Page 28 of Meduso
But I never even considered her feelings about this. Echidna was truly all alone. Her monstrous children were no longer by her side and she lost her husband, Typhon, to the realm of Tartarus. She’s experienced so much hardship. I couldn’t imagine being put through that.
“I’m sorry for your losses, Echidna,” I said with sincerity.
“Do not be sorry, brother. I’ve learned to cope with the anger and the anguish over the years. I knew what I was getting myself into when I married Typhon. I valued all of the wrong things. Power and greed being the worst sins of all that would undo me. I made my bed, and now I must lie in it,” she explained. “But enough about my suffering. You’ve come here to seek out my advice.”
“Yes. I head for Athens after I leave here. I am unsure of how long I am expected to serve Athena and if I will ever be able to see Perseus again,” I shared.
“That bitch, Athena, will keep you for life if she had her way!” Echidna replied with rage. “She appears righteous and wise to her patrons, fearless with the greatest of bravery during times of war. But mortals are so blind! They do not see her true sanctimony and arrogance.”
Now I was becoming frightened at hearing Echidna’s opinion of Pallas Athena. Was she really as selfish and pompous as my sister believed? I’ve now heard mixed information about her, so I would just have to find out for myself when I met her in person.
“So, you think I will never be able to see Perseus again?” I asked, afraid of her answer.
She shook her head. “I’m honestly not sure, Meduso. But if the Fates provided you with a vision to meet him, then I doubt you’ve reached the end of your rope with him.”
“Well, there’s something else I’ve failed to mention to you. I’ve recently had a new vision, twice actually, but it involved a new man,” I revealed.
“Oh? Well, do tell!”
“I was on a beach somewhere, where the waters are dark blue, not like at Seriphos. Then I saw a bulky, muscular man emerging from the water. He was huge! I ran out to meet him and placed my hands on his thick chest.”
“And…?” she trailed off.
“And that’s it, I’m afraid. Nothing more.”
“Well, I think that’s enough to know that you will love again, Meduso.”
“Love again? I don’t think I could possibly…”
“Dear brother, take it from me. You are… what? Eighteen years of age?”
I nodded.
“You are still in your youth, Meduso. Your wound is still fresh. Once you’re absent from Perseus for a much longer period of time, your wound will heal and close. And soon enough, you will learn to love again. But right now, you are heartbroken. Time is the only ailment to a broken heart,” she explained.
She wasn’t far off with how I was feeling. I did love Perseus and I couldn’t imagine ever falling out of love with him, nor finding love in another person, for that matter. “I’m still not so sure about that, Echidna.”
My sister let out a heavy sigh. “Do you really trust this Perseus?”
What a thing to say! “Of course, I trust him. Why wouldn’t I?”
“Because he is a demi-god. If Zeus’s blood runs through his veins…”
I understood exactly where Echidna was going with this, and I needed to clarify her ignorance. “Perseus is not like that. He loves me and said that he would love no other,” I shared.
She shook her head, waving her hands in the air. “I give up. There is no getting through to you at this point. Young love is foolery’s misguidance. Well, if you are not in the right frame of mind to understand what I am telling you now, at least heed my words and remember them in the future.”
“Yes. I will listen…” I stated.
She went on to tell me tales of all the famous Greek loves and tragedies and compared them to my current situation. Most of which I had already heard before.
“Meduso, do you remember what I told you a year ago, before you and that stubborn Stheno left?”
“Something aboutnever putting beauty to waste?” I recalled.
“Precisely. Let me share something important with you about mortals and gods that live in this world. And listen to my words carefully, brother.”
“Go on…” I requested.
