THE HALLS OF THE MEDUSAE



Ash raised his sword as the creature attacked. It was a hideous, wizened old hag. Her dirty
yellow teeth were crooked and rotting. Her breath was foul and her eyes glittered with
insane rage. She screeched maniacly, swinging her curved sword through the air with vicious
sweeps. The lower half of her body was like a snake's, scaly and green. Ash barely had time
to take all this in before she was on him, cackling demonicly and attempting to run him
through. As Ash began to fight, he heard the clashing of metal against metal as Gary
engaged in brutal combat with the second hag.

The creature attacking Gary was much worse than it's sister. While Ash's opponent had
a head of flaming red hair, the second sister was completely bald. Thick veins stood
out in her forehead. Her dress was an icy blue and she weilded a huge axe with surprising
strength and speed. Like her sister, her eyes were glowing a hateful red and glittering
with malice and insanity.

Ash faked left, dodging the hideous creature's blows while trying hard to land his own.
The vile devil-bitch screamed with joy as she rained blows down on Ash. As the boy's weapon
was knocked from his hand, he lunged forward with a speed he had not known he posessed,
butting the Medusa ferouciously in the face. The horrid demoness shrieked in outrage and
pain, dropping her sword and clutching her face with talonlike fingers. Ash grabbed the
opportunity, snatching both swords up and swinging them menacingly at the fiend. He slashed
at her stomach, rejoicing inwardly when the vile green blood stained his sword.

Gary was having a harder time dealing with his own adversairy. His venom sword was badly
chipped and blunted from the old hag's axe. As he dropped the now useless weapon, the
medusa lunged forward, wrapping her long, snake-like body round his legs, waist, chest
and throat. She cackled gleefuly as Gary struggled to free himself from her bone-crushing
grip. She tightened up, causing Gary to choke and gasp for air. Gary let out a hoarse cry
of pain as she struck him hard in the stomach with the handle of her axe. She tightened
even more, squeezing viciously and Gary felt his ribs creaking under the intense preassure.
He weakly squirmed and twisted, letting out another sharp cry as the axe handle struck him
again. The medusa squeezed Gary's throat, cutting off his air. Gary let out a chocked gasp,
going limp in her grip. Then, as she brought the axe handle down for the death-blow, Gary
jerked his hand up, catching the handle and pulling with all his strength. Tugging the axe
out of the demoness' hands, he swung with all his might, hammering the blade into her body.
She screeched in agony, uncoiling herself from Gary. Dropping the axe, Gary began to run,
knowing the creature was close behind.

Ash leaned on his sword, breathing heavily and staring at the dead medusa in front of him.
Hearing a slithering, he looked up, instantly wishing he hadn't. The eldest of the Medusa
Sisters stood before him. Her dress as green as poison, her hair a mass of seething,
poisonous snakes.Ash tried to move, but was frozen with fear as the medusa's eyes began to
glow. The beam of light travelled toward Ash, moving to turn him to stone.

Gary saw what was happening and began to run towards Ash, the second sister close on his
heels. He saw the beam of deadly light and sped up.

Ash stared at the beam, paralysed with fear. He didn't hear the rapid footsteps. He didn't
notice anything until he suddenly felt Gary charge into him, knocking him out of the line
of fire. Seconds later, he heard an agonised scream as the bald medusa who had been
chasing Gary was hit by the petryfying beam. Her scream died on her lips as she was
turned to stone by her own sister. Seeing this, the remaining sister gave a horrible banshee
scream. The scream was abruptly silenced as Gary sliced her head off with one stroke of
Ash's sword. Staring at the three bodys, Gary smiled grimly, knowing Red Lotus had been
avenged and could rest in peace. Then he turned to Ash.
"Are you O.K.?" he asked. Ash nodded, stepping forward into Gary's arms.
"I'm fine, thank you very much" he said softly. Gary gently brushed his lips against Ash's
forehead before turning towards the large hole which had suddenly opened in the wall.
Glancing at the plaque next to it, he turned to Ash.
"Care to do the honours?" Ash nodded, stepping forward to read the words.
"Languishing in a vile pool of it's own filth and ichor, the Bloodbeast is a dangerous
opponent, not to be underestimated. It has a long and vicious tongue which it wraps round
it's victims, dragging them into it's pool where the victim will slowly decompose and be
consumed at the hideous creature's leisure. As well as this, the Bloodbeast's armoured
hide is completely invunerabl to all attacks. It has only one weakness: It's real eye.
However, having evolved over many thousands of years, the Bloodbeast has grown mock eyes,
developed to hide it's weakness. Killing the Bloodbeast will unlock the Dragons' secret
hoarde of treasure. And you'll need all the equippment you can find to defeat the dragons.
(If the Bloodbeast doesn't tear you to peices first.) Gary looked at Ash.
"What are we waiting for?" The two boys slid down the chute in the wall, landing softly
on their backs. Sittitng up, they found themselves face to face with a beast more hideous
than they could have possibly imagined.


To Be Continued.....