The Gorgon Queen

Chapter 4

Silence greeted me as I slowly placed my basket onto the nearby table and untied my cloak. I expected to hear the sounds of pots and the authority of my mother's voice, but instead there was utter silence. I hung my cloak up on the hook and made my way into the kitchen area.

I found Euryale standing in front the counter, her hands were in a bowl of water. She was folding a piece of cloth over itself, soaking it through. She didn't hear me walk in until I cleared my throat. Euryale turned her head to me, her eyes wide, I had obviously surprised her with my presence.

She clutched a hand to her chest to settle her breathing, "Oh, Medusa, sister, it's you." she inhaled and I could see streaks of tears on her cheeks, her eyes red. Had she been crying.

"What's wrong Euryale?" I asked as I stepped closer, my chest tightening. Euryale looked out the window and the glow of the setting sun made her violet eyes look like a sunset themselves.

Both of my sisters had reached the age of immortality, like Papa said. Stheno reached it three years ago and Euryale only a few months. Looking at my sister now, I felt a mix of pride and sadness creep into me, for I knew that they would like this, like beautiful hand carved statues, for the rest of time. Whereas for me, I will continue to age, until my hair grows white and my skin becomes as weak as a rotten floor board. For now, I guess I could relish in my own youth while I still had it.

Euryale's breath hitched, drawing my attention back to her, "It's Papa." she said.

My own breath stopped. I've only been out of the house for a few hours, how bad could Papa have gotten?

"What's happen to him?" I asked, my voice beginning to shake. Euryale turned back to the bowl before her and stared into the water, "Apparently he was worse than any of us knew. He started having the shakes and coughing up blood," she looked at me, her eyes filling up with new found tears, "Medusa, the doctor said he won't last the night."

Tears began to well in my eyes. This couldn't be happening. My Papa, the strong Sea God was dying? No, I didn't want to believe it even though it was right in front of me.

The door that was located in the far right corner of the kitchen opened slowly and Stheno appeared. Her dark hair was twisted into a braid, her eyes were also red rimmed but she did a better job at hiding it. But I could tell she was only putting on a brave face for Euryale and I.

"Euryale, do you have more water?" she asked. Euryale nodded and lifted the bowl with the cloth floating inside. She passed Stheno and entered the room where I knew mother and Papa were. Stheno looked at me and extended her hand out, "Come, sister. Papa wants to see you."

My first instinct was to run away. Run back to the market and disappear in the crowd. Or sink the the bottom of the sea and let the creatures below take me. Anything than go into that room where my once God of a father now resided, bedridden.

But instead, I squared my shoulders and took Stheno's hand. She squeezed my hand, for I didn't know how badly I was shaking until I felt her warm, strong embrace. The only embrace a sister could give in a time of sorrow.

As I entered the tiny room, my eyes scanned the area. There were towels spread out across the floor, spots of blood stained each one. A bucket near the dresser, and from where I could see, it was filled with something foul smelling, for it was the furthest thing away from everything else. The window was cracked opened and I felt a gentle breeze tingle across my skin. The thin curtains danced in the light wind.

My eyes focused on the figure in the center of the room, lying on a bed of straw, covered in thick blankets. Papa.

He was as pale as the whites of my eyes. His face was sunken in, making him look like a living skeleton and his eyes red. In one hand, he held a piece of cloth, which had blood on it as well, and in the other he was holding the hand of my mother.

Mother was kneeling beside the bed, her face flushed and eyes filled with tears. Her hair was tied in a loose ponytail away from her face. I could see the pain in the way her shoulders slumped and the crease in her brow. I wonder what it felt like to watch someone you love wither away?

Upon my entrance, Euryale settled the bowl of water on the table beside Papa's bed. When he turned to look up at his second oldest daughter, his eyes fell on me. He smiled and said, "Medusa, daughter, come here." his voice was only shell of the once powerful commanding voice I once knew.

Stheno let go of my hand and I looked back at her. My face must've given away the anxiety I felt for she placed a gentle hand on my forearm, "It's alright." she whispered and nudged me forward.

I knelt down beside mother, who gave me a sad smile, "We're glad you're here, dear." she said. A coughing fit made Papa lurch forward. I couldn't help but draw back a bit as mother and Stheno raced to get towels. Euryale placed a damp cloth upon his head as he settled back onto the pillows.

"My darlings," he wheezed as he looked at mother, Stheno and Euryale, "May I have a moment alone with Medusa?"

"Of course, Phorcys." Mother said as she got to her feet. She leaned down and kissed him gently on the head and ushered Stheno and Euryale out like they were still children.

I felt my heartbeat begin to race. My anxiety rose every second I sat here in front of Papa. What did he have to say to me?

He reached ever so slowly and took my hand in his. I tried not to squeeze too hard, fear that would give him more pain. Papa gave a weak smile, his eyes focusing on mine.

"I'm afraid my time is coming to end," he started. I felt my throat close and tears begin to slip down my cheeks. Papa squeezed my hand ever so slightly, regaining my focus,

"Don't cry for me dear. After all, this is what the Gods had planned from the time I arrived in this Earth."

"But you serve the Gods, Papa. Why would they let you succumb to this fate?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. I saw Papa's face tense and his gaze drifted toward the ceiling. "Because all life has to end someday, Medusa. If the Gods were to save everyone that served them, the world will be unbalanced." he coughed and held a piece of cloth to his mouth. More blood stained the worn fabric

"Besides," he breathed as he regained his composure, "they no longer have any use for me. It's up to your mother now."

I looked at him, curiosity pricking the back of my skull, "What do you mean, Papa?"

His weak smile returned, "You have been the most curious out of your sisters as to where I go." he said, "because of that, you deserve to know the truth."

I leaned in closer, for Papa's words were becoming more and more faint, "Truth about what, Papa?"

"The stones."

Papa's voice was becoming weaker and his words began to slur. I gripped his hand tighter, "I don't understand what you're trying to tell me, Papa. What about these stones?"

His eyes were turning into glass. Papa was dying before my eyes.

"Fate. Destiny. The Gods." his breathing became faint, "...Zeus."

I shot to my feet and called for my sisters and my mother. But the minute they entered the room, Papa's breathing had stopped.

The four of us stood there in silence as Papa's lifeless body rested before us. Mother melted to her knees and gripped her hands around his. She leaned her head on top of their interlocked fingers and I could see her mumbling something.

Stheno stood there, as tense as ever while Euryale silently cried not far behind. As emotions flew around me, tears stung my eyes and a thought came to mind.

What was Papa trying to tell me?