Chapter 2: The Quest
One of Lex's friends' daughter was getting married. He was having his subjects collect wedding presents for the soon to be wed. Lex then had a party with the rich people of the island so he could see what the people were giving. Everyone was there including Kara and Perseus. He soon noticed that Perseus hadn't brought anything and he gave an evil smile his plan would soon be in action.
Perseus didn't want to be here. He didn't like hearing rich people bragging and being jerks to each other. He would rather be off working in Martha's fields. But the thing was he was not here for the king or for them he was here for Kara. He needed to make sure that Lex stayed away from her and wouldn't flirt with her. He then noticed that Lex was looking at him.
"Perseus!" Lex called from across the room. "Did you not bring something for my friend's daughter's wedding? You are the best warrior on the island surely you have brought the best gift of all that are here?" By then everyone was looking at him and they didn't know what to think they knew he was poor and couldn't afford a present. Perseus looked at the king.
"Well," Perseus began. Kara nudged him in the shoulder.
"Don't answer him, Pers," Kara whispered to him. "It's some sort of trap."
"Ok," Perseus whispered back. "And don't call me Pers my name is Perseus."
"Come on, Perseus," Lex taunted. "Surly you can bring us something that would be worthy of a gift. Or are you a coward."
"I maybe not be rich but do keep promises," Perseus spoke up. "I get you a present for her that you want."
"Would you promise on the River Styx?" Lex taunted further. Now promising on the River Styx is a major BAD idea. When you do you are basically inviting Hades and the rest of the Underworld to punish you if you failed to keep your promise, which may be just as bad as the whole family murder thing.
"Don't!" Kara whispered. But this time Perseus didn't listen.
"I promise on the River Styx," Perseus said. "Now what do you want me to get her? Gold, silver?"
"No, I want you to get," Lex said. "The head of Medusa." Everyone gasped. "Good luck."
Now Medusa is one of the three Gorgons. She was once one the most beautiful women in the world so pretty she caught the affections of Poisdon. They were going about their business and smooching but they picked the wrong place to do it one day. They were kissing and stuff in Athena's temple and let's just say Athena wasn't happy about that. She was so mad she turned the once pretty girl into something ugly her hair was turned into serpents and if you'd look at her you were turned into stone. So going after Medusa was pretty much a death sentence. She also had two other sisters who became just as ugly and together they were the Gorgons.
Perseus then left the party and prayed to his father for some help. He knew he wouldn't secede unless he had help. After he finished praying he found himself in the presents of Hermes, the messenger of the gods, who was wearing a white tunic, golden sandals, a winged helmet, and a side bag.
"Hey, kid," Hermes said. "Your dad heard your prayer and told me to come and give you a hand." He reached into his bag that was on his side and pulled out a sack. He then handed the sack to Perseus.
"Um, thanks," Perseus said.
"Once you've gotten the head put it in that sack," Hermes told him. He then pulled out of his bag a strange horned helmet and handed it to Perseus. "That is the helmet of Darkness. It has the power to turn you invisible."
"Cool," Perseus exclaimed. Hermes then pulled out a pair of sandals with some white thing folded over on their sides and gave them to Perseus.
"Those are one of my very own winged sandals," Hermes told him. "They allow you to fly long distances."
"Amazing," Perseus exclaimed. He turned to the god and gave him a big huge bear hug. "Thank you, for your help."
"You're welcome," Hermes said. "Now would you please, um, let go. We gods don't really like hugs."
"O," Perseus stopped hugging him. "Sorry."
"Don't be," Hermes replied. Perseus then began to get the sandals on his feet. "Now, if you want to find Medusa's lair you need to visit the old, immortal Gray Sisters. They're on an island due east of here and it gray so it's not easy to miss. They know were Medusa and her sisters lay and were some items are that'll help you."
"What items?" Perseus asked as he finished strapping his sandals on.
"I don't know," Hermes admitted. "I got that last bit of info from Athena. Well, that's that see you later little brother." Hermes disappeared in a whiff of smoke leaving a somewhat confused Perseus behind.
Perseus got his sandals on and with his sacked helmet in hand he headed to find the Gray Sisters. He reached the island; after a few days and it was extremely gray. He then explored around the island with his helmet on and found the sisters at a slimy, mucky lake that surprisingly still had some marine life in it. He saw them and only one of them had an eye and another one of them had a tooth. They were pretty ugly too. He flew down to listen in.
