Page 51 of Meduso
Euryale began to chase her before turning her head back to us. “Just give her some time. I will talk some sense into her.”
“Thank you, Euryale,” I gratefully said.
She simply nodded and went on, trailing behind Stheno.
“Well, that did not go as you had hoped, did it?” Perseus teased.
I nudged him in his side. “That is not funny. You do not know my sisters as I do. Stheno is obstinate and always holds on to grudges. It could take a long time for her to come around. I did not anticipate for her to be so against this.”
Perseus then wrapped his arm around me in comfort. “Even if she despises me, I will not falter nor leave. I will learn to live with that dark, looming presence she may have over me, if I must. So be it. I will never leave you, Meduso.”
I could not help but smile at his endearing nature. “And I never want you to. But I promise, Euryale and I will get through to her, some way or another. Just please, be patient with me.”
“Of course, I will be patient with you, Meduso. If eight years of separation from you is not patience, then I do not know what is.”
For a few weeks, Stheno kept herself away from us. Whenever Perseus and I did see her heading towards us from a distance, she would purposefully turn to avoid any sort of contact with us and walk in the opposite direction.
I grew to be more vexed with each passing day. How could Stheno not see that me being alive was proof enough that Perseus had no ulterior motive for coming here to Sarpedon? He was not here to harm me, but somehow, she did not want to see this. She had no desire to accept the truth.
The following morning, I woke up early and snuck out of bed. I slowly glided out of the cave as to not disturb Perseus. I knew Stheno would still be asleep at this early of an hour in her own cave. Although my sisters and I agreed to never step foot in one another’s personal caves without permission, I felt the need to make a special exception. After all, Stheno was purposefully doing everything she could to avoid us. So, my only way to get her one-on-one with me would be to bombard her with this surprise ambush. She would have no option but to handle the confrontation with me head on.
Just as I had suspected, she was sound asleep in her bed. I spoke loud enough to wake her from her slumber. “Stheno, we need to talk.”
She did not bother to roll over to look me in the eyes. “I have nothing to discuss with you, Meduso.”
“But why, Stheno? Why can’t you just accept Perseus?” I pleaded.
“Enough, Meduso. Please…”
“No. I’m not leaving until you give me an answer. What do you have against Perseus?” I refused to give in to her stubbornness, which I never did as a child. I was now the stubborn one, determined to get answers.
She finally spun around in her bed, rising to face me. “It has nothing to do with Perseus, Meduso. It’s you! Have you no sympathy for me and Euryale? Look at where yourlovehas brought us, brother. Yet you parade Perseus around on our island and expect us to welcome him so easily, all because you love him? Well, I am sorry, Meduso, but I am allowed to have my reservations.”
I lowered my head in shame. I never did consider her feelings. Of course, she was hesitant in being willing to approve of Perseus. After all, my love for Poseidon was what resulted in her monstrosity. She had every right to question my judgment when it came tolove. “I’m sorry, sister. I should have been more receptive to how you feel,” I sadly admitted. “But I love Perseus. I always have. I’ve shared our stories with you. So, you must know I am not lying or jumping headfirst into this without reason.”
She slowly slithered closer to me. “I know you do. And I am sure he loves you just as equally. I just… don’t want to see you hurt, dear brother. My anger comes from a place of love. Our love as brother and sister supersedes any other form of love out there,” she shared.
I smiled, impressed that she was finally beginning to open up to me. “I appreciate that. And I also understand that you may need time to come around to Perseus staying with us.”
“But Meduso, what of Athena? Surely, if she aided that man in travelling to this island, she must expect him to slaughter you.”
I shook my head. “Yes. Perseus and I discussed this. He vowed to defy her and the other gods who supported him. He plans to live out the remainder of his life here, protecting me. Protectingus.”
Stheno breathed deeply before placing her hands on my shoulders. “Are you certain youlovehim? You are sure you are making the right decision?”
“I am certain.” I replied. “I would have no other…”
My sister then simply nodded. “That is all I need to know, then. I promise I will make an effort to get to know and accept him. I just ask that you continue to give it some time for him to grow on me. I’m not saying it will take months or years, but just give it a little while.”
I leaned forward to hug her. “That’s fine. That is all I can hope to ask for.”
“But there is one thing that you said that is untrue,” Stheno mentioned.
I released from our hug and had an odd expression on my face. “What did I say that was false?”
“That youwould have no other. You cannot tell me you would have refused to live in Poseidon’s glorious palace along his side if given the chance. Who are you to refuse a god?” Stheno retorted. She then laughed.
I could only snicker with her at her rather dry humor. I did not dare to try and correct her. After all, it was a miracle that she was finally starting to take a few steps forward, and I had no desire to push her several steps back.
