Medusa's Daughter

Xander

Xander watched from the trees as the winged beauty with raven colored hair landed in front of the most unusual monster. He thought he knew all the Dietys. Had met most of them. But this one had escaped his radar. Under the disguise as his mother's voice on earth...or assistant as she called him...to keep him safe. Xander had met his fair share of God's and Goddesses. Of course, nobody knew who his parents were. For fear that his fathers greed for power would consume him at the idea of a successor, his mother had hid him on earth with the promise that one day, he could come home. He had just bought a house at the south end of the forest ontop the cliffs that looked out into sea. Tired of playing his mother's representative, he needed time to himself. With thousands of acres that stretched farther than the eye could see, this Land seemed like the perfect place to be.

A loud wail drew his attention from his thoughts and back to the scene before him. He watched with new interest as the darkness shifted around her. Bringing the human girl to safety. He stared in disbelief. Only his father could talk to the chaos and make it do his bidding. But it was always a struggle. She did it effortlessly. Almost like second nature. What he saw next made him laugh in disbelief.

She sliced her own hand and offered it to the human. She could heal. But why a human? They were just a blink in the eyes of an immortal.

The monster charged, and Xander twitched. Ready to intervene. But why? he thought. A desire to protect someone was not normal for him. He shook his head and made himself relax. But even he couldn't fight that anxious feeling after watching the monster throw her. She retaliated quite well, and launched an impressive attack. A low growl came from his right. Xander absently reached a hand out. The hot breath of Zeke sniffed his hand before coming up to rub on his side. You'd think he was a cat, but no. Zeke was a Hellhound puppy. Fathered by Cerebus. Another gift from his mother to "protect" him on earth. Zeke could change his appearance in the mortal world as to not alarm the humans, he could shrink and take different animal shapes, but here, out in the woods, he was his normal beast like self. Bigger than any horse with solid red eyes, a long snout, and enough teeth to ruin your life, he was his best friend. As corny as that sounds. In the past 150 years, it had just been the two of them. His ears twitched toward the scene unfolding in the clearing. He growled again and stepped forward, sniffing the air.

"I know, buddy. It's not something we have seen before. Let's see how this plays out."

The creatures head hit the ground. Its body dissentigrating into smoke and ash. The battle was over. Xander took the time to examine the winged woman. The full moon lit up the clearing perfrctly. She was striking. But not in the Aphrodite way but more in a dark and mysterious way. Her long- raven colored hair and wings suited her. It was a great contrast against her pale skin. She was tall....maybe 5'10 and her body was nothing but curves and muscles. This definitely wasn't her first fight.

"Zeke, I think we have a neighbor out here in the woods....." He looked at him indifferently. Zeke didn't care about other people. He was the most loyal creature any God could have.

Xander threw a left leg over Zeke and climbed onto his back. The winged woman shot into the air, and he wanted to know where she was going. "Let's go for a run boy."

Zeke gave a small growl. Showing how unamused he was by this newfound interest of his, but took off none the less. With speed unlike any other, it was easy to keep up with her. The snow crunched under his feet, and the wind was unforgiving. Xander pulled his jacket closer around him. Being an immortal helped him against the cold weather, but he wasn't immune to it.

Their raven haired lady dropped into the trees, and Zeke slid deeper into the thicket so they wouldn't be seen.

She placed the girl on her feet, exchanged words, and the girl was running off towards a village. The sky was turning pink, and their cover wouldn't last long once the light lit the forest up.

He gave Zeke a pat on the neck, signaling him the time to go home. Xander gave the raven haired woman one last look as Zeke took off again. Strangely, she was just standing in place. Staring off where the mortal had run.

"We will definitely be seeing each other soon." He thought.

The morning sun had risen, casting a pink glow over the forest. Zeke walked out of the forest towards the cliffs where his house set. Xander climbed off and scratched his head. "Good job, Buddy. What do you say we start a fire and get some sleep." Zeke rubbed his head against him in agreement. Almost knocking him over. Laughing, he shoved him off and started the small trek to his home. The sun rose behind it, creating a picturesque scene. A fading cloud of smoke rose from its brick chimney. The sea stretched behind it, as far as the eye could see. He had no idea how long this new life of his would last before he was forced to return to the reality of who he was. But he would take it as long as he could. They approached the door, and Xander frowned. Footsteps were left in the snow around the house... and they were small. Zeke tensed beside him and growled. Someone was inside their home. His space. His hand twitched. Ready for a fight. He kicked the door open and stepped inside. His eyes widened at who he saw. Zeke came in behind him. Growling and snapping. Xander held his hand out, and Zeke relaxed, but he kept his eyes on their intruder.

The winged woman sat in his red leather chair by the fire, except she had turned it to face the door. Her wings were gone and her leg was crossed over the other. Leather armor draped over her torso, legs, and arms. Not bulky but rather feminine. Head relaxed in her hand, she stared at him emotionless.

"You seemed so keen on watching me in the forest, I figured I'd save you the trouble of stalking me. Now what do you want with my forest?" Her voice held no friendliness, and as relaxed as she seemed, she was ready for anything. A smile crept over his face. How interesting. She knew she was being watched the whole time.

"What gave me away?" He asked as he kicked his boots off and closed the door behind him. Zeke walked past her and lay down by the fire. Stretching out but cautiously watching. She paid him no mind.

"I can see all that goes on at night." She held her palm up, and a ball of darkness swirled in a mad frenzy before dissipating as she closed her hand.

"Tell me. Are you responsible for the monster of smoke?" Her voice took on a colder tone, and her eyes narrowed.

Xander shook his head. "I am not. Coincidence brought us to the same clearing im afraid, and you made me curious. You see, I have traveled and done work with a lot of God's and Goddesses, yet I have never met you."

Her eyes narrowed, and the room darkened. "I do not associate with your God's."