88. A Fitting Reward
Medusa did not see the attack coming. One moment she was leaping over the cave's ledge, and the next she was tackled from the left, locked in a crushing embrace. The attacker was tall, slender and freakishly strong.
In a moment of panic, Medusa triggered her stone gaze, only to dismiss it when she caught a glimpse of white hair. And that voice. Even though she was speaking so fast that Medusa could hardly catch her meaning, she still recognised that voice.
"Lachesis," Medusa managed to wheeze out. "You're going to snap me in half."
"Oh." She sprang away only to beam so brightly that her eyes glowed.
They appeared pink now instead of blood red; there were other changes as well.
Previously stringy hair hung straight and healthy, and her body emitted a soft white light that gave her a glowing outline.
Curiously, there were no thorns in sight.
"Sorry about the hug. I was just so happy."
As she clapped, Medusa noticed the rings.
Slim silver bands around each finger. "That was quite fast! And you did it without Phorcydes seeking to teach a lesson. One!"
She raised a finger, eyes shining. "All but one of my possible conclusions pointed to your aunt doing something crazy. But that didn't happen. You corrected my one biggest mistake so cleanly. I'm so relieved."
Well, Medusa wasn't certain about Phorcydes not doing something. Even though her father asked her to remain on the island until the games, she couldn't risk that. Better to stay out of her aunt's sight for now.
"I am happy that you are happy," Medusa finally said. "But I plan to leave the island today, so—"
"Come with me." Lachesis grabbed her wrist and tugged her to the sitting area. "We should have a little celebration."
Though the structure of her exposed abode appeared largely the same, there were subtle improvements. The fine film of dust coating everything was gone; the shelves weren't on the brink of collapse, and the stone table and bench were polished.
Lachesis summoned a narrow-necked jar, pulled its cork with a pop and poured her concoction into her cup. "Should I pour for—"
"No, thanks," Medusa quickly said.
Lachesis laughed. "Understandable." The second cup vanished. "I take it, you don't plan to celebrate with me."
Medusa already did enough of that last night. Apart from saying goodbye, there was another reason for visiting the Moirai. "I couldn't find it."
It was confusing. Medusa had assumed that what she saw in Perseus' mind of where the ruler was would be enough, but it wasn't.
Unlike pockets and dimensions that followed a person wherever they went, the pocket where Perseus hid the ruler was detached from his person and existed outside time.
It was in Cosmolith, but Medusa was clueless about the specific location.
Lachesis sipped her drink like hot tea. "Find what?"
"Your ruler. I saw that he had it hidden in his dimension, but I—"
"Oh!" She perked up, her smile reappearing. "I got it the instant you destroyed his soul."
To prove her point, she grasped at nothing, and the ruler manifested in her grip, glowing golden and releasing dense pulses of her essence.
"How?"
"It simply returned to its owner," Lachesis replied with a shrug. Then she faced Medusa with a soft smile. "You have worked so hard. Tell me what you want. If it's something I can manage, I'll give it to you."
Medusa paused at that. She had not expected a reward. "Truly?"
"If it's within my power, I can risk it."
One wish rose to the fore of Medusa's mind, and her lips moved before she could second-guess herself.
"There was something Clotho did with my hair and a doll," she tentatively began.
"She created an exact duplicate of me." The duplicate was currently at the estate, placed in Sleep since Medusa arrived on the island.
"The duplicate has my ten-year-old personality. Even my memories."
Lachesis nodded slowly. "Go on."
"Could you... Could you perhaps do the same with Prometheus?"
To Medusa's relief, there was no surprise or judgement in Lachesis' gaze, but she could already guess her answer from the way her eyes dimmed with sympathy.
"You know I can't do that."
"Why? You have your ruler now. You're a Moirai."
"That I am," Lachesis said with a tilt of the head. "But there are valid reasons why I can't help you with that."
Of course. I should have kept my mouth shut. Perhaps, seeing Perseus fail in his attempts to bring his brother back to life drove her to desperation. In a corner of her mind, she had hoped there'd be a way with the Monolith, but now that the hope was shattered, she was desperate.
"First, your request is exclusively in Clotho's field. And even if I had such power, I wouldn't do it. I don't think it'd be fair to Prometheus' memory."
"Fair? Be fair to me." Frustrated, Medusa pushed one of her snakes away from her face. They were beginning to twist about and hiss from her distress. "What I want is... If there's a chance, anyone will take it. If you're human, you'll understand."
