by Black, E. B.
Aphrodite approached Zeus, the air around her humming. She bent to give Zeus a greeting kiss on the lips. Medusa swore that she used a bit of her tongue when she said hello and that her nipples hardened. Zeus blushed, but Medusa thought she must be imagining things. The whole scenario seemed wrong.
The room grew a little brighter as Apollo entered. He was tan with blond hair and white teeth that hurt to look at. Medusa gasped a little as she took in his appearance. He was better looking than any man she'd ever seen.
Hera wore a long wedding dress. She was covered in diamonds and pearls, her face shielded by a white veil with a silver crown on her head. She carried a peacock in her arms. It slept peacefully as she stroked it and whispered in its ear. She looked like a mother, rocking her baby to sleep.
Poor Hera. Medusa hadn't really thought about the stories until now. Hera was born to be a mother-she liked to nurture. She never wished to marry or be owned by a man like Zeus. But he had turned himself into a cuckoo bird when he first met her and pretended to freeze in the snow. She took him in and warmed him. As a reward, he overpowered her and took her virginity. She became his wife because it was the honorable thing to do. Medusa hoped she wouldn't be forced to marry Poseidon.
The way Hera's eyes glowed when she looked at Zeus showed she was the type to love someone with all her heart or not at all. Somehow, to Medusa's confusion, she'd grown to forgive Zeus and even view him affectionately. He repaid her devotion by cheating on her regularly.
Hephaestus stood in the corner, glaring at everyone who entered the room, but especially at Ares. Ares' hair was bright red and shiny. He had a smirk on his face; he wore full armor, and several weapons hung across his back. He met Hephaestus' gaze smugly and put two fingers to his lips, licking the air between them with raised eyebrows while gazing at Aphrodite. Hephaestus' hands clenched the hammer he held more tightly.
Aphrodite sat and picked at her nails, while bouncing her leg. "So why were we dragged here by Hermes again?"
"Because Athena can't control her temper," Hera said. "She's turned several innocent mortals into monsters. They'll end the world if we don't find a good home for them." She kissed the bird she held on the top of the head.
Athena's hands clenched into fists. She foamed at the mouth when she turned to Hera. "You're really one to talk. At least I left them alive. Where is my dear brother Dionysus again? Because I haven't gotten as much wine to drink ever since you decided to kill him."
The smile froze on Hera's face. The air chilled so much, Medusa was surprised the peacock didn't begin to shiver. "I don't know what you're referring to."
"We all know the truth," Athena said. "The titans didn't rip him to shreds by accident. So why not man up and admit you attack all the women Father has affairs with and relish tormenting their children?"
Aphrodite pulled out at a mirror and picked at her face in annoyance.
"Haven't we heard this argument enough times already?" Apollo said. "I have more important things to do. Last time I left the sun chariot for someone else to ride, half the Earth was scorched as a result. I need to get back."
Ares ran his finger down the blade of one of his axes. His eyes darkened. "No, let them continue." He licked the blood that arose from his finger. "Nothing is more beautiful than two women at war." His chuckle was deep.
"And people question why I drink so much." Zeus laughed. "Although I do enjoy a conversation regarding my massive 'libido'," he winked, "That's not why I brought you all here today. Do any of you have any ideas regarding how we should deal with these creatures?"
"We should return them to their human forms," Hera said. "We all know Poseidon raped her, anyway. Further torment is unnecessary."
"I object!" Athena screamed.
"Well, we can't keep them on Mount Olympus." Hermes wrinkled his nose. "I have parties in here and they'll disturb my guests."
"Selene and I," Apollo said, "are too busy taking care of the sun and the moon to babysit anything else."
"They're too hideous to live with me," Aphrodite said. "Maybe if she was so beautiful that she turned people into stone that would be okay, but looking like that…" Aphrodite flinched.
Zeus smirked. "Don't worry, I wasn't planning to do any of those things. I'll give the girls to Hades and the parents to Poseidon. That way, maybe, my brothers will learn to respect me a little and actually show up when I call them in for a meeting. Besides, the two of them like to collect monsters anyway. They'll probably see them as gifts."
All the gods' faces wrinkled in disgust.
Medusa began to hyperventilate. She pulled against the invisible strings and they sliced through her fingers. "No, please no, don't separate us! My parents are all I have left."
She roared, trying to intimidate them, but her voice sounded hollow and tiny in the castle. None of them even flinched.
Her parents had disowned her, but as far as she was concerned, it was ancient history, even though the event had occurred only hours prior. They were all being punished and they were all hated by the world. She still loved them.
Athena smiled at Medusa's pleading. "Good plan. It would be unwise to give the sisters to Poseidon anyway. Their presence would be a slap in the face and a reminder that he slept with the wrong woman. All along it should have been me. He wants nothing to do with her now."
Medusa shook all over. Of course that asshole felt that way now. She was no longer the beautiful woman he had once lusted over. He didn't care how she suffered as long as he didn't suffer any consequences for his actions.
The world faded as Medusa saw red. She imagined snapping both Athena's and Poseidon's necks.
"It's a plan then," Zeus said.
They all nodded their heads in agreement and laughed.
Hermes flew to where she struggled in her confines and lifted the nets. A bright white light radiated from him and Medusa fell back into a supernatural sleep once again.
END OF SAMPLE. Download the rest here: http://www.amazon.com/Medusas-Desire-Death-Series-ebook/dp/B00ABMAW5K/
Acknowledgments
Thank you to my fiance and family for your emotional support. I'd also like to thank my editor, Faith Williams.
