4. Perseus #3
“Yes. I found both of you just outside the village, both passed out from sheer exhaustion and I suspect altitude sickness. Thankfully, I was able to bring you both home and feed you thornberry tea. It’s a good remedy for altitude sickness.
” Shifting the tray to one hand, she walked to the other side of the room and opened the wooden window.
Early morning light poured into the room.
“Come.” She gestured to the low table in the middle of the room.
“Have some tea and some bread. You must be starving. We can talk, and you can tell me why you are here.”
Perseus shook his head. “I’m afraid we can’t?—”
Medusa sucked in a breath. “Wait.”
“Wait?”
She rose from the bed and hurried to his side, clamping a hand around his arm. “One sec,” she whispered. “Miss…?”
“Kami,” she offered. “Kami Sherpa.”
“Miss Sherpa?—”
“Just Kami,” she insisted. “And you are Perseus and Medusa?”
“Yes. Kami, could you give us a moment, please? Then, yes, we’ll tell you everything.”
“But—”
Medusa’s grip tightened around him, which made him clamp his mouth.
“Of course. I don’t think this is enough bread for us anyway. I’ll go to the kitchen and get some more.” She bowed her head, then headed out the door.
“You can’t tell her why we’re here,” he said as soon as Kami was gone.
“Yes, I can. And I have to. It’s her, Perseus.”
“Her?”
Medusa laughed. “Yes. Kami’s a three, just like Bob.”
“You mean?—”
“Yes. She’s not fully human and probably has geryon blood.”
“Huh.” He ran a hand through his hair. “And she’s a sherpa. Makes sense. Her geryon ancestors probably came here because the atmosphere in their homeland was similar. Could there be more of them?”
“Possibly, but the only way to find out is if I meet others like her. But, we have to tell her.”
“Of course.”
“What will we tell her?”
“The truth, I guess.”
Normally, this was Perseus’s least favorite part of this job.
He hated deception, and telling someone they could inherit a fortune from some long-lost uncle always left a bad taste in his mouth, even if it was to protect their secret.
But, with Medusa pretty much confirming that Kami was at least non-human, it would make this part easier from now on.
“I guess the truth is always the best. Besides, I like Kami. I have a good feeling about her.” Her nose twitched. “Oh, this bread smells amazing. And the tea!” Medusa poured them a cup each and handed him one.
“I’m glad to see you’re feeling better.”
“I am.” She nibbled on the edge of the flatbread. “And by the way, thank you, Perseus, for getting me up here.”
“Without killing you, you mean?”
She grinned. “Yeah. Not that I doubted you. But really, thank you, Perseus. You’re a hero.”
A warmth settled in his belly, and it wasn’t just the thornberry tea.
There was something about her smile that made it difficult to turn away or even bite back with a cutting remark.
For a moment, he forgot why he had sent vitriol towards her.
It wasn’t her fault, after all, that she had that natural ability.
It wasn’t like she had intentionally outed what he was.
“Are you feeling rested?”
“Yes, I had a very comfortable mattress.”
The way the corners of her mouth turned up said she remembered exactly what happened this morning.
Yet, instead of reacting with embarrassment or annoyance, Perseus said something out of character.
“I’m glad you enjoyed it. Maybe you’ll get another chance to try it again.
” Her mouth dropped in surprise, but before she could comment on it further, he added, “And your snakelets? How are they?”
Her hand reached up to touch the side of her head. “They had a good rest too. I think they were panicking before I passed out, but now they’re happy, if a little bit annoyed that they’ve been trapped under this scarf for hours.”
“Then you should let them out.”
“You don’t mind?”
“You can take your scarf off anytime when no other human is around, if that’s more comfortable. Like I told you, they don’t bother me. They’re just another part of you.”
And truth be told, he was damned curious about them.
However, from the way she bit her lip, he could tell that she wasn’t on board with the idea.
Had he overstepped? Perhaps it was a private thing for gorgons, and they never showed their snakelets to strangers.
“Of course, I understand if it’s not something that’s done. I’m only thinking of your comfort.”
