Medusa's Desire (The Fate of Eros #1) (The Fate of Eros Series)

by E. B. Black

  Andromeda's mouth fell open and her lower lip trembled. He didn't give her a chance to respond as he pushed her and ran on. Several witnesses watched the exchange and glared at Perseus as Andromeda began to cry.

  He had hurt Medusa as well, but in an entirely different way. He thought Andromeda was too good to be with him, that she deserved a better life. He had told her nothing of the sort. Did that mean he was only with Medusa because he felt he deserved no better? Was that the real reason he was attracted to her? She hoped not. Tears streamed down her face.

  Chapter 16

  When Andromeda finally caught up with Perseus, he was packing all their stuff. She looked confused. "I know you didn't mean what you said earlier. You're not the kind of guy who'd try to murder me."

  Perseus ignored her words. "We need to leave immediately."

  She nodded her head. Clearly, Perseus wasn't in the mood to be argued with.

  Medusa wanted to leave Andromeda there. After all they had gone through, they were better off without her. Besides, she knew people that could take care of her here, but after killing a king, accidentally or not, anyone Perseus associated with could be targeted.

  Medusa didn't feel like flying anywhere at that moment. She had a lot of emotions she needed to vent, but was forced to hold in. She couldn't argue-she couldn't even speak without Andromeda hearing. He carried Andromeda in his arms this time rather than holding her in the bag. Medusa wondered whether he did it on purpose to keep Medusa from speaking to him and getting to the heart of what had just happened.

  Medusa felt nauseous. She hadn't felt this sick since the last time she had gotten pregnant. She had to hold it in, though. Andromeda would notice if she threw up.

  Medusa's heart pounded as she rubbed her belly. Could it be? Could she actually be carrying the baby of the man she loved this time? She had been wondering this subconsciously for a while, but was too afraid to contemplate it until that moment. The thought was a tiny ray of sunshine in their otherwise awful existence.

  They didn't fly long. Perseus was depressed and so was Andromeda, so they didn't have the energy to travel far. Medusa decided to wait to go to sleep and then to comfort Perseus about everything, but Andromeda beat her to the punch.

  Perseus started sobbing and she wrapped her arms around him and cried, too. Medusa immediately felt jealous, wishing she could hold her boyfriend openly like that.

  Perseus' head drooped and his face fell into Andromeda's cleavage. Although it was considered a motherly thing for a woman to hold a man to her chest, it made Medusa shudder in disgust.

  As Perseus fell asleep with a miserable expression on his face and Andromeda collapsed to the side of him, she realized for the first time that Perseus didn't always take things well. She had viewed him as strong enough to take anything, but he was crumbling before her eyes.

  So after Andromeda went to sleep, she paced back and forth, waiting for Perseus to call her to him and ask for her help. Surely, he would want to speak to her after all that had happened. Then maybe she'd tell him everything she was thinking as well. The opportunity never came. He was in too deep of a sleep to reach out for her.

  A hole spread in Medusa's heart. Why had he gone to Andromeda for help and not her? Was he shunning her now that he realized this trip was harder than it originally seemed? Did he blame her for what had happened? What was wrong? He expected her to tell him everything and she did, but she wanted the same amount of trust in return. She felt a great distance starting to tear them apart.

  She was tempted to wake him up and yell at him. She wanted him to know how his rejection tore apart her insides, but he'd get angry, which would make her insecurities worse. She'd have to take it out on the only other person there. The problem had been Andromeda all along.

  She stood over Andromeda, who looked like an angel as she slept. Weeks of running and pain had left her exhausted. She wasn't allowed to rest. It was only fair. Andromeda had singlehandedly stolen everything of Medusa's that she had come across. She didn't think of anyone but herself. She'd be punished for it.

  It didn't matter to Medusa anymore that she had done none of it purposefully. She was tired of being emotionally tortured and having to keep a happy face in order to hide it from Andromeda.

  She wrapped her arm around Andromeda and covered her nose and mouth with her hand. She dragged her into the woods, where she struggled. Medusa knew Andromeda could feel her scaly skin. Her widened eyes told her that all she knew was that she was being attacked by an invisible monster. This would be fun.

