Prologue

Calypso pulled on her mask before pressing record on her Ubuntu Studio recording app. All of the instrument tracks were completed, as well as all of the vocal accompaniment tracks. The main vocal track was all that remained until her latest masterpiece was finished.

Her masquerade mask covered her forehead, cheeks, and nose. Her brilliant violet eyes were still visible, with just a hint of the dark colors of her eyelids showing. The mask had white feathers covering it, along with a small beak that came down over the nose. She knew the mask was probably not necessary, but she had learned well that anonymity was worth a little extra effort.

As the first sequence of notes played through her headphones, she opened her mouth and began singing. There was an alluring power in her voice, compelling in its purity. It was a voice of transcendent beauty that reached deep into your soul. She sang of battles and wars, of legendary tales where good always triumphed over evil.

She finished the final notes of the song and published it to her YouTube channel. It was a useful service, allowing her to publish her ideas somewhere she could review them again at a later date.

With a smile of anticipation, she got up and began packing her harp and small sound system. She loaded her equipment into her Honda began her bi-weekly journey.

It took her nearly two hours to drive to the children’s hospital. She retrieved her tinted glasses from the pocket in the ceiling of her car, making sure to hide the unusual color of her violet irises. After exiting the car, she pulled out a wheeled extendable cart from her trunk and loaded her equipment onto it. She wheeled it into the reception desk and smiled at the woman behind the counter.

“Oh, hello Calypso,” the woman greeted her with a warm smile. “The kids have been asking about you almost every day for the last week.”

“Hi, Julia. How are they doing?” Calypso asked hopefully, her large eyes giving her a perpetual look of wide-eyed innocence.

“Amazingly well,” Julia replied, beaming at her with kind eyes. “Jared made a complete turn-around since your last visit. He had been given two weeks to live, but he must have had something important to live for, because he suddenly started responding to treatment. He’s going to be leaving tomorrow.”

“That is wonderful to hear!” Calypso said with a radiant smile. “How is Susan doing? It seems like she was having a rough time last time I visited.”

“Susan and all of the others are doing amazingly well,” Julia replied with a wondering shake of her head. “It’s almost like they collectively decided they were going to get better.”

“Wow, that is great,” Calypso smiled with obvious satisfaction. “Any newcomers?”

“Just two since your last visit a couple weeks ago,” Julia frowned, her face losing some of its light. “Aria is in pretty rough shape. She’s ten years old. She was transferred in from a hospital over in Syracuse because her parents heard about how high the recovery rates are in this region. They don’t think she’ll last more than a few days at most, short of a miracle. She won’t be able to join the other’s for your performance, unfortunately. Adam is the second newcomer. He just turned fourteen and is also doing poorly. He’ll still be able to watch your performance, but he gets tired very easily.”

Calypso stood frowning slightly as she thought. “Would it be possible to play for Aria in her room?”

Julia blinked at the unusual request but then nodded slowly. “We’ll have to talk with the doctor about that, and maybe her parents.” She studied Calypso quietly for several seconds before continuing. “I’ll see if I can find her parents and get permission.”

“That would be wonderful if you could ask them, Julia,” Calypso smiled hopefully, her innocent features making it hard to deny anything.

“Of course, Calypso,” Julia assured her quickly. “You go on ahead to the meeting hall. I’ll send word to you when I hear back.”

“Thank you, Julia,” Calypso said gratefully, her large, sincere eyes conveying her gratitude more poignantly than the words.

Calypso pushed her cart through the hospital until she reached the meeting hall. There were almost a dozen children sitting in a mix of chairs, wheel chairs, and one medical bed. As soon as she entered all heads turned her way.

“Calypso!” several voices cried out excitedly. “You’re here!”

“I thought I was going to miss your performance,” a brown-haired Anita declared happily as she ran up and hugged Calypso tightly. “I’m going home tomorrow!”

“So I heard,” Calypso murmured, squeezing the twelve-year old girl back affectionately.

“Me too!” Delila exclaimed brightly as she waited her turn to hug Calypso.

There was a small chorus of “me too’s” as more of the children lined up to greet her. Calypso smiled contentedly as she made her way through the line, doling out hugs and words of encouragement.

The boy on the medical bed looked curious as he watched her, but she could see the tightness around his eyes as he watched the other children announce their recoveries. Calypso walked over to him with a warm smile on her face.

“Hello, Adam,” Calypso greeted him with a comforting hand on his shoulder. “It’s nice to meet you. I’m Calypso.”

Adam mumbled a reply as his face turned bright red. Calypso forced herself not to laugh at the usual reaction she received from teenage boys. She absently pushed a lock of her long blonde hair away from her face as she studied him intently. His eyes had dark circles under them and his face was gaunt. His head was bald, like so many of the other children, and his body emaciated. His aura was a sickly yellow, laced with black and red threads like chains.

