My Cerberus Girlfriend

Book Three: Chapter 7

Heracles sat behind Roger as Pegasus flew over the clouds. Roger couldn't see the front because the beast women's back blocked his view. At least they could see without him, and their body warmth kept him cozy from the cold wind.

"This is amazing!" Heracles cheered. "I can't believe I'm flying!"

Katina growled. "When will he ever shut up?"

"Not for long! I can see the mountain!" Labda announced.

Over the sea of clouds, a white mountain peak rose, shining in the sunlight. Its beauty took Roger’s breath away. "Are you sure that is Mount Olympus?"

"It is the only tallest mountain in Greece," said Cilla.

Roger was glad they were almost there, but he wished they could explore ancient Greece more. He wanted to meet the people, see the creatures, and witness places before they turned to ruin. Maybe visiting the gods will be more exciting.

The mountain grew bigger as Pegasus flew closer toward it. Before he reached the mountain, the horse suddenly screamed.

"What’s wrong?" Labda exclaimed.

The horse flapped his wings, wobbling side to side. Heracles glanced back and spotted a thick black thorn in the horse's rear.

"There is something on Pegasus!" He pulled the thorn out and glanced at it. Something green dripped from the thorn's tip. "It looks like a living spike. Something shot Pegasus!"

The horse's eyes closed and allowed his body to fall. The wind picked up as the group fell through the clouds. They were barely close to Mount Olympus.

"We're going to crash!" Cilla cried, holding onto Pegasus's neck.

Roger held on while Heracles wrapped his big arms around Roger’s waist. The strong man squeezed Roger, nearly pushing Roger’s breath out. If they don't crash soon, Roger’s eyeballs might pop out.

Below the clouds, they reached a lake near a forest. Pegasus's body dived into the water with a big splash. 

In the dark water, Heracles grabbed Roger and swam up toward the surface. Both of them caught their breath after they emerged.

Katina, Labda, and Cilla splashed into view while Pegasus emerged next to them, panicking. Together, they paddled to the shore and coughed on the dirt. Pegasus shook the water off his wings and laid down, moaning.

The women approached the horse and checked his wound.

"Poor horsy," said Cilla, rubbing Pegasus's mane.

"Who or what could have shot him?" Heracles asked.

If they didn't lose the thorn, Roger could study it. He had a friend who worked in the forensic lab at the station. He taught Roger how to examine some complex clues in case Roger didn't have time to visit the lab. Heracles said it was a living spike that pierced Pegasus's rear end.

A dark wooden splitter? High in the sky, nothing from a tree could reach them like a bullet. It didn't make any sense.

Something roared from the sky, and then a large shadow approached the group over the lake. It was a green woman riding on what appeared to be a winged lion with a scorpion tail.

"Medusa!" Cilla shouted.

"Who?" Heracles asked.

Roger sprinted toward the hero and covered his eyes. "Don't look at her! She will turn you into stone!"

Medusa laughed while her creature hovered over the water, flapping his wings. "I am sssurprissse you have found the hero before me. Now my time hasss been sssaved!"