Medusa Fate s GameChapter 9
- 3 years ago
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~~Darian~~
Darian growled, louder than he wanted to, and when he glanced at Medusa, she was looking at him with a confused expression. No luck there, she’d heard them, and she lowered her human half down next to him. She kept looking at him through the corner of her eye, but the monsters before them weren’t the sort you took your eyes off of.
“It’s Darian now. Fuck off,” he said.
The three winged women glared at him, exposed their shark teeth, and scowled. But they said nothing; the masks that dangled from thread did all the talking.
“You try our patience, Bellerophontes. And we have been patient with you.”
“Yeah, thanks for that.” Worthless god-things. “So if it wasn’t you or the gods trying to shit down my throat, who was it? Who attacked that ship?”
“That is what we wish for you to discover.”
“ ... you don’t know. The Fates don’t know?” he said, and Medusa gasped behind him. Her whole body started to shake when she realized who they were. He gave Medusa’s worried hand a small pat, stepped toward the three creatures, their masters, and glared at each mask in close proximity. He even snickered. “You’re pathetic.”
That was too much for the she-demons. One of the winged bitches reached out with their free hand, fast enough he couldn’t react, and grabbed his shoulder. Their grip was absolute, like a titan with a hangover, and they scowled at him while they screeched and forced him to his knees.
“D-Darian!” Medusa slithered his way and readied to pounce, but Darian held up his hand.
“They won’t kill me. They won’t even injure me. Wouldn’t want to hurt their precious merchandise.”
The Erinyes growled inhuman noises and shoved him away, hard enough to knock him on his ass.
“Stubborn child. Our need is for both of our sake’s, not ours alone,” one of the masks said.
He got up, dusted off his naked butt, and folded his arms across his chest. “I can take care of myself. I don’t need you.”
“They will come for you again, once they learn you are still alive, child. And your new friend will suffer for your stubbornness.”
He tightened his fists, but looked back at Medusa behind him. She looked worried, even petrified, but her worry was pointed at him. He really didn’t want to drag her into this shit show.
“That ... that will be up to her. I won’t endanger her, but it’s her choice. I’ll leave if she asks it of me.”
Medusa tilted her head to the side, maybe a little shocked at his words. Perhaps she thought he’d give some speech about how he wouldn’t risk her life, and he’d run away at the first sign of danger so she’d come to no harm. He was far too selfish for that. He didn’t want her out of his life, and he knew it.
“Bellerophontes, someone has stolen one of the Moirai masks.”
Their blend of anger and frustration in their inhuman voices earned more laughter from Darian than he’d hoped for. If he kept pushing it though, one of those winged demons was liable to hurt him just for the sport of shutting him up, no matter what their masters said.
“And what does this have to do with me?” he said once the laughter had passed.
“Whoever this person is, they are using the mask to hunt down all the children, including you, Bellerophontes. It is they who attacked you.”
“Of course they are.” He gripped his head and ran his fingers through his hair, complete with groans of frustration. “And what—”
“Enough questions!” One of the masks said, and the creature holding it stepped closer to aim the speaking slab of metal and glowing white at his face. “As we said, this is for both our sake’s, but if that is not enough to convince a stubborn fool like yourself, know that this enemy has captured your beloved Pegasus.”
Darian froze. They had Pegasus? “How ... how do you know that, if you don’t know who stole the mask?”
“And we have not come to reveal all our secrets to you, fool.”
The Erinyes started to circle him in a slow walk, each pointing their thread-bound masks at him. Medusa wanted to jump in, in fact his new friend seemed anxious to battle for him, but he shook his head when they made eye contact.
“ ... so ... I help you, and I get to save Pegasus...” He watched the demons circle him in the corner of his eye, but he didn’t turn with them. His exposed back was no worry; they needed him.
He gritted his teeth and took a moment to think. Pegasus was alive. That was good. Very good. Memories of his old friend carrying him through the sky earned a slow sigh from Darian. He could remember the cold rain, the blowing wind, the exhilaration as they flew skyward. He could remember the lightning that sent them both plummeting. Pegasus would never betray him.
A thought, like a spark in the dark, hit the back of his eyes when he glanced Medusa’s way. And then a slight grin.
“Alright, on one condition.”
The Erinyes stopped circling him, and glared with more rage on their face. He really did enjoy pissing them off.
“You have nerve, child,” one of the masks said.
“Speak,” said another.
“I ... I help you, I kill whoever it is that stole one of your masks, return it to you, and in return, you help her.” He motioned to Medusa with a nod of his head.
The gorgon blinked at him, shock blatant on her face, and she brought her hands up to her lips to bite on a nail. The Erinyes looked at her, and if Darian didn’t know better, he’d think they were jealous.
“ ... Athena’s curse is not ours to undo.”
“You’re not going to undo the curse, you’re going to arrange a meeting. Myself and Athena. Medusa too if she wishes to be there.”
The masks had no facial expressions, they were just solid slabs of metal with glowing white mist dripping from their eyes and mouths. But the silence carried more than enough weight to make up for their expressionless faces.
Medusa slithered a little closer, and the Erinyes did not stop her. “Darian, you...”
He cracked a smile her way, a quick one, and gave her a sneaky wink to go with it before he donned his stern glare again for the masks. They stared at him, still and lifeless, and he stared right back, arms across his chest and his bare foot tapping the stone beneath them.
“ ... we cannot guarantee your life, or hers, young Bellerophontes.”
Ooh, so courteous now that he was willing to help them. Predictable.
“I know.”
The winged demons looked at each other, and slurred more of their inhuman growls. The noises rose to a roar of anger, and they shoved at each other with their free hands, like squabbling birds.
“Enough!” one of the masks said. The winged creatures stopped bickering, and stood beside each other wing to wing, their harsh glares on Darian and their masters held out at arm’s length in front of them. Apparently, even their attack dogs weren’t always so perfectly obedient. “It is a deal, Bellerophontes. We have your aid then?”
“You do.” He had to bite his tongue to keep the bile in his throat down.
“Excellent. We will send a ship for you in seven days time. You will know its approach by the death’s hands and the step of hooves.”
