The Gorgon Queen

Chapter 1

I found out the truth about my parents when I was six years old. I remember the day clearly. It was the first sunny day in over a week and I took the opportunity to go down to the sea.

My home was a little cottage that rested at the top of a hill, right on the border of Athens. From the top of my home, you could see for miles. One way was of the town and the other was nothing but sea.

Endless.

There was a path that led to the docks and when my mother and sisters went to the market, I went to the sea. I stood at the edge of the dock, my legs dangling over the edge into the crystal clear water. I hiked up my beige cloth dress up to my knees as to not get it damp.

I felt the sun soak into my skin and I smiled. I loved the warmth that it provided. Since my eyes were closed, I noticed the water rippling under my feet.

Instead, I heard it.

I opened my eyes and sucked in a breath as a creature swam beneath the waves. I have heard tales of a sea monster in these waters, but never thought them to be true. Until today.

I quickly took my feet out of the water, in fear that the creature would drag me under. I leaned over the edge and I felt my heart stop. The creature was looking at me.

It's deep sapphire eyes reflected in my and for a second, I didn't feel as afraid. But that feeling of security quickly faded when the creature lunged for me, its jaws opening, fangs appearing.

I pushed myself back, sliding against the wooden dock as the creatures scales recoiled back into the waves, water soaked my dress. I sat there, breathing heavily, my heart pumping. When I knew for certain that it was safe, I edged closer to the end of the dock.

The creature was gone.

I jumped to my feet and hurried back to my home, where upon opening the door, I saw my mother, Ceto, and my two older sisters, Stheno and Euryale.

My mother had a mixing bowl in front of her and a ladle in her hand. When she heard the door open, her head popped up. Her eyes narrowed on my little form as I walked into the kitchen.

"Medusa, why are you all wet?" she asked me. I could feel the stares of my sisters from behind, who were playing knucklebones, a game I never found entertaining for the metaphor behind it was that the possibility of girls like us finding husbands was hit or miss. Even from a young age, I had an image of me and my future husband and our children living in a nice cottage.

Peaceful.

"She was at the docks again, wasn't she?" Stheno guessed. I turned and made eye contact with my sister, who in return stared back. Stheno was the oldest of the three of us and therefore the one who can spot a lie anywhere. I guess that's the superpower that older sisters have.

"Where you?" my mother asked, her raven hair falling over her shoulders as she set the ladle down.

My sister's had gathered their dark hair from our mother, whereas I had a lighter almost chestnut brown tinge to my hair. Even our skin tones were different shade, for when I was a dark ivory shade, my mother and my sisters were as pale as the white sands.

Maybe that's what made me stand out among my sisters.

I nodded in response to my mother's question but I couldn't contain what came out of my mouth next, "I saw a creature."

The dice that Euryale was holding slipped through her fingers, skidding across the woods floor. Stheno let out a chuckle, letting the room know that she thought my words were ridiculous. But my mother remained motionless and silent for some time. Even though I could've sworn I saw her hand tremble at the mention of 'creature.'