The Queen of snakes

Ovid (Continued)

After what felt like hours, I moved to sit up. My body ached from laying on the stone ground. I adjusted my dress, and fixed my sandals. I stood, and turned to go back into the temple to be faced by Athena. 

She was so tall, and very broad. Her sculptures made her look smaller, but they did her no justice. She had the build of a man, smooth and athletic. She was very majestic, with a beautiful face, and grey eyes. Her strawberry blonde hair was tucked into her helmet. She rarely smiles. 

She was dressed in a white chiton, with a gold breastplate. She had her corinthian helmet on, which is beautifully crested in more gold. Her spear shot above her head, and stood firmly on the ground. This was also a golden spear, one of her most known items. She was truly a sight to see, but I could understand why most gods feared her. 

"Your majesty!" I exclaimed, falling to my knees. The pain suddenly was gone. 

"How DARE you defile me in my own temple?" She asked, her voice echoing throughout the temple. My throat sank to the floor.

"Goddess Athena, I would never disrespect you! I dedicated my life to serve you!" I said, looking up at her, pleading with her. 

"You are mistaken. You flaunt your goddess like looks in my city, pulling attention away from me. This is shameful. Because of your looks, you were forced to lose your virginity. You can no longer be a priestess in my pure temple." She said, pointing her spear at me. 

Was I going to die? 

"Please, Athena. I never meant to do this,  I have never given in, and never tried to disrespect you. Please do not kill me. I will leave this city and your temples." I begged, my voice crying and cracking, trying to hold my tears in. 

"You stupid girl." She said, looking at me in disgust. "I cannot have you just leave without a punishment. You will become so ugly, no man will bear to be able to look at you again." 

I couldn't stop the tears. 

She pointed her spear at me.  I looked at her through the tears.

I felt my hair begin to tighten and coil. It began to burn.

I cried out.

My hair began to writhe and wiggle. It then hissed at me. She had turned me like my sisters. 

I screamed as my face began to burn, and scales grew around my face. My eyes began to squint and become highly focused. I grabbed my face, and the snakes that now were my hair began to bite at my finger tips. I screamed again. 

I turned towards Athena who looked down at me. 

"What have you done?" I cried, trying to swat the snakes away from biting my face. 

"No man will ever be able to look at you. I have cursed you for the rest of your days, until you die. Anyone who looks into your eyes will be turned to stone." She said, turning towards the entrance of the temple.

"I must send you to where no one will accidentally look upon you and turn into stone." She said, looking out into the city. "Perhaps with your sisters, at the end of the earth." She said, pointing her spear out to the city.

"Please.." I said, my hands trembling from the endless snake bites.

"Medusa, you are exiled." She said, pointing her spear at me.

A flash of light surrounded me, and then, I was gone.