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“Do you know where she found it, Medusa?” Athena shook her head. “On the night of that cursed storm my temple was struck dark. My priestess fled, hiding in the robes room as its lamp stayed bright. Once the storm ended, she returned to the antechamber to light the candles.” Her eyes narrowed as she sneered at Medusa. “And on the dais of my temple she saw a man bent over a woman. At first she feared he’d brought someone injured by the storm, for the sounds of groaning and carrying on. Until it became clear that the pair were otherwise occupied. She waited in the shadows, but he would not finish with the woman. And when the sun rose, the man carried the woman out of the temple, leaving this necklace and a plain brown cloak upon the floor. The floor of my temple,” She pointed at Medusa. “My temple, Medusa. The Temple of Athena Polias – chaste and wise.”
Medusa could not speak.
She’d not seen anything, a kindness she’d not expected from Poseidon. But she knew now Poseidon had done more than use her body. He had used her as an offense against Athena – an unforgivable offense. “I did not know.” How could she have known? “Why would he do such a thing?”
Athena laughed, clearly astounded. “Truly, Medusa, your pretense is too much. A man can satiate his lust with you and you remember none of it?”
“If only that were true,” Medusa pushed her sadness aside, favoring the warmth of her anger. “Dismiss my words as lies. But ask Poseidon. He will preen proudly.”
Athena’s lip curled in disdain. “Your faithless dalliances are abominable enough. Do not speak my uncle’s name or link him to such perfidy. Even Poseidon would not to do the things you suggest.”
“Why else would the storm stop?” Medusa asked.
“Because Zeus willed it so.” She shook her head. “My father sent him to see it done.”
Medusa mulled this over. “Did your priestess not see Poseidon?”
“Do you think my priestess would not know Poseidon? That Poseidon would pass unrecognized by anyone? A prouder peacock I know not.” She paused, a look of distaste coloring her cheeks. “He is well rid of you. As is your husband, no doubt well honored by Hades. You are a faithless deceiver, the likes of which I have never known.”
Medusa’s heart, what little there was left, crumbled.
She had been another attempt to prod at his niece. Poseidon’s ill use of her, in Athena’s temple, gave him pleasure for his body and fed his feud with Athena. All while keeping him without fault… If he denied it was he, as she suspected, her words meant nothing.
It was her word against that of a God. Albeit a faithless, lying, and manipulative deity, but still an Olympian.
She swallowed against the rising anger – and defeat.
“I’ve done nothing but love, Athena.” Whether Zeus had instructed Poseidon to come, whether her entreaty, her sacrifice, had been unnecessary, she no longer cared – nothing mattered now. “I will take Thea and leave this place. I will go to my father’s house, beyond the Sea River, far from Athens.” She would leave this place.
“Your father is hard at work on your next marriage contract. Or so it seems.”
Marriage? Now? More bartering, more humiliation. She was once more a pawn. “May I take Thea with me, Athena?”
“No,” Athena shook her head. “She will stay here with me, where she belongs.”
Medusa swallowed this. “May I have my necklace? It is all I have left of my husband.”
“No. You do not deserve it.” Athena slipped the necklace into the folds of her peplos. “You have shamed him.”
Ariston’s words filled her heart. The love I have for you gives me breath and strength. You will always hold my heart. Let it give you the strength to do what must be done. For you will be my lady, forever.
“No, Athena. You have shamed me, and Athens. Your pride has robbed you of compassion or reason. Or you would see the truth of my words. Your power has turned your selfish heart to stone.” She looked upon the Goddess. “I pity you. And the Gods, too. You’ve forgotten those who love you most – those who sacrifice all for your favor.”
Athena’s face darkened. Her eyes raged, burning a brilliant and fiery red. “You pity me? You have scorned the Gods. You have spoken blasphemy, loudly, in my temple. You will suffer, Medusa.”
“There is nothing more to suffer.” Medusa felt no fear, she felt nothing. “You’ve taken everything from me.”
“Have I? We shall see.” Athena shook her head, a hateful smile contorting her elegant features. She touched Medusa’s head, caressing a long lock of her hair. “Wisdom will rule you from this day on, your constant lullaby their serpent’s song. Only those with an innocent heart, women and children, are set safely apart. A heart of stone is your curse to bear as they turn man to stone with their ruby stare. Keep them safe and keep them whole, or to Hades you will send their hardened soul. Your disloyalty brings man’s life to an end, but through your death they live again.”
A blinding pain crushed Medusa’s head. A thousand tiny daggers gouged into her scalp and neck, needling deeply into her. She shivered, withdrawing from Athena’s touch, but there was no escaping the sensation. Her scalp seemed to split, pulling apart and separating to make room for the pressure that surely crushed her skull.
“What have you done to me?” she gasped.
“You will learn in time.” Athena leaned close to Medusa. “But I caution you to avoid those you know and love. Your very presence will bring nothing but pain and suffering.” Athena touched her cheek. “But they will keep you company in your pain and suffering.”
Medusa flinched, frightened by the way Athena’s words seemed to echo. She swayed where she stood, her head and shoulders sagging beneath an invisible burden.
She blinked, catching a last glance of Athena. Why did the Goddess look so pained? Her anguish was plain to see…
