Apollo's Muse

Candice (The Corybantes) XXV

                                                     ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄

Snow fell in thick swathes as a cold wind blew relentlessly through the village. Candice huddled in the sanctuary of her bedroom, the heater glowing red in the corner, her feet cozied up in a pair of fluffy orange socks. She bit her fingernails, forehead creased into a frown.

Is he coming? Something is wrong…

The metal bracelet on her wrist glowed blue as she worried, brow furrowed.

All these strange happenings. I have to get to the bottom of this.

She stroked the smooth metal absently.

So… What do I know? 

I may or may not be a Muse. 

Apollo is some kind of helper to me, and I have his lyre. 

Zeus is the eagle who carried me in my vision. 

Rhetia gave me the bangle with the Corybantes somehow attached to it.

And Oia… I knew that city like the back of my hand.

How about Opa’s so-called ‘Swedish’ book? With Japetus?

She nibbled on her bottom lip.

All of this adds up somehow. Am I just too dumb to see it right now?

She glanced down at the bracelet again. It was hot on her skin, and the Greek symbols swirled in a hazy blue ether, pulsing as if alive.

The Corybantes.

She looked around the room thoughtfully.

I wonder… Do I call them? Somehow use my thoughts to materialize them?

An absurd notion struck her.

What if they can’t all fit in my bedroom?

She giggled out loud, and flopped into the softness of her comfy striped chair. 

She tried summoning them. “Corybantes!”

Nothing happened. The bracelet didn’t change, although the blue ether swirled more furiously.

“Come forth!”

Again nothing changed.

Hmmm…

She studied the bracelet.

No button or key, no secret trigger to release these legendary warriors.

The symbols.

She spoke slowly, haltingly. “I̱ dýnami̱ to̱n Koryvánto̱n pi̱gázei apó ton aithéra me ta lógia ti̱s Moúsas…”

A blue glow rose slowly from the ether, and a wave of heat washed over her from her wrist to the tips of her sock-clad toes. She closed her eyes and clenched her teeth.

Please may this work out well…

An overwhelming scent of pine, sandalwood and musk filled her nostrils, and presently a shuffling sound made her squint one eye open hesitantly. 

Oh. My. Gosh.

A veritable wall of solid male bodies surrounded her. They were tall - much taller than her - and built as solidly as oxen. Their skin was bronzed and scarred, and their heads were shaved, bare except for vibrant blue mohawks that crested their slightly terrifying faces.