The night was vanquished and made way to a sparkling sea. The three warships and lines of warriors on the beach were hard to make out against this piercing light. Even to superior eyes such as hers they appeared as naught more than silhouettes in contrast. She could make out their raised shields which protected their vision from her gaze. Furthermore she could focus her entire attention on the one man who stood in the furthest row, looking up at the sky dauntlessly.

Thunk.

A black dagger was stabbed into the sand in front of the mercenaries’ feet. Medusa crossed her arms and followed the scholar’s eyes as they mustered the dagger.

“When did they take it from me?” Typhos wondered and patted the insides of his clothes. Apparently he had not permitted the use of the ceremonial dagger. He could certainly deduce what had happened.

“You seem to lack control over your pets.” The Gorgon made a snide remark to greet him.

“Hmhm. We had a deal that was equally beneficial, that is all. And fortunately the contract has been fulfilled, so they have been relieved of their services.” He averted his face from the dagger and then stepped aside. Becoming visible behind him was… Eugenia. “The Shade fulfilled its mission to obtain the hostage.”

“You cowardly mutt. Free her this instant.” Medusa demanded with a low voice.

“Free her? Do you see any chains?” He asked facetiously. With a theatrical gesture he moved his hand around the priestess and raised her hands. She was indeed unbound.

Medusa watched him with contempt.

“A wise man once said to crush your enemies before you use your fists, use your words. Before you use your words, use gifts. There are many ways to victory. This does not have to end in great violence.” He explained amusedly.

“Nothing you have left could stop me from crushing your forces and taking her back forcefully. Is it not time to use your brittle fists?” Medusa asked while tightening her arms.

“We have already saved the one we came to save.” Typhos said with the hint of a smirk. “This pure woman, servant of the greatest and wisest goddess, has questions for you. All I ask is that you answer them honestly. And if you would, turn away that baleful gaze of yours. We do not want to spark any unnecessary conflict right now.” He subtly moved his fingers and two archers behind them aimed their arrows at Eugenia’s back without her noticing. “Do you take issue with my terms?”

Medusa frowned and felt her veins pounding in repulsion. Yet she had very little choice. With a dignified expression she closed her eyes.

“My, now that I can take a good look at you once again, I must say this appearance suits you far better. This is more appropriate for the legendary Gorgon.” The scholar inspected her body unperturbed. “More animal than human, scales all across. Finally your human disguise crumbles. You could not fool even the dullest of simpletons anymore.”

His words were as slithery as a snake’s body and wrapped around her the same way. Indeed, her body had transformed throughout the battles. Her fair skin was now covered in scales and her fangs had grown out of her mouth. If opened one would have seen her slit like eyes as well. Her fingers had been entirely turned into claws. What was once half woman, half snake, now appeared more to be a true monster.

Medusa felt no shame for her appearance, but it was a sign of how much damage she had sustained from these constant attacks. No expedition before had cornered her so. The scholar seemed keenly aware of that fact.

“Forgive my intellectual curiosity. My role in this is done for now. Go ahead Eugenia; press her for the answers you seek.” The scholar folded his hands behind his back and stepped behind the priestess with a set smile.

The two women now stood in front each other, only divided by a layer of shields and sand. Neither could see the other, yet they were deeply aware of their presence. The heavy silence between carried on, making it harder to bear each loud heartbeat. The girl had looked downcast before the Gorgon closed her eyes. She herself must also have worn an unflattering expression.

After this long night of longing to see her again, she suddenly felt relief at having an excuse to close her eyes. This was unlike her. Nothing had been normal for a long time. Not even a year ago she would have never found herself speechless or unable to focus. This stinging in her breast was cumbersome already.

Why was she afraid?

“Lady Medusa.” She strained herself to begin. “Are you alright?” The timid question felt utterly out of place. One had to remember that she had not known of Medusa’s situation since they were separated, though. The scholar’s words could only have fueled her worry. But before the Gorgon could reluctantly reply, the girl seemed to scold herself. “You will probably just say that you are fine, because you aren’t weak like me.”

She was not far off. Medusa had already thought to reply in a similar fashion. Even if she was predictable in that sense, the girl was sounding far too remorseful.

“You always act like that. You won’t let anyone or anything come close to you. There is rarely anything but rejection.” She really sounded somewhat bitter.

“That is the natural order of things.” Medusa replied. Yes, that was exactly right. From the very beginning there was a natural distance between her and the rest of the world that had to be upheld.

“I don’t understand that!” The girl declared loudly. “I just don’t understand why you are like this! All I wanted was to understand you.” Her mouth was shaking as she held back her tears. “You knew that the people you petrify are trapped forever, is that true?”

