The Hidden World of Gods and Magic

Chapter Five

Following the map to the next location Anisa noticed the eyes of the shadow on her, scanning her from head to toe. “Please don’t do that.” She said over her shoulder. “My apologies.” The shadow said. Anisa could see the feather of the phoenix on the other side of the room. She pointed to the feather and nodded. The shadow rested on the wall right next to the door. With that Anisa carefully walked over to the feather. She stepped on a loose stone brick and it pushed downward. Just after the stone sank into the floor, huge spikes came into view.

Anisa stood still and almost cut her hand on the poisoned spikes. Quickly she moved between the spikes careful not to trigger the next trap. Something felt wrong when she looked at the feather and noticed the blue laser covering the feather. ‘A mirror is the only thing to use if you don’t have a big white diamond; I need to change the direction of the laser so I can grab hold of the feather.’ She thought. She started looking around for a mirror. She caught a glimpse of one and leaned in to get it. With that she slowly moved the mirror exactly 90 degrease to the left. The angle made it perfect to retrieve the feather.

Placing the feather in her bag she took hold of the map again. The map kept changing. The remaining items lid up on the map and she knew she had to keep going, there was no time to figure out why the map kept changing after every item she collects. Working her way back she felt a power rush through her body. Not sure what that was she looked around to find the source. “RUN!” The shadow screamed and started taking the form of the huge dog with 3 heads.

Not wanting to think Anisa ran as fast as she could to the next location of an item. ‘What did he see? Could he see who did that to me?’ She thought. ‘I hope he’s going to be OK.’ She thought and felt that feeling of dread again. Shaking her head she pushed that thought to the back of her mind. She needed to focus, time was running out and she still had a few thinks she needed in order for this challenge within a challenge to end.

She followed the map to the next location. As she entered the hallway of forgotten realms, she saw fragments and shards of shield of Athena. She knew that taking the biggest shard will render her useless, unless she was the direct descendant of Athena. She knew she was not so she moved closer to the shield shards. She found a piece big enough and rapped in it the cloth and added it into her bag. A reflection of one of the snakes caught her attention and she knew the snake belonged to Medusa.

“So the stories are true. You were cursed by my Aunt because she was jealous of your beauty and believed that you seduced Poseidon. Even though he was the one to force himself on you. I am so sorry for what she has done to you Medusa. I do wish you peace for where you might be.” Anisa said and felt heart ache for Medusa. “The unfairness and jealousy of the gods has made a lot of people suffer in vain. They took what they wanted without suffering the consequences. They need to start living by their own laws, they were no better than the scum on this planet.” Anisa said and planted a kiss on the snakes head.

She turned to walk out of the hallway when she heard a hissing sound coming from behind her. “Show yourself.” She said and stood with her head held high. “You said your Aunt was the one who cursed me. Who are you?” Said a sweet but terrifying voice. “Tell me who are you and I will tell you who I am.” Anisa challenged.

“I was Medusa, the maiden from the temple of Athena. I did my best to live by my vows to serve the goddess, but when I needed her most, she cursed me so I can never be with the man I truly loved more than myself…” Medusa trailed off but something in her voice was off. “It is nice to meet you Medusa. I am Anisa…” Anisa said but didn’t turn around to look at Medusa as she didn’t know what form she has taken. “Nice to make your acutance. Why do you not look at me Anissssa…” Medusa hissed with a hint of taunting in her voice. “Because I need to get back to the shadow…” Anisa said and she knew that the snake woman will try to trick her into looking over her shoulder.

Anisa focused all of her energy to slow down her being again in order to look at Medusa. “You seem a bit too silent… What are you child?” Medusa said slipping her mask for a moment. In that moment Anisa turned around and looked Medusa straight in the eye. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you…” Anisa said and saw the flicker of horror in Medusa’s eyes. “You! How dare you call me from my resting place and toy with me! I will kill you and enjoy the moment you breathe out your last breath witch!” Medusa hissed and staggered back until she hit a wall.

“I did not summon you Medusa. You appeared behind me after I shot a prayer for you to rest in peace wherever you might have been…” Anisa said and felt that feeling of dread again. “I heard your voice, the next thing I knew I was here. How can you summon the dead? You are not like any god I have ever seen.” Medusa said and slowly came closer to Anisa, scanning her from head to toe. “I will reveille who I am if you will join me.” Anisa challenged. “You can summon the dead at will with no help from the gods? I will need to see someone first and only after that can I decide.” Medusa prompted.

“Fine. What is the name?” Anisa asked. “Effoclese.” Medusa said with her head hung low. “Effoclese I summon you here to this place. Come forth, reveille yourself.” Anisa said feeling stupid. In that moment gray smoke trailed over the floor and a handsome man stepped out. He was build like a quarterback with nicely tanned upper body and legs. He looked like Henry Cavill in The Witcher with blue eyes and dark brown hair. That man was gorges to say the least.

“Where am I?” Effoclese asked looking at Anisa and Medusa. “I have summoned you here for someone who has missed you dearly.” Anisa said watching the handsome man in front of her. “Who missed me dearly and who are you?” He asked. “Medusa asked for you…” Anisa said and watched him closely. “Medusa? Where is she? Is she alright? I must speak to her!” He demanded. “Medusa you may speak to him. Please keep it short. I don’t have all night…” Anisa said and watched. “Effoclese is that really you?” Medusa asked taking her human form.

