The Gorgon Queen

Chapter 14

Excited wasn't the right word for I felt right now.

I was elated.

Athena and Perseus didn't say a word as I told them about the Deity Stones, and how it was my parent's responsibility to find them and bring them back to Zeus. When I got into the details about Mother's death, and how she was attacked by the Furies, Athena placed a gentle hand on mine, for I tried very hard to keep my voice steady, but it was useless.

The siblings were shaken at the mention of Hades.

"What happens if he gets the stones?" Athena asked.

Through teary eyes, I said, "He'll have control over Mount Olympus and the Three Wonders."

"And the Three Wonders are?" Perseus inclined. I tallied them off on my fingers, "Fate, Destiny and Death," I looked at him, his honey hazel eyes shining brightly in the setting sun.

"Do you want Hades having control over who gets blessed a God or Goddess. If he has control over the stones and Mount Olympus, he will bring the Underworld above ground."

I was being dramatic, I knew, but it was the only way to get the importance of the situation across.

"We'll help you." Athena said, her voice warm and gentle. "The three of us need to get to the temple for different reasons, but if we can help each other out along the way, I say we should. Especially if we're going up against Hades and his Furies."

Athena had no desire to be blessed by Zeus, but the fact that she was willing to help me and my sisters find the Deity Stones spoke volumes.

I left Athena and Perseus, telling them that I would return with my sisters as soon as I could. As I made my way through the market, I couldn't suppress the smile on my face. But as weaved my way through the dying crowd, my smile faded.

For I still didn't know how to get there. Sure, I got two people to join in my quest, but I've never been to the Temple of Zeus and as far as I could tell, neither have Athena or Perseus.

Going from elated to dejected, made me slow my pace. I trudged up the incline that led to the cottage, the sun creating a canvas of blues, pinks and purples. The door creaked opened and I found Stheno, mixing a bowl of herbs and vegetables.

At a quick glance, I thought it was Mother, back from the dead. Stheno looked so much like Mother, it was uncanny. Upon my entrance, she looked up from the bowl and met my gaze.

"How was your visit?" she asked. Her voice was cold, stern and it made me feel like a child. I took the liberty of setting the table, taking the plates and silverware from the drawers and cabinets.

"Fine," I said as I placed the silverware down, "Athena found out that she has a sibling. A brother."

Stheno added more herbs to the bowl, "Oh? And who is he?"

"Perseus."

Stheno dropped the ladle against the side of the bowl and stared at me. "The man who saved you from those bastards." Stheno's jaw was tense, I could practically feel her hatred spilling out. I nodded, slowly. "Yes, that's him."

My sister continued stirring, "Interesting," she paused as she stirred the mixture a few times. I continued to set the table, "How was this discovered?"

I went on to tell her about the letter Athena was given by her Uncle, and how it mentioned about her having a brother. Also who Athena's real father was.

"Their going to the temple of Zeus to ask why they were separated." I paused, holding my breath as I formed the next words, "I invited them to come with us to find the stones, for we have to go the temple as well."

Stheno stopped mixing again and put down the ladle, "You told them about the stones?"

I nodded as I put down the last set of silverware, "They can help us, Stheno."

"How?" her voice was even more stern than before. I looked up to fine that she was staring at me, her eyes hard.

"Perseus is well equipped with a sword, I know that first hand. Athena, she's smart, she can help us with anything that may seem difficult."

Stheno went to the table and gathered the bowls. She took them to the mixing bowl and started pouring the herbs and vegetables in. It was Mother's recipe, I knew just by looking at it.

"Euryale and I aren't going." Stheno said, nonchalantly. I blinked, stunned at the sudden information. "Excuse me?"

She poured the soup into each bowl, filling it half way. Steam and the scent of basil filled the air. "Someone needs to watch the house. If all three of us go, who would do that?" she shook her head, "I think it best that Euryale and I stay here while you go and search for the stones."

"Does Euryale agree?"

"I do."

I didn't even hear the light footsteps enter the room. I glanced at Euryale who was standing in the doorway that led to each of our bedrooms. She was wearing a white dress, with laces on the bodice. Her hair was tied in a loose bun.

"Stheno and I spoke about it and we think that you'll be okay without us. Now that you have Athena and her brother, you should be fine."

I felt annoyance start to boil inside me. How could my sisters just abandon our Mother's final wish?

"But, we all promised Mother." I said, trying to keep my voice steady. Stheno took the bowls, giving one to Euryale and carrying the other two to the table. She placed one in my front of my seat, but I remained standing behind the chair as my sisters took their seats.

"You were the only one who spoke the promise out loud." Stheno said.

How dare she? A promise is a promise no matter if it's spoken or not. I felt my hands curl over the wood of the chair. "Mother wanted all three of us to find the stones." I said.

My sisters were silent for some time. Neither one of them meeting my eyes.

Letting my anger take over I looked at Stheno, "I promised Mother the same way I promised you Stheno. How would you feel if I broke your promise?"

The look that my sister gave me could've killed an army. A part of me wanted to stumble back, to hide and just forget, but I held my ground.

"You're on the verge of breaking my promise, Medusa." Stheno said, "I know you went to see that boy in the market the day of Mother's accident."

Before I could ask how, I glanced at Euryale. She was looking down at her bowl, as if it was the only way for her to escape. In her frantic state that day, I thought she didn't notice Orion standing there, but she did.

And she told Stheno about it.

I guess I should feel grateful that I have a sister who cares about me, but I couldn't help the feeling of betrayal that crept through my veins.

"What do you have against him? You don't even know him?"

Stheno laughed, "Oh, and you do? I saw the way he looked at you, sister, like you're some plaything that he can't wait to get his hands on. I don't like it."

My annoyance turned to anger in a flash, "Just because I got attacked by four drunk men, doesn't mean all men are the same!"

"But they are! Even if they don't know it themselves, sooner or later, the animal in them comes forth." Stheno shook her head, "I don't trust that boy, Medusa."

I looked down at the soup, the steam still rising. Suddenly I lost all ability to eat.

As if the Gods could sense my need to escape the room, a knock sounded at the door. I moved away from the table, my hands throbbing from gripping the chair tightly.

When I opened the door, I stifled a gasp. Was this a cruel joke that the Gods or even Hades was playing on me?

For on my porch was the boy who my sister didn't trust.