Lyre (13 page)

‘Medusa, you don’t have to tell me this.’

‘I know,’ she answered softly.  ‘But I want to.’  She took a deep breath.  ‘My father owned a fleet of ships.  Fishing mostly and, goodness knows, back in those days the seas were considerably more plentiful with their bounty than they are now.’

‘We’re not talking recently, are we?’

‘No.’  She shook her head.  ‘This was a very, very long time ago, Yuri.’

‘In Greece?’

‘Yes.’

‘Poseidon,’ Yuri said suddenly understanding.  ‘You went to Poseidon’s temple.’

‘It made the most sense.’  Medusa’s eyes were distant.  ‘He was the god my father subscribed to.  But, no, it wasn’t his temple I visited.  I went to Athena.  The goddess of wisdom.  For some reason I thought she’d be likely to want to help.  Sisterhood, perhaps.  But that’s not to say Poseidon wasn’t involved.’ She sighed. ‘Even back then the gods rarely spent time connecting with humans.  The last thing I expected was to find one there.’

‘Poseidon was there?’

‘I didn’t realise it was him to begin with. I thought it was merely another supplicant.  It should have occurred to me that the temple was unusually empty.’  Her face looked pained.  ‘He made sure of that.  He told me I was beautiful.  That my hair reminded him of the silky dark waters under the ice in Antarctica but he knew that the blood which pumped through my veins was as warm and alive as that of the Caribbean.  I’d never even heard of those places before.  It felt like he was selling me a dream of another world.  A world David and I could explore together.

‘He put his hand out to touch my cheek and told me that if I wanted my father to agree to the marriage, I had to do what I was told.  I was far too naïve then to understand what he wanted but when one hand cupped my breast and the other forced its way between my thighs, even I began to get an idea.’

Horrified, Yuri shook her head.  ‘Medusa, no.  He didn’t.’

‘Oh, he did.  I said no.  My virginity was highly prized.  I wasn’t about to give it up to anyone other than David, no matter what he promised in return.  But he was too strong.  He ripped the clothes from me and took what he wanted.  By the gods, it hurt.  It was decades before I could get the stench of salt erased from my skin.  I thought I was ruined and things could never – would never – get any worse.’ Her eyes darkened with the memory.   ‘What I hadn’t counted on was Athena’s rage at the defilement of her temple.  She couldn’t go after Poseidon.  He was too strong and the wisdom she possesses told her it would do nothing more than cause friction amongst all the gods of Olympus.’

‘She went after you?’

‘Guess what she gave me?’  Medusa smiled but her eyes were humourless.  She reached up and stroked the head of the nearest snake.  ‘Not that I don’t love you now, my lovelies,’ she said softly.  She gazed at Yuri.  ‘My father threw me out onto the street.  I could understand that.  He couldn’t risk furthering the wrath of Athena when he had so many men’s lives to be responsible for.  I thought it didn’t matter.  I had my David.’ She closed her eyes briefly.  ‘Until he saw me that was.  I suddenly wasn’t quite as desirable as I had been before.  He wasn’t interested in having a wife who looked like a monster.’

‘He dumped you?  After all you went through, he dumped you?’

Medusa’s gaze turned flinty.  ‘He loved the idea of me.  He didn’t love me.  I could live with the rape, with my father’s disdain, with finding myself looking like this.  But David broke my heart.’

Faced with Medusa’s story, Ozzy’s actions no longer seemed quite so reprehensible to Yuri. Perspective could change a great deal. ‘I’m so sorry.  I’m so sorry you had to go through all that alone.’  She reached forward and hugged Medusa again.  When she pulled back, both their cheeks were wet.

‘The writing was on the wall, Yuri, and I was too stupid to see it.  Don’t make my mistake.’

‘I don’t understand.’

‘Don’t go and see your Ozzy.  It won’t end well.’

‘He’s not a monster,’ Yuri said quietly.  ‘He’s a lying bastard but he wouldn’t do what Poseidon did.’

‘I know.’

‘And I don’t want anything to do with him after him today so he won’t do what David did.’

Medusa’s eyes were troubled.  ‘No, he won’t do that either.  But this love will destroy you just as mine destroyed me.’

‘I don’t love him.’

‘Yuri, you’ve always loved him.’

Unable to deny the truth again, she looked away.  ‘It doesn’t mean I don’t hate him too.  I’m not going to let him hurt me again,’ she said fervently.  ‘I’m going to do my job and walk away.  You didn’t mind when I was with him before.’

Medusa looked pained and strangely unable to meet Yuri’s eyes.  ‘We didn’t always know the truth before.  Sibyl speaks the truth; you know she does.  If you walk through those doors, you are sealing your fate forever.’