  Bloody scratches appeared on Andromeda's arms as Medusa clawed her. Medusa punched her in the stomach until she was wheezing and spitting blood. Tears poured down Andromeda's cheeks. Her eyes begged for mercy as the flurry of her emotions made her limbs flop wildly.

  Andromeda fought back against her invisible attacker–kicking and scratching, but doing no damage. Medusa laughed; she was powerless against her. Having control for once made her feel good.

  Andromeda crawled from beneath her and Medusa allowed it, just to tease her into thinking she could escape. She screamed as Medusa pounced and continued to release her pent-up aggression.

  Perseus jumped up from his sleep. He ran to Andromeda's side, only half awake, after noticing her disappearance. He roared as soon as he saw them. Medusa realized from the expression on his face that she had made a horrible mistake. She let Andromeda go.

  He carried Andromeda in his arms back to camp and she described being attacked by an invisible animal. Blood stained both their clothes.

  "You have to go back out there and find it before it attacks us again."

  Perseus' mouth was straightened into a tight line. "It's long gone by now. I have no way to track it.

  "Hide in the wallet where it's safe for now. I will keep watch just in case the monster returns. I have bandages in there that you can use."

  Soon Medusa and Perseus were left alone.

  Medusa opened her mouth to speak, but Perseus stomped away. At first she thought he didn't notice her, until she realized he had done it on purpose.

  They both flew towards the sky. Medusa didn't know what to say and didn't feel that his anger was fair after all she had suffered.

  "You hurt an innocent girl!" His voice cracked with emotion. "Isn't my love enough for you?"

  Her voice was cold. "You're the one who broke a promise to me. You said we were getting rid of her and instead you were caressing her. I only agreed to bring her along because you promised never to touch her. You're going to leave me for her and you expect me to stand by and do nothing?"

  "You're completely out of control." Perseus' hands were clenched into fists. "I don't care why you attacked her. The fact is, you still did it! I thought you were different from your sisters!"

  Medusa burst into tears. "She took my mother from me and now she's trying to take the only thing I have left–you. I was the one who rescued her life, but she's been thankful to you and destroyed me. I killed my mother to save her and it's horrific that I attacked her?

  "I'm not special enough for you to love or even confide in. I had to watch from a distance, painfully, while you buried your head in her breasts as she held you. Why do you expect me to view all that as if it's nothing?"

  "Because it really didn't mean anything," Perseus said.

  "Even if it didn't to you, it did mean something to me." She crossed her arms. "You didn't even bother to find me afterwards. You pushed me away and embraced her."

  Medusa noticed the dark circles underneath Perseus' eyes. "I didn't want you to see me so weak and vulnerable again."

  "I saw the whole thing anyway," Medusa said. "Or do you forget I'm there when I'm invisible and you're with Andromeda?"

  "I'm sorry," Perseus said. "It's you that I needed, but I wanted to be the strong man you expect me to be."

  "What hurts is when you don't confide in me, not when you're vulnerable in front of me."

  A tear dripped down Perseus' cheek. "You don't understand.
I couldn't face you after what happened. I feel like I've betrayed you most of all and every word of hurt I can hear in your voice just drives the dagger deeper into my heart."

  Medusa's eyebrows wrinkled in confusion. "Why?"

  Perseus' shoulders drooped. "I hated my grandfather so much of my life, but I never had any intention to hurt him, even after all he did to me and my mother. I vowed to myself that I'd even help him live a longer life if I could, but in the end, the gods are always right. They are always the one in control. I still killed my own grandfather."

  "It was an accident," Medusa said. He was breaking her heart with these words.

  Perseus' eyes were void of emotion. "I couldn't stop it, even though I spent my whole life trying. I'm not even sure about this fight you and I have against the gods anymore. In the end, it will blow up in our faces."

  Tears poured down Medusa's face. Every word he was saying hurt. "Are you saying you should have never defied the gods and tried to rescue me?"