"Give me the tooth," the one with the eye said, we'll call her Sister #1.
"Not until you give me the eye," the one with the tooth snarled, Sister #2.
"No, you have to give me the eye," the eyeless and toothless one said, Sister #3. "You took the eye away from me when I was at the season final of Justice Force you need to give it to me!"
"You'll be fine," Sister #1 said. "Now be quiet and eat your banana pudding!"
"But you left me on a cliffhanger!" Sister #3 exclaimed at Sister #1. "You can't do that!"
"I won't give anyone the eye until she gives me the tooth," Sister #1 replied. "She stole it before I could finish my banana bread!"
"Alright," Sister #2 exclaimed. "We'll do this; on the count of three we'll throw the items a little ways and the person who catches it gets it. Sounds good?"
"Ok, sounds good," both Sister #1 and 3 said in agreement. Perseus got ready; he knew what he needed to do.
"On the count of three," Sister #2 said. "One."
"Two," Sister #1 said.
"Three," all the sisters said. They threw the items not too far away and Perseus grabbed both of them. After several minutes of searching Sister #3 spoke up.
"Hey! Who has the eye?!"
"You mean you don't have it?!" Sister #2 said. "You didn't throw the eye, sister!"
"No, I threw the eye!" Sister #1 shouted back. "You didn't throw the tooth!"
"Liar," Sister #2 snapped. "I threw the tooth!"
"Then where are they!" Sister #3 shouted. "And who has it?!"
"I have them," Perseus said. The Gray Sisters turned to the direction of the voice.
"Give us back our property!" Sister #1 exclaimed.
"Yeah," Sister #3 agreed. "Didn't anyone ever teach you stealing other people's property is wrong!?"
"Let's put it this way," Sister #2 said. "Give us back our property before we tear you apart."
"Tempting but no," Perseus said. "And I'm not stealing them. Just holding them for a little while." Sure enough he was holding the eye ball and the tooth in the hand that wasn't holding the sack. "So, where's Medusa's lair?"
"We can't tell you," Sister #1 said back. "We promised to never tell anyone where they were."
"Yeah," Sister #3 agreed. "That and the weapons of prophecy."
"Weapons of prophecy?" Perseus asked curiously.
"Oops," Sister #3 said.
"Way to go, Motor-Mouth," Sister #2 said.
"Now about Medusa's lair location…" Perseus began.
"We'll never tell," Sister #1 said. "Our lips are sealed."
"Why not?" Perseus asked.
"Because if we do they'll…" Sister #2 began.
"Hurt us, taunt us, beat us, torture us," Sister #3 interrupted. "And the worst of all is they'll take away our eye and tooth." Sister #3 began cry and sob onto Sister #2.
"O, quiet being a baby," Sister #2 said to #3. "But yeah, they'll do all that."
"Ok," Perseus replied. He was beginning to wonder how he would get the info then an idea came into his head. "Well, ok, you won't tell me the location, and then I guess I'll have to destroy the eye and break the tooth."
"Ok, do that," Sister #3 snapped. She then suddenly realized what he had said. "Wait! You can't do that! Please don't destroy them!"
"But I guess I'll have to if you won't tell me what I want to know," Perseus sighed.
"But you can't!" Sister #3 shouted. "I'll never find out how Justice Force ended if you do. Please, don't. I'm begging you!"
"Yeah, please don't!" Sister #1 exclaimed. "I never got to finish my banana bread."
"Tell me where the Gorgons and those weapons are and I promise on the River Styx that I'll let them go," Perseus said.
"Alright, alright, alright!" Sister #1 and #3 said. "We'll tell you! Just give us our property back."
"Weapons and location first," Perseus replied. "Then I give you back your property."
"Sisters, are you crazy?!" Sister #2 exclaimed. "If we tell him they'll…"
"Medusa's in a cave to the east you'll get there in a few days time. When you reach the mainland you'll see a high cliff and she's be on the top cave, the one with the statues you can't miss it," Sister #3 said quickly.
"Thanks," Perseus replied.
"Now give us back our stuff!" Sister #1 exclaimed.