“Yes, my love it is me. Why have you not come to me? I thought you died… Last thing I remember is being shot by an arrow and the darkness swallowing me. I waited for you for so long. I fell in love with another and she gave birth to two beautiful boys. I went hunting and got struck by that arrow. I never saw my boys again…” Effoclese said with all the pain in his voice. “My love, I have died, but by the gods, this girl here brought us back to be together once more. We shall go look for your children, together. I do not wish to lose you again…” Medusa said with all the pain she felt.

“Right I am so sorry but Effoclese you may return from where you came…” Anisa said and he vanished. “What have you done?!” Medusa screamed. “I told you to keep it short.” Anisa warned. “You will pay for this…” Medusa hissed and tried to use her magic on Anisa, but nothing happened. “Would you care to try that again you snake?” Anisa said and grabbed hold of a spear. “Oh alright. I will help you with whatever you need. Why can I not turn you to stone?” Medusa asked.

“You have a lot to learn about me my dear, oh, that reminds me. Please walk around in your human form for now.” Anisa said and grabbed hold of Medusa’s arm. “What are you…” She started to protest. “Shadow where are you?” Anisa cut her off. “I am here Anisa, I will have to remain in shadow form for a while. I am sorry that I failed you.” He said. “You didn’t fail me, you saved my life.” Anisa said and willed the shadow closer. The shadow took the form of a man. Dressed in all black but covered his face.

“Wait a minute! You! You were the one I saw in my dreams!” Anisa said dumbfounded. “It was you? You wi….” He started still covering his face. “I saw you brought a friend. And who might you be my dear?” The man asked. “Medusa, sir.” She purred with an innocent voice. “My dear you are going to have to step up your game if you wish to fool me.” He said and chuckled.

“Well now, this just got awkward…” Anisa said. “Don’t be such a spoil sport Anissssa…” Medusa hissed. “You best know your place snake, I can always send you back to nothingness…” Anisa coed. “Fine. I am sorry. What do you need?” Medusa asked. “You will assist me in retrieving the arrow of Artemis and find Wolfsbane. “What on earth do you need Wolfsbane for?” Medusa asked confused. “Stop with all of the questions and just help me!” Anisa snapped. “I will send you back before you can blink, understood?” Anisa asked.

“Yes. I am sorry… Someone is coming. Quickly…” Medusa whispered. “They went this way!” Said one of the men running down the corridor. “I am not going to ask you why they are looking for you but I want to know if you would prefer me in snake form?” Medusa asked in a whisper. “Yes, not a big one as that would be a problem for me to carry around.” Anisa said and Medusa shaped from to a snake no bigger than an arm. Anisa picked Medusa up and placed here behind her neck so the snake can rest on her shoulders.

“Thank you.” Medusa hissed close to Anisa’s ear. “Don’t mention it.” Anisa shot back and kept running to the last location on the map. “There it is, Medusa I need you to drag the arrow to me under these spikes. But be careful, if you stay on one spot to long you will trigger the next trap.” Anisa said and let Medusa slither off.

Medusa emerged with an arrow as black as night with the whitest of feathers for a tail and a blood red spearhead. She shaped changed into human form. She gave the arrow to Anisa. “That was not fun at all. Do you really need all these items?” Medusa asked as she looked at the arrow again. “Yes, I do not have time to explain that as of yet so would you mind? I need a lift.” Anisa said and pointed to broken stairs. “Sure, hold on tight.” Medusa said and lifted Anisa till her fingers could take hold onto the cold dark stone.

“Come on.” Anisa said as she hung down and grabbed hold of Medusa’s hand. “Thank you. For a moment I thought you were going to leave me down there…” Medusa said looking down. “Why would I do that? I am the one who summoned you so I am responsible for everything that happens to you.” Anisa said with a reassuring smile. “Thank you.” Medusa said and smiled back at Anisa. “Now what is the next item you need?” Medusa asked watching the corridors.

“We need to find the Wolfsbane. There is no mention of it on this map.” Anisa said. “Wait, you said you are looking for wolfsbane? That map is at least 2 sentries old. They wouldn’t have called it ‘wolfsbane’ back then. They would have known it as ‘Monkshood’; does the map say anything about that?” Medusa asked. “Yes it says that right here!” Anisa exclaimed with excitement.

As they followed the map to the location of the Monkshood, they hear people talking. “That doesn’t sound like humans, it sounds like werewolves.” Medusa said. “What are they saying?” Anisa asked. “They are not happy about the agreement that was broken. The vampires attacked the northern tribe killed the tribe elder. They also killed most of the women and children. The ones who didn’t have the werewolf gene got taken and turned into vampires and left for dead.” Medusa said covering her mouth.

“So the usual fight between them?” Anisa said shaking her head. “Well it sounds that way.” Medusa said with a chilling anger in her voice. “Look I know this sounds insensitive and I’m sorry, but we have another item to find.” Anisa said. “I know, sorry if I’m a bit touchy with these kinds of matters.” Medusa said. “You are still a woman no matter what you look like on the outside. You have a caring heart and you feel grief like most of us cannot. Don’t beat yourself up about it.” Anisa said and gave Medusa a quick hug. “Thank you for your kindness Anisa. You remind me of a girl I used to know before I got beheaded…” Medusa said.

“I think my mind is playing tricks on me…” Anisa said. “What do you mean?” Medusa asked as they walked into another maze of corridors. “I feel like I’ve been here before a few hundred years ago…” Anisa said and braced herself against a wall. “How would that even be possible?” Medusa asked confused. “I don’t know. Let’s talk about this when we get back into my office ok?” Anisa asked. “Sure…” Medusa said and spotted a strange looking plant.