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The Gorgon's Daughter

Prologue #3

Horrified at their new forms, the three sisters fled, led by Stheno, who was best able to scout ahead safely, as she had escaped without a stare that turned others to stone. Though all three sisters were immune to Medusa and Euryale’s petrifying gaze, either of them could kill any passersby with a single, shared glance.

Poseidon lifted not a finger to help them. He merely observed from a distance with disgust how ugly the three had become, and gloated on his triumphant deflowering of Stheno and assault of Medusa.

In time, the Gorgons were able to find their sisters, the Graeae (the three Gray Ones), who were able to find them a safe haven. They offered to guard its path.

But their story was far from over; they were not left in peaceful isolation. The story of the remainder of Medusa’s particularly sad fate has been told many times. Though the tale is tragic and compelling, her end is not the story I aim to chiefly tell.

Suffice to say that the sisters lived peacefully for a small time. Any trespassers that happened upon them were killed by Stheno, who held a new hatred of mankind above that of her younger sister Gorgons. Lacking the petrifying gaze, she struck intruders down with the red snakes that writhed on her scaly head as she beat them with her brass fists.

Just as legend tells us, a proud warrior, Perseus, came to their home, in stealth and deceit. He tricked the Graeae, and located Medusa by the reflection on his shield. Waiting until she slept, he decapitated her ruthlessly, and collected her head as a trophy.

But so venomous was the seed of Poseidon that it had poisoned Medusa within. In fact, she had been pregnant; two beasts, a giant and a flying horse, sprung from her neck as she died. Each drop of her blood turned into a deadly pit viper.

Again, one would have thought that the gods would have repudiated such a vicious act. But, in truth, Perseus had been aided by several in his quest, and given magical items to assist him. Among those was Hades’ cap, which granted him invisibility. Placing Medusa’s head in a sack, he donned the cap and escaped the vengeance of Stheno and Euryale.

Stheno and Euryale, heartbroken, left their erstwhile home. They traveled to the entrance of the Underworld. There, Stheno could unleash her bloodlust and unfulfilled vengeance upon those among the living who were foolish enough to attempt to pass.

But Poseidon had begotten offspring not only on Medusa, the day the Gorgons were reborn. It was there, at the mouth of the Underworld, in desolation and sorrow, unknown to all others on the mortal plane, that Stheno gave birth to her only child, (Y/N).

On Mount Olympus, Athena saw this, and was disgusted. Poseidon freely boasted how he had won Stheno's heart, to the angry goddess. It was a great joke to him.

In her distaste, Athena cursed the babe. Not only would she be a Gorgon, like her mother, possessed of serpentine hair and hands of living brass, she would be something more.

Athena spared (Y/N) the curse of a boar’s tusks, but for a cruel reason. She wanted (Y/N) to keep her beautiful face, like Stheno, but only to nurture a false hope of finding companionship and love. (Y/N) was afflicted with a gaze so alluring, so enchanting, that all who met it were turned to stone. Thus, though the cause was different, in effect, she bore the same burden as her aunts. Athena, still not satisfied, decided to turn (Y/N)’s legs into a serpent’s tail, as a guarantee that she could never satisfy a man’s carnal appetites.

Stheno, though still full of an all-consuming rage for mankind, held out some small, bleak hope that her daughter might somehow grow to find happiness. Thus, she set out, with only (Y/N), to seek out her mother, Ceto.

When Ceto saw her disgraced daughter and blindfolded grandchild, her spirit broke even further. She had always been haunted by the horrible fates of her children.

Telling Stheno to stay hidden in the caverns where she had birthed her, Ceto set out to pray to Athena at the very same temple the Gorgons had so faithfully served. Making offerings and reciting prayers, Ceto begged Athena for even some small mercy, even the most minuscule reason to give her hope.

Pleased by the sight of a goddess at her altar, Athena decided to relent. She wished to encourage others of Ceto’s rank to offer her such obeisance.

Athena bestowed upon Ceto the most improbable grain of hope that could be fathomed. (Y/N) could indeed become a beautiful maid, and leave her life as a Gorgon behind. All she needed was the kiss of true love.

Athena, under the guise of beneficence, also granted (Y/N) the same long life as her mother. In fact, she only intended to increase (Y/N)’s suffering, that others would have a constant reminder not to cross her.

Though Ceto offered up many praises and thanks to Athena, in her heart, she knew such a hope was beyond reach. And so, when she returned to her daughter and granddaughter, she told Stheno that Athena had only become further angered by her pleas, and granted (Y/N) longevity as a punishment.

Stheno, tormented, decided to take (Y/N) to a place where there was no one at all. She feared that their suffering would never end, and thought a life of isolation the safest path.

Thus, many centuries passed. (Y/N) grew into a young woman, alone save the company of her mother. It is then that our story truly begins.

Notes



Don't forget to tell me what you think so far! :3

Comments

Loved it

YAY New chapter! I love their rising tension... :)

Merelan Merelan
5/3/19

@SmuttyPariah
You deserve sweetness, a lot of it. You deserve all the love of the world!!!!

@Underworld's Heiress

Aww, you are so sweet to me! <3

SmuttyPariah SmuttyPariah
1/30/19

This is fox gif is sooo cuteeeee!!! Have I told you that I love your writing? Can I say it again? I will say it again. I LOVE YOUR WRITING!!!!!!!!