Medusa's Children by Michelle Davidson (reading in the dark .TXT) 📕

Whenever I think about my childhood, I draw a blank. My parents, blank. Memories from the past, blank. The only memory I have is of my Aunts Laura and Steth. They aren’t much help though. When I try to ask questions they say that everything was destroyed in the fire that killed my parents. The only thing that I have is a ring that once belonged to my mother. The only information that I know about myself is what my Aunts told me. There keeping something from me though.

Every night we go to the beach. I look forward to this because it’s the only time I feel alive. I love the sand between my toes, and the water on my skin. Swimming comes naturally to me like walking. I think I’m a strong swimmer but I’m nothing compared to my Aunts. They move fast.

One night I wanted to see if I could keep up with them. Usually they disappear and after about an hour or so they’d show up and we go home. Like I said I love the beach and swimming especially in the dark but not always by myself. So when they took off running towards the water I went to. I made sure I kept my pace even with theirs. And when they dived in I dived in too. I could see them perfectly. They were like eels almost like predators hunting their prey. I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me. I thought I saw snakes in the water, they looked like they were swimming with Steth, and one of them looked like it was looking at me. I almost freaked out but felt my ring slip from my finger. It’s the only thing that I have that belonged to my mother so I dove down to get it. I could see it clearly in front of me but I couldn’t reach it. My lungs were on fire but I kept going, I kicked hard and stretched my hand out and I got it.

When I came back up Laura and Steth were staring at me. I told them what happened and they gave me a weird kind of look. It didn’t escape me that I was staring at two hideous monsters with voices like my aunts. I pretended that everything was normal and turned to look for the shore but couldn’t see it. I couldn’t see anything for that matter. I was about to panic when it hit me that I dove down in pitch black water to get my ring and actually got it. I saw my aunts swimming back and I followed. I was tired and disoriented. I needed their strength; and just like that I felt better. It was like a wish coming true. My sight cleared up and my muscles felt rejuvenated. When we got to shore we got dressed quickly and left.

The drive home was quiet and I was just about to drift off into lala land when I heard Steth say I was under water for over an hour.

Over an hour, what the hell? How could I have been under water for over an hour? I should be dead then. The conversation barely got started because we were home. Home was a big house on a quiet block. I went to the bathroom took a quick shower and went to bed. Lately my dreams have been very strange. They stand out in my mind because they feel like actual events and not dreams. In one of them I’m on the floor of a cave naked, crying and holding a broken stone statue. Other times I’m floating on some animals back in the water, I can hear dogs barking but I’m on some kind of whale or something. There’s some kind of eye staring at me, I’m not really sure that one’s not clear to me at all. Last night though I’m under water chasing my ring again, something is pulling my ring away from me it’s not just floating down. It looks like a sea horse has it in its mouth. Then I woke up. I hear my Steth and Laura arguing.

It’s time to tell her the truth I heard Steth say. I purposely showed her my true form and she pretended like nothing happened. It surprised me to see her so close to me in the water, she’s beginning to show some signs of power and I think it’s more of her father especially in the water.

My father, they know who my father is? I could feel myself getting upset. It took everything in me not to go running down the stairs and find out what the hell they were talking about. But I stayed put wanting to hear more. I crept out of my room and stood in the hallway were I could hear everything perfectly. I looked over the bannister and saw Laura and Steth sitting on the living room floor.

Steth, Laura said, the girl is terrified. She has no clue who she is or what is going on with her life. I know she has questions especially after last night. Were you behind that thing with her ring?

No, I think that was Scylla said Steth. Hathore’s going to think she comes from a family of monsters if she saw Scylla laughed Laura.

Umm, she does come from a family of monsters or did you forget what you truly look like said Steth looking back at Laura. Hathore was under water for over an hour and that could only mean Poseidon. I’m beginning to get worried. We’ve kept her hidden for so long. But eventually someone will discover her.