“Yes.” She answered honestly, just as she had promised. She had already expected these accusing questions.

“Do you regret your actions at all? Do you not feel any guilt for the suffering you caused?”

“No.”

“Are you telling the truth?”

“…why must I repeat myself?” She said with a forced calm mien.

“Because I know a different you!” She retorted strongly. “There is someone else inside that monstrous shell. A woman that can be kind, wise and sometimes a bit like a sullen child.”

Medusa’s brows twitched.

“You were pessimistic sometimes, but you also tried to be fair. I think I understand why you are acting so callous towards humans. It’s horrible how you have been treated.”

Medusa’s hands twitched on top of her crossed arms. What was this foolish girl rambling on about? Her words made no sense to the Gorgon. Was she actually pitying her?

“You were attacked over and over for a crime that was committed so many generations ago. This spiral of hatred just kept growing out of proportion until nobody even knew why they are fighting anymore.” The priestess clasped her heart through her fine silken clothes. “But you just accepted it. Why did you never try to change your fate?”

“What do you suggest I should have done? Begged for my life? For the mercy of lowly humans? Do not insult me.” She said haughtily.

“You could have asked the gods for forgiveness. I could help you to reach out to them.” Eugenia almost begged.

Medusa grinded her teeth in frustration. Of all the things this clueless girl could have asked of her, she seriously expected her to listen to this? Just another speech delivered by a puppet of the divine? Whenever things did not go her way, she would simply cling to Athena’s bosom like a scared child to its mother. It drew out all her ire. This burning feeling of disgust. It burned hotter than the contempt she felt for Athena herself.

The Gorgon’s mind felt numb. What was this feeling? Anger and disgust, but that was not right. It had not been right for quite a while. Her blood feud with Athena had lasted so long that it had simmered down to an eternal cold hatred. Certainly, after the recent events she had started to light those fires again with her pompous actions as the owl, but this felt different.

Yet she could not realize the truth. No, she did not want to realize it. The more her mind circled around this emotion, the less she could comprehend it. For if she did, the prideful Gorgon would learn something that was not meant for her.

“I cannot accept that. I bow to none. I am nobody’s puppet. Not even my own!” She declared with a deep voice.

“That is all you see us as, isn’t it? Puppets held up by the strings of those above.” Eugenia said sadly. “You are such a hypocrite!”

“What?” She was taken aback by the sudden roughness in the frail girl’s voice.

“You say that you don’t want to be a puppet, you value freedom above happiness, but that’s not true, is it?” She grabbed her dress tightly and forced herself to continue. “Why did you protect me this entire time? Why did you spare me on that day when I was left behind?!”

Medusa steeled herself. The words she had feared the most were now upon her. More than the fate of others, more than even the will of the gods, she was afraid to face the truth that concerned the priestess directly.

What would the Gorgon of days past have replied? It was quite simple. Eugenia was just a tool. Passed from one hand to another. Another piece in the eon long conflict between her and Athena.

Why would her lips not move? Her words not come out? She only had to say the same words she had spoken back then. It was a task far simpler than any of the challenges she had endured until now. Words were heavier than iron. She opened her mouth, but then closed it again.

“You cannot say it?” The girl asked with a disappointed tone. “Do you revile me so much that you cannot even waste another word on me?” This self-derisive tone and her clearly bursting emotions were like pikes to the Gorgon’s skin. “I remember every word we exchanged. Everything you ever said to me. The reason you kept me alive back then was for your revenge.”

Yes. Revenge. That was it. How could she have forgotten such a simple word? The girl was a means to an end. That’s why she had spared her back then. To get revenge on Athena.

“That’s what you told me. But that was never what you truly felt.”

“Oh?”

“I had always wondered what it was that compelled you. At first I believed your words mindlessly. A monster would have such twisted thoughts after all. The longer I stayed with you, the less convinced I was. Do you remember? You told me that you would not care what happened to me. All you wanted was to keep me confined on this island. If I got hurt or killed myself, you would not even have blinked.” She said with a hysterical chuckle. “But that was a lie! When I was in danger, when I was going to end my worthless existence, you would stop me! You would always be there to save me!”

Medusa twisted her lips. There was nothing she could say to refute her. She could not turn back time to change her actions now. Now she would feel the consequences of those actions.

“I started to think… maybe you did care for me after all. You know… I am an awkward person and I get lonely easily. I try to be self-sufficient, taught myself how to not be a bother to others, but when I'm by myself I lose the will to care. When I met you, I felt something odd. Maybe we are kindred spirits.”

“I do not fear solitude.” Medusa rejected her claim with a harsh tone.

