of monsters, metal horses, and snake-haired women (part one); a perseus/andromeda mythfic
(AUTHOR'S NOTE: This is another in my series of "mythfics", to borrow the term from my darling etzyofi. In order to fully appreciate these, be sure to look at the casting picspams.)
CAST:
of monsters, metal horses, and snake-haired women, part one: a perseus/andromeda mythfic.
{filled commission for kit (queenofthebadgers) ♥
the follow-up to prelude to a clash and the fateful boast.}
in three days the kraken will destroy the city; unless andromeda offers herself up as sacrifice.
perseus turns to his unexpected family for assistance -- but in the end, only the deadly medusa can help.
Perseus took a deep breath and sat back, his hands clenched into fists. “I’m going to stop the Kraken if I have to rip it apart with my bare hands,” he said quietly.
If Thallo hadn’t known Perseus for most of his life; if they hadn’t been the closest of friends for years; if he didn’t know just how kind and good-natured his friend was-he would have been frightened by the look on his face. (8,607 words)
“I feel the need to point out that you’re handling all of this remarkably well,” Athena said, studying her newest half-brother from across the table with a smile that was a mixture of amusement, admiration, and pure Athena. There was always a self-satisfied air about her; it came from the simple knowledge that she was, unequivocally, the cleverest person in any room. “I can tell you’re a ‘go with the flow’ sort of guy. You must get that from your mother.”
“Yeah. Suppose I’ll believe anything if you tell me with a straight enough face,” Perseus said without a trace of sarcasm. He looked over at Andromeda, sitting silently beside him, her hand dry and still in his. She sat with such composure, such calm acceptance, eyes dry. There were a lot of things he wanted to say and do right then, a thousand questions buzzing in his head, but he knew they didn’t have time. “Just-explain what the hell is going on, slowly, and I’ll try to keep up.”
Athena found herself liking this steady young man-there was an air of virtue and responsibility around him that she hadn’t seen in years. Here was a boy who knew his limitations, knew that he was no great wit, but had the determination to persevere regardless. Though she valued cleverness, she could appreciate the guileless when they dispensed with pretensions.
This one could have the makings of a real hero; mindful (as always) of the current mood, she refrained from rubbing her hands together in glee.
“It’s a long and confusing story, I’m afraid, and as we’re running rather short on time I’ll try to sum things up a bit. Gods exist, and we’ve been living on Earth since 1946. The reasons for that don’t greatly affect the current situation, but suffice it to say there was a very good reason. And when we descended from Olympus, most of us signed something we call the Pact. Essentially, we each sacrificed a small portion of our powers and immortality in order to live properly in the mortal flow of time. Thetis, the goddess who cursed you tonight, did not sign the Pact. And Zeus, your father and mine, did. I’m telling you this, Perseus, so you understand why you won’t be getting much in the way of assistance in this adventure. The Pact effectively hobbles us from doing much directly when it comes to human affairs.”
“And Zeus sleeping with my Mom wasn’t direct?” Perseus asked dryly.
“Not by his standards. Sorry, Champ, but you’re pretty much on your own for this.” Athena pulled a wry smile.
Andromeda’s fingers tightened around his and immediately he drew himself up, sitting just that much straighter.
“So where do I start?” Perseus asked. “This Kraken thing-what are its weaknesses? Its Achilles’ heel, so to say.”
“Ooh, I’d be careful about throwing that epitaph around,” Athena warned quickly. “Thetis was Achilles’ Mum-it’s a bit of a sore subject for her, as I’m sure you can imagine. As for the Kraken-you know how they say the first scientist who can figure out how to cure the common cold will be the wealthiest person in the world? That’s because no one can kill the common cold-it just adapts and absorbs anything thrown at it. So think of the Kraken as a giant, scaly cold virus, able to level the entire city in a matter of minutes.” Athena paused in retrospection. “Father and Poseidon used to use it when they liked to make a statement-nowadays the equivalent would probably be like letting Ares carpet bomb an entire country.”
“So you’re saying this thing is invincible?” Perseus said somehow around the huge lump in his throat.
“No, brother, I’m saying it’s practically invincible. At least according to mortal standards. Luckily, you’re not entirely mortal. There are a few perks to being a demigod. Family connections, for a starter.”
“But you just said no direct interference-”
“Think of me as your counselor,” Athena cut in. “I’ll just dispense pithy advice and moral support. The family can do its part in… small ways to make this easier on you. A few well-intentioned gifts, see? But in the end it’s going to be Perseus vs. the Kraken, and none of us will be able to help you at that point. You’ll still have plenty to do on your own.”
“Okay,” Perseus said. It wasn’t as if this would be the first time he had to fight his own battles-though this might be the first literal occasion. “Then advise me, sister-what should I do first?”
“…Do you have any buddies that are good in a pinch?”
*****
“Whassit?”
“I said there’s someone at the door,” Cicely hissed irritably, kneeing him in the back again. “Go see who it is. And if it’s Perse, tell him I’m going to clock him next time I see him. The baby only just stopped thrashing around and let me fall asleep.”
Thallo half-fell out of bed and grabbed blearily at his pants, hopping on one foot down the hall as he yanked them on.
“Perse, you had better have a damn good-and who is this?” he demanded, leaning out of the doorframe to stare wide-eyed at Athena.
“Thallo this is my…sister. Athena,” Perseus said after a moment’s pause. “Listen, man, some really bad shit went down tonight. Andy’s in a helluva lot of trouble.”
“Shit, what is it?” Thallo asked, stepping out onto the landing and closing the door behind him.
“Let’s just say she’s in a lot of trouble if I don’t take care of something in the next three days. And I’m going to need some help. You in?”
“Sure, of course I’m in, but-right now? It’s two in the morning.”
“Not to sound overly dramatic, but every minute counts at this point,” Perseus said gravely.
“…Okay, man, okay. Let me get a shirt and tell Cicely. Give me five minutes.”
“Is he reliable?” Athena asked smoothly.
“When push comes to shove he is,” Perseus replied confidently. “He’s never let me down when it counted.”
“Let’s hope he doesn’t choose now to set a precedent,” Athena said in an undertone. “And we’ll have to fill him in on the finer details on the way.”
“So,” Thallo said when he reappeared, hair damp from the water he’d splashed on his face, a thin jacket hanging over one arm. “Where exactly are we going?”
*****
“The Lito,” Athena explained on the plane, “Is a typical apartment building. Except it’s slightly larger on the inside and some of the rooms don’t obey normal physics.”
“Like Doctor Who,” Thallo said with a grin. When Perseus looked at him blankly, he began fidgeting. “Yeah, I used to watch it on PBS,” he mumbled.
“Keep that in mind when you’re inside,” Athena said.
“…What, Doctor Who?”
“No, that the rooms can be bigger than you expect. You can’t always trust your eyes. It’s been known to be disconcerting for some people,” she said. “Also, I should warn you that the Fates can be a bit…difficult.”
“Difficult how? Like, magical typhoons and balls of fire sort of difficult?”
“More like ‘old biddy’ difficult,” Athena said. “They’ve had a few thousand years to build up a proper hatred for anything youthful, energetic, and healthy. So they can be a little vindictive. If they offer you any bowls of sweets or glasses of tea, don’t accept them.”
“But you’re sure they’ll be able to help?” Perseus’ foot bounced restlessly against the carpeted floor, fingers twisting at a napkin. There was a spring inside of him being wound tightly, almost to the snapping point, and with each passing moment the sensation became even more excruciating. He couldn’t handle this waiting, the interminable amount of time it took to fly to this Lito place-his father’s home. He was confused and worrying himself into a panic; if only there was a direct route of action, if only he could feel as though he were doing something, anything, right now that would help Andromeda and stop all of this madness.
“They’ve been around longer than any of us-longer even than Zeus and Poseidon. If there’s a way to kill the Kraken, they’ll know it.”
“I’ve got a question,” Thallo said suddenly, half-raising a hand like a student. “If you’re actually a goddess, why are we flying to this place? Why aren’t you just snapping your fingers and teleporting us there?”
“I just can’t,” Athena said, lips tightening. “There are limits on my powers now. But this is one of the fastest jets ever designed, and thanks to Zeus’ connections we can bypass most airline regulations. We’ll be at the Lito in two hours. Until then, I suggest you both try to get some sleep-you’ll need it.”
She got up from her cushioned seat and made her way up to the cockpit, the train of her gown trailing behind her.
“Sleep. Yeah. That’s rich. I’m still not totally convinced I’m not already sleeping,” Thallo muttered. “A dream’s the only explanation for all this madness. Sea monsters and curses and gods living on earth-like something out of a fairy tale. Maybe we just need to pinch ourselves-hey, Perse? Buddy, are you okay?”
His friend sat with his hands over his face, shoulders hunched, every muscle in his arms and back tense and vivid. Thallo reached over to lay a reassuring hand on Perseus’ knee.
“She doesn’t deserve any of this,” Perseus said thickly around his hands. “Andromeda shouldn’t have to suffer. Her mother-it was like she went crazy. There was so much hatred in her face… It was like she was possessed or something. And everything that happened, everything she said, was because I was there as Andromeda’s date.”
“Whoa, Perse, you can’t be blaming yourself for this,” Thallo said quickly. “You want to blame anyone, you should blame that crazy hag who made the curse. From what Athena said, it sounds like she was jut looking for an excuse to cause trouble. Anything could have set her off. Man, just… stay positive, okay? Where’s that old Perseus confidence I know so well, eh?” Thallo patted his arm roughly. “Listen to your sister and try to get some sleep.”
Sleep? He’d be just as likely to erase the haunted, resigned look that was on Andromeda’s face from his memory before he could sleep. They had had only a handful of minutes alone together while Athena had arranged the flight details, and those minutes had felt both too long and too short. The weight of their approaching doom had already settled over them, already begun crushing them slowly.
“I’m… I’m so sorry,” Andromeda had finally begun, her face a rigid mask even as her voice started to shake.
“Andy-”
“I’m sorry we didn’t have enough time together,” she continued with a desperate determination. “I’ve never been fair to you, Perseus. All of the hiding and… I’ve only been a disruption in your life. I’ve only caused you trouble, with reporters and my parents and now this…” Her voice hitched painfully in her throat and she looked down.
“Andromeda, I love you.”
She gasped for a breath, a shrill and sharp intake that had tears behind it.
“I’m going to fix this,” he said with all of the confidence he could muster. “Do you believe me?”
She looked up, unshed tears diamond-bright in her eyes, and managed to nod. “…I believe you. I trust you. I have faith in you, Perseus. Oh, God,” she cried, the tears spilling down her cheeks as she half-fell into his arms, hands cold against his neck. “I love you, Perseus, I love you.”
