AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"That depends," the gorgon says.
Felicity stares down at the water."Depends on what?"
The gorgon continues."On how bewitching they find you. If they are particularly enchanted, they'll try to lure you away with them to their pond. Once they have you trapped, they will take your skin."
When I realize how close I came to following them into the depths, I'm shaking all over.
"I want to go back," Ann whimpers.
So do I."Gorgon, take us back to the garden at once," I order.
"As you wish," she says.
Behind us, I see the water nymphs poking above the churning surface, their glistening heads bobbing on the water like jewels from a lost treasure. A snippet of their beautiful song finds us, and for a moment, I drift toward the edge of the ship, wanting once again to dive under. We pull forward with a lurch, moving away from them, and their song turns to rage, a sound like birds deprived of food.
"Stop it," I say under my breath, willing it to end. "Why won't they stop?"
"They expected a gift, a token for the journey," the gorgon answers.
"What sort of gift?" I ask.
"One of you."
"That's horrible," I say.
"Yesss," the gorgon hisses. "You have made them unhappy, I'm afraid. They can be rather vicious when cross. And they hold a
grudge."
The thought of those cold, wet hands pulling one of us under makes me shiver.
"Are there more of these nymphs out there?" Pippa asks, her pale face illuminated by the orange sky. "Yesss," the gorgon says. "But I shouldn't worry too much about them. They can only come for you if you're in the water."
There's cold comfort.
The fog clears. My limbs are shaky, as if I have run for a very long time. The four of us lie on the floor of the boat, looking up at the bright sky.
"How will we find the Temple if these creatures use their own magic against us?" Ann asks. "I don't know," I say.
This is not the beautiful garden my mother showed me. It is quite obvious now that the realms beyond that garden are no place to let down my guard.
"Gorgon," I ask when all is calm again and the garden is in sight, "is it true that you're imprisoned on this barge as punishment?"
"Yes," comes the hissing answer.
"By whose magic?"
"The Order's."
"But why?"
The great barge creaks and groans on the water. "It was I who led my people against the Order during the rebellion."
The snakes of her head writhe and reach. One ropes itself around the pointed bow, its tongue inches from my hand. I pull back to a safer distance.
"Are you still loyal to the Order?" I ask.
"Yessss," comes the answer. But it is not immediate, like a response compelled by magic. There is a moment's hesitation. She stopped to think. And I realize that Philon's warning is apt.
