Intrigue
Intrigue: The Night Muse Trilogy
By Stacey Rychener
Copyright 2011 Stacey Rychener
Kindle Edition
Discover more about the Night Muse Trilogy at:
http://www.nightmusetrilogy.com
Prologue
I fear the Greeks even when they bring gifts
. —Virgil
My dad always said, “Wars are usually fought by the young and written in history books by the old.” So the world might not be ready for the history of a war to be written by a sixteen-year-old girl from Detroit, but my generation deserves to be recognized for the sacrifices we made. The only time society has taken a teenage girl’s thoughts seriously in times of war is the
Diary of Anne Frank
, and
Anne died at a concentration camp at fifteen—long before her diary was ever published!
In mythology,
Calliope
was the most powerful Muse in the Greek Pantheon. Muses provided the entertainment kinda like modern day soap operas with some musical numbers for the Greek gods and goddesses. I am the modern day Calliope, so it makes sense that I am the one that gets to tell you the tale of the battles, betrayal, intrigue, and some sappy love stuff during the War for Detroit. I have chronicled all the behind the scenes scoops and dirt that you never see or hear about in those dry old history books, and I even included field logs from an actual Greek god!
I am writing this history in present day Detroit where the War has come to an end for now. But in the summer of 2007, I was drawn into the battle between the three most powerful Olympians in Greek Mythology—Apollo (God of Truth and Prophecy), Hermes (Messenger of the Gods and Protector of Humans), and Ares (God of Warfare and Bloodlust). And now I am giving you a front row seat to history.
Battleground
Most people think the crash of the American auto industry caused Detroit and its economy to come grinding to a halt. In the 1990’s, President Clinton gave 1.5 billion to the American auto industry (Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles). GM, Ford, and Chrysler all created cars that got over 70 mpg (GM: 80 mpg Precept, Ford: 72 mpg Prodigy, and Chrysler: 72 mpg ESX-3). The Big 3 chose not to make the cars because only granola eating hippies would buy them. Instead, they decided to make bigger, more gas guzzling SUVs--some of which couldn’t even fit into your average garage! So Japan beat Detroit to the market, oil became expensive, and the Big 3 and Detroit started their descent into chaos.
In 2007, Detroit had over 80,000 abandoned lots and buildings that were the palaces, playgrounds, and cathedrals for its immortals. And its prey, humans, all the more accessible because these abandoned buildings had become the flame for its moths of ravers, vandals, scavengers, and urban explorers. You would think that the frontline in a war between the immortals and humans would happen in a place a lot more glamorous like Paris or vital like New York, but the chaos, gloom, and the indoor abandoned reality of Detroit was like a lodestone for these creatures…. kinda like an IMAX for immortals.
Immortal Lore
Most of what I thought I knew about immortals and vampires was learned through books and movies. So I am going to clarify some basic facts about immortals and vampyre (not vampire) before we get started.
Several books and movies actually got a few detail right like:
-Most immortals are hot and somewhat arrogant with a clique-like hierarchy.
Sometimes they got details sorta right:
-Vampyre
do not
need to kill to drink blood, usually they only need to take about 1 pint of blood about once a week.
Sometimes they were way off:
-Immortals and vampyre
do not
burn up in the sun; Their skills and entertainment are best cloaked in night so they generally like to sleep during the day, kinda like college students.
The rest of what I have learned about the immortals will be shared through my narrative, so you are just going to have to read on.
Hermes Field Log: July 2007
I have been observing my new Aegis, Calli, for over a month now, and I am still unclear as to why Apollo wants me guarding her. Her father is a fireman; she has a black belt in karate; she has only engaged a one high-risk behavior that I have observed. She attended an Urban Underground Rave that our kind sponsors, which has to be where Apollo saw her. The chaos and strife in Detroit has dramatically increased since Ares has turned the abandoned
Tiger Stadium
into his own personal Coliseum. The body count for the young adults of Detroit is climbing and soon Detroit’s citizens will start to take notice. As the Protector of Humans, I have done all I can to shield them, but it has not been nearly enough with Ares as ruler. Apollo is the only one strong enough to stop the human wrecking ball that Ares has become. That is why I am granting him this personal favor and the only reason a god, such as myself, would follow around a red-haired teenage Siren. Luckily, I have only had to follow her to the mall once. My duty ends at being a mall cop. My sacred duty might be to protect her, but you can be sure it’s also to find out why she’s so important to Apollo. And determine if somehow, she can further my mission to protect all humans from Ares.
Chapter 1: Tics and Rattlesnakes
August 2007
My grandma always said, “You’re more likely to get bit by a tic than a rattlesnake, Calli, so watch out.” I just nodded at her for years like I knew exactly what she was saying. I lived in Detroit, Michigan, so we really don’t have any rattlers around here. I asked her once what she meant and she said, “It’s the little things, that we are
not
scared of that are more likely to bite you in the ass and cause major problems down the road.” My tic bite happened on an ordinary Tuesday when the sensei of our dojo announced that we needed to welcome a new student to our karate class. He introduced him as Rafe Something-I-Didn’t-Catch because I was too busy: 1) staring at a fantabulous model of the male species and 2) letting my mouth drop open. Unfortunately, the next moment I was actually coherent, I heard my boyfriend,
Thrace
, remark on my drooling. I had to admit that Rafe sent my eyesight into overload, which must have disabled my hearing. He was 6 feet tall with golden brown hair, piercing hazel eyes, and even white teeth when he finally gave us a mischievous smile. He was
a hottie tottie with
a naughty karate body
(I actually learned that one from the
Urban Dictionary
). It was only when Thrace not so subtly stepped on my foot that I regained my senses, and I realized that I should be starting my warm-ups.
