Why must all things be a fight in this series, not changed through love and helping others?
Magnetic, the pull on Aaron's chest led him toward the North and he followed it with a fervent passion. It was not far, somehow he knew that. What he was being led to was unclear, but the closer he got to it the stronger the pull became. Eventually though, he realized he needed to go further than he could safely walk... which was when walked to the nearest gas station and waited for a big mac truck.
After buying some coffee and food, he saw an elderly man walk into the shop, having parked a large Walmart truck. Pleased, he walked straight toward him, put a hand on his shoulder and whispered. "Mover Cor." Purple magic rippled throughout his skin, his eyes glowing a deep neon. "Take me where I wish to go."
The man smiled, nodding warmly, eyes glazed over. "Sounds good, darling. Let's get some grub for the road first."
Rolling his eyes, he accepted this and soon he was on the road.
Twelve hours passed before he found the pull, and boy was he excited when hoped off it New York City. Releasing his spell on the man, he hurried onward, into a distant forest path just as the sun was falling. Magic started to fill the air, the tug on his chest became almost unbearable.
Then he saw it. "Aunty Em's Garden Gnome Emporium." Frowning, he saw row after row of marble statues. Statues that oozed tiny fragments of life force. "Shit, Agnes said monster can revive, that they are Chaos Archetypes... fuck me. Fine, I liked Medusa in myths, and if she really is a victim then maybe a team up is in my future. But first." He pulled out a pair of sun glasses, ones he stole from the trucker when the damn snow reflected too much sunlight. Waving a hand over them, he muttered a spell that would save his ass. "Dispergere." They glowed a deep purple before he knew it. "Fine, let's face one of the saddest bitches in Myths."
And so he walked to the doors, knocking softly, and finally the damn pull on his chest fade as it opened and he saw Medusa mostly in person. She was wearing a veil, but her energy was so thick and water based, Athena's malice echoing in her aura.
She smiled at him, through the veil. "Hello, how may I help you?" Her tone was soft, but there was magic laced into every word.
Aaron realized he was far stronger a mage than she was, and smiled back at her. "I was hoping you could tell me Medusa." She hissed but before she could say a word, he flicked a pulse of magic at her sending her flying back into her shop. She landed on her back, groaning as her hair started to hiss. "Aunty Em, clever, but I am not here to be a victim or take you life. I was led here, through my patron, whoever it is. I have a feeling you are to help me, or I am to help you."
That stopped her growling. "What do you mean?"
"Simple, I asked for power, purpose and family. I was sent to you, by the spark of power that connects me to whomever answered my prayers, to what end I cannot understand. I cannot cure you, Athena is far too powerful for that, but maybe I can help you in another way. Maybe Family? I cannot imagine you are happy, now that I look at your aura closer, I sense a deep sadness, which makes sense as Curses are not meant to make you happy."
OOOO
It had been eons since Medusa had ever felt so... confused. Not since her first transformation into a monster, a gorgon, all those years ago. Looking at the boy in front of her, she just felt... lost. "Why would you help me, look at the evils I have commited?" She gestured to the body count of statues she turned.
"You never hurt people intentionally in myth, you were once a kindly priestess and immortal child of two gods. You were hurt and betrayed. You deserved better. Isolation causes the mind to do terrible things, I cannot imagine what that sort of isolation does when added onto eons."
Tears broke through her, she fell to her knees, holding her chest. "It claws at me, burning at my mind. My sisters faded, forgotten and lost. I am alone, so alone."
The boy walked to her, kneeling next to her. He pulled her into a strong hug. "You are not alone. I won't pretend this isn't super fast, but honestly if there was ever a creature or person in myth that deserved better, it was you."
Pulling away, she looked at the boy, wondering how the hell someone so plain looking, so average, held such a wealth of love, light and power in his eyes. Now she was close, she felt a strong aura of power, stronger than your average demigod though not on par with an Olympian Demigod, not yet.
"Would you... could you stay with me?"
He smiled. "Yes, but we have to honor the dead you made, healing the world bit by bit. It was always my desire to leave the world better, why not start here? Also... I have a question. Can I bury my teacher's ashes in your garden?"
She nodded, warmed by his suggestion. "I would be honored... and how would you honor the dead?"
"By casting a ritual to invoke and sent peace, love, and remembrance through their spirits. My mentor never let me do it, to ensure we were never found by the wrong spirit or god, but I know how to cast such rituals. Now, would you like to join me? To make your ammends with those that your curse forced you to hurt?"
Medusa bowed her head, feeling for the first time in eons a rare warmth and clarity. "I would be honored... and thank you, child. What is your name?"
"Aaron. Now, let's get started, Aunty Em."
Chapter end, tell me what you think in the reviews.
This was a joy to write.
Love, your Ninja Overlord,
Mika.