The ruins of the Greenhouse had given way to new life inside the small garden Eugenia had built. At most times of the day it would be covered in thick sunlight and only in the morning and evenings did it provide shade as the sun reached an angle that the broken walls could block out. So when she worked in this small green sanctuary she was sweating a lot and needed breaks.
Today was an especially hot day for this cursed island, so she felt her skin burning up quickly. Instead of following common sense and taking a rest in the shade, she instead kept working all the more fervently. The heat from the sun chariot in the sky had little chance of competing with the heat in the former priestess’ head.
Flowers had begun to bloom at the corners of the garden. Although they had no edible components, Eugenia had no intention of ridding herself of them. It may have been straining the soil unduly, but she felt that destroying flowers that smelled so fine was a mistake. If she asked Medusa what color they were she may have had a chance to arrange their growth in aesthetically pleasing patterns.
She swallowed. Her mouth was so dry. The heat seemed to have little to do with it however, as her dirty fingers kept moving to her lips. She felt dazed rather often these days. When she didn’t keep her hands busy she sometimes caught herself just sitting around listening aimlessly to the island around her. And each undulation or writhing of snake scales made her heart jump.
Eugenia had returned to this distant island, had settled and found her place, yet… She somehow kept to herself as much as possible. Was this not foolish? There were only so many tasks a day that she could put forth as an excuse. The truth was abundantly clear even to herself.
Medusa. That incomprehensible woman had attacked her. It was an uncompromising and aggressive move that she could not defend against. A fight so swiftly and resoundingly lost that it made Eugenia feel like one of the mercenaries from the previous expedition.
“How could you?” She asked the flowers with an unsteady posture, squatting on the loose earth. They did not respond. There was no wisdom to be found in plants after all.
All of the actions she had taken had led her to this point, so she had to reap the results. To live up to the expectations of the people that had pushed her forward she would have to show her true conviction.
Bion’s lackadaisical tone was circling inside her head. Should she treat this situation as a joke, like he would? Euryale’s final parting words still haunted her as well. To be assertive was the only path ahead of her, was that it? She had already tried her best to be exactly that. Ever since she returned she had taken a lot of liberties and been pressing the Gorgon even when she felt it was going too far. Even Kygnos the Satyr had encouraged her indirectly. His appeal to Eros seemed to be genuine at least.
The only one who did not support her was her own heart. It was a weak and fragile thing, not worthy of being mentioned. It had hardened when met with adversity and sadness many a time now, but there were blind spots that could not be protected. There was this one thing that had never given her a chance to defend against it.
Eugenia’s face was flushed. The sun must have taken its toll, surely.
As the first intelligent action of the day, she finally forced herself up and walked out of the garden. She closed the fence behind her and stepped into the shade. When finding a spot to relax she sensed two hares drinking from the Greenhouse’s gully. Most of those thin water paths had been buried or filled with dirt, but there were still a few in the open. The rainwater from the storms Medusa spoke off was still stagnating inside.
The lapping sounds additionally to the water trickling down their fur really made the girl realize how thirsty she had become already. Although she would not drink from these gullies she did feel tempted. Instead she decided to return to the camp and drink some of the reservoir’s water.
If she returned to her tent, would she run into Medusa? She was never quite sure when the Gorgon was up and about. Because she subconsciously avoided her it was getting harder to tell. It made her chest tighten when she thought of how Medusa must have felt in this situation. How cruel was it to just avoid her after they finally could spend time together?
“Like she cares.” She tried to reassure herself by dismissing it altogether. Medusa had never been one to be clingy or starved for attention. Eugenia hated to leave her alone, but she was certain that her non-human life partner had no intention of letting it get to her.
She pursed her lips as she walked through the ruins, straight for the center close to the main yard. Was it too terribly selfish to feel disappointed that Medusa had not made any attempt to ask for her presence?
Inside the tent she grabbed her water skin and gulped as much as possible with greedy lips. It seemed that this thirst didn’t wish to be quenched even after she emptied it completely. Time to refill it then. She pushed her head through the tent’s entrance and immediately stopped her movements. Her ears had picked up something.
Swish… swish… fwip.
Something was moving through the air in a certain rhythm. Whatever it was hung a good distance above her head. She raised her chin and tried to focus on that swinging sound. It was something on top of the arch of the crumbled gate. The thing was swinging from up there.