Death’s hands, step of hooves? He squinted and tried to hide his confusion.
“It’s a deal then. Now go away.”
The monsters gritted their teeth the same way he did, and they growled at him between clenched jaws.
The masks weren’t done though. “You will need help, Bellerophontes, to find this devious entity.”
“And I suppose you have one lined up for me.”
“In a manner of speaking. You know this person well, and you know where they have gone.”
He raised a brow. “I do?”
“Indeed. You crushed their face with a rock.”
He took a step back. “ ... he’s alive?”
It was the Erinyes’ turn to laugh. They flapped their wings, kicked up dirt and water with their huge wingspans, and lifted into the air, all the while cackling. The masks did not answer him. In fact, they went deathly silent, and the white mist that glowed in their orifices faded away. The skulls that the masks were strapped to fell to dust caught in the wind of wings, leaving the masks to dangle from thread with no voice.
And they left. As quickly as they came, the wicked monsters were gone, high into the sky and nothing but a blur against the sun.
The silence that followed was painful. He looked down at the stones beneath him for a while, and listened to the little stream that flowed from the mountain into the large rock basin beside him. He looked to the sky, to the water, to anywhere but Medusa.
The gorgon didn’t move either, he’d have heard it. She stood there, still as a snake, and watched him. When he glanced her way in the corner of his eye, he could see she was still holding her hands up to her lips, and was biting a knuckle. Her eyes were wide, shocked.
And why wouldn’t they be? Shit just showed up and dumped itself all over the two of them.
He might as well talk first. It was his fault. “I ... I’m sorry.”
“Why are you sorry?” She took his voice as a queue, and slithered over to him. She’d even brought his loincloth, and he chuckled half-heartedly when she handed it to him.
“For this,” he said, and gestured to the sky where the demons were dots on the blue. “For ... not telling you my real name.” He tied on the loincloth, and did his best to avoid eye contact as he did so. He didn’t need her to see the guilt he was sure he was radiating. “For—”
She picked him up, and hugged him. He knew he was a light guy, but the gorgon literally picked him up and raised him several feet in the air, just so she could hug him while slithering about with her human half hovering high above the ground. Damn she was strong when she wanted to be.
“You have nothing to be sorry for,” she said, and she slithered around in a circle like a dance. After a few minutes of holding him like a doll, she set him down, but she kept one of his hands in hers, and she squeezed it while smiling at him. It was one of those smiles, the confident and happy kind he was the one usually wielding.
“I don’t?”
“No.”
“I thought for sure I did.”
“No.” She giggled, and tugged on his hand like a young, excited girl. “I knew you had secretsss, Darian, I just didn’t know they’d be so huge. The Fatess?”
“Uh, yeah, it’s ... it’s a long story, but the short of it? I’m just a pawn in their game.”
“Game?”
“Yeah, they like to ... they...” They like to ruin lives. “They orchestrate events, big things, anything that could get spun into a tale, and throw someone like me into it.”
“Oh ... oh! Your eyes, they glowed white like ... those masks...”
The reality was starting to hit her, he could see it on her face. The last thing he wanted was for her to look at him differently.
She tugged on his hand again, closer, until she was able to lean down and put her forehead to his. “And you gave me a choice ... to stay by your side. And even more, you said you ... you’d do this to help me.”
He nodded, and let her snake hair poke at his shoulders. “Yeah, I ... I didn’t want you involved if you didn’t want to be. And I saw a chance to help you. I couldn’t waste it, right?”
A tinge of guilt crept up his back. He wanted to help her, he did. But he also saw an opportunity. Him, Athena, and a host of ways he could take advantage of that. A step closer to revenge.
But not until Medusa’s curse was fixed. Control yourself Darian, even if you get the chance, control yourself. Medusa came first.
“You couldn’t waste it.” Medusa chuckled, and she started to slither around him again. This time though, she kept close to him, very close, so close he couldn’t raise his arms. Bit by bit, she coiled around him until he couldn’t move, and she held him like a meal ready to be devoured.
He really didn’t mind. It was even comforting, trapped in her embrace, her smooth snake skin along his human skin. And when she smiled at him, he couldn’t help but smile back.
“So ... you’re leaving soon,” she said.
He nodded, head heavy. “Yeah. I know who they were talking about, and where he’s gone. It’s South of Sparta.”
“That is far ... I wonder if the journey will be hard on my scales.” She reached down, and patted the belly of some of her snake length.
Wait, hard on her scales? “You’re coming?”
“ ... did ... you not wish for me to?”
Arg, she had that sad, worried look on her face again that broke his will like puppy eyes.
“Of course I do. We ... it’s...” He tried to raise his arms to express his concern. No good, trapped at his side. “It’s dangerous! You could get hurt.”
She shook her head, and squeezed him with her snake coils. He couldn’t move at all anymore.
“Ssso could you! I won’t ... no, I won’t let that happen.” She put her hands on his shoulders and shook him, but he didn’t shake much trapped as he was. “You want to help me. I want to help you! And ... you gave me the choice.”
“I did, I just thought ... I figured I’d be a real jackass if I made those choices for you.”
She leaned over his trapped body, and put her forehead to his again. Those perfect yellow snake eyes gazed into him, and her snake hair nuzzled up against his neck and jaw when she smiled.
“I heard, in Sparta, women can exercise with the men, wear chiton robes like men, read and write, even earn money,” she said. “Is that still true?”
He nodded. “Last I was there, the women were walking around with the men, doing those things, yeah.” He really liked his visit, much as it had taken some convincing to let him in the city. Spartans were a defensive bunch.
“And you said the one who can help you is near Sparta?”
“I did.”
“Then ... I would like to see that. With you,” she said.
She was nice, so damn nice. So perfectly and completely nice, nicer than anyone he’d ever known. It was going to get her killed, and it was the reason he didn’t want her to go. It was also the reason he didn’t want her out of his life.
She was so close to him, with her forehead on his, her snake hair coiling around his ears and shoulders. He pushed his jaw forward, found her lips, and gave her a kiss.
She pulled back, surprised. Had he crossed a line? Last night had been a very sexual experience, and right then, it wasn’t sexual. It was different.
