Medusa Complex

“Don’t go, please!”

His breath ghosted against her neck, and she shivered. For one heartbeat, Emma allowed herself to remain in his embrace. Then she broke away. “You know it’s impossi—”

An electric guitar wailed through the ceiling and Belinda flinched, mashing the wrong button on her keyboard.

Not again!

Not when Emma and Pierre’s tragic romance was begging to be written. Belinda had been plotting this story for weeks. Her outline was flawless. The last twist for the doomed lovers was a doozy. No one would see it coming. Everything in her plot was falling perfectly into place.

Chords twanged overhead. Distorted music notes stabbed her eardrums.

No. No. No!

How was she supposed to get anything done with those infernal elves upstairs? Didn’t they ever study? The serpents in her hair squirmed and hissed. Belinda took a deep breath, tapping her claws on the edge of her desk. Her computer screen stared back at her, the cursor on her word processor blinking.

Great. The mood’s totally destroyed.

She needed to ignore them. There were still five months left in the semester, and she couldn’t let some obnoxious neighbors ruin it.

The guitar squealed again. Something heavy dragged across the upstairs floor. Her ceiling light flickered.

They’re like a flock of griffons!

This whole apartment building was leased to foreign exchange students. Belinda had assumed it would be a quiet refuge from the bustling streets of Granada where she and her classmates could study in peace. But the elves upstairs were always partying and blasting music. Forget studying, she couldn’t even hear herself think!

An electric bass joined the guitar. The thrumming reverb was so heavy, Belinda’s walls rattled. The gorgon groaned and smacked her laptop shut.

“That’s it!” She surged out of the chair, serpentine body uncoiling like a spring. Belinda wrenched the door open and slithered out into the hall. The emerald snakes in her hair stood straight up, like an angry, bristling mohawk.

“Hey girl!” Her flatmate, Serena, called out from the living room. She was lounging on the couch, textbooks spread across the coffee table.

Belinda could smell her kelp smoothie from across the room. Stars, those things were potent. She paused to study her flatmate. How could she study with that commotion upstairs?

Serena was a water nymph with smooth, blue-speckled skin that faded to white at her throat. She wore a ruffled peasant blouse and leggings, coral flowers braided in her aquamarine hair. When she caught sight of Belinda scowling, the smile fell from her face and her webbed ears flicked back. “What’s wrong?”

Belinda paused. Her inner ear buzzed with her flatemate’s spiking pulse. The snakes in her hair whispered to her. Tasting the air with their tongues, they could discern a person’s emotions by scent. Like a radar gun on steroids. But it didn’t take a rocket scientist to read the vibes her friend was giving off.

Serena was scared.

To be fair, the sight of an angry gorgon could rattle the bravest of heroes.

Belinda took a deep breath. It wasn’t Serena’s fault the upstairs neighbors were atrocious. She was just about to apologize when the guitar roared even louder. Metallic notes shrieked and bass tones thundered down like a musical hailstorm.

Belinda jabbed a clawed finger at the ceiling. “That noise! How can you stand it?” she shouted.

Serena exhaled and pressed the palms of her hands against her eyes. “That’s what you’re worried about? The guys are just jamming. No biggie.”

Belinda rolled slit-pupiled eyes. Water nymphs. Typical. “Seriously Serena, I’m this close to finishing my story. But I can’t think straight when my eardrums are about to explode.”

One of her snakes buzzed a forked tongue against her ear. Belinda knocked it away. The snake whined and tried to twine around her wrist. She scowled and yanked her hand free.

“Really? I think it would be inspirational to have music flowing all around you while you write.” The nymph clasped her hands together, squeezing them to her chest with a sigh.

“It’s hardly music. More like discordant noise spawned by societal dissidents.” Belinda huffed and scanned the room. “Where’s the broom?”

“The broom?” Serena blinked. “In the hallway closet. Why?”

Belinda stalked out, the emerald-green scales of her tail clicking against the tile floor. She returned wielding the broom. Her eyes blazed. Clenching the handle like a javelin, she banged it on the ceiling.

“Oh!” Serena’s hands flew to her mouth. Her ears flattened against her skull.

