No… this wouldn’t do. If this were anywhere else… anyone else… in another situation… she’d not stand for it. But what should she do? Demetra would smile politely, plead ignorance, and check on dinner, Xanthipe would boldly lay claim to any and all of the graces, and Helena would giggle and blush and tell her that she’d would have to ask the gentleman in question. It appeared she was on her own, as none of those would work for her, not in the slightest. She would just have to take Demitri’s advice. Calliope exhaled slowly, pasting a mild smile on her face and letting her shoulders relax slightly. She could at least appear calm, even if she was nothing near it as her mind hastily churned in a mad searched for words.
“My lady,” she murmured politely, “I suspect only a fool would lay claim to any ‘particular’ skill in company such as this.” She made a vague gesture to the hall. “Even if I had such presumptions, I’m quite sure there would be at least a dozen more worthy than I who would be quick and eager to disabused me of my arrogance.” She smiled placidly and gazed back at the creature with as much unassuming guilelessness as she could muster in order to dull the slight edge of her words. “And, I do not think,” She added after a very brief pause, “that such fruitless and obvious comparisons would be a useful expenditure of anyone’s time. Wouldn’t you agree?” She’d spoken in even, but clear tones, hoping those listening would hear and take the hint. Yes, they were very beautiful, and she was sure, very good at all sorts of things that she’d rather not think about it. Wonderful. Fantastic. She got it. Time to move on.
The woman’s smile had dimmed and her brow had arched imperceptibly higher, but after appraising Calliope a moment, her face settled and her smile returned. “How… politic of you. Surprising considering the company you keep.” She added sardonically
What did that mean? Calliope felt her own brow arch before she could force her expression into neutrality. The woman’s smile widened when she noticed the slip, but she brushed it off quickly enough. “Well, we shall say you are well spoken at least, and leave it at that, yes?” She didn’t wait for an answer but turned to Thelios and made a dismissive gesture toward the door.
“You should come in and speak to the others before you get settled in your rooms… they are all anxious to hear what news you bring from our Father, and we have news you may want to hear.”
Thelios made a low sound of annoyance. “He said exactly what I told you all he would. It was a waste of my time.”
The finely dressed one with curling horns sighed. “Well they will want to hear it as well. It shouldn’t take long.” he added when Thelios’ expression darkened.
“Fine. But if they start in on that long winded bullshit again, I’m leaving… if you’re lucky I’ll leave before I do something rash this time.” The serpent woman smirked and the other two glanced apprehensively at one another.
He looked to her and she nodded, guessing he expected her to wait there.
She was grateful that the exit of the rather fantastical looking group meant the slow exodus of gawkers as well. It surprised her really. She’d have thought living like this would get one used to such sights. After all, she’d been living a rather simple life but her time with Thelios had made her a little more easy with the whole situation. That wasn’t to say she was comfortable, but at least she wasn’t incapable of keeping her eyes to herself. Besides… it was rude to stare.
Sadly though, her peace was short lived, and after a time a familiar, and very unpleasant voice reached her ears. Worse… it appeared to be addressing her. This was rapidly becoming a very… bad… day.
“Well now, sounds like you still got a sharp little tongue then don’t you? They still ain’t taught you manners yet?”
She sighed, closing her eyes and praying for patience before turning and giving her best impression of benign indifference. It wasn’t perfect considering the day she was having… but it was good enough for the likes of him. She didn’t bother answering the question and just stared at the man. He had a couple of others with him, a fact which made her nervous. Dogs in packs were always more dangerous. Strength in numbers… it made them bold. And he was just the sort of scruffy cur to fit this description.
Still, he wouldn’t go so far as to touch her again would he? Her eyes subtly darted about for Demitri, but he was no where to be seen. He must have been waiting to get her alone… the jackal. She clenched her jaw to keep anything untoward form spilling out, but her eyes narrowed into a hard glare.
He grinned maliciously. “What’s the matter, snake got your tongue?” He asked, nodding toward where the serpent-woman had vanished.
When she only continued to glare he turned to his friends. “Maybe that low-class master of hers did slap some sense into the little bitch after all.”
That did it, she couldn’t hold it back, and the words slipped from her mouth despite herself. “I take it you fancy yourself the snake then?” She slid her eyes derisively down his body. “I’d think worm would be a more appropriate comparison… figuratively or… literally.” She smirked, feeling suddenly as malicious as his grin had been. She made a fist and lifted her pinky finger, wiggling it suggestively. What had Demitri said after all…’turn about is fair play’?
He seemed to catch the insult immediately and true to form, came at her, barking and snarling like any rabid animal. He snatched up her wrist and looked like he was readying the other hand to strike her. She had half expected it, and had already noticed the slim sword hanging at his hip. So while he was grasping for her arm, she was reaching for something else.
“Get your hands off me.” She snarled, matching his expression with her own and stilling his hand the air. He obeyed. He didn’t really have a choice once he felt the point of his own sword digging into his stomach. He looked furious, but took a step or two back, eying the blade warily. “Touch me again and I’ll skewer you.” She hissed at a whisper. His friends went for their weapons, but she only had to press the point that much more firmly against her target, causing him to wave them off.
“Now, I’m going to lower the sword, and you’re going to back away and never harass me again… yes?”
He sneered, so she poked him a bit, taking more pleasure in that then was appropriate. “Understood?” She prompted loudly this time, in case he didn’t. He glared death at her, but nodded. She nodded back and lowered the sword. At which point he lunged at her, startling her.
Her wrist flicked up automatically to defend her and the tip of the sword caught the side of his cheek. He cried out and leapt back, clutching his face and cursing at the sight of blood on his fingers.
The instinctive move surprised her as much as it did her assailant, but she refused to let it show. Instead she stood stock still, keeping the weapon carefully trained on him as he gaped at her in shock. She recovered from the unexpected surprise and was about to tell him to stay where he was when the Master’s voice rang out again.
“What have you done?!” He growled at a near roar, his voice causing what few onlookers were left-all of whom had been watching the altercation with intense interest- to flinch and shrink away, making themselves scarce.
She too quailed under the power of it, her sword point dropping instantly as her stomach dropped with it. Conversely, her heart, it seemed, had decided her throat would be a more appropriate place to lodge itself. Her sword hand shook, and she threw the thing down on the ground between her and man, simultaneously cringing and turning to face the onslaught.
The sight before her left her feeling a little light headed. He looked furious. More than furious. A faint whimper of fear escaped her throat and her arms wrapped tightly around her waist, but that was the extent of her reaction. But for that, she had completely frozen in fear. A heart beat later, she was gasping in surprised when she noticed it wasn’t her he was looking at, and watched him stride past her to snatch the man up by the front of his shirt and dangle him by it as he sneered in rage, his face just inches away from the now terrified man.