Page 67 of Heroines of Olympus

Taking the sword from Cadmus, Medusa goes back to where the water nymph was. She had been in pretty terrible shape, but hopefully, they can still get her out of there. After breaking the lock, Medusa scoops up the bundle of blankets concealing the nymph, relieved when it rustles in her arms. The weight of the nymph is a hinderance to Medusa’s speed, but she cradles the nymph and focuses on escaping.

Medusa returns the sword to Cadmus as they meet back with Cyril, who has the dagger that killed Ajax in his hand. Cadmus gives the sword to Cyril, taking the dagger from him and giving it to Medusa to use to cover them while he carries Psyche and Alec carries Hestia. They decide to leave through the main entranceway to the marketplace hoping it is not being heavily guarded this late at night.

Their hunch pays off and they swiftly make it to the front entrance, where only a few guards linger, on low alert. They whisper and debate the best approach and settle on trying to slip by them unnoticed. There is a wide perimeter around them, and if luck is on their side, they might make it.

They navigate around the Guards at the painstakingly slow pace necessary for a stealthier approach. Medusa is afraid to even breathe loudly.

Minutes tick by, but eventually they are almost clear. Shouting once again calls their focus and Cadmus swears under his breath as Guards pile out of the front entrance. Before the Guards can spot them, they take off running for the rendezvous point. They have no idea if it will still be an option, but it is the only one they know to try.

The Guards aren’t far behind, the clashing sounds of their armor following close on their heels like a ravenous wolf.

Medusa’s side is aching at the sudden exertion, but there is no time to slow down. Her chest heaves as Medusa runs as fast as she can, hoping the nymph in her arms is alright. They are halfway to the water when Medusa makes out the dinghy in the moonlight.

“There!” She directs their course more precisely.

A lone figure is near the little boat and Medusa prays to the Fates that it is one of their own.

The figure gets the boat ready to shove off and hope blossoms. They might actually make it.

Glancing back to make sure her companions are close, Medusa also finds the Guards too close for comfort. Cadmus seems to notice this at the same time and calls for Cyril. He shoves Psyche into Cyril’s arms, grabbing the sword from him and shouting something into Cyril’s ear that Medusa cannot hear, turning to face the horde of Guards on his own. Alec is by her side, Hestia still in his arms.

Medusa motions for him to keep running and Alec does not hesitate. With the shape Hestia is in, Alec needs to get her as far away from here as possible.

Medusa turns her attention back to Cadmus and takes the sword from his hand before he can react.

No more of this. No more suffering to save her. Psyche and Hestia are in horrific shape. Deonn and Ajax died. I can trace too many of these things back to my mistakes.

This shall not break me.

“What are you doing?” Cadmus yells.

“Go! Get everyone to safety. No one else is getting hurt to protect me.” Medusa shoves the nymph into Cadmus’s arms.

“No!” He screams and tries to stop her.

“Let me go.” Medusa says. The drum of her heartbeat is frantic. They are running out of time.

This shall not break me.

“I can’t get her out of here and just leave you. Either you come with me, or we all stay.” Cadmus says to her.

Medusa faces an impossible choice, but Cadmus locks eyes with her and she yells, “Please! Go!” Voice cracking on the last word, Medusa’s heart fracturing with it as she raises her hand to her hood. Her serpents are already in a frenzy, as her emotions override the magic of the hood. “Don’t make me do this.”

This shall not break me.

“Fuck.” Cadmus turns and makes for the final stretch to the boat.

Medusa watches to make sure he is retreating before walking over to the flat boulder on the side of the path, sitting on it and steadying herself as she awaits her fate.

This shall not break me.

42

HESTIA

The hum of Alec’s chest as he shouts is comforting, but the jostle of being carried as they run for their lives is excruciating. Hestia is so tired.

“We’re almost to the boat, my fire. Just hold on.”

---