"My lord Dionysus is... where?"
"The Asylum," Aeolus answered. "It appears that he is one of the last surviving deities of our Pantheon. Why the Dark One left him alive remains to be seen."
Tears flooded the satyr's eyes. "By Zeus..."
Medea laughed harshly. "Zeus is dead, old satyr," she said guilefully. "To swear by him is as useless as it is stupid."
"Medea," Aeolus chastised in a commanding tone. The sorceress merely glowered at the demigod, crossing her arms in front of her.
"How can this be?" Silenus cried. "Was our Pantheon not unbeatable? Were they not immortal?"
"Indeed," Aeolus said, leaning forward. "For this reason, we are in the face of a great danger. Whoever the Dark One is, he..."
"Or she," Medea interjected quickly.
"...is capable of killing gods," Aeolus finished. "Surely we cannot allow such a power to continue posing such a threat. He made war with the gods of Olympus. And now, there are those of us who choose to make war with him."
"Who are among your ranks?" the satyr asked, a slight glimmer of hope in his eyes.
"With me now are Medea of Colchis and Sthenno of the Gorgons," Aeolus said, indicating each. "Also among our ranks are the Cyclops Arges, the remaining Gemini, the first woman Pandora, a nymph called Echo, and the Shaper, Morpheus."
"A valiant group," Silenus affirmed, wiping tears from his red face. "However, might I enquire as to how mortals, demigods, monsters, and the dream god will bring down someone who was no match for even the Olympians?"
Aeolus' face narrowed. "It is not as though there is much of an option, is there?" he said sharply. "We are all that remain who are willing to make a stand! If there were another, I am quite certain they would have found us!"
"Not necessarily," Silenus answered, a knowing smile coming to his lips. "Indeed, there may be one here tonight who would be willing to join you in your quest."
Medea raised and eyebrow as Sthenno leaned back in her seat in the booth, incredulous. Even Aeolus could not stop his face from taking on a surprised look. Silenus smiled, reaching to a small dial on the booth, which was attached to a speaker.
As the satyr turned the dial, music began to flood their meeting - a jazz duet of clarinet and bass. The singer who accompanied the musicians, however, had the most beautiful, haunting voice any at the table had ever heard. Medea stirred as she listened.
"That voice..." she whispered.
Silenus smiled. "I thought you might be the first to recognize it, Queen Sorcerer," he said. "The voice that tamed the fierce Cerebus. The voice that silenced the menacing Sirens. The voice that charmed Lord Hades himself and, for a time, was even able to hold back the bloodthirsty Maenads. He has been performing at Dion's since Lord Dionysus found his disembodied head and constructed for him a body of clay."
"Orpheus," Medea whispered, holding her hand to her mouth.
"Orpheus," the satyr nodded, looking the Wind Lord in the eye. "What say you, son of Hippotes?"
"I would... be honored to speak with him," Aeolus finally answered. "The Dark One will be a valiant foe and we will need all the help we can get."
"Very well," Silenus said with a smile. "He and Pan will finish their set shortly and I will direct him here."
"Thank you, Silenus," Aeolus said as the aged satyr bowed, exiting the booth.
"Orpheus?" Sthenno said. "Do you really think he will join us?"
"Why not?" Aeolus asked.
"Why would he feel the need to join a group avenging the very gods who betrayed him?" Medea asked, bringing cold reality to Aeolus' quest. "Or have you forgotten the ordeal with Eurydice?"
Aeolus lifted a brow. "I had not forgotten," Aeolus answered. "However, it would seem that he at least had a good relationship with Dionysus, who gifted him with a body."
"The least he could've done after the Maenads devoured his old one," Medea countered, her eyes ablaze.
"We shall see, Medea," Aeolus said after a moment. "We shall extend our offer to Orpheus and see how he responds..."