Belinda bit her lip. Water nymphs were pacifists. Violence and aggression made them supremely uncomfortable. Belinda knew she should tone it down. But she couldn’t take it anymore.

After getting no response, Belinda banged the broom even harder.

Suddenly the music stopped. A relieved smile crept over the gorgon’s face and the serpents stopped twisting in her hair, relaxing to drape down her back with a murmur.

“Finally.” Belinda sighed and was reaching back to return the broom when the ceiling started to shake.

Feet stomped to the beat of her banging. Like a herd of centaurs had decided to take up tap dancing. Dust shook loose from the ceiling. Then the guitar and bass joined in, picking up the rhythm of the newly improvised percussion.

Belinda’s hair rose around her like a cloud of angry bees. “Just how many of them are up there? They’re probably exceeding the building’s safety code.”

Serena walked over to her and placed a hand on her arm, mindful of the razor-sharp scales. “Leave them be, Belinda. You’ll just provoke them.”

Belinda groaned. Her tail flicked behind her like a whip, the tan keratin shell at its tip rattling. She glared at her flatmate.

Serena jerked her hand off and backed away, bumping into one of the living room chairs.

Belinda felt a little guilty. Not many people were brave enough to share an apartment with a gorgon. There was the whole turn-people-to-stone-with-the-wrong-look problem. It had taken her study abroad office ages to find a female flatmate willing to live with her. Serena was always pleasant, if a little fruity for her taste.

Belinda had never turned anyone to stone before. She was a bark-is-worse-than-bite gorgon. Plus, with advances in medicinal therapy, all gorgons were taught how to generate tears that could undo the effects of a stony glare. Belinda always carried three enchanted pins with her, guaranteed to produce tears with a single prick. She wore them in a bracelet on her left arm and never took it off, even in the shower.

“Sorry, Serena,” Belinda mumbled, tail twitching. “Maybe you’re right. I’ll just wear some headphones.” She headed back to her room and shut the door.

Hours passed. Belinda gave up working and tried to sleep, stuffing a pillow over her head. But the music just kept coming.

I should have taken Serena’s advice.

Belinda’s episode with the broom only seemed to intensify the volume and enthusiasm of her neighbors’ musical assault. They stomped and banged and blared music into the wee hours of the night.

Belinda groaned and rolled over. Her eyes sought out the electric clock on her nightstand.

Two AM!

That did it. She’d reached her boiling point. Her head ached and her throat felt like it was stuffed with cotton. She’d tried pressing a pillow against her ears but had done little to dampen the sound. Her snakes bristled around her, and Belinda sat up.

“That’s it! I’m putting an end to this. Now.”

She slid out of bed and pulled a sweatshirt over her pajama top. And before she could talk herself out of it, she stormed out the door and up the stairs.

With the offending door in front of her, Belinda took a deep breath, curled her hand into a fist and rapped her knuckles on the wood.

No response.

She knocked a little louder.

Still no response.

The music blared out into the night and Belinda ground her fangs.

She pounded on the door, hard. So hard the door popped open.

“Hello,” Belinda called, slipping her head around the door to peek in, only to realize it was a broom closet. Instead of knocking on her neighbor’s door, she’d been knocking on the janitor’s supply room. The snakes in her hair wilted. Belinda’s shoulders hunched and her cheeks burned.

I am such an idiot!

She closed the closet door and crept back down the stairs to her apartment.

I hope no one saw me. I don’t care about the music anymore. I just want to get back inside and—

Dread coiled in her belly. She patted the pocket on the front of her hoodie.

Empty.

My keys!

Belinda ran her hands through her hair as the snakes whimpered, forked tongues brushing against her fingers. She shrank to the floor, curling around her tail in a tight little ball.

How could I have been so stupid? Serena was right, I should’ve just left them alone.

She hugged her arms around herself and shivered. The hallway was cold, and it would be hours before her flatmate was up. Belinda raked her nails against her apartment door, picking at a knot in the wood.

“Belinda?” A stunned voice called from the stairwell. “Sweetheart, what are you doing out here?” Her landlord, Elsa, waddled toward her on stumpy legs. The troll’s wrinkled face folded into a look of concern.