‘I’m not going to live my life through Sibyl’s prophecies.  I told her I didn’t want a divination!  I can’t be like that, not any more.  I have to be in charge of my destiny.  And my destiny is that I go in there, be the best goddamn interviewer this country has ever seen and then never ever see Oz again.  Medusa, I’m sorry.  I can’t even begin to understand how terrible that was for you.  There’s nothing I can say that will make all that better.  I’m always here if you want to talk about it.  Always.  But if my fate changed before then it can change again.’

‘Let Sibyl do a divination for you as well as him.  Then at least we’ll know…’

‘No.’  Yuri put a hand on Medusa’s arm.  ‘No,’ she repeated firmly.  ‘I’m not going to let the stars or the gods or whatever that shit is guide me ever again.  This is my life.  Doing this interview is nothing to do with Oz or you or Sibyl or anything else.  It’s just to do with me making the best of what I’ve been given.’

‘Yuri…’

‘I have to do this, Medusa.’

‘Please.’

‘I’m sorry.  Wait for me.  I’ll back here on this pavement in a few hours and I still won’t be with him.’  She checked her watch.  ‘I have to go or I’ll be late.’

Medusa lunged towards her but it was already too late.  Yuri had whirled away and was gone, swallowed up by steel, glass and the impending inevitable.

‘No-one else saw him, Medusa,’ Yuri said, her fingers twisting in the dark fabric of her dress.  ‘I’m starting to think that maybe I was hallucinating or something.’

The woman’s face was grim.  ‘Very few people see me for what I am, Yuri.  You’re already well aware of that. It’s only people who’ve been touched by Olympus who know the truth.’

‘So that’s who he was?  Something to do with the gods like you?  Because he was responsible for Brittani’s death.  I wasn’t there to see it happen but I’m sure of it.’

‘Tell me what he said again.’

Yuri snorted.  ‘He didn’t say anything.  He shouted.  He shouted so damn loud the ground shook.’  She shivered.  ‘It was something about her skull.  He wanted her skull.’

Medusa’s snakes, which up until this point had been lying lifeless by her shoulders, perked up, their heads flicking in Yuri’s direction.  She sighed.  ‘Antaeus,’ she said finally.  ‘His name is Antaeus.  He’s Poseidon’s son.’

‘So he is a god?’

‘Not exactly.  He has immortality and he enjoys supernatural strength.  He’s been on a mission for over a thousand years to collect as many human skulls as possible.’  Her mouth downturned.  ‘He wants to use them to build a temple in dedication to his father.’

Sickened, Yuri turned away.  ‘What’s he doing here?’

‘I don’t know.  Different denizens of Olympus are often drawn to particular places because of something out of their control.’

‘Is that why you’re here?  You were drawn here by something?’

‘I’m here because I thought I’d be far away from anything to do with them.’  She tensed her shoulders.  ‘And I like the zoo.’

‘And Sibyl?  Why’s she here?’

‘Because I am,’ Medusa said simply.

Yuri’s eyes closed briefly. ‘If she hadn’t done her fortune-telling, I’d have gotten in that car with Ozzy.  We’d have left before Brittani even got there.  She’d still be alive.’  She kicked frustratedly at a clump of grass.  ‘It’s my fault she’s not.’

‘It’s Antaeus’ fault.  If you’d gotten into that car, then you’d be the one in a box right now.’

‘That doesn’t make it fair!’ Yuri burst out.  ‘Ozzy said that fair was a cop-out.  That it’s an excuse for not taking control of your own destiny.  I let Sibyl take control of my destiny and now someone who didn’t deserve it is dead.  I should have stopped her from getting in that car.  I should have…’

‘Shhh,’ Medusa soothed, putting a hand on her shoulder.  ‘What’s done is done.  You didn’t know what would happen.’

‘Your fucking great-niece did.’

‘No.  She only knew what would happen if you got into that car.  She didn’t see beyond that.’

‘It should have been me.’

Medusa watched her with troubled eyes.  ‘If it had been you, then your boyfriend would have died too.  Would that have been fair?’

Misery clutched at Yuri’s heart.  ‘Just keep her away from me, alright?’ she snarled, whirling round.  ‘I’ve got to go.  The funeral will be starting soon.’

Without another word, she stomped off, arms hugging her thin body.  She’d disappeared around the corner when Sibyl finally emerged, biting her lip.

‘She hates me,’ she said sadly.

‘‘She’ll get over it,’ Medusa said.  ‘Right now, she’s just hurting.  It’s probably best if you leave off any divining when she’s around though.’

