Calliope [Book 2]

Mido returned to the house, feeling anxious for the night that awaited him. Ian and Maria greeted their friend and the three sat down around the table in the center of the room.

“So?” Ian asked.

“How’d it go?” Maria followed.

“I met Queen Ryenna,” Mido said.

“Can she help?” Maria asked.

Mido nodded.

“That’s great, ain’t it?”

“Talk, Mido,” Ian pushed.

Mido sighed. “She said Calli is in The Land of the Shadows.”

“What’s The Land of the Shadows?” Maria asked.

“Okay, ready for this?” Mido began. “Apparently this world was inhabited by witches and wizards long before humans were. This was a magical world, but the witches and wizards fought each other and grew angry and resentful. So Queen Ryenna’s ancestors, the most powerful witches and wizards in the world, decided to take control of the situation, since they were destroying the world, and they banished the witches and wizards into this place called The Land of the Shadows.”

“Where is this place?” Maria asked.

“It’s here,” Mido said, pointing to the ground.

“What do you mean?” Ian questioned.

Mido hesitated. “It’s hard to explain. Those witches and wizards, they’re all around us, but we don’t know it and we can’t see them, and neither can they. It’s the same world as ours, except for them, they cannot see us. We’re just blurs and shadows to them. They’re banished there to live for eternity as punishment. That’s why there have never been witches in our world.”

“How did Calliope get there?” Maria asked.

“Apparently, the witches and wizards were banned because they started to use black magic, which happens when they became to engrossed in warfare; when they become overcome with anger and rage and resentment. Scarletta developed this black magic, and that magic was transferred to the witches and wizards she created, probably without anyone even realizing it.”

“So, Calliope has black magic in her?” Ian asked.

Mido nodded. “The magic she used, possibly unintentionally, was black magic, which came out because of everything she had been through; feeling anger at Asmar and Rowan, resentment towards the people who hated her. It all built over time and released in that moment in the magic she used, and that black magic transferred her into The Land of the Shadows.”

“If Scarletta had black magic,” Maria asked. “Why didn’t she go there when she used it?”

“Scarletta was mortal; she was not a full blooded witch, and that kept her in this world.”

“How could Scarletta be in this world if witches and wizards were banished?” Ian asked.

“Some of the witches and wizards managed to escape and hide while Queen Ryenna’s ancestors banished them. That’s when humans came to be. They populated the world and developed kingdoms and peaceful relationships with each other with the promise that all witches and wizards that remained were of royal blood and would forever remain in this kingdom. Those who were in hiding learned to blend in with humans in order to remain unseen and thus, not banished to The Land of the Shadows.”

“So, there could be more witches out there and we don’t even know it?” Maria asked.

Mido nodded.

“Christ,” Ian muttered.

“How does Calliope get out?” Maria asked.

“I don’t know,” Mido said slowly. “Queen Ryenna wasn’t sure, either. The goal was to keep these witches and wizards, tainted with black magic, from getting back into the world. They could get there, but they could not leave. Queen Ryenna believes Calliope might have a chance if she is able to rid herself of the black magic in her blood, but that magic, even the smallest amount, taints all magic. Queen Ryenna doesn’t know for sure if it is possible to remove that black magic from her system. Maybe if she is able to let go of her anger and hatred.”

“The poor girl probably doesn’t even realize what happened to ’er,” Maria said.

“That’s why I’m going to The Land of the Shadows.”

“I think not,” Maria barked to him. “Did you listen to yaself? There may not be a way out.”

“Calli and I will figure it out.”

Ian shook his head. “I don’t think this is a good idea, Mido.”

“What other choice do I have?”

They were quiet.

Mido continued. “Besides, I kind of owe Queen Ryenna for doing this.”

“What did you do, Mido?” Maria scolded.

“I promised her, should we get out alive, that I would return to Asmar as it’s king.”

“That doesn’t sound so bad,” Ian said.

“I also have to bear an heir.”

Maria and Ian looked at him in stunned silence.

“An heir?” Ian repeated, dumbfounded.

“With Calliope?” Maria asked.

“No one said it had to be with Calliope,” Ian muttered to her.

“Oh, come now. Let’s not pretend that it won’t be.”

“That’s besides the point,” Mido interrupted them. “Let’s not talk about that.”

Maria smirked. “Look who’s suddenly shy of his sex life.”

