Medusa (A Fairytale Green FanFic)

Chapter 25: Paradise Lost

A/N: Today is my 24th birthday, and Valentine's birthday is coming up right quick here too. This is how I wanted to celebrate, so here is another chapter! I know I'm a slow updater for this book, but I can write quickly when sufficiently motivated. I thank everyone who has been reading this book. It holds a very special place in my heart, and I'm sure Fairytale Green holds a special place in your heart too. May you all find your Fairytale Green!

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"Ella? Could you come and help me in the kitchen please?" Kelly asked, and Ella let go of my hand. I frowned at the distance, not liking the fact that she'd just dumped a bomb of information like that. Bullied.

"Of course," she said, picking up dishes to follow Kelly into the kitchen.

Brennan wiggled his eyebrows conspiratorially at me, and I gave him a blank look. I wondered if Kelly and Brennan had gossiped before Ella and Lana had gotten here.

Kelly meant well, but she could be... a lot.

Byron, Brennan, Lana, and I congregated in the living room. Judge Judy was playing on the tv in the background.

Brennan and Lana sat next to each other on the love seat while Byron sat in his armchair, a pillow in his arms as he looked up at the screen. He would watch Judge Judy only to complain about her rulings later. It was both tiresome and amusing at the same time.

Sitting on the couch, I crossed my ankles as I leaned back, stretched out fully and waited for Ella to come back, mind whirling uncomfortably. Byron muttered something at the screen before turning the tv off.

"So, Lana," Byron said, placing the remote down on the side table, "what kind of music do you like to listen to?"

Lana perked up at the question. "Mostly, I listen to Pop, but recently I've been branching out to other genres. A little alternative here, some rock there, you know." She shrugged and Byron nodded before launching into a music discussion as Brennan pulled out his phone.

I tuned out.

Ella's words at the dinner table turned over and over in my head.

"Stone?"

I looked up to see Kelly waving me over. Raising my eyebrows, I stood and walked over to where she hovered in the doorway. I ducked my head under the doorway as she scurried around the wall.

"I've sent Ella to your bedroom."

My mouth dropped, and I cocked my head at my foster mother. "Um... okay? Why?"

"Never mind why. Go!" she hissed. "Before she finds out the directions are not to the bathroom. You need to talk. The sooner you get your head out of your ass, the sooner I'll have a daughter in law."

Sending her a bewildered look over my shoulder, I walked up the steps two at a time, but quietly so as not to alert Ella.

Curious to see what she'd do when she thought she was alone, I leaned into the doorframe with a small smile. She stood at my bookcases, mouth open wide as she trailed her fingers over the spines. I did not want to interrupt her perusing.

"Homer?" she muttered, shaking her head. I almost laughed. I had an entire section dedicated to the ancient world. Admittedly, my collection had not been as extensive as it was currently before I met her.

I may or may not have bought all the books that I could find the keywords "Medusa" or "Ancient Greece" in from an online second-hand bookstore. I also had a running list of references on my phone when she mentioned a book or other thing I'd never heard of.