He kissed her cheek, her mouth, his arms tight around her slender frame, as if a fierce enough hug could protect her from what was coming. As she clung to him, her body shaking with emotion, he felt a terrible rage kindle beneath his ribs-they should never have known this fear. How dare the gods pull them into their world? After a lifetime of separation and happy ignorance, how dare they blur the lines between reality and magic. He knew he could hardly forget now; there would be no way of dividing the two worlds again for him. And he would need his half-sister’s help, and any other assistance his estranged family could provide, in order to save the woman he loved.
But there would always be a lingering flame of anger and resentment he would carry in his heart from this day forward. He would do everything in his power to keep that world away from Andromeda when this was all over.
Andromeda kissed him again, and for a time the rage subsided, eased away by her touch. He tasted her tears on his lips, and in that last kiss he tried to tell her wordlessly that everything would be alright in the end, that he would not rest until he’d found a solution.
“Perseus, we have to go,” Athena had called from the doorway.
They parted, breathless and trembling, and Perseus was certain he could not let her go. His hands tightened around hers. “Marry me,” he said with a gasp.
“Yes, yes,” she said, her face softening with hope.
“Perseus!” shouted Athena.
He hesitated for a second longer before Andromeda pulled away sharply, making the break that he couldn’t. “Go,” she said, lips tightening again. “I believe in you, Perseus. I won’t give up hope.”
“I love you, Andy.”
“I love you, Perse.”
The plane jolted suddenly as it hit a patch of turbulence and Perseus shook himself free from the reverie, gripping the arms of his seat tightly. Thallo was watching him, brow furrowed in concern.
“You okay, Perse?”
Perseus took a deep breath and sat back, his hands clenched into fists. “I’m going to stop the Kraken if I have to rip it apart with my bare hands,” he said quietly.
If Thallo hadn’t known Perseus for most of his life; if they hadn’t been the closest of friends for years; if he didn’t know just how kind and good-natured his friend was-he would have been frightened by the look on his face.
*****
He’d spent an entire lifetime in small houses, cramped apartments, ramshackle garages, and trash-strewn docks; and in the last 24 hours he’d been inundated with opulent mansions and ritzy galas. Looking up at the intimidating façade of the Lito, he felt wildly out of place. Yes, he could believe that gods lived here. Surely, no mere mortal could ever be comfortable surrounded by so much ostentatious wealth. It must be like living in a museum or an art gallery. How did they touch anything or ever relax here?
When this was all over, he hoped Andy would be okay with what his modest income could afford. Give him simple carpet, wallpaper left over from the 70’s, and yellowed linoleum any day of the week.
“Your dad lives here?” Thallo murmured, eyes as big as saucers. “And your mom’s doing laundry to make the rent every month. Talk about rich.”
“He should be here,” Athena said, hand on the door handle. “Our father. If you wanted to meet him.”
“Can he help me defeat the Kraken and save Andromeda?”
“No.”
“Then I don’t want to see him. You said the Fates might be able to help-so just take me to the Fates. Please.”
Thallo faltered in mid-step, staring up at the vaulted ceiling that seemed to rise miles above the marble floor. He’d never felt so small or ant-like; the building was alive, he knew this for a fact, and it was like it was staring down disapprovingly at him, as if it was ready to swallow him whole-Perseus tugged his arm and brought him back to the present with a jolt. Athena stood beside an opened door; the golden light suffusing the room cast the descending steps beyond into stark relief.
“I’ll introduce you,” she said. “But you’ll have to convince them you deserve their assistance. They won’t do anything out of kindness-and they may ask for something in return. Just be sure it’s a price you’re willing to pay; don’t give them anything you can’t live without.”
“I can live without a lot of things, so long as Andromeda’s safe.”
“That’s very noble of you, but please try to be practical,” Athena advised. “And Thallo: don’t speak unless directly addressed. Oh-and they may be a bit… grabby. They’re all essentially blind and don’t really have a sense of personal boundaries at this point. So don’t be too alarmed if they start patting your face.”
“This is gonna be like that time we volunteered at the old folks’ home back in high school, Perse,” Thallo tried to joke cheerfully as they followed Athena down the stairs. “Remember that one lady who was convinced you were her hubby finally back from the war? Demanded that you dance with her before she’d let us take her into dinner?”
They passed a wine cellar filled with rows upon rows of dusty bottles and then a utility room full of machinery and pipes; a strange glow emanated from the mundane metal, though, suggesting that there was more than just electricity running into the building. The smell of old potpourri and something even older, the almost tangible scent of ancient ruins and forgotten tombs, wafted over them as they descended further. It wasn’t entirely pleasant, but there was still enough of the familiar to it-something inextricably tied to ‘old woman/grandmother’ in the emotional centers of the brain-to alleviate the worst of the unease.
Finally, they came to a door. Perseus had expected something elaborate or eldritch, but it was just a plain walnut door with a brass doorknob. Athena rapped sharply on it before opening it. “Hullo, Aunties,” she called cheerfully. “I’ve brought someone to meet you.”
“What’s that? Who’s there? We didn’t order anything!” a shrill voice wheezed just out of sight. A moment later a woman shuffled into view. She was wearing so many layers she looked twice as large as she really was: a dress over a nightgown, a robe over her dress, a bulky coat over the robe, and a knitted afghan draped crookedly over her shoulders. Her gray and white hair was frizzed as if she’d just come inside from a bad windstorm-Perseus half expected to see birds nesting in it. She squinted nearsightedly, the wrinkles around her eyes deeply furrowed and her chapped lips pursed as if she was sucking on a lemon.
“Good morning, Aunt Clotho,” Athena said loudly. “It’s Athena. Remember me?”
“Course I remember you, stupid girl, no need to shout,” the old woman snapped bad-temperedly. “You’re one of young Zeus’ brats-the one that gave him a right and proper headache, eh? Made him take a hammer to his fool head. That was quite a day,” she cackled. “Sisters! That Athena is here-and she’s brought a couple young men with her, if my suspicions are correct.”
“You must be mistaken, you old biddy,” another voice exclaimed. “Athena doesn’t care for men. Why would she be bringing young men to see us?”
“No, no, Lachesis, you’re thinking of Artemis! Artemis is the one who hasn’t the inclination for men! She’d much rather be running about with that Circe-sharp as a packet of pins, that one-and playing the aloof virgin. Athena’s brought plenty of men over; hardly a virgin, that one,” a third voice cackled in laughter. “Here, here, lemme see…”
The second voice belonged to a woman dressed in an immaculate blue dress that had last been in vogue during the Victorian era. She was much taller and thinner than the other two, with a long nose and pointed chin. Her long white hair had been swept up into a fastidious bun held in place by a number of deadly-looking pearl-tipped hatpins. She moved with prim, tiny steps, one hand held out to keep her from running into any furniture-of which there was a lot. The whole room was filled with tables, sideboards, china cabinets, chairs: it looked like the dumping ground for an antiques store. Any number of tchotchkes lay on their sides, evidence of how often the tables were bumped.
The third voice belonged to a woman that would have fit right in at a Wicca festival; she wore a multi-layered patchwork skirt crafted of a dozen different materials and a loose-fitting red peasant blouse. She was shorter and stockier than the other two, with closely cropped steel gray hair and round cheeks. Dozens of chains and geegaws hung around her neck. Perseus could make out feathers, teeth, beads, claws… and on a long silver chain a gleaming pair of sewing shears. She was also wearing a pair of glasses, rather large for her face, with thick black rims and slightly scuffed lenses. She blinked owlishly at them, tilting her head up to see better.
“Good morning, Aunt Atropos,” Athena said to the third woman, nodding politely. “And Aunt Lachesis, you’re looking well today.”
“Save us your flattery, girl,” Atropos said, her words clipped. “What is it you want? You and yours never come down to visit us unless you want something out of it.”
“Now, Atropos, you know that isn’t true,” Lachesis reprimanded. “Young Persephone comes to see us often, and she wants nothing more than to bring us muffins and scones.”
“And you eat much more of those, you won’t need that bustle any more,” Atropos retorted.
“How dare you!” Lachesis gasped. “Just because you’re jealous that I got the most classically beautiful body-”
“By whose standards?” the frazzled Clotho interjected. “The Italians thought a real woman had meat on her bones and padding in her rump, and the Mongols didn’t care two figs for a lady if she didn’t have the muscle to carry a deer over her shoulders-”
“I think women come in all shapes and sizes, and shouldn’t have to fit any one mold to feel beautiful.”
The three swiveled as one to stare at Perseus, Atropos wide-eyed and the other two squinting with interest. “Silver tongue on this one,” Atropos said appraisingly. “What’s your name, boy?”
“Perseus, ma’am. And this is my good friend Thallo.”
“Hmm,” she sniffed, immediately dismissing the silent Thallo out of hand. “One of Zeus’ brood, eh? His boys tend to get his chin.”
“Yes, I can smell thunder on him,” Clotho said.
“Thunder and heartache,” Lachesis added. “What’s wrong, young man? What’s happened?”
“Thetis has laid a curse over the woman I love. Andromeda. In three days she has to sacrifice herself to the Kraken-or it will destroy our city.”
“And so you’ve come here. To beg for your beloved’s life?” Atropos demanded. “Because we know the lifelines? When one will snap, or when one must be cut?”
His eyes fell on the gleaming shears hanging around her neck. “I didn’t know that-but no. I’m here because Athena told me you’re the wisest at the Lito, because you might know a way to kill the Kraken.”
“Nothing mortal can kill that creature-and now, with the Pact, not even Zeus or Poseidon could control it-”
“Did Athena truly say that? That we’re the wisest?” Lachesis cut in abruptly, grinning. “It’s true, of course. I mean, we were the first, we came before that trumped up King and all of his spawn, of course we’re the wisest-we’ve seen it all. But for that to be acknowledged!”
“Oh shut your gob, Lachesis,” Atropos snapped wearily. “The merest hint of flattery and you’re all a-flutter.”
“And you’re too bitter for your own good, Atropos,” Clotho said. “Here, gimme those glasses-this Perseus sounds cute, I wanna see him properly.”
“We agreed that today it’s my turn,” Atropos argued, side-stepping and ducking her sister’s grabbing hands. “Stop being such an old lech.”
“Just cause I’m old don’t mean I’m dead,” Clotho retorted. “C’mon, c’mon, lemme just get a good gander.”
“You’re both like a pair of broody hens-so much noise and running about for no good reason,” lamented Lachesis as Clotho grappled with Atropos, the pair crashing into a table and upsetting an elaborate candelabra. “We can’t have nice things because you two tussle like this and break everything! If you’re going to behave like this in front of guests, neither of you should have the glasses!” She grabbed wildly at the blurred figures before her, snatching hair in one hand and an ear with the other.
“Ah! What are you trying to do? Snatch me bald-headed?”
“You nearly tore my earring out, you old hag!”
The eyeglasses slid from Atropos’ face, falling to the floor with a clatter. The three froze in unison, faces stiffening. “If one of you steps on them,” Atropos began threateningly. “I’ll have both your skins.”
