I slowly bite into my sandwhich as I stare at my sister with a fast approaching suspicion of who the man sitting next to her was. He was being a bit too friendly by any of Euterpes standards and it didn't seem like it was in a romantic way. That also wouldn't surprise me though as we had all once had lovers at some point just some of us fewer than others. Then of course there was even some that knew our secret but never told part of the reason why was because of our mothers influence.

I take another bite then glare. "Who is this?"

She gives a small smile that told me all I had to know. "It's my new contractee."

I nearly drop my sandwhich. "You're joking?"

The man gives bashmful smile. "I guess I should have introduced myself. My name is Chris."

I don't know how to react. Euterpe wasn't usually this reckless. She typically always consulted with us about the people she was considering for a contract. She never had made a contract with on her own. Something was weird about this.

I ignore Chris. "Why?"

She looks offened but the smirks because she can't lie. "What do you mean by why?" 

"You're being suspicious."

"What do you mean?"

I roll my eyes and take another bite. "Just tell me I won't tell mom."

Chris glances between us then stands up. "Maybe I should-"

I point to the chair taking another bit of my sandwhich. "Don't leave, this includes you."

"This seems private."

I look at Euterpe. "Is it?"

She takes a nibble of her own sandwhich as she tilts her head side to side. "Maybe just a little but you can stay Chris. "Might as well know what you're getting involved in."

He sits back down.

Euterpe nibbles on her chips as she speaks. "You heard Foster's music, did you maybe see anything peculiar when he was playing. Like persay a clearer vision."

I sit quietly for a moment drumming my fingers on the speckled hard table as I try to recollect what I saw when Canan played the piano. Teared paper, tears hot and warm. 

I stop my fingers. Tears, hot and warm. I felt warmth like I was physically there, that wasn't normal. I mean it was but it was only normal for lyrical love writers or romance novilist never just a composer. It was definitley abnormal for a solo pianist to make me have feelings of being physically where they were inspired. Still I don't think it's impossible if they are immensley talented

"Yes, it was clearer but still I don't think that's anythi-"

"I couldn't see a clear vision."

Okay that was impossible. "What do you mean."

"I mean, I see a vision thats closer to a lyrical love writer than a composer."

I place a hand against my chin as I think. "So," I turn my head trying to understand what this could mean. "Are you trying to say that his composing is closer to the expression of love than the entertainment of music."

She throws her hands up. "I don't know what I'm trying to say because I can barley comprehend it."

"So-"

She cuts me off. "Look Erato, all I'm saying is he's different. He is special and I think you need to make a contract with him."

So that's what this was about, that's why she asked him to play one of his songs. She wanted to show me just how different his compositions were but this didn't explain why she made a contract with Chris.

I gesture a finger to him. "What about him."

She glances at Chris. "He's working on an album with Canan."

"He's just going to be revising." He says with a small smile then leans closer. "So you're Erato. The Muse herself. The Goddess of love poetry." 

I cringe a little I will never get used to being called that in the modern age. "I suppose I am." 

That was a lie we were never Gods, we were beings that existed through the belief of humans. That was the only way we could exist and have power. None of us could remember what we were before and none of know what we'll be after. Even our own mother isn't biologically our mother. She was a being who made other humans believe we existed the, poof, we did.

"Come on Erato." Euterpe begs. "It's been two hundred years since your last contract. I can feel your powers dwindling."

I tense up. "You can?"

"It feels like a candles flame is half the height it was before. Your warmth is dwindling and my guess is you have a month left before you need to make a contract." That was an understatement, it felt like I had a few days. "I've already set everything up." She continues. "You just need to get him to agree."

"Easier said than done."

"But you can do it." She bores her eyes into mine. "You need to do it. He is not a normal muscian he is more of a conveyor of love then of melody." She points to me. "That's your expertise not maybe."

I tap my finger against the table again. "I'll try but I can't promise."

She does a little fist pump. "Yes-"

"But how?"