‘Yeah.  Except you know it’s not over.  He’s going to show up again.’

‘We’ll just have to deal with that when it happens,’ Medusa said firmly. 

‘It’s the boy.  She’ll do anything to keep him safe and it’ll end up getting her killed.’

‘We have time.  They’re teenagers.  They’re fickle.  Who knows what might happen in a couple of months?  They’ll probably hate each other by then.’

Sibyl shook her head.  ‘They won’t.’

*

When Brittani’s mother clasped her hands and thanked her for coming, Yuri found herself completely unable to look her in the eye.  Even from the back of the small church during the service, the slump to both parents’ shoulders had been brutally obvious.  Staring at the simple pine coffin overladen with flowers hadn’t helped matters either.  The guilt she felt was almost overwhelming.  Ozzy, at her side, squeezed her hand. 

‘I’m so sorry, Mrs. Smith,’ he said soberly.  ‘She deserved better.’

‘She was a good girl.’

He nodded.  ‘One of the best.’

‘Will you come to the wake?  We’ve got chocolate cake.’  A shadow passed across her eyes.  ‘It was her favourite.’

‘Of course.’  They moved away, allowing the next mourners to step up.  Yuri’s spine was so rigid that she walked stiffly, almost like a robot.

‘Bryan’s getting out of hospital this afternoon,’ Ozzy commented.

‘Mm.’

‘They say he’s lucky to be alive.’

Yuri sighed deeply.  ‘What about his brother?’

‘He’s fractured his clavicle but he’s alright.’

She nodded imperceptibly, then turned to look at him.  ‘It should have been us.’

‘Don’t,’ he said.  ‘Don’t think like that.’

‘Ozzy…’

‘No.  It was an accident.  It’s not our fault any more than it’s Brittani’s fault.’

‘It wasn’t an accident.’ She gripped his hands.  ‘There was someone there.  Some kind of freaking monster.  He caused the accident.  Just like when my father died.  There are things here with us, Ozzy.  Things that you can’t see but they’re there all the same.’

Confusion clouded his face.  ‘Yuri, the car skidded.  It was a mechanical fault.’

‘No, it…’

‘Can you believe this?’ Jono interrupted, appearing behind them.  ‘Poor Brittani, man.’

Yuri pulled away.  ‘I have to go,’ she muttered.

‘What about the wake?’

She shook her head.  ‘I can’t, Ozzy.  I just can’t.’ 

Legs trembling, she walked off, no idea where she was going.  She moved as quickly as her stiff legs would manage, hoping that he’d get the message that she wanted to be alone.  When she rounded the corner and he still wasn’t with her, she felt a wash of gratitude.  Slowing her steps, she stared fixedly ahead, her fingers trailing along the stone walls and wooden fences dividing the well kept gardens from the pavement.  The sun beamed down, almost tauntingly.  Yuri tightened her jaw.  The sky should be black and stormy, not azure blue and cloudless.  She kicked pointlessly at a crushed soda can, setting off a nearby dog to a round of excited barking.  Ignoring it, she simply kept walking.  She had no destination in mind, merely the burning desire to get as far away from the real world as possible.  She should have done what she’d planned and stayed mute and unsociable.  Between her father and now Brittani, she couldn’t prevent herself from thinking that everything was her fault.  She’d brought the murderous world of Olympus into their lives.  She was responsible.

The excited calls of young children alerted her to where she was long before she caught sight of the rolling waves and golden sand.  Yuri halted at the large stone breaker, pressing her palms against its rough surface, and stared out at the vast expanse of the sea.  Apart from the one time she’d come down from the cliffs to help Ozzy’s struggling battle, she’d completely avoided the beach.  The ocean had brought back too many painful reminders.  It no longer seemed so terrifying.  She watched the waves lap against the shore and rubbed her neck, trying to ease her stiff muscles.  Thanks to the sunny weather, there were a lot of people milling around.  Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves.  Everyone apart from her anyway.

Bending down, she pulled off her shoes, twisting the buckles between her forefinger to make them easy to carry.  Then she took a deep breath and walked out, feeling her toes sink into the warm sand.  Yuri padded all the way down to the water’s edge, inhaling the salty air deep into her lungs.  Despite the beautiful weather, the sea was still cold, making her shiver as it lapped over her feet.  She kicked out angrily, sending a spray of water arcing high into the air.  Then she turned away and walked several metres back before sitting with her back to the water and hugging her knees.  When that grew too uncomfortable she stretched her legs out in front of her and began tracing shapes in the flat, sea-worn sand.