“You kissed me,” she said. Her voice had gone quiet again, and she put her fingers on her lips to touch where he’d kissed them.
“Sorry, just ... I couldn’t help it. Y—”
She kissed him back. Her hands found his head and neck, held onto him, and pulled him into her kiss. Her eyes were closed, her expression was blissful, and she wasn’t stopping. Her coils loosened with time, until Darian could get his arms out, but Medusa was pushing herself forward and onto him, until he was sitting on the stone and blinking up at the gorgon.
“Do ... all the women ... throw themselves at you, like this?” she said, and she laid her human body atop him in the center of a large ring of her snake length.
“Many do,” he said. When she raised her head and frowned at him, he snickered like a child. “But, I always said no.” That got her smiling again.
“No? Why would you say no?” She reached for his hands and netted her fingers into his while her weight pinned him to the earth. Her snake length beneath the hips rested between his legs, and her stomach was flat on his. From there, she put her lips onto his again, and moaned, just barely, into his lips.
“None of them were ... kind.” He put his arms on her hips, and held on while the deadly gorgon bathed him in kisses. Not a single one of those women had been as kind as the monster in his arms.
“That is a sad story.” Satisfied, she sat up, and laid her body out across her snake length. “Now I see images of Darian – Bellerophontes – pursued by women, but always alone.”
“It wasn’t ... yeah, I guess I was pretty lonely.”
“Then I hope to keep you company on your journey,” she said.
“That journey is going to be a hard one, Medusa.”
“I can imagine.”
He shook his head. “People could die.”
“Probably.”
“People are going to see this,” he said, and pointed to his forehead where he carried his slave mark. “If not, they’ll definitely see you.”
“We will deal with it if it happens.”
“And it will be a long journey.”
“The better for us to get to know each other? Not even ten days and you’ve shared my bed. I feel like a harlot.”
He laughed. She may have said that, but she was grinning like a guilty cat.
“You ... really want to help me on this, don’t you? You don’t even know who Pegasus is, and you barely know me.” And you don’t know what I’m capable of.
“I know you are also doing this to help me ... and that you are the first to ever look at me with those eyes.” Again she reached out and tugged on his hand. “Am ... am I to give a speech for you? Like a poem for Aphrodite, stroking your ego with talk of infatuation and attraction?” She joked, but her finger caressed his knuckle, the same as he had done for her the night before.
“I am a man. Best way to make me happy is to inflate my ego.”
“Oh, I see.” She tugged his hand again and brought him closer. “Then, you are the first to make me laugh, and smile, and feel safe in a very, very long time, Darian. Not even when I was human did I ever enjoy someone’s company as much. And ... and I know there is a lot about you that I don’t know, but ... I am hoping you’ll tell me.”
“I know.” He winced at the thought of dredging up old, ugly stories. “And I will tell you, if you give me time?”
She nodded. “I will. It’s a good thing it’s a long journey then.”
Damn she was a treasure, and way too forgiving. How had a century of solitude and warriors come for her head – warriors she’d killed – not hardened her? He’d hate to be the one responsible for destroying her beautiful personality.
But he’d hate it more if he was responsible for her getting killed.
“Alright. If we’re going to sail and trek across Greece, I’m going to need to teach you to fight.”
~~Medusa~~
It did not take much time for Medusa to realize, she was a horrible fighter.
Darian, or was it Bellerophontes now? He had found them both some sticks to use as swords and spears, and he was trying to teach her some forms. From the dead, he’d removed their shields, one for him and one for her. Dead men’s shields. She frowned each time she looked at the thing on her arm.
“One-on-one combat is a different beast, compared to phalanx combat. In a phalanx, you’d be against a wall of larger shields and spears. But when it’s a duel, or maybe two on one, you need to be able to move and block.” He demonstrated by quick stepping side to side, but also keeping his sword and shield up.
Apollo’s light cast down on them in the midday, and the murmurs of the sea were behind her. Out on the dock, she could stare up at the two sisters she never wanted, Sthenno and Euryale from the names carved at their feet, and wish she could lay under the shade they cast, but Darian would have none of it. Instead, he kept them out along the dock where there was little room to move, unless she wanted to fall into the sea. She considered slithering down into the water, just to help alleviate the heat. Her human half could sweat, but her snake half could not; staying cool in the sun was a problem.
She tried to emulate his quick movements. There was no chance, not with her snake body. The best she could do was hover her torso in the air from side to side. Her torso had a few bruises too; Darian took his training seriously, and had thwaped her more than thrice.
“But ... I have no legs, and...”
“Yeah. I know, and — yeah.” He scratched at the back of his neck, just as confused as her. “And it could all very well be a moot point. If you try dodge me, I’ll just—” he leaped in with disturbing speed, a blur, and when she tried to move her human half out of the way, she succeeded. But it didn’t matter, Darian just went past her torso and attacked her snake half. He was kind enough to not smack the scales hard enough to bruise that flesh, but the point was clear nonetheless.
“I can’t move the length of me with a jump or hop. Anyone with a sword has an advantage.”
“If you let them engage like that, yeah. You’ll have to kill them first to prevent that scenario.”
“I...” She lowered her stick sword and looked down at the water beside her. He said the word ‘kill’ like it was weightless. “Do ... I have to?”
He blinked at her. “Have to what?”
“Kill them first?”
“If you don’t want them to kill you.”
She opened her mouth to respond, but stopped herself. Darian was the first one she had ever seen, ever, who didn’t want her dead. It was a fool’s hope to think others might do the same. And if she was going to come on this journey, she would be the one drawing people’s ire.
But drawing the ire of people was better than letting Darian run off on some insane quest without her aid. Maybe.
“Are you still squeamish about it?” Darian said.
“About killing? Of course!” With a frustrated groan, she threw the stick into the water and turned her back to the man. The whole conversation was turning sour, and she slithered off toward the temple stairway.
Darian jogged after her. “But you’ve killed many.”
“Always in self defense! And always after I asked them to leave.”
Slithering up the stairway was never a fun experience. There were still many dead, worn with a century but still standing and taunting her with their horrified faces. Athena’s curse had turned everyone on the island to stone when it happened, and that she did not blame on herself. It was the few warriors on the stairway that she felt guilty for, sorrowful for. Warriors that had come to the island, and she had killed herself.
