Chapter 9. Fussy Serpents

Over the course of two months, the bond between Medusa and the young mortal female, Aleysia, continued to strengthen. They would often spend their afternoons together, sitting on the shores of the fjord, watching the waves gently lap against the rocks. On occasion, they would take leisurely strolls along the water's edge, hand in hand, as the salty sea air filled their lungs.

Medusa, too, would sometimes take Aleysia on fishing trips, where they would sit in silence, waiting for the fish to bite, their lines cast into the crystal-clear waters. And, of course, there were the special trips to visit the whale pod, where they would marvel at the majestic creatures, their songs echoing across the ocean.

As the days turned into weeks, the specter of death that had once hung over Aleysia like a dark cloud began to dissipate, slowly but surely. Her complexion, once pale, began to bloom with a healthy glow, and her face, once gaunt and drawn, now radiated a vibrant, lively energy. Which makes Medusa even more attached to her.

Even the snakes on Medusa's head seemed to respond to Aleysia's presence, their forked tongues darting in and out of their mouths as they hissed and spat with excitement. But as the days went by, their hissing grew more frequent and more insistent, making it increasingly difficult for Medusa to get close to Aleysia. The older woman feared that if she wasn't careful, the snakes' aggressive behavior might frighten Aleysia away, causing her to vanish from Medusa's life forever.

Ariadne, the name of the mythical princess, carried a deeper meaning as Aleysia walked briskly alongside Medusa, her cane tapping against the ground with a sense of urgency. The two women's paths had crossed, and the tension between them was palpable.

"Be careful," Medusa cautioned, her voice laced with concern as she quickly stretched out her arm to pull Aleysia closer, enveloping her in a warm embrace. The gesture was not lost on Aleysia, who could feel the heat radiating from Medusa's body.

Aleysia's face lit up with excitement as she revealed the box she had brought. "I made an apple tart, and Whitney helped me," she exclaimed, eagerly showing Medusa the delectable treat. Medusa's heart raced, and she had to resist the urge to pull Aleysia's face closer and kiss her senseless.

"Sounds delicious," Medusa responded, her voice slightly shaky. "Let's go inside and enjoy it with some tea," she suggested, attempting to maintain her composure.

Medusa had been single for centuries, and the idea of pursuing a romantic relationship had always seemed daunting. Yet, as she stood there, gazing into Aleysia's eyes, a glimmer of hope ignited within her. Perhaps it was time to take a chance, to let down her guard and embrace the possibility of love. After all, what did she have to lose?

The word 'everything' reverberated through Medusa's mind, triggering a flood of memories she had long suppressed. The last time she had lost everything came rushing back, a painful reminder of the betrayal she had suffered at the hands of Poseidon and Athena.

Dark thoughts clouded her consciousness, and she hated the way they consumed her, threatening to pull her back into the depths of despair. The memories were a constant weight she carried, a burden that threatened to crush her spirit.

Suddenly, a soft, beautiful voice broke through the trance. "Ariadne, are you okay?" It was Aleysia, her concerned gaze fixed on Medusa, her hand gently rubbing Medusa's shoulder.

The touch was like a lifeline, pulling Medusa back to the present day, away from the haunting recollections. Aleysia's presence had a calming effect, and Medusa felt the darkness recede, if only for a moment.

"I'm okay," Medusa responded, her voice tinged with a hint of vulnerability. "I was just remembering my awful ex."

Aleysia's expression softened, and she replied sympathetically, "I'm sorry."

Medusa mustered a smile, finding solace in Aleysia's understanding. "Don't be," she said, reaching out to place a tender kiss on Aleysia's palm. "She's a jerk."

Medusa gently guided Aleysia towards the entrance of the house, her voice soft and reassuring. "Don't think too much about it," she said. "The pain she caused me was just too big, a fleeting moment that I'd rather not dwell on."

Aleysia paused in her tracks, her eyes widening with curiosity. "She?" she questioned, a slight tilt of her head. "Your ex, is she? So, you dated a woman?"

Medusa felt a flutter of nervousness as she met Aleysia's gaze, searching for any hint of judgment or disapproval. But to her surprise, Aleysia's face lit up with a bright, joyful expression.

"Yes," Medusa answered, her voice steady. "I've always found women to be endearing, lovely, and more passionate. They've always captivated me."