Eugenia quietly walked below it and finally felt its presence right above her. It curled up a little on each rhythmic swing. Left to right. Right to left.
The girl cupped her chin thoughtfully. There were many options going through her head, but the childish desire won out over all else. She grabbed the tail and pulled on it.
From above she heard a cute yelp.
'Wait, seriously?' Eugenia felt sweat pouring down her skin and this time it was not from the heat. That sound was definitely not what she had expected.
“Medusa?” She asked carefully as she let go of the rapidly retreating tail. There were not many possible subjects here, but that adorable voice made her take every possible option into account.
“Are you some manner of forest child that was never taught manners?” The annoyed words came from above. She had already pulled up her entire tail and curled it around the structure. “Next time you pull on it I will come down alongside it.”
That would certainly have been a crushing punishment.
Eugenia smirked wryly as she opened and closed her hand. As expected as Medusa’s reaction was, this should probably not have happened in the first place. The Gorgon was too perceptive and on guard to let someone catch her tail, right?
“What are you doing up there?” She called upwards.
“Am I now accountable to you? Must I explain myself for every action I take on my island?” She snapped back.
This was more like the Medusa she knew. Always a pleasure to be with. Eugenia felt at ease just hearing all that spiteful commentary. It was a bit strange to hear her so defensive though. She must have been in a bad mood.
“I am sorry for pulling your tail.” She said only half-apologetic.
“It would be best for you if that were true.” She replied quietly and leaned her head on her hand.
Eugenia put her hands on her waist and whistled once. An aggravated Medusa, a cute yelping Medusa and a mysterious Medusa all in one. This was shaping up to be a new record. When thinking of the situation seriously though, the Gorgon had most likely just been enjoying the view from high up. The twitching of her tail was possibly akin to a human’s humming. Stheno had claimed her singing was atrocious, so humming seemed to be out of the question as well.
“…do you not have to return to your precious garden?” The Gorgon asked snippy.
So her mood really was that bad. It could not have been just because of her tail. It was best not to incite her more.
“I wanted to refill my water skin.” She explained and held up the empty skin as proof.
“Then go ahead.”
“Is there something wrong?” She asked carefully.
“How would I know?” She replied tersely.
Now Eugenia was lost for words. If she didn’t know any better she would have assumed Medusa was sulking. What reason would she have to do so? No, she might have been looking at it the wrong way. Medusa’s response had given her a hint.
Nothing was wrong with her, but she seemed uncertain nonetheless. Because she didn’t know if something was wrong…
Eugenia covered her mouth with one hand and averted her face. This was her fault. Medusa was worried for her, but too proud to say anything. It could only have been that. She had to do something about this or the guilt would eat her from the inside out.
“Do you want to play a game?”
“Huh?”
----------------------------------------
They had settled down on top of the wide steps to the temple where Eugenia had prepared a stone slab of some kind. It was about twice as big as a common meal plate. The gray slab was covered in carved patterns that Medusa could not make much sense of. It resembled that mathematics thing the girl had shown her before. There were even numbers at the corners.
“Is this more of that gambling pastime?” She asked with crossed arms. Although she had agreed to this she still felt like acting displeased. “Have you not learned your lesson last time?”
“No no, this is not related to dice games.” She assured her and rummaged through a small chest.
“Then is it that test of skill? Do you wish to throw this slab?” She pulled it up with two fingers as it if weighed nothing. A contest of skill and strength would end much in the same way as the gambling did.
“These aren’t the Olympics! I don’t think any athlete would throw something uneven and heavy like that.” Eugenia seemed bemused by Medusa’s inquiries.
“Weaklings.” She huffed and set the slab back down.
“I was surprised Zosimos found one of these. They are usually reserved for aristocrats.” The young woman took out several stone pieces from the chest and assembled them on the slab. “This is a battlefield for these figurines.” She explained.
“A battle you say?” She dubiously eyed the small figurines that had been carved out of different rocks. They ranged from black to white and everything in-between. A few were glittering in a golden sheen and looked quite polished.
“Yes, a grand battle indeed.” Eugenia was getting excited. “Be careful with the pyrite pieces please, they are not very durable.”
