The Gorgon Queen

Chapter 33

We tumbled into the temple like trees falling down in a violent storm. Aspasia fell on top of me, her elbow punching into my side, causing me to flinch back. After I shook off the pain, I gazed upon the sight before me.

A marble statue of Zeus himself. There were candles lit and remains of offerings from visitors past. I got to my feet and with the stones in hand I knelt before the statue.

This is what I've been waiting for. To be blessed by Zeus and to give him the stones so that he would have control over Mount Olympus.

Only now, everything felt wrong.

I was suppose to get here without help from Hades. If he wanted control, then why not take the stones back at Parnitha while he had the chance?

Unless, Hades had something in mind that I didn't know about.

"Medusa." A low husky voice sounded behind me and I jumped. I turned around and Athena, Perseus and Aspasia were nowhere to be seen. Where did they go? I was shocked to see that the man standing before me was none other than Poseidon.

What was Poseidon doing here?

"What are you doing here? Where is everyone?" I asked. Poseidon looked around as if he was confused by the question. I waited to hear the screeching sounds of Metis, but the owl was nowhere to be heard.

"There is no else here." he said. I jumped to my feet, holding the stones firmly in my hands. "Athena, Perseus and Apsaisa were just here, where did they go?" I didn't like the idea of being alone with Poseidon, even though he was Athena's uncle, I always got a bad feeling around him.

Poseidon chuckled as if he remembered, "Oh, I believe Hades dropped them off outside."

"Why would he do that?" I asked, my turn at being confused for I know that someone had hit me in the side while landing in temple. Poseidon smiled an amused smile, "It was a favor I asked of him. Better to drop you and I here alone and everyone else outside."

I took a step back, "I don't understand."

Poseidon cocked his head, "You mean you never saw me it the woods as you and my niece marched on?"

I stood there trying to think back. No. I never saw him in the woods. But what if Athena did, what if that was why she was sneaking off at night?

"You were the one following us. I always felt like someone was watching us but I never saw who. But, Athena found out didn't she?"

Poseidon nodded, "Athena was always smart. I started to confide in her my fears for this adventure, letting her know that it should be her who gets Zeus's blessing and not you."

My palms started to sweat and I feared that I would drop the stones, but I grasped them both tightly in my palms. "And why shouldn't I get the blessing?"

"Because you made a deal with the devil himself, which ultimately makes you a monster."

That was the first time someone had ever called me a monster, and oh, did it burn. I bite down on my tongue so hard that I was ready to taste blood.

"I can assure you, Poseidon, I am no monster."

"Then give me the stones and let Athena take the blessing."

I couldn't do that, not without knowing something that still lingered at the back of my mind. "Why were Athena and Perseus separated at children? As Zeus's brother you took in his daughter but not his son, I would like to know why."

Poseidon inhaled deeply, the veins in his neck becoming apparent. "It's none of your concern." he said. I held the stones up, "It is if you want these." the light from the candles made the stones shine bright in the dimly lit room.

Poseidon sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose, "Because if they were to live together, their fates wouldn't come to fruition. Zeus needed them to grow up separated and then come together later on as adults in order for their destiny to come true."

I could tell he was telling the truth. I was about to ask what that destiny was when he took a step forward towards me, "Now, hand the stones over."

I still couldn't do it. My mother's voice played in my mind and the thought of disappointing her and not fulfilling her final wish would surely be the death of me.

I shook my head and Poseidon's shoulders slumped. "Medusa." he said my name with such disappointment that a surge of anger swept through me. I took hold of the nearby candelabra and swung it at Poseidon's face, reveling in the satisfaction of him screaming from the burns. As I dropped it on the ground and I made a beeline for the door but got the wind knocked out of me as Poseidon tackled me to the ground, pinning me there.

He pried the stones from my hands and I watched as he placed them on the temple, murmuring the Zeus to give Athena his blessing. Before I knew it, the stones were gone.

I tried to push myself back up but Poseidon held me down. I watched him with a mix of horror and shock. "What the hell are you doing? Let me go!"

But he didn't. Instead, he held my arms down as lightly kissed my neck. I turned my face away, truly convinced I was about to be sick. I was in this situation twice before, but why was this time I felt as if nobody was coming to my rescue?

Slowly, Poseidon undid the buttons of my blouse, exposing my skin to the cool, damp air. He leaned in close to my ear and whispered, "You said you never noticed me out in the woods. Maybe in this temple you will."

After that, my mind went dark and the only thing I remembered was Poseidon's rough hands on my skin as he worked his way down my body.

And the numbness I felt afterwards.