Perseus bent quickly, scooping up the glasses. “No worries, ladies-I’ve got them.”
Athena, standing silently off to the side, caught his eye. She had an eloquent face to match her quick tongue-he saw exactly what she was trying to suggest and gave her a half-nod of confirmation. “…And I won’t give them back until you agree to help me.”
“Typical-threatening a trio of harmless old ladies-”
“We’re hardly harmless, Clotho, don’t be so facetious,” Lachesis reprimanded primly. “And the boy’s beloved is in peril; I think he can be forgiven a dramatic or two.”
“Dramatics! That’s all this family is!” Clotho exclaimed, throwing her hands into the air.
“And speaking of family, dear, you should really just call us Aunties,” Lachesis continued. “Everyone does, and it’s ever so sweet. I rather enjoy being everyone’s Auntie.”
“Give us the spectacles, young man,” Atropos said firmly, hand outstretched. Without the glasses she peered at him just as the other two did, eyes squinted and face creased into suspicious wrinkles.
“Just as soon as you tell me how to stop the Kraken.”
“You try to face down that monstrosity, boy, and you’ll die.”
“Better to die trying than to stand by and watch it kill Andromeda.”
“You’re not lacking for spirit, I’ll grant you that,” Clotho positively cackled.
“He’s willing to die to be with his beloved-oh, Atropos, can’t we help him?” Lachesis said. “It’s ever so romantic! Remember that time we went to the Shakespeare play about the star-crossed young lovers-”
“I remember meeting the young fool and being vastly unimpressed. He may have had a skill with words, but he was a randy drunkard that flirted with anything that moved.”
“Come, come, Atropos-we know you just dislike him for putting us in that tragedy as warty witches-”
“I dunno, Perse,” Thallo said suddenly and very loudly, startling the three into silence. “I think it’s clear that they can’t help us. Probably don’t know a thing about the Kraken. I say we go and talk to your father-he is the king, after all. Surely he knows what to do-”
“That trumped-up ruler? All he knows is how to hop out of a lady’s bed before the sheets go cold,” Atropos snapped.
“Then we’ll talk to that Poseidon guy-Athena, didn’t you say Poseidon used to control this Kraken beast? He must have a trick or two he could share,” Thallo continued.
“With his powers hobbled by the Pact? The best he could do is summon a puny wave!”
Perseus felt a surge of frustrated anger. Precious minutes were ticking by, bringing Andy closer to her doom, and he was stuck here trying to beg for help from three old women more content to quarrel amongst themselves than to listen to his genuine plea. He’d been taught to be respectful towards the elderly, but this was the limit-a man in his situation could not afford to be patient. “If you truly know something, then tell me,” he said in a cold, hard voice so unlike his usual light tone. There was flint in his words, sharp and brittle and liable to draw blood if handled carelessly. “And tell me quick. I have been polite and courteous. The life of the woman I plan to marry is hanging in the balance. Either tell me now how to stop the Kraken or I’ll smash your glasses and go elsewhere for help.”
“No!” Clotho shrieked, lunging forward with an outstretched hand. Perseus avoided her easily with a simple step to the side.
“What is she worth to you?” Lachesis said quickly, grabbing a handful of Clotho’s robe. “Your beloved?”
He thought of the oyster beach. Game nights. The sound of her laugh and the flash of her smile in the dim orange glow of streetlights. Her arms around his waist as they rode through quiet neighborhoods on his bike. The way she tucked hair behind her ear, fidgeted with her rings, looked him dead in the eye when they talked about dreams and goals and fears.
“Everything.”
“Then how about a deal? Just like the old days-right, Atropos? That would be fair, wouldn’t it? I know how much you hate to give away anything for free.”
“Yes,” she agreed thoughtfully. “We can’t just be giving away our knowledge without some form of proper compensation…”
“What are your terms?” Perseus asked, steeling himself for a devil’s bargain. Surely they’d demand his sight or good health after the creature was destroyed.
Atropos squinted at him long and hard. While her physical eyes were dim and cloudy, there were still some things she and her sisters could see better than any other. The life-lines of the world. The paths a life could take, the many snags and snarls and knots that would trip the feet along the way. The other lives that would cross that path, some fraying the thread while others would weave together, strengthening and supporting one another. For millennia they had woven and measured and cut the strings that crisscrossed this world, and they could recognize the quality and worth of individuals in the tapestry.
“You must agree to visit this place frequently,” Atropos finally decreed in lofty, ringing tones. “To be a grounding presence in the family, a touchstone for us when we get too caught up in our melodramas and old rivalries. And you have to promise to see the three of us often-to keep my sisters occupied and out of my hair when I’m busy. Is it a deal?”
Perseus visibly relaxed. Given his recent pledge to avoid this world of magic and monsters, this was still hardly ideal-but it was a damn sight better than having to sacrifice one of his senses. “It’s most certainly a deal. I’ll shake on that gladly.”
“You’re not getting away quite so scot-free as you may think,” Athena warned as he carefully slipped the glasses over Atropos’ ears. “This place would drive the sanest man mad.”
“Oh hush,” Lachesis retorted. “We’re not half so bad as those ninnies on the reality shows humans are so fond of.”
“Shut up, all of you,” Atropos said, primly adjusting the glasses. “Alright, young man. This is what you’ll have to do. The Kraken is too powerful for any of us here to thwart. You will have to go to someone not bound by the Pact.”
Considering everything he’d heard, that made sense: Athena had said that Thetis had only been able to make her curse because she’d been unfettered by this mysterious Pact those at the Lito had signed. “Okay-do you have someone in mind?”
“Yes-and she’ll cure your problem. The trick, of course, will be surviving the cure… There is a cave not so very far from here. In it, you will find a very unusual woman. Her name is Medusa.”
Athena’s intake of breath hissed over her teeth. “Talk about fighting fire with fire.”
“Indeed,” Atropos nodded. “She was once mortal. But now-well, you know very well what she is now, Athena.” She looked long and hard at Perseus, a rueful smile twisting her lips. “I don’t envy you, boy-the odds are certainly not in your favor.”
*****
“If you’re going to face Medusa, you’ll need to be properly prepared,” Athena said briskly, stepping up the stairs at a pace that made Perseus and Thallo sweat to keep up. How anyone could walk so quickly in heels like hers was beyond them.
“Who is this Medusa? Why the ominous warnings?” Perseus demanded.
“Medusa was once a priestess.”
“A priestess of what?”
“Of me,” Athena said evenly. “She was the guardian of one of my finest temples many centuries ago. A brilliant woman. A great beauty. And utterly devoted to me.”
“What happened?” Perseus asked with trepidation, sure it had been nothing good.
Athena stopped sharply; Thallo ran straight into Perseus’ broad back, one hand grabbing a fistful of his shirt to keep himself from stumbling back. Straightening her shoulders and lifting her head, she continued up as she spoke.
“You should know, Perseus, that this family has more than the average allotment of skeletons in our closets. We none of us have ever been purely good or kind or noble. We’ve all done nasty, cruel, terrible-to be frank, evil-things at one time or another. Just because we’re gods does not make us flawlessly perfect. And while we have regretted and changed and sometimes even done our best to atone for some of our mistakes, there are certain actions that can never be truly forgiven or forgotten.”
She sighed heavily, pausing at the top of the stairs, resting her hand against the closed door. “And while our uncle Poseidon is, usually, a well-meaning and level-headed god with a deep concern for the world’s health, this does not excuse him for what he did to that noble woman. When Poseidon heard of Medusa’s beauty, he stole into my temple to satiate his curiosity-his curiosity, and then his lust. I did not realize what was happening until it was too late to stop it. I failed one of my most faithful adherents. And when she cried out my name and prayed for salvation, I was ashamed that I had been unable to save her.”
Perseus stood frozen several steps beneath her, his horror written plainly across his face. He remembered a moment from his childhood, when his mother had been grabbed by a drunk during a walk along the beach. The things the man had slurred, the promises he had made, before Dictys had punched him square in the eye. They had practically run from the crumpled, unconscious man, Danaë’s face a hectic red from fear and disgust-it wasn’t until Dictys was pouring him a glass of milk before bed that he had asked about what had happened.
“There are some men, Perse,” the old fisherman had said with audible anger. “Animals, more like-who think they can do whatever they want to a lady. They don’t look at a woman as a person; they see her only as something to play with. Even if the woman don’t feel like playing. Men like that don’t care if they hurt ‘em in the process. Don’t you ever act like that around a lady, you hear? You treat them with respect and kindness, and you listen to what they have to say. Step back if they’re afraid ‘f you-you’re gonna grow up into a big, strong lad, I can tell, and sometimes ladies’ll be wary of you for that. Don’t blame them for it; the world’s taught them to be scared of men. So you’ve got to be kind and polite and respectful and listen to ‘em. Got that?”
There had been other times over the years-overheard remarks in bars, conversations at the docks, suggestive comments and gestures during the races-when he had been sickened and appalled by the things other men thought and said and wanted to do. He’d started so many fights-both verbal and physical-in attempts to correct the speaker. Once he fractured a man’s arm when he tried to drag an inebriated girl to his car, then stood by while the girl, confused and crying, had used his phone to call for a friend to pick her up. Every time he’d witnessed or heard something he’d felt a bit more of his faith in human decency slip away; how could anyone treat another person so monstrously? The world was broken if he could walk safely after dark because he was a man, while a woman taking the same path would only do so with her heart in her throat and sharp keys clenched between her fingers.
To hear that someone he was connected to by blood had done such a thing…
“Do you understand the magnitude of it?” Athena continued quietly as she opened the door. “She had pledged herself to me body and soul, and when I failed her I burned with anger and regret... I had not been able to save her from my uncle’s ravishment, but I could do something to assure it would never happen again. I went to Medusa, weeping before my altar, and offered her a deadly gift. Never again would a man be able to touch her-they would not even be able to look upon her. I gave her eyes that turned men to stone and the venom of vipers in place of blood; her hair grew into adders. No longer would men be tempted to abuse her beauty. She accepted my gift and withdrew from society…”
“And she’s still alive? After a thousand years?” Thallo asked hesitantly, shaken and pale.
“She’s been touched by the divine. Reshaped by immortal hands. Though some would call it a profane transformation, the fact remains: she is now bound to me in ways she never was as a mere mortal priestess. Yes, she still lives. And praises me, despite everything. Offers me tributes and worships in the old ways, content in her seclusion.”
“So what’s Perse supposed to do? Barge into her place and demand she help him with this giant sea beast, all without getting turned to stone by her laser eyes? Doesn’t sound like the best plan to me.”
“There are tools we can give you, Perseus,” Athena said. “To help you face her as safely as possible. But the Fates are right: she’s your best hope for killing the Kraken. She has a power that will destroy him-this may be your only chance to save the woman you love.”
