Chapter 15 – Medusa
MEDUSA
In my entire fucking life, I’ve never been the kind of person to back down from something. My reaction to this temple shocked me to my core. I’d known I’d avoided Greece because of the bad memories. I knew I avoided boats, islands, and the ocean because of my years spent in exile.
I didn’t know that coming here would cause the memories to rush at me like that, pushing me into a full-blown panic attack.
And man am I embarrassed. It’s been thousands of years since I was a human.
It’s been hundreds of years since I realized that I took no fault in what happened to me.
It was the fucked-up system of the gods, a system where gods raped whomever they wanted, and goddesses punished the victims as if they held the blame.
I want to enter this stupid temple to show that I’m over what happened, to show that I’m stronger than they think. Stealing the necklace? I know how much Athena loves her little trophy. The idea of taking it from such a bitch makes me happier than anyone could imagine.
But still, the risk of getting caught and punished again would keep any sane person from entering the temple. The thing is, if these gargoyles decide to go in fighting, Athena will know instantly, and they’ll be tortured and killed in ways they could never imagine.
The goddess of war is a cruel woman with an ego bigger than her temple.
I reach the sidewalk leading up to the temple and slip in with the tourists. A couple look at my chained hands, but no one says a word. I sense the gargoyles behind me, and I make sure my steps are measured. I don’t need them to know the emotions this place boils up inside me.
My thoughts slip to Marcus. He has short hair, a military cut, and dark eyes. His body is far more muscular than the other gargoyles, but in a really controlled way. For some reason, I can picture him being the kind of person who plans every second of his life.
I instantly dislike him. People like that are control-freaks, and control-freaks and I don’t get along.
There’s no doubt he’s hot, but… I look down at my cuffs and remember how hard they’d squeezed, so hard it felt like my hands were going to be torn from my wrists. A little blood darkened the edges of the metal, and I imagined my wrists were swollen and nasty looking.
And then there was my face…
This guy was an asshole, and I wondered how he would complicate things from here on out. I had no clue, but my gut told me that his presence wasn’t good.
“Stop,” Marcus growls in my ear, grabbing my elbow a little too roughly.
I jerk my arm to pull away from him, but he spins me around.
Instantly, we come face-to-face. His expression is neutral, but there’s something in his eyes that makes me feel like I’m being judged.
I feel him touch my wrists, and then the handcuffs drop. He grabs them and hands them back to Byron to hide in his bag.
Harold gasps near me, and I look to see he’s staring at my wrists.
Looking down, I frown. Yes, they’re bruised and nasty looking. The edges of the cuffs cut my skin, but it isn’t too terrible.
My mind goes back to the island I was kept on so long ago, of the many battles I fought there against heroes who wanted to make their name in the world by killing me.
Everyone remembers the statues of warriors covering the island, but they weren’t there to see me dragging myself across the ground after a fight, my gut torn open.
They weren’t there to see the many nights I wept, a battered pile of flesh after yet another fight I’d just barely survived.
No, in those days I was completely alone in exile. I suffered, real pain, not a scratch like this.
“Does it hurt?” Harold asked.
I jerk a little, coming back into the present.
“This is nothing,” I laugh, but the sound is hollow.
Forrest is suddenly at my side, brushing my hair back from my face.
None of the guys speak for a long minute. It’s strange, as if they don’t want this Marcus to know they give a shit about me. That hurts.
I mean, I get it. I’m not a fucking moron. No one wants to say they might care a little about a worthless monster, but I don’t know, they’re big guys. Gargoyles. I didn’t think they’d cower so easily. Why does this Marcus guy have so much power over them? I’m still trying to figure it out.
“Do you have any questions before you go into the temple?” Marcus asks, his gaze searching my face.
I shrug. “Nope. But you fellas relax. Either I get your precious necklace, or I die. Either way is a win for you.”
“Medusa—“ Byron begins, but he doesn’t finish his sentence.
I wink at him. “Don’t worry about it. Just stay here with your boss.”
He looks like he wants to say something, but I spin on my heel and head for the temple. I can do this if I don't look directly at the entrance. I try to forget about the gargoyles walking behind me. I try to forget about everything except getting in and out.
When we reach the top of the hill and the ruins of the temple, we separate from the crowd of visitors going in and out.
We move to the side of the path, beneath the shade of a tree.
I finally force myself to look up. At first, there’s just the white ruins.
I hear cars honking not far from us, and the smell of gasoline and food perfumes the air.
Closing my eyes, I will myself to see the glamour, to peek into the past. Nothing special happens. There's no explosion or a magical whoosh. Not that I expected one.
When I open my eyes, I’m standing in the past. The concrete sidewalks and tar roads are gone. A dirt path leads to the majestic building. The trees covering the path are overgrown compared to the modern era, when trees were taken down to make things nicer and neater.
Only a few travelers are walking to the temple, wearing either white togas, or the scratchy homespun clothes of the poor. All of them are carrying gifts for Athena. Some have small things in delicate packages, while others carry baskets on their heads or in their arms.
“We’ll wait here,” Marcus says.
I stiffen and turn.
My gargoyles seem completely out of place, tucked in the shadows near the temple. Harold and Forrest look nervous. Byron looks upset, while Marcus is simply watching.
It’s now or never, bitch.
Turning away from them, I hold my head high as I start up the remainder of the hill.