Calypso leaned down and gently embraced the blushing boy with a whispered, “let’s get you back on your feet, Adam.”

She stood up and walked over to her cart and began setting up her wireless speakers, pc, and mixer. She arranged them around the room quickly before walking to the front of the room and picking up her large harp. Looking around the room, she noted that there weren’t any adults present. She removed her tinted glasses, revealing her violet eyes. She had discovered that eye contact helped the process work faster.

She took a deep breath and pulled on the metaphysical cord of light connecting her to an ethereal realm of energy and light. She had no idea what it was or why she had always felt the connection. Her music acted as a guide for the power, weaving it through her words and intentions.

She started the accompaniment on her laptop and then stood next to her harp. As she started playing, the cord of light flared brighter in her mind. She opened her mouth and began to sing the words she knew would train the children’s sick bodies to heal themselves.

As she sang, her large eyes glowed with the intensity of her passion, mesmerizing her small audience. The magical light flowing through her split her voice into multiple harmonies, giving the impression that there were additional singers joining her voice. The surround sound speaker’s main purpose was to explain where the additional voices were coming from as she sang. The sublime tapestry of voices transposed her words into instructions for her young listeners, showing them how to conquer the dark blights in their bodies.

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She sang for almost an hour as her young audience soaked up the magical energy her music inspired.

As she finished singing there was a reverent silence in the room as all of the children remained frozen in place. Adam’s eyes were filled with tears as he stared at her with something close to worship in his eyes. The dark circles under his eyes were gone and there was no longer an air of defeat in his countenance. His eyes were bright and energized.

The silence was finally broken by an enthusiastic applause and cheers from her young audience.

Part way through her performance a middle-aged couple had entered the room. Their eyes were wide with awe as they stared at her in admiration.

Putting her tinted glasses back on, she walked over to them and smiled welcomingly. “You must be Aria’s parents.”

They blinked in surprise at the statement.

“Yes,” the man replied with a puzzled crease to his brow. “How did you know?”

“I had asked Julia if I could sing to your daughter,” Calypso explained. “She said she would check with the doctor and parents.”

“Ah,” the man nodded in understanding. Calypso could see the grief and weariness in his eyes.

“Would you allow me to sing to her?” Calypso asked, her large eyes filled with hope.

“I think Aria would love that,” the woman said with a sad smile. “If I hadn’t seen you play I would have been inclined to say no, but you have such an uplifting theme in your music that I think it would be just the thing for Aria to hear right now.”

“Thank you,” Calypso smiled gratefully.

Aria’s parents felt an unexpected warmth suffuse their hearts as the young musician smiled at them in gratitude. There was something so pure and innocent about the beautiful young women. Seeing her happiness was contagious, making their own heavy hearts suddenly lighter.

Calypso quickly gathered her equipment onto the cart. She spent another five minutes on goodbyes, hugging each of the smiling children lovingly.

“You are such a wonderful person,” Aria’s mother told Calypso fondly as they started walking toward Aria’s room. “Donating your time to bring happiness to these children is truly inspiring. The kids seem to absolutely love you.”

Calypso colored slightly under the praise. “Thank you. These kids need all of the positivity they can get. I’m just grateful the hospital lets me visit with them.”

“Do you compose all of the music you are playing?” Aria’s father asked curiously.

“Yes,” Calypso nodded. “I’ve had a passion for music since I was a little kid. I believe that there is a magical energy in music that can bring a kind of healing of its own to our souls.”

They arrived at a room filled with medical equipment surrounding a bed with a girl that looked like she was on death’s door. Her cheeks were sunken and her eyes blackened. Her bald head was partially covered with a wimple. She looked exhausted. The light in her green eyes was nearly extinguished.

There was another girl sitting in a chair next to the bed. She looked about the same age as Aria. Her own head was covered with a wimple, though she looked much healthier. Dark brown eyes looked at her curiously as she pushed her cart into the room and started placing the speakers around the bed.

“She’s going to perform a song for Aria,” Aria’s father told the girl.

“I’m Calypso,” she greeted the girl with a smile.

“Clarice,” the girl replied shyly.

Clarice’s aura was streaked with red and black threads that threatened to choke her energy lines. She was clearly on the same path as Aria if things didn’t change.

“And you must be Aria,” Calypso said as she walked up to the bed to look down at the sick girl.

Aria smiled tiredly at her. As Calypso studied her aura she nearly wept. Black and red strands wrapped tightly around the shell, almost extinguishing the light.

“I’m going to play something that will hopefully make you feel a little better,” Calypso told Aria warmly. “You look like a fighter. I can see the light still burning in your eyes.”

Aria’s eyes grew slightly brighter as she stared at Calypso. She nodded and Calypso smiled encouragingly.