“Elsa, I’m sorry.” Belinda cast her eyes down, nearly in tears with embarrassment. “My upstairs neighbors were being so loud; I went up to ask them to quiet down but…”

“Hooligans.” Elsa glared at the ceiling and her nostrils flared. With her bulbous, warty nose, the effect was quite impressive. “I was coming up to check on that ruckus myself. One call to campus safety will sort those rascals out. I hear they give hefty fines.” Elsa snorted and took out her cellphone.

Belinda wished the floor would swallow her whole. “It’s alright Elsa, I don’t want to cause any trouble.”

“No trouble at all, dear. I value peace and quiet as much as the next troll. Now, you just head back inside, and I’ll take care of it.”

Belinda rubbed her hand along her arm. “Actually, Elsa, I locked myself out.”

“Oh sweetheart! Why didn’t you say so?” Elsa waggled her floppy ears in what Belinda could only assume was sympathy and bustled over, pulling a large ring of keys from her pocket. “Apartment 6B,” she intoned. The correct key rose above the others, surrounded by a pale blue glow. “Worth every penny, these enchanted keys.” Elsa ushered her through the door with a gentle pat on the back. “Don’t you worry, dear. I’ll have all this sorted out before your head hits the pillow.”

But Belinda was still awake as the campus safety officers marched up the stairwell. She heard them bang on the door and the music abruptly cut off. Belinda stuffed the pillow over her face, cheeks flaming.

She didn’t sleep a wink.

“Emma,” Pierre whispered, blood seeping through his lips.

“Shh, don’t speak.” Emma smoothed a hand through her beloved’s dark hair, his head resting in her lap. “Everything’s going to be fine now.”

“I’m dying—”

“Hey-y! Gorgon girl!” A male voice shouted down at Belinda.

Three of her snakes perked their heads up, and her tail rattled involuntarily. Belinda groaned and smacked her head on the desk with a soft thunk.

Her apartment was built around a traditional Spanish courtyard. The center of the building was an open space with a pleasant little garden for picnics. Best of all, the empty space in the center allowed cool breezes to flow through what would otherwise be sweltering heat. Belinda usually appreciated the building’s architectural structure, especially on humid days like today. That breeze was a godsend. It was why she had her window wide open.

But now those wretched elves were leaning out their kitchen window one floor above. The L-shaped floor plan of the apartments put their kitchen at the perfect diagonal angle to look down into her bedroom. Thinking about yesterday, Belinda wanted to melt into the floor.

I overreacted. I never meant for Elsa call campus safety. They probably think I’m such a jerk.

The snakes in her hair drooped with a whimper.

“Hell-o-o,” someone called from above.

Why did I leave that stupid window open?

She flicked her tail back and forth, considering her options. What should she do? She couldn’t face them, not after knocking on a broom closet, locking herself out, and then having campus safety called. Belinda covered her face with her hands.

I’ll ask Serena. She’s much better at dealing with people than I am.

Belinda slunk out of the room, seeking her flatmate.

As Belinda told Serena the story of her late-night escapades, the nymph’s eyes grew rounder and rounder. When the red-faced gorgon got to the part about locking herself out, Serena covered her mouth with her petite webbed fingers and smothered a giggle. When Belinda confessed that Elsa had called campus safety and the officers gave the elves a fine, Serena gasped.

“Oh no! You didn’t?”

“I did, but I regret it now.” Belinda hung her head. “What am I supposed to do Serena? They were shouting out the window at me just now.”

“Really?” Serena’s eyes glowed. “What did they look like?”

“I don’t know,” Belinda moaned. “I was so embarrassed, I couldn’t look.”

Serena patted her shoulder. “I’m sure it’ll work out.”

Both girls jumped when there was a knock on the door.

“Who could that be?” Serena sprang up.

“Stop!” Belinda grabbed her arm. “What if it’sssss them?” she hissed. Stress always drew out her serpentine traits.

“Then it’s the perfect chance to make amends.” Serena grinned and flitted into the hallway toward the door.

“No, wait,” Belinda pleaded, rushing after her. She made a grab for her friend’s arm but missed. Hurrying after the nymph, the gorgon was right behind her as she opened the door.

