I'm hiding from my mother in the local library, I'm dressed in pajamas with an oversized hoodie as I read a book from my last contractee. It gives me some small amount of power as I continue to formulate the possibility of asking some random small writer if they want to make a deal with a Goddess, most would say yes. I knew that much but the character of these people is the most concerning aspect of making a deal. There was no guarntee that the person I made a contract with was deserving of fame and fortuane or that they wouldn't abuse the power I gave. 

I sigh sinking further into the sofa I was reading in. 

Tonight was Terpi's ballet and I was debating if one last time I should desperatley ask Canan to make me his contractor. I didn't want to talk to him I don't even want to make a contract with him but like Euterpe said there was something different about him. He wasn't like a normal composer and if I wanted to know why the only way I would find out was by spending more time with him and instilling myself into his inspiration. 

I close the book and stand up at this point I was dangerously desperate. I had too there was no doubt about it, question was how much pride do I have to wait till the last minute. I tapped a finger to my mouth. I suppose a lot. I glance at my phone it was already five the ballet starts at six. I take in a deep breath and then sigh my head was hurting now my legs were weak and my eyes were falling close more often for sparatic short naps. I sit back down.

Yeah there was no doubt now, this was the end. Mother already has a contractee ready for me all I need to do is give her my blessing and she'll have her in a contract me. 

Apparently she's an aspiring romance novelist but I read her work. I didn't like it very much it was rushed not a lot of tender slow burn love development and to me those were the most realistic and true love stories those of which had agonizing moments of deep thought of the respected character. Those that were truthful and yet classic to the deep craving of being chased or chasing the respected love interest. Those were fun and dramatic but nevertheless this author was popular and in the end it was what the people wanted that mattered not me. 

I lean my arm on the arm rest and lean my chin my hand. I close my eyes as I start to drift asleep but feel the sofa move. I open them just a bit to find crystal blue eyes peering at me.

I gasp softly as I throw myself back. An ever so soft smile creeps onto the face of the pristine blue eyes. 

"Melpomene," I sigh. "You scared me."

Her chin is leaning on the arm rest as she stares at me her hands laid beside her face. "You're tragedy is becoming clearer sister." She whisphers softly. 

"Well yeah, I only have a few hours left before mother makes me have a contract-"

"No," She tilts her head to the side as she reads me. "You want to die." 

I'm silent as she watches me expressionless. 

"Is that it." She whisphers softer. 

"I don't know." I admit.

She inhales deeply. "Why?"

I reach a catious hand to her own and hold it. "We've been alive for so long sister. What is there to live for though."

She clenches my hand. "Each other." I meet her eyes and she continues. "We don't know where we came from, we don't know where we will go, but I know that if we are to go to nothing and become nothing I wish to spend every concisness with you and our sisters."

I bite my lip and look away. "I understand, I just don't know if I feel that same way." 

"You may not, but you know what to do not just for us but for yourself." 

I chuckle. "Thanks Melpomene." 

"Also I think you should talk to mom about this."

I sigh tilting my head side to side. "You're probably right."

"Maybe im not but I do know a fast approaching tragedy when I see one."

I think about her words for a moment as I stare out at the shelves of books and the few people passing by. 

I turn back to her. "Why are you here?"

"Are you going to the ballet."

"No, I don't think so."

"Are you going to the ballet." She repeats herself.

I look at her confused. "Uh, no I don't think so."

She leans closer her face a bit expressionless. "I'm going to ask again choose right."

"Are you going to the ballet?"

I frown at her then raise a brow. "Yes."

"Great," She smiks. "Ill see you there."

I stare at her stunned. "What was that about?"

"What do you mean?"

"You're hiding something."

She avoids eye contact and looks at our hands which are still holding one another. "I may not be able to see the future but I can see a tragedy blooming."

"Yes I know."

She takes a breath in. "Make a contract with the mortal."

I squint my eyes. "What?"

She leans closer like someone may hear. "I can see tragedy in all your stories sister. You choose mother's contractee, there's tragedy. You choose a random contractee, there is tragedy. But you choose that mortal and I see less tragedy but there is still a tragedy that will befall, I just know it won't be as bad as the others."