"Not so fast," Perseus said. "Where are those weapons of prophecy you mentioned?"
"We can't…" Sister #2 began. Perseus then threw the tooth to Sister #1 and she caught and placed it in her mouth.
"The weapons of prophecy are hidden a mile south from here," Sister #1 began. "Hidden under the two largest roots of a dead oak."
"Promise us you won't tell Medusa about… you know," Sister #3 begged.
"I won't, promise," Perseus replied.
"Now give us back the eye and the tooth," Sister #2 snapped.
"Ok," Perseus said. He threw the eye to Sister #3 and she caught it and put in its place. "Enjoy the finishing that show." Perseus was still wearing the helmet so none of them could see him, well at least Sister #3 couldn't. He then found a hunk of banana bread and gave it to Sister #1. "Enjoying eating the rest of that bread." He then turned and headed to find the weapons.
"Wait, who was the eye and the tooth?" Sister #2 asked.
"I've got the eye!" Sister #3 exclaimed.
"And I have the tooth," Sister #1 said with bread still in her mouth.
"No, fair!" Sister #2 shouted. Perseus chuckled as he walked out of earshot and headed out.
He found the oak that Sister #1 had told him about. He took the helmet off and then dug up the weapons, which were a shining bronze shield, a black leathered scabbard, and a sword with bronze and leather hilt.
"Cool," Perseus said quietly to himself. He buckled the scabbard and belt on.
"Good work, young warrior," a calm female said. Perseus turned around and had the new sword at her throat before realizing who it was. It was a woman wearing golden armor with raven hair and grey eyes. It was…
"Athena!" Perseus exclaimed in surprise. He lowered the sword. "Sorry, about that. Reflects."
"That's quite alright," Athena replied. "Now, I'm here to give you a little advice."
"Alright," Perseus said. "I'm all ears." Athena smiled.
"During the day is when the Gorgons sleep so you would sneak up on her and kill her with the sword," Athena said dryly.
"By chopping off her head?" Perseus asked.
"You're choice," Athena replied.
"And the shield is so polished I can use it as a mirror," Perseus began. "So I won't get turned into stone due to eye contact but still be able see where I'm going."
"Good thinking," Athena said. "So you did learn some things in my temple?"
"Yeah I did," Perseus said.
"Also once you kill Medusa get out of there. Because you do not want to deal with her sisters who, unlike her, are immortal," Athena said. "Now go." She then left in a whiff of smoke and Perseus headed toward the island.
He arrived there after a long time flying and found the cave that the Grey Sister #3 spoke of. He put on the helmet of darkness and held the sword in one hand and held the shield and sack in the other. As he walked he saw stone statues of people and satyrs and got a little nervous. He banished the thought of leaving from his mind as he began to walk backwards into the cave while looking at his mirror shield. He saw Medusa and she was ugly. She had a huge belly; she was with child. Suddenly he felt some regret. He didn't want to do this he was beginning to feel guilt. But he made an oath and could go back on. He walked up behind her and with some regret and doubt in his heart he chopped off her head.
The head fell onto the cave floor and rolled to his feet. It took all of his willpower not to look at the head. He then put the sword in its scabbard and without looking he put the head in the sack and tied a knot on it. Suddenly he noticed that the blood leaking from her neck was leaking onto the floor and was separating into two pools. Then out sprung a winged horse, Pegasus, and "the golden one" Chrysaor. Pegasus gave a neigh and Perseus soon realized that he NEEDED to leave before her sisters woke up.
"Hello?" a voice said. Uh, oh, too late for that. He started to run out of the cave with sack and shield in hand.
"Someone's running!" another voice said. "Let's follow, sister." Perseus looked behind him and he saw the other two Gorgons running behind him.
"You can't run forever," the first voice said. "And we don't need to see you to now you're there."
"Yeah, we can smell you," the second voice said. "You'll pay for what you did to our sister!"
Perseus ran and ran until he flew off the cliff and began to fly away and toward home.
"Ah, great," he could hear for the first voice. "Now we lost our meal."
"And worse now we have to deal with weird horse thing and golden thing," the second one said.
"Well, we could always eat them," the first one said.
Perseus finally flew out of ear shot and headed home with sack in hand. He couldn't wait to see Lex's face when he came back. Maybe now he will start having some respect around him and the others.