“I can’t,” Perseus said abruptly, stopping halfway across the cavernous entrance hall. “I can’t intrude on her privacy, invade her space. The last thing she’ll want is a man making demands of her again.”
Athena turned to face him and met his eyes for the first time since leaving the Fates. A brief smile flashed across her face, as if it had appeared in spite of herself. “You’re a decent man, Perseus. A truly decent man. There aren’t nearly enough of your ilk in this world. There never has been. I thank you, for feeling empathy for Medusa rather than fear of her. For all that she hates and fears men, I think that she will help you once she hears your story. She would not stand by while another woman suffers at the hands of capricious gods.”
“There’s still the little issue with her turning dudes to stone, though,” Thallo pointed out practically. “How do you get around that?”
“There’s someone I want you to meet,” Athena said by way of answer, starting off towards a particular doorway.
*****
The next staircase they descended-“Sorry, but the elevator’s been extremely unreliable lately,” Athena said-wasn’t half so steep as the last, and terminated onto a wide and echoing garage. Their shoes squeaked and clacked against the treated concrete. As they walked, a new sound drowned out their footsteps: a steady buzzing interspersed with what sounded like the pattering of rain.
Rounding a wide support column, the source of the noise became obvious. A stocky man was perched on a stool, bent over a large piece of metal he was applying an arc welder to-the pattering had in fact been the shower of sparks hissing as they extinguished against the floor. An industrial welding visor covered his face. Brown hair liberally sprinkled with salt was visible around the headband, and his cotton sleeves had been rolled up to reveal arms corded in muscle and latticed with old scars. For a relatively small, compact man, he radiated a singular sort of strength.
“Hephaestus!” Athena called. “Hephaestus!”
The visor tilted, unseen eyes fixing upon them. The back straightened quickly and a leather gloved hand deftly turned off the flame and set aside the welder. He reached up and pulled off the visor, revealing a lined, weathered face. Serious hazel eyes regarded them, the freckled brow creased in a way that suggested he was a habitual worrier. There was a three-day-old sandy beard darkening his chin and cheeks and, as he pulled off his gloves, Perseus noticed the dull gold wedding band on his left hand.
“I’m sorry, Athena,” he apologized, turning to reach for something leaning against his work table-crutches, Perseus was surprised to see. Standard medical grade crutches, durable steel capped with white plastic armguards that were well padded and cushioned. “I was miles away. How can I help you today?”
“I need nothing today-it’s the latest addition to the family who could use your assistance.”
“Ah. I see. Zeus’ boy from the island.” The metalworker stood and started towards them, clutches click-clacking and sneakers shuffling slightly. Leaning on one arm, Hephaestus offered first Perseus, then Thallo, his right hand for a brisk, almost painfully firm, shake. “I’m Hephaestus, and I won’t hold it against you if you butcher that. It’s a sore mouthful, I know. Just call me Heph if that’s easier.”
“Perseus,” he replied. He was still unsure about the Fates, had already formed a bad opinion of Poseidon after Athena’s story, and had no idea how he felt about his as-yet-unseen father. But he liked Hephaestus immediately; he was forthright and had kind eyes that returned his gaze steadily. And he was clearly a man who knew how to use his hands. Perseus had always been more comfortable around workmen than the hob-nobs in suits and ties. “And this is my friend Thallo.”
“A pleasure to meet you, though I’m sure you’d rather it had been on different terms.” Hephaestus sighed. It was a sigh that made it abundantly clear that he was no longer surprised by the madness this family dragged in its wake-but that he would always be disappointed in each new misstep, regardless. “I’m truly sorry you had to find out like this.”
“You know about Thetis’ curse already?”
“Athena called ahead, but I suspected she would pull something tonight. She was in a proper lather when she burst in here and dropped the bombshell about you. Though, to be fair, I can’t say that I entirely blame her,” he conceded reluctantly. “Thetis had only one son. Zeus stood by while he died. And since she refused to sign the Pact, she still relies on tribute and belief for her power. She’s hard pressed to find either in this age of reason and other gods-her display tonight, for all that Athena muffled and altered the memory of it, will linger in peoples’ subconscious. Her power will swell considerably now.”
“Begging your pardon, sir, but all I care about right now is Andromeda.”
Hephaestus smiled crookedly. “No need to call me sir, young man. I’m nothing impressive or stately. Just your uncle. And I don’t blame you for your tunnel vision. Or your impatience. You mean to do anything within your power to stop the Kraken and save this woman, don’t you?”
“Yes. We’ve just come from the Fates-”
“And they spoke plainly with you? They gave you advice?”
“Yes.”
“Good, good. You strike me as a decent man, Perseus-I’m glad those old biddies recognized that. They’re notoriously bad for giving people the runaround. So, what’s your plan now?”
“To go to Medusa and ask for her help.”
Hephaestus clucked his tongue. “Well. That is a hero’s task, no doubt on that count…” He glanced up knowingly at Athena. “I hope you don’t let the thrill of guiding another champion go to your head, niece,” he warned. “Don’t treat this as a game-a girl’s life is on the line.”
“Are you lecturing me, Uncle?” Athena said coolly, the picture of regal aloofness.
“You’re not so perfect. We all of us need reminding sometimes. And I know how you get. Very well: you’re going to Medusa. I’m sure you’ve heard the details and know just what danger you’ll be facing. And I’m guessing your sister brought you here for a proper outfitting, hmm?”
“I honestly couldn’t say what she had in mind, Uncle Heph.”
“You know, when that comes from Apollo it’s just cheeky. From you, it’s… You got more of your mother than Zeus,” he finished abruptly, turning and maneuvering himself ably towards a large metal cabinet pushed up against the wall. Tools hung on hooks and brackets around it, a veritable treasure trove for a mechanic/electrician/inventor. “You should be glad of that-funny how it’s the mortal parent that always seems to have the dominant traits. You all get his chin and his strength, or so I see it, but the mothers give you something better: real heart. Alright, let’s see, what do we have that would be beneficial…”
The doors to the cabinet swung open and Perseus had to blink from the dazzle cast in the light.
“Fuck me,” Thallo murmured beside him, going so far as to reach up and rub his eyes. “D’you have Excalibur in there, too?”
“Hmm, no, that’s at the bottom of a lake somewhere,” Hephaestus replied absently, looking from spear to helm to jeweled dagger. “Avalonian craftsmanship that, none of my work… Here, I think this would serve you well.” He lifted down a large shield, perfectly circular and made of a mixture of bronze and gold. It was finely buffed and polished to a mirror-like sheen, and bore a stylized owl at the center. “This has graced the arm of many of Athena’s champions. See how it feels-it’s not too heavy or cumbersome, is it?”
“It feels okay,” Perseus said awkwardly, balancing the shield. “And it’s very shiny, but what am I supposed to do with a shield?”
“God, Perse, you look like you belong in some sword-and-sandals epic,” Thallo said with a whistle. “Fighting in gladiatorial combat with Russell Crowe or something. All you need now is a sword and a short leather skirt.”
“Medusa’s gaze turns any male into stone,” Hephaestus said. Such a phrase should’ve sounded utterly laughable; coming from the somber-faced god, though… “If you mean to talk to her, bargain with her, you’ll have to get close. The trick will be doing so without meeting her eyes. Consider this insurance. A mirror to hide behind if you have to. Lift it up.”
Perseus complied and was surprised to see that from this angle, the shield was almost transparent. Hephaestus was clearly visible through it, albeit slightly distorted and with a golden cast. It was akin to looking at the world through curved aviator sunglasses. “How is this possible?” he asked, turning it so the embossed owl faced him-it looked sturdily solid again.
“I have a few metalworking tricks up my sleeve. It’s a poor day if I can’t work a little magic with my smithy. Here, why don’t you both sit down for a moment? You should get something to eat before you head out.”
Perseus sank down onto the bench Hephaestus had gestured toward, resting his back against the cold concrete wall, propping the gleaming shield against his leg. He closed his eyes momentarily-felt the weight of everything sink onto his shoulders, could almost hear the clock ticking down to the deadline-and realized he must have drifted off for several minutes when he opened his eyes to find a petite redhead in a green summer dress setting a tray laden with sandwiches and pastries onto Hephaestus’ work table.
“Oh, hello!” She said with a bright smile that added an extra sparkle to her pale blue eyes. “I’m your Aunt Persephone. I wasn’t sure what you liked when it came to sandwiches, so I made a bunch to choose from-this one’s a ham and cheese, and this is barbeque chicken, and this one’s salami on rye. This is tuna, and this is just a veggie combo in case you’re a vegetarian-I know that’s in vogue right now. And I left all of the condiments off, because I know not everyone likes mayo or vinegar or mustard. These pastries are straight out of the oven, so they may be a little too hot in the center for another few minutes. And there’s lemonade and-”
She stopped herself when she saw the look on Perseus’ face. “Oh, dear, did I say something wrong?”
“It’s not you, miss,” Thallo said knowingly, reaching over and squeezing his friend’s shoulder. “He’s just got a lot to process right now. It’s all a bit much to take in.”
“Yes, yes, of course,” she agreed, biting the edge of her lip. “…I’m so very sorry this has happened, Perseus. If there was anything I could do to help, I’d offer in a heartbeat. But I’m afraid I’m rather useless when it comes to giant monsters.”
He stood and went to the table, picking up a sandwich at random. “That’s alright,” he said quietly to his earnest aunt. “This helps. Any bit of kindness helps. You didn’t have to do this, but you did. I appreciate it very much.” He took a bite. “And this is delicious-you make a mean sandwich, Auntie.”
“Such a sweet young man,” she said almost to herself, smiling wanly. “I wish you the best of luck, Perseus. No one should be separated from the one they love.” She hurried away as the elevator doors squeaked open, Hephaestus and a second man stepping out. The stranger was younger and darker, wearing a fitted black waistcoat over a burgundy t-shirt and a gray-striped trilby cocked at a roguish angle. He’d easily fit into a crowd of hipsters at Starbucks.
“That’s gotta count for something, right?” Thallo said at his elbow, ignoring the pair approaching as he selected a sandwich. “The well wishes of a goddess?”
The man in the hat dropped a black backpack to the floor with a distinctive jingle of metal and promptly thrust out his hand. “Hermes,” he said with a cardsharp’s grin. “You’ve certainly stirred up this hornet’s nest, I hope you realize.”
“Sorry-”
“Oh, don’t apologize. It’s refreshing-seeing someone else holding the stick. It’s quite endeared you to me. I’ve got a special place in my heart for anyone who can disturb the peace so dramatically.”
“Hermes is a thief and a scoundrel,” Hephaestus said matter-of-factly. “And he’s agreed to lend you the use of his rappelling gear.”
“Usually use it on high rises, but it’s all mountain-grade stuff,” Hermes said, utterly unabashed.
“Mountain-grade?” Thallo echoed, spraying bread crumbs.
“You’re going to chit-chat with Medusa, right?”
They nodded.