Sensei Magisawa put us through our paces as Rafe quietly observed us, throwing in a small smile for the females in the class. As the lesson progressed, I could almost feel every time his eyes were on me. It took massive concentration to execute my kihon (basic techniques) and kata (form) with my typical precision. My sensei has always remarked that much like a chess player—I have a gift for anticipating my opponent’s attack and countering it with the perfect move(s). It helped that I run three miles every day to keep my endurance up. Also, so I could eat chocolate and drink Mt. Dew without resorting to Plan A (Anorexia) or Plan B (Bulimia).
As class let out and we executed our traditional bow to our sensei, there was a slight change from the norm because students either wanted to meet the new guy or talk about the new guy. I was stopped as I headed to the locker room by my friends who wanted to gossip over this unexpected turn of events that led us to such interesting eye candy. Jazmine (Jazz), also a junior at my school, remarked that she was going to offer to practice with Rafe; whereas Keyana (Key) believed that asking for private tutoring from Rafe might be within her budget. I noticed both girls and myself chose to talk about Rafe rather than going to meet him as we headed to the locker room.
I just smiled at their remarks as I changed in the locker room until they asked me a direct question, “So Calli, what do you think?”
I responded in my typical dry manner by saying, “I think I have a boyfriend that is pretty much going to be watching me like a hawk after my gawking today.”
We finished packing up and headed out of the locker room. There stood Thrace ready to escort me out of class. Key smirked and instead of saying goodbye remarked, “I see what you mean.”
Thrace looked perplexed and of course asked, “What was that about?” But before I could answer, Rafe approached us and announced that the sensei suggested he set up a time to spar with each of us. Both Key and Jazz looked delighted and immediately asked for the time directly after our next 2 practices. I, on the other hand, quietly asked Rafe if he could do a morning time.
He set our time for the next morning at 7am and said in a charming tone, “See you tomorrow morning Calli.” He walked away amid Jazz and Key fanning themselves while Thrace frowned at Rafe’s back as he left.
Jazz remarked, “The back view is almost as good as the front view.”
Thrace said with a slight snarl, “Respect yourself much?”
Jazz laughingly replied, “Oh, I’ll show him plenty of respect.”
Thrace just rolled his eyes and asked if I was ready to go. Jazz smirked at him and said, “Good luck with that one on the way home and have a nice practice tomorrow morning—we want details!”
Thrace hustled me out to his car in silence. Once he started his old Mustang, his interrogation began. “So it appears I might have some competition…”
I raised exactly one eyebrow at him and remarked innocently, “For what?”
Thrace snorted and replied, “Your favorite eye candy.”
I smirked and stated with absolute truth, “Babe, you know my favorite eye candy has always been Shemar Moore!”
Thrace rolled his eyes and laughed then revised his claim to be my 2
nd
favorite and most accessible eye candy. As far as my most accessible eye candy goes, Thrace was speaking the gospel truth. Thrace was
definitely
a hottie in the prep school boy way with his curly blonde hair, blue eyes, and athletic frame. I had a
huge
crush on Thrace for pretty much my whole life. But, I was always like his little sister until about six months ago when the rest of my body caught up to my giraffe like legs.
He had just broken up with his girl of the month when Jazz and Key helped me form a game plan. Key took me to her hair stylist that managed to tame and straighten my auburn locks. Jazz took me shopping for clothes that didn’t “hide” the fact that I had boobs. And mom pitched in with contacts, so Thrace could actually see my blue-green eyes without my retro glasses. Miraculously, my transformation prompted Thrace to ask me out, which delighted both our families. The awkward girl got the fairy tale, but they don’t ever tell you what happens after Cinderella, Snow White, Ariel, and Belle got the Prince.
I was distracted as Thrace fired his next question, “So I take it you and the other tarts are warm for Hermes form?”
My mouth dropped opened as I said, “Who?”
Thrace just shook his head and said, “The new guy!”
“Oh, I didn’t catch his last name,” I stuttered out.
Luckily, we were about to my house, so I only had to listen to a short tirade on the unknown skill of ‘the new guy.’
Unfortunately at that moment, I suffered from Foot-in-Mouth Disease as I commented, “Well, I guess I will find out how good he is tomorrow.”
Thrace’s eyes widened as he pulled into my drive, and his mouth hung open as he stammered, “Maybe I should drive you to your practice tomorrow morning.”
I kindly reminded him that my dad always took me to the gym before heading to work. It was our father-daughter bonding thing.
“Plus, you love your extra beauty sleep,” I teased.
He slowly leaned over to my seat and nuzzled my neck while he remarked, “Hey, a guy can only get so hot.”
He seemed more possessive than usual, so I announced, “You know my dad’s watchin us from his rifle scope, right?” He quickly scanned my house as I pulled the car door open and blew him a kiss good-bye.
I safely entered my house where my dad was calmly sitting on the couch watching ESPN. “How’s my ninja today? Kick some ass, take some names?”