“Ho? Are you insinuating I am a barbaric monster that cannot control her strength?” Medusa smirked.
“I only have the one set.” Eugenia replied without taking the bait.
“Very well.” She put down the piece she had been spinning on her fingers and set it down on the ‘battlefield’. “I do not see much valor in these carvings. Whyever would you make battle with a wheel or a staff?”
“They each represent someone.” Eugenia finally finished pulling out all the pieces and then spread them on the stone. “This game is a battle of strategy based on the Titanomachy.”
“The war of the gods?” Medusa eyed the pieces again. To compare this lackluster display to the great war of gods and titans was a fruitless labor. Yet she did find some understanding for iconography now. “The eagle represents Zeus.”
“It does. These pieces are the Olympians and those are the Titans.” She pointed at the two groups. “Each faction has its own advantages and disadvantages, but it is all very well thought out to allow both sides an equal chance at victory.” She smiled, fully in her element.
“A battle of wits then. Would humans really dare to allow the Titans victory in such a battle?” Medusa lowered her head to see the pieces opposed to each other on eye level. Her interest had been piqued.
“It is only a game. We all know who truly won, so the great and mighty Zeus would not be offended.” Eugenia laughed nervously. Apparently it was not so widespread after all.
“Is that so? Then I will take claim to the Titans.” She grabbed the pieces represented by the crude rock which were carved in more violent shapes. Flames representing Hyperion and a helmet for Atlas, but none of them as immaculate as the Olympian pieces. After they set up all of the pieces there were still three left over. “The Hecatoncheires I presume.” She pointed at the pieces represented by a big hand with many small hands carved into them.
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“Correct. They are neutral pieces that can be claimed by both sides under certain conditions.” Eugenia nodded and put them on the edge of the slab.
“Why is that? They did assist Zeus in subduing the Titans, traitors that they are.” Medusa glared at the figures.
“Uhm… there are different versions of the tales where I come from. Some say that Briareus sided with Atlas.” Eugenia was a little nervous talking about history with someone who had actually learned of it from the people who had made it.
“They rebelled merely for being imprisoned. They should have known their place.” Medusa scoffed.
“Hahaha… haah…” Sometimes it was hard being around this monster.
“I suppose humans will always muddle history to their liking.” She leaned back and sighed. “So how do we manage these pieces?”
“The rules are actually quite straightforward! First we have to align our pieces in the way of…”
It took Eugenia several hours to explain the rules.
“…and that’s how you play.” She finished patiently.
“I regret asking.” Medusa’s eyes seemed to have turned into slits already and she had lost most of her motivation. The snake hair had fallen asleep.
“Do you need me to repeat anything?”
“By Typhon’s one hundred heads, no!” She shook her head vigorously. Her long fingers tapped the Titan pieces and pushed them into position. Her amazing memory helped her still remember the explanations from the very beginning.
“Great. I haven’t played this game before, so this will be a valuable learning experience for both of us.”
“Speaking of valuables, what am I to win from this?”
“I already told you this isn’t gambling.” Eugenia frowned a little.
“Then you mean to say the victor gains nothing? What is the purpose of such a game?” Medusa seemed disappointed.
“It is supposed to be fun.” She replied meekly.
“If nothing is at stake the enjoyment withers with it.” The Gorgon insisted. “Tell me, what do I gain if I win?” She leaned forward and smiled predatorily.
Eugenia opened her mouth slightly, apparently unsure of what to say. Medusa’s piercing gaze entrapped her. As she absentmindedly caressed the pyrite pieces, she eventually closed her mouth and seemed to cease her heart.
“If you win I will tell you a secret.” She replied embarrassedly.
“That seems of little worth to me. Will this secret be somewhat entertaining at least?” Medusa relaxed and slacked back onto her tail.
“I think you will be surprised.” The girl said ominously and tapped the owl piece forward.
“Hmph. I will not be holding my breath.” She closed her eyes for a moment and breathed in to prepare her mind for the battle.
“…what do I get if I win?” Eugenia suddenly broke her concentration.
“Have you grown bolder yet?” The Gorgon smirked deviously.
“If you can gain something it is only fair that I may do the same in return.” She said seriously.
