The Gorgon Queen

Chapter 29

I kept my eye on Athena as we packed up our belongings, trying to see the truth under her movements. She moved methodically, her face focused on tying up her small bag. Her face didn't change when she gave Metis a small cracker and smoothing down her coat.

Whatever Athena was hiding, I made certain that I would find out soon.

I felt the presence of someone standing beside me where I was kneeling before my bag, and an involuntary shudder ran through my body. The warmth that Orion gave off made any uneasiness I felt fade away.

He knelt beside me, looking down at his own bag as he spoke, "Last night was unforgettable."

I tried to hide the smile that threatened my lips, for I didn't want anyone around us to suspect anything. I cursed the flush of my cheeks, I didn't doubt that my face was beginning to turn a light shade of pink. I tied up my bag and flung it over my shoulder.

Before standing up, I gave Orion a devilish look, the side of my lip quirking up.

"It was, wasn't it? I've never seen so many stars before."

It took him a second to realize my joke and chuckled. We both stood, maybe a little too close the not draw suspicion, but in that moment I didn't care. Thoughts of last night plagued my mind and all I could feel was Orion and his skin against mine.

How I longed to touch him again.

"I'm serious though," Orion said, his eyes fixed on mine, "I don't think I will ever forget it. Ever." He opened his mouth to say something else but then pressed his lips into a firm line as he reached for my hand. A part of me wanted to know what he was going to say, but before I could get a word out, Athena cleared her throat behind us.

I jumped at the sudden noise as I tore my hand quickly from Orion's grasp. When I set my eyes on my friend, all I saw was a woman who was visibly anxious.

Wearing the same blouse and pants as yesterday, Athena had her hair tied up in a messy ponytail. Her jaw was rigid and her shoulders were tense. I desperately wanted to reach out and provide aid to my dear friend, but the way she was looking at me now gave me pause.

She was looking at me wearily. As if I would jump out at any moment and attack her.

Metis was perched on her right shoulder, staring at me intently with her dark beady eyes. The stare from the owl made me more hesitant that Athena's.

"Did I interrupt something?" Athena asked. Even her voice was distant, as if she had just met me and was afraid to show me her true self. What was wrong with her?

I shook my head, "No, Orion and I were just discussing the plan of action for today?"

"Was that what you two were discussing last night?"

If I had a mirror, there would be no doubt that I would see that my face had turned scarlet. Orion coughed, and when I glanced at him, he too had the same shade as me.

"I think Perseus just called for me. Excuse me." Orion left in such a rush that I couldn't blame him. More than anything I wanted to find a rock and bury myself underneath it, for the embarrassment I was feeling in this moment could kill Hades himself.

"Athena, I-"

She held up a hand to silence me, a smirk playing along her face, "Don't apologize Medusa, it was bound to happen eventually with all the tension between the two of you. Perseus could practically cut it with his sword it was that obvious."

I couldn't help the sign of relief that escaped me. I took a step forward, "Still, I'm sorry if we...woke you up."

Athena shook her head, "I only saw you two wrapped in each other's arms when I awoke for my morning stroll. That's all."

This was my chance.

"About that, Athena where did you go?" I started playing with the cuffs of my blouse, anxiously waiting for her response. The smirk that was on her lips slowly died away at my question. "You don't need to know everything Medusa."

If she had reached out and slapped me, it would've hurt less. We use to tell each other everything. What was so important that she felt the need to keep it from me?

"Are you meeting with someone?" I pried, even though I knew there isn't a decent fellow anywhere in the Valley. Athena continued to look at me coldly, "Why can't I go on a morning walk to clear my head? Why must everything be so suspicious?"

"I just find it a little odd that you started going on these walks after we left the cave. Remember I asked you if you saw something? You said no," I paused, my anger slowly turning into disbelief, "Did you lie to me?"

Athena's face flushed a soft pink and she took a step back, "Why would I lie?"

I flung my arms out wide, growing irritated at this back and forth, "You tell me!"

Tears welled up in Athena's eyes as she tried to find the words to speak. I waited to hear her answer, I needed to know why she was sneaking off. Maybe she was trying to find an easier path to Parnitha. A part of me wanted to believe that, but something else was telling me that that wasn't the truth.

"Medusa, I-"

Before Athena could finish, Perseus shouted at us to come over. "You might want to hear this!"

I gave one last look at Athena, who was stroking Metis's coat and avoiding my eyes. I huffed and marched over to where Perseus and Orion were standing near the log where Aspasia was still tied up. As I got closer I noticed that the Oracle was lying on her side, pressing her head into the ground. Her face was pulled together as if she was in pain and her hands kept fidgeting behind her back.

"What's wrong with her?" I asked as I took my place next to Orion. Athen sullenly took her place beside her brother, her gaze fixed on the Oracle. Perseus shook his head, his eyes wide with confusion, "I don't know, she just started mumbling something and then fell over. We can't get her to stop."

"Give me your knife." I said as I turned to Orion. He looked at with surprise. Without saying anything, he handed his knife to me.

"What are you doing?" Perseus asked as I knelt down and leaned over Aspasia. Without saying a word, I undid her bindings, freeing her hands. Maybe whatever was bothering her would be relieved once she had freedom to move.

As soon as her bindings were gone, she sat up so fast I didn't have a chance to move back. She gripped the sides of my head with such force that I thought she would crush my skull with her bare hands. I tried to pull away as Perseus and Athena tried to pull Aspasia away from me, but her words made me freeze.

"He's coming, and you won't be able to escape him." her violet eyes seemed to glow as she spoke, "The stones," a sob broke from her and tears spilled down her face, "They will destroy you. I'm sorry."

In an instant she let go of my head and collapsed onto the Earth. Perseus went over to check her pulse, "She's still alive. Whatever she saw it made her pass out."

I leaned back on my palms, Orion knelt down beside me and laid a gentle hand on my shoulder, "Are you okay?"

I nodded, at a loss for words. What did she mean that the stone would destroy me? I thought they were supposed to help me? And who was coming?

As if some unforeseen force heard my thoughts, the sound of the Furies screeching filled the area, making my racing heart stop dead.