Chapter 12: The legend II

The air became hot with the serpents filled with Morbid fear, except for the one filled with so much resentment against her that he grew enraged at her mere presence, fuming upon her entrance.

Speechless, she went mute, and descending from the platform, elevated like a throne seat, she wriggled her way down, with the greater part of her body parked behind in almost unending bolt pattern.

"Your highness,"Medusa greeted, and lowered her head, feeling defeated with no will or strength to fight back.

"You still have some manners left."

Unwary of the young halfling incensed at his perceived debasing of his mother, Nina soon met the ground, writhing in pain that lasted only for a fleeting moment.

"Son, what have you done...go!

Take your brothers and leave immediately,"Medusa commanded, hurriedly going off to shield her children as they scampered away, and at that moment, Nina's body was coming apart, limb grinding, and compressing, willing an agonizing transition that Medusa watched, guarding the way.

In that single moment, her hair had cleaved to her body, sinking in the become a skin and her body had been so compressed that her hands and legs had merged, become one of a body, and by the time the division started from her head, her will to rid herself of that nature proved stronger.

"He shouldn't have done that."

"He's just a child... you know this more than anyone else. And you must understand why I can not let you harm him."

"If you didn't want him to get hurt, then you should have taught him better."

Medusa swallowed, fearful yet hopeful, as he watched Nina fighting off her transition with her legs apart, struggling to stay erect, against the grinding that had bent her knee moments before.

Groaning, she held her neck, where the poison of the Rattlesnake had bored deep, mixing with her blood in a tumultuous riot, cascading her body, eliciting the response that had been forbidden by her.

Her hair gradually loosened and detached from her body, running the full length before.

"I have very little time for any chitchat. I came to request permission to cross the dark rivers of your lair,"she said straightening up.

"You certainly do not mean what you just said."

"I do."

"Hmmm! I didn't think this day would come. 

And to think you are doing it for a human child is unbelievable and unbefitting the age old image you have carved into the hearts of men. Don't tell me you desire redemption through this single act? Time would fail me to tell you how impossible it is for you as it is for me."

"I never came here for a chat, Medusa. I must cross, if there was another option I wouldn't be here. So, will you grant the passage?"

"Creatures such as we're are known for our con, you, by far the greatest of us all, but in my lair, I am God...."

"Tsk tsk tsk... mind you,"she shook her head, clicking her tongue," everytime a creature exalted so much, the winds break and the wrath comes. Even one, such as you, condemned to this eternal gloom with a reminder right above you at all times should know this better.

I know the old laws, and I would stick to it to the fullest, but you can only hold me for I and my little one, or don't at all."

"You speak about exaltation, yet you are the mistress of pride.

You are in my lair, Ancient one. In my lair! And here you don't get to call the shots, I do."

"Maybe I didn't communicate properly initially,"she sighed.

I mean you no harm, Medusa. I never did. You were cursed to take my form and wander the Earth an enemy of a kind you once we're, hostile and unreconcilable. That was not my doing, and no matter how much you detest this form and it's venom, you should not bring it upon me.

I say this because I understand your hatred. I hate myself at all times, too. But do not misplace your acrimony, and I don't have to warn you to steer clear of my offsprings. I didn't harm yours... well, I haven't yet.

I know that you know already that whether or not I cross your dark river, I will still transit.

But if you do not grant me passage, your rattling child would regret the day he dug his abominable fangs into me as would all his siblings.

Every one of them, either at once or one after the other. And after that, I wonder how you will enjoy having me around in this wasteland you call home.

With or without your consent, I will make it across, even though I won't remain the same, I will make sure you don't either.

So, are you up for that challenge, Medusa?"

"Leave my children out of our enmity, I never bargained to be made you."

"And I never bargained for that either. But you know you have never left my children out of our enmity, have you?

He strayed away from home in the first place because of the horror of your visitation in my absence and in his nightmare. You haunted his dreams while he was yet a child, do you deny it?"she thundered, and the children of Medusa who had gone not too far away, squinted under the canopies and walls that shielded them from sight.

"He was just a boy, but you sowed so much discord in his heart that he loathed and despised everything about me and his nature. A Dubois loathing it's venom is unheard of, yet he did.

He chose a human family over me, and to protect him, I went on land after a costly bargain with the Coastal Queen, Idemmiri.

Yet, as dim as night and the grim shadows of death, you dare rail at me. What boldness, for an imitation of my likeness!"

Her visage fluctuated, moving from the appearance of burning coal, where her hair flared, growing longer and dispersed in strands at her back, poised for attack like the living serpents of Medusa's locks, which had no effect on her.

"You might have forgotten that I'm the first of my name and the mother of all serpents!"