Portia nodded. “Alright. So, are you leaving now?"


    "Yeah," Calliope replied. "I''ve already made arrangements. The helicopter should be here any minute."


    She turned to Portia, her voice softening with a protective edge. "Listen, after I''m gone, keep an eye on Blythe and Lisette for me. I''m worried they might make things difficult for you. I''ll also let my friends know to watch out for you."


    Portia met her gaze, offering a reassuring smile. “I understand. Don''t worry about me, I''ll be fine. Right now, what matters most is Mavis. As long as she''s alright, nothing else matters."


    "Oh, and one more thing," Portia added, with a sh of annoyance. "When you see Uriah, give him a good p for me! Mavis got into this mess because of him.”


    Calliope allowed herself a tired smile. "I will," she promised.


    She left her suitcase in the room and, after a final word to Portia, headed off to find her friends. When she found them gathered together, she exined the situation briefly, asking if they could keep an eye on Portia while she was away. She also let them know that Portia would be holding onto her things—and that she trusted them to keep both her friend and her belongings safe.


    One of her friends eyed her with concern.


    "Where are you off to in such a hurry? Did something happen? Is there anything we can help with?"


    Calliope shook her head. "This is out of your hands trust me."


    “Oh,e on,” another protested, half-joking, half-serious. "What''s with theck of faith? At least tell us what''s going on-we can''t help if you keep us in the dark!" They could all see the tension in her posture and pressed her for details.


    "It''s a medical emergency," Calliope said. “That''s my domain-none of you can do much there."


    A friend nodded in agreement. "Fair enough. You''re the only one who can pull this off, anyway. Who''s sick?"


    "A friend of mine was shot," Calliope answered quietly. "She''s already got an infection; and things are turning bad fast. I need to get to her immediately and try to operate. So, please, just watch out for things here-especially Portia. I''ve got a bad feeling someone might try something while I''m gone."


    "Don''t worry. Your friend is our friend," one assured. "We''ll look after everything."


    "Leave it to us—you can count on it," echoed another, and the rest of the group quickly chimed in with their support.


    Relieved by their loyalty, Calliope thanked them and turned to go. As she made her way back, she passed by Valerian''s suite. He was standing cigarette in hand and


    in the corrido ok as


    Shother a cold,


    pomous took a?


    she approached. Calliope didn''t even acknowledge him; she strode past without a word.


    "Calliope!” Valerian called, as if about to say more, but Calliope didn''t so much as pause. Valerian''s scowl deepened as he watched her walk away.


    A few momentster, Calliope was back in her room.


    "Did you talk to everyone?" Portia asked softly.


    "I did."


    "So you''re leaving right now?" Portia was fighting off a wave of worry. "It sounds really dangerous over there. Callie, just... be careful, okay?"


    She desperately wished she could help, but knew there was nothing she could do.


    "I will," Calliope promised. "Don''t


    worry. I won''t let anything happen to


    Mavis


    back,


    myself


    we''ll all sit and when we get


    I sit down together


    have a drink like always."


    “Alright,” Portia choked out, her eyes bloodshot and brimming with unshed tears.


    She followed Calliope out of the room. Out in the hallway, Calliope''s phone buzzed —it was the call she''d been waiting for. The helicopter had arrived.