"Euphrosyne, where in the holy fuck are you taking us?" Clio yelled from the back of the convoy of Goddesses following Euphrosyne blindly through the darkening December skies. They had been in flight for hours and seemingly were no closer to her so called "sanctuary" than they had been when they started. The beautiful Grace had promised them an afternoon of sheer delight and so far it had been far from delightful. With the sky now turning dark, and the weather turning foul, it was obvious that night was falling and it appeared that soon they would all have to turn back to Olympus. All in the convoy but Euphrosyne were disappointed at having spent their entire afternoon flying seemingly randomly and in great boredom over the wintry earth rather than staying back in the Grace's palace and enjoying the oral attentions of Ganymede and Dionysus.
Rolling her eyes at the chorus of bitchy complaints coming from behind her, Euphrosyne looked back over her shoulder and shouted. "Patience dear Clio, PATIENCE. We are almost there, I promise."
Euphrosyne was right of course, as they were very close. As the shoreline of Spain loomed in the distance, its tall marble temples outlined clearly against the deep blue Mediterranean sky, the landmark indicated their trip was almost over. Flying over the city of Barci jutting out into the bay, the great mountains of the Pyrenees stood tall and imposing in the near distance. Being early winter, snow had coated much of the land and the peaks of the summit glimmered white in the fast fading afternoon light. Behind her the Muses and her two sisters grew impatient as they continued to follow her lead. They had all been promised a fun afternoon and so far it had been nothing but a journey of total suckage. Despite sensing their distress, the Goddess smiled as she knew that in just a few moments their frustration and bitching would abruptly end and delights they could not imagine would begin.
Stopping suddenly in mid-flight over the rocky peak of Montserrat, Euphrosyne turned and raised her hand to the others. "Here we are my impatient bitchy followers! We have arrived."
Looking at the frozen landscape and sharp imposing rocks, the Grace and Muses looked at one another with massive irritation and confusion. Clio, always the most boisterous and outspoken of the Muses, frowned as she studied the harsh ground and sighed.
" Euphrosyne, I hate to be one to complain, but if this is your idea of a private refuge, it frankly sucks! No wonder you said it was private. Who on earth would want to come here to this godforsaken frozen shithole!"
Smirking at her biting words, Euphrosyne pointed at a tiny rocky cave on the peaks that glowed dimly in the sea of endless grey and white. "Oh ye of little faith my fickle little bitches. Just follow me into the cave and you will eat those words, trust me." Turning abruptly from the group, Euphrosyne held her arms up over her head and plunged headfirst into a dive. With all of the other Graces and Muses watching on in amazement, the Goddess rocketed headfirst into the glowing spot and disappeared into a light purple mist. As she vanished into the glimmering purple snow, the others all looked at one another and shrugged, all floating frozen above the icy slopes in astonishment at what they had just witnessed.
"Is she fucking CRAZY!" Thalia screamed as she watched her sister perform a near suicide like leap into what appeared to be a sheer stone wall. Thalia's consternation and hesitation were shared by the other women who tread the air over the cliff, each wondering what to do next. Minutes ticked by with no one saying anything as the weather grew worse as the late afternoon light quickly dimmed. Now being pummeled with stinging sheets of sleet and snow, they all shivered both in the cold but also in fear as none knew whether to follow Euphrosyne into the unknown, or to return to the much warmer (and drier) Olympus. Arguing amongst themselves, the Muses and Graces bickered wildly as to what to do as Clio rolled her eyes in disgust as she watched their typical display of total and complete indecisiveness.
Finally with her patience at an end, she once again spoke up for all.
"Well, we came this far, I guess we should go ahead and follow her. Nothing ventured nothing gained right?!"
Arcing her body into a great swan dive, she swiftly plunged after Euphrosyne and was soon followed by all of the others.
On the other end of the Mediterranean, Apollo was just reaching the dreadful palace of Hecate. Demetrius remained asleep as once again the great speed of the God had knocked him senseless remained tucked under his great arm. Landing in the courtyard of her palace, the God grinned as he saw the great black doors open as Hecate stepped out onto the plaza to greet him.
