Sleep with the Lights On ✔️

8. Everyone makes Progress

 Cassie woke in Peros' bed. She sat bolt upright and looked around. Peros was facing the other direction under a sheet while she had her own blanket. She stared at his back, narrow and slowly moving up and down with his steady breathing. She wanted to reach out to him but she refrained. Cassie jumped out of bed and tip toed from the room, hoping not to wake Peros up.

Cassie slid into the living room, she was in her regular underworld clothes now, the extra sweater to disguise her scent discarded on Peros' floor. "Good morning Cassie." Calliope said from the sofa. She was examining a small brass hand mirror.

"Good morning." Cassie said cautiously. She had forgotten about the woman, or hadn't expected her to be awake. She didn't feel safe in the older woman's gaze.

"My son," she began with a small laugh. "I've never seen such a weak essence in such a young man. His father was stronger."

Cassie nodded, she wasn't sure if Calliope was trying to bait her. She moved slowly to the opposite end of the sofa and sat. Calliope leered at Cassie, leaning forward and resting the mirror against her bony chest.

"Will you be able to help him?" Cassie asked.

"So you do care for him." Calliope laughed. "I didn't think you did, since you're putting him through this ... getting him mixed up with Nymphs."

"I didn't ask him to do this for me" Cassie said quietly, not sure if she actually had or not.

"You're dooming him, my dear." Calliope said, her voice dripping with a venom Cassie couldn't understand. She had thought Calliope cared nothing for her son. Her hands were growing cold and heart beating faster. Calliope's tormenting was working.

"How did you know ... Nymphs" Cassie's voice grew weak. She was fighting a losing battle. Calliope had a much stronger will, she seemed to have ulterior motives. She reminded Cassie as the shadow-beasts from her nightmares, pushing on to achieve and unknown end.

"The enchantment is on your skin, I can see it. I wonder if he's got someone looking for you on the reek of mortality or the shine of his enchantment." Calliope laughed.

"Can't you just try to help us?" Cassie begged.

"There's no help for Peros, He's got to save himself." Calliope said spinning the hand mirror in her hands. Cassie's mind flashed back to what Peros had said about letting himself fade. "You, on the other hand. I might have a friend or two I can pull from the abyss." Calliope laughed to herself. "In the mean time..." She held out her hand to Cassie. "It's been years since I've been warm."

Peros woke to find Cassie gone. He could still remember her peaceful expression as she fell asleep, but she had kept him awake with her movement and occasional whimpers. Although she wasn't remembering them anymore, she was still haunted by the nightmares. It must just be the enchantment's effects, still holding her in the underworld. Peros stretched and jumped out of bed. He made his way into the living room to find Cassie passed out, her dirty blonde hair spilling over his mothers knees. Calliope stroked the messy locks and stared down into the girl'd unconscious face.

Peros had seen this before, he had found his father passed out on the floor, in his bed or on a sofa. He would wake up looking drained, like his took a blow to the face, his mother would be bright and cheery for days.

"It's been such a long time ..." Calliope purred.

Peros pried his mother away from Cassie, holding her in his arms.

"You'll just make it worse Peros." Calliope laughed as Peros felt warmth spread through him. He glared at his mother and hurried to tuck Cassie back in bed. He arranged the blankets around her, her face was paler than usual, her eyes looked bruised. Peros sighed and returned to his mother.