Melaina's Burden Of The Aegean Sea

Chapter 9

Thalia was the first to wake with the sun, before anyone else, breathing in the new hopes and aspirations, that the day would bring, though she stayed glued to the woman beside her. She took in Melaina's sleepy figure, seeing how at peace she looked without worry. Subconsciously, she trace the outline of Melaina's eyebrows as she began to trail her finger down to her nose then to her lips. She hovered her thumb over the corner of her mouth for a moment till Melaina stirred around. Quickly, she removed her hand and closed her eyes, laying her head on her shoulder, pretending to be asleep.

The sun poured through Melaina's tired eyelids, but the warmth it brought onto her face made her lay still. She could feel Thalia's presence near her face, making her stomach feel like she had a million knots as her breath got hitched in the back of her throat, especially once she felt her fingertip hover over her mouth. She didn't mind it at all, which is weird to her, because of how picky she is with skin to skin contact, though being friends with Thalia she realized that she's more expressive with actions and touch than just words of comfort like Castor and herself. She started to move around, causing the other woman to stop.

Castor just then began to stir awake rubbing at his bleary eyes, before rolling over, looking at the two girls. "You know if I'm being honest, I find this moment quite pleasurable for myself," He says with a smirk, seeing the two cuddle into each other's embrace. "I would enjoy it more if I could trade places with the human for a moment or two. I would greatly appreciate it"

"Don't call me that," She says to him, this she was still facing Melaina's neck. "You baked half weasel"

"Castor stop an agonizing her. And Thalia, stop listening to him. It would honestly do you wonders, once you start. Trust me" she joked, admitting that she has been ignoring him from the start.

Getting up, he began to fold up his sleeping bag. "I'll remember that, Melinoë"

"Where are we headed today?" She asked rolling over, stretching her arms and legs as she sat up, throwing her hair in a messy bun.

"To Greece" Both Thalia and Castor stopped what they were doing to look at her. "We're going to see Medusa"

"Medusa? Like Medusa, Medusa?"

At the mention of the Gorgon, Castor shook his head rapidly. "No. Uh-huh. Nope, no way am I going anywhere towards a woman, who only gets her company, by literally turning them into stone"

"I can't believe I'm saying this, and trust me when I say I can't believe I'm saying this, but I agree with the little imp" Castor was about to protest but Thalia quickly hushed him by throwing her hand over his mouth. "Plus, how can we talk to her, if we can't even look at her?"

"She is just a woman, not anything to be frightened of. And as far as talking to her, you two don't have to look at her. Since I'm the only one she can't turn to stone"

"Ok well, that was like a bit sexist, Mel, considering the fact, that you, yourself, are a woman" Going off her expression she then continued. "I'll explain what the word means later"

"No, she's not just a woman. She's a woman, with snakes. For. Hair!" Castor says finally breaking free from Thalia's grip. "She represents a lot of things and it's mostly vainness, women's rage, or jealously. If there was ever a woman I don't fancy it's her" Castor said, letting his eyes drift towards the woods behind them, catching a shadow.