The Gorgon Queen

Chapter 24

We descended down a set of stone steps, Aspasia's cloak trailing behind her path. My eyes were focused on the way the cloak rippled along the pebbles and cracks of the Earth.

A river out of water.

The tension in the air was thick. I glanced to my left and saw Athena, with Metis who was on high alert, staring at the Oracle, her eyes focused. Athena helped Perseus along the way, for even though Athena managed to bandage him well, he couldn't walk without assistance.

Orion was on my right, his whole body rigid. I found myself glancing at his hand, the one I was holding not too long ago when he was washing blood off my face, that was now drying. Every part of me longed to reach out and touch him again, I even felt my fingers twitch towards his.

But I couldn't let myself.

It was only a passing phase, I told myself. People who saw their lives flash before their eyes always wanted to connect with someone once they realized they had more time. I knew very little of Orion, but every fiber of my being wanted to learn more.

Wanted to learn his past, more about his present and what he hoped for the future.

I wanted to learn every inch of him.

Did he feel the same? Did he feel the moment that passed between us not moments before? Ever since that day in the market, when I ran into him, I almost felt drawn in. Almost like he was my shepherd and I was one of his lost sheep.

Am I still lost?

"Sit."

Aspasia's voice cut through my thoughts, shattering them to bits. I looked ahead, where I found the Oracle sitting down on a small square pillow, her legs crossed and a fire was already blazing in the center.

There were four other pillows in a semicircle.

"I knew you were coming." Aspasia said, a smirk coming upon her lips as she took in my expression. I had to get use to the fact that there were creatures out there who could see the future.

The four of us sat down and crossed out legs. We watched as Aspasia threw some gray dust into the fire, making it howl and rise higher. The heat licked my face, making me flinch away.

"These are fragile times." she said, nonchalantly as she took each of us in. "I see many paths before me. Some with prosperous endings, others with much darker ones," she paused, "However, those who prosper will only feel darkness."

"Cut the cryptic act." Perseus said, breaking the silence, "Can you tell us where we need to go? We seemed to have lost our way."

Aspasia nodded, "Indeed, the Hounds have chased you off the trail." another smile, "Just as I saw." she waved her hand through the fire. I bite back a gasped for when she took her hand out, it wasn't burned at all.

The fire began to form a small picture. I could see what looked to be yet another dark cave, but with something blue and shiny running along. Almost like a river.

"Parnitha is full of darkness." Aspasia said, her eyes fell on Perseus, "Fear will be your enemy."

"I'm not afraid." Perseus said.

"I've seen otherwise."

The Oracle waved her hand through the fire again and the image disappeared, revealing a younger version of Perseus. He was talking to a girl with long blonde hair. There was no sound emitting from the flames, only action.

But from the way Perseus tensed, I could tell this wasn't a happy scene.

"You are afraid of judgement. Always have." Aspasia twisted her hand and the scene rotated to show the girl.

It was Aphrodite.

As I watched, they seemed to be arguing. I could see tears in Aphrodite's eyes as they fell down her face. Perseus's eyes were beginning to turn to glass in the scene, but he refused to let them fall. When he reached for Aphrodite, she pushed him away.

"What is this?" Athena asked, looking from the Oracle to her brother.

Aspasia waited a beat for Perseus to answered. When he didn't, she said, "The warrior cares deeply for the young Goddess. But he pushed her away out of fear."

"It wouldn't have worked." Perseus said. I could hear the heartbreak in his voice. I remembered the way he looked at Calliope's home, when she mentioned her daughter. I didn't realized how deeply her cared for her to the point where he made the choice to let her go.

"You refused to believe that it would work." Aspasia said, "She was willing to give up the blessing for you."

Perseus looked up, surprised, "What?"

The Oracle cocked an eyebrow, "I've seen many roads that your life could have taken if you didn't push her away. But now she is gone, and the path you're on is one that I don't wish on anyone."

The scene in the fire was still going and Perseus's eyes fell on it. The pain was etched into his face that I couldn't look at him for much longer.

"Stop this!" Athena shouted. Aspasia laughed, "Full of wisdom, but doesn't have a clue as to where her words will lead her."

"Excuse me?"

Aspasia didn't respond. Instead, she threw more dust into the fire where it roared and grew even hotter. When my eyes adjusted, I saw that the Oracle's vibrant violet eyes were locked on me. I froze.

"One who is searching for herself, but finds the world unbalanced." Aspasia grew sad, for I saw tears well up in her eyes, "I pity you, child, for the world is unbalanced and there is no way of righting it."

Her eyes went to Orion and she sighed, "You have many paths, and you chose this one." she glanced from him to me and then back, "I see it was both wise but also foolish."

If the tension was thick before, I could barely breathe now. The Oracle had riddled us phrases that none of us could wrap our heads around. I don't think I would ever get the sad look of Aspasia out of my mind after today.

The Oracle waved her hand again the image of the cave with the blue river appeared again, "The items that you seek are located where crystal meets the Earth." she looked up, the flames dancing in her eyes,

"But be warned, for there are others who seek the same, and they may appear closer than you think."