She was careful not to touch any of the dead statues she slithered past, new or old. “I don’t like fighting.” I don’t like hearing people’s final gasps.
“Then are you sure you want to come with me?” He got out in front of her on the stairway and blocked her path with arms out to his sides. “I’m going to be fighting people. It always happens when I work with the Fates, and it’s always worse than I can predict.”
“I am sure. It’s just ... must we default to violence?”
“I don’t think—”
“I’m not saying we won’t fight, and I’m not saying I won’t kill. It’s just ... can we try and avoid it first?”
Darian winced, looked to the ground, and leaned his weight onto the stick in his hand. “You think I’ll just kill anyone we run across?”
“No! No, no I...” She lowered her torso until it was eye to eye with Darian, and she reached out to put a hand on his chest. “Please, I meant no offense. I just ... when you saved me, that night we met, you were ... very brutal.”
“That was—”
“I know. And I do not regret that it happened, just ... I think people would surprise you, if you showed a little mercy.”
He winced again, when she said mercy, like it were salt in a wound.
“I...” He shook his head, took a deep breath, and took her hand into his. “Alright. I’ll try. I hope you’re there to remind me?”
She almost glowed with his response. “I will!”
“And if push comes to shove, can I remind you that sometimes, violence is the only answer?” With that, Darian pointed at one of the statues on the stairway, a warrior.
While the other statues on the stairway were running from the temple, a few warriors upon it were heading up to the temple. The one Darian motioned to was worn with time, like the others near it. Battles from long ago, when Medusa had been caught unawares and was forced to defend herself outside the temple, on the stairway. Despite how weather had smoothed many of the sharp edges on the dead man, the look of hate and anger on his face was unmistakable.
“ ... you can.” She leaned forward onto Darian, and put her forehead against his.
Darian sighed like an annoyed parent, but relented, and nudged his forehead to hers. Her snake hair, a bit distraught and weak from the sun, slithered out to rest along his shoulders and hair. Darian rolled his eyes, but when one of the little critters drifted around his cheek and along his jawline, he turned his head just enough to give it a small kiss.
How quickly the two of them had grown so comfortable with each other. Not even a full day since she had first pulled him to her bed – pile of blankets – and already they were holding each other like some sort of silly young girl’s fantasy. She tried not to let it go to her head, but the handsome, lean little man before her was just so delicious, and beautiful, and warm.
So she returned his kiss, with her lips and not those of her snake hair, and rubbed her thumb along his knuckles.
“Ok, if I can’t use a sssword and shield, what do you ssssssuggest?” she said.
“If they’re close enough? Use the stone sight Athena gave you.”
It was her turn to wince again. “And if that isn’t an option? Perhaps you are nearby and it’d put you at risk?”
“You still have your transformation. I saw what you did to that boar.”
She frowned and pulled away a few feet. “Use the ... that thing?”
He nodded, and when she tried to pull further away, he didn’t let go of her hand. “Last resort! Honest. And besides, I think I have a better idea. Have you ever used a bow?”
Digging through the dead for their things a second time put Medusa in a foul mood. She hated touching the dead, and that included the statues; rooting through their things was far worse. But it was a necessary evil, and when you’re trapped on an island, you make do with what you have.
The two of them had moved back up to her little home behind the temple, and this time instead of sticks and shields, Darian had found a bow for her, with a quiver and arrows.
And they fired it for two hours. When the arrows became useless, Darian routed through the dead warriors to find more. One of the large trees nearby was riddled with scratches and holes by the end of the grueling session.
“My arms are tired,” she said.
“Yeah, I’m sorry. I’m pushing you way too hard.” Darian walked over to the tree and retrieved several more arrows. “We can stop, do a bit tomorrow, and every day. You are a very good shot though.”
“Thank you.” She beamed with pride. A sword or spear were such visceral and brutal things, but a bow and arrow had a certain elegance that she preferred. Maybe she just liked being far away from the violence? But she had to admit, lining up the shot and hitting the target, even a tree, was immensely satisfying. And she was good at it, she could tell each time Darian’s mouth opened she landed an arrow. Again, and again, and again.
“Must be a snake’s aim,” he said, and walked up to her with the arrows.
She handed him the bow and quiver, and stretched out her arms, complete with a blissful sigh of release from the tension in her muscles. “Maybe. I am much preferring the bow. I can use it from positions others cannot as well, high and low.” She raised her torso ten feet into the air, and then to the ground to demonstrate. “But...”
“But?” He walked into their little home, bow in hand.
“My breasts prevent me from aligning things as simply as you would. I have to hold the bow away for a couple inches.” Being buxom was nothing more than a pain.
Darian reemerged from the home, laughing in that soft way he did when he teased her. She wanted to give him a bruise or two for teasing her then, but at the same time, she loved the sound of his voice when it was warm.
“The Amazons are rumored to cut off one of their breasts to deal with that, but it’s nonsense. They do wear clothing that keeps their breasts tighter to their bodies though.” He walked, almost skipped up to her, and pointed up – she was hovering a few feet higher than him – at her breasts. “Those wraps you love. I know they’re soft and feel nice on the skin, but maybe you could tie another one underneath around your bust, nice and tight?”
Medusa groaned. “A breast bind? I guess. It sounds uncomfortable. Will I need to wear it all the time?”
“Only when we’re moving.”
More groans.
Darian reached up, took one of her hands, and pulled her down to him. “If it’s any consolation, I’d be much happier if you kept them out too.”
Medusa brought her hands up to her cheeks and shook her head side to side when the blushing started. “Darian!”
Just when she thought the man was going to take her into their little home, he let go of her hand. She opened her eyes to find Darian was squirming a little, and looking to the side. She tried to read his expression, but all she could tell was that he was conflicted. Her snake hair pointed down at where their fingers had been touching earlier, and how empty it felt now without his hand in hers.
“Sorry,” he said, “always thinking with my dick.”
