I flew through the busy streets, my cloak rapidly fluttering in the wind. People cursed out loud but never came close enough. Maybe they could sense the sinister air around me. I smelt like hell — literally.

I could see the air shimmer dark around me. I had to find a way back fast. The longer I stayed in the mortal world, the more I'd be drained of my powers and maybe some stupid human will catch me and put me in a cage.

A strong gust of hot wave struck my face. I wrapped the scarf around me tighter in spite of my skin almost melting beneath.

'Aaarrgghh' a sound escaped my mouth as something or someone hit me head on and we fell on the ground like sacks of potato.

'See where you are walking —' I began to fume but the mortal creature struck me as really odd.

A skinny young female, her skin dry and lifeless from neglect, matted hair and threadbare clothes was groping the ground for something.

I looked around and saw a metal stick some distance away but it had gone under the wheels of some vehicle and was now lying in two pieces.

'I'm so sorry miss, your stick...'

'I need my stick, ' she wailed. 'Please do something. I need it to survive.'

A stick to survive? Humans are really weird.

I went to retrieve the remaining splinters of her stick but it was beyond repair. Some part of me felt bad so I whispered to Claudia and Cagair.

They escaped my head-dress and very effectively coiled around each other, solidifying to pure, indestructible stone.

Meanwhile two or three passerbys simply cast glances at us, none bothering to even pick up the lady. They couldn't see all the magic due to the poor quality of human eyes anyway.

I helped her stand up as she clutched my cloak. I handed her my staff and our hands brushed just slightly. Her soft hands seemed foreign to touch.

'Thank you so much!' she smiled, looking at me.

What? No way.

No human could look me in the eye without turning into stone. None of the other mortals had made eye contact.

Her eyes looked different. They were a gorgeous shade of silver, framed by thick brown lashes. But the gaze was unfocused and distant— the eyes kind of monotonously serene.

Her fingers creeped up the side of my face, her hands trembling as she lightly dragged them across my face.

'I'm sorry!' she smiled again.'I'm blind. But why are you wearing a head-dress in this heat?'

'Traditions' I muttered, waiving her off.

So she couldn't see. My eyes thus didn't faze her or harm her. It felt really odd to find someone after centuries of waiting — someone who could look at me without flinching or dying.

She hobbled a few steps on her new made stick and almost fell again. I rushed to catch her.

So weak these humans. I was getting late but I couldn't just leave her.

'Where do you stay?' I glanced around.

'Three blocks from here.'

I suddenly found myself holding her hand and helping her walk as she dictated routes like she'd memorised them off Google Maps. I wish someone made such maps to know the Underworld! So many get lost in the depths everyday.

'So, do you stay here?' she tried small talk.

'No. I came from the Underworld.'

'Nice name of a city.'

I sighed.

'And you came here for?'

'I took the Upworld Express instead of the Underworld one. I was travelling back from Tartarus and I ended up here.'

'Cool names of trains in your place.' she chuckled, feeling the ground ahead with her stick or rather two snakes wrapped around.

I didn't even bother correcting her.

'And what's your name?'

'Medussa' I said honestly.

'Oh! Like that maiden from Greek Mythology?'

I almost choked.

'I don't think she's a Maiden' I guffawed. 'She's a monster. Atleast that's what most people think.'

'Well...Naina isn't like most people. Besides Medussa was a really misunderstood lady. Imagine being punished just for making love?' she chirped on.

'Naina?'

'It means eyes. But see the irony of fate. I was born blind!' her voice dropped.

'But' she grabbed me hand with renewed vigour. 'I am very positive that the real Medussa was really pretty and so must be you too. I so wish I could look into your eyes and thank you properly'

'I wish for you sake that you won't!' I muttered under my breath!

'It's okay!' I said out aloud.

We both fell silent as we walked on, the gravel crunching beneath out feet.

I couldn't help noticing how her hair sweeps her shoulders. Though rough and unkempt, she seemed to have an air or goodness about her, which was a contrast to the vileness in me. I might as well have been zapped by this time if she were an angel.

My gaze shifted to her lips and I felt a shiver run through me. I felt a strange desire to kiss those luscid lips.

'Do you have a boyfriend' she asked out of the blue.

'No. I had lots of exes though!' I sighed.

I can't love again after what happened. Pregnant and untouchable, rejected by the one that I loved, just for the vanity of a stupid virgin Goddess. I could still feel Poseidon's hands on me, ravishing me and the next moment I'm crying and screaming, running aimlessly, snakes popping out of my hairs, all hissing in unison.

The ground had opened up and swallowed me whole into its depths.

I shuddered.

She must have felt it because she grabbed my hands tighter.

'I'm here for you if you need to talk. It's been long since someone had offered some kind words to me. You're different.' she inferred by her own.

I don't know why but I squeezed her hands in response.

'Finally here.'she clapped her hand in ecstacy like a child.' Please do come in. '

'No, another day maybe —'

Her face fell...

'Please stay' There was pleading in her eyes. This was going too far too much. I had to do something.

'Naina' I gulped. 'I have to confess something.'

'Yes,' she whispered, fear coloring her voice as I let loose my aura of terror. She must have felt the cold burst of evil energy because she shivered.

'I am the real Medussa — the Medussa from the legends. You survived this encounter just because you can't look into my eyes.' I confessed.

I had expected her to be afraid. Instead she was smiling. 'I knew it already. My senses alerted me to some evil.'

'Then why didn't you run at the slightest opportunity?'

'Because you didn't seem bad and maybe I was willing to take the risk —' she stopped short, biting her lips.

'You have a death wish, lady!' I shouted, exasperated.

'No. I fell in love with what's inside of you. The faceless little soul that defines who you are. Don't you share my feelings?'

A direct challenge.

'That's really a complicated question.'
I wondered how the conversation had turned in this direction?

'Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple.Just an yes or a no. Either way it's okay for me.' she egged on.

My limbs were trembling. I knew at that moment I had to end this. Her hopes couldn't be allowed.

'You puny mortal, how could you fall in love with a demon like me? Don't you fear death?' My voice came out rather harsh.

'But—'

'Don't test my patience mortal.' I bellowed.

'Please don't hurt me!' she cowered, shivering like a twig caught in a storm. Her eyes turned molten ash — fear and disgust contorting her features. I could see the hatred on them and as much as it broke me, this was the only way out.

I turned away without looking back. This was too hard. Leaving her, knowing that I may not return again — I cannot return again from the pits of Tartarus. I choked on a sob that was building in my throat.

Tears threatened to destroy every bit of me as years of resolve was crumbling.

In all these years, I hadn't expected to feel anything for anybody, God, Mortal or Monster but this woman had unlocked something in me that had been buried under layers of hurt for so long.

But we had no future. A monster and a mortal are just a deadly combination. Once the careful balance is destroyed it'd be only havoc. Heartbreak hurts. But love is stronger. And I fell in love with a mortal!

'Thank you for loving me!' I looked in the direction of her house once more before I lost myself in the busy crowd again.

Life went on for me, love went on too. It never dies. It just comes back in different ways and maybe under difficult circumstances and there's always a right answer to each question however complicated.

A/N 1500 words completed. #teamheartbreak