The Power in You

Chapter 22

Calliope blinked and she was standing on the outside dias of the palace in Musicia. Everything was as she left in weeks prior but silent and still. Not quite, like when there's no activity but there's still an audible hum of life surrounding it. This was like when she lost her hearing, mute and disorienting. The entire place seemed to glow unnaturally as well.

"My, I did not expect this," a deep voice said behind her, breaking the unnatural silence and she whirled around to face the steps that led up to the palace to see a tall figure descending them. The figure was dressed in black and white with the Horde symbol on him but he seemed... regal, with slicked black white dreads that seemed to attach to his shoulders and four green eyes, three of which were stacked on top of the other on one side of his face.

He felt... powerful. He exuded confidence and cockiness as he stopped at the bottom of the stairs, his arms crossed behind his back as she observed her the same way she observed him. Both not seeming to belong in this silent world they found themselves in. She straightened her back, making herself taller as she slowly circled to one side of the dias and he circled opposite of her. Like two predators waiting for the other to attack.

"Where are we?" she asked him softly, knowing he would hear her across the platform. He paused, carefully considering her.

"You're trapped in my virus. Why does it affect you?" he questioned her as she scrunched her eyebrows and looked away from him to observe her surroundings.

"Virus? Why would a virus send me home? What-" she gasped as she looked down at her hands and lifted her arms at eye level. Sickly green veins traced up her hands and arms, disappearing beneath the sleeves of her tunic. She gently touched her face, feeling the raised areas of her cheeks where the veins ran across. "What did you do to me?"

"I did nothing to you, child," he informed her as he made his way across the dias, stopping a couple of feet in front of the girl. "Who are you?" he asked, his face an unreadable mask.

"Princess Calliope of Musicia. You never answered me. Who are you?" she asked but already knew the answer, feeling ice shoot down her spine.

"I am Horde Prime. I know all, I see all. But I did not see you. What is your connection to the Etherian weapon and She-Ra?" he asked as he reached out and grabbed one of her white curls, fingering it curiously.

"Weapon? Do you mean the Heart of Etheria? It's the kingdom of Musicia's runestone. I am its guardian," she informed him and watched as a smile graced his features.

"That explains why you got caught up in my virus. Tell me, Princess Calliope, why are you fighting so hard? What do you have at stake in this pointless war?"

"Your armies destroyed my kingdom. Killed my people, my mom, and dad. I was orphaned as an infant, raised in your army by a sadistic witch, tortured and.... Raped by one of your soldiers. I lost my baby, my dignity, my hearing, and almost myself. I have too much at stake in this war, more than anyone else," she all but growled at him, smacking his hand away from her. He frowned, pulling his hand away.

"I can give you everything you ever wanted. Just come into my light, Princess. You will be a valuable asset to my empire," he purred, extending his hand back out again. She frowned at it, shaking her head before feeling a volt of electricity course through her. Calliope screamed, collapsing to her knees as her arms curled against her chest. When she looked up, Prime looked just as shocked as she did.

"Your virus... the Heart is fighting it," she huffed. "It's trying to use me to protect itself from you but it can't... your virus is blocking it."

"We can end this, child. If you come into my light, give yourself and the Heart over willingly, we can create a new world together," he beckoned, extending his hand again.