Yes, I know I said I was going to write more "regular" Subreality stories, but this just popped up after reading "Top Girls". Disclaimers are set at the end. Reading "A Dragon Mage Scorned!" and "Queen of Mono" are recommended, but not necessary if you know a little about Calliope and the Muse War. Both stories can be found at Subreality Central.

Rated PG.

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They thought they marched to the song of a siren, the golden woman with a golden voice who called them to their deaths. All of them, hearing only the drums of war and seeing the gleaming armour of a demigoddess fighting for power.

They never heard the nightingale.

They never saw the tears.

I am, after all, more a symbol than a person -- the embodiment of all they were obligated to give their loyalty to. I am the harbinger of order to the chaos of inspiration, the ice-cold ruler to temper her often emotion-driven subjects.

If only they could have seen my nightmare... shrieking voices full of pain, the clash of steel, thundering hooves of horsemen sweeping down to murder the unwary... tell me, where can I find the calm and serenity to impose order?

I used to to dream of songs, a long time ago.

But of course you knew.

Here, take this object you covet so much. Caress it with your hands, if you wish, and admire the jewels. It looks very pretty, doesn't it?

Look closer.

Did you know there is an imperfection in my golden crown? A small crack -- barely as wide as strand of my hair -- in one of the rubies. Blood red rubies, bright and passionate like the flaw within me.

My heart, sister.

The reason why I almost lost my throne, and why I spared you from Flame's wrath.

You mock me, but I speak the truth.

Do you want to know a secret?

Sometimes, selfishly, I wish you had succeeded.

I am tired of trying to deny my heart, sister. I am tired of having a heart, that one fallible organ in my body. There are times when I wish I could step away from all this, to let go of this refined shell and become all I wish I could be. Oh, I was so tempted.

I tire of living as a cripple.

But I must.

Because I am the best there is for this imperfect crown.

Because I am the only one who understands.

O miseras hominum mentis, o pectora caeca! qualibus in tenebris vitae quantisque periclis degitur hoc aevi quodcumquest!

I have chosen darkness and peril, for light and safety can never exist alongside my duties. Because of you, sister, I now know the nightingale must be caged by the siren, that there will be no more songs for me. My tears will become fire, to be turned upon my enemies.

Forever, damn you.

How did you plan to retain the throne after my defeat? Or did the sight of the gilded cage blind you so you could not think beyond your thirst for power? Did you really think you will be coronated unchallenged? You are an idiot to think that life as the Queen of Muses is an enviable thing, and a thrice-damned fool to risk us all just to wrest it away from me.

Believe me, sister, you do not want to be Queen.

Is power worth a never-ending duty?

Look at me.

Look at what it demanded as its price.

You... laugh?

Is it so impossible to believe I could love someone?

You forget, sister. I had a son. And now because of you I have lost not only my lover, but also my best friend. Everyone I have ever loved is dead to me. I am dead to them, no longer the woman they knew.

Congratulations.

You managed to destroy me after all.

No, I did not come here for a heart-to-heart. Our time as sisters have passed the moment you picked up a sword against me, and now it is time for me to be the Queen of the Muses.

Why this conversation?

I wish you to understand, even if you will soon forget.

Yes, you will.

You will not remember you were once one of the Nine.

You will not remember anything, save that you are a Muse.

Your bravado is wasted on me. I will not harm you -- save to wipe your memories.

Even if you richly deserve it.

Don't bother to appeal. The nightingale is dead, remember?

Ah, yes...

Perhaps more than a change of name is in order, do you not think so?

How would you like to be a man in your next life, sister?

THE END

Disclaimer: Calliope is public domain, though the version of her referred in this story was created by me, aided and abetted by several others including Ana (the first person who nicknamed her "Bitch Queen", I believe :) and Farli. Flame belongs to Farli.

This is set immediately after the Muse War. I didn't give away anything about it, did I? The Latin quotation in the story was taken from Lucretius' "De Rerum Natura", and can be translated as:

"What miserable minds men have, how blind their hearts are! To waste their brief span of life in darkness, in peril!"

No, I don't speak Latin. :) It's quoted in "Top Girls", which is a fascinating play BTW. Somehow Calliope's story just built itself around the words... she's not in literal physical darkness and peril, but the isolation and detachment she maintains amount to the same thing in the end.