Calypso and Calliope sat quietly as they observed Sandra’s eyes widen in shock as soon as she saw the book that Callisto held in her hand. It looks exactly like the picture book her mother read to her as a child. That can’t be possible because all her personal belongings got destroyed in the fire!
“Sandra is something wrong?” asked Callisto staring at her with a puzzled look.
“That book,” she remarked. “Where did you get it?”
“Like I said, our great, great grandfather Mitchell Gregory was a collector of antiques and fine art. Before he founded this town, he was an amateur explorer touring the world procuring rare treasures including rare books.”
“It looks very old. Did he mention where he got it from?”
“Unfortunately he didn’t. He has this reputation of being a bit of the eccentric in our family. His grandson, our late grandfather Liam Gregory, would regal tales of Mitchell’s adventures as an amateur explorer. One of the most famous claims is he discovered the lost city of Atlantis including a chest of sunken treasure belonging to the Atlanteans. Have you heard of Atlantis?”
“Yes. It’s a Greek myth of an ancient magical city that got flooded by the sea god Poseidon as punishment for the killing one of his human children.”
“Excellent. You know your world history. But Sandra, do you know why it was flooded?”
“From what I remember, there was a feud between two monarchs vying for the throne of Atlantis. King Atlas and Prince Gatorade, I think his name was.”
“Actually his name was Prince Gadeirus,” Callisto corrected her. “You are almost correct. King Atlas was a just king who loved humans but for some reason his brother Gadeirus felt mortals inferior and wanted them destroyed. Do you remember why Poseidon flooded the city?”
“Prince Gadeirus murdered a mortal princess who was the daughter of Poseidon,” answered Sandra. “Poseidon in his anger punished both royals of Atlantis and cursed them to live at the bottom of the sea as merfolk. I think that is how is the story goes.”
“You’re right on the money but there is more to the story,” Callisto added. “The sea god Poseidon had good reason to curse all Atlanteans because the human daughter that Gadeirus killed happened to be Aoide.”
“The sea seer?”
“The very same. Her mother had been a mortal princess of the coastal kingdom of Menelea giving birth to the sea god’s daughter. Princess Aoide, as she properly known, took over the throne of Menelea guiding all that visited her with the visions she foretold. Gadeirus wanted to make humans an example of his rage by murdering Aoide angering the sea god in the process.”
“Whoa. That takes alot of guts!” Sandra commented. “You never wanted to piss off a Greek god!”
“Precisely,” replied Callisto. “Now Aoide foresaw her own death, realized that changing her destiny was unavoidable, so she began writing her prophecies down eventually binding them into four different volumes. The first was The Story of Atlantis which detailed the reason why Poseidon drowned the magical city. This book had been destroyed in a mysterious fire. The second and third editions, The Tale of Sirens’ Four and The Myth of Poseidon and Tiamat, continue the next part of the story. These allegedly were contained in the chest discovered by great; great grandfather Mitchell and inspired him to establish this town, honoring it after Atlantis, under the name Lemuria, the lost city of wonder.”
“What about the last book?”
“The last book The Revelation also vanished under strange circumstances. It is said it contains the final answers to Aoide’s predictions altering events of what is to come.”
“Interesting. It’s like one big fortune cookie.” Sandra joked. “Reading is fundamental so please read all four volumes or you’ll be illiterate.”
Calliope let out a snicker while Calypso shot her an angry look. Embarrassed, Calliope sat back to compose herself.
“Oh for crying out loud Callisto!” huffed an annoyed Calypso. “Just get to the song already.”
“Patience Calypso!” growled Callisto. “You could use some. As I was saying, according to the legend in all four volumes that there is this hymn that when sung creates a harmony that will unite and bind friends together. Perhaps Sandra you might know it.”
“I don’t think I do…” she began.
Callisto’s voice radiated with warmth as began the lyrics.
Honor thy King Atlas…
Soon Calypso and Callisto began to join in the verse.
True ruler of the sea…
Sandra could not believe her ears. The beauty of their timber so crystal clear, illuminating a kind of freedom reminding her of ocean waves crashing carrying her off and floating away. Her voice wanted to be free as well as she jumped in the chorus.
Unite the four princesses
And bring back Atlantis to harmony…
Laughter came from Callisto as she saw a smile form on both Calliope’s and Calypso’s faces.
“Well done!” Callisto applauded.
“I guess that binds as friends according to the story!” Calliope squealed in delight.
“Wonderful.” Calypso responded with her typical sarcasm.
Still this did not satisfy Sandra’s curiosity. “Why? How? Where did all of you learn this song?”
Callisto smiled parting a loose hair from Sandra’s face. “From our mothers, of course. I’m sure yours taught you the same song as a child.”
“Yes, she did but it a special song between me and her. One of the last ones she taught me before she…” Sandra stopped herself when the memories began to pour in. Tears welled in her eyes.
She felt the embrace of a comforting soul while she continued to weep as the voice began to reassure with so much love and support.
“It’s okay,” said Callisto. “I know you’re mother has passed. We’ve all been through it. Calliope. Even Calypso and me. Our mother passed away in childbirth. Look there is reason why fate has brought you here. We’ve all lost a love one and we can relate to that loss, comprehend it, and hopefully come to terms with it that most people wouldn’t understand. We’re more than friends. We’re like own special support group.”
The feeling of comfort propelled through her as more emotions struck her with so many mixed signals. Loss. Pain. Acceptance. Love. Comfort. Shelter. Sympathy. All of which confused her.
“Thank you,” she replied stepping away from Callisto. “I didn’t mean to get all emotional. I just didn’t think my mother’s death would hit me hard.”
“Do you want to talk about it?” asked Calliope. “You’re among friends now I guarantee you.”
“No, not just yet,” said Sandra. “But I’ll know who to come to when I need to talk to someone.”
“Good.”
Calypso grabbed the book from her sister handing the edition to Sandra. “Here. You might want to read this. It is important for later on.”
“Later on?” Sandra questioned. “I don’t understand. Why do I feel like you’re all keeping secrets from me if we’re supposed to be friends now?”
“Just trust us,” Calliope noted. “Everything will make sense soon.”
Sandra attempted to get a word in edgewise but then the Gregorys’ manservant Reginald made his presence known in the library.
“Dinner is served. Please join us in the dining room.”
“About time,” whined Calypso. “I’m starving.”
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