I let go of her hand and peer into her eyes. "Mother said ignore the visions."

"I can't ignore it when it comes to my sister."

"Were not allowed to predict the futures of mortals or each other."

"It's not a prediction it's just a set of paths I see and I know which one will benefit you best."

"Our predictions never turn out the way we think Melpomene."

"This is a vision."

I place a hand to my chin in thought and close my eyes. 

Us muses can not foretell the future make no mistake about that but after being alive for so long and seeing so many stories of the humans we make deals with, we can no doubt make close to accurate predictions about each other or other mortals. There was no way to solidify these or to validate that our predictions were close to the truth but Melpomene, Clio and Calliope's visions were different from our predictions. They foresaw the end result of their contractee's or their contractee's stories. They had to be able to see the end result in order to make their preictions. Then on occasion that bled into our lives. Mother firmly does not believe in changing our fate's or destinies. I'm not quite sure why but I'm sure it has to do with her past and the way so many of us beings became cocky and overconfident when the humans believed us. No they were nothing but dust lost to the abyss of time. 

I open my eyes and look back to her. "And what about Calliope's warning."

"If he's your contractee mother can't simple erase his memory."

I nod in agreement. "Yes, but Mother may try if she learns Aphrodite is associated with him."

"Then this is my advice, set a boundry with him, meet him only in specific places where Aphrodite will not appear and our sisters will not intrude."

I blink slowly. "You've told mother?"

"Told her what?"

"Have you told her about your visions?"

She tilts her head side to side. "I've just told her the best course of action will be to let you choose your fate."

"And?"

She sighs and then stands up. "She said us children are her fate and she will not let her fate slip through her fingertips."

I roll my eyes. "She's so protective."

Melpomene's eyes slide to me. "For good reason apparently."

I sink a bit more into my seat as she observes me. Then she diverts her attention to a pair of teenagers who walk by on their phones giggling. She slowly glides to the seat beside me and I notice she's wearing a slim cobalt blue cocktail dress. 

"Don't you wonder?" She mumbles as they glance to her curious eyes.

I lean forward and look to her. "Wonder what?"

She seems melancholy as she looks to her lap. "Don't you wonder what it's like to be human." She whisphers.

I purse my lips and squint my eyes in thought. We were never human we knew this from the begining and with each year that passed of our immortal lives we knew more and more just how much we weren't human. I believe in some ways it was eating at our souls. Taking as apart piece by piece as we watched in horror just how much pain it was to live for an eternity.

Before I can answer my sister's question she speaks for me. "I suppose you do, otherwise why else would you be attending the colleges." 

I shrug. "I think it's fun. I wouldn't say that's entierley driven by the wonder of being human."

She looks at me tenderly. "Do you wish you were human."

I'm silent as I think about her question. 

I've wanted to be human for over a thousand years now as I've seen friends and family perish before my eyes. Me always remaining the same in elegance and youth and those around me wawsting away with each passing hour. At the very least I had my sisters but it feels as though my love for humans was far more profound then their love for being powerful beings. I was different. Anyone would think that came with being the Muse of love poetry but in the end I think it was just me. 

"Yes," I finally answer her. "To live a life where every second matters because you know there is an end. To love and be loved whole heartidly without remorse because the end is inevitable is a story which transcends all time. The short lives of humans is what makes the stories us muses inspire that much more amazing."

Melpomene chuckles softly. "You sounded like mother."

I snarl then sigh. "Well I am her daughter."

"Her manifestation brought to life with her pure will." Melpomene corrects.

"In other words her daughter." I add.

She snickers with a delicate hand to her mouth then stands up once again. "Okay then Erato, now that we've had this discussion of life death, mortality and humanity lets make haste to our sister's ballet."

"You'll take me?"

"You're too weak to use your powers right now so of course not to mention I'm curious of this mortal named Canan." 

I pause surprised. "Did Eurterpe not uninvite him?"

"Of course not." She smirks. "Just like me she believes he is the perfect contractee for you."

I hope they're both right because if I can't have him be my contractee by tonight. I may not have a tomorrow to find another.