Medusa twisted her lips and the snakes slowly awoke. They coiled around her ears and shoulders as if to spectate on their battle. She put a hand to her side and considered what she could give in case of a loss.
“Is there something you wish for?” She gave up and asked Eugenia directly.
“I don’t know if there is anything I won’t get either way.” She cupped her chin and thought about it as well.
“Well well, are we not spoiled?” That comment somehow rubbed her the wrong way.
“Sorry, I don’t have something I need.” She apologized.
“That will not do.” Now she really was annoyed. “If you are victorious I will allow you to stay in my lair whenever you want.” She declared.
“Ah.” The girl looked flustered.
It was strange that she had never persisted on sleeping in the lair ever since they shared stories and wine. Medusa was paying close attention to her reaction. This probing was giving her ample results.
“Is it not enough for you, human?” She poked again.
“I don’t like it when you call me that. Just use my name.” Eugenia rebuked her, but then gave up. “Alright, I think that is a good reward.” She did not sound too convinced.
“Do not expect to receive it after this battle. I will be taking your secret without any trouble.” The Gorgon boasted as she grabbed her Atlas piece and moved it forward.
What followed was indeed a battle of wits. Despite Medusa’s taunting she was actually far from overrunning Eugenia’s forces. As the girl had said, both of them were beginners, but the rules were not as complicated as the long explanation made it seem. There was no human riddle that could make the Gorgon of Sarpedon admit defeat. She was getting more concentrated and serious by the moment.
Eugenia took her time on each turn and kept licking her dry lips under stress. It was her idea, but she was not at all confident that she could beat Medusa, that the Gorgon could read from her expression. She sometimes cutely gasped or groaned when a piece was cornered and then taken. Medusa started to enjoy this game mostly due to her honest reactions.
Due to a surprising slip-up however, the Olympians unlocked Tartarus and freed the Hecatoncheires. The hundred armed giants were turning the tides of war rapidly and left Medusa with fewer and fewer stratagems to overturn her opponent’s assaults. Oceanus, that good for nothing, declared his neutrality in the late game and left the Titans' forces. It was shaping up to end in the same manner the real Titanomachy did.
That eagle bearing serial cheater at the front lines kept poking everyone with his lightning bolts and the ever methodical book keeper of the Underworld seemed to be everywhere at once. Poseidon had been thrown off the board quite early as Medusa had viciously pushed her forces at him.
Now she was only two pieces shy of defeat. She showed her fangs and had to slap away the snakes so they would stop trying to eat the figurines. It was stressful. It was vexing. She would not lose to Eugenia. The smugness the girl would display after just one little victory would be unbearable.
“Am I winning?” The girl asked innocently, which brought Medusa’s blood to a boil.
She had no other options left. It may have been cheating, but she had to keep her pride. She extended her tail backwards and…
RRRUMBLE
A pillar collapsed behind them and created a cloud of dust. The noise was so loud that neither of them could hear anything for a few moments. Eugenia almost fell off the stairs from surprise. Her heart almost sprang from her chest.
After the dust had settled and been waved away by the girl’s frantic hands she coughed a few times and then forcefully calmed herself.
“W-why did it suddenly collapse?” She was still out of it.
“These ruins are unstable, you should be aware by now.” Medusa replied dismissively.
“It feels really dangerous just sitting here now.” She stopped her trembling and cramped up.
“No need to be frightened. I will shield you from the destruction.” She said reassuringly.
“Thank you Medusa. I mean it.” She was giving her such a relieved expression that even the Gorgon felt a pang of guilt. “Then I can earn my win with a light heart.” She moved her hand towards the rock slab and tried to take the Hestia piece, but it wasn’t there. “Huh?”
“Are you still in shock?” Medusa asked naturally.
“I thought I still had Lady Hestia here…”
“Do not feign a failing memory now, you are barely a grown woman yet.” Medusa’s tail twitched imperceptibly as she pretended to be clueless.
“Oh no… this isn’t good.” The panic on the girl’s face was of a different nature now. Less life threatening and more crestfallen. “I made the wrong move.”
“Not even the gods can predict every outcome.” Medusa was pushing onward without giving any heed to her guilt and forced Atlas to corner Zeus. The Hestia piece sat inconspicuously beside the board.