“Stop it,” Mido muttered.

“Back up,” Ian said. “That seems counter productive, having a child with a witch and all. I mean, that’s what started this whole mess. And Asmar wants her dead, anyway. This is just going to be a repeat of everything that had just happened.”

“Then I won’t have a child with Calli,” Mido muttered. “Can we stop talking about this?”

“You can’t just have a child with some sleazy whore,” Maria said angrily.

“Enough,” Mido growled.

“This still doesn’t solve our Asmar problem.”

“I think we have Queen Ryenna on our side,” Mido said. “She will be able to talk some sense into them. And if they don’t accept Calli, they have to deal with Queen Ryenna.”

Ian nodded. “I still don’t like this plan.”

“You can’t do this alone.”

“This is not up for discussion,” Mido said, getting to his feet. “I go in tonight, alone.”

“Mido-” Maria started.

“This is what has to be done,” Ian said, cutting off Maria. He met Mido’s gaze in support, but his face was unsure.

“No, I don’t like this.”

Ian sighed. “I don’t either, but there’s no other choice. We’ll be waiting for you both.”

“Go back to Librona,” Mido said. “We’ll come back as soon as we can.”

Ian shook his head. “We’ll wait back in Asmar. I don’t trust Barric.”

Mido nodded. “And do me a favor; figure out why the hell he’s there. And find out where Carsen is, too. I doubt Barric is there alone.”

“We’ll hold the fort down,” Maria promised. “I’ll find the perfect room for a baby.” She winked at Mido.

Mido rolled his eyes at her and caught Jon standing, arms crossed, in the corner of the room. He narrowed his eyes at Mido. Mido pushed himself away from the table and made his way to Jon, leaning against the wall, mocking his tough demeanor.

“What’s got you?” he asked the squire.

“Do you think I’m an idiot?”

“Hardly.”

“You’re going on a suicide mission.”

“I have to find Calliope.”

“You have a duty to your kingdom.”

“All right, I guess I’ll just leave Calliope to suffer alone in hell for eternity.”

Jon’s eyes shifted to Mido at his side, narrowing, but he did not turn to face him. “You know she can’t come back to Asmar.”

Mido straightened and turned to him. “What are you saying?”

Jon faced Mido. “I’m saying that maybe she should stay there.”

This time Mido narrowed his eyes. His mouth opened slightly, as if he were about to say something, but it snapped shut. “I thought you came to help me?”

Jon averted his gaze and stared out the window. “I did. But this is suicide, and you know it. Don’t pretend you haven’t thought this out. You’re walking right into your own death.”

“I don’t think that’s fair-”

“Fair? You wanna talk about fair? How about forcing Calliope to stay with you when she knows she’s only making things worse? Or abandoning your own friends and kingdom for her? Is it fair that I had to watch my best friend die? We fought for you, Mido, and what did you do? You fucking left.”

Mido’s face grew pale as Jon’s grew angry. Their eyes locked on each other for a moment, and suddenly Mido was furious.

“So,” he started. “I’m supposed to just deal with being a pawn in this whole thing? That I should just walk away from the woman I love? That I should break the promise I made to her? You think you’ve had it rough? Why don’t you get thrown out by your own father, shunned by a kingdom, because of something you believe in, and then thrown right into a war that you’re expected to end?” Mido’s face grew red as he pushed Jon into the corner. “Nothing in this life is fair, Jon,” he hissed. “The sooner you realize that, the better. This isn’t Esmon. You don’t have the walls of the village to protect you anymore. You chose this path in life, now you have to deal with the consequences. Don’t you dare try to lecture me about what’s fair.”

“William died for you.”

“You two bastards ran into a battle I told you not to get involved in. Don’t you dare try to pin this on me. You disobeyed an order.”

The room was suddenly silent and Mido grew painfully aware of all eyes on them. Mido kept his gaze on Jon, but backed away.

“Mido-” Maria began, but there was a knock at the door. Lance let himself in and Mido met his gaze.

“Ready?” Lance asked, breaking the silence in the room.

Without a word or another glance, Mido pushed passed his friends and followed Lance into the darkening city. Jon slunk into the corner, his eyes back on his feet. Maria hurried to him, her arms outstretched, but he pushed them away.

“I didn’t mean it,” he mumbled, his arms folded across his chest. “I just… it’s not fair. It’s just not fair.”