This is not fair, Laura said. I hate Athena for this. What business was is of hers if Medusa and Poseidon were lovers. So what! She was the only one of use born beautiful and mortal. For Athena to curse her to look like us is unforgivable. And know an innocent child will want to start a war.

Don’t you plan on avenging your sister, because I do! They are all responsible for what happened to her. Said Steth.

Oh yes, I will make Athena, Poseidon and Perseus for what they did to my little sister, but I worry for Hathore.

That is why we must tell her everything, at least as much as we know because were in this together and right now were walking blind. We’ve been off the radar for a very long time, but I have a feeling Poseidon will come for his daughter and we don’t know if this is a good or bad thing.

Okay said Laura standing up. First thing tomorrow we will talk to her.

NO, I felt myself running down the steps. We’re going to talk about this now. Medusa…Poseidon. That’s ridiculous, that was another time, were in 2012. If this is the case , why don’t I remember living for so long?

And that starts my story….

CHAPTER ONE

They both stared at me kind of shocked that I busted in on them talking. Usually I show more respect than that. Okay Laura said, if you want to know the truth let’s sit down and talk. I know you know the story of Medusa. But let me tell you the truth from the beginning.

Medusa was young, innocent and beautiful. At one time they sang songs about her beauty. As I know you saw, Steth and I are not beautiful or mortal, that is our true form. It didn’t matter though we cherished her and protected her. We also have other sisters, but the ones closest to us are Scylla and the Greyes. And before you say anything yes Scylla is a sea monster and yes the Greyes are the three witches with one eye ball. Steth and I are not exactly in the history books since we had to disappear with you, but I will get to that.

Poseidon saw Medusa at Athena’s temple one day and was taken by her grace. He would meet her every day and Medusa being young and innocent fell for his charms. While at Athena’s temple Poseidon seduced Medusa and they made love in the temple. Of course we know that is forbidden but Medusa was one of Athena’s most devoted priestess. Poseidon should have known better, and we should have anticipated something like that would have happened. Nevertheless, Athena was ripe with rage and jealousy. I think there was something between her and Poseidon but he overlooked her for Medusa. Athena cursed Medusa to look like her Gorgon sisters and be alone forever.

Medusa didn’t understand why Poseidon never came to her side, he should have pleaded with Athena to change Medusa back because it was his fault. What mortal has the will to resist a God. He professed his love to her and then just left her to her fate.

My sweet sister turned into the monster she looked liked. Her sorrow turned to anger, her anger turned to rage and her rage turned her into a killer. She couldn’t stand the sight of herself or of men, so she left to live in a cave alone. Warriors from near and far came to kill the beast named Medusa but none could. She was fast and so very strong. Eventually Perseus tricked the Greyes into telling him were she was and there he bested her.

I didn’t even know what was going on, I heard a loud piercing cry and I knew it was my sister. When I got to the cave I saw a man on a winged creature flying away from Euryale with Medusa’s head in his hands. Inside I found you holding the broken headless form of my sister and another creature identical to the creature that the man was flying away on except it was gold on color. I didn’t everything I could to get it away from us but it would not leave your side.

To tell you the truth, I think that was the first time I was ever scared in my whole existence. I didn’t know what to do. When Euryale got back she told me that it was Perseus flying away on Pegasus and we were in the presence of his twin brother Chrysaor. Suddenly Deino came in the cave, she’s one of the younger Greye sisters. She explained that the three of you happened to be Medusa’s children. Pegasus and Chrysaor were not in any danger but you Hathore had to be removed at once. You couldn’t be consoled. The temperature in the cave rose the longer you cried. Some sort of force was building and Deino explained that because the blood of your parent’s lineage is so old that it stirred up some very old Gods. Deino took us to Gaia were we could hide. Hathore you’ve been inside Gaia all this time. The body of Gaia is earth. You have been asleep in Gaia since the Golden Era, I can’t really give you a specific date except to say that, that was when man were becoming more productive. You are immortal like your brothers Pegasus and Chrysaor. Chrysaor still waits for your return to Gaia. My name is Stethno and this is Euryale.