Just in front of me, the white temple looms. Its massive pillars are polished, almost glowing in the afternoon sunlight.
A priestess of the temple kneels on the marble ground, polishing and cleaning the steps and floor.
My belly clenches. How many countless hours did I spend doing the same?
Hold it together!
I step around the woman, seeing my leg peek out from the white toga that’s glamoured my modern clothing. The priestess looks up and smiles at me. I give her a slight nod and keep going.
Inside, the air of the temple feels heavier, perfumed with the smell of leather and flowers. I freeze, my heart pounding. I’ve never forgotten that smell, and I'll always associate it with the temple of the Goddess of War.
Maybe this would be easier if I had.
I keep going, barely looking at the worshippers who stand near the columns leading into the main room.
This building is not particularly beautiful in comparison to the massive temples that dominate this city, but this temple wasn’t built as a thing of beauty.
It was erected in a part of the city vulnerable to attacks.
It’s small and sturdy, with thick pillars that look more practical than decorative.
It was a place for people of the city to come to fight off attacks, and it's the perfect tribute to a Goddess of War.
When I finally allow my gaze to move to the wall where Athena has been etched in marble, I freeze. They make her look like a thing of beauty. My lip curls. She isn’t the least bit beautiful. She’s a bitch with power.
And that’s all.
Offerings surround the massive carving. People kneel before it, their own offerings set before them. Priestesses move about them, touching people’s heads, and speaking to them in low tones.
Fucking idiots. They spend their lives believing Athena gives a damn about them when she doesn’t. She’s a goddess. She doesn’t care about anyone except herself.
I move away from them and watch cautiously as I move into the shadows and slip into the doorway.
With sure steps, I weave through the little maze of halls and doors.
Pressing on a brick, I grit my teeth as the wall slowly slides away.
Moving into the darkness, I slide the door closed behind me and enters the room forbidden to all but Athena’s priestesses.
Here, a massive golden statue of Athena dominates the room. The necklace hangs on her hand, with its beautiful blue gem, and its little carvings of babies.
I don’t hesitate. I walk straight to it.
I climb up her statue, bracing myself on her hips, boobs, and weapons, then snatch the necklace from her outstretched hands.
Breathing hard, I leap down and clasp the necklace on, twisting it so that the only thing people can see is the golden chain around my throat.
Ignoring the butterflies in my belly, I leave the way I came. When I’m nearly to the main room, a priestess carrying a water pitcher nearly runs into me.
“You’re not supposed to be back here!” the young woman says, her brows high in surprise.
I give her an innocent look. “I got turned around, such was my wonder at the great and mighty goddess.”
She smiles. “It is no surprise. Even I feel overwhelmed by the power of our lady at times.” She points to the doorway behind her. “Just that way and you’ll find yourself back where you began.”
“Thank you,” I whisper, inclining my head to her.
I pass all the fucking stupid worshippers. I hurry down the middle of the path lined with pillars. In front of me I see the sunlight that illuminates the steps that mean my escape.
And Athena appears in front of me.
She wears a long robe, so white it hurts my eyes. The glow that surrounds her in gold might have once had me collapsing to my knees, overwhelmed by her power. But instead, I see past it, to the dark-haired woman with dark eyes. I see a woman with an average face and average beauty, at best.
“Medusa,” she greets me, smiling. “It’s been a long time.”
I try to force a smile, to not think about the necklace that’s poorly concealed at my throat. “Athena.”
She laughs. “No bow? No respectful greeting? You’ve changed since you were a little human who thought the world of me.”
“I changed after my rape and my curse.” The anger in my voice surprises even me, and I realize I’m trembling in rage. “I loved you like a mother, and you—“
She laughs again and waves me away. “Oh yes, I forgot about my little curse. Look at those sunglasses—what a smart idea. I guess with them you’re no longer restricted to that island of yours.”
I shake my head, all logic flying out the window. “I will not stand here, not even with a fucking goddess, and pretend any of this is okay. You ruined my life! You ruined any chance I had at love, or children, or happiness.”
She raises a brow. “You were a priestess to a virgin goddess. You would have never had those things.”
“I could have been happy!” And now I’m shouting. “You punished me for something one of you gods did! I didn’t have a choice! You think I wanted that old, ugly bastard to pin me down? Do you think I wanted any of it?”
She raises her chin, and a fire comes to her eyes.
Oh fuck, I’ve screwed up. She’s going to curse me again. She’s going to make my life even worse.
Athena moves closer to me. She reaches out and touches the chain of the necklace at my throat, and a raises a brow. I can’t breathe. She’s going to kill me now. There’s nothing I can do to stop it.
She sighs. “Thousands of years ago we gods weren’t nearly as enlightened as we are today.
Perhaps I—overreacted with your curse. Had such a great thing defiled my temple in these modern days, surely I would certainly make a different choice.
So, Medusa, my child, I will forgive your tone and anger, and I will bestow upon you the gift that you long for. ”
Tears fill my eyes. She’s finally going to take back this curse. I might not live forever, but I could live a good life. Then, I can actually die. Not just go on and on, suffering for eternity.
“Thank you,” I whisper.
She places a hand on my chest and it glows with her golden power.
“But if ever you enter my temple again, I’ll kill you. Enjoy your gift.” The golden glow runs over every inch of my flesh until the light is so blinding that I can see nothing but her face. “My necklace is yours.”
And then, everything goes black.