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𝓦𝓲𝓵𝓭𝓮𝓼𝓽 𝓭𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓶𝓼
₊✩‧₊˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊
As they trudged along the winding path, Grover's nose twitched, a peculiar scent pulling his attention.
"Do you guys smell that?" Grover's voice broke the silence, nostrils flaring as he inhaled deeply.
Percy and Annabeth exchanged puzzled looks, curiosity rising.
"Grover, not now—" Percy began, confused.
"No, I'm serious. Just shush," Grover cut him off, his focus entirely on the strange aroma.
He sniffed again, recognition flashing across his face.
"Hamburgers," he declared, disbelief in his voice.
Percy raised an eyebrow. "Hamburgers? Out here? On a satyr path in the middle of nowhere? Whoever's cooking... they're from our world."
Annabeth crossed her arms, skepticism clear. "Auntie 'Em' all over again. Stone statues, anyone? Yeah, this is definitely one of ours. Any guesses what 'Em' stands for?"
"Mommy Medusa," Inez smirked, scanning the area.
"Oh..." Grover groaned, guilt washing over him.
The weight of realization settled over them. "Let's get out of here before things get worse," Annabeth urged, her voice tense.
But before they could move, a figure stepped from the shadows, her presence sending a chill through the air.
Percy drew Riptide; Inez followed suit, gripping her dagger, Heartbreaker.
"You should have accepted my offer when you had the chance," the woman, Alecto, sneered, her voice laced with venom.
Percy frowned, turning to Inez. "Offer? What's she talking about?"
Before Inez could answer, another voice cut through the thick tension. "Not today. Not on my doorstep."
A new figure emerged—tall, cloaked, eyes gleaming with malice. Annabeth's heart sank.
"Oh, shoot."
The woman, clearly in control, smiled sweetly. "If you have something to resolve, come inside. I'll help." Her voice was disarmingly kind but edged with danger.
Percy hesitated, glancing at his friends. He felt the hidden threat in her words. But before he could reply, Inez took his hand, her grip firm.
With a nod, she led him toward a hiding spot behind a large plant. Percy's heart pounded in sync with hers as they crouched, the tension between them crackling like electricity.
Meanwhile, the woman's attention shifted back to Alecto. "Alecto, will you be joining us?" she asked, her voice carrying both curiosity and authority.
Alecto stayed hidden, silent but present.
"Thought so," the woman continued, now addressing Percy. "She won't touch you while you're with me, but she's not going to leave either, not if it means failing to retrieve Poseidon's son."
The weight of her words hung heavy in the air, casting a shadow over the group as they grappled with their precarious situation.
"How did you..." Percy started, his mind racing to grasp how this woman knew his identity.
Medusa smiled, her tone a mix of amusement and menace. "A forbidden child has been claimed. How long did you think that secret would last? It's a pleasure to meet you, son of Poseidon."
Percy's mind reeled. Before he could process it, Annabeth's voice snapped him back.
"Percy, don't. She's a monster."
Medusa's honeyed voice cut in, dripping with persuasion. "We all choose who we make our monsters. Right now, that one—" she gestured toward the shadows—"wants to tear you limb from limb. I'm offering lunch. Your choice."
As Medusa's offer hung in the air, Percy felt torn.
"I think we can trust her," he said, surprising his companions.
Grover gaped at him. "Dude!"
Percy shook his head. "My mom used to tell me Medusa's story. She isn't what people think. I trust my mom. I'm going in. You can follow if you want."
Inez squeezed his hand. "I'm coming too." Her voice was steady, though tension lingered. Percy glanced at her, a blush creeping onto his face, but Inez's resolve didn't falter.
They walked toward Medusa, her allure undeniable despite the fear she inspired. Percy found himself glancing at Inez more than once, equally entranced by her confidence.
"You have such captivating beauty," Inez remarked to Medusa, her sincerity catching even Percy off guard.
Medusa smiled knowingly. "Ah, a daughter of Aphrodite."
Inez's eyes widened, but she remained composed. With her faith in Percy intact, she nodded and continued forward.
Grover hesitated but followed loyally. "What are you doing—" he started, but Percy was already too far gone.
Annabeth, conflicted, stayed behind for a moment, contemplating the dangerous path her friends were walking. Finally, with a heavy sigh, she moved to follow.
Inside, Medusa's voice echoed softly. "You must be hungry. There are snacks on the table. I'll get something proper going."
Percy eyed the food warily. "Think it's safe to eat?" he whispered to Inez and Grover.
Grover, hunger gnawing at him, sighed. "I'm starving. I'm ready to risk it."
They sat at the table, the soft chime of a bell signaling Medusa's return.
Annabeth lingered, her thoughts heavy. "This isn't the same for me as it is for you," she said, her voice tinged with sadness.
"Why?" Percy asked.
Medusa's gaze softened as she looked at Annabeth. "You're worried I hold a grudge because you're Athena's daughter? We're not our parents. And you and I have more in common than you think."
The tension in the room began to ease. Percy looked up. "So you're not a monster. What are you then?"
Medusa's smile was bitter. "A survivor."
Annabeth leaned forward, curious. "You must be more than that. Alecto seems terrified of you."
Medusa's eyes darkened. "Because she knows what I do to bullies. They don't leave my doorstep."
Percy shifted uncomfortably. "Then why do you live out here?"
Medusa's voice dropped. "Because I'm cursed, and I cannot change that. But I can make sure no one bullies me again."
Inez stood, feeling a strange connection with Medusa. The weight of her own past, her struggles, seemed to resonate. As they spoke, Medusa's words seemed to cut deeper, not just for Percy and Annabeth but for Inez, too.
"What the gods did to you wasn't right," Inez whispered.
Medusa smiled sadly. "No, it wasn't."
"Something's burning," Medusa murmured, her voice barely above a whisper, as the weight of their shared pain engulfed the room. "Would you give me a hand in the kitchen? I think something's burning," she said, her gaze settling on Percy.
Percy stood, hesitating for only a moment before nodding. "Sure."
As he followed Medusa into the kitchen, Annabeth's voice cut through the silence, quiet but firm. "The both of you," she began, her eyes darting to Inez and Grover, "get ready to run."
Inez's heart pounded in her chest, her eyes meeting Annabeth's. She could see the seriousness behind her friend's calm facade. Grover, too, stiffened, his ears twitching nervously.