Her eyes glowing and her dreadful evil smile wide, when she saw Demetrius laid onto the ground she laughed. "EXCELLENT! Excellent great God Apollo, truly EXTRAORDINARY!!!" Opening the small leather bag hanging around her neck, Hecate held up a small crystal vile of Medusa's blood before her and continued. "You have certainly earned your reward!!! Now, bring that little fucker inside and we can talk."
Apollo sneered at Hecate's words, but followed her inside with Demetrius in tow. He regretted having to sacrifice the poor human to the evil Goddess, and his disgust with Hecate was barely able to be contained, but it was the only way he knew to not only obtain not just the blood but also learn the secret of Euphrosyne's hideout. His desire for revenge completely clouded his judgement as much as Hecate's similar desire clouded hers. Following the dread Goddess inside, Apollo smiled as he imagined all of the pervalicious things he was going to do once he had Euphrosyne and her sisters frozen into stone.
Reaching the main hall Hecate spun around and spoke. "Apollo, you have earned your reward. Now, hold out your hand and receive the blood of Medusa."
Apollo stepped forward and roughly grabbed Hecate's wrist and squeezed. "Listen Hecate, a tiny vile will not suffice for this prize. I am defying the great ZEUS himself to bring you Demetrius and demand a bigger reward to take such a risk. In compensation I want a full gallon not some tiny vile!!!! Also, you swore to tell me where Euphrosyne takes her private swim, so, SPILL IT!!!"
Her wrist smarting as he gripped it tight, Hecate hissed. "OK Apollo, OK. Don't get your panties in a bind!!!! I am a Goddess of my word." Snapping her fingers her bony servant instantly appeared and in his hands he held a tray holding a large clear crystal amphora, brimming to the top with the glowing green blood of Medusa. "Now I warn you Apollo, you need to be very careful with this. A single drop can freeze a mortal forever. Even a God will succumb for weeks to such a small amount, so do NOT overuse it boy. There is no antidote to the poison and once frozen only time will release the victim."
Unloosening his fist the golden God quickly grasped the amphora and lifted it up to his eyes. Looking into the glowing liquid inside, he smiled as its sickening green glow illuminated his face and he watched in fascination at the swirling bubbles frothing inside. With this amount of the blood he would be able to keep the Graces frozen into stone for centuries!!!
"And Euphrosyne! Where does she take her private swims?" he asked impatiently, his intense stare of rage alarming Hecate as she could see the all consuming flames of vengeance burning in his pupils.
Her eyes closed, Hecate's fierce yet beautiful face grew still as she began to chant, her body quivering as she entered into a prophetic trance.
"Across the wine dark sea, upon the hills of Spain. A great gash formed upon the earth, the planet howled in pain. When Lord Chronus knelt upon the land, to create all of time and space. His sword of destiny nicked the stones and gouged out the timeless place. Blessed paradise and joy lay within, where Nude Grace and Muse do rest. Snow packed Montserrat is your destiny now where vengeance rules the BEST!"
Her prophetic words complete, Apollo could barely contain his excitement at finally learning the location of his Nemesis's private sanctuary. His imagination boiling over with future images of the nude and curvy Goddesses frozen into some lewd position in his private garden. Now armed with the blood and the location of Euphrosyne's secret swimming hole, he violently snatched the amphora from Hecate's hands. Running down her entrance hall and out the front door, he launched like a rocket into the fading sunlight. Watching the Golden Boy of Olympus leave her palace like a kid with a new toy, Hecate cackled.
"Good luck Apollo!!! I sense you are going to REALLY need it."
Now glancing predator-like onto the slumbering form of Demetrius on the floor, her eyes brightened as he began to wake up. Wiping sleep from his eyes, a stupid grin still plastered onto his face, when he looked up into the face of Hecate glowering down at him in the dark hall he smiled. Unaware of his imminent dangerous circumstances, he innocently opened his mouth and spoke.
"Circe?"
Back on Montserrat the Muses and Euphrosyne's sisters each stood opened mouthed in complete astonishment and awe as they looked around the interior of the cave. Having each broken through snow, they all had been completely shocked by the interior as they crashed inside. Clio was the first to take the plunge and as she burst though the blue icy shell of the opening, she heartily laughed in amazement at the sights that opened up before her. Instead of an icy snow wall, as it appeared as from the outside world, the opening was actually a twisting arbor of wisteria blossoms, all glowing light purple and dropping a continuous shower of their pedals to the floor.