“Maybe not. After all you are strong. My mind knows that, but my heart feels differently. When you spoke of your sisters, when you told me those stories about the legends of long ago, I sensed a different kind of Gorgon. You seemed more… content. This melancholy you exude now can’t be your natural state. You could never admit it, but you are no better than a human in that way!”

If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

“Curb your tongue.” She hissed weakly.

“I won’t back down this time. I have been pushed aside long enough. You will listen to what I have to say and answer my questions, because you owe it to me.”

“I owe you?” She could barely believe what she heard.

“Yes. I thought that you were lonely. That is why I wished to stay with you even when I had the chance to leave with Zosimos.” She revealed.

“You think I would have allowed that?” She had to resist. She had to continue this act now that she had started.

“I am not sure, but I had a feeling that you would have let me go.” The girl closed her eyes and shook her head. “Your revenge was pointless. Even you realized that. If I had left then you would have been alone again, but you accepted that possibility. Back then I thought it might have been because of your hidden kindness. I still want to believe that, honestly, even if I should know better.”

It was incredibly taxing for her to be this forward and cynical. Medusa felt a lump in her stomach. This wasn’t right. This wasn’t the foolishly idealistic human she knew. Was this as well her fault?

“It was not for revenge and not even because you needed me.” She concluded. “Typhos told me the truth.”

Medusa felt an icy shower down her back. The scholar had done exactly what she expected. This was why she did not want them to meet, but what had been done could not be reversed.

“I said you owe me, but it is not for staying with you. That was my own decision. I never expected anything in return and I would have done it even against your will.” She said with feigned courage. “You owe me this answer, because you lied to me. The truth is that you only protected me and kept me close, because Lady Athena was watching your actions.”

Here it was. The words she never wanted to hear from this girl. They were tinged in the exact feeling of betrayal she had feared.

“If I had been hurt or killed, you would have been made responsible. The reason you did not kill me that day was because you recognized me as a priestess. When I told you who I served you changed your entire attitude. I should have noticed it, but I am simply too naïve. This entire time you only cared… pretended to care, because your head was on the line.” Her voice cracked and she lowered her head to hide her angry tears behind her left hand.

“That is…” Medusa muttered.

“Tell me I am wrong!”

“…I was…”

“Lie to my face again! I am just a puppet after all! Just tell me that you do not mind what happens to me. Tell me that I am meaningless. I truly want to believe it!” Her tears would not stop flowing now. She sniffed as she had stepped forward and was pushing through the stoic mercenaries who could not follow their conversation at all.

“Wait!” Medusa slightly opened her eyes to see what was going on, but to her surprise the scholar and his men did not move to stop the priestess. The young man seemed fascinated, but not worried. Eugenia was right in front of the Gorgon, tears streaming down her face and soaking her clothes.

“Do you not have the courage to lie again? Do you not have the will to speak the truth?” The shaking girl asked between sniffles.

Medusa felt her breathing turn restless. It was impossible. Simply impossible. She could not utter a word. The accusations were piercing her, but the resistance inside her, the stone like core, was pulling her beating heart down.

“I was okay with being worthless. I was always okay with being just another human you despise. You could have used me or killed me, I would have accepted it.” Eugenia whispered so that only the Gorgon could hear. “Just tell me that I am not special.”

Medusa felt an inexplicable force tear at her soul. What had just happened? Now she finally understood what this girl truly wanted? How laughable. The Gorgon, clever and perceptive, strong and ruthless, was just another fool among many. This entire time she had thought that the girl in front of her hated the way she was treated. That it was her cowardice and solitude that kept her tied to her. Fate was a rope so tight that it would suffocate them. She had truly thought that the priestess was a pawn of Athena to this last step.

And that she was. A pawn led by a hand she could not see. A will she could not resist. Everyone knew so on first glance. That was the same thing she had felt after all. And that was what truly broke the girl’s heart.

She hated being special.

“I thought…” The girl swallowed her tears. “…that at least a monster would not treat me like I was…”

The pain of being chosen, to be the herald of a higher order, was something not many could understand. Doubtlessly, no matter who met Eugenia, would see the priestess first. Then the chosen one next. The closer they became the more she would appear to be the one that had to be treated differently. Some would reject her out of spite; some might fear her for her influence. Yet others would try to exploit her.

Who was Eugenia?

Who was she to Medusa?

“You should have known this all along.” The Gorgon spoke with a voice she did not recognize. Her mouth formed words without regards to her mind. “You are my enemy, priestess of Athena. I kept you alive to survive long enough to get my revenge. That is all there is to it. I cannot accept you or the one standing behind you.” The silhouette of the goddess of war was burned into the air behind the small priestess. The Gorgon’s eyes became cold. The stone crept up to her mind and covered it whole. “It is because I am a monster that I cannot give you what you want.”