  He couldn't meet her eyes as he shook his head. "I don't know anymore, Medusa, but it doesn't matter now. What is done is done and now it's time for us to face the consequences."

  Chapter 17

  Things were awkward over the next few weeks. Perseus didn't touch either woman and hardly spoke. Medusa's nausea grew worse and her belly started to protrude. She was positive at this point that she was pregnant, but knew Perseus wasn't emotionally stable enough to handle it. She kept the news to herself.

  As they neared the island of Seriphos, Medusa chewed on her claws. They were about to battle a king and none of them was in a strong enough condition to handle it.

  Medusa was used to tragedy. She breathed in and out slowly. She'd have to encourage Perseus if they were going to get through this.

  Perseus landed in a nearby town and purchased cloaks for him and Andromeda, so they could disguise their appearances. He wouldn't be welcomed back into Seriphos, even though he had every legal right to be there now that he had brought Medusa's head along with him. In fact, he and Medusa speculated that there was probably a ransom on his head if he ever returned.

  They wandered around the Seriphos marketplace for a while once they arrived. They were broke, so they could buy nothing. Andromeda whined about this a bit. She was used to having wealth and purchasing things to cure her boredom.

  While they were walking, an elderly man limped by. He had a kind smile and smelled of fish. His white hair was scraggly and his body lanky. Perseus perked up as soon as he saw him.

  "Dictys! It's me!" He reached out to embrace him.

  Medusa recognized the name immediately. This was the man who rescued Perseus and Danae when they were locked in a chest and thrown out to sea.

  Andromeda, on the other hand, eyed Dictys up and down with a wrinkled nose. If he tried to hug her, she'd probably bolt.

  "I thought you were dead." He gave Perseus a bear hug and laughed. "Is it truly you or am I dreaming?"

  "No, it's me." Perseus smiled. "I am back to save my mother."

  "Did you bring the head of Medusa?" Dictys frowned. "King Polydectes might not let you inside, even if you have it, but he'll kill you on sight if you don't."

  Perseus jiggled the endless wallet. "I've got it right here."

  Dictys' eyes widened. "How did you fit it in that little thing? I thought Medusa was bigger."

  Perseus laughed, but didn't bother to explain it.

  "I've tried to see your mother on several occasions," Dictys said. "I wanted to bring her food or flowers. He's had her trapped in jail, hoping to break her spirit and get her to marry him in exchange for her freedom. He's told everyone that you're dead."

  Perseus' jaw clenched. "That bastard."

  Dictys nodded his head. "I'm worried about her. She's probably having flashbacks of when your father locked her in that tower and of being stuck at sea in that chest.

  "Remember that time when she accidentally locked herself in the shed out back? She screamed so loud that she lost her voice." He laughed to himself. "I wish I had heard her sooner." He frowned. "I miss her. I wouldn't be surprised if Polydectes was raping her.

  "I'd fight to save her myself, but I barely have the strength to lift a sword, let alone the skill to fight with it. I was beginning to lose hope."

  Andromeda looked at Perseus and raised her nose high. "Who is this man? Does he know that kings don't usually allow fishermen to waltz into their palace and tell them what to do?"

  Dictys turned to Andromeda, noticing her for the first time. His eyes lit up and Medusa's heart screeched in envy. Even though Andromeda had just insulted him, all he saw was her lustrous eyes framed by her dark skin.

  Perseus shrugged. "Usually that's true, but Polydectes is his brother."

  Dictys spit on the ground. "Don't remind me of my relation to the king."

  Andromeda raised an eyebrow. "And yet he's forced to live like a commoner?" She glanced at the pool of spit on the ground. "I wonder why. He's such a charming man."

  Dictys laughed. "So, Perseus, who is this fine young lady?" He had a grin on his face that only a man who hadn't made love in years could have as he tried to live vicariously through a younger version of himself.

  "Sorry," Perseus said. "I was so excited to see you, I forgot to make introductions." He turned to Andromeda. "This is Dictys. He raised me like a father. He's the reason I'm the man I've become today." He turned to Dictys. "And this is Andromeda. I rescued her from a sea dragon. She's been on the run with me ever since."

