Medusa, A Love Story (Loves of Olympus 1)

“You have no claim.” Athena’s brows furrowed and her cheeks blazed with fury.

Poseidon regarded his niece. Her eyes narrowed, and her nostrils flared at his unruffled calm. This was interesting. He schooled his face with care, portraying the picture of compromise, all the while relishing every twitch and shift of her discomfort.

“I need no claim,” he spoke without heat.

She turned an alarming shade of burgundy. “To take her from my temple? From my service? She is mine until her parents’ debt is repaid, Poseidon. And, I assure you, I will decide such matters. Not you.”

“Cease!” Zeus thundered, holding his hands out. “Why this mortal? Why is she the cause of such discord on Olympus?” His angular face grew pinched, his thick arms rigid as he attempted to regain control.

Poseidon stifled a sigh. His elder brother meddled too often, stealing away his simple pleasures. As all eyes flitted between him and Athena he briefly wondered if Phorcys was worth the effort. One glance at Athena’s florid complexion, her clenched fists and white knuckles, at the vein throbbing prominently from her forehead, and Poseidon had his answer. His mouth tightened, repressing a smile. We will see how this plays out.

“Medusa is my priestess, Father.” Athena said simply.

Zeus scowled at Poseidon. “You would interfere in the care of Athens’ temple?”

Poseidon rolled his eyes. “I would appease a Titan.”

“And I would collect on that Titan’s debt. A debt yet to be paid in full,” Athena said.

Zeus regarded his daughter, then his brother. “I am weary of this bickering. Too many times the two of you have battled, hoping simply to best the other.” His eyes narrowed. “Let us have peace, if we may? War is imminent for the Athenians, likely all of Greece. The mortals need our help to defeat the cursed Persians.”

“Persian dogs,” Ares snorted, lounging upon his throne in boredom. “It will be easy enough to cut them down.”

“Ares, not all of Athens’ soldiers are skilled. The cost of such a war – the loss of so many husbands, sons and fathers – is no slight thing,” Hera chided him, turning her huge brown eyes upon the God of War.

“War is war, Hera. Death is part of the journey to glory,” Ares countered.

“Not all are so eager to find glory,” Hera bit back.

“Peace.” Zeus lifted his hand, silencing them. “Brother, let the priestess stay with Athena. If Phorcys’ debts to Athena aren’t met, he can hardly ask for favors from you. Knowing Phorcys, whatever service he has performed cannot mean so much. Truly, has he done something of great import for you? ”

Poseidon hesitated. He could back down and fight anew another day. But the haughty disdain his niece displayed spurred him on. “He has.” His mind worked quickly, knowing the best way to play his weak hand. “But not just to me.”

“We speak of Phorcys?” Apollo interjected in disbelief. “The same flotsam that delights in mayhem and serves none but himself?”

Poseidon nodded.

“How can this be?” Zeus shook his head, doubt and amusement on his regal face. “I’ve known Phorcys to do little but turn into foam to dally with sea nymphs or eat those who offend him in the guise of a shark.”

“Phorcys did a service to all by swallowing three small Persian ships. He did so, without my request, in order to prevent the ships return to their waiting fleet – with reports on Athens’ reinforcements. He followed them, and when he had the gist of their mission, he acted.” Poseidon looked at his niece. “Wisely, one might say.”

Athena’s eyes bulged, and her lips pressed to a tight line. A smile threatened, so Poseidon covered his mouth with a discreet cough. His brother, he noted, appeared duly impressed.

“Such a deed is worth reward,” Aphrodite conceded. “Is there nothing else to be given?”

“He misses his daughter.” Poseidon shrugged. Yet he knew his words had weight.

Hera cocked her head. “Indeed?” She cast her husband, Zeus, a beguiling glance.

Truly, a woman’s power over man is maddening. Poseidon stroked his beard, his eyes flickering between his fellow Olympians with interest. Athena shifted in discomfort while Zeus paced, considering this interesting new development.

Poseidon envied his brother not a bit.

To side with him was to appease his wife and her service to home and hearth.

But siding against Athena would ensure peace was lost for all on Olympus. His niece was most insufferable when she lost.

And yet Poseidon had painted Phorcys as a noble creature, truly worthy of reward – something Zeus could hardly ignore entirely. If Zeus was taking his time to consider the matter, Poseidon did not blame him.