Again, the man was apologizing for his sexual behavior. Why? Last night had been amazing! Just the thought of it, of him inside her, her folds spread around him, it all sent tingles from her fingertips, up into her chest and down through her snake length. And he’d said she was a seductive woman, that he’d really enjoyed it, and ... and all the things that should make him want to do it again. Why did he stop?
~~Chimera~~ He did not like where this was going. The ship moved at a slow pace, or at least he thought it was slow. In the middle of the night, the stars and breeze should have been more than enough of a guide, but the fog of the dead blocked his senses. It felt almost as if they were holding still, but the rest of the crew assured him they were moving, slow but steady. Crew. He sneered, and looked across the deck to the others. The two satyrs were chatting about the tale of Bellerophon,...
~~Darian~~ The journey was not as easy as he’d been hoping. It was a fool’s hope to think it’d be a casual stroll down in the country, but still, he had pictured himself in a simple tunic with Medusa beside him, walking at leisure wherever they desired. Instead, he was weighed down in armor with provisions and a bedroll strapped to his back, not to mention a shield, a sword, and a spear. He looked at the beautiful creature next to him, his one saving grace on this fool’s quest. Medusa kept...
~~Darian~~ Darian took a small step back, and kept his sword up and ready. “Patrius.” “Patrius ... the guard from Tiryns?” Otrera came up beside Darian, sword as ready as his own, and scanned over the group of villagers. They were just people, armor as old and untended as a farmer’s sword, and untrained hands fumbling with their equipment with just as much clumsiness. Their fingers floundered over the weapons, and their eyes glazed over their work, half open, with heavy shoulders and...
~~Otrera~~ Otrera looked down at herself, and sighed. She was naked, laying down in the grass, and staring up at the moonlit sky. Her head rested upon the lap of a nymph that was combing her long black hair. Another nymph was massaging her legs and working her fingers into the tight muscles. They never said anything, the beautiful women touching her, but they smiled, and giggled — so they had voices at least — and traced her many scars with their fingertips. She had much darker skin than...
~~Darian~~ Discovering that the red-eyed guards on the bridge were actually undead was an unwelcome surprise. He should have guessed it; not the first time he’d fought Andromeda’s summoned skeletons. Skeletons shouldn’t have been able to scream, though. They didn’t have any flesh or throat or muscle. They shouldn’t have been able to do anything but lay on the ground, like dead should. But his eyes and sword told him differently as his blade hacked through bone, bone, and more bone. Their...
~~Chimera~~ “We are in luck,” he said. “Gaia has provided.” Pinna and Medusa were up the moment the words were out his mouth. He waved them to sit back down, and he walked over to join them next to the satyr. “Did you run into anyone?” Bellerophontes said. “Anyone out there that might be trouble?” “It is as you said. The villages are far from here, but I did see other ships approach nearby waters. It would seem other cities are using Paros as a bay for trade. We should be cautious if we...
“Damn, damn, damn. Computer give me results of damage on the ‘squirt drive’.” ‘Squirt drive locked in drive mode and at full power. Attempting to cut power to drive to release controls and return to normal space.’ I had just hit execute on a jump when a ship coming out of jump slams into me and throws everything upside down. Now here I am travelling at 10 times light and can’t get the drive to shutdown. I don’t even know in which direction I’m going as the impact tumbled the navigation gyros....
Fantasy & Sci-Fi~~Medusa~~ “So, what do you think?” Darian said. He posed for them, a brown cloak wrapped over his body, dirty edges and blotches of stains on it. Chimera grunted, but Medusa smiled and slithered around him. “You look charming.” “I’m not supposed to look charming! I’m supposed to look forgettable.” He adjusted the horrible garb, but no matter how he wore it, his great smile and young face showed through. “You’ll have to hide your face then.” She reached for his shoulders, and pulled the...
~~Darian~~ “ ... Bellerophontes.” The world stopped. The air petrified, the breeze ceased, and the crickets and birds faded away. The world died around him until it was as if sitting atop a stage, lifeless. Cold crept along his skin until he thought his tears might have frozen on his cheeks. They weren’t, but every sense in his body told him they should have been The mask was alive. Or at least something was talking through it. “Bell ... phontes...” The voice sounded buried, like...
~~Otrera~~ Well, shit. “Darian, wait!” she said. Damn man was going to wreck the world if she wasn’t careful. “Why should I?” “You don’t know what’ll happen if you kill them. You could start what Charon was talking about, or who knows what.” Darian snarled, and a rasp that sounded less like him, more like the first time she’d heard the mask came through. The tall, robed entities stood before their brother’s vessel, and they cowered with a multitude of shadowy limbs raised, flailing like...
~~Otrera~~ Patrius showed up come dawn, as promised, as did the three men. No bandages on his skin this time, not after Chimera explained it didn’t help much. Once Otrera and her companions had taken a whiff of Athena’s gift, they set out into the night. Sneaking around at night was much easier with Athena’s special jar of whatever to wash away the curse. She didn’t like it, smelling something odorless to free her mind of some sorceress’s curse. It was a lot of talk, conjecture, a lot of...
Hey, hey, hey!Still here? To be honest, I wasn't sure you would be. People probably think I'm a bit much to take all in one go. It's true. I can be a total motormouth most of the time but that's just my way of hiding how nervous I get around others. The same goes for the cussing. I swear for a reason. Men are always coming on to me and I've discovered the best way to put them off is to use the language as a kind of weapon. Works every time. But it's not really who I am inside so don't...
Love Stories~~Chimera~~ “The sun will be rising very soon,” he said. “Fuck. Fuck fuck. We can’t sneak into the city come sunrise. Fuck.” The little queen stomped around, and punched him in the leg. She was only a little thing, and her punches were powerful enough to send her back a foot or two across the grass from its own force. Fate’s Children punched hard, and he winced as her knuckles hit muscle. “Your fault.” “I am sorry.” The adorable bundle of fury rolled her eyes, and looked around at the...
"It was midnight. On the water..."*In the dim dark recesses of the mind where dreams are born, my imagination created a world for me to live and play in without fear of consequence. And in that place, I could do and say the things I wanted to say to the one person I wanted to say them to the most.In this dreamworld, from out of the blue swirling void, the man took form and came to me with a smile. He was the light upon my dark and he took my hand in his as we walked along the moonlit shore of...
