Cursed Forest: Sightless

A Home that is more than a House

The home was large. A breeze flowed through suggesting there were many open windows. The house was large enough for the breeze to cause an echo to roll through the house. Medusa's scales rubbed against a wooden floor. The sound was slight and not unpleasant surprisingly.

"You've got a pretty large sounding house for someone who lives in the middle of a forest, certainly one with a bad rep like this one. " I noted.

"You can tell?" Medusa asked. I followed her down a hall.

"There's an Echo. Depending on how large, and what it's made of.." I responded

"It is pretty large, but it's only one story. We aren't the best when it comes to stairs." Medusa told me. "We are one of the largest on the west side."

"West side?" I questioned.

"I told you I wasn't the only one here." Medusa replied. "I'm not sure how many of them you'd want to meet. I don't think it's a good Idea for you to leave the estate."

"Um....How many are there? Do I want to know?"

"You probably don't want to know." Medusa responded, taking my arm in hers . " We're going down this way to the extra rooms."

I could hear the way her scales dragged against the floor. She led me down a couple of hallways. She mumbled to herself quietly. We came to a stop and a door squeaked open. She slipped her hand into mine and pulled it forward. I stepped in the room.

The room was large. I could hear a slight echo from out breathing. The floor was no longer wood but rather the more expensive carpet. I couldn't help but be surprised. She slipped in after me, helping me locate where things were.

"The bathroom's just across the hall. You can go by yourself obviously. You are free to roam," Medusa said tapping my shoulder. "My room's just around the bend,in the hallway we were just in. Holler if you need me. I'm not alone here though, there is Cleopatra, Bellene, Rhea and Cross. They are like me, gorgons, without the head of snakes."

"Wow! Thank you very much," I yawned as a wave of exhaustion hit me. I slid closer to the bed. "I'm..really tired.I'll sleep. Thanks for the room!"

"We'll wake you around dawn for breakfast, " Medusa muttered. " I'll have your friend's statue brought into your room. You cared for her...What was her name?"

"Her name was Clarice. Is there a way to bring her back?" I asked as I climbed into the large plush bed. "Or is she gone forever?"

"I honestly don't know.." She muttered "I've never tried, curses are curable though...Maybe.. Sleep for now."

.............................................................................................................................

I jerked awake. I wasn't tired, or groggy. This was very different from waking up at home. My nights there were long, sleepless. I slept all night. It was such a deep sleep too. I had drifted off almost as soon as Medusa left the room.

I had a very poor inner clock. Telling the time wasn't easy either. I was in here alone. Well maybe not. I pushed the covers from my legs and stood. I knew the room already thanks to Medusa's little tour.

I had no idea where they would set Clarice. I found her in the worst way possible. My toes found a part of her now stone body. I cursed then cradled my foot. Once it ebed just a little I set my foot down. I dropped to my knees in a most dramatic fashion.

When we were little I asked if I could map her face. She was weirded out at first until I explained what I meant. I cradled her face, where warmth once was was now a sheer cold. I knew what her face felt like when she was mad...or happy.

I could feel how serene she was. None of her muscles were tense, she had a slight smile upon her face. Once she realized what mapping her face was she asked me why. How could I explain? I told her so I knew what she looked like without knowing what she looked like.

"I shouldn't have been spared, I should be stone too." I whispered to her. I found her arms. One of her hands was above her head still gripped tightly to a broken off branch. Her other hand was below her, shaped as if she had held onto the earth. One knee under her the other foot planted on the ground. She had been getting back up after falling.

"This should be the time you suddenly show how alive you are, to tell me how wrong I am. Say I can't take blame like you normally do." I said holding that lifted stone cold hand of hers.

There was a knock on the door. Two separated rapps. I was surprised by their decency. For my father would barge in on me whenever he pleased. He if I had been in a state of undress or still 'deep' in sleep.

"Come in." I called softly.

The door creaked open. I knew it was her, for who else would enter? She had given me names for sure, but I had yet to meet them. Would I meet them on my own or would Medusa have me meet them? I preferred the latter.

"Good morning." Medusa chirped. "I brought Cleopatra here with me, I hope you don't mind, with multiple new fresh pairs of clothing. To choose from. Later you can have an entire new wardrobe. She'll be here if any assistance is needed, though we both doubt that you will."

"Good morning." A lighter voice peeped.

"Thank you very much," I said. My fingers fingered on Clarice's face. I pressed a kiss on her forehead. "And good morning."

"I'll be going," Medusa said. With that the door closed, it was less creaky.

"It's nice to meet you," Cleopatra muttered. "But please, call me Patra."

"It's nice to meet you too," I said. I scratched at my arm. I wasn't the best when it came to meet new people. Yesterday's panic said so much.

"I'll set the clothes on the bed," Patra said. I heard her shuffle forwards. I didn't know how much she brought or of what she had. She was slower then I was thinking, I thought to myself, she hasn't quite moved from the bed yet. "I've laid them out in sections. The trousers are on the end of the bed, the tunics on the other. I've separated them by material."

"Oh! Thanks!" I said, surprised. I ran my hand down the length of the bed feeling the clothing. There was wool, Leather, Linen, and cotton. There were different cuts and styles of both. "Um, I'm going to go with these cotton tunics but the wool trousers if you don't mind."

"That's quite alright," She said leaning around to collect the rest of the clothes on the bed, while handing me the pair of trousers and tunic. "I'll go over to the corner, you end up needing assistance don't hesitate to ask."

I couldn't help but feel a rush of joy. For I was able to dress myself. For I could breath easily without someone stuffed into my face trying to do something for me. Whether they simply thought I couldn't or for pity.

"Everything is pretty easy to put on." Petra giggled, "I expect you'll do fine. But if you need anything I'll help you. Though I can't expect you to be perfect at if, certainly so if you've never done it by yourself."

"How can you tell?" I asked nervously.

"The look of pure surprise and joy when you realized I wasn't going to treat you like you can't do anything." Patra responded.