The Gorgon Queen

Chapter 26

I ducked as Aspasia thrusted the knife towards me. In the darkness, I crawled my way across the dirt floor, ripping my pants. I could feel the hot pain shot through my knee as it skidded across the ground.

"Aspasia! Please!" I begged. I had no desire to die. And if my future was really that dark, then maybe she could tell me and I had a chance to change it. "Just tell me what you see." I said, propping myself on shaky legs. The Oracle continued to hold the knife at arms length.

"I can't. It's against my nature."

"And killing isn't?"

She cocked her head, studying me, "If I see a future full of darkness, I have every right to vanquish it before it comes true." she took a step closer as I took a step back.

"But the stones! I have to find the stones!"

Aspasia nodded her head behind her, "You're not the only one who is after them," she paused, "Some who are, you can't even see."

I felt my brow come together. "What do you mean?" I asked. The Oracle shook her head, "Doesn't matter, you won't be around to find out."

Aspasia lifted her arm once more and I braced myself for the pain that never came. Instead, I heard the Oracle shriek and the knife clatter to the ground. Metis flapped her wings, and hooted, her sounds echoing throughout the cave.

I took this as my chance to grab the knife and when I looked up, I saw that Orion had the Oracle by the arm. He had twisted her arm behind her back, making her drop the weapon.

Upon seeing him, I found a sudden sense of strength within me.

Two more footsteps made their way towards us, "What's going on?" Perseus asked. When he saw the seen, his mouth fell open slightly.

"Do we have any rope?" I asked.

"I think I have some in my bag." Athena said, her eyes filled with confusion and worry. I nodded my head, "Perfect, let's tie her up."

Athena went to retrieve the rope as Orion placed Aspasia against a bolder. He started tying her arms behind the rock once the rope was handed to him, his eyes never leaving mine.

"Are you alright?" he asked. I could see in his eyes that he was concerned. But right now, all I wanted was to know what the Oracle saw.

"I will be once we get her talking."

Aspasia sighed, "I told you, I can't tell any of you your futures. It will make the world unbalanced."

I knelt down so that I was eye level, "I thought the world was already unbalanced?"

The Oracle looked me dead in the eyes, "That's because others didn't keep their word."

I stood up again, twisting the knife in my hand. Without looking at anyone in particular, I said, "Light a fire, we're gonna be here for awhile."

Perseus went to start a fire as Orion and Athena stayed by my side. Athena laid a gentle hand on my arm, "Medusa, I think she's telling the truth. Why would you want to know your future?"

So that I could change it. If it was really dark as Aspasia said, I had to try.

I looked my best friend in the eyes, "Wouldn't you want to know if you were destined for death?"

At this, Aspasia laughed, "We are all destined for death. Some sooner than others." she rested her head against the bolder, "It hurts me to see that this journey will have such a terrible ending. One you won't even see coming."

I gripped the knife tighter, "Tell me."

A wicked grin spread over the Oracle's lips. She clicked her tongue and shook her head, "Not here, child. For these walls have ears, and someone is always watching." she sat up straighter, "If you would like to know, take me on your journey, away from this cave."

"Like hell!" Perseus said as he made his way back towards the group. "We've heard many stories about Oracles and their tricks for fortune. We want none of it."

Aspasia sighed, "Then I guess you will have to suffer with me."

The four of us looked at each other with worried looks. Before any of us could say anything, the cave began to shake and a piercing scream filled the air.

The four of us fell to the ground covering our ears, "What is that!" Athena shouted.

"Furies!" Orion shouted back. I looked up and saw three creatures crawling through the rock ceiling. They had black scales over their tan skin and their eyes glowed a vibrant red. Whenever they opened their mouth, a scream so loud came out that I thought my eardrums would explode.

"We have to get out of here! We're taking her with us!" I said. Nobody argued with me as I cut the Oracle free and Perseus grabbed her by the arm.

Collecting as much as we could, we ran out of the crumbling cave, into the morning dawn.

We could still hear the screams even after we were miles away.