He picked up the bag and pressed it firmly against Perseus’ chest. “Then you’ll need the proper equipment to get there. Hope you boys are wearing some good shoes.”
CAST:
of monsters, metal horses, and snake-haired women, part one: a perseus/andromeda mythfic.
{filled commission for kit (queenofthebadgers) ♥
the follow-up to prelude to a clash and the fateful boast.}
in three days the kraken will destroy the city; unless andromeda offers herself up as sacrifice.
perseus turns to his unexpected family for assistance -- but in the end, only the deadly medusa can help.
Perseus took a deep breath and sat back, his hands clenched into fists. “I’m going to stop the Kraken if I have to rip it apart with my bare hands,” he said quietly.
If Thallo hadn’t known Perseus for most of his life; if they hadn’t been the closest of friends for years; if he didn’t know just how kind and good-natured his friend was-he would have been frightened by the look on his face. (8,607 words)
“I feel the need to point out that you’re handling all of this remarkably well,” Athena said, studying her newest half-brother from across the table with a smile that was a mixture of amusement, admiration, and pure Athena. There was always a self-satisfied air about her; it came from the simple knowledge that she was, unequivocally, the cleverest person in any room. “I can tell you’re a ‘go with the flow’ sort of guy. You must get that from your mother.”
“Yeah. Suppose I’ll believe anything if you tell me with a straight enough face,” Perseus said without a trace of sarcasm. He looked over at Andromeda, sitting silently beside him, her hand dry and still in his. She sat with such composure, such calm acceptance, eyes dry. There were a lot of things he wanted to say and do right then, a thousand questions buzzing in his head, but he knew they didn’t have time. “Just-explain what the hell is going on, slowly, and I’ll try to keep up.”
Athena found herself liking this steady young man-there was an air of virtue and responsibility around him that she hadn’t seen in years. Here was a boy who knew his limitations, knew that he was no great wit, but had the determination to persevere regardless. Though she valued cleverness, she could appreciate the guileless when they dispensed with pretensions.
This one could have the makings of a real hero; mindful (as always) of the current mood, she refrained from rubbing her hands together in glee.
“It’s a long and confusing story, I’m afraid, and as we’re running rather short on time I’ll try to sum things up a bit. Gods exist, and we’ve been living on Earth since 1946. The reasons for that don’t greatly affect the current situation, but suffice it to say there was a very good reason. And when we descended from Olympus, most of us signed something we call the Pact. Essentially, we each sacrificed a small portion of our powers and immortality in order to live properly in the mortal flow of time. Thetis, the goddess who cursed you tonight, did not sign the Pact. And Zeus, your father and mine, did. I’m telling you this, Perseus, so you understand why you won’t be getting much in the way of assistance in this adventure. The Pact effectively hobbles us from doing much directly when it comes to human affairs.”
“And Zeus sleeping with my Mom wasn’t direct?” Perseus asked dryly.
“Not by his standards. Sorry, Champ, but you’re pretty much on your own for this.” Athena pulled a wry smile.
Andromeda’s fingers tightened around his and immediately he drew himself up, sitting just that much straighter.
“So where do I start?” Perseus asked. “This Kraken thing-what are its weaknesses? Its Achilles’ heel, so to say.”
“Ooh, I’d be careful about throwing that epitaph around,” Athena warned quickly. “Thetis was Achilles’ Mum-it’s a bit of a sore subject for her, as I’m sure you can imagine. As for the Kraken-you know how they say the first scientist who can figure out how to cure the common cold will be the wealthiest person in the world? That’s because no one can kill the common cold-it just adapts and absorbs anything thrown at it. So think of the Kraken as a giant, scaly cold virus, able to level the entire city in a matter of minutes.” Athena paused in retrospection. “Father and Poseidon used to use it when they liked to make a statement-nowadays the equivalent would probably be like letting Ares carpet bomb an entire country.”
“So you’re saying this thing is invincible?” Perseus said somehow around the huge lump in his throat.
“No, brother, I’m saying it’s practically invincible. At least according to mortal standards. Luckily, you’re not entirely mortal. There are a few perks to being a demigod. Family connections, for a starter.”
“But you just said no direct interference-”
“Think of me as your counselor,” Athena cut in. “I’ll just dispense pithy advice and moral support. The family can do its part in… small ways to make this easier on you. A few well-intentioned gifts, see? But in the end it’s going to be Perseus vs. the Kraken, and none of us will be able to help you at that point. You’ll still have plenty to do on your own.”
“Okay,” Perseus said. It wasn’t as if this would be the first time he had to fight his own battles-though this might be the first literal occasion. “Then advise me, sister-what should I do first?”
“…Do you have any buddies that are good in a pinch?”
*****
“Whassit?”
“I said there’s someone at the door,” Cicely hissed irritably, kneeing him in the back again. “Go see who it is. And if it’s Perse, tell him I’m going to clock him next time I see him. The baby only just stopped thrashing around and let me fall asleep.”
Thallo half-fell out of bed and grabbed blearily at his pants, hopping on one foot down the hall as he yanked them on.
“Perse, you had better have a damn good-and who is this?” he demanded, leaning out of the doorframe to stare wide-eyed at Athena.
“Thallo this is my…sister. Athena,” Perseus said after a moment’s pause. “Listen, man, some really bad shit went down tonight. Andy’s in a helluva lot of trouble.”
“Shit, what is it?” Thallo asked, stepping out onto the landing and closing the door behind him.
“Let’s just say she’s in a lot of trouble if I don’t take care of something in the next three days. And I’m going to need some help. You in?”
“Sure, of course I’m in, but-right now? It’s two in the morning.”
“Not to sound overly dramatic, but every minute counts at this point,” Perseus said gravely.
“…Okay, man, okay. Let me get a shirt and tell Cicely. Give me five minutes.”
“Is he reliable?” Athena asked smoothly.
“When push comes to shove he is,” Perseus replied confidently. “He’s never let me down when it counted.”
“Let’s hope he doesn’t choose now to set a precedent,” Athena said in an undertone. “And we’ll have to fill him in on the finer details on the way.”
“So,” Thallo said when he reappeared, hair damp from the water he’d splashed on his face, a thin jacket hanging over one arm. “Where exactly are we going?”
*****
“The Lito,” Athena explained on the plane, “Is a typical apartment building. Except it’s slightly larger on the inside and some of the rooms don’t obey normal physics.”
“Like Doctor Who,” Thallo said with a grin. When Perseus looked at him blankly, he began fidgeting. “Yeah, I used to watch it on PBS,” he mumbled.
“Keep that in mind when you’re inside,” Athena said.
“…What, Doctor Who?”
“No, that the rooms can be bigger than you expect. You can’t always trust your eyes. It’s been known to be disconcerting for some people,” she said. “Also, I should warn you that the Fates can be a bit…difficult.”
“Difficult how? Like, magical typhoons and balls of fire sort of difficult?”
“More like ‘old biddy’ difficult,” Athena said. “They’ve had a few thousand years to build up a proper hatred for anything youthful, energetic, and healthy. So they can be a little vindictive. If they offer you any bowls of sweets or glasses of tea, don’t accept them.”
“But you’re sure they’ll be able to help?” Perseus’ foot bounced restlessly against the carpeted floor, fingers twisting at a napkin. There was a spring inside of him being wound tightly, almost to the snapping point, and with each passing moment the sensation became even more excruciating. He couldn’t handle this waiting, the interminable amount of time it took to fly to this Lito place-his father’s home. He was confused and worrying himself into a panic; if only there was a direct route of action, if only he could feel as though he were doing something, anything, right now that would help Andromeda and stop all of this madness.
“They’ve been around longer than any of us-longer even than Zeus and Poseidon. If there’s a way to kill the Kraken, they’ll know it.”
“I’ve got a question,” Thallo said suddenly, half-raising a hand like a student. “If you’re actually a goddess, why are we flying to this place? Why aren’t you just snapping your fingers and teleporting us there?”
“I just can’t,” Athena said, lips tightening. “There are limits on my powers now. But this is one of the fastest jets ever designed, and thanks to Zeus’ connections we can bypass most airline regulations. We’ll be at the Lito in two hours. Until then, I suggest you both try to get some sleep-you’ll need it.”
She got up from her cushioned seat and made her way up to the cockpit, the train of her gown trailing behind her.
“Sleep. Yeah. That’s rich. I’m still not totally convinced I’m not already sleeping,” Thallo muttered. “A dream’s the only explanation for all this madness. Sea monsters and curses and gods living on earth-like something out of a fairy tale. Maybe we just need to pinch ourselves-hey, Perse? Buddy, are you okay?”
His friend sat with his hands over his face, shoulders hunched, every muscle in his arms and back tense and vivid. Thallo reached over to lay a reassuring hand on Perseus’ knee.
“She doesn’t deserve any of this,” Perseus said thickly around his hands. “Andromeda shouldn’t have to suffer. Her mother-it was like she went crazy. There was so much hatred in her face… It was like she was possessed or something. And everything that happened, everything she said, was because I was there as Andromeda’s date.”
“Whoa, Perse, you can’t be blaming yourself for this,” Thallo said quickly. “You want to blame anyone, you should blame that crazy hag who made the curse. From what Athena said, it sounds like she was jut looking for an excuse to cause trouble. Anything could have set her off. Man, just… stay positive, okay? Where’s that old Perseus confidence I know so well, eh?” Thallo patted his arm roughly. “Listen to your sister and try to get some sleep.”
Sleep? He’d be just as likely to erase the haunted, resigned look that was on Andromeda’s face from his memory before he could sleep. They had had only a handful of minutes alone together while Athena had arranged the flight details, and those minutes had felt both too long and too short. The weight of their approaching doom had already settled over them, already begun crushing them slowly.
“I’m… I’m so sorry,” Andromeda had finally begun, her face a rigid mask even as her voice started to shake.
“Andy-”
“I’m sorry we didn’t have enough time together,” she continued with a desperate determination. “I’ve never been fair to you, Perseus. All of the hiding and… I’ve only been a disruption in your life. I’ve only caused you trouble, with reporters and my parents and now this…” Her voice hitched painfully in her throat and she looked down.
“Andromeda, I love you.”
She gasped for a breath, a shrill and sharp intake that had tears behind it.
“I’m going to fix this,” he said with all of the confidence he could muster. “Do you believe me?”
She looked up, unshed tears diamond-bright in her eyes, and managed to nod. “…I believe you. I trust you. I have faith in you, Perseus. Oh, God,” she cried, the tears spilling down her cheeks as she half-fell into his arms, hands cold against his neck. “I love you, Perseus, I love you.”
He kissed her cheek, her mouth, his arms tight around her slender frame, as if a fierce enough hug could protect her from what was coming. As she clung to him, her body shaking with emotion, he felt a terrible rage kindle beneath his ribs-they should never have known this fear. How dare the gods pull them into their world? After a lifetime of separation and happy ignorance, how dare they blur the lines between reality and magic. He knew he could hardly forget now; there would be no way of dividing the two worlds again for him. And he would need his half-sister’s help, and any other assistance his estranged family could provide, in order to save the woman he loved.