Love StoriesThis is set in the world of the TV show Flashforward. When everyone on the planet blacked out for two minutes and seventeen seconds they got to see a glimpse of their lives six months from then. The visions of the Samms family were different than most. In the future not all of them would be the same person, or even the same gender.... (NOTE: This picks up where 'Altered Fates: Flashforward' left off but it can be read on its own.) ALTERED FATES: FLASHFORWARD...
ALTERED FATES: RETURN TO KENNET COVE by BobH (c) 2004 (Author's note: This tale is a sequel to, and contains *major* spoilers for, ALTERED FATES: THE X-FILE. It also features appearances by several characters who have encountered the Medallion of Zulo in other stories of mine.) ****************** Having driven down the hill and into the town proper, Julia Tamm parked her car next to the harbor wall. Smiling lovingly at her infant daughter asleep in the child seat...
(Author's Note: This story takes place after Altered Fates: Return to Kennet Cove, and contains spoilers for that tale.) ALTERED FATES: THE CULT By BobH (c) 2004 June 7th, 1968. Barry Hudson, gunned the motor on his ancient VW Beetle, urging it on through the choking dust thrown up by its passage over the bumpy dirt track leading to his destination. "C'mon, you Nazi piece of crap," he said through gritted teeth, "just get us over this rise and we're there, I promise." When...
ALTERED FATES: FLASHFORWARD by BobH (c) 2009 *** (This story is set in the world of the TV show Flashforward.) *** For 17 year-old Lacey Mikulski this was a hard time. She was trying her best to keep her mother's sprits up but her mother wasn't the only one hurting. "I miss her too, you know," she said softly. If her mother heard her she...
ALTERED FATES: AGENT ZULO by BobH (c) 2011 "Yes, baby, oh yes!!" I moaned, bending over the motel room desk as my partner took me from behind, grasping my hips and snorting as he rammed himself into me. Red-faced and breathing heavily, the effort seemed to be taking a lot out of him. Giving one last thrust that almost pushed me into the wall, he came with a final labored grunt. Having shot his load he pulled out of me and sat down heavily on the bed, sweating...
Altered Fates: Triptych By BobH (c) 2003 Lucius Duvall checked his reflection and nodded his approval at what he saw. His hair and beard might have long since turned silver grey, giving him an illusion of age and wisdom that, in terms of age at least, was beyond his years, but both were immaculately trimmed, their edges razor-sharp. His suit was tailored to perfection, the trouser creases sharp and straight; his shoes polished to an almost mirror-finish; the carnation in...
ALTERED FATES/X-FILES: THE SCAM By Bob H. (c) 2003 FBI HEADQUARTERS WASHINGTON, DC. FBI agent Fox Mulder was starting to hate working alone. Hidden away as he was in the windowless room of a back basement accessible only via a corridor lined with dusty storage racks, he often felt both unappreciated and as forgotten as many in the bureau would like the X-files themselves to be. He sometimes went days without seeing another living soul between the time he entered the J. Edgar...
In the year 2065 the United States is a theocracy in all but name, and at the center of the system sits the Medallion of Zulo.... ALTERED FATES: 2065 A.D. by BobH (C) 2013. (Note: While not essential to your understanding and enjoyment, you will get more out of this story if you first read my tales 'Altered Fates: The Cult', 'The Chapford Wives', and 'Amazons', on which it draws quite considerably. All are available here on FM.) 1: Ray Standing at the altar before...
The Fates by Janet Stickney [email protected] The only way to overturn cruel Fates is to use the truth Destiny is fate aggravated by chance. That's what dad always said. As I dressed I knew that it was true. Why else would I be pulling on a skirt? I finished dressing, joined my mother for breakfast, and thought about how the fates had been so kind to me. My name was Jeff Grant. I'm 16 now, yet this all started when I was 15, just out of school for the summer. I...
The Fates by: Janet Stickney [email protected] The only way to overturn cruel Fates is to use the truth Destiny is fate aggravated by chance. That's what dad always said. As I dressed I knew that it was true. Why else would I be pulling on a skirt? I finished dressing, joined my mother for breakfast, and thought about how the fates had been so kind to me. My name was Jeff. I'm 16 now, yet this all started when I was 15, just out of school for the summer. I had no plans...
Altered Fates: The Things We Do For Friends part 1 of 5 By Morpheus I stood in the school bathroom with my half soapy hands underneath the water faucet, grimacing as I rinsed them off. Then pausing for a second, I looked up and into the mirror that was hung on the wall in front of me. The same familiar 14 year old boy that I always saw looked back at me with a sour expression. His messy brown hair was in need of a cut and his nose still had blood dripping from it. "Shit."...
ALTERED FATES: THE X-FILE REOPENED by BobH. (c) 2003 For those of you interested in continuity, this story takes place during the first half of the final season of The X- Files. It's a sequel to my story ALTERED FATES: THE X-FILE in the sense of being set after that tale and making reference back to it, but you don't need to have read that one to follow this one. MARRIOTT HOTEL, BALTIMORE, MARYLAND It was her walk as she strode into the main bar that had first...
As always, any comments or criticism is welcome. Feel free to email me at [email protected]. This story is dedicated to the creator of the Altered Fates Universe, Jennifer Adams and to the cast and crew of the 60's television series The Fugitive, still perhaps the finest drama series made for television. I also want to thank Steve Zink for his editing and general story help. Author's Note: Thank you to the original creators of the Fugitive TV series. Below is the cast, mostly...
The great bear savaged as it ate the young king tearing his stomach up and clawed him ripping him to bloody shreds. Later when he had calmed down the bear took human form again the rage had subsided and he looked at his prize as had been promised by his new goddess the dark goddess of love and lust Laure standing there smiling in that strange but rousingly tight and shining attire, Barak walked quickly over to where Ce’Nedra stood screaming and crying at what had just happened and grabbed...
