It was a long time before she finally spoke. "Jasper?"


    "Well, well, you do remember me," ck Spider drawled, his eyes narrowing to dangerous slits. "What are you after this time? Here to kill us, is that it?"


    Calliope''s tone was even. "It''s been ages. I just came to check in. How long have you been out?"


    "Why should you care?" ck Spider snapped, voice prickly as ever.


    "And the others?" Calliope pressed.


    “Sleeping, obviously.” He gave an irritable huff. “You really are a nuisance, you know that? What''s your business here, anyway?" He took a swallow of coffee, then shot a venomous look toward Nigel, who kept flicking uncertain nces her way. Displeasure was etched deep into his face.


    "Why does he keep staring at you?" He turned back on Calliope, voice usatory. "Trying to seduce my wife or something? You think I won''t kill you? Watch yourself."


    He leaned in, menace radiating from every pore.


    "You''d never kill me. Aren''t we friends?" Calliope mirrored the movement, her lips curving into a sly smile. "I want to see him."


    “That weakling?” ck Spider curled his lip in disgust. “I''m not letting him out—he''ll just let my wife get away!"


    “But I want to see him," Calliope insisted. "And if you won''t cooperate, I''ll just have to do things my way."


    ck Spider''s suspicion deepened. "What''s that supposed to mean?"


    She shrugged. "Pick your poison: I can knock you out cold, or you can let me give you a quick jab with a needle. Either way, you''re not getting out of this. And you know me—I''m not exactly the patient type."


    "You''re impossible!" ck Spider scowled, but after a moment of internal struggle, he gave in and extended his hand with a muttered


    curse Fine. But once he''s out


    and


    you''ve said your piece, you let me back Or else this isnt over between us-"


    He hadn''t finished the threat before Calliope deftly drove a silver needle into his wrist.


    ck Spider''s head hit the table with a heavy thud as he lost consciousness.


    At the sight, his crew started to tense, clearly ready to leap in—but before they could make a move, ck Spider suddenly straightened. His eyes lifted to Calliope, blinking in confusion.


    "Calliope? What are you doing here?" His voice was gentle, baffled. "Did Jaspere out? Did he hurt you?"


    The air of malice was gone, reced with a soft, almost apologetic energy.


    "No, he didn''t do anything to me. He couldn''t, anyway," Calliope responded, her


    gaze flicking toward Nigel. "But he did kidnap my friend and force him to dress like a maid."


    Nigel looked positively ill, his face draining of all color. It was hard enough being abducted-being forced into a frilly maid outfit,plete with bunny ears, was something he never could''ve imagined.


    "Wait, this is your friend?" The


    gentler ck Spider-no trace of menace-looked appalled am so sorry, truly I couldn''t stop Jasper. He gets... oddly fixated. Whenever he sees him, he gets overexcited."


    He turned to Nigel, face earnest and apologetic. "Please forgive me, Mr. Howell."


    Nigel shot a bewildered scowl


    between ck Spider and Calliope.


    "Is he mentally unstable?" he muttered A minute ago the man was pure menace; now, he was practically docile. The sudden transformation made no sense at all.