But there would always be a lingering flame of anger and resentment he would carry in his heart from this day forward. He would do everything in his power to keep that world away from Andromeda when this was all over.
Andromeda kissed him again, and for a time the rage subsided, eased away by her touch. He tasted her tears on his lips, and in that last kiss he tried to tell her wordlessly that everything would be alright in the end, that he would not rest until he’d found a solution.
“Perseus, we have to go,” Athena had called from the doorway.
They parted, breathless and trembling, and Perseus was certain he could not let her go. His hands tightened around hers. “Marry me,” he said with a gasp.
“Yes, yes,” she said, her face softening with hope.
“Perseus!” shouted Athena.
He hesitated for a second longer before Andromeda pulled away sharply, making the break that he couldn’t. “Go,” she said, lips tightening again. “I believe in you, Perseus. I won’t give up hope.”
“I love you, Andy.”
“I love you, Perse.”
The plane jolted suddenly as it hit a patch of turbulence and Perseus shook himself free from the reverie, gripping the arms of his seat tightly. Thallo was watching him, brow furrowed in concern.
“You okay, Perse?”
Perseus took a deep breath and sat back, his hands clenched into fists. “I’m going to stop the Kraken if I have to rip it apart with my bare hands,” he said quietly.
If Thallo hadn’t known Perseus for most of his life; if they hadn’t been the closest of friends for years; if he didn’t know just how kind and good-natured his friend was-he would have been frightened by the look on his face.
*****
He’d spent an entire lifetime in small houses, cramped apartments, ramshackle garages, and trash-strewn docks; and in the last 24 hours he’d been inundated with opulent mansions and ritzy galas. Looking up at the intimidating façade of the Lito, he felt wildly out of place. Yes, he could believe that gods lived here. Surely, no mere mortal could ever be comfortable surrounded by so much ostentatious wealth. It must be like living in a museum or an art gallery. How did they touch anything or ever relax here?
When this was all over, he hoped Andy would be okay with what his modest income could afford. Give him simple carpet, wallpaper left over from the 70’s, and yellowed linoleum any day of the week.
“Your dad lives here?” Thallo murmured, eyes as big as saucers. “And your mom’s doing laundry to make the rent every month. Talk about rich.”
“He should be here,” Athena said, hand on the door handle. “Our father. If you wanted to meet him.”
“Can he help me defeat the Kraken and save Andromeda?”
“No.”
“Then I don’t want to see him. You said the Fates might be able to help-so just take me to the Fates. Please.”
Thallo faltered in mid-step, staring up at the vaulted ceiling that seemed to rise miles above the marble floor. He’d never felt so small or ant-like; the building was alive, he knew this for a fact, and it was like it was staring down disapprovingly at him, as if it was ready to swallow him whole-Perseus tugged his arm and brought him back to the present with a jolt. Athena stood beside an opened door; the golden light suffusing the room cast the descending steps beyond into stark relief.
“I’ll introduce you,” she said. “But you’ll have to convince them you deserve their assistance. They won’t do anything out of kindness-and they may ask for something in return. Just be sure it’s a price you’re willing to pay; don’t give them anything you can’t live without.”
“I can live without a lot of things, so long as Andromeda’s safe.”
“That’s very noble of you, but please try to be practical,” Athena advised. “And Thallo: don’t speak unless directly addressed. Oh-and they may be a bit… grabby. They’re all essentially blind and don’t really have a sense of personal boundaries at this point. So don’t be too alarmed if they start patting your face.”
“This is gonna be like that time we volunteered at the old folks’ home back in high school, Perse,” Thallo tried to joke cheerfully as they followed Athena down the stairs. “Remember that one lady who was convinced you were her hubby finally back from the war? Demanded that you dance with her before she’d let us take her into dinner?”
They passed a wine cellar filled with rows upon rows of dusty bottles and then a utility room full of machinery and pipes; a strange glow emanated from the mundane metal, though, suggesting that there was more than just electricity running into the building. The smell of old potpourri and something even older, the almost tangible scent of ancient ruins and forgotten tombs, wafted over them as they descended further. It wasn’t entirely pleasant, but there was still enough of the familiar to it-something inextricably tied to ‘old woman/grandmother’ in the emotional centers of the brain-to alleviate the worst of the unease.
Finally, they came to a door. Perseus had expected something elaborate or eldritch, but it was just a plain walnut door with a brass doorknob. Athena rapped sharply on it before opening it. “Hullo, Aunties,” she called cheerfully. “I’ve brought someone to meet you.”
“What’s that? Who’s there? We didn’t order anything!” a shrill voice wheezed just out of sight. A moment later a woman shuffled into view. She was wearing so many layers she looked twice as large as she really was: a dress over a nightgown, a robe over her dress, a bulky coat over the robe, and a knitted afghan draped crookedly over her shoulders. Her gray and white hair was frizzed as if she’d just come inside from a bad windstorm-Perseus half expected to see birds nesting in it. She squinted nearsightedly, the wrinkles around her eyes deeply furrowed and her chapped lips pursed as if she was sucking on a lemon.
“Good morning, Aunt Clotho,” Athena said loudly. “It’s Athena. Remember me?”
“Course I remember you, stupid girl, no need to shout,” the old woman snapped bad-temperedly. “You’re one of young Zeus’ brats-the one that gave him a right and proper headache, eh? Made him take a hammer to his fool head. That was quite a day,” she cackled. “Sisters! That Athena is here-and she’s brought a couple young men with her, if my suspicions are correct.”
“You must be mistaken, you old biddy,” another voice exclaimed. “Athena doesn’t care for men. Why would she be bringing young men to see us?”
“No, no, Lachesis, you’re thinking of Artemis! Artemis is the one who hasn’t the inclination for men! She’d much rather be running about with that Circe-sharp as a packet of pins, that one-and playing the aloof virgin. Athena’s brought plenty of men over; hardly a virgin, that one,” a third voice cackled in laughter. “Here, here, lemme see…”
The second voice belonged to a woman dressed in an immaculate blue dress that had last been in vogue during the Victorian era. She was much taller and thinner than the other two, with a long nose and pointed chin. Her long white hair had been swept up into a fastidious bun held in place by a number of deadly-looking pearl-tipped hatpins. She moved with prim, tiny steps, one hand held out to keep her from running into any furniture-of which there was a lot. The whole room was filled with tables, sideboards, china cabinets, chairs: it looked like the dumping ground for an antiques store. Any number of tchotchkes lay on their sides, evidence of how often the tables were bumped.
The third voice belonged to a woman that would have fit right in at a Wicca festival; she wore a multi-layered patchwork skirt crafted of a dozen different materials and a loose-fitting red peasant blouse. She was shorter and stockier than the other two, with closely cropped steel gray hair and round cheeks. Dozens of chains and geegaws hung around her neck. Perseus could make out feathers, teeth, beads, claws… and on a long silver chain a gleaming pair of sewing shears. She was also wearing a pair of glasses, rather large for her face, with thick black rims and slightly scuffed lenses. She blinked owlishly at them, tilting her head up to see better.
“Good morning, Aunt Atropos,” Athena said to the third woman, nodding politely. “And Aunt Lachesis, you’re looking well today.”
“Save us your flattery, girl,” Atropos said, her words clipped. “What is it you want? You and yours never come down to visit us unless you want something out of it.”
“Now, Atropos, you know that isn’t true,” Lachesis reprimanded. “Young Persephone comes to see us often, and she wants nothing more than to bring us muffins and scones.”
“And you eat much more of those, you won’t need that bustle any more,” Atropos retorted.
“How dare you!” Lachesis gasped. “Just because you’re jealous that I got the most classically beautiful body-”
“By whose standards?” the frazzled Clotho interjected. “The Italians thought a real woman had meat on her bones and padding in her rump, and the Mongols didn’t care two figs for a lady if she didn’t have the muscle to carry a deer over her shoulders-”
“I think women come in all shapes and sizes, and shouldn’t have to fit any one mold to feel beautiful.”
The three swiveled as one to stare at Perseus, Atropos wide-eyed and the other two squinting with interest. “Silver tongue on this one,” Atropos said appraisingly. “What’s your name, boy?”
“Perseus, ma’am. And this is my good friend Thallo.”
“Hmm,” she sniffed, immediately dismissing the silent Thallo out of hand. “One of Zeus’ brood, eh? His boys tend to get his chin.”
“Yes, I can smell thunder on him,” Clotho said.
“Thunder and heartache,” Lachesis added. “What’s wrong, young man? What’s happened?”
“Thetis has laid a curse over the woman I love. Andromeda. In three days she has to sacrifice herself to the Kraken-or it will destroy our city.”
“And so you’ve come here. To beg for your beloved’s life?” Atropos demanded. “Because we know the lifelines? When one will snap, or when one must be cut?”
His eyes fell on the gleaming shears hanging around her neck. “I didn’t know that-but no. I’m here because Athena told me you’re the wisest at the Lito, because you might know a way to kill the Kraken.”
“Nothing mortal can kill that creature-and now, with the Pact, not even Zeus or Poseidon could control it-”
“Did Athena truly say that? That we’re the wisest?” Lachesis cut in abruptly, grinning. “It’s true, of course. I mean, we were the first, we came before that trumped up King and all of his spawn, of course we’re the wisest-we’ve seen it all. But for that to be acknowledged!”
“Oh shut your gob, Lachesis,” Atropos snapped wearily. “The merest hint of flattery and you’re all a-flutter.”
“And you’re too bitter for your own good, Atropos,” Clotho said. “Here, gimme those glasses-this Perseus sounds cute, I wanna see him properly.”
“We agreed that today it’s my turn,” Atropos argued, side-stepping and ducking her sister’s grabbing hands. “Stop being such an old lech.”
“Just cause I’m old don’t mean I’m dead,” Clotho retorted. “C’mon, c’mon, lemme just get a good gander.”
“You’re both like a pair of broody hens-so much noise and running about for no good reason,” lamented Lachesis as Clotho grappled with Atropos, the pair crashing into a table and upsetting an elaborate candelabra. “We can’t have nice things because you two tussle like this and break everything! If you’re going to behave like this in front of guests, neither of you should have the glasses!” She grabbed wildly at the blurred figures before her, snatching hair in one hand and an ear with the other.
“Ah! What are you trying to do? Snatch me bald-headed?”
“You nearly tore my earring out, you old hag!”
The eyeglasses slid from Atropos’ face, falling to the floor with a clatter. The three froze in unison, faces stiffening. “If one of you steps on them,” Atropos began threateningly. “I’ll have both your skins.”
Perseus bent quickly, scooping up the glasses. “No worries, ladies-I’ve got them.”
