Athena- Temple of Athens
This story is set after Medusa Season 2 Astoria: Lost Kiss- Following Athena's plot being discovered by a human agent of HERA, her humiliation continues when she is punished by Zeus and banished from Olympus. She must regain his trust and prove herself worthy of her spot. Where else does she have left but her beloved Athens? Home of the God's or so it is said. One thing is for sure! Your paths are about to cross. Can you handle what the gods have in store for you?
Cleo: (Traffic isn't half bad this morning.)
I can't help but thank the gods as the driver easily makes his way off the high way towards the temple.
Arriving several minutes early however allows my nerves time to get the best of me. I am not normally a nervous person but something about today has had me on edge for the past few days.
Cleo: "I didn't realize getting out of the car would this hard."
Cleo: (Am I ready for this?)
All of a sudden I am consumed by the thoughts of what if…
What if my badge doesn't clear, What if I get lost trying to find where I am supposed to be, What if I break something priceless and come to find out I am not cut out for this job or any job in rare artifacts?
Cleo: "Get a grip!"
I say sternly to myself in attempt to budge myself from the car.
Cleo: (You've been here a million times and now you're finally getting to see what you have always wanted to see, The Archives of the gods.)
Or at least those that are linked to the island and the Goddess Athena.
I can't help but smile at that. It's something I've dreamed about for years. Working my way up through the ranks at the museum.
Taking all the unwanted assignments, traveling to the farthest not so pleasant places.
I finally got my break last month from this big shot in New York. He needed help locating and retrieving an ancient gem.
I am surprised really, I mean don't get me wrong but all I did was locate and monitor the dig. I offered me a job at his agency but retrieving artifacts has always taken me all over the world but in the end it has always led me back to Athens and the temple of Athena.
Cleo: "Assistant Director of Rare Artifacts"
Cleo: (Just like my father)
It is now officially my job to hunker down and protect history.
The archives of Athena are the whole reason my parents lived in Greece. Now like them I will soon be among few people to actually see it.
With that reminder I relax enough to head inside.
Barely making it half way through the temple I am stopped in my tracks right in front of the fountain by the horror that stands just past it. Cleo: "Thomas!"
The older English gentleman who despises me and smells of cigars is waiting with his back turn.
With my new promotion. I have accepted not only the honor of guarding the secrets of history but also Thomas as my new boss but not my trainer.
Cleo: "Gods please help me"
For years he has objected my placement at the museum. Arguing it was only in favor of my uncle or out of pity for what happen to my parents.
Cleo: (WHY WHY HIM)
Trying to swallow the horror of what is now awaiting me, I head towards him forcing a smile.
Cleo: "Good Morning Thom…"
But before I get a chance to say anything more he interrupts me.
Thomas: "Good you've arrived"
He says in a sharp tone checking his pocket watch.
Thomas: "I'd like to get started…"
Turning his back towards me he gestures towards the guard's desk.
Thomas: "You're cleared, just check in. I'll be over here."
Cleo: (How dare he….Ughhhh…)
I refuse to allow him to damper my mood or my day.
Making my best attempt to shake him off I try remembering why I 'am here to begin with….…
Cleo: (HAPPY THOUGHTS… HAPPY THOUGHTS…..The scrolls, the artifacts…..anything but THOMAS….shoot….)
Cleo: (I knew I had a bad feeling about today)
I make it through security with zero issue despite all the fuss I made in the car and attempt to focus on anything but Thomas.
It helps ease the tension when we are accompanied in the elevator by one of the temple guard's last minute signing in for his shift.
He's a bit flustered and looks pretty young, fresh out of training young but still I would take anyone even him over Thomas right now.
I am torn from my thoughts when something terrifying starts to overcome me. My tight starts to get tight as my breathing shallows.
The closer we get to the archives the worse it gets. It's almost as if I am starting to have a panic attack.
Cleo: (Heart you have to calm down…breath just breathe)
I try everything I can but it doesn't shake this weird feeling.
Cleo: (Only a few more floors, four, three.)
The elevator jolts when its breaks are triggered and automatically kick in.
It only last a few moments but it long enough for me to grip the side rail frantically as my life to flash before my eyes.
Cleo: "Um…..Is that normal?" I say, voice crackling still a little shaken.
Ding…
The elevator starts back down towards the archives.
Ding…
Cleo: (Get me out of here…)
Panic must be showing on my face because the next thing I hear is a snarky comment just as the doors ding to open.
