Chapter 3. Pod of Whales

After centuries of living on earth, Medusa had acquired the ability to converse in numerous languages. Her remarkable talent was partly due to the constant whispers of the snakes on her head, which seemed to possess an understanding of the languages spoken by other animals.

Today, her serpents whispered to her about a majestic event: a female sperm whale from the nearby pod was finally going to give birth after a prolonged pregnancy of sixteen months. The sperm whales, known for their social nature, often gathered in groups of up to 50 whales, with females forming matriarchal pods.

The group near Medusa's resident consisted of about fifteen whales, and they always returned to the area because they felt safe in her presence. They sensed her immense power and nurturing aura, which was beneficial for the young and juvenile males.

Medusa had long ago purchased the surrounding land and restricted access to the area, ensuring that no people would disturb her own solitude. She doesn't want to deal with humans or deal with the aftermath. However, Bernard and Timothy had informed her that they had allowed a young woman to enter the area, as she was enamoured with the whales.

"She's blind, madam, so she will not be affected by your curse," Bernard had explained when Medusa had enquired about the woman's presence.

"The Owens family, who arrived here seven years ago and opened another grocery store, are bringing her along. The husband, Jamal Owens, works in one of your mining companies here in Svalbard," Timothy had added.

"And she's pretty," Bernard had remarked with a sly grin.

As she walked into the shore and listened to the whales making sounds, a pod of several sperm whales had gathered near the shore, their powerful bodies surfacing periodically to take a breath.

Medusa closed her eyes and listened intently to the majestic sounds between the whales and the gentle lapping of the waves against the shore. The symphony of sounds seemed to wash over her, calming her very being.

As the whales swam and played, they began to make a series of sounds—a chorus of clicks, whistles, and low rumbles that echoed through the air. The sounds were a mix of excitement and joy as they celebrated the upcoming birth of a new calf. The whales' vocalisations created an immersive experience, transporting Medusa to a world of wonder and awe.

The sounds the whales made were both eerie and mesmerising—a symphony of deep, rumbling calls, playful vocalisations, and the splashing of their fluked tails against the water. The rhythmic beats of the whales' bodies cutting through the surface of the water added primal energy to the soundscape.

Just as she was fully entranced by the whales' song, Medusa heard another voice, a light step. It wasn't Bernard or Timothy, nor was it one of the servants from the house.

The steps were different, unfamiliar, and seemed to belong to a person Medusa didn't know. She opened her eyes, and her gaze fell upon a woman walking with a cane, carefully making her way to the shore.

Just as Timothy had described, the beautiful young woman had long, flowing dark hair. Medusa remained still, her eyes fixed on the guest as she approached the shore. She continued to stare; her curiosity piqued as the woman drew closer to the water's edge.

"What is she doing?" Medusa wondered, her brow furrowed in concern. She keeps staring to see the woman, who starts to get agitated, and she walks closer to the shore, into the water.

The woman kept staring into the distance, her eyes fixed on some unknown point beyond the horizon. She took another step and another, until she was wading into the water. Medusa's concern turned to alarm as the woman ventured further into the open sea.

"That's dangerous," Medusa exclaimed, her voice low and urgent. She quickly moved towards the young woman, her long strides eating up the distance between them. She reached out and grasped the woman's arm, pulling her into her embrace just as the water was about to reach her waist. A few more steps, and she would have been swept away by the currents, lost in the abyssal depths of the open sea.

As the woman turned her head, Medusa was met with a pair of beautiful, yet lifeless eyes. Both of her eyes glistened with a pale white colour, a testament to her blindness.

Yet, despite her disability, the woman seemed entirely unfazed by Medusa's presence, and even after facing her snakes, she didn't turn to stone, nor did she show any signs of fear or distress.

Medusa was indeed taken aback by the woman's calm demeanor. Instead of worrying about her own safety, she asked about the whales, curious as to why their sounds seemed different from the day before.

The young woman listened more intently; she noticed that the whales' calls had grown louder and more animated. As Medusa watched them circle and nudged one another, creating an aquatic chorus that reverberated along the shoreline.

"One of them just gave birth. They're overjoyed for the new baby," Medusa explained to the woman, observing the splashing of the whales' fluked tails against the water.

"It's beautiful," the woman said, a peaceful smile gracing her features. "It soothes me."

Medusa paused, slightly puzzled. "Are you not worried about yourself?" she asked. Humans often fascinated her, who had lived on Earth for centuries.

But most of the time, she despises humans. Although Medusa despises the gods more than the humans, especially Poseidon. But, no matter how much she hates him, the sea is always a beautiful mystery for her.

"I don't have anyone worrying about me," the woman replied; her smile is beautiful.

Medusa contemplated for a while; she wanted to take the woman home and dry her, talk to her more, but she also didn't want to deal more with humans. However, a small part of her heart was stirring with a long-forgotten emotion, screaming to her to bring the woman back to her home. A spark of something she has long forgotten after Athena ditched her like she's unworthy.

"Anyway, you're wet. Let's get you dry at my home," Medusa said, gently taking the woman's hand and leading her away from the shore.

"But I'm fine," the young woman hesitated, her steps faltering slightly.

"Nonsense," Medusa replied firmly, pulling the woman into her arms and cradling her with ease, a human is weight nothing to a demigod like her. "I'm not going to eat you alive."

To avoid making the young woman fear her, Medusa walked slowly, allowing the pebbles and sand beneath her shoes to make soft crunching sounds. She noticed Aleysia's face slowly turn a reddish-pink hue.

"I'm Ariadne Evangelou," Medusa introduced herself, her tone warm and inviting.

"Oh, I'm Aleysia Simon," the young woman replied with a smile. "You have an accent. Where are you from?"

"Norway," Medusa answered shortly.

"You don't sound like a typical Norwegian when speaking English," Aleysia mused, her brow furrowed slightly in curiosity.

"You truly are a nosy young lady," Medusa said, but her words were accompanied by a gentle laugh. She felt something stirring within her, a change from the dull monotony that had long permeated her existence.

"I'm sorry," Aleysia's face flushed an even deeper shade of red.

"Don't be, you're cute," Medusa reassured her, a hint of affection in her voice.

"Can I touch your face?" Aleysia asked tentatively, her sightless eyes turning towards Medusa. "I'd like to see, or at least imagine, what you look like."

"No, not now," Medusa replied, mindful of the snakes on her head. She didn't want to risk Aleysia's safety or answering her nosy questions should the serpents become agitated. "Perhaps later, when we know each other better."