“What? Welcome back? I never left? I’m so confused.” I looked at Achava, astonishment still in her eyes.
“Lux, you are Medusa reincarnate. Her soul chose you as her vessel. She knows that something big is going to happen to us during your lifetime, and chose you to lead us. It is a great honour.”
“Is this why I have the dreams, the flashes, the premonitions? How I always know what I’m supposed to do? Because Medusa is telling me? Maybe I don’t want her help! Maybe I want to be my own person! I don’t want to be the reincarnation of some mythical being who you all look up to! I can’t handle this!” I crumpled in on myself, letting the tears flow. I have powers, then I find out that there’s an entire community of people like me. Now I’m the most powerful and have to battle evil? This is just too much. I tear away from Alrik and Achava and run up the stairs. I climb and climb and climb. I rip open my door and fly onto my bed, enveloping myself in the soft blankets. I cry for a while, and let sleep take me at some point. I’m just like every heroine ever, I cry for a while, refusing to believe that I have to be the heroine, act like a spoiled child, stomp my feet a bit. I don’t care. I don’t want to be the saviour of a whole bunch of people I don’t know. I want to be able to live my own life.
I spend a few days locked away in my room, practicing channelling my power and living off a little mini-fridge I found in the corner, I thought about what it meant to be Medusa, whether or not it was something I could avoid. I thought about Alrik and the others, how much my coming meant to them. My days were filled with thoughts and wonderment. One day, I heard a quiet knock at my door. I crept over and opened it.
“Pavlos!”I said, surprised to see him. “What are you doing here?”
“Ah, Miss Lux, did you forget? Today is the moon ball!” Pavlos stepped through my door, today he wore a plum suit, his measuring tape still draped around his neck. He held a large garment bag in one hand, the other he held a small box. Azalea bounded in after him, carrying a pink case. She whistled, clearly impressed with my room.
“You’ve really got it made in here, huh?” She said, still circling the room. She skipped off to the bathroom, and started running the tub.
“Ah...What are you doing Azalea?” I asked, startled at her forwardness.
“You need a bath silly! I can smell you from here!” She called out; I could hear the smile in her voice. I sighed, blowing a stray hair out of my face. I walked over to the bathroom and pushed her out.
“I think I can handle this part myself.” I took a bath, using up all the good soaps and scents again. I tied my wet hair in a ponytail and stepped out of the bathroom.
“Agh! Get your hair out of that wretched thing!” Azalea ran over and ripped the ponytail out of my hair. “You’ll ruin your lovely red locks if you use these things!” She scolded, and led me over to a blinded dressing room. “Hurry up and put this on.” She passed me the beautiful gown that I had tried on in Pavlos’ shop only a week before. I pulled the dress over my head, its lace and satin conforming to my every curve. I fluffed my hair and walked out. Azalea smiled and handed me a pair of cherry red heels then walked me over and sat me down on an ottoman in front of my mirror. I sat quietly as Pavlos did my hair, and she expertly applied my make-up.
“Ahh, you look divine Dear!” Pavlos said with glee as he looked at my finished product. My lips were golden, my face pale, red eyeshadow covered my eyes, in a way that accentuated them without looking over the top. I stood and hugged Azalea, and then Pavlos.
“Thank you both, so much. I just...I’m so unsure about what to do. Do you really think I should go?” I looked up sadly, staring into Pavlos eyes.
YOU ARE READING
Children of the Serpent
FantasyFor most of Lux's life, she has had powers that terrify her. When something angers her, her eyes flash dark and her hair changes into serpents. For years she has cursed these powers, believing that they are setting her apart from others, making her...
