CHAPTER 20
Trinity stood centerstage, alone in the heat of the spotlight. She was frozen in time but not by Kronos. She glanced toward the wings. Mikolas smiled at her, his strength and love bathing her as much as the lights were.
She took a bow and sat on the piano bench. The audience applauded offered their energy to the moment as she placed her hands on the keys. The first chord rang out, echoing through the space like a bolt of lightning. Inspiration poured from her fingers, the piano strings converting it into a living thing, a force of nature, something magical.
She leaned into the mic, adding her voice to the song. This one she’d written for her sisters, for their struggles and their commitment, their devotion to inspiring humanity to love instead of hate, to help others instead of judge them, to create and be brave enough to share it with the world.
All her worries vanished into the melody. Anything was possible. Humanity was worth the fight. Life was messy, full of pain and pleasure…. And love… Gods, love was worth every heartbreak, every loss. She knew that now.
As Trinity played, her sisters began to join her onstage, singing the chorus along with her. Clio and Lia entered from stage left, and Mel and Callie from stage right. Then Tera came dancing up the center aisle of the theater, and right behind her, Sofia and Agnes walked down the aisle hand in hand.
The spotlight followed them toward the stage, casting long shadows across the audience. The muses began to clap to beat of the music, and finally Erica entered with a cordless microphone, completing the sisterhood, all nine muses together inspiring mankind again after millennia apart.
She stood in the crook of the piano and faced the full house. “Please join us. Move, dance, clap, sing—the world needs our magic. You all have a story to tell, a history to write however you choose. Your ideas will move us all into the future, a better future. We can make that happen. The world is what we make it, and it’s worth fighting for.”
Trinity and Mikolas hadn’t shared the consequences of tonight’s opening with anyone. Erica had no idea of the literal truth in her opening welcome. But Trinity wondered if immortals had witnessed Erica’s speech.
With the spotlight on her, Trinity couldn’t see the audience, couldn’t see if Zeus and Kronos were in attendance, and suddenly, she realized she didn’t give a shit.
Gods be damned.
They weren’t going to ruin this moment or this alchemy of inspiration they were manifesting tonight. This was humanity’s moment.
Trinity’s vision wavered, blurred by tears as Erica turned around to face her. She came over and nudged her over on the piano bench, keeping the mic away from her mouth. “It’s been too long since music and lyrics were together.”
Trinity laid her head on her best friend’s shoulder. “You always make me better.”
“Right back atcha, Sister.”
Trinity smiled as a tear slipped down her cheek. Erica brought the mic back up, placing it right between them as she took over the high notes on the keyboard with her right hand, while Trinity carried the chords. They harmonized their voices into the mic, sending the song into the air. Then an amazing thing happened: the back doors of the theater opened, and women of all ages, races, and backgrounds walked down the aisles toward the stage. The spotlight moved away from Trinity to the women entering the theater.
Trinity’s chest clenched. They were muses. All of them. She had no idea how she knew, but she had. Instantly.
They united their voices, the song taking on its own life, unable to be contained by the walls of the theater. Erica gestured for them to come onstage. Trinity kept playing, but movement in the far-left corner of the audience caught her eye—Zeus and Kronos. And on the other side…Rhea.
Trinity didn’t understand what was happening. Was this it? Was the world about to end?
She stopped playing, but the singing went on. Trinity jogged offstage into the wings and embraced Mikolas. “They’re out there.” He tensed, starting to turn, but she didn’t let him go. “Wait. I want you with me. Please.”
He stared into her eyes and finally nodded. “Okay.”
She took his hand, bringing him out to the piano. The singing faded as she reached for the mic. “Thanks for being here tonight. It’s been so much more than we ever expected, but there are some unsung heroes among us, and without them, this theater wouldn’t be standing.” She peered around the wings and out into the house for the Guardians. “Come on, you guys. Get up here.”
Nate came onstage with Maggie and Noah in tow. Reed joined him with baby Hope in his arms. Cooper came out from the wings, and Mason followed, his tool belt still fastened around his waist. Hunter and Gavin came up from the audience with Mikolas’s grandfather. The men joined their muses, and a wave of emotion washed through Trinity’s heart.
She smiled up at Mikolas before she addressed the crowd again. “These guys believed in us even when everything seemed to be falling apart. Can we show them a little love?”
The roars from the crowd filled the space, and through the noise and applause, an older gentleman gradually made his way to the stage. He had on khaki slacks, and a plaid shirt with a v-neck sweater. As he got closer, a smile warmed his face. He stopped in front of Agnes.
Trinity nudged Erica, and as if her best friend read her mind, she took the cordless mic over to him. “Do we know you?”
He took it, eyeing the black cylinder suspiciously before looking back up at Agnes. “Are you Agnes Hanover?”
Color flushed her pale skin as she nodded.
He lifted his other hand to his forehead, wiping away what could only be nervous sweat, and Trinity noticed the bright-red crescent-shaped mark on the back of his hand. Agnes’s Guardian. It had to be. She bit her lip to keep quiet.
The older guy finally held the mic up again. “I’m Everett Seagle. I know this sounds crazy, but…I wasn’t sure why I came here today until I saw you.” He glanced over to the left corner of the theater and back to her. “Your friend Zack told me your name. I…I’ve never done anything like this before.” His voice softened, as if the rest of the packed auditorium had vanished. “I’ve been searching for you my whole life. I never gave up.”
The audience cheered as Hunter jogged down the stairs to help Everett come up on the stage. Trinity went to peer at the immortals at the back of the theater, but they were gone.
Whether it was a good sign or not, she had no idea. But she had hope. And tonight, that was enough.