She lowers her hand. "How what?"

"How do you convince a human to make a deal with a fictious God."

She shrugs her shoulders. "Same as we always do, we offer our assistance and guidiance, give wealth and fame then in exchange we recieve belief and allowances. Then if he denys you we get mother to erase his memory."

I sigh. "I don't like it when she does that."

She pokes a chip. "While it's the fastest and easiest way to make a contract."

Chris speaks up. "I'm sorry but did you just say your mother can erase memories."

"Goddess of Memory, Mnemosyne." Euterpe turns to him. "That's our mother she has the power to manipulate the memory, she doesn't take away the memory she just makes humans believe the relationship with us Muses was something else. Something more realistic." 

Chris slowly nods his head in understanding. "Will...you do that to me?"

Euterpe shakes her head. "Of course not." She says with a forced smile. "As long as you don't cancel our contract."

He gulps. 

"Just think about it Erato." She says standing up. "It's not a matter of what you want. Its a matter of life or death." She sighs. "If you don't fulfill a contract with literally anyone by the end of next week I'm telling mother."

"You wouldn't." I glare as she collects her things. 

"Watch me sister."

I clench my jaw. "Fine."

Euterpe slings her bag over her shoulder. "Thank you Erato, I do this because I love you."

I stare at her then look at Chris who looks a bit uncomfortable. 

"Don't worry Chris." I fold my hands together. "She'll make you successful. One of her contractees was Chopin."

He gives a nervous laugh. "Really?"

She nods her head. "Yes, so we have to get started. Let's head to my house."

"Home of the Muses?" He mumbles as she rushes him away.

I sit quietly at the table watching as she's already giving him a list of things they have to do as she extends one finger after another seeming to emphazise on her index finger. 

I missed that. I missed having a contractee. It was like having a best friend that you got to raise to the best of your capability. You got to see them grow and prosper to their full capabilityknowing very well you helped to guide them to that level. 

I tilt my head to the side. I'm feeling light headed now, that wasn't a good sign. Maybe it would be best if I took a small nap in my car. That would probably be for the best. 

I quickly gathered my belongings and threw away my trash, then I hastily walked across campus to my car. Once inside I immediatly fell asleep, or passed out. It was hard to tell as everything turned black when I closed my eyes and leaned back in my chair. 

"Erato," A voice calls within the chamber of my mind.

I peer into the abyss to try to make out a face but I can see absolutley nothing in the darkness. 

Then theres another call. "Erato." 

I try hard to lift myself up but I struggle to find my footing or even my hand for that matter I can't tell if I'm up or down on my back or on my side I just am and I struggle to find where I am. 

Again. "Erato!" 

This time I jerk up and choke as something shockingly ice cold hits my face.

I'm back in my car drenched in ice cold water while the breeze from my open door just makes it harder for me to focus on anything else except that I was cold. I hastily rub the water from my eyes then glare at the person that threw water in my face. 

It was Canan who was standing by my side his brows bunched and his bottle of water opened.

I open my mouth but he beats me to the punch. "Erato," He exclaims. "I've been knocking on your window and shaking you but you wouldn't wake up!" He kneels down so that were eye level. "You need to see a doctor."

There's no doctor on Earth that can fix me. 

I rub the water off my face with my half dry shirt then glance at the late afternoon sun. 

"What time is it." I ask already feeling better than before I fell asleep or passed out, I'm still unsure which it was but it was leaning towards the later.

Canan looks at me as if he can't muster words. 

I repeat myself. "What time is it."

"Is that really what's important!?"

I ignore him and rumage through my bag to look for my phone. When I find it I quickly look at the time it's five.

"I need to go so get away from my door."

"Do you hear yourself? You were just unconscious ten seconds ago!"

"And now we'll both be late for practice if we don't leave now."

He stares at me like i'm insane and i just might be because it seems my priorities are a bit out of order.

"I'm not letting you drive. Get in my car." He finally says.