By Erin Artfitch
The cave entrance was obsidian black, even in mid-afternoon with the sun shining behind me. A wisp of a cool breeze hit my face. Beckoning. Warning. I ventured forth, drawing my sword from its sheath. A single torch lit the terra path before me as I weaved my way into Athena’s temple, built into the heart of the mountain. Tall—and once beautiful—columns scaled to the cavernous ceiling above. Great, gilded doors, askew at their hinges, separated the ruined forecourt from the inner sanctum.
I inched forward. A hiss reverberated somewhere in front of me.
Man-sized boulders surrounded me, sparsely illuminated by ancient torches. I eyed the shadows, my heart surging in my ears. My quarry was nearby. I could feel the creature’s deadly stare, hear its serpentine movements.
I kneeled and gently deposited my heavy pack behind a boulder. I stood slowly so as to make no sounds and stifled a gasp. A pair of eyes, frozen in terror for eternity, stared back at me from a statue of stone.
Have courage, Amazon, I chastised myself. My half-petrified arm ached in response.
Hsssss.
I spun. Diamond-flecked eyes glinted across the distance. Widening my stance, I lifted my sword and braced for attack.
I blinked and Medusa, the living legend, towered above me. Her pale face contorted with outrage, baring fangs long as daggers. Armor-like scales glinting, Medusa coiled, as if prepared to strike.
“Wait!” I heard myself say in a sure, steady voice. To my surprise, Medusa halted her attack. “I’ll fight if I must, but I have come for healing, not battle.”
The creature paused, her face softening. Curiosity, perhaps?
Torchlight illuminated her features. The sharp beauty that had drawn Poseidon was still present, juxtaposed by the onyx-colored scales lining her alabaster skin. Dark hair flowed past her shoulders, ending in winding curls at her waist. Her hair shifted. No, not curls.
Serpents.
“Put down your ssssword, warrior.” Her voice was soft, rhythmic. Hypnotic and otherworldly. “Your wordsss have earned my audience.”
Her tawny green eyes, eerily similar to my own, captivated me. These eyes had been the death of so many. While Medusa’s gaze petrified men instantly, her curse was no less fatal for women. Death was slower, taking years, sometimes plaguing generations as it passed from mother to infant.
Of course, staring into her eyes had no effect on me. My fate was sealed before birth. My mum had borne three children before Medusa’s curse had taken her. Now it was mine to bear.
In Medusa’s presence, my arm ached, hardened.
Her lips lifted in a cutting smile. “The curse has taken hold, young one. You do not have much time.”
A fortnight if my fate followed my mother and sisters.
“I have come for the cure only you can provide.”
“The effectsss of my gaze cannot be cured.”
“Except with the elixir of Panacea and the magic of the sorceress who performed the curse. You were a sorceress as a mortal, were you not?” I reached into the pocket under my cuirass, pulling out a small ampulla.
“Immortality has not changed this.” A split tongue flicked from Medusa’s mouth, like a snake tasting the air. “Your journey has taken you far, child.”
“It has.”
Her head tilted, as if considering me. “Your ssskin is as golden as the sun. Hair cut short like a man’s. You are from the warrior-woman tribe across the sea.”
I blinked, surprised the creature’s intellect had remained intact after so many decades of solitude.
Her hand slipped under my chin, gripping it with long, claw-like nails. “And yet, you have known a man’s love. Heartache. Is this cure worth it?”
I closed my eyes against her words, fighting my grief. “He fought for this cure as well. I will honor my beloved’s wishes, even in death.”
Something sharp passed through Medusa’s eyes. “Very well, warrior. I will give you what you seek.”
Her hand rose. Light shimmered across her black scales as she reached for me.
“Wait!” For the second time, I halted the deadly gorgon. I returned to my pack, still tucked carefully behind the stone man. The pack stirred as I approached.
I lifted the cover and my daughter’s green eyes met my own. She smiled, brilliant and toothless, oblivious to our dark, terrifying surroundings. I couldn’t help but smile back.
Her tiny body fit into the crook of my good arm perfectly. Heart hammering, I brought her to the frightful creature.
Medusa’s eyes widened. “What is this—?”
“My daughter. She also bears the curse of Medusa. Take it from her.”
“There is not enough Panacea for both of you.” Her eyes rose to mine. “You will die. Soon.”
I ground my jaw as a tear dripped down my cheek. “But not before I deposit her with the villagers at the base of the mountain.”
Medusa’s fanged mouth opened and shut. I stepped forward. “Please, Lady Medusa. Save the life of an innocent.”
Something—not unlike humanity—passed through Medusa’s eyes. Finally, she nodded and extended her hand. “Give the babe the elixir.”
I obeyed. Medusa placed her glowing, claw-like hand on my sweet one’s forehead. Slowly, the glow faded from my baby’s eyes, moving into Medusa’s fingertips. My heart soared, even as the ache in my arm extended to my shoulder.
She had her father’s eyes after all.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
What a bittersweet story! Very well done.
A well-told and emotional story. Really enjoyed it.
Immersive and beautiful story. Very well written.
gave me goosebumps….
Well done Erin
This was brilliant! X)