Stheno!!!

After my utterly embarrassing failure in archery, Will and Isabella encouraged me to try some other fields too.

"Don't give up so soon. You haven't tried everything yet." Isabella said to cheer me up. But I wasn't feeling any better. But still I nodded to her.

"So what next?" I asked downheartedly.

"It's spear training." she said and I knew I was going to be a laughing stock again.

"Right then. What are we waiting for." and I took a spear from the weapons kept there.

Isabella and Will were going to practice with me because our combat instructor, Mr. Lee had to discuss something important with Hecate.

"Here, hold it like this." Isabella was a damn good teacher. In a matter of seconds, she taught me everything regarding the basic techniques of a spear. I was doing pretty well. At least better than archery.

"Here, now attack me!" she seriously instructed and I complied. I held the spear high and charged at her. She deflected it easily.

"Again!"

and I tried again. This time with full force. Isabella tried to defend using her spear and my hit it. On the impact, both the spears shattered into a hundred pieces.

"What?" Isabella was utterly shocked. And I, too, was left dumbstruck.

"What happened right now?" I asked with confusion. Isabella and Will exchanged curious glances.

"You are not able to control your strength." she finally said. And I understood what she meant. I have always felt like someone else is controlling me. I am not able to unite my body and mind. It's always like, that my body and mind are battling inside to take control.

"What do I do?" I asked helplessly. I had been struggling with this question for years but I had always failed terribly. But now, this was a new chapter of my life and I had hoped that I would find my answers. I only had to ask the right person.

"There is only one person that can help you." Isabella said. "Stheno".

"Stheno? Wait you mean the Gorgon Stheno!!!"

"Yes"

"The one with red venomous, living snakes instead of hair?"

"Yes"

"She is a MONSTER!!" I was profoundly shocked. I was surprised that a monster was here, among sendates. That, too, a Gorgon.

According to the books I had read about Greek mythology, there were three Gorgon sisters. Medusa, Stheno and Euryale. They had hair made of living, venomous snakes.

Legends say that, initially these sisters were beautiful women. Medusa, the youngest of the three, was romantically involved with the Sea god, Poseidon. One day, Poseidon and Medusa agreed to meet at the temple of Athena. This angered Athena and she, blinded by anger, cursed Medusa to become a terrible monster and anyone who saw her would be transformed into stone.

Medusa's sisters tried to save her from the goddess' wrath but, in doing so, received the curse of Athena.

Stheno was the eldest of all sisters and she was the most vicious of all. Of the three Gorgons, she was known to be the most independent and ferocious, having killed more men than both of her sisters combined.

"Adrian, I understand what you ate thinking, but believe me, she has changed." Isabella said.

"Changed? How you know that she won't betray you. After all, she's a monster. How can you guys believe her?"

"Isabella is right. Stheno is not what she used to be in the past. She HAS changed. She is a skilled warrior and teacher." Will interrupted.

"Teacher? She is a teacher here?" My mind was blowing up. How the hell this place managed to recruit a monster as a school teacher? I had no idea.

"Is Hecate okay with all this?" I finally asked. The idea of monsters and gods working together was a bit disturbing. How could Hecate even agree to this madness?

"Adrian, Hecate was the one who brought Stheno here." Isabella calmly said and my eyes widened in disbelief.

"What? She... brought her here. But why? How?... " now my mind was utterly confused.

"Listen, don't overreact. You get it." Isabella scolded me and I shut my mouth, waiting for them to explain.

"One day, Hecate brought Stheno with her. Our reaction to it was the same as yours. We asked Hecate to send her into Tartarus, but she convinced us to at least give Stheno a second chance. And... "

"You agreed." I finished the sentence for her.

"Yes" she sighed. "Adrian, I also doubted it at first, but Stheno has been very kind to us and...she is also like... like a friend to me now. She is not at all like the monster that the stories had portrayed her as." Isabella tried her best to convince me but my heart was against it. Yet, I didn't want to disappoint her.

"Okay." I finally agreed. Isabella and Will's eyes lit up and I couldn't help but smile. Oh my God, there expressions were so cute. There cuteness would give me a nose bleed.

"Just one more question, guys." I said. "If Stheno is here, then why I didn't see her during dinner?" I asked.

"Oh it's because she was not here then. She had returned from a job that Hecate gave her, today." Will said and I nodded.

"Come, let's take you to her. She will surely fix your problem. I betcha." Isabella excitedly said and I followed her and Will to... Umm, wherever they were taking me.