. the promise .

The nymph in my dreams danced along the shallow path leading to Mount Olympus. The mountain towered above us, a mass of jagged lines and shadowy crevices, seeming to disappear among the multitudes of bulging, violet clouds. I had to stop and drink it in. Gawk at the massivity of the structure looming before me as we moved, almost glided towards it. Could it be that they lived here, the one’s children only heard about in fairy tales? What was I doing here? But before I could answer, the willowy nymph with long golden tresses beckoned to me. Her sapphire eyes glowed like the flame from a candle, entrancing me; and, all I could do was follow her, my enchantress. I stumbled on as if pulled by invisible forces that ceaselessly tugged on my stocky arms and pulled harshly like icy talons at my clothes. My mind was void of any thoughts other than the ones about her. Nothing else mattered. Fear could threaten to consume me then had it not been for the soothing caresses of this goddess. Her face with its soft lines and innocent smiles colored with paleness offered me solace.

How would Esteban and Cerise think of me now? Their laughter still echoed in my ears. Jeering and cursing they accused me of being unreasonable, a dreamer.

“There is no God!” Cerise had exclaimed melodramatically, snuffing out her cigarette in a cheap ashtray and coughing through the remains of the smoke-filled cloud that surrounded her.

“Finding God, or gods for the matter isn’t my purpose,” I had muttered impatiently.

“Baby, then what is?”

“Do tell us?” Esteban said but all I had done in response was glare at my computer screen and play game after endless game of Tetris.

A bolt of lightning struck against an oak near by, splitting it violently in half. A deluge of water left me shivering and drenched as my legs began to shake uncontrollably, but still I went on without a clue of what my fate would be. Not when this nymph was the light piercing effortlessly through the tempest. My savior. Life had no meaning anymore with her. Why should it? In a matter of moments I, Dimitri, computer geek extraordinaire, would be arriving at the front gates of that glorious palace, the home of the gods. The myths of old turning into truths as I gaze upon them for the first time. And then I would ask them that burning question.

I had to stop because I was becoming fatigued. Every muscle in my body ached, yet she glided to my side. Her long, delicate fingers pushed strands of charcoal hair out of my eyes and soothed my face with her crystalline tears. Gazing into those mesmerizing eyes I wondered if she loved me. Her luscious, red lips were so close to my own that a part of me yearned to touch them, drown in the ethereal beauty she seemed to possess. I love you.

You desire me.

“Do not fear,” she said softly, her voice as sweet and melodic as a bird’s as she held out her hand to mine. I took hold and let her continue leading me on towards my destiny. What is to become of me?

“Immortality is a fool’s paradise. You might as well be looking for the Fountain of Youth. Maybe you’ll even be remembered like Ponce de Leon, after you’re dead that is,” Esteban sneered as he slammed the door.

“Great! Now you’ve upset him, Dimi. I don’t think sex will cure this one.”

“Shut-up Cerise.”

“Old dusty books won’t prove a thing, nor will going to the Acropolis on a dark and stormy night. Admit it. We’re all fucked from the day we’re born,” she had laughed as she followed in Esteban’s footsteps.

I beat my high score in Tetris. It was negative 24, 000.

The nymph and I soon reached the entrance to the mountain. Before me stood a massive gate molded in gold and decorated with kneeling angels and gargoyles. It reminded me of the towers of Notre Dame cathedral, gothic and grotesque when outlined with streaks of lightning against the grey sky. The nymph raised an arm, whispered unintelligible words under her breath. Creaking lethargically the gates opened and a hooded man appeared. He turned around and walked up the winding path towards the castle of the gods. We followed him, but still my growing fear remained.

Upon reaching the peak, I expected a beautiful palace, glowing and surrounded by nymphs with enamel pillars grasping at the heavens. I imagined the gods and goddesses, feasting around a silver table twice the size of the moon, and drinking their precious nectar; the gift of immortality. Would they offer me this amber?

Instead we faced a desolate castle littered with broken stone statues of warriors and maidens, mystical animals, and even a child. Each face masked their inner beauty with jagged lines and open-mouthed howls, cries never finished. Emotions, fears, desires were captured into the smooth stone, perpetuating their fear. One soldier’s mouth opened into a hushed scream while pointing his spear at an invisible opponent. A maiden lay kneeling by a fountain, her face painted with tears never fully shed. The winged-horse reared its head and spread its wings as if it had been about to take flight.

I glanced at the nymph, but she too stared in bewilderment. Her small, slender hands covered her face. I walked up to the hooded man and placed my hand on his shoulder, but to my amazement, he too had turned into stone. I jumped away and ran towards my saddened nymph.

“What has happened?” I asked. My heart pounded rapidly in my chest and I couldn’t decide if I was more afraid for myself or for her.

“They’ve become immortal.”

“But they’re dead!” I cried.

“The truth is never what we want it to be.”

“I can’t believe this.”

“But you must. You have been chosen, Dimitri,” she sang gently as her hands fell to her sides. A look of sympathy came over her, causing her eyes to be downcast. Still, I had no idea what she meant when she spoke.

“Chosen for what?”

“To become the snake lady’s groom,” the nymph whispered.

Suddenly she began to change until my very eyes beheld the horror of horrors. Her golden tresses became a head of serpents, each one hissing and snapping. Her body bulged and turned blue, and her eyes glared, replacing their soft glow with flames. I tried to run but I couldn’t move. And then there was the pain. Numbness came first but soon after it seemed like I was being crushed. My fingers burned. I was turning into something like them, the dozens upon dozens of statues that littered the ground. Everything became blurred but I could still see.

“Now no one will forget you, Dimitri,” said Medusa as her hooked fingers encircled my neck, drawing me towards her as I breathed my last.