Lachesis patted the space next to her. "Why don't you sit?"
Medusa reluctantly obeyed. Silence lingered for a heavy moment before Lachesis finally spoke.
"I need you to understand why the Moirai can't help you. My power revolves around the lifespan of souls. Atropos handles their deaths. Clotho marks the rebirth of souls but not before stripping them of their former memories. It's a circle. When Prometheus died, his immortality ceased.
His soul has returned to the circle, cleansed of his memories."
Medusa pressed her lips shut.
"Why are you so fixated on Prometheus?"
Medusa released a bitter laugh. "Why shouldn't I be? He is my husband."
"Is? What an interesting word choice." She pushed her empty cup aside and rested her elbows on the table.
"Let's say by some miracle, Clotho decides to restore a temporary Prometheus; what next? You do know he would have no memory of living as your husband? On Cosmolith, he lived with a singular focus. I say this with gentleness, Medusa. If temporary Prometheus returns,
he will not be interested in your love. If anything, he'll seek out the Monolith again and pursue revenge against Zeus."
Medusa looked away, fighting logic. Maybe if he meets her... Even as the thoughts formed, she already knew it was delusional.
Lachesis placed a hand over hers. "The man you married is dead."
Medusa swallowed the swelling ball in her throat and stared at their hands. Maybe she needed that drink.
"None of us can help you bring him back. The Monolith wouldn't help either. Prometheus, Zeus and Perseus made attempts and failed."
"But..."
Lachesis gently squeezed her hand. The contact was warm and comforting in a bittersweet way.
"I am not telling you to forget him or find a replacement. You strike me as one also suffering from a singular focus... a tad obsessive, maybe." She nodded to herself. "But it'll be better if you make attempts to accept your loss."
The thought of replacing Antonii had never crossed her mind, but that did not mean she was obsessed.
She would admit that she may have been wrong to live her reincarnation circles like a long-suffering recluse.
Maybe if she had been more like him, started a family, allowed herself lovers in every life; maybe if that had happened, she wouldn't be here feeling like a dog who suddenly lost its owner.
"I am not obsessive," Medusa quietly said. She was unsure if the statement was true or if she was saying it to convince herself. "It is not obsessive to wish a loved one's return to life."
Lachesis nodded as if she understood. "Still, try to accept he is gone." She patted her hand. "Knowing Prometheus, he would want you to have a full life."
A full life? Medusa swallowed a laugh. What full life with Zeus and his host of demented pseudo-gods still in charge? Her parents wanted to die, and her sisters were loyal to Athena. What full life?
"Though Clotho may disagree, I believe your goals are too heavy." Lachesis began counting with her fingers. "Find the Monolith. Fight in a war. End immortality. Seek revenge. Protect your family." She clicked her tongue and shook her head. "Too heavy for a single person."
Only after killing Perseus did Medusa see what had to be done. "I must do all that to find peace." And maybe after that, she would pursue the so-called full life the Moirai mentioned.
"Peace." Lachesis appeared to fall into deep thought, only to nod to herself after a moment. "Fine. I will help you achieve this peace."
Medusa frowned, unsure if she heard correctly. "You will help me?"
"Yes," the Moirai answered readily.
"Can you kill Poseidon while I watch? I would prefer killing him myself, but I don't mind delegating ugly business."
She shook her head, amusement shining in her eyes. "No, I can't help with that; Atropos is the killer among us. But I can help with guidance."
Medusa deflated. She had forgotten how much of a pacifist Lachesis was, except when it came to Perseus.
"For your plan to go smoothly, if you win the Games, do not make any wish that will connect you to your family or the Monolith."
Medusa nodded. That wasn't her plan anyway.
"You are competing in disguise, no?"
Medusa raised a brow. "Shouldn't you already know that?"
"That would be an accurate assumption, given what I am." Lachesis dropped her gaze and tapped the back of her finger against her empty cup. "But that isn't the case. I'm merely good at making near-accurate future deductions."
"Is something wrong with your foresight?"
"I thought that was obvious." She flicked her wrists and, like a glamour falling away, the philos thistles appeared around her arms. "These thorns are a very efficient restraining tool, coupled with what Zeus stole from me. It's not worth the risk of drawing his attention."
"I see."
"So if you win, ask Zeus for anything outside those two I mentioned."
"What about Poseidon?" Medusa asked. "Can my wish have something to do with him?"