Thomas: "What are you doing here? If that's all it takes to…."
Stopping short once a few inches in the hall.
Thomas: "WHAT IN THE GODS?"
Just as the words leave his mouth the elevator shakes and jolts again as it loses power.
We are left in darkness staring at the disaster before us.
There is some light reflecting down the hall but most of them are either cracked or flickering.
There is a light hint of smoke filling the air along with broken furniture and other debris scattered across the floor.
We all three stare silently at each other as we take small step out looking around.
Cleo: "Where is everyone?
I whisper to them but nearly jump out of my skin when a loud noise rings down the hall.
Bang….Bang….Bang…..
Instantly we are all back in the elevator cowering against the back wall.
Thomas: "What is that?"
He says voice shaky and crackling out of fear.
Bang….Bang….Bang…..
Cleo: "I don't know?"
I say as I stand up but we have to find out. Slowly I start creeping closer to the edge of the doors.
Cleo: "It's coming from the far end of the hall."
Cleo: "What's down there?"
Instead of a reply I feel the guards hand tightly wrap around my wrist causing me to jump backwards.
Guard: "Wait"
Cleo: "Don't do that!"
I say slapping his arm away.
Guard: "What are you doing? Do you know what's down there?"
Cleo: "Me? No…What about you? Isn't this part of your job?"
He looks long and hard at me before answering.
Guard: "Your right I should take a look."
He says it more like he is trying to convince himself.
Guard: "slowly…."
Taking a few shaky breaths.
Guard: "We, together, yea we should look together…."
Nodding to himself in agreeance as he looks towards me.
Cleo: (and this is my day)
Looking unamusingly back at him before gesturing for us to move forward.
Peeking back out into the hall nothing has changed and the noise has stopped. Feeling safe somehow I decide to take a few steps farther outside the elevator.
"Do you see anything?"
I hear in a slight whisper coming from the elevator.
Startled I turn to see the guard has abandon me and is back cowering with Thomas.
Whispering annoyingly back at them I can't help but feel the irony here.
Cleo: "Really guys"
Shaking my head disappointedly I turn back around expecting to see a dark creepy hallway but instead I am blinded by flashes of bright golden light.
Forcing me down on one knee I try to guard my eyes the best I can but am able to make out large golden doors at the end of the hallway.
As the doors continue pulsing outwards, symbols begin forming around it.
Cleo: "What the?"
Attempting to make out the symbols on the door I hadn't notice the large dark silhouette off to the side of them.
Cleo: (It is reacting to the symbols?)
Letting out a loud howl of frustration as it beat his hands upward repeatedly on the door.
Bang…..Bang….Bang….
The doors shock the creature flinging him backwards hitting the wall with a thud.
There is another high pitched scream but this one comes from behind me.
AAAAAAAAAAAAA…
Turning I see Thomas standing fear stricken in the middle of the hall.
I quickly run to him covering his mouth with my hand dragging him back towards the elevator slamming him a little harder than I mean to against the wall.
Cleo: "SHHHHHHHHH"
Mouth silently to him
Cleo: "it will hear us"
Before we get a chance to react there is another howl from the hallway followed by a wave of thick toxic fog.
It fills the elevator instantly knocking us to ground.
Unable to breath, blinking frantically as my eyes start to burn I hear a deep creepy voice whispering through the fog.
Creepy Voice: "Could it really be after all these years?"
Followed by a large black tentacle reaching out, wrapping itself tightly around.
Creepy Voice: "It has to be…"
BOOM…
The elevator lights up in a mixture of green and black as I am tossed sideways from the creature into the wall of the elevator.
Crawling back trying to catch my breath I start looking frantically for whatever that was.
My vision is still clouded but I try to regain myself taking in my surroundings.
The first thing I notice is Thomas curled into a ball on the other side and the guard..
The guard is nowhere in sight..
Looking back towards the door I find myself staring right into a mystery woman's ravishing set of lavender eyes...
Even through all the fog they glow radiantly through the darkness.
With the swipe of her hand the fog begins to clear and before me stand the most powerful woman I have ever seen.
As she turns from us towards the creature a green light start glowing all around her.
Cleo: "Who? What is?"
That's when I catch a glimpse of something just before bolts from within her towards the creature.
Again flashes of green and black reflect on the walls followed by several powerful gust of wind.
Unable to move all I can do is watch as the woman disappears in a gust of wind, forcing the creature away from us.