Seventeen Muses

Chapter 2

The men give her some time to right herself. She dries her hair, delicately pulling the strands out of the crown that feel more like thorns with every passing minute. It breaks off in her hands, falling to pieces on the floor that melt in the puddle her dress is leaving. The dress, a sell of its former self. What used to be a ball gown, now just barely two layers. Sighing, there's nothing more she can really do to fix it at the moment.

She steps back out of the room. Nodding to the two executives still there. One of the men starts speaking in Korean, now that their contract has transferred the language to her, "We can get you situated somewhere tonight and let you start looking through our trainees tomorrow. We have this apartment ready nearb..."

He trails off as Desdemona raises her hand shaking her head, "No. There's ... someone I need to meet tonight. They're the entire reason I came here." She turns towards the door, closing her eyes, trying to get a good read on just where the pulling energy is coming from, "It's unlike anything I've ever felt before." She turns back to look at them, "I will go exploring now. This cannot wait until tomorrow."

Without waiting for them to answer, she strides out of the room. Head tilting back and forth as she tries to follow the energy she had sensed before. It's like a song but not at the same time. A tune that the wind teasingly whispers in your ear, but never gets loud enough to actually make sense of it. Something that if left to slip between your fingers, will never be found again.

She has to stop herself from sighing multiple times, as people jump out of her way, pressing themselves to either side of the hallway. Even in exile she's unable to escape this response from people. At least now it's from fear instead of disgust, she thinks to herself.

Pausing in a doorway, she has to blink a couple times to stop her eyes from watering at the bright green paint covering all of the walls. She shakes her head, moving past the room, but stops short. Spinning on her heel she stares incredulously at the doorway, realizing that the energy she's been searching for is inside that very room.

Stepping back towards the door softly, she opens the door. Watching as all of the men in the room turn to look at her and freeze. She tilts her head, staring at all of them and trying to pinpoint which one it is that's been calling to her since she was throw away on the streets.

Taking a step forward, she ends up smiling as all the men take a collective step backwards. All of them except one. She squints at him, taking another step forward, but the man stands strong.

One of the men from earlier comes rushing into the room. He's breathing heavily, "Ma'am you can't just..."

She cuts him off, turning to stare at him with one raised brow, "If you wanted to be able to control me you should have put that in the contract we signed." She turns back to the man in front of her, who tilts his head to look at her. She smiles, "You can feel it, can't you?" Her tone cheerful.

His brows furrow, "What... what is that?"

She steps closer, the tune that had been drawing her closer only getting louder as the distance closes. "You've never met a muse before, have you?"

There's a gasp from somewhere else in the room and the man's eyes widen, quickly bowing. He stands back up, "I have not. Apologies for my ignorance."

She waves him off, "None needed. It's obvious you have not met one of my kind before, or you would have been snatched up in a heartbeat. The creative energy you give off is delicious. Many would even call it a delicacy." She turns back to the other man who's still trying to get his breathing under control, "This one. I'll be taking this one as the leader of my group."

There's sputtering throughout the rest of the room, "You can't just..."

The man trails off as Desdemona rounds on him, "Your boss stated I could have my pick of the trainees." She points back to the man still standing in front of her, "I'm choosing him. This group is being built around him. I'll have no complaints."

"I... but ..." The man sputters, but she just ignores him.

Moving closer to the man in front of her, "What's your name?"

He swallows, turning to stare at her, "Choi Seungcheol, ma'am." He pauses for a minute, watching her glide in circles around him, "Are you really making me a leader?"

She nods, "Of course. I've been given full creative liberties to create a group to work with. The names already been decided. I'll be aiming for seventeen members if I can help it. Your just the start." She comes to stand in front of him, "That's if you'll accept me as you're bonded muse."

"What... what does that mean?" Seungcheol asks.

Desdemona responds quickly, "It means that I'm it when it comes to muses working with your group. We either succeed together or not at all."

He frowns, "Why would I take that deal? Why would I make it so that I have no other options?"

She stares him down, "Because you have no other options." Her hands fly wide, "Do you see any other muses banging down this door?" She huffs, "And because it goes both ways. Only I can release you from our bond to work with others, only you can do the same. I will be solely invested in you and your success."

He crosses his arms, staring at her, "I get to have say in other members you add."

She shakes her head, "I can give you that you can recommend others to join. The group is going to be made based on how well your creative energies sound together."

"Sound?"

She nods, "Yes, a creative energy has a sound to it. I can hear yours loudly right now because it's calling out to me. Once bonded, I'll be able to find other energies that would blend well with yours. If you blend well together, you'll make a better group because your interests will be more aligned." Feeling that the least he deserves is an in-depth explanation.

He pauses, his eyes closing for a minute. His shoulders fall and he sighs, "Fine. Can I at least know the name of muse I'm bonding myself to?"

"Desdemona." She offers with a smile, hand extended.

He reaches out, grabbing it and watching as sparks fly. She laughs, pulling the man forward to wrap him into a hug, her heart feeling lighter than before.

Continuing to cling to Seungcheol she looks over at the man from before, "Now you can escort us to the apartment you were talking about earlier. I have much to discuss with my group leader."

"I'm going to regret this, aren't I?" Seungcheol mutters next to her.

She giggles, "Oh, absolutely. I'm told I can be a complete terror to work with."

Looking up at her he smirks, "For some reason that makes sense, little demon."