What's that thing they say about a rose by any other name?

Chapter 9: The Story About the Gorgons Part 2

A/N: I FINALLY FINISH IT! THIS TOOK SO LONG!

The next day

I went ahead, without telling any of the agents, to see what type of snakes were at these ruins. I don't want anyone else to get hurt like yesterday. I looked over to see that the ruins had vipers all over the place. This might make things a little bit easier. I took a breath before I walked into the ruins. I felt my hair changing, and I looked around to see some writing on the walls.

"Now, this is new. The last ruin didn't have this," I mutter to myself before gently touching the wall and tracing over the writing. I was reading some of the writing, and it seems this place was to honor three Gorgon sisters. This one is for the Gorgon, whose voice can even make Rex Lapis cry.

I snort at that statement before walking away to go deeper into the ruins, and I went down a hall full of skeletons chained up to the wall, with arrows in their skulls. I kept walking till I saw a painting on top of the doorway. It shows a woman crying out, holding a child close, and around the woman is a pile of corpses. Towering over the woman and child like a shield.

I sighed and kept walking toward the end of the ruin. Then I saw a bow and quiver framed against the wall, and a statue in the middle of the ruins, holding her arms out like she was about to hold someone close. I walked toward the statue, and I saw that she had a soft smile on her face. I was about to touch her face, but I stopped myself and backed up.

I walk over to the weapons and gently touch the frame as I hiss from some light hitting my eyes. I look over to see something on the ground, and I go over to pick it up. I dust it off, and I see a vision full of blue mist.

"What the... This is the same thing back in the other ruin. How come you have this?" I look over at the statue and walk over, holding the vision up to her face as my snakes are hissing at the statue like she is breathing. "Tell me why you were granted the gift from the archons!!"

I looked at the vision, gripping it tightly before putting it in my bag and walking out of the ruins. The Archons grant visions to people 'worthy' of their power. I know I am a monster, but I would even want a vision—to be worthy, to know that it's okay to be a monster. I started to grind my teeth, and my snakes hissed loudly as I looked at the ruins to see some of the Saw-Scaled vipers following me.

I didn't care. They didn't attack me, but they were watching. I took a breath and kept walking before I looked up to see the exit. At least I didn't hurt this time. Maybe I can go to the last ruin. It wouldn't hurt to get this job done now, and I get to tell the agents that they can have a little vacation until we return home. I smiled at the thought of them going to the city and enjoying the city as I got more flowers for the garden back home.

I finally reach the exit and turn around to see the vipers returning to the ruins before I shake my head and return to the camp to see some of the agents running around. "What's going on here?" As I said, I grabbed an apple and started to eat it before I felt someone hugging me tightly.

"WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?! We've been looking for you since dawn!!" I flinch at Igor's yelling, and I look at him. He looks worried about me. But... Why?

"You can't walk off like that! Lady Yumie, We don't want you to get-"

"Why? Why do you care about me?" I whisper, and he looks at me, confused. "I mean, I know that Lord Pantalone probably gave you orders to listen to me as if I'm your higher-ups, but I don't understand why you care." I looked down, and I felt Igor put me down, spinning me around and making me face him.

"Listen here, Lady Yumie, Lord Pantalone told us to treat you like you are the Tsaritsa herself, but that doesn't mean you're not important. We know that you don't like anyone near you, but I promise you that we will never judge you on anything you say or do," I looked at Igor, and I felt something wet coming down my cheek. I gently touch my cheek and look at my fingers to see they're a little bit wet. "Lady Yume, why are you crying?"