She opened her laptop and found the song Aria and her sister would need. Making sure to position her back to the parents, she removed her tinted glasses. She pushed play and then stood next to her harp and began to play. As her voice joined the instruments the room grew still as everyone felt the powerful notes grip their souls and demand their attention. Aria sat up straighter in bed, her eyes growing wider in wonder as she heard the beautiful voice echo throughout the room. Calypso locked eyes with Aria, willing the healing energy into the young girl. Aria’s eyes widened as she saw the strange color of Calypso’s eyes.

Her voice split into multiple strands of accompaniment that wove an intricate tale of struggle and hope. As she sang the second verse, she switched targets, making eye contact with Clarice. The story of her song climaxed in victory over impossible odds, ending on a triumphant finale.

Aria’s eyes were shining as she stared at Calypso excitedly. The exhaustion had melted away as she sat up straight and gripped her blanket tightly.

“That was amazing,” Aria whispered in awe. The red and black cords that had been smothering her aura had been shattered, leaving a pulsing white glow that was growing stronger by the second.

Aria’s parents and sister were standing in shock as they stared at their daughter in wonder. She hadn’t looked so alive in months.

Clarice’s eyes were shining just as brightly as Aria’s as she stared at Calypso in wonder. She stood up and walked over to Calypso, her eyes brimming.

“Thank you,” Clarice said thickly, smiling through her tears.

Calypso answered with a hug, squeezing the girl tightly. “You’re going to be just fine now,” she whispered into her ear.

After releasing Clarice, she walked over to the bed and hugged Aria as well. “I knew you were a fighter,” she whispered quietly. “I can’t wait to see your gorgeous red hair all grown out again.”

Aria blinked as Calypso pulled back. “How did you know I have red hair?”

Calypso just smiled, but didn’t reply. She put her tinted glasses back on and retrieved her speakers, then loaded her cart up as they watched her in awe. She waved goodbye with a smile and pushed her cart out of the door. A moment later the mother came out of the room and caught up to her.

“Thank you so much for everything,” she said, her eyes red-rimmed from crying. “I haven’t seen her look so alive in months. I was worried she was giving up.”

“Sometimes the right song can change the world,” Calypso told her gently. “I’ve seen the look in your daughter’s eyes before. She’s going to pull through this, I promise.”

Aria’s mother’s eyes filled with tears again and she impulsively embraced Calypso. She gasped as waves of love and compassion folded around her. “There’s just something about you that makes me believe you are right. I can’t thank you enough.”

“No thanks are necessary,” Calypso replied firmly. “Helping these children is where I find happiness.”

“If there is ever anything you need, anything at all, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us,” Aria’s mother said, holding Calypso’s shoulders at arm’s length. “I mean that.”

Calypso smiled and nodded. “I’ll remember that, Emily.”

Emily held her for a moment longer before releasing her. “Goodbye, Calypso.”

XXXXX

Emily had walked back into the room before she suddenly stopped, her eyes widening. “How did she know my name?”

“What’s that, dear?” her husband, Eric, asked from where he stood next to Aria’s bed.

She stepped back out of the door to ask Calypso, but the hallway was empty. Returning to the room she joined her husband near Aria’s bed.

“She knew my name,” Emily told him with a puzzled crease to her brow. “How did she know my name?”

“She probably saw it on the paperwork somewhere,” Eric suggested with a shrug. “Or maybe one of the staff told her.”

“She knew I had red hair too,” Aria added wonderingly. “How could she have known that?”

“She did?” Emily asked in surprise. “When did she say anything about the color of your hair?”

“When she hugged me,” Aria replied, smiling at the memory. “She whispered that she couldn’t wait to see my beautiful red hair all grown out again.”

“She must know us from somewhere,” Eric decided after a moment of thinking.

“Enough about that,” Emily declared with a probing look at Aria. “How are you feeling? You seem to still be energized more than I’ve seen in months.”

“I’m feeling really good,” Aria said brightly. “I feel like a totally different person.”

Emily studied her daughter’s face closely, noting that the shadows under her eyes seemed significantly smaller. Eyes that were resigned and exhausted just twenty minutes ago were now filled with vitality.

“I’m feeling really good too,” Clarice told them from where she sat next to the bed. The black circles that had been under her eyes were completely gone. Emily could almost feel the change in their health as she sensed the rotting entropy of their illness burning away.

“That’s wonderful, Clarice,” Eric exclaimed with a broad grin. “I knew switching hospitals was the right move. They’ve had such a higher recovery rate at this hospital that I knew you two would be on the mend in no time.”

“Do you think Calypso sings here very often?” Aria asked curiously. “Maybe she’s the reason they have such a high recovery rate.”

“You never know,” Eric replied with an indulgent smile. “You could be right.”

Aria shared a look with her stepsister and mom. He clearly didn’t believe that Calypso was the reason for their sudden recovery. Emily gave Aria and Clarice a subtle nod of silent agreement. She vividly remembered the overpowering love she had felt in Calypso’s embrace. Calypso was more than she seemed. Much more.