimed at the ceiling, at the ones hovering above. But in all that video Percy saw, there was one person missing.
"This is live footage; Wraiths have made a move likely due to you saving the muse." Louise said. "As of now, the Golden sun is on lock down so the coins will teleport users to another GSL location."
"Where is Helen? I didn't see her in any of the video feed you showed." Percy asked.
Louise cleared her throat. "Um, she went to into the forbidden archives to see if it held any information about what is going on."
Jessica looked away the moment Louise said that. Percy wanted to say something, but kept his mouth shut.
Then a word entered his mind.
"Dawning the cloak guy said something about us not interrupting it." Percy said. "Seems like they need for the muses for it."
Jessica looked perplexed as she looked at Louise, who shrugged, but they could hear typing on her keyboard.
"I have given that information on to our history department," Louise said.
"Okay, tell Helen to call me the moment she can," Jessica said.
"Will do," Louise said, as her image disappeared.
Jessica looked at Percy.
"I wish we met again under better circumstances."
Percy sighed. "Yeah, one day, huh?"
"Yeah, one day."
Jessica looked down at Percy's watches. It was twinkling,"
"Attuned to the muses?"
Percy nodded. He looked at the watch. It brought up the image of a double flute that seem to fade in and out.
"A double flute. I wonder which muse is that?"
Walking out of the tent, Mel stretched out her arms. Thalia was in a deep sleep. Her prayer must have work for she even saw a smile on her sister's lips. Letting go of her hand, Mel could finally leave the tent.
The moment she put her arms down, the image of Euterpe stood beside her.
"You found Thalia. I knew you could do it," Euterpe said.
Mel smiled she looked in the tent at Thalia, still sleeping. Euterpe entered the tent; she looked over at Thalia's sleeping form, smiling. She reached out to touch er only for her hand to go right thought her. Sighing, Euterpe stood there watching her. Mel noticed a bruise on her sister's cheek, followed by dark bags under her eyes.
"Euterpe…" Mel said.
Euterpe shook her head and took a deep breath,"
"They are on to you and Percy." Euterpe said, still looking at Thalia. "Saving Thalia caused him to act more aggressively"
"We know their wraiths, but who is him?" Mel asked.
Euterpe shook her head. "It's not safe."
Mel's eyes glowed as she looked at Euterpe intensely. She wanted to reach out to her more than anything. Seeing her hurt and fearful made her want to pull her out of where ever she was.
"Let me…. help you Euterpe," Mel whispered.
Euterpe looked at Mel. Her eyes grew wide as she held up her hands.
"No!" Euterpe shouted.
A yellow light forced Mel back. A light flashed, and she was no longer in a tent but on a cold hard floor of a dimly lit room.
Standing up, Mel dusted herself off, followed by a sneeze. She looked around noticed the lit torches as something compelled her to go forward.
Walking through the room, more and more torches lined the way, but Mel noticed various stature popping up of the Gods from Apollo, Athena, Hera, Poseidon and Hades, to name a few. There were a few heroes, such as Hercules, Perseus, and Jason with his ark.
Mel stopped as her ears twitched when a familiar voice caused her to her to right and walk down the wall. When she did, she could of swore some statues moved.
Moving down the hall, Mel stopped the moment she entered the next room. Her eyes fell upon the center of the room where the sun shined down through the window upon someone standing in the center of a circle filled with animal statues. A wolf and Panther looked as if they were circling around her while the tiger and lion sat on either side of her.
Mel inched closer on for all four statue's head to stare at her.
"I need to keep my mind busy or I shall be a statue of history too," the female voice said.
Mel smiled, but it quickly disappeared the moment a pair of red eyes l and a colossal statue looked down at her from the ceiling. Mel covered her face as was about to scream when there was a flash and she was back in a tent on a cot but Thalia was nowhere in sight.
Sitting up, Mel took a deep breath as she rubs her head and looked around. There were more cots and the smell of alcohol and disinfected tickled her nose.
Jessica and Percy entered as Mel swung her feet over the side of the cot.
"Whoa there, we still need to get you checked out," the woman said. "I am Jessica, senior warrior elite of the Golden Sun Library."
"I am Melpomene patron of tragedy and lyre playing." Mel said, rubbing her head. "What happen?"
"I went to check up on you and Thalia." Percy said. I found Thalia asleep and you on the floor with your eyes closed, shaking and mumbling.
Jessica pointed to Percy's watch. They looked at it as the sold an image of an open scroll appeared.
Mel smiled, nodding to herself, remembering the voice she heard.
"I found Clio."