The priestess stayed quiet. The tears she had shed had left red traces on her pale skin. Her hair fluttered in the ocean breeze as she nodded. With a broken heart she turned around and stepped towards the rows of ready men.

Even though she knew she was a pawn and would just end up being used again, being put on a pedestal again or killed for the sake of someone’s ambition because of her specialness. Even so she returned to that cage.

Medusa knew that this was the natural order of things. It was them against her. The girl was returning to her rightful place in this world. Everything that happened next was not Medusa’s concern anymore. She would live her life freely as she pleased and get her revenge. These men were to be slaughtered for daring to oppose her and then she would do what had to be done.

What - had - to - be - done?

A dizzy spell made her almost lose her balance. The moment she thought of her aspirations and dreams, she had fallen into an empty void. Deep down she had always known this place. What she wished for did not exist here. Maybe it had never existed.

Hypocrite.

That was what she had been called by someone who was far weaker than her. Someone who would accept their lot in life and cower. The disappointment of that young face, the tears spilled not for herself, but the one who rejected her, filled the void and dispersed it.

Medusa could not understand this emotion yet. The meaning of those words she could not say. Although her body was fighting an endless battle, even if her mind was always drawing the lines in the sand, there was something beyond that told her this was wrong.

If she was truly strong, then why did she do what was natural? Was strength not a means to shape one’s own fate? She had thought that was what she had been doing all along with her petty resistance, but it seemed that there had been an inherent misunderstanding. What was it? What was beyond this fate that had been carved into her soul?

She wanted to know!

The only lead to that mysterious place was walking away from her right now. How could she allow this one chance to slip away? Why had she tried to push the key out of the hole? This instinct, her pride, was it even her own? This desire to be a monster that opposed everything and everyone was growing ceaselessly the more she tried to gain clarity.

The Gorgon stretched its claws after the shrinking back of a mere human girl.

‘That is not true!’

The words rang inside her mind. They started to drown out the base instinct and pushed it into the deepest corner of her mind.

‘It isn’t true! The girl is not just a mere human. She is much more than that.’

Her claws shrank back until they returned to the thin fingers of a human woman. They still stretched forward.

‘She is not just a human, she is special.’

Her tail turned into legs which moved forward.

‘She is special, but not because she is chosen. It’s because she is…’

“EUGENIA!”

Her voice boomed across the entire island, frightening the hares inside their holes, vibrating through the destroyed camps at each corner and finally returned to the center of the call. When it reached its target the sand seemed to shake from the sudden kick. The bare feet were firmly planted into the ground.

Eugenia had stopped in her tracks, petrified as if affected by the cursed eyes behind her. Unable to believe it, yet compelled to find out, the priestess turned back ever so slowly. She could not believe her ears. Surely none of the surprised men around her could comprehend what had just happened. Not even Typhos seemed to grasp the severity of the situation.

The girl faced Medusa with a serious expression.

“You said my name.” She realized in disbelief.

This was it! Medusa felt unexpected joy when she saw the hope inside that innocent face. She had spoken without thinking, but now she could feel that the wall had been broken in. One word was all she needed to overcome it. The force of the stream that had been blocked by the dam was threatening to wash her away, but she welcomed the waves!

“It is true that I have used you. I always saw you as an extension of Athena and my hatred was channeled through my actions. But there is more. I do not understand myself yet. There are things that only you can teach me about myself, I have realized that now.” She spoke loudly and became more desperate with each word. Could she convey this without garnering even more dismay? “You may never forgive me for my actions and I would not fault you for it. I am selfish to the core, just as that scholar said.”

Typhos squinted his eyes, as he was mentioned, to avoid looking at the Gorgon’s gaze. His face did not betray his thoughts at all. It was unnecessary to pay attention to him, as she had only eyes for one person right now.

“I may always be selfish. It is my nature.” She lowered her outstretched arms and slowed down. Her heart was pounding wildly now. This was more straining than any battle she had fought. Because she was fighting herself. “Whenever I look at you I am reminded of my shortcomings. It aggravated me at first, it even made me rebel against this feeling all the more.” She clawed into her own chest were the still freshly healed wound from the night’s battle threatened to open up. “Why was I so blind? The truth is that I… like that about you.”

Eugenia could not respond, she only listened intently.

“I know that you do not want to be called special. When I said that I cannot give you what you want, I meant it. This is the truth I will never hide.” She didn’t want to see that sadness again. If Eugenia’s broken heart could not be mended then what was her strength worth? Push onward. “You are special to me.”