A few turns later the battle was decided. After all, Eugenia’s stratagem had failed with just a single missing piece. She had never been too flexible.
“I lost.” She pushed her face against the slab and gave way to the aura of defeat.
“Was there any doubt?” Medusa shrugged haughtily.
“I failed the gods.” Eugenia raised her hands, playfully begging for forgiveness.
“Atlas will appreciate the load taken from his back.” She cackled and then flicked over her own pieces as well. In the end she was not a follower of the Titans either. “I believe you owe me something.”
“Eck.” Eugenia seemingly bit her tongue and fidgeted about. “Give me some time to prepare!” She shouted and then rushed off.
“What about your game?” She took a few pieces between her fingers and followed the retreating girl with her eyes. Her expression was unreadable. “So it truly is as I thought.”
A game could be as good a cause as any to push someone over the edge. It seemed to be enough for Eugenia. What she was preparing for was hard to say, but what her secret was about, the Gorgon could garner by now.
She pushed the figures into the chest and closed it tightly. Preparations would serve both of them well, she thought.
----------------------------------------
It took a while for them to reconvene. Medusa had made no attempt to pressure the girl, but it was not as if she had been able to think of much else. The preparations on both sides had been completed.
“Does the sea wish to share in your secret as well?” She stood at the edge of the seaside cliff where Eugenia was sitting with her legs dangling over the edge.
It was a good fishing spot, although the former priestess had done very little of that since her return. Food supplies and the shellfish traps had been serving as a good excuse to spare the fishing rod.
Now the waves gently crashed against the cliff and gave background noise to their conversation. Whatever Eugenia felt for this spot, it must have been deep.
“Do you remember the first time we talked here?” She asked coyly.
“Indeed I do. ‘Twas the first sign of many that you are hopeless.”
“Haha, I didn’t even know you had to use bait to fish.” It didn’t seem to bother Eugenia at all. Just like back then, her good-natured attitude allowed her to overcome the trappings that inhibited progress. Not many in her situation would have been so accepting of their mistakes.
Why could such recent memories feel nostalgic? This was one of the confounding ailments she had received since meeting this girl. Nothing would make sense when she stuck around.
“If you are going to claim that your lacking fishing skills are your embarrassing secret I will throw you off that cliff.”
“You almost did once before.” Eugenia reminded her and kept up her cheerful expression. Threats still had little effect on her. “You always say things you don’t really mean.” She added with a more somber tone.
“You should not test me, lest you wish to compete with the octopi in a diving contest.” To imagine Eugenia pulling off the suction cups from her face was secretly bringing Medusa close to laughing out loud. She suppressed it just barely.
“If I were to be close to drowning, you would pull me back to the surface.” She said with conviction.
“Only if you washed out that faulty mind of yours with the ocean water first. You have a way of surviving impossible situations even without my help however.” She added and looked upon the calm sea. Only the distant storm barrier reminded of the dangers that Eugenia had faced.
“But you were always there with me.” The girl claimed with a hand on her heart. “Even when you did not say anything, even when we were half a world apart.”
“…” Medusa looked upon the crashing waves with melancholy. She understood and yet did not.
“When I thought of returning to your side, it filled me with courage. I said things that I could never have said and parted ways with people I never would have met.” She spoke honestly and firmly. “I can never pay you back for saving me and being by my side.”
Something inside Medusa was roused and she felt an unusual moment of clarity. It was not that she could never be kind or open with this girl, but she had always put up a tortoise shell around her mind and heart. It was not just around Eugenia either, she had always been like this. Even back then, before the curse…
“That holds true for me as well.” She stated and almost could not believe her own voice.
“Oh?”
“While I received my punishment... you were with me as well.”
“Really?”
“Do not make me repeat it. I have no poetic thoughts to share.” Medusa said prickly and glared down the cliff.
“I am happy that you thought of me.” There was no doubt she was deeply moved.
“Foolish as ever.” To be on someone’s mind was nothing to be impressed by, but obviously the human next to her had different ideas.
“I don’t mind being foolish if we can be like this.”
That was so sickeningly sweet that Medusa wished to cover the girl’s mouth.
“I have a question. Please answer me just as directly as you always do.”
“I was under the impression that I came here to hear your secrets, yet I am the one being skewered?” Medusa mocked the entire situation, but the dense air left little room for objection anymore. “State your question.”
