Calliope [Book 2]

“Tell me what happened,” Calliope whispered in the dark. The day had seemed to drag by endlessly after Queen Ryenna left. Of course, Mido still had duties to his kingdom, despite that all he wanted to do was be alone with Calliope. Each minute away from her dragged painfully in his chest. He tried to busy himself with his kingdom, but his mind was on her, tucked away safely in the castle with Maria. His kingdom was grieving over the tremendous loss, but Mido couldn’t help feel overjoyed. He spent most of the day with Colin as they made their way through the kingdom. Families searched for their loved ones and mourned over those who did not return. Mido’s heart broke for his people and it made him long for Calliope even more.

Mido couldn’t be happier when he was finally alone with his future wife. He took her into his arms and they lay together as the end of the day disappeared into night. Mido sighed as he thought of her little golden spirit orb.

“You died, I think,” Mido began. “But you weren’t meant to die. Not yet.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Queen Ryenna thought there was a chance that your spirit was in The Land of the Shadows. She had suspected that you used black magic as a last resort, somehow separating your soul from your body.”

“You didn’t go back there,” Calliope muttered.

“I made a promise to you, didn’t I? If there’s a chance I can keep you at my side, I’m taking it.”

Calliope sighed. “Continue.”

“I didn’t know what I was looking for, but once I found you, I knew it was you. A little, golden orb that rotated and pulsed like crazy when I got near you. I didn’t know you felt that way about me.”

Calliope giggled. “And?”

“And I took your little spirit into my hands. You were so beautiful. Just as beautiful as always. And you brought us out of the void and back into the world. We brought you back to your body – we had to be quick or we could have lost you – and Queen Ryenna helped you back.”

“What about that legend?” Calliope asked.

“Queen Ryenna said most spirits are clear orbs, and only inhabit the afterlife. There was a legend that was passed down from her ancestors of a golden spirit that waited in the afterlife. This spirit was determined to be the one who saved the world, and it waited in the afterlife since the beginning of time for it’s body. You are that legendary golden spirit that has saved our world.”

“I don’t think so,” Calliope muttered. “I’m a mistake of an evil witch.”

Mido smiled. “Hardly a mistake. I can’t believe how lucky I was to meet you.”

“Lucky? How could you consider this lucky? Damn it, look what I’ve done to you. Look what I put you through.” She let her fingers trace each scar that marked his body. “You’ve almost died for me. You’ve been stuck in some lifeless void. You were forced to take the throne of a kingdom that once tried to kill me. Your entire life has changed, and for what? A stupid little orb?”

Mido flipped her onto the bed and kissed her. His hair dangled just beyond his nose as he gazed into her eyes. “Yes,” he said. “My life has changed for the better, thanks to a stubborn little golden eyed witch.”

Calliope sighed. “We can argue this until we’re blue in the face.”

Mido smiled. “I have the rest of my life for that.” He laid back down and let Calliope continue to trace her fingers along his scars.

“This one is new,” she commented.

Mido glanced down and smiled. “I think I got that from some undead freak.”

Calliope frowned. “What about this one?” she pointed to a mark on his thigh.

Mido laughed. “That one was from Lily,” he said. “She kicked me when she was a foal. We didn’t like each other very much at first.”

Calliope smiled as he recalled the memory. “She seems to like you now,” she said.

Mido shrugged. “She tolerates me.”

“This one?” Calliope pointed to a star shaped scar on his stomach.

“I think that’s from that lovely dagger wound I got,” he said.

Calliope raised an eyebrow. “The one that I healed?”

Mido nodded.

“That can’t be,” she said. “I healed you.”

Mido pushed himself up and studied the mark. “I think it was a result of your magic,” he said. “Looks like you’re stuck on me forever.”

Calliope’s lips twisted to the side.

“That’s enough of that,” Mido said, pulling her closer to him.

“I’m glad everyone is okay,” she said softly. “Jon and Prince Lucas and Ian.”

Mido let his head rest against hers and let his gaze drift out the window from across the room. “Yeah,” he said, simply. “Me too.”

“And you, of course,” she added. “But, I just figured that was a given.”

Mido smiled. “I don’t plan on going anywhere any time soon.”

Calliope sighed. “Good. Because I definitely don’t want to be a witch queen ruling this kingdom alone.”

“Everything will work out.” He tried to assure himself of that, but even though the battle had been won, it did not mean the war was truly over.

Calliope did not believe it any more than he did, and she knew he didn’t, but in that moment, nothing else mattered. The kingdoms were no longer at war, and despite the heavy casualties from the war with the black magic witches, Calliope had not lost anyone she loved. But she was not a queen yet; her people were her friends. Maria. Ian. Jon. Prince Lucas and King Sloan. And they were alive and well. She had no reason to mourn, selfish as it seemed to her. But she was done mourning. She didn’t want to mourn ever again.

“I saw my father.” Mido’s voice interrupted her thoughts. She pushed herself up and studied his face.

“What?”

Mido met her gaze. “At Re’iam. He tried to kill me.”

“Mido.”

Mido smiled. “It’s strange seeing your dead father lunging at you with his own sword.”

“I’m sorry,” Calliope muttered uncomfortably. She didn’t know how to console him. He never spoke about his family.

“I killed him.”

“You had to.”

Mido pushed himself up and met Calliope’s gaze. “It just isn’t fair, yanno?”

Calliope pressed her lips against his. Mido let his forehead rest against hers.

“Life’s kinda shitty like that, I’ve noticed.”

Mido met her gaze and smiled. “Yeah. It kinda is. But I guess it could be worse. You’re here, and that’s all that matters.”

“Just promise me one thing,” Calliope whispered in the dark.

“What?”

“That you will never try to kill yourself.”

Mido was quiet. “What are you talking about?”

“I’m not an idiot, Mido.”

“I don’t-”

“Promise.”

Mido hesitated. “Calli-”

“Shut up and promise. Promise me, and Ian, and Jon, and Lucas. Promise. Swear it, on my life.”

Mido sighed. “You’re being ridiculous.”

“Am I?” I’m not the one that tried to off himself with a dagger.”

“Did Ian tell you?” He didn’t wait for an answer. “Ian told you.”

“No, Ian did not tell me.”

“Then who did?”

“Does it matter?”

“He was the only one who was there.”

Calliope was quiet. She broke her gaze. Her eyes traced the edges of his scars once more in the moonlight.

“I’m here, Mido! Don’t do it! Please!”

The dagger reflected in the light, but on this night, there was no moon.

“Don’t do it, Mido. Please. Please. Live. Please.”

She could not hear her voice, no matter how loud she yelled. Despite the darkness of the room, she could see the pain worn on his face. Pain and desperation. Hopelessness. He was already gone.

It haunted her.

“Calli?”

“Promise,” she sobbed into his chest.

Mido wrapped his arms around her as his throat tightened. “Okay,” he choked out. He buried his face in her hair and steadied his breathing. “I promise.”