Memory and Desires for Love and Revenge

Summary: Medusa was in love with Poseidon and they made love within Athena's temple. The book mentions Annabeth's version of the tale briefly. Yet, why was Medusa at the temple, how did Poseidon and her meet, and what was her thinking during the last moments of her life.

Disclaimer: I do not own the series Percy Jackson and the Olympians.

Ch.1: Passion Now Lost

Medusa gazed at the children that had come to her shop for something to eat. At first glance they did not look so different from normal children. Yet to her kind, to monsters, they smelled so attractive and appetizing. The alluring scent of sweet flowers and the hint of some powerful narcotic scent that was so very addictive to her kind. Just take one more bite… try to get it just one more time… those were the words it whispered to them. The 'it' was the scent of a demigod.

The scrawny child had the scent of a Satyr and he acted like one. They were rare, but not a very impressive catch. He would make a good statue to sell if possible. The second boy was attractive and tickled an old memory in the back of her mind. A memory of the sea and a passion so intense it filled her with longing. A single name brought forth the memories, pleasant was the beginning and horrible the end of those memories.

She knelt at the waterside, cleaning the cloths from the temple; it was her duty to do this task this day. She was a young priestess; newly called to the order… more accurately it could be said she was forced into it by her stepmother. Her stepmother had been jealous of Medusa's beauty, fearing that it would outshine her own. She had condemned Medusa to be forever a priestess of Athena, shuffled out of the sight of the young men of her village.

She looked up as she worked, her eyes catching a faint glimpse of something before her. The figure stood on the opposite side of the river. The figure was a man; dressed in elegant robes with the darkest black hair that seemed nearly blue as a result. Yet, it was the eyes that caught and held her. Her heart did a back flip as the gazed into those eyes. Vivid sea green eyes gleamed in the handsome face; he was beautiful. A neat trimmed beard etched out fine features and seemed to rouse the eyes to shine with further glory.

She stood up straight with a cry of shock and raised a hand up to her throat grasping for a talisman of protection. The man smiled softly in apology as though he was sorry for having startled her with his presence.

"May I help you, stranger?" She inquired of the strange man before her. The man was silent for a few moments as he gazed at her.

He smiled slowly; a smile that seemed to share with her a secret delight. It roused a smile from her and the man spoke. "I was just traveling back to my home when I saw you… I could not help pausing to look at you. You are lovely for a maiden of Athena… often it is they who can find no lovers that seek the virgin goddesses."

She blushed with pleasure at the implication of the words; taking them for the complement they were. "My stepmother feared I was too pretty for my own good. She sought to save me from my own flaw by giving me to the priestesses of Athena."

He smiled sympathetically, "Jealousy was it? Shame, it is a horrible flaw in people that often festers to disappointment and hatred."

She nodded hesitantly and then spoke, "Will you come and rest in the temple to regain your strength for the rest of your journey."

The man hesitated as he gazed at the temple; a roguish smile on his lap. I doubt the Goddess Athena will like me there much… still, if you desire it you and I may meet there and enjoy the solitude that is given to the attainment of…" He paused for a moment with an impish grin, "…knowledge."

She smile back slowly; her heart filled with joy at the risk this man was willing to take in order to be with her. There would be no more private place than the temple of Athena… there they could hide within her room.

She nodded and whispered, "I shall hang a pink cloth at the window of my room. Join me there when the sun begins its descent." She conspired with the man.

The man bowed politely to her, "I shall come."

The time passed by quickly and soon the man climbed into her room by her window, so stealthy that he startled her within her own room.

They gently began to kiss and she clung to the man. She smelled the brine of the ocean still clinging to his sturdy frame. For a moment she suspected who he was, but refused to voice it. She was afraid that his name might banish him from her room like some fell banishment spell for spirits.

Gentle caresses became urgent and more demanding. Slowly cloth fell to the ground and they soon joined the cloth. With this man she claimed the one knowledge forbidden to her hear in the temple of Athena, Goddess of Wisdom.

Soon, too soon, it was done. They lay together resting and she finally asked him softly, "What sir… may I know you by?" She already suspected that she knew the answer, but she pretended ignorance.

The man laughed at her humorously, "Come now Medusa…" The knowledge that the man knew her name did not surprise her, "…you know who I am!"

"Poseidon, God of the Ocean… Earthshaker, creator of horses." She breathed the words like a prayer, although she knew naught for what she prayed.

The man chuckled, "Indeed, fair Medusa."

She smiled sleepily and fell into a content sleep. Her dreams sweet at the beginning, but they ended too soon. "Poseidon! Uncle, defiler of my temple!" Cried an outraged female voice. A glow had filled the room temporarily.