“Medusa.” Her slightly tilted head, the way her hair swayed behind her to underline her melancholy, it was hard to tear one’s eyes away.

“You know that already, do you not? Eugenia is special to Medusa. Not because she is a servant of her sworn enemy, not because she can use her in some scheme.” Her words had turned to third person in an awkward attempt to suppress her embarrassment. She seriously had to stop that. “You are special to me, because you are here with me! I like your company, I enjoy your foolish games and I even smile when you burn your fish and feel relaxed when you embrace my tail when you get drunk.”

“Really?” Eugenia seemed quite embarrassed herself now.

“You belong with your kind, that should be obvious. If you stay here it will only get worse for you. It would be unspeakably evil to confine you here again.” Medusa stretched her hand out yet again, this time with only a small gap between them. “Despite knowing all that, I ask of you: Will you fall to a monster’s whims one more time?”

The priestess' mouth formed an uncertain smile.

“May I sleep in your lair?”

“What? Er, I suppose.”

“Can I touch your tail?”

“Why would you?”

“Will you help me rebuild the Greenhouse?”

“Is that really relevant right now?”

“It doesn’t really matter.” She suddenly said flippantly. “I only have one condition.”

Medusa swallowed. Somehow the tables seemed to have turned without her realizing. Despite that ominous feeling, she had to make concessions.

“Very well. Speak your mind.” She acted tough.

“Call me by my name from now on.”

It was a simple request indeed. Of course nothing is as obvious as it appears at first. Medusa knew this, but she was in no position to refuse.

“As you wish.” She said with a disgruntled expression.

“As you wish, Eugenia.”

“Do not push your luck.”

“Hmph. You really are a monster.” She pretended to pout, but then grabbed the Gorgon’s hand tightly. It was surprisingly warm.

Clap clap clap.

Their special moment was suddenly accompanied by standing ovations from a single pair of hands. The women as well as the mercenaries all turned towards the one odd fellow who seemed completely out of his mind.

“Fascinating! What an impeccable act.” Typhos clapped a few more times with the widest smile. “Even the most renowned theatre troupe in Athens would have swallowed this piece. I did not know that you were so talented in the finer arts, Gorgon.” Of course he did not return her disgusted glare, but rather looked at Eugenia. “Alas, it is easy to sway a heart that wants to be convinced. You would willfully be deceived, Eugenia?”

“I know that you will never trust her.” She replied thoughtfully. “You have your own reasons to fight her, I respect that too.”

His smile cracked a little in response to her words.

“I will be deceived and used no matter who I choose to trust.” She said determinedly. “Then all that matters is who I want to be deceived by. I will go to the one who needs me the most. I choose Medusa!”

“Oh dear. Athena should be thankful that we cut out her eyes, this would just not have pleased her at all.” He shrugged almost casually and returned to his mask like smile. “Of course she will never find out about your poor choices.” He flicked his fingers and the archers released the arrows that they had patiently kept drawn.

In an instant the arrows were deflected by claws. At the same time Eugenia was pulled behind the large back of the Gorgon.

“You lost your hostage, human. Your schemes are at an end.” Medusa was deadly serious this time. Even with Eugenia behind her, she would be able to deal with this army relatively well. She was suspicious of any other tactics that could be thrown at her, but she would not falter.

“A war does not end until the final arrow has hit the battlefield.” Typhos said with a cold voice. Despite his eccentric act, he was clearly not in a good mood anymore. “Men, you have seen and heard everything.” He addressed the lined up mercenaries and sailors. “The priestess has been corrupted by evil and the monster has declared your certain doom. We were all played for fools, underestimated and thrown aside.”

The ranks began to rumble with growls and angered voices.

“But we are not defeated just yet! As long as a single man draws breath, the Gorgon cannot rest easy. It is weakened from battle and all alone. We have the blessing of Athena! We are justice! Will you let the souls of your fallen comrades rot in this forsaken place or will you cut their captor to pieces with your swords? Markos put his life on the line for this task. Will you be able to face him in the Underworld if you do not at least fight as bravely as he did?!”

““NO!””

“Then fight this evil with all your might! Show the monster and the fallen priestess the will of humanity, carried by the gods!”

““HURRAH!””

“Today you all will be heroes!!” Typhos shouted at the top of his lungs and the men roared in response. They were riled up like never before and stormed towards the Gorgon, sword and spears raised, arrows flying over their heads.

Finally reunited, the Gorgon and the priestess stood back to back. The inevitable final battle had arrived and the souls of all involved were on the line.