Athena, standing silently off to the side, caught his eye. She had an eloquent face to match her quick tongue-he saw exactly what she was trying to suggest and gave her a half-nod of confirmation. “…And I won’t give them back until you agree to help me.”
“Typical-threatening a trio of harmless old ladies-”
“We’re hardly harmless, Clotho, don’t be so facetious,” Lachesis reprimanded primly. “And the boy’s beloved is in peril; I think he can be forgiven a dramatic or two.”
“Dramatics! That’s all this family is!” Clotho exclaimed, throwing her hands into the air.
“And speaking of family, dear, you should really just call us Aunties,” Lachesis continued. “Everyone does, and it’s ever so sweet. I rather enjoy being everyone’s Auntie.”
“Give us the spectacles, young man,” Atropos said firmly, hand outstretched. Without the glasses she peered at him just as the other two did, eyes squinted and face creased into suspicious wrinkles.
“Just as soon as you tell me how to stop the Kraken.”
“You try to face down that monstrosity, boy, and you’ll die.”
“Better to die trying than to stand by and watch it kill Andromeda.”
“You’re not lacking for spirit, I’ll grant you that,” Clotho positively cackled.
“He’s willing to die to be with his beloved-oh, Atropos, can’t we help him?” Lachesis said. “It’s ever so romantic! Remember that time we went to the Shakespeare play about the star-crossed young lovers-”
“I remember meeting the young fool and being vastly unimpressed. He may have had a skill with words, but he was a randy drunkard that flirted with anything that moved.”
“Come, come, Atropos-we know you just dislike him for putting us in that tragedy as warty witches-”
“I dunno, Perse,” Thallo said suddenly and very loudly, startling the three into silence. “I think it’s clear that they can’t help us. Probably don’t know a thing about the Kraken. I say we go and talk to your father-he is the king, after all. Surely he knows what to do-”
“That trumped-up ruler? All he knows is how to hop out of a lady’s bed before the sheets go cold,” Atropos snapped.
“Then we’ll talk to that Poseidon guy-Athena, didn’t you say Poseidon used to control this Kraken beast? He must have a trick or two he could share,” Thallo continued.
“With his powers hobbled by the Pact? The best he could do is summon a puny wave!”
Perseus felt a surge of frustrated anger. Precious minutes were ticking by, bringing Andy closer to her doom, and he was stuck here trying to beg for help from three old women more content to quarrel amongst themselves than to listen to his genuine plea. He’d been taught to be respectful towards the elderly, but this was the limit-a man in his situation could not afford to be patient. “If you truly know something, then tell me,” he said in a cold, hard voice so unlike his usual light tone. There was flint in his words, sharp and brittle and liable to draw blood if handled carelessly. “And tell me quick. I have been polite and courteous. The life of the woman I plan to marry is hanging in the balance. Either tell me now how to stop the Kraken or I’ll smash your glasses and go elsewhere for help.”
“No!” Clotho shrieked, lunging forward with an outstretched hand. Perseus avoided her easily with a simple step to the side.
“What is she worth to you?” Lachesis said quickly, grabbing a handful of Clotho’s robe. “Your beloved?”
He thought of the oyster beach. Game nights. The sound of her laugh and the flash of her smile in the dim orange glow of streetlights. Her arms around his waist as they rode through quiet neighborhoods on his bike. The way she tucked hair behind her ear, fidgeted with her rings, looked him dead in the eye when they talked about dreams and goals and fears.
“Everything.”
“Then how about a deal? Just like the old days-right, Atropos? That would be fair, wouldn’t it? I know how much you hate to give away anything for free.”
“Yes,” she agreed thoughtfully. “We can’t just be giving away our knowledge without some form of proper compensation…”
“What are your terms?” Perseus asked, steeling himself for a devil’s bargain. Surely they’d demand his sight or good health after the creature was destroyed.
Atropos squinted at him long and hard. While her physical eyes were dim and cloudy, there were still some things she and her sisters could see better than any other. The life-lines of the world. The paths a life could take, the many snags and snarls and knots that would trip the feet along the way. The other lives that would cross that path, some fraying the thread while others would weave together, strengthening and supporting one another. For millennia they had woven and measured and cut the strings that crisscrossed this world, and they could recognize the quality and worth of individuals in the tapestry.
“You must agree to visit this place frequently,” Atropos finally decreed in lofty, ringing tones. “To be a grounding presence in the family, a touchstone for us when we get too caught up in our melodramas and old rivalries. And you have to promise to see the three of us often-to keep my sisters occupied and out of my hair when I’m busy. Is it a deal?”
Perseus visibly relaxed. Given his recent pledge to avoid this world of magic and monsters, this was still hardly ideal-but it was a damn sight better than having to sacrifice one of his senses. “It’s most certainly a deal. I’ll shake on that gladly.”
“You’re not getting away quite so scot-free as you may think,” Athena warned as he carefully slipped the glasses over Atropos’ ears. “This place would drive the sanest man mad.”
“Oh hush,” Lachesis retorted. “We’re not half so bad as those ninnies on the reality shows humans are so fond of.”
“Shut up, all of you,” Atropos said, primly adjusting the glasses. “Alright, young man. This is what you’ll have to do. The Kraken is too powerful for any of us here to thwart. You will have to go to someone not bound by the Pact.”
Considering everything he’d heard, that made sense: Athena had said that Thetis had only been able to make her curse because she’d been unfettered by this mysterious Pact those at the Lito had signed. “Okay-do you have someone in mind?”
“Yes-and she’ll cure your problem. The trick, of course, will be surviving the cure… There is a cave not so very far from here. In it, you will find a very unusual woman. Her name is Medusa.”
Athena’s intake of breath hissed over her teeth. “Talk about fighting fire with fire.”
“Indeed,” Atropos nodded. “She was once mortal. But now-well, you know very well what she is now, Athena.” She looked long and hard at Perseus, a rueful smile twisting her lips. “I don’t envy you, boy-the odds are certainly not in your favor.”
*****
“If you’re going to face Medusa, you’ll need to be properly prepared,” Athena said briskly, stepping up the stairs at a pace that made Perseus and Thallo sweat to keep up. How anyone could walk so quickly in heels like hers was beyond them.
“Who is this Medusa? Why the ominous warnings?” Perseus demanded.
“Medusa was once a priestess.”
“A priestess of what?”
“Of me,” Athena said evenly. “She was the guardian of one of my finest temples many centuries ago. A brilliant woman. A great beauty. And utterly devoted to me.”
“What happened?” Perseus asked with trepidation, sure it had been nothing good.
Athena stopped sharply; Thallo ran straight into Perseus’ broad back, one hand grabbing a fistful of his shirt to keep himself from stumbling back. Straightening her shoulders and lifting her head, she continued up as she spoke.
“You should know, Perseus, that this family has more than the average allotment of skeletons in our closets. We none of us have ever been purely good or kind or noble. We’ve all done nasty, cruel, terrible-to be frank, evil-things at one time or another. Just because we’re gods does not make us flawlessly perfect. And while we have regretted and changed and sometimes even done our best to atone for some of our mistakes, there are certain actions that can never be truly forgiven or forgotten.”
She sighed heavily, pausing at the top of the stairs, resting her hand against the closed door. “And while our uncle Poseidon is, usually, a well-meaning and level-headed god with a deep concern for the world’s health, this does not excuse him for what he did to that noble woman. When Poseidon heard of Medusa’s beauty, he stole into my temple to satiate his curiosity-his curiosity, and then his lust. I did not realize what was happening until it was too late to stop it. I failed one of my most faithful adherents. And when she cried out my name and prayed for salvation, I was ashamed that I had been unable to save her.”
Perseus stood frozen several steps beneath her, his horror written plainly across his face. He remembered a moment from his childhood, when his mother had been grabbed by a drunk during a walk along the beach. The things the man had slurred, the promises he had made, before Dictys had punched him square in the eye. They had practically run from the crumpled, unconscious man, Danaë’s face a hectic red from fear and disgust-it wasn’t until Dictys was pouring him a glass of milk before bed that he had asked about what had happened.
“There are some men, Perse,” the old fisherman had said with audible anger. “Animals, more like-who think they can do whatever they want to a lady. They don’t look at a woman as a person; they see her only as something to play with. Even if the woman don’t feel like playing. Men like that don’t care if they hurt ‘em in the process. Don’t you ever act like that around a lady, you hear? You treat them with respect and kindness, and you listen to what they have to say. Step back if they’re afraid ‘f you-you’re gonna grow up into a big, strong lad, I can tell, and sometimes ladies’ll be wary of you for that. Don’t blame them for it; the world’s taught them to be scared of men. So you’ve got to be kind and polite and respectful and listen to ‘em. Got that?”
There had been other times over the years-overheard remarks in bars, conversations at the docks, suggestive comments and gestures during the races-when he had been sickened and appalled by the things other men thought and said and wanted to do. He’d started so many fights-both verbal and physical-in attempts to correct the speaker. Once he fractured a man’s arm when he tried to drag an inebriated girl to his car, then stood by while the girl, confused and crying, had used his phone to call for a friend to pick her up. Every time he’d witnessed or heard something he’d felt a bit more of his faith in human decency slip away; how could anyone treat another person so monstrously? The world was broken if he could walk safely after dark because he was a man, while a woman taking the same path would only do so with her heart in her throat and sharp keys clenched between her fingers.
To hear that someone he was connected to by blood had done such a thing…
“Do you understand the magnitude of it?” Athena continued quietly as she opened the door. “She had pledged herself to me body and soul, and when I failed her I burned with anger and regret... I had not been able to save her from my uncle’s ravishment, but I could do something to assure it would never happen again. I went to Medusa, weeping before my altar, and offered her a deadly gift. Never again would a man be able to touch her-they would not even be able to look upon her. I gave her eyes that turned men to stone and the venom of vipers in place of blood; her hair grew into adders. No longer would men be tempted to abuse her beauty. She accepted my gift and withdrew from society…”
“And she’s still alive? After a thousand years?” Thallo asked hesitantly, shaken and pale.
“She’s been touched by the divine. Reshaped by immortal hands. Though some would call it a profane transformation, the fact remains: she is now bound to me in ways she never was as a mere mortal priestess. Yes, she still lives. And praises me, despite everything. Offers me tributes and worships in the old ways, content in her seclusion.”
“So what’s Perse supposed to do? Barge into her place and demand she help him with this giant sea beast, all without getting turned to stone by her laser eyes? Doesn’t sound like the best plan to me.”
“There are tools we can give you, Perseus,” Athena said. “To help you face her as safely as possible. But the Fates are right: she’s your best hope for killing the Kraken. She has a power that will destroy him-this may be your only chance to save the woman you love.”
“I can’t,” Perseus said abruptly, stopping halfway across the cavernous entrance hall. “I can’t intrude on her privacy, invade her space. The last thing she’ll want is a man making demands of her again.”
