Medusa welcomed me with open arms, literally. Her embrace was cold, yet it filled me with the kind of warmth that I didn't think I'd ever find here. Her caverns were dimly lit, the shadows alive with the feeling of being under inspection never easing as I let her go. Around us treasures that had once only existed within imaginations and storybooks from eras otherwise forgotten sparkled with a life of their own, all begging for attention - just a look, a touch.

They weren't the reason we were here.

"Precious creature." She whispered, instantly glaring at Cain who lingered just behind me. "Come."

We follow her through the labyrinth of caverns, well aware of the rustling and groaning as we pass the endless black hole that hid her sisters. Unlike our last visits, this all felt different as the magics that kept them hidden and protected were forced to bend for us as I refused to be a part of even more games.

This time we wouldn't be left at their mercy.

As we passed the first ward, then the second, the only supernatural presence to touch me was Cain as his powers combined with mine to create a defence that would not be broken. I felt as though I'd been here a million times and as if it was only my first time too. Like many aspects of my life, I had a strange sense of stepping onto a new path, entering a new reality where this was the new normal; together, nothing would stop us. I clunge to the thought with more hope than I thought I was capable of.

It also became clear to me that the forces around held a similiar presence to Circe, and studying Medusa with new eyes I always knew she was powerful only how so?

She had her own abilities, yet the familiarity with Circe's magic was too much of a coincidence. The wards parted for us, allowed to remain intact and the difference in borrowed and created power became clearer. To remain undisturbed and hidden, where not even the Fates dared to come for all this tim e was impressive. Now I wasn't being held hostage by it, I instead found a deeper appreciation. Who had guided her this way, or been willing to help them set up this sanctuary?

"I've often wondered the same thing," Cain whispered in my ear.

I looked back at him. "Wondered what?"

"I can feel you, you're everywhere and you haven't learnt to hide your thoughts yet." He winked, keeping his own expression completely neutral which made me wonder what I looked like right now.

I glare at him. "What are my thoughts now?"

"You hate that I'm right." We slowed slightly. "From what I can tell, Hecate would make the most sense, but I'm not convinced she has had as much to do with all of this as you may initially think."

"Not Gaia." There wasn't a trace of her here, and Cain nodded.

"It does not matter," Medusa scolded. "You two whisper back there like old women in the market."

"You could just tell us?" I ask a little hopefully.

"Why would I do that?"

"Because you're above all the games everyone always seems to play?"

Medusa laughed. "The games, yes. Though secrets do not always need to be told."

"Like how you really got the Wheel of Fortune and golden armour?"

This time she stopped walking, looking back to face us with caution in her eyes. The air changed and from the pit, the distinct sound of claws scratching against rock echoed up towards us. I felt the pressure of the magic against my own power only this time it was not so easily extinguished and contained. Medusa didn't save her death glares for only Cain now.

"That is why you are here."

"I never said it was a social visit." I almost believed she knew why we'd come; it had seemed like she'd been expecting us. "What did you think I'd come for?"

"Refuge." Her eyes lowered to my stomach right as a roar came from the darkness beside us. Her sisters were getting closer. "This way."

Medusa's snakes kept close to her skull, an occasional hiss leaving the bravest as the usually wild mass of bodies sat still and curled like a perm. The room we went into smelt like a barbeque, smokey with the mouthwatering aroma of roasting meat. Instantly my stomach rumbled, and near the fireplace I wasn't disappointed as Chrysaor fussed over something he was cooking. He ignored us as we came in, more interested in his current task and looking around the room, the skeleton chairs weren't appealing to sit on as Medusa made herself comfortable on a smaller stool; the rugs on the floor simply masses of furry skin that she dug her toes into.

"Sit." She instructed.

"I'd rather not." I stayed by Cain, more cautious now as I took in the room and its varying stages of decay.

Her face darkened as she took the pair of us in. "I see they succeeded. What a disappointment you have become, beyond the obvious, though I did try to warn you about that."

"What are you talking about?" Cain asked, his arm around my back as he kissed the side of my head briefly.

"She sees as you do now. That world has ruined her as did you." Medusa hissed. "Broken."

Cain tensed, and I put my hand against his chest moving to stand between them slightly.

"Maybe I just see beyond your lies and tricks." The glimmer that flickered over the room promised it could be a different place if I allowed it to be. If I wanted it to be. I didn't.

Maybe I am broken.

I sat down, ignoring the hardness of the bones; the way they shifted and grinded together as I waited for the expected cracks and to fall only it never happened.

"I will not give you what you have come for." She proudly answered.

"Not a surprise." Cain muses, barely flinching as my black mouthed friend emerged from beneath my hair and slowly slid down my arm.

Medusa watched it with the same look of caution I'd once had when looking at her. Some days you were the predator, others you were the prey and as Chrysaor began to wail in the corner, Medusa blinked and the darkness of her eyes altered a milky white, and her own fangs glistened with venom as her smile became a snarl.

"You forget where you are and whom you are with." It sounded like a warning.

"The feeling is mutual. I want the wheel." I smiled back, daring to meet her eyes. "Please."

Her tongue flicked out, as Chrysaor's cries only got louder and more desperate. Looking over towards him, he was standing with his back to us, tugging on his hair as he screamed into the wall. The shape of Medusa's sisters in the doorway didn't go unnoticed, and clearly his cause of distress. Reaching out, I brought them into the room, removing whatever it was around them that hid them all so well. My snake became alert, looking at the snarling creatures with interest as his head tilted side to side as he studied them.

"You will go and get me what I came for." I did not doubt that I wouldn't be able to find it myself, but I also knew Medusa would not make it easy for us.