‘May I join you?’  Ozzy’s voice was nervous.

She twisted her neck and glanced up at him.  ‘You followed me?’

‘You were upset.  I wanted to make sure you were okay.  You know, that you didn’t do anything stupid.’

Her eyes warmed.  ‘Thank you.  Not just for following but for giving me some time alone.’

He sat down beside her.  ‘You’re welcome.’

‘You’re kind of smart for a boy,’ she commented.

‘I’ll take that as a compliment.’  He gave her a slight smile.  ‘What are you drawing?’

She moved back slightly so he could see.  He raised his eyebrows.  ‘A harp?’

‘Almost.  It’s a lyre.’

‘Ah. ‘I wish to tune my quivering lyre to deeds of fame and notes of fire’.’

At Yuri’s sideways glance, he looked rather abashed.  ‘Byron.’

‘The poet?’

‘I thought reading poetry might help me writing songs.’  He reached out and took her hand.  ‘What happened to Brittani really wasn’t your fault, you know.’

Yuri swallowed.  ‘I’m not so sure about that.’

‘I am.’  His voice was quiet.  Then he took a deep breath and very, very softly started to sing.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail

And mortal life shall cease,

I shall possess within the veil,

A life of joy and peace.

Yuri frowned.  ‘That sounds familiar.’

‘It’s a verse from
Amazing Grace
.’

‘It’s beautiful.  I’m not sure it’s true though.’

He leaned over and brushed her cheek with his lips.  ‘You just need faith.’

She forced a smile in his direction and changed the subject.  ‘Do you know the story behind the lyre?’

Ozzy shook his head. 

‘The Greek god Hermes stole a herd of cows from Apollo.  He slaughtered one and offered all of it apart from its entrails as a sacrifice to the rest of the gods on Olympus.  He used the entrails to make the strings of the lyre.’

‘That’s kind of disgusting.’

‘You could use it as your logo.  For the band.  It could be like a metaphorical sacrifice.’  Her voice was hopeful.  ‘Then maybe the gods will leave you alone.’

He chuckled.  ‘Right.’

Yuri gazed at him solemnly.  ‘Apollo let Hermes off because the music made with the lyre was so beautiful.’  She pointed down at her sand drawing.  ‘Look.  There are five strings.  One for you, Jono, Tim and Roz.  All the members of Orpheus.’

‘There are only four of us.’

‘The fifth one is for Brittani.  The lyre itself can be gold.  The fifth string should be black.’

For a long moment, Ozzy was silent.  Convinced that she’d gone too far, Yuri’s brow creased in worry.  Eventually, however, he spoke.

‘It’s perfect.’

‘Are you sure?’

He put an arm round her shoulders and pulled her towards him, then kissed her gently.  ‘I wouldn’t lie.  Not to you.’

She smiled at him.  ‘Thank you.’

‘Come on,’ he said with a grin, tugging her back to her feet.  ‘We’re not far from the site of very first kiss.  Let’s go and re-visit old memories.’

‘It wasn’t a kiss!’ Yuri protested.

‘It was the kiss of life!  Of course it was a kiss.’  He leaned into her ear.  ‘So romantic,’ he whispered.

She thumped him on the arm. 

‘Boyfriend beater!’ he moaned melodramatically.

Yuri stilled.  ‘Is that what you are?  My boyfriend?’

His eyes held hers.  ‘If you want me.  Unless you still want to play hard to get for a while?’

‘Life’s too short.’

He sobered up for one brief, soul-searching moment.  ‘Yes.  It is.’ 

Then he grinned suddenly and took off, sprinting down the beach.  Yuri laughed and ran after him.  Startled seagulls flocked up, keening into the sky.  Their footprints carved indentations into the sand as they ran, pausing from time to time to stop and smile at each other. 

‘Where were you that day?’ he asked, when they finally halted for good.  ‘I thought I was alone on the beach.’

‘When you almost drowned?  I was up on the cliffs.’  She pointed behind them at the precarious winding path.

He looked upwards.  ‘That’s pretty high.’

‘It wasn’t easy getting down in a hurry,’ she admitted.

‘Do you think you can climb back up?’

Yuri shrugged.  ‘Sure.’

He grinned.  ‘Great.  You go first though.  That way I get to watch your body some more.  And I’ll be ready to catch you in my big strong arms if you fall.’

She rolled her eyes at him but, secretly flattered, walked over and started to climb, using the rickety railing at the side to keep her balance and help pull herself up to the top.  All the same, she was breathing hard by the time she made it up.  When Ozzy joined her, his skin was covered in a sheen of sweat.