“Oh, it’s not that. I just never thought about it. Even in Vale Crossing, we keep them covered up. But thank you for the offer, I’ll give you fair warning if I do, of course.”
He was looking forward to that reveal.
A comfortable silence settled over them as she ate more bread and Perseus sipped his tea.
All he wanted to do was stare at Medusa, watch her graceful, small movements, and maybe even move a bit closer so he could smell her scent again.
It had been amazing—sweet and musky and feminine.
It made it difficult to ignore her now and keep things professional.
But what if we didn’t keep things professional?
Perseus wasn’t dumb. He knew when a woman was attracted to him.
Would it be so bad if he let her know he was interested too?
It wasn’t like they were in an actual work setting, where power dynamics came into play.
They were equal here, and—except perhaps the whole altitude sickness incident—it wasn’t like what they were doing was life and death.
Would it be so bad?
Pushing those thoughts aside, he leaned out toward the window, trying to get a glimpse of the village outside. The square bustled with people rushing about, walking past the towering pagodas and temples made from orange clay and rock.
“May I come in?” came the voice from outside.
“Yes, come in,” Medusa called.
Kami entered, another tray in hand. “Here, I brought more food.”
“Smells heavenly,” Medusa said. “Please, sit with us.”
She placed the tray on the table and knelt down, folding her legs under her. “I trust you are both better now.”
“Yes,” Perseus said. “By the way, how did you learn to speak English so well?”
“I work as a guide for climbers going to Mount Everest,” she explained. “So, I had to learn English. I also speak French and some Mandarin.”
“That’s amazing,” Medusa said. “And you grew up here?”
“Yes. I’ve lived here all my life,” she explained. “But surely, my life story isn’t as interesting as yours. Why did you come here?”
Perseus liked that she was direct. Behind those soft hazel eyes, there was a keen awareness. “We’re looking for some people. And you’re one of them.”
Her eyes widened. “Me?”
“Yes.” He took a deep breath. “This will come as a shock to you, and it will take time to explain, and your world—the world—as you know it will never be the same again. However, it’s vital you know the truth.”
Kami placed a hand over her chest and paused. Briefly, her eyes slid to the heavens before she met his gaze and spoke. “Ever since I was a child, I always felt like there was something different about me.”
“Your instincts are very strong,” Medusa remarked. “Let them guide you.”
“There is also something different about you.” Kami narrowed her eyes at her.
Medusa’s mouth turned up at the corners. “Like I said, strong instincts. But we should talk about you.”
“Kami,” Perseus began. “You’re not what you think you are. You’re not human. Not fully, anyway.”
And so, he told her all about the geryons and Cyncus, and the possibility that she could grow wings and inherit her ancestors’ powers, if the blood test proved she was a descendant.
Kami blew out a breath. “It makes sense now. All this time, I’ve always felt different. I could go higher and faster than any of the other sherpas, so much so that I actually had to hide my abilities as I was afraid there was something wrong with me.”
“There’s nothing wrong with you,” Medusa assured her. “You’re special.”
“So, I would have to take this test?” Kami asked.
“Yes, but I have a feeling what the result will be,” Medusa said. “It’s my gift, you see, to sense the presence of magic and the divine.”
“Besides, if you do test positive and we open the pyxis, we want to make sure you’re prepared if wings grow out of your back.”
“That makes sense.”
“Do you think anyone else in your family or this village could be like you?” Perseus asked.
“It’s possible,” she said. “Though I have never shared this feeling I had with anyone, not even my parents.”
“Well, there’s only one way to find out.” Medusa stood up and dusted her hands on her pants. “Why don’t we take a stroll around the village? And you can introduce us to everyone.”
Kami nodded and grinned at her. “The sun is out and the air is fresh and cool. I’m sure a stroll outside will do you some good.”
Medusa turned to Perseus, her smile as bright as the light streaming from the windows and warm as the tea they had shared—and the bed too.
“Coming?”
His heart stuttered in his chest, but he managed to return her smile. “Wouldn’t miss it for the world.”