Deep Water by Nicola Cameron

Author:Nicola Cameron [Cameron, Nicola]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Evernight Publishing
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Gathering his dignity, he summoned his trident and commanded the tines to light his way as he stepped into the cave. Here the dry smell grew stronger, taking on a musky undernote.

He soon came across the first corpse, if he could call the cowering statue that. It appeared to have been carved by a talented sculptor, every detail exquisitely true to life, from the tension in the fingers as they bent into defensive claws to the wide, stretched rictus of the mouth as it screamed out its last breath.

More statues stood propped against the cave walls, or curled into hollows near the floor. Mortal men, all of them come to slay the monster. Some small part of Poseidon’s heart raged at the thought of mortals attacking Medusa. But she was the one who chose to be a monster.

A hissing, slithering sound alerted him to the arrival of the cave’s resident. He held up the mirrored shield he’d brought, using it to look at the reflection of his lost agapetos as she came into sight.

Medusa looked exactly like her namesake now, from the huge, powerful snake’s tail that formed her lower body to the greenish skin on her torso and the cloud of slithering, hissing snakes around her head. Somewhere she had found or made a wicked-looking bow, and a quiver of arrows was strapped around one shoulder.

But her face, her lovely face, was still the same. It was an oasis of beauty surrounded by so much horror. Knowing that he had driven her to this felt like knives inside.

She saw him and stopped. “Posssssseidon.” Even Medusa's enunciation was now snake-like. “What are you doing here, sea lord?”

He straightened, giving her reflection a wary nod. “I’m looking for Amphitrite. Have you seen her?”

To his surprise, Medusa laughed. “Have I seen Amphitrite?” she said, bringing her brows down in a mocking fashion. “Why, no, I haven’t. A pity, that. I have the perfect spot for her statue, as well.”

The muscles in his jaw tensed. “You can be as angry at me as you like, but don’t blame Amphitrite for this,” he said. “Athena is the one who turned you into a monster.”

“At my request,” Medusa said flatly. “I asked her to make me into something that would never draw your lustful look again.” Her snaky head cocked to the side, the serpents that had replaced the brown curls of her hair hissing in unison. “Do you like what you see, Lord Poseidon? Will you try your luck with me again? I warn you, I have claws and fangs now. Ever so many fangs, and all of them thirsty for the divine ichor that flows in your veins.”

Poseidon’s hand tightened on his trident. “I will not touch you again, Medusa. You have made your distaste for me exceedingly clear.”

“Distaste? Distaste?” Her hooting laughter echoed in the cavern. “I loathe you, Poseidon. I hate you with every breath I take and every beat of my heart. I hate you with every drop of blood

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