Page 42 of Medusa

Typhon was checking on his men, putting his fingers against their necks to check for a heartbeat. He shouted, “You killed them! They don’t have a pulse!”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Maddie scoffed. “They’re just stone. Like you will be.” With that, she sang the same high C as earlier.

Typhon laughed. “You think that will work on me? One of the oldest dragons in the world? I’ve survived more than you can fathom, little medusa.” Typhon walked closer to Maddie, making her back up.

She stopped singing.

His gaze flicked toward Jaden behind her and an evil grin spread across his face. “I know how to break him. And I’m going to enjoy every minute of it.”

Maddie pushed down her fear and tilted her chin up. “I really don’t think you will.”

“Your voice is powerless against me. Unless you’ve got another trick hiding up your sleeve, I’m going to have to disagree with you, Ruby.” Typhon lifted one big hand as if to stroke her hair, walking into her personal space to do so.

Her mother had once told her that the older the person, the harder it would be for her gift to work. Proximity would help, as would an increase in pitch.

With her mother’s words in mind, Maddie prepared herself as Typhon crept closer and closer.

“That’s it, my beautiful Ruby. Give in to the chemistry between us,” Typhon crooned. His hands crept around her body, making her feel trapped.

If this doesn’t work, I’m in big trouble.

She opened her mouth and shrieked the highest note she could muster directly into Typhon’s startled face.

He froze in place, starting from his head down to his toes. His body had shifted away from her, as if the distance could possibly help him, keep him from suffering the same fate as his lackeys.

Spoiler; it didn’t help in the slightest.

Maddie wiggled out of Typhon’s rigid grasp, not caring overmuch if she broke his fingers, but not wanting to find out if the blood would be stone as well.

At last, she faced Jaden, taking in his damaged and bruised body.

“Oh my god,” she whimpered. “What did they do to you?”

Jaden smiled weakly. “What didn’t they do? They dosed me up with a drug that inhibits my powers, so I couldn’t break out or heal myself.”

She circled around him to examine the chains. “Do you know where the key is?”

“Sorry, no.”

“Don’t you dare be sorry!” Maddie said furiously. “Okay, I see how to lower the chains. Then you can sit, at least. I’m going to call Chloe.” She pushed a chair closer to Jaden and loosened the chains until they fell with a clattering smash to the cement