"We obey, no one." Her hair moved as one deadly mass of red, black and white snakes; a hair flick of unimaginable horror as a sour, off-milk, smell came from her mouth. "You. We know you."

She looked back behind her to the other sister, a silent conversation taking place before they all looked at Medusa.

"We are not here to hurt any of you." I promised. "I just need the Wheel."

"And why is that?" Medusa questioned. "The Fourth-"

"Is a fairytale and I am done with the games. If the Fourth would like to show themselves, that's fine but I am out of time and I know I need that Wheel if we are to stop Uranus." No one moved. "I will get it myself, but none of you will like the consequences of my actions."

I looked at the sister, trying to remember her name and our last encounter came back to me with a clarity I was thankful for. Reaching out, just as before, her body stilled and like Medusa her eyes glazed over. Her hair reached for me, their eagerness to be touched obvious as they fought to get closer to my outstretched hand.

"Stentho, get me the wheel." The order was clear and all of the sisters suddenly recoiled and attempted to get out of the room as fast as possible.

Chrysaor stopped screaming and began to laugh as he crawled, almost running towards me.

"My friend. My friend came back to me. Delicious, tiny, treat. Crack it open. Taste inside."

Cain moved before I could process his words, and the unconscious figure of the other man fell with a sickening thud as he was tossed back into the corner.

"Are you quite done with your little show?" Medusa practically purred from her chair. She sipped from a dainty teacup, looking unbothered by everything that had just happened. "Hecate still has you in her favour. Perhaps not all is lost."

"Hecate may as well be dead. She has not been seen in months and her messengers feel like little more than pawns sent into a winnerless war. I do not want us to become enemies, Medusa."

"We will not, but that piece of old metal is not what you seek."

"What is then?" Cain asked, standing stiffly behind me.

"Freedom."

"Obviously. Once Uranus is gone and-"

"Do you think they will leave you be, God Killer? If you succeed, that will only paint a larger target on your back. Gaia and Tartarus will not leave you to do whatever it is you truly want."

"Yes, they will," I answer quickly, without even thinking about it.

Her eyes narrowed, that point tongue of hers flicking out again and again as my snake left us to go to where Chrysaor remained.

"There is much to fear within the darkness until you are the one who becomes it." She tossed her teacup towards the fire, the faint tinkling of the glass smashing ending with the roar of flames. "And yet, he looks at you as if you are the only light and you at him as if you have never loved any before. Euryale and Stheno will not bring you what you seek, your commands are wasted on the weak. I can not stand in the way of fate, if it accepts your request all you need do is summon it."

I lean forward, more for my own sake than anything else as I fight to take a breath thanks to the intensity of the pain that rippled across my stomach.

Not now.

Not here.

I hold my hand out, closing my eyes and as the weight of the item fills my palm I use both hands to hold onto it as another tremor has me grinding my teeth in an effort to ignore the new pain.

"At least something has gone right," I mutter, ignoring the look from Cain as he attempts to block me from Medusa's view. "I never thought you'd be one to leave anything to Fate."

"Perhaps you do not know me as well as you think." Medusa hisses, slowly rising. I mimic her actions, letting Cain take the wheel as I instead hold his arm. "Nor I, you."

I sighed, daring to look at her again despite the warning bells going off in the back of my mind. "I don't even know myself, so good luck with that."

She laughs, and as my stowaway slides over to her she scoops him up, neither of them bothered as her hair gives the new being a once over.

"Hecate lives, her eyes are everywhere." Medusa closes her eyes, and her snakes follow her lead as she dips her head slightly in some form of respect that I can feel makes my new companion happy. "You have what you want, I think it's time for you all to leave."

Cain holds out his hand, the diamond-covered chain of the necklace entwined around his fingers and Medusa's eyes widen at the sight. "An exchange."

"Dragon tears." She mumbles, tossing the snake from her hold to grab at the gift I hadn't even known he had. "You remembered."

"She speaks for both of us. We did not come here to make you an enemy." Cain practically purrs, his tone low and a little too seductive for my liking as he soon holds up a small jar as well. "And to ensure this alliance remains."

My stomach flips at the sight of the eyeballs in the jar, and I barely stop myself from making a hell of a show with this other revelation. "Cain?"

The look I get tells me I'm not getting an explanation right now but I will be demanding one as soon as we are out of here.

"And these belonged to?" Medusa is giddy now, her hands trembling as she accepts the jar.

"One of sight that Chrysaor may have even overlooked. The Horae are considered extinct after all." He teased, before turning serious again. "And we are free to leave as we will, with our trade accepted?"

"Of course." Medusa licked her lips, nodding eagerly before bowing to both of us which actually shocked me more than the eyes in a jar. "Before you do go, Elise. Empress. Ensure you are ready, girl. They will win if you're not."

We are outside in the jungle in the blink of an eye, and I spin around to face Cain who simply holds his hands up in surrender.

"I had Eirene bring both of those to me before she took us to Tartarus." I needed more than that, but wasn't sure what exactly I needed to hear. "Just one of many tools I have at my disposal should they be required. A lot is out of my control, but I have always planned ahead for as many situations as I can imagine"

"Eyeballs and dragon tears? Like, I can't right now." I shrug.

"I know, which is why I have done certain things, hopefully that will never be called upon," I let him come into my space, his hands holding mine as he brings them up to kiss my knuckles. "Trust me, Elle. I've been doing this for a long time."

I can only nod. He has been at this for a long time and I trust him. Maybe, in that future we're fighting for I can find time to bring it up again but right now its something I'm just walking away from because nothing else can come from it,