Silencing The Siren

21. Gimme Shelter

(Cause for Concern)

Calliope spent almost the entire day at The Tipsy Piano drinking and laughing with her friends. As she looked around at all of them, her heart filled with joy. She realized then that despite how dysfunctional her biological family was turning out to be, she somehow ended up with her own chosen family–people that she loved and would die for. She told herself, As long as they're all alive at the end of all of this, everything will have been worth it. Then, she thought, I will happily give up my powers, and even die, if that's what it all comes down to.

'No! You are not just going to give up! That's such bullshit!' Ember yelled at Calliope.

'What? Not even if that's what it takes to ensure she can keep everyone else here safe?' Lyn asked Ember.

'She will keep no one here safe unless she is willing to fight for them! She can't ensure their safety if she's already dead!' Ember roared in response.

Ember and Lyn continued their argument inside of Calliope's mind, causing her to let out a deep sigh while rubbing her temples. Please stop fighting, she thought. You're both giving me a fucking migraine. I really don't want to hear this right now.

A male voice called out from behind Calliope, asking, "Calli? Are you okay? Does your head hurt?"

Calliope jumped at the unexpected sound of the man's voice. "Shit, you scared me," she gasped, laughing as she turned around to look at Asmodeus. "Yeah, I'm alright, 'Deus. Ember and Lyn are just arguing right now. I love having the spirits of the phoenix and the thunderbird, but honestly, they're kind of giving me a headache at the moment."

"Ember and Lyn?" Asmodeus asked. "I don't think I've ever actually heard you say their names before."

"Oh, right," Calliope said. "You weren't there when I first learned about them, I'm sorry. Okay, so Ember is the phoenix spirit–she runs off of pure rage, and she's the reason fire can't hurt me. Lyn is the thunderbird spirit–she thrives on emotional connections, sort of like... Well, you know how it feels when 'the sparks are flying' between us? That's the kind of feeling that makes her strong."

"Oh, okay," Asmodeus said. "I understand. So, they're separate entities within you, right? Like the demon in me?" he asked.

"And Amarok's wolf," Calliope added, smiling widely.

Asmodeus nodded his head and replied, "Right, right. Amarok actually did mention that last night when we were all talking. I remember now."

Before Calliope could respond, a familiar slow, romantic song played over the surround-sound speakers. "Oh, this is the song I danced with Amarok to on our first day in New Orleans!" she exclaimed. There was a mix of slight nostalgia—despite the memory only being almost a week old—and sadness behind her eyes.

Amarok caught Calliope's gaze from across the bar. He stalked toward her with a wolfish grin, and when he reached her, he bowed like a gentleman, making her playfully roll her eyes. "Do you mind if I cut in for a moment?" he asked Asmodeus.

"Oh, it's not up to me," Asmodeus answered, holding his arms out toward Calliope like he was offering her up, or showing her off, to Amarok. "She's the boss over here," he said, laughing.

"In that case, would you honor me with this dance, Calli?" Amarok asked Calliope. He took one of her hands and pulled it up to his lips gently, kissing the back of it.

"The honor is all mine," Calliope replied, laughing. She pretended to be curtsying to Amarok, holding an imaginary dress skirt out at her sides.

Amarok laughed and took Calliope's hand, then led her to the middle of the floor once again. She danced with him the way that she did on the first night, between the booths and the bar, feeling exhilarated. As the song ended, Amarok once again dipped her down low, although her hair did not get close to touching the floor that time, since it was secured in a messy bun on the top of her head.