  Dictys wrapped his arms around Andromeda. Her whole body stiffened.

  "Would you watch her while I rescue my mother?" Perseus asked. "Maybe you could bring her back to the house?"

  "Of course!" Dictys' face lit up. "I'll make sure your fiancée feels right at home." He winked at Perseus.

  Perseus sighed. "She's not my-" The bags under his eyes suddenly became more prominent. "Never mind. I'm glad you agreed to this because you are one of the few men I can trust."

  Dictys nodded. "Any time."

  He linked arms with Andromeda and led her down the street. She kept turning back towards Perseus and reaching out for him. "Wait! I thought you were going to bring me with you!"

  "You'll be safer here. I'll pick you up later."

  "I'm not a child!"

  Andromeda's protestations fell on deaf ears.

  Perseus' eyes widened and his face drooped. He grabbed Medusa's hand for the first time in a long while and all the feelings between them returned. The distance disappeared in an instant. "What if I fail her like I did my grandfather?"

  Medusa squeezed his fingers. "You won't. I'll be by your side the entire time, just like you help me fight the gods."

  "Thank you," Perseus murmured. "Maybe it's foolish for me to fight tyranny, but I guess it's better to die trying than to do nothing at all."

  Medusa thought it was good that he had gotten over the death of his grandfather some and was starting to have hope once more.

  They soared a short distance together in the air, kissing a few times as they floated. It wasn't long until they landed near the castle.

  Perseus drew his sword, gazing at the guards at the door.

  "Don't," Medusa said, pushing the blade to the side. "I can take care of anyone who goes up against you. There are too many men here to fight by blade."

  Perseus stroked her cheek. His eyes filled with tenderness. "Are you sure? I know you haven't wanted to use your powers ever since the event with your mother."

  Medusa sighed. "But I might lose you, too, if I don't. I know what it's like to lose family and I want to help protect yours."

  He grabbed her by both hands and kissed her. "You don't have to prove your love to me. I know I've been ignoring you, but it's because I'm ashamed of what I said to you. I don't deserve you.

  "I'll find a way to save everyone without your abilities if I have to. Solving the impossible, remember?"

  Medusa shook her head. "But we're a team, so it's my job to help. Besides, it's no
t you that I'm trying to prove something to, it's myself. If I fear my abilities so much that I let them control me, then the gods have already won their war against me. But if I use their punishment to fight for the good of everyone, then all the ways they made my family and I suffer will backfire. I have to do this to show them-and me-that I am strong."

  Perseus nodded his head in approval. "Then why don't you get in the bag and we'll save my mother."

  Medusa smiled. "Sure."

  She crawled inside. Perseus left the top open, so she could have a peek at their surroundings.

  At a rustling in the bushes, Perseus drew his sword and whirled around, making Medusa dizzy as the trees whizzed by. He raised the blade in the air, ready to cut through whoever had recognized and followed him.

  The voice of Andromeda rang out. "Wait!"

  He sheathed his sword. "How did you get here?"

  She waved her hand and giggled. "Please! Like that old man could stop me from following you."

  Perseus frowned. "His name is Dictys. Why did you follow me?"

  Andromeda pouted. "I want to show you that I am worthy of you. I know you keep rejecting me because you don't think I'm strong or wise enough to be with you. I don't ignore it when you say those things to me, but I am brave. I can help you fight. If I didn't have a strong spirit, then I never would have run away from my family. I was sheltered, but I want to do anything I can to help you. I may not know much now, but I will in the future."

  Medusa was pretty sure that Perseus would have never rejected Andromeda if she hadn't been around.

  "You're being foolish," Perseus said. "You'll just get in the way."

  "I brought my own sword to make sure that wasn't the case." She unsheathed a tiny dagger. "I found it on Dictys' work table and I touched it even though it smelled like fish.

  "I need you to see how I've changed ever since that day on the cliff when that sea monster almost ate me. Until that time, I never knew how other people suffered. I spent the whole time, chained, looking down at the poverty of the people in my kingdom as they reconstructed their houses and counted the loss of their crops.