The Dream
[After Lutheria’s creepy “don’t y’all want to be ignorant?” dream]
“I wonder, what are you afraid of?” Versi’s voice breaks the comfortable silence that has fallen as she brushes Calliope’s hair.
“Afraid?” Calliope scrunches her brow, “I don’t really know… gygans make me uneasy I suppose?”
“You don’t seem sure?” Versi pushes gently, her voice echoing slightly in the marble chamber.
“I guess I never really thought about it! I don’t often spend my days trying to frighten myself with thoughts of monsters.” Calliope laughs, brightly, “Perhaps I’m not afraid of anything!”
“Oh, my brave love. Ever the hero!”
“Don’t tease!” Calliope playfully pushes the nymph’s hand away from her hair in mock-anger before continuing, thoughtfully, “Though, you know… I’m not really sure there IS anything in Thylea frightening enough to keep me from your side. Not sea hags, or gygans, or even the Titans themselves! I just… couldn’t ever bear to lose you.”
Versi lets out a small sigh of relief, smiling: “Ah. So there it is.”
“There what is?” Calliope turns her head to look quizzically into Versi’s eyes.
“Nothing, my dear one.” Shaking her head, the nymph smiles and gestures for her to turn around and relax once more.
Satisfied with the answer, Calliope happily complies, turning back to focus her gaze on the water. At this, Versi lets out a laugh, warm at first but quickly getting colder as she rests her hand on the siren’s shoulder. “How easily you give in to her! What a pitiful thing you are! I wonder, I might actually be doing you a favour…”
Startled, Calliope tries to pull away, suddenly confused. “You’re not…”
The nymph tightens her grip, her nails digging into Calliope’s skin as she holds her in place, whispering into her ear “No, little bird, I’m not the woman who took away your memories; I’m not the woman who kept you in a cage for 500 years; and I’m certainly not the woman who will lock you up for 500 more as soon as you return to her.”
Not-Versi’s nails begin to draw blood as she continues, hissing “You really think the Oracle loves you? She’s using you! Manipulating you. Why would the daughter of Sydon want to save Thylea? You’re as stupid as you are weak!”
Blood pouring from the wound on her shoulder, Calliope drifts out of consciousness as the nymph’s cruel laughter fills the chamber.