"are you sure you want to do this?" he asks, his hand hovering above the door.

i nod. "it's the only way."

"because i just really don't want to see you-"

"hey." i put my hand on his arm, and he stops. "you know i have to."

he looks at me for a long moment before sighing. "yeah. i know."

i try to smile, but it's too small and too toothless. "don't worry."

his eyes remain serious. "she's not who she says she is," he whispers, as if she can hear us. "you can't trust her."

the lock slides open with a thunk, and i push the door open. "i don't need to," i reply as i walk into the chamber. i can feel perseus's eyes on my back for another moment before he closes the door behind me and the chamber is plunged into darkness.

i can't see her, but i can feel her presence, like the snakes still call out to me even in their stillness. resisting the urge to shiver, i mutter: "zontana, fidi."

i immediately feel the spell running through my fingers and into the air around me, lingering for a moment before dissipating into the hissing and rattling of a thousand snakes. the room remains dark, but it's almost like i can see their tongues flicking out, reaching towards my flesh like arms raised from the grave.

"who's this?" a woman's voice rasps. she sounds like she just woke up from a very long nap, drawing out the "s" sounds as if she likes the taste of them on her tongue.

i stand up straighter. "hello," i say. "we need to talk." i take a deep breath before saying her name, as if not using it could allow me to pretend her body was still stone cold, and my voice is just slightly shaky as i whisper: "medusa."