Aleysia's eyes sparkled with excitement as she resumed walking, a smile playing on her lips. "I see," she said coyly. "Well, then I may just have a chance."

Medusa's heart skipped a beat, and she felt a surge of hope bloom within her. "Pardon?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, scarcely daring to believe what she had heard.

Aleysia gives Medusa a smile; her eyes, behind those dead eyes, are filled with a mixture of affection and mischief. "Oh, nothing," she replied, a playful lilt to her tone. "Let's go inside and enjoy that apple tart together, shall we?"

-

Bernard finally gathered all the background information on Aleysia Simon. While it had been relatively easy to compile basic details about her—such as her birthplace, parental history, educational background, and even her criminal records—he understood that this superficial knowledge would not suffice. Knowing Medusa well, he realized he had to dig deeper to uncover the true essence of Aleysia Simon. This would require talking to more people who could provide insights into her life and experiences.

As Bernard delved further, he uncovered far more than he had anticipated. He reached out to a teacher from Aleysia's former boarding school, only to find that initial conversations were filled with half-truths and evasions. It was only after he pressed the teacher for more substantial details that the truth began to emerge, revealing a complex and heartbreaking truth.

Aleysia Simon had been born into a wealthy family; her father owned a tech company that had been rapidly expanding over the years. However, tragedy struck when her mother died in a car accident, leaving Aleysia and her father to navigate life without her.

Eventually, her father remarried, but this new union would lead to even greater turmoil in Aleysia's life. She became a modern-day Cinderella, but her story was far darker than a fairy tale.

After her father's untimely death, which remained shrouded in mystery, Aleysia discovered that her stepmother had falsified his will. The stepmother had manipulated the legal documents to secure the entire inheritance for herself, leaving Aleysia with nothing.

And it was her stepmother, along with her boyfriend, who seized control of the tech company, endeavoring to salvage what they could from the chaos that had engulfed it. Their primary motivation was to capitalize on the lucrative profits that the company generated, but as Bernard had discovered in today's news report, the company's fortunes had taken a dismal turn.

The once-thriving enterprise was now on a downward spiral, its financials in disarray, and its reputation tarnished. The report painted a grim picture, with declining sales, mounting debts, and a general sense of mismanagement pervading every aspect of the company's operations.

It seemed that Aleysia's stepmother and her boyfriend were more concerned with lining their own pockets than with steering the company towards a brighter future.

However, Aleysia's struggles did not end there. She had been left blind due to her stepmother's neglect; her stepmother simply did not care enough to ensure Aleysia received the medical attention she desperately needed.

Further compounding her suffering, Aleysia endured relentless bullying for three years at her boarding school, a painful experience that left deep emotional scars. To make matters worse, she faced a horrific incident when her stepmother's boyfriend attempted to rape her, a trauma that would haunt her for years.

Aleysia's life only started to get better when the Owens intervened to rescue her from the oppressive environment her stepmother had created. They took her to Longyearbyen, a place that offered her a chance for healing and renewal away from the shadows of her past.

"No wonder she seeks death." Bernard muttered, seeing the report in his hand.

He walked out of his room to see Aleysia is currently laughing and talking with his mistress, eating a plate of apple tart with a cup of tea.

Meanwhile outside the house, the arctic wind whispers softly as it carries the first drops of rain across the rugged landscape of Longyearbyen. Heavy gray clouds hang low, obscuring the jagged mountain peaks that normally tower over the small town. A hush falls over the streets as the rainfall begins, each drop pattering gently against rooftops and windows.

The pattern of the rain creates a soothing, hypnotic melody that wraps around them like a warm embrace. Bernard can see how soft Medusa's gaze is towards Aleysia these days. Medusa often wears her turban whenever Aleysia is around, having told Bernard that it's because the snakes are 'fussy' whenever Aleysia is near.

"Fussy?" Bernard had asked, confused, when Medusa told him a few days prior.

"Happy, they're happy," Medusa had simply answered.

"But, you said, no, in the history books I've read, the snakes have the same feelings as you. They reacted the same as you." Bernard had wanted to say more, but then he realized something.

"Exactly," Medusa had replied curtly before leaving him behind, leaving Bernard to ponder the deeper meaning behind her words.

"Oh! Ohhhhh!"