Four handsome elves crowded the entranceway. All of them wore some combination of leather, chains, and ripped jeans. Their moonlight hair was dyed black, though each had fluorescent streaks of a different color. Their pointy ears were riddled with piercings and gauges. Belinda counted at least five tattoos from the slivers of skin showing around their wrists or collars. They looked like they could have just walked off a photoshoot for Rolling Rune.

Belinda shrank back from the doorway and would have fled down the hall, but Serena looped an arm around her elbow and shook her head.

Serena turned to their visitors and flashed them a million-mega-watt smile. “Hi!”

“Hello, gorgeous,” crooned the elf with electric blue streaks in his hair. He bent down and kissed Serena’s hand.

Another elf shouldered in front of him, bouncing on the tiptoe. This one had bright yellow peekaboo highlights. “We’re the neighbors above you,” he gushed, waving toward the ceiling. “About last night, sometimes when we’re groovin’, we lose track of time and yesterday Raemelion was laying on some sweet new rhythms and you know we just…” He burst into pseudo-electric guitar sounds, complete with an exuberant air guitar mime.

The tallest elf, with spiked black hair and frosted purple tips put his hand on his friend’s shoulder.

The air guitar stopped. The elf with yellow highlights snapped his hands to his sides and flashed a sheepish grin. “Sorry about that. Music gets me pumped.”

The elf with red highlights cleared his throat. “We came down to apologize about last night.” His lavender eyes sought out Belinda.

She frowned.

The elf with yellow highlights thew himself down on his knees and wrung his hands together. “Please forgive us! It won’t happen again.”

Serena giggled and Belinda rolled her eyes. The elf with red highlights noticed and gave her puppy dog eyes. Huffing, Belinda crossed her arms and looked away.

The elf with blue streaks spoke up, “We thought we could take you out to a café by way of apology.”

“Oh, we’d love to!” Serena gushed.

Belinda grabbed her arm and dragged her away from the door. “Serena, we don’t even know them.”

“Cafés are a great place to get to know each other,” one of the elves called out.

One of Belinda’s snakes bared her teeth at him. She batted it away.

“Come on, Belinda! It’ll be fun,” Serena wheedled.

Belinda took a deep breath and sighed. “Fine.” Her snakes twined around on her head in nervous figure eights.

As they walked to the café, the elves introduced themselves. The elf with blue highlights was Marcelus, their drummer. Raemelion with purple highlights played bass. Their vocalist was Trelym with yellow highlights and Corin with the red highlights was their guitarist.

The elves led them to a café across from Ocher Park.

“How cute!” Serena clapped her hands in delight. “I didn’t even know this was here.”

“It’s easy to miss.” Corin nodded. “I love finding hole-in-the-wall places like this.”

Belinda glanced at him from the corner of her eye, he didn’t seem like the kind of elf who’d appreciate cute little coffee shops. He caught her staring and winked. The gorgon blushed and looked away, twirling one of her snakes around her finger. She patted it back against the rest of its siblings and it kissed her fingertip with its tongue.

After they had ordered their drinks, they found a table outside. Corin sat next to her, and Belinda surreptitiously studied him. He had a classic aristocratic nose, typical of elves. His pale face was framed by choppy red and black bangs. And those lavender eyes. He was quite good-looking.

“So, you’re musicians?” Serena asked, snapping Belinda’s attention back to her flatmate.

“Aspiring musicians, technically,” Marcelus answered. “We’re here studying the duende rhythms of the local mountain sprites.”

“Oh, that’s wonderful!” Serena gushed. “Duende are so underrepresented in music. I’m glad to hear someone’s finally giving them the artistic credit they’re due.”

Belinda sighed and examined her nails. Serena was good at small talk, but for the life of her, the gorgon couldn’t figure out a single thing to say. She picked at her croissant, dipping it into the whipped cream on top of her hot chocolate.

“Duende are great, but there have definitely been some cultural miscommunications,” Trelym chimed in.

“Oh yeah! Like the time Raemelion accidentally propositioned the song writer.” Marcelus chuckled.

