Page 8 of Meduso
Echidna’s eyes flared at Stheno as she made this comment. Her once pale skin shifted to a dark green color to match her scales. She was now angered. “I’d watch your tongue, Stheno! Although I am your sister, I am not to be made a fool of! Do not trifle with me!” Echidna threatened.
Stheno stood her ground. “And what are you going to do? Make any tumultuous action and the gods and goddesses will know of your location. An empty threat, if I’ve ever heard one.”
“How dare you! Get out, now!” Echidna vilely screeched.
Stheno grabbed the torch and turned back to face me. “Come, Meduso. We leave!”
I just stood there, equidistant between both of my sisters. Echidna glided to me, caressing my cheek one last time before our departure. “You are more beautiful than I had ever imagined, brother. It will serve you well in their world. Never put that beauty to waste.” Those were her parting words as Echidna swiftly skidded out of sight in the blink of an eye, deeper into the dwelling of her cave.
I followed behind Stheno as we left, ascending the mountain once again.
“That Echidna! Curse her!” Stheno grumbled.
“I don’t think she was so bad, Stheno. Much more pleasant than I had imagined.”
“Meduso, that was only one side of Echidna that you saw. Remember, she is the wife of the most cruel and vicious monster known to existence. Do not forget. It takes a certain someone to be able to commit to that,” she explained.
Once we reached the summit, Stheno held out her hands to me for me to take. I clasped onto them and we closed our eyes, summoning our mother for our return. Within a flash, I opened my eyes, and I was once again standing on the ledge of the cliff in our grotto.
“How does Echidna fare?” my mother, Ceto, asked.
Stheno shook her head and dismissed herself. “Troublesome as ever! We have much to talk about, mother!” She headed back into the palace, with my mother following in pursuit.
I chose not to join them, knowing Stheno would have private affairs to discuss with my mother and father. I sat on the edge of the bluff, gleaming into the crystal blue water, reflecting on the vision I had.
A net with a fish? What could it mean?
I found myself coming up with little to no answers or guesses.
I was then reminded of Echidna’s counsel and the last words she spoke to me.
Never put that beauty to waste.
Little did I know that I would carry this guidance with me for years to come. Never did I picture that it would end up shaping my future.
Chapter 3
Stheno had informed our parents about our visit with Echidna. She also described the premonition I had with the fish in the net. Both my father and mother met with me on multiple occasions to provide words of wisdom to derail all advice that Echidna had left me with.
They postponed my initial experience to be alone on the surface for a few weeks, until they felt comfortable that I would heed their guidance.
Remember, Meduso, do nothing to upset or displease the gods.
Put everything Echidna had told you out of your mind.
Think nothing about your beauty or love with another mortal.
You must stay pure if you are to serve Athena in the future.
Finally, the day had arrived when it was time for me to begin my own adventure. My own exploration of the world above, without anyone beside me to whisper in my ear. I was elated to be able to have the opportunity to create my own thoughts and views of the world, without influence from anyone else.
It was just my mother and me in the grotto once again. She placed her hands on my shoulders. “Promise me, Meduso, that you will represent our family with pride and be respectful to those around you, especially any god or goddess you may encounter.”
“I promise, mother.”
She wrapped her arms around me in an embrace. “Remember, son. You have exactly one full year on your own. I will send Euryale or Stheno to check in on you once in a while. After one year, you will return here. We must then prepare for you to serve Athena. Is that understood?”
“Yes. I understand,” I replied.
