“Don’t you see? That’s why I can’t. I need music, rhythm… I’d look childish and silly if I tried that without weeks of practice. I just don’t move like that. That’s you… that’s how you move.” Calliope sighed. Perhaps she wasn’t wrong, it had taken a long time to be finally able to perform it to her own instructor’s satisfaction.
“Well, perhaps you’re right… but I still can’t. It’s bad enough I played for you… but to dance?” She shook her head, half in denial half in wonder. “Besides, I don’t think I would help you… unless you seek to make a comparison to show off your own skills.”
Penelope’s eyes went wide. “You’re mad. That was brilliant!”
“It’s really very simple” She countered, uncomfortable with Penelope’s enthusiasm.
“That’s why it’s so perfect. It’s the polar opposite of what I would do and everything else they’re going to see. What is it they say, less is better?”
“More. Less is more.” She murmured distractedly. She was almost considering it… no, no she couldn’t. “No, Penelope, I can’t, I’m no dancer-”
“Nonsense that was exac-”
“And more than that,” she insisted, “my master has told me not to engage in these activities.”
“You already have though.” She pressed.
“That doesn’t make it right if I do it again.”
Penelope shocked her by suddenly launching from her chair and falling on her knees before her, grasping her hands in her before she could pull away. “Calliope, I’m begging you. You have to do this. I can’t make it work without you. It’ll be a triumph, and I’ll be free of those witches once and for all”
“Please, don’t-”
“Don’t do it for me then… do it for him. Your Master.”
She rolled her eyes. “That doesn’t make any sense. I’d be disobeying him.”
“Such a small thing to forgive compared to the pleasure he’ll have watching you. Dance for him, and he’ll know it’s you and who you dance for, even veiled.”
“I’ve… I’ve never danced for him. He…”
“Then what a pleasure it will be to see how well you do it. And you do. It’s wonderful to watch.”
“You’re just saying that to get me to give in.”
“Yes, but it’s also true.” She grinned up at her, still holding her hands against her breast. “He won’t be able to keep his hands off you…. and to know its you he’s watching and not one of them… do you have any idea what that feels like? The excitement of it… the power…”
Calliope faltered, and Penelope must have seen it because she kept pushing. “And the way he’d want you… that’s why they do this. It fills them with pride to possess what everyone else wants. You’ll be magnificent, and you’ll be his.”
The words resonated in her… almost the same words he had said… “alright.” she whispered, almost too softly to hear. She wasn’t even sure she’d said it aloud until she saw Penelope’s face. “Oh, no.” She moaned to herself and closed her eyes.
“Thank you! This is perfect. Thank you!” Penelope squealed as she gripped her tightly.
Calliope patted her back awkwardly as she threw her arms around her. “Think nothing of it.” Her eyes glanced up to see Hades’ dark, stern face, and Persephone’s equally frightened one looking back at her.
She used to think of herself as being a rather reasonable, logical person. So how did she get to be such an idiot?
********
They had decided on the following evening to go ahead with it. Despite regretting the decision, she couldn’t bring herself to say no when Penelope seemed so eager and excited. And, she could admit, she’d been thinking about what the dancer had said about dancing for Thelios. It was an appealing thought, especially after seeing the way he’d looked at that other dancer. The notion that he might look at her like that…
She shook the thought from her head. It was silly to be so jealous.
Oddly enough it was apparently assumed that they were now going to be attending the dinners regularly. Indeed, after speaking further with Persephone she came back to find Demitri waiting to walk her to the hall.
Thelios had gone on ahead meaning to meet them there.
So at least convincing him to take her there wasn’t going to be a problem.
She was happy to see Demitri and glad for the company. She hadn’t been pestered again since the first day, but she felt far safer on his arm than she would have walking in there alone. That evening had passed uneventfully, though Thelios seemed to brood somewhat more than usual and was less apt to jest with her.
She was content enough, however, to make herself comfortable on the pillows scattered over the floor, and he seemed equally content to have her there quietly leaning against his leg. At least his occasional touch- stray fingers caressing her shoulder or neck- made her suspect this was so.
It was hard to tell just how content he was with the way he was glowering and scaring all the poor servants and slaves. Even Lady Nagi seemed disinclined to prod him too much.
But, as far as she was concerned, he could glower all he wanted so long as it wasn’t directed at her. It was terrible of her, she knew… but a small, somewhat sadistic corner of her was even secretly amused by the way people seemed to cower and scatter before him.