Everyone’s eyes turned to Raemelion, the tallest and seemed the quietest of the quartet. His face turned red, and he looked toward the sky. “It was an accident.”

“Get this,” Marcelus snickers. “Raemelion was trying to ask for a bathroom, but the duende thought he was asking for a bath, which apparently has something to do with their betrothal rituals.”

Raemelion slunk down in his chair with his arms crossed. “I didn’t know,” he muttered.

“And then, the duende got really quiet, and sort of—bristled itself into a ball.” Marcelus laughed. “It took Corin and Trelym hours to convince the duende that Raemelion hadn’t just proposed.”

The whole table erupted in laughter, whether from Marcelus’ animated storytelling or Raemelion’s obvious mortification it wasn’t clear. Belinda was surprised to find herself chuckling. The elves were fabulous storytellers. They had a passion for life and loved to explore the city.

“What do you study, Belinda?” Corin asked.

“M-me?” Belinda stared down at the table. She could feel herself blushing at the unexpected attention. “I study literature. I’m—well, I’d like to be an author. I’m finishing up a mythological romance novel.”

“Awesome!” Trelym smiled at her.

“That’s quite an accomplishment.” Raemelion nodded.

“Corin’s also a bookworm.” Marcelus knocked his friend on the shoulder. “He’s always got his nose in a book.”

“Really?” Belinda raised her eyebrows, turning to the elf beside her.

Corin rubbed his neck with a small smile. “Yeah. Mostly historical fiction like The Lord of the Rings, or Dune. But I also love some of the classic myths like Persuasion and Jane Eyre.”

“I love Persuasion!” Belinda squealed. “Most people go on and on about Pride and Prejudice, but I’ve always loved Persuasion the most.”

“Don’t get me wrong, I love Elizabeth Bennett,” Corin said. “But Anne and Wentworth’s love was powerful. To have endured so much. It inspires me.”

“Me too!” Belinda agreed. She bounced in her chair. “I can’t believe you’re an Austen fan.”

Corin grinned.

Belinda noticed Serena staring at her. The gorgon raised her eyebrows at her friend and Serena gave her a knowing smile.

Belinda caught herself. I can’t believe it. I’m really enjoying myself. Before today, I would have never believed we had anything in common.

“And don’t get me started on Mr. Collins—”

“Corin, man! I was hoping I’d catch you.” A young man slapped his hand on Corin’s shoulder.

“Taphius,” Corin greeted him. “We’ve just met some new friends. Pull up a chair.”

“Sure! I was gonna ask if I could borrow your trig notes later—” The blonde-haired young man broke off as he caught sight of Belinda. “Whoa, man. You didn’t tell me you were hanging out with gorgons now. Those chicks are dangerous.”

The snakes in Belinda’s hair hissed. Flinging her hands over them, Belinda slumped down low in her seat, and picked at a loose thread on her shirt. She wanted to argue, to point out she’d never hurt anyone and never wanted to, but the words got stuck in her throat. Her heart spluttered, like it was being strangled by a steel chain.

“Chill, Taphius.” Corin held up his hand. “What’s with you? Don’t tell me you have a Medusa complex?”

“Dude, my great-grandfather fought Medusa. Gorgons are bad news. You can’t trust them.”

Corin glared at his friend. “Belinda’s cool. She wouldn’t hurt a fly. She’s an exchange student who lives in our building.”

At Taphius’ incredulous look, Marcelus piped up. “Besides, she’s our friend. If you wanna hang with us, you gotta be cool with her too, bro.”

Serena, Trelym, and even Raemelion agreed.

Taphius sneered, shaking his head. “You guys are nuts,” he muttered and walked away.

“Your loss,” Corin called out after him.

Belinda stared at the elf. He flashed her a smile and her breath hitched. The tightness in her chest started to crumble away, replaced by a delicious warmth; like drinking a steaming cup of tea on a brisk autumn day. Belinda blinked, fighting against the sudden urge to cry. Even though these elves had just met her, they didn’t judge her based on the behavior of her great aunt. They were willing to give her a chance and be her friend regardless of appearances.

Realization pierced her heart. That’s the opposite of what I’ve been doing. Belinda gasped and pressed her hands to her cheeks, mortified. I’ve been judging them without really knowing them at all.