“Will you promise me not to laugh?” Now she was just dodging the issue. Such evasiveness made it harder on both of them.
“I make no promises. Though your foolishness rarely leaves me laughing too long.” Was that not good enough already?
“Haah…” Eugenia exhaled strongly as if she was bursting from stress. “Medusa, do you perhaps… fancy me?”
There it was.
At least she did not have to laugh.
In how many ways could someone fancy a person? As a comrade in arms? As an amusing friend? As the closest of family? As the one who stood at the door to the Underworld?
None of those made much sense. Indeed, the meaning was not hard to discern, but the Gorgon’s mind wished nothing more than to struggle against understanding. All this musing and preparing and struggling had no grander purpose than to face this one moment.
“Why do you ask such a thing?” Medusa replied with a deep sadness.
Eugenia was still holding a hand on her heart. That rhythmic twitch revealed her increased heartbeat. Her face was going from pale to red cyclically. Nothing was left of the calm and cheerful disposition from before. It was the face of a maiden stricken with a horrible affliction that could not be cured by a physician’s hands.
“I...” She swallowed and closed her white eyes. Pressed them tightly together as any seeing person would. The instincts of the human body were the same no matter who faced this situation. Eugenia was already shy by nature, but now she really pushed herself to the limit.
What a cruel trick of fate.
“If you speak those words, be prepared for the consequences.” Medusa warned her.
Eugenia seemed close to the breaking point and that final warning had more weight than she could ever imagine. But once a stone began to roll down a mountain slope, there was no stopping it. The one who had pushed it over the edge had been Medusa herself. She was no King Sisyphus and no manner of curse would keep the rock rolling back uphill.
“I am afraid. I really don’t know why I feel this way. I never understood my heart.” Eugenia admitted, spilling all her doubts to the uncaring sea. “Before it had been empty, almost hollow. My parents and Lady Athena filled the small space it could offer.” Her red cheeks gave way to creased brows and a futile wish. Her hair kept swaying in the ocean breeze.
She would say it.
Medusa was powerless to stop her.
“Medusa, my heart is not empty anymore. It is filled to the brim with you.”
The Gorgon’s tail had turned into legs and she too sat down at the edge. It was a gentle wind that passed their bare legs. Too gentle.
“…” It was painful.
“Is this feeling wrong?” Eugenia asked helplessly.
“There is nothing wrong with you. There never was.” Medusa said softly as Eugenia shook weakly. With a firm hand she took the girl’s shoulder and pulled her over until her head rested on the rare human lap. It was an intimate and surreal moment.
“If I am not wrong, then why do you have to be so sad?” She asked close to tears.
“Forgive me Eugenia.” Her words had never been this tender. Why did she only allow them in moments like these?
“Medusa…”
“I cannot be loved.”
Words had power. The tender words of apology and the sad words of rejection could change the world. They could cross the oceans, surpass the heavens and subvert the earth.
They may even reach the single person that they were meant for.
The stroke of a protective hand through the girl’s hair took away the hurt and pain of the world and only immersed her in the rhythm of a monster that too had once been a woman.
“I wanted to be with you.”
“Yes.”
“Even though I knew you didn’t feel the same way, I wanted to reach you.”
“I know.”
The words flowed like tears which neither of them could shed.
“Why does it have to be this way?” Eugenia asked with a broken heart.
“Because that is my curse.”
“I can’t understand… if you don’t tell me.”
“Will your heart find relief if you knew?”
Eugenia’s pain was not something that could disappear from such a simple action. That was what Medusa honestly believed. Knowing why something could not work would not change the fate that had been tied by the strings.
“I want to understand you even if it breaks my heart to pieces.” Eugenia said with her hand stretched upward to the face she could never see. The fingers were warm compared to the cold and immaculate skin. “Will you not shatter it so completely that I can stop feeling this way?”
She had cheated to reach this conclusion. The Gorgon had used her wiles and trickery to fool a human girl to the point of no return. Was it cowardice that had made her reach for this end?
“I will tell you the truth.”
Truth was the heaviest burden in the world.
“I will tell you how the monster was born.”
At the cliff of a broken heart, the Gorgon’s tale unfolded.