CHAPTER VIII:Snakes, Bloodlust, And Demigods! Oh My!

I walked carefully through the maze. My shield was raised in front of me, and I held my spear tightly using my shield to balance it. Ares' obstacles were always free for all's, but this one was 'you can work together if you want'. It was a powerful monster after all.

I walked slowly, careful of every step. I could feel myself getting closer to the center of the maze. Ares' power flooded the maze, and I could feel the bloodlust and battle frenzy washing over me.

Then I heard a blood curdling scream. I ran to it, and froze. A gorgon stood there with her eyes covered by a black blindfold, holding a son of Ares. She threw him down like he was a rag doll and hissed. Her hair flailed about, alive with black snakes, and she turned towards me.

"Daughter of Hadesssss." She hissed, as she smiled widely.

Her voice was soft yet rough. Like tattered silk, or lions fur. Her teeth were semi-sharp, her mouth was black like a dark abyss, and a black forked tongue flicked out like a vipers. It was Medusa. The most well known, and possibly most dangerous gorgon.

She walked towards me slowly. I backed up carefully cautious of my step. She couldn't see, but her snakes guided her.

"Aresss told me about you. Sssaid you're sssspeccial." She said her smile widening.

She lunged forward, and I rolled to the left. She recovered quickly, and turned to me. I got to my feet, and ran. She chased after me, and laughed wickedly. Her laugh echoed off of the walls, and rang in my ears. Then it stopped suddenly. Like someone turned a speaker off.

I leaned against a wall to catch my breath. Medusa didn't lose me, I was sure of it, but something else got her attention.

I continued to walk through the maze. I kept my spear close and my shield closer. One wrong move could mean death. I suddenly got knocked down, a blurred figure crossed my field of vision. I got the focus in my eyes back, and saw Penny straddling me breathing hard. I pushed her off, and grabbed my gear.

Penny was shaking badly. "I-I can't do it.....Me-M-Me-Medusa's here." She stuttered.

I sighed "Look. I'll watch your back, you lead, ok?" I said.

Penny nodded hesitantly, and started walking. I followed behind her, and kept a close eye out for the dreaded beast. Kids of Athena were not well liked by Medusa. In fact the gorgon went out of her way to kill a demigod or two that bore the symbol or likeness of Athena.

We kept walking through the maze, and I could feel the overwhelming pressure of Ares. A wave of violence, and bloodlust kept flowing over me. I kept my goal true, and reached the center of the maze with Penny.

Standing next to a red banner with black markings was Medusa. I finally got a clear look at her. She wore a rattlesnake skin jacket, matte black leather pants, and black boots with black laces. Her hands had visible, bronze colored, claws, and an owl symbol was burned on her arm. A mark of Athena. To show all who cursed the woman in front of us.

Her hair flailed about more "Daughter of Athena. Welcome to your death." Medusa said smiling.

Medusa got ready to lunge, and I directed my spear towards her. I grabbed Penny's hand and forced her to stab her spear into the wall. Penny disappeared in a puff of smoke, and Medusa hissed. I held my shield in front of me, and slowly circled around the room. I got closer and closer to the center of the room. Medusa followed me as her snakes hissed and flailed about like black ribbons. I saw a cup, and kicked it into a pile of gold. Medusa turned her head as I dived forward grabbing Ares' banner and ran out.

I kept running trying to remember my way through the maze. I ran and ran till I found the exit. Penny was sitting there, shaking, with her spear and shield held close.

Ares was there smiling "We have a winner!" He announced.

I dropped the banner, and fell to my knees. I tried to catch my breath, but each time I inhaled it felt like I was shoving razors down my throat. More students appeared in the field as the medical kids ran out to tend to the wounded. I nearly collapsed on the spot, but I managed to pull myself together enough to stay conscious.