“Belinda, are you okay?” Corin’s eyebrows drew together.

“Y-yes.” She dug her claws into the palms of her hands. Everyone was staring at her. She took a deep breath and looked up to meet their eyes. “I owe you guys an apology. I’m sorry for banging on the ceiling with a broom.”

“Oh that?” Marcelus laughed. “We thought you were grooving to the beat with us.” His eyes sparkled. “You’re a natural on percussion.”

As the others joined in laughing, Belinda shook her head.

“I’m also sorry for the campus safety, a-and the fine.” She twisted her hands in her lap, the snakes in her hair whining pitifully.

There was silence at the table.

“Water under the bridge,” Raemelion spoke in his deep voice. Everyone turned to stare at him, and he blushed, scratching his head.

Then all the other elves agreed.

“No worries, Belinda.” Marcelus assured her. “We’re cool.”

Belinda sighed in relief. It seemed like they were all willing to forgive her and move on.

The rest of the afternoon was spent in laughter and blooming friendship. As the day wore on, the group wrapped up and started heading back to the apartment.

Corin fell into step beside her. He cleared his throat, and Belinda glanced at him.

“You know, in a way I’m glad the landlady called campus safety on us the other day.”

“Why?” Belinda’s eyebrows rose almost to her hairline.

“Because it helped me finally work up the nerve to talk to you,” Corin admitted.

Her snakes cooed and leaned toward Corin. One of them tried to kiss his cheek.

Belinda slapped it away. “Behave!” she admonished. Her pulse hammered in her ears.

Corin chuckled. “I’ve seen you around. I have the bedroom above you, actually. And I’ve always wanted to talk with you.” He gave her a sheepish smile.

“You nervous?” Belinda was in shock. “To talk to me?”

“Well, yeah.” Corin laughed lightly. “You’re beautiful and smart. It was a little intimidating. I didn’t know where to start.”

She took in the blush dusting his gorgeous cheekbones and realized that she was blushing too.

How did I miss this?

Belinda smiled up at him. “I’m glad we finally got the chance to meet.”

Belinda was typing away on her laptop when she heard something thud against her window. Opening the shutters, she smiled at the little plushie dangling from a string. His head was at least twice the size of the rest of his body, which somehow made him even more adorable. He was wearing a dark gray tailcoat with tan trousers and a little white cravat at his throat. There was a notecard strapped to his torso. In elegant script the note declared “Mr. Darcy inquires whether the lady is quite ready to go?”

Belinda smiled. Where on earth did Corin find a Mr. Darcy plushie? She tugged him into her room and gave the little mythological Englishman a kiss on the nose. The soft minky fabric tickled her lips. She ran a finger along the collar of Mr. Darcy’s faux suede coat when she noticed something.

Mr. Darcy smelled like Corin.

Belinda brought the plushie up to her nose and sniffed.

Yep.

She’d recognize that scent anywhere. Like a forest at midnight, dark and wild, with a hint of moonflower.

Belinda laughed and twirled around her bedroom with Mr. Darcy clutched to her chest. Then she settled him against her pillow with an affectionate pat on the head.

Taking one more glance at her computer screen, she saw the cursor blinking after the words “The End.” She saved the document one more time, just to be sure, then closed her laptop with a smile.

The doorbell rang. Serena popped her head into the hall, but Belinda was already slithering toward the entrance. She waved a hand at her flatmate. “I’ll get it.”

Serena gave her a thumbs up.

When Belinda opened the door, Corin was standing on the other side, wearing ripped jeans with silver chains and safety pins pierced along the seams.

She threw herself into his arms and gave him a big hug. Corin turned his nose to nuzzle her cheek and Belinda’s heart fluttered. When she pulled away, the snakes in her hair peppered Corin’s cheek with kisses.

“Where did you find a Mr. Darcy plushie?” she asked.

“It’s a secret,” Corin grinned at her. Then taking her hand in his, he threaded their fingers together. “Are you sure you’re ready for this?” He leaned in close, studying her.

“My first rock concert?” She squeezed his hand. “What could possibly go wrong?”