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@emily-waldorf

I saw on your newsletter that you wrote Aydin’s last POV chapter, and I KNOW that feeling. So sad, so satisfying, yet so…sad! Congrats on getting this far, and I’m so happy for you and Aydin–I am personally grateful that you gave him a happy ending.

Thank you! It’s delightful but I find myself so sad to leave them 😭 OF COURSE I gave him a happy ending! I couldn’t let him suffer that much and then not give him at least that XD

Calliope

A quick motion from a tunnel behind me attracted my attention. I frowned. I hadn’t even realized there was a tunnel behind me.

Two girls stood before me. One was slightly taller than me, the one with lighter hair. The other was my height, finally. I was tired of everyone towering over me.

I looked both of them up and down, only distantly interested. I absently noted that the smaller one was better dressed. The taller one was barefoot. She had one foot raised, almost balancing on her tiptoes. These floors were awfully cold. Sudden sympathy shot through me, but I shoved it away. She could wear shoes if she wanted, this wasn’t my problem.

That girl’s head was bent, practically refusing to look at me.

I forced myself to stay on task. This wasn’t my problem. I had issues of my own. I didn’t have to worry about this.

“Who are you, and how did you get here?” I said. It came out rather more harshly than I’d intended.

“Anika, ma’am. And this is Natalya.” Anika said, her voice almost metallic with nerves. They curtsied, similar to the way Ophelia did.

I scowled. Ma’am? Was she making fun of me? Had I done something to incur their specific dislike? Was this some kind of prank?

I glanced around, almost looking for a camera to catch my reaction. (On a scale from Ophelia to Calliope how suspicious are you XD)

They stood. The taller girl was watching me as though I was the biggest threat in the world. I didn’t know whether to be insulted or feel sorry for her.

She shifted her weight to get her other foot off the floor, and just then I felt an icy draft sweep through the cavern.

That did it. I knew what it was like to watch people that way, ready for them to reject you.

“Don’t ma’am me, I’m Cal,” I said, trying not to sound as harsh as the last time. I sat down on the floor, not caring about how hard it was.

Both Natalya and Anika watched me as though I had gone off my head. I was pretty sure I had. Why was I helping her? This wasn’t my responsibility.

I untied my shoelaces and pulled off my boots, leaving me in socks patterned in the irregular Latin verbs. My latest birthday present from my older sister. It had arrived two weeks late, but it was the only present I’d gotten.

I handed my boots to Anika.

“Here. It’s too cold to go barefoot,” I said, shortly.

__________________

Awww, I was not expecting that reaction from Cal! She’s finally starting to develop I think! I didn’t even know she had an older sister…