While the hydra only got bigger by the second.The quicker I solve this issue, the better.
Closing my eyes, I allowed my consciousness to sink into her body.:Plan C.:
I moved toward her heart as quickly as possible, looking for her spirit. Dry and woody, at least she wasn’t rotted like Thierry had been. Which should’ve made it easier to find her bird. But I couldn’t find anything that moved or fluttered or held any spark of life at all.
Her spirit had already been removed, and it fought my Blood outside in the form of the hydra.
I could possibly touch my blood to the hydra itself and try tofree her soul, though no one would want me to get that close to her, even wrapped in power. I couldn’t even be sure the Eleusinian Mysteries would be enough to fully shield me. Besides, I didn’t know if it would work, and the hydra was as big as the sphinx now, with so many heads she looked like a whole herd of giant snakes snapping and spitting.
My hair slipped free of the bun, tumbling down over my shoulders. A golden disk glinted in the dim light, riding on the wave of dark hair. Medusa’s head glared up at me as I picked up the disk, Her mouth gaped open in a silent scream. Snakes writhed around Her head.
Reverently, I laid the disk on Basilia’s chest. “My mother wanted you to have this, Basilia. She would have given it to you then if she could. But she was keeping a secret from the world to protect me.”
Her stiff arms jerked up to clutch the disk against her. As if she feared I would take it from her.
The sudden silence outside told me it was working. Through their bonds, I saw the hydra collapsing to the ground, all her snake heads limp. Dead eyes staring. Gaping holes in her chest and belly where they’d tried to stop her.
Basilia moaned, trying to speak.
:Xin.:
Immediately, he squatted by her reattaching head and began to cut the stitches holding her mouth shut with the shattered remnants of the sword. Even without her tongue, I understood what she said.
“Isador.”
Tears streamed down my cheeks. “Yes. We’re here, Basilia. I’m so sorry this happened to you.”
Xin flicked a quick look up at me, silently questioning whether I wanted him to cut her eyelids free. I shook my head. I already felt her spirit withdrawing from this plane. Thoughinstead of the gentle flutter of feathers, she left with the rasp of scales, slithering against stone.
A voice came from Medusa’s statue. “SO IT IS THAT BASILIA GORGOS CROSSED THE VEIL INTO MY ETERNAL EMBRACE.”
On my knees beside Basilia’s body, I bowed my head. “Please forgive me for killing your last daughter, She with Dread Shining Eyes and Terror in Her Hair.”
“WE GORGONS RIOT WITH GREAT FEAR AND DREAD, DAUGHTER OF ISIS. YOU HAVE FULFILLED MY DAUGHTER’S SOLEMN OATH TO BRING THE LAST GORGONEION HOME. THERE IS NO JUDGMENT AGAINST ISADOR, ALTHOUGH I WOULD ASK A BOON FROM YOU.”
Medusa, askingmefor something? I tipped my face up to gaze upon Her statue. Snakes flowed and rippled around Her head, but Her face was classically beautiful with shining silvery green eyes, high forehead, and soft, full lips curved in a gentle smile. Wrapped in flowing white robes, She bent down to brush Her fingers against my cheek. Warm and alive with power, Her touch sparked deep inside of me.
“GORGON BLOOD YET LIVES ON THIS MORTAL EARTH IN YOUR DRAGON KING. IF YOU CHOOSE TO HAVE AN HEIR WITH LEVIATHAN, SHE WILL WEAR A CROWN OF STARS, AND HER GAZE WILL STRIKE DREAD IN THE HEART OF HER ENEMIES, FOR SHE WILL CARRY ALL OUR GORGON GIFTS.”
Oh wow. We had sort of joked about him being a dragon baby daddy…
:Fuck yeah, my queen,:Mehen purred in his bond.:I volunteer as tribute. Any time. Any place.:
“I—I will consider it,” I stammered out, blushing. “I’m not quite ready for children.”
She kissed my forehead. “NAME HER SEREN AND GIVEHER AS MUCH LOVE AS YOU’VE GIVEN TO MY RECALCITRANT NEPHEW MANY TIMES REMOVED.”
Straightening, She turned and offered Her hand behind Her. The shadows deeper in the cave moved, coalescing into Basilia Gorgos, fully healed and restored. The Gorgoneion glowed against her chest, spinning rainbows of light through the cave.
“There’s a great deal of residual power in my nest.” Her eyes burned with hatred and rage—but not at me. “All my blood. All my power. All my suffering. Use it well, daughter of Esetta Isador, and right the atrocities committed by Jeanne Viennois.”
Standing, I held out my palm toward Xin. He drew the shattered blade across my skin, drawing my blood.
“I, Shara Isador, daughter of Esetta, daughter of She Who Is and Was and Always Will Be, will right the atrocities committed by Jeanne Viennois.” My blood seized the oath, writing it deep into my bones. “So let it be.”
By the timeI exited the cave, most of the hydra was already cleaned up. From the way my dragon smirked, I assumed he’d eaten most of it, though the other flesh eaters had probably helped. Feasting had helped heal most of Leviathan’s injuries, but he never refused blood if I was offering.
With my bleeding hand grasped in Leviathan’s mouth, I told Undina what had happened with Basilia.
