The Medusa Strain (WIP 2020)

Chapter 5

"Honey?" My mother called out to me with some concern in her voice. "You all right?"

I nodded, my memories closing off from that terrible time and bringing me back to the present. I shuddered a couple of times in response, my breathing returning back to normal.

"Yeah. I'm fine." I answered cryptically. "Just hate the bad memories that are still with me."

My father looked at my mom for the longest second, but didn't say anything at first.

"I thought Hera took care of that problem?" He vouched neutrally.

I choked on my piece of roasted lamb upon hearing that.

"H-Hera?"

My mother nodded.

"Yes. Hera. My mother."

I stared at my mom for the longest moment imaginable.

"Wait. How is she your mother again? Is it by blood or is it by familiar?"

"She's the god mother of all the gods and demi-gods on Earth. In a way, she is our mother because she helped breathed life into all of us. We didn't come into being by chance. It was by Zeus's decree that the world have a sense of order and balance. Everyone had a role to play in that. From the lowest of the low to the almost high."

"So what she can give...she can also take away?" I asked with a sense of foreboding and dread.

"Those are only stories. Myths and legends, honey. Hera is more of a guardian and protector than she is the role of an arbiter and judge."

"So who has the power to strip a god or demi-god of all their powers and make them mortal again? Is it Zeus?"

My mom nodded. "Yes. But Zeus has been delegating his responsibilities as of late to the other lesser gods. It turns out, this world has become much more complex than he originally foreseen. It's created problems even he can't find an easy solution towards."

I nodded. "I know. I've seen it on the digital news boards out by the transit stations."

"So you must know that it's been a very difficult–if not challenging–task in raising you from a ten month old baby."

"Ten months?"

My adopted mother nodded. "Yes. You came to us when you were very young."

I swallowed what was in my mouth, before reaching for a glass of spring water.

I drank from it for a few moments and then set it down carefully.

"I didn't know that." I said finally.

"Of course you didn't know, honey. You weren't supposed to know. We wanted you to believe that you were part of our family–even your half brother Gary and half-sister Alita."

"I remember Gary," I said with a nod. "Mop of red hair–like dad over here. Alita was more like you in so many respects. But they left before I could get to know them."

My mother nodded. "I'm sorry. But we had no choice by sending them away. You were...too unpredictable and dangerous."

I nodded somberly. "I'm sorry, mom. I really am."

Artemis shook her head. "It's not your fault, Jeri. It was out of my hands at the time. The order came from Hera herself. For my children's sake."

"So where are they now?"

"Being raised by my twin brother–Apollo."

"Here in Lake City?"

"No. At the Gorge Center some distance away. Don't worry, we keep in touch. My brother tells me my kids are perfect angels and role models. You'll be seeing them again soon at the time of your revealing." She promised me then.