Chapter 26
The rustling of leaves led Diana to where Medusa wanted her to go, but having caught onto the Gorgon's plan Diana steered clear of the direct path, instead circling wide, using her flight under the canopy to her advantage once again.
She grabbed a large stone, something large enough to disturb the trees as if she were passing through carelessly. The idea was that she would distract Medusa and cause her to lose arrows needlessly into the brush, thinking she was shooting at Diana, when really she was firing at the rock. She threw the large boulder and instantly heard the twang of a bow string being released.
Three left, but she was sure that Medusa would not fall for the same trick twice, so she had to think of something else.
The taunting voice of the Gorgon called from the trees. "I imagine Sorceress Circe is claiming that little man of yours right about now," she taunted. "The Champion of Poseidon, the letch, will be reduced to a puppet for the great queen, and with you dead, she'll take her rightful place as Queen of the Amazons, and then she'll restore me to my former beauty..."
So that is how she got Medusa on side. Interesting. Diana had to bite back the urge to laugh bitterly; Circe was a powerful sorceress but there was no way she would be able to overturn the curse set on Medusa by a God.
"She's lying to you," Diana called out. She was able to move soundlessly through the trees, avoiding landing on creaky branches and the risk of giving away her position by rustling leaves any more than necessary, only her voice would give away her movements.
She heard the whistle and another arrow leapt out of the darkness, Diana halted herself, pulling her trajectory sharply up, allowing the arrow to harmlessly deflect off her leather and gold plated boots.
"Only three left," she called, taunting the archer, gliding through the air, effortlessly trailing the tail, no longer being used to distract her.
Twang!
"Two," Diana said, catching this bolt and letting it fall to the ground. She readied the trident, allowing the handle to extend to its full length, carefully positioning herself. She pulled back, her grip and confidence sure, releasing the trident towards the serpent's tail. The golden tines dug deep, through the flesh, imbedding itself in the dense wood of the tree trunk.
Medusa howled out, and Diana watched as the Gorgon's serpentine body twitched and thrashed, trying to free itself from being pinned to the tree. Luckily, just as Diana had intended, her throw was strong enough to keep her stuck in place.
"You bitch!" Medusa cried out, letting lose another arrow, without any effort put into aim or control.
"You only have one left," she said, coming down from behind the Gorgon, a hand gripping on several of the snakes that snapped and hissed in her hair, pushing her face forward into the trunk of the tree. The first hit bloodied Medusa's nose and caused her eyes to water; the second hit jostled her brain, causing her hand to release the bow and let it fall to the ground.
Unarmed, she had only her brass claws, which she used wildly, slashing indiscriminately at Diana when she forced her face forward a third time, stunning the Gorgon completely, knocking her unconscious and cracking the trunk of the tree. "I am sorry," Diana said, a hand gripping Medusa's chin. She cracked the woman's neck, killing her in a simple, brutal gesture. "I hope that your death brings peace to you and your sisters, Medusa, and that you are welcomed in the Fields."
She pulled a knife out of a pouch on the side of the Gorgon's quiver and severed her head from her body, just as Perseus had done in legend. Diana did not doubt that Circe would have her slaves guarding her temple, the heroes of legend whom she enslaved with her charms and sexual wiles, and kept alive for centuries, millennia in some cases, with her superior magic skills. Starring at the Gorgon's face, even decapitated and dead, would cause them to turn to stone.
Nagging, a small voice in the back of her head, asked Diana if she was truly willing to use this weapon on Arthur if it came down to it. The answer was a resounding No; she would throw the head away soon as she removed the threat of Circe's lesser lackeys, she decided. She could not risk the head of Medusa coming into contact with Arthur.
No more wasting time, though, she thought to herself. She was ready to invade head on; no more hiding in the trees. No more walking. Diana was going to take to the air and charge into Circe's castle head on.