The Sixth Life of Medusa

4. You Must Crawl

Medusa frowned. "Clotho?" She had never heard of a high goddess called Moirai Clotho.

"Ah, that Monolith." Clotho sighed into her goblet. When she raised her head, her eyes were fierce. "I have a question for you. Promise to answer as candidly as you can."

Medusa answered with a wary nod. "I also have... questions for you."

Even though it was foolish to believe the words of a deity, Medusa needed answers. Returning to this accursed life came with the perk of knowing some future events, but the advantage paled in comparison to the catastrophe of randomly encountering a malevolent high god.

Clotho's expression appeared open and earnest. "I will answer your questions if I have the answers."

Medusa eyed the goddess with suspicion. "How would I know you aren't lying?"

"Child, you will have to take my word for it. I have no intention to harm you."

When Medusa stonily stared at her, Clotho sighed and finished her drink in one gulp.

"Very well." The goddess placed a hand on her chest. "I shall give you something higher than my word.

"May the Monolith hear me." Though Clotho mumbled, her words were audible and seemed to move from Medusa's left ear to her right. "I swear on my name, Moirai Clotho, that I mean Medusa, child of Phorcys and Ceto, no harm." Her eyes glowed white before reverting to how they once were.

"Are you pleased now?" Clotho asked with a huff. "That was an honour oath in my name. I'm now incapable of causing you harm."

Stubborn doubt stumped the spark of trust the goddess' words ignited in Medusa's heart. "What if you use another to harm me? What if there is a loophole in this oath?"

Medusa had seen the manipulation of deities and how ruthless they were when using and crushing mortals. They could never be trusted.

Clotho facepalmed before groaning at the starry ceiling. "It's useless. Without some level of trust between us, this cannot work."

The goddess shifted to her back. "I do not know whether I should feel insulted or sorry for you." She waved in a shooing motion. "You may leave the same way you came in. Forget this encounter."

Medusa warily stood. When Clotho did nothing, she began retracing her steps. All the while she walked away, she expected something to happen—some form of punishment for daring to be impudent in the presence of a high goddess. Nothing of that sort occurred.

When Medusa returned to the puddle, she dipped her foot into the water but didn't meet a solid surface. She could swim back home.

Sitting cross-legged before the puddle, Medusa considered her situation. With high deities, nothing was as it seemed. Not once had she experienced the kindness of honest treatment in their hands.

Escaping Cosmolith to a relatively ordinary world had been a great relief. Even though Medusa's resentment and rage ran deep, she had comforted herself with the knowledge that she was permanently severed from deities. Living through four circles of life had offered some healing, but the largeness with which deities loomed over the lives of mortals was too great. So absolute was that power that they managed to reach her in another world.

Could this deity have a solution? On the heels of that question came another bigger question. Would other high deities be able to know her story with a single glance her way?

The possibility chilled Medusa.

Rising to her feet, Medusa made her way back. Though she did not trust Clotho, the goddess had at least made an oath to show her trustworthiness. And it seemed like she held a grudge against high deities.