Please send or leave comments so I know whether my time writing this was well spent! Thanks for all comments. _______________________________________________ A Tale Of Hollywood Mystery And Magic, And An Unusual Medallion! An Altered Fates short story by Caleb Jones (Inspired by the Oscar winning actress, Hilary Swank.) Hilary Swank read the headline one more time, still unable to believe last night's events were true. "Swank Wins Oscar" Sun, Mar 26, 2000 05:54 PM PST LOS...
(Author's Note: This story provides a finale to all the Altered Fates tales I've posted here to date. It contains spoilers for, and resolves dangling threads from, most of those eleven stories. I wrote them out of sequence, but I always knew where each of them fitted in the overall scheme. Read in order, the larger story should all fall into place with what might have seemed stray characters and random bits of business all connecting up. Even if you read the individual stories as they...
ALTERED FATES: A CHRISTMAS TALE by BobH (c) 2012 Ed Geraghty sat down heavily on the changing room bench and sighed. He felt every minute of his fifty-six years, and then some. Any positive effect on his health of thirty five years pounding the streets delivering mail had been more than offset by the same number of years spent drinking hard liquor to excess. Not that this was an option open to him any more, given the precarious state of his liver. He was not a bad man, and had...
Altered Fates Story This story is copyright 1998 by the author. It may be posted and archived on any free site. If you wish to post on a for-pay site, contact the author. Altered Fates: The Hit Man By Ran Dandel I couldn't believe my good fortune. After countless hours following-up various leads, rumors, and downright lies, I reached my goal. I had located the fabled Medallion of Zulo. This prize would ensure my reputation, and insure that I would reach the pinnacle of my...
Altered Fates: Milkshakes at Midnight by Bashful [email protected] This is the tale of a young married couple, the husband's brother, and how the Medallion of Zulo altered their fates. Frank and Debra Walker had been married for close to three years when Frank's brother Ed moved in. Ed had lived with his parents until they retired and moved to Florida. Ed was frequently out of work and living with his parents had taken the stress out of finding a permanent job. Now Ed was...
I originally had no intention of making this an Altered Fates story. However, after my first two drafts turned out horrible, I decided to try a different angle with it. This is what resulted. Altered Fates: Auntie Em By Morpheus Corey winced as his foot went into the puddle of water, muttering "Damn" to himself. He was already completely soaked through from the heavy rain, which gave no sign of letting up. Shivering in his wet clothes, Corey really wished that he hadn't ...
I've had this story in mind for quite awhile, but the first time I started writing it, Eric came out with a very similar Altered Fates story called The Baby-sitter Caper first. Because of that I put this one on hold for awhile. Well here it finally is. I know that the ending leaves a lot that could be done afterwards, but I left off where I was on purpose. Perhaps I'll do a sequel, or perhaps I'll just leave the rest to the readers imagination. Altered Fates: Babysitting By...
Hello I've submitted stories before as Lisa, Alyssa's Magic, Strings, and the Gift of Dreams here is a story that has been on Jennifer's site for a long time and I'm finally submitting it here, It is an Altered Fates Story. Altered Fates: Chris and Marissa By Rena Marissa Moore was having a bad week. She had just been laid off from her job as a receptionist for a small software company. It wasn't a great job, but it paid the bills. The company had been purchased by a slightly...
Altered Fates: A Complicated Affair By Theunknownauthor Everything you are about to read is true! Every person, place or thing that is mentioned in this account is real, although I am changing the names and not giving any exact locations. I am doing this so that readers won't try to verify the validity of this story on their own. This isn't an easy story for me to tell, but I feel that I need to get it off my chest. For almost a year now I have been reading various accounts...
Altered Fates - Lost and Found by cj Permissions: Archival and/or sharing of this story, along with derivitive works - WITHOUT profit from reselling/repackaging, are permitted as long as the story remains complete, unchanged, and correctly attributed to its original author "cj". These permissions are to be included with shared or archived story, and extended to any derivative works. Written permission from the author is required for any "for profit" use. Special Thanks: Thank you,...
“Damn, damn, damn. Computer give me results of damage on the ‘squirt drive’.” ‘Squirt drive locked in drive mode and at full power. Attempting to cut power to drive to release controls and return to normal space.’ I had just hit execute on a jump when a ship coming out of jump slams into me and throws everything upside down. Now here I am travelling at 10 times light and can’t get the drive to shutdown. I don’t even know in which direction I’m going as the impact tumbled the navigation...
“Gods I need to get laid,” the Amazon said. Chimera rumbled something like a chuckle, took a deep breath, and sat down next to her. She was leaning against a rock, standing, and him sitting down next to her put him at eye level with her. It let him look out over the grass and sea the same way she saw them, as a tiny, short thing unable to see everything. The thought made him chuckle again. “The fuck you laughing at?” she said. “Nothing.” A shrug and another chuckle later, he motioned to...
This story is intended for the entertainment of adults only. Copyright (C) 1999 by Maryann. All rights reserved. Permission Is hereby granted for non-commercial use of this complete and unaltered text. Electronic storage of unaltered copies for personal use is also permitted. Any other use of this text is a violation of copyright. No hardcopies may be made without written permission from the author. Altered Fates- The girl with the Rose Colored Tattoo. By: Maryann ...
Altered Fates: A Study In Childhood - By Innocent Guilt Hi, my name is Jeffery Smith. If you stumbled onto this little story of my life then I hope it helps save you from the fate I am in now. Well, lets go back to where it all started. It was my first days of college. I was a freshman at Undeclared Medical College. I was head strong, naive, stupid, and thought I could take on the world. I had just finished high school as top of my class with some off the wall theories in the...
Following my debut story last week (Lord's Prayer), along with the feedback I've received (thanks Eric Bloodstone, Jennifer Adams, Mindy Rich and all the others) I have gotten the bug ! This is a spin-off story from Lord's Prayer which, I hope, wraps up this episode. If found that, although this started out at an even pace, it turned fairly dark about half way through as the story took on a life of it's own and reflected the mood I was in at the time. Hope that some still enjoy this...
As always excessive praise is always welcome No copyright infringement intended. The rights belong to CBS and Childhood Sweethearts. CJ and I are just having fun not meaning any harm. Altered Fates: Domestic Tranquility with The Nanny By Eric and Caleb Jones Fran Fine's annoyingly nasal voice hammered at Maxwell's ears like a sledgehammer. She was sexy and lovable but oh, that voice of hers. Perhaps he should insist she go to a voice training class, but every time he hinted at...
