The Gorgon Queen

Chapter 34

It felt like hours until Poseidon finally pushed himself off of me. He looked down on me as if I was nothing but a toy.

A toy he could play with. But I was no such thing, at least not anymore.

I was too shaken to move, for the numbness had taken over my body to a degree that I would never be able to shake. When I finally got the courage to sit up and button my blouse, that was the time Athena decided to arrive.

She ran in as if she was being chased but stopped dead in her tracks at the sight of me. She took in my haggard appearance, the candelabra on the ground now blown out and her uncle, standing off to the side.

"What happened?" she asked, hesitantly. I didn't know what to say, it was as if my voice had been stolen from me along with my consent. I glanced at Poseidon, "He took advantage of me." I said, tears threatening my eyes. Poseidon looked from me to her niece, his face emotionless.

Athena took a step closer into the temple, "Is that true, Uncle?"

Poseidon nodded, "Yes, Niece but I did it all for you," he gestured toward the marble statue, "I asked Zeus to bless you, just as I promised."

Something flashed in Athena's eyes, something I couldn't decipher at the time, but now I know to be as acceptance.

In that moment she accepted her fate.

And condemned me to mine.

"Leave us, Uncle. You've done enough." At Athena's request, Poseidon looked at me one last time and took his leave, disappearing down the dark hall. With my blouse halfway buttoned I got to my feet, enraged.

"You're just going to let him go? He raped me, Athena!" I could feel the hot tears stinging my eyes. Athena couldn't possibly let this go unpunished.

"He'll get what he deserves, in due time."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Athena shook her head, "I'm sorry, Medusa but you leave me no choice."

She placed a gentle hand on the top of my head and a white hot pain shot through me, a pain that I never felt before in my life. I fell to the ground, screaming and writhing in pain.

"Athena! What did you do to me?" I looked at my friend, my best friend whom I've known since childhood. How could she do this to me?

She looked at me with regretful eyes, "I'm sorry, Medusa, but you made a deal with Hades and once someone seals a deal with him, they are bound to him for life." she looked around the temple, "And you've committed sins in the Temple of Zeus and since I'm now one of his servants, I must punish all who taint his temple."

I barely got to my knees, for the pain was unbearable, "But it wasn't my fault." I whispered. Athena nodded, "I understand, but you were still apart of the act, so therefore you must be punished." she sighed, "We all knew this was coming, Medusa. I always knew deep down that you were a monster, and now that's what you'll always be."

This time, tears did fall from my eyes. Hearing Athena call me a monster broke my heart to the point where it will never be repaired. "What did you do to me?" I asked.

Athena couldn't meet my eyes, "Something so fearsome, that when anyone looks upon you they will turn to stone. Your heart is already broken and cold to humanity that with only glance will your locks give you the power."

At the mention of my hair, that's when I heard the hiss. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw my once golden brown hair slowly turn into the creatures I hate.

Snakes.

I screamed in terror and tried to bat the creature away, but I kept coming back. But this time, they weren't attacking me.

"They'll call you a Gorgon, for the rest of time."

With that, Athena left me alone to transform into the creature destiny designed for me.