Athena turned to face him and met his eyes for the first time since leaving the Fates. A brief smile flashed across her face, as if it had appeared in spite of herself. “You’re a decent man, Perseus. A truly decent man. There aren’t nearly enough of your ilk in this world. There never has been. I thank you, for feeling empathy for Medusa rather than fear of her. For all that she hates and fears men, I think that she will help you once she hears your story. She would not stand by while another woman suffers at the hands of capricious gods.”
“There’s still the little issue with her turning dudes to stone, though,” Thallo pointed out practically. “How do you get around that?”
“There’s someone I want you to meet,” Athena said by way of answer, starting off towards a particular doorway.
*****
The next staircase they descended-“Sorry, but the elevator’s been extremely unreliable lately,” Athena said-wasn’t half so steep as the last, and terminated onto a wide and echoing garage. Their shoes squeaked and clacked against the treated concrete. As they walked, a new sound drowned out their footsteps: a steady buzzing interspersed with what sounded like the pattering of rain.
Rounding a wide support column, the source of the noise became obvious. A stocky man was perched on a stool, bent over a large piece of metal he was applying an arc welder to-the pattering had in fact been the shower of sparks hissing as they extinguished against the floor. An industrial welding visor covered his face. Brown hair liberally sprinkled with salt was visible around the headband, and his cotton sleeves had been rolled up to reveal arms corded in muscle and latticed with old scars. For a relatively small, compact man, he radiated a singular sort of strength.
“Hephaestus!” Athena called. “Hephaestus!”
The visor tilted, unseen eyes fixing upon them. The back straightened quickly and a leather gloved hand deftly turned off the flame and set aside the welder. He reached up and pulled off the visor, revealing a lined, weathered face. Serious hazel eyes regarded them, the freckled brow creased in a way that suggested he was a habitual worrier. There was a three-day-old sandy beard darkening his chin and cheeks and, as he pulled off his gloves, Perseus noticed the dull gold wedding band on his left hand.
“I’m sorry, Athena,” he apologized, turning to reach for something leaning against his work table-crutches, Perseus was surprised to see. Standard medical grade crutches, durable steel capped with white plastic armguards that were well padded and cushioned. “I was miles away. How can I help you today?”
“I need nothing today-it’s the latest addition to the family who could use your assistance.”
“Ah. I see. Zeus’ boy from the island.” The metalworker stood and started towards them, clutches click-clacking and sneakers shuffling slightly. Leaning on one arm, Hephaestus offered first Perseus, then Thallo, his right hand for a brisk, almost painfully firm, shake. “I’m Hephaestus, and I won’t hold it against you if you butcher that. It’s a sore mouthful, I know. Just call me Heph if that’s easier.”
“Perseus,” he replied. He was still unsure about the Fates, had already formed a bad opinion of Poseidon after Athena’s story, and had no idea how he felt about his as-yet-unseen father. But he liked Hephaestus immediately; he was forthright and had kind eyes that returned his gaze steadily. And he was clearly a man who knew how to use his hands. Perseus had always been more comfortable around workmen than the hob-nobs in suits and ties. “And this is my friend Thallo.”
“A pleasure to meet you, though I’m sure you’d rather it had been on different terms.” Hephaestus sighed. It was a sigh that made it abundantly clear that he was no longer surprised by the madness this family dragged in its wake-but that he would always be disappointed in each new misstep, regardless. “I’m truly sorry you had to find out like this.”
“You know about Thetis’ curse already?”
“Athena called ahead, but I suspected she would pull something tonight. She was in a proper lather when she burst in here and dropped the bombshell about you. Though, to be fair, I can’t say that I entirely blame her,” he conceded reluctantly. “Thetis had only one son. Zeus stood by while he died. And since she refused to sign the Pact, she still relies on tribute and belief for her power. She’s hard pressed to find either in this age of reason and other gods-her display tonight, for all that Athena muffled and altered the memory of it, will linger in peoples’ subconscious. Her power will swell considerably now.”
“Begging your pardon, sir, but all I care about right now is Andromeda.”
Hephaestus smiled crookedly. “No need to call me sir, young man. I’m nothing impressive or stately. Just your uncle. And I don’t blame you for your tunnel vision. Or your impatience. You mean to do anything within your power to stop the Kraken and save this woman, don’t you?”
“Yes. We’ve just come from the Fates-”
“And they spoke plainly with you? They gave you advice?”
“Yes.”
“Good, good. You strike me as a decent man, Perseus-I’m glad those old biddies recognized that. They’re notoriously bad for giving people the runaround. So, what’s your plan now?”
“To go to Medusa and ask for her help.”
Hephaestus clucked his tongue. “Well. That is a hero’s task, no doubt on that count…” He glanced up knowingly at Athena. “I hope you don’t let the thrill of guiding another champion go to your head, niece,” he warned. “Don’t treat this as a game-a girl’s life is on the line.”
“Are you lecturing me, Uncle?” Athena said coolly, the picture of regal aloofness.
“You’re not so perfect. We all of us need reminding sometimes. And I know how you get. Very well: you’re going to Medusa. I’m sure you’ve heard the details and know just what danger you’ll be facing. And I’m guessing your sister brought you here for a proper outfitting, hmm?”
“I honestly couldn’t say what she had in mind, Uncle Heph.”
“You know, when that comes from Apollo it’s just cheeky. From you, it’s… You got more of your mother than Zeus,” he finished abruptly, turning and maneuvering himself ably towards a large metal cabinet pushed up against the wall. Tools hung on hooks and brackets around it, a veritable treasure trove for a mechanic/electrician/inventor. “You should be glad of that-funny how it’s the mortal parent that always seems to have the dominant traits. You all get his chin and his strength, or so I see it, but the mothers give you something better: real heart. Alright, let’s see, what do we have that would be beneficial…”
The doors to the cabinet swung open and Perseus had to blink from the dazzle cast in the light.
“Fuck me,” Thallo murmured beside him, going so far as to reach up and rub his eyes. “D’you have Excalibur in there, too?”
“Hmm, no, that’s at the bottom of a lake somewhere,” Hephaestus replied absently, looking from spear to helm to jeweled dagger. “Avalonian craftsmanship that, none of my work… Here, I think this would serve you well.” He lifted down a large shield, perfectly circular and made of a mixture of bronze and gold. It was finely buffed and polished to a mirror-like sheen, and bore a stylized owl at the center. “This has graced the arm of many of Athena’s champions. See how it feels-it’s not too heavy or cumbersome, is it?”
“It feels okay,” Perseus said awkwardly, balancing the shield. “And it’s very shiny, but what am I supposed to do with a shield?”
“God, Perse, you look like you belong in some sword-and-sandals epic,” Thallo said with a whistle. “Fighting in gladiatorial combat with Russell Crowe or something. All you need now is a sword and a short leather skirt.”
“Medusa’s gaze turns any male into stone,” Hephaestus said. Such a phrase should’ve sounded utterly laughable; coming from the somber-faced god, though… “If you mean to talk to her, bargain with her, you’ll have to get close. The trick will be doing so without meeting her eyes. Consider this insurance. A mirror to hide behind if you have to. Lift it up.”
Perseus complied and was surprised to see that from this angle, the shield was almost transparent. Hephaestus was clearly visible through it, albeit slightly distorted and with a golden cast. It was akin to looking at the world through curved aviator sunglasses. “How is this possible?” he asked, turning it so the embossed owl faced him-it looked sturdily solid again.
“I have a few metalworking tricks up my sleeve. It’s a poor day if I can’t work a little magic with my smithy. Here, why don’t you both sit down for a moment? You should get something to eat before you head out.”
Perseus sank down onto the bench Hephaestus had gestured toward, resting his back against the cold concrete wall, propping the gleaming shield against his leg. He closed his eyes momentarily-felt the weight of everything sink onto his shoulders, could almost hear the clock ticking down to the deadline-and realized he must have drifted off for several minutes when he opened his eyes to find a petite redhead in a green summer dress setting a tray laden with sandwiches and pastries onto Hephaestus’ work table.
“Oh, hello!” She said with a bright smile that added an extra sparkle to her pale blue eyes. “I’m your Aunt Persephone. I wasn’t sure what you liked when it came to sandwiches, so I made a bunch to choose from-this one’s a ham and cheese, and this is barbeque chicken, and this one’s salami on rye. This is tuna, and this is just a veggie combo in case you’re a vegetarian-I know that’s in vogue right now. And I left all of the condiments off, because I know not everyone likes mayo or vinegar or mustard. These pastries are straight out of the oven, so they may be a little too hot in the center for another few minutes. And there’s lemonade and-”
She stopped herself when she saw the look on Perseus’ face. “Oh, dear, did I say something wrong?”
“It’s not you, miss,” Thallo said knowingly, reaching over and squeezing his friend’s shoulder. “He’s just got a lot to process right now. It’s all a bit much to take in.”
“Yes, yes, of course,” she agreed, biting the edge of her lip. “…I’m so very sorry this has happened, Perseus. If there was anything I could do to help, I’d offer in a heartbeat. But I’m afraid I’m rather useless when it comes to giant monsters.”
He stood and went to the table, picking up a sandwich at random. “That’s alright,” he said quietly to his earnest aunt. “This helps. Any bit of kindness helps. You didn’t have to do this, but you did. I appreciate it very much.” He took a bite. “And this is delicious-you make a mean sandwich, Auntie.”
“Such a sweet young man,” she said almost to herself, smiling wanly. “I wish you the best of luck, Perseus. No one should be separated from the one they love.” She hurried away as the elevator doors squeaked open, Hephaestus and a second man stepping out. The stranger was younger and darker, wearing a fitted black waistcoat over a burgundy t-shirt and a gray-striped trilby cocked at a roguish angle. He’d easily fit into a crowd of hipsters at Starbucks.
“That’s gotta count for something, right?” Thallo said at his elbow, ignoring the pair approaching as he selected a sandwich. “The well wishes of a goddess?”
The man in the hat dropped a black backpack to the floor with a distinctive jingle of metal and promptly thrust out his hand. “Hermes,” he said with a cardsharp’s grin. “You’ve certainly stirred up this hornet’s nest, I hope you realize.”
“Sorry-”
“Oh, don’t apologize. It’s refreshing-seeing someone else holding the stick. It’s quite endeared you to me. I’ve got a special place in my heart for anyone who can disturb the peace so dramatically.”
“Hermes is a thief and a scoundrel,” Hephaestus said matter-of-factly. “And he’s agreed to lend you the use of his rappelling gear.”
“Usually use it on high rises, but it’s all mountain-grade stuff,” Hermes said, utterly unabashed.
“Mountain-grade?” Thallo echoed, spraying bread crumbs.
“You’re going to chit-chat with Medusa, right?”
They nodded.
He picked up the bag and pressed it firmly against Perseus’ chest. “Then you’ll need the proper equipment to get there. Hope you boys are wearing some good shoes.”