ALTERED FATES Sisters Revenge by Kathryn Nelson Copyright - Kathryn Nelson, 2001 Kyle Emerson was 18 and had just graduated from high school. Finally, he was free from those teachers he thought were weird and all the studying his mother made him do. He was registered to go to a local community college in the fall but he now had the summer off to enjoy himself. His mother had saved up the money for him to go to college but he needed to pay for his own car and all other...
(Author's Note: For anyone concerned with continuity, I figure this story occurs somewhere around the middle of the run of the X-FILES.) ALTERED FATES: THE X-FILE By BobH (c) 2002 FBI TRAINING FACILITY, QUANTICO, VIRGINIA. With her usual methodical efficiency, FBI agent Dr. Dana Scully had carried out a full post mortem examination of the two bodies that had been shipped to the morgue here at Quantico. Her partner, FBI agent Fox Mulder, had asked her to do the autopsies so he...
CARNIVAL OF MIRRORS: FOUR FATES By BobH (c) 2004 Cedar Junction, MA, May 16th, 1987, 2:40 pm: Hot dog franks sizzled on griddles, sugar was spun into floss and onto sticks, vendors hawked their wares. The crowds swirled around happily, shouting and laughing, unaware of the danger that lurked among them. Reed Carter rubbed his stubbled chin thoughtfully and took in the scene before him with the experienced eyes of a predator. The fair had come to town two days earlier, the rides...
Altered Fates - The Book Dealer by KathyB Paul Mortonson was from Palo Alto. He was born there. He was raised there. He went to school there, college too. He met a girl from there, got married there and settled there. He even worked there. Paul owned and operated a small, independent book store. His specialty, and his passion, was rare and collectable books. Palo Alto, for those who do not know, is a community of some 60,000 people. It sits in the northwest corner of...
Altered Fates - The Mistakes of Others By KathyB Learn from the mistakes of others; life is too short to make them all yourself. Chapter #1 Jim Collins was nothing if not methodical. An engineer by trade and obsessive compulsive by habit, he carefully planned his day's activities so as to minimize wasted effort. He rose routinely at 5:00 am, tended to personal hygiene as the situation warranted, poured a cup of hot black coffee from his...
Altered Fates - The Medallion comes to Fairview Part III. Hide and Seek Previously: In Part I - Justin Donovan and his Dad moved back to Fairview after Justin's Dad (Sean) retired from the United States Marine Corps. Justin began his senior year at Fairview and quickly fell for Laura. Laura's friend Becky in an attempt to make her boyfriend jealous went out with Todd, the school drug dealer, and was raped. Knowing Justin's ability as a fighter Becky got Laura to help her in a...
The Medallion of Zulo was a powerful instrument of fate, but sometimes the fate it brought was death. ALTERED FATES: THE DAUGHTER by BobH (c) 2014 I woke screaming, lurching upright in bed as that scream subsided into great, wrenching sobs. It was the sounds again, those terrible cracking and snapping sounds I couldn't escape. The bedroom door burst open then Carol was there, taking my tiny body in her arms, rocking me back and forth, my head on her breasts,...
"Altered Fates: What are friends for?" - By Flyover State. Synopsis: Tiffany and Ryan are best friends. As young kids, the two girls meet Tyler, a kid new to the neighborhood. Now in high school, Tiffany and Tyler are dating. Ryan's love for Tiffany has grown more than sisterly, and she knows it won't be reciprocated. Follow Tyler, as Ryan brings her plan to fruition, and the aftermath of his choices thereafter. Multiple changes occur (other characters) age regression,...
Altered Fates: Dennis (I know, its not the greatest name, but it works) By Morpheus ([email protected]) Walking home from work, I happened to look down, and saw a small brass colored medallion sitting in the gutter. Curiously, I pulled it out and held it up examining it. When I'd seen it, I'd hoped that it might be worth something, but as I looked at it, I realized that it was only a cheap piece of costume jewelry. Probably for kids or something. I noticed that there was a...
Altered Fates : What Friends Are For! By Paul1954 Clare looked across at her children, Ginny aged 7 and Jack aged 10, and sighed. She returned her attentions to the mirror in the hallway and finished touching up her lipstick. It was a typical Saturday morning at the Walter's home with Clare's husband Des sleeping off the results of a Friday night drinking spree spent with his co-workers and her children glued to the television watching the trash that passes for children's TV...
AF: A Double Dose of the Medallion By Julie Jeff was on his way home from another typical day at the office. He wasn?t in a big hurry. It wasn?t that he didn?t want to go home, but there was no big rush. As he pulled up in front of the house he noticed his wife Beverly wasn?t home yet. That was no surprise. She had been working longer and longer hours and now it seemed they rarely saw each other anymore. Beverly was a computer programmer and even when she was home, she...
When I wrote Auntie Em, I had no intention of writing a sequel to it. However, after I finished it I started thinking about a few other ideas I had for the main characters and decided to use them as well. Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on how you look at it, this one turned out quite a bit longer than I'd anticipated. For those of you who haven't read Auntie Em first, I suggest that you do before reading this. Altered Fates: Auntie Em II By Morpheus Emily felt bored....
Altered Fates: A Promise Kept By Jennifer Adams "Mike! Where have you been?" Connie asked. It was more of a demand rather than a question. She had been waiting and wondering where her husband had been for several hours. He wasn't normally a man who left and didn't come home. At least not until SHE came back to town. SHE was Mike's childhood friend. They had been neighbors growing up and played together all the time. Her name was Dana. "I'm sorry dear. I was over at Dana's...
Lyle's Story by Grendel There are two sides to every story. Most of us would prefer to see the world in black and white, but the decisions we make are never as clear- cut as that. I know that I've made some enemies in my life, and perhaps with hindsight some of the pain that I've caused could have been avoided, but I've never deliberately acted with malice. I've just made some bad choices. I grew up in the shadow of my elder brother, Ken. He was the Golden Child, the...