Chapter Text
PROLOGUE: CHANGE OF FATE
*****
A very long time ago in a distant land, a group of men from one of the many kingdoms of Greece, headed for an opening in the mountainside.
It was a cave opening lit by two torches in gold snake-like holders, and a few of the men were uneasy, praying to the Gods to watch over them as they waited to enter the lair of Medusa. None of them knew how many of them would come back out of the lair alive.
Their leader, King Midas, didn’t care if the Gods would protect them or not. He was the great-grandson of the first King Midas, and he was determined to make the Gods, particularly Apollo, pay for what they’d done to his family.
‘If what the three witches told me is true,’ he thought, having gone to the Stygian Witches for information of where to find what he needed for his revenge against Apollo. ‘Then what I seek will soon be in my grasp.’
Midas turned to face his men while figuring a silver gem that hung on a gold chain around his neck, which he’d been told to guard with his life until told otherwise by the mysterious woman that had given it to him before he’d set off on his quest with his men. When that would be, even he didn’t know, and at the moment he didn’t care since his quest was more important.
“My friends,” he said. “Soon, we will enter the Lair of Medusa, and there, we’ll find a weapon that even the Gods themselves fear. To arms!” And he drew his sword.
His men all cheered and drew their weapons, and their shields were at the ready.
Pleased, Midas stormed toward the opening, and he entered first, his men following.
*****
The men walked along a long cavern that was more like a tunnel, lined with flickering torches until they reached a pair of heavy wooden doors that were inlaid with gold snake patterns.
Midas nodded to two of his men and they grasped the snake-shaped handles, opening the doors, and they all entered the room beyond.
*****
The room was massive with lit torches on the walls, red/gold silk hanging from the ceiling, all kinds of gold inlaid wooden chairs, couches, tables, and even a couple of beds.
There were also statues scattered around the room, all in different positions, and they were all males. These were victims of Medusa, and both Midas and his men were determined to not be added to her collection.
“Remember, men,” Midas said in a low voice, “her magic only work if she can make eye contact. So, eyes down. Spread out and stay in your pairs.”
Just then, a female voice started laughing, echoing around the room so that they couldn’t be certain of where she could be hiding.
“Show yourself, monster!” Midas demanded, searching the shadows, briefly catching movement to the left. “Now!”
Medusa laughed again.`“Oh, King Midas, why?”` she asked, giggling.`“Do you seek me? Or do you seek something else?”`
“Why should I tell you?” Midas scoffed, still searching the shadows for movement.
`“I’m curious,”` Medusa answered.`“The men who enter my lair come for different reasons. Some for my head, some for glory, some for vengeance, and others because they’ve lost the will to live and they want their suffering to end. What is your reason?”`
“A weapon,” Midas answered reluctantly. “You possess a weapon that even the Gods fear, and I am here for that weapon.”
Medusa laughed once again, and this time, she stepped into the light, revealing that she wore a red/gold veil over her eyes so that they couldn’t be seen. But they could see that she was smiling in a way that left them all uneasy.
She was tall with the body of a model with green snakes for living hair, and she wore a revealing sleeveless red/gold dress while her feet were bare.
“I know the weapon you seek,” Medusa informed them. “But it is not the right time for you to have it yet.”
“What do you mean?” Midas demanded of her.
Medusa explained that she’d been visited by the same woman that had given him the gem. “And with the Harp of Morpheus, we will sleep until the time is right.”
Midas hesitated and glanced at his men, finding that they were willing to follow him lead, and he faced her. “Ok, we’ll do it.”
Pleased, Medusa directed them to find places to sit or lie down as she produced a gold harp. She set it on a table, and it started playing on its’ own, sending them all into a deep sleep that would last until it was time for them to awaken.
And it would be a very long time indeed.