Medusa looked up startled and clung to Poseidon in terror as she gazed upon the robed woman. A woman's face who she knew so well… for had she not gazed upon a marble version of that face which stood in the temple. It was the face of Athena.

Blonde haired, gray eyes and fair skinned. Athena was lovely, but her eyes were sharp with anger and cold with scorn. "How dare you uncle! Is it not enough that you lay with one who is devoted to me? Must you also commit this carnal act worthy of the temple of Aphrodite here within my temple of wisdom?"

"Calm yourself, Athena." Poseidon said gently with a smile, "You profess being the Goddess of Wisdom and yet you deny the knowledge of love between man and woman. All creatures procreate by this way… save only a few Gods and Goddesses! No shame to you… see, it was done here. No eyes to see and no mouths will talk of it."

Athena looked ready to breathe fire at him, "No shame! No shame you say! Look you hear… now eyes have seen save you two and mine! No mouths shall talk save our three! Yet shame there is! I know what she has done and where she did it. No… this shall be punished!" Athena swore, wrath in her eyes.

"Fair Medusa, you called my priestess… wisdom her stepmother had. She is too fair and is vane as a result. Since your beauty you have used to shame me with Poseidon you shall have your beauty twisted. Know this Medusa… you shall be so grotesque that all who look upon you shall die! Your body will no longer be fit for human companionship. I hope you enjoyed you carnality, my priestess, for it shall be your last." Athena ranted.

Poseidon raised one hand in protest, "Niece, it was I who caused this. Leave the girl alone…"

Athena turned on him, "Ah, but by punishing her I punish you."

He glared at her in anger, but Athena ignored him and turned on Medusa. A chant filled the room as Athena spoke her curse to Medusa. Poseidon paled as he heard the words and wanted to protest the fate. Yet Athena spoke over his protests:

"For you, fair Medusa, a curse

For your shameful act with Poseidon

Death yields before a fate much worse

For your company all shall shun.

Hands of claws that rakes

A gift of an enchanting eye,

With hair a crown of snakes,

For those who gaze at you will die

Your companions shall be

Stone before you

And you shall live for an eternity

For rest comes with a sword true."

Athena smiled coldly in triumph as Medusa's form twisted and the priestess screamed in pain and horror. Her hands became claws that could maim so easily and only with great care might they touch with no harm to the recipient. Her hair writhed on her head, hissing filled the room, and she saw a snake out of the corner of her eyes. She was a monster! It struck her with a shock of grief and pain.

She looked over at Poseidon, who was immune from her curse. Yet, his eyes averted from her tarnished frame that made a mockery of her beauty. She sobbed in anguish at that single reaction; her lover would not look upon her. He averted his eyes.

"Look at me!" She demanded, desperate for him to look at her. To not abandon her due to her curse. Yet he would not.

He spoke softly, "Medusa… you must flee. For here on this land you will be slain by heroes." His voice was full of pain. "I cannot undo what Athena has done… still; perhaps I may be able to assist a little."

"Athena seeks to separate you from all company… yet I shall give you fellows. Two sisters who shall dwell with you. My gift to you, your sight shall not harm them for they shall be as you. Nor shall you harm them…" His voice broke a little, "…also I know an island, at the edge of the world, where you shall be safe from armies and where only the bravest shall go. If you are to eventually die under the sword, than it shall be a hero's sword."

Medusa cried as he spoke; her heart grew with bittersweet joy. A love filling it, he may not look upon her but he still loved her. She would not be alone… She would love him forever for this single act. No matter what doom befell her.

She gazed upon the young demigod boy and knew with a start that shook her to her core. This was a son of Poseidon. A son of her lover and erstwhile protector. She remembered a rumor that she had heard by monsters careful to come before her blind folded.

'A son he had, he broke his oath with his two brothers…' the monsters had told her, '…young Percy Jackson. '

She made her decision; he too would become a statue. She would put a drug in his food to make him sleepy and he would forever stay with her; keeping her company as a statue. The last glimmer of what she had lost. The island Poseidon took her to was gone, the sisters he gave her were faded… yet now, now he could have a faint glimmer of the man she lost. The man reflected in his son. How ironic it was that he bore the name of the hero that had killed her the first time. Persius, the son of Zeus he was… he who had temporarily brought her peace. Persius, son of Poseidon, would grant her company and a faint comfort of a past passion now lost. On top of that, it seemed that he had delivered her also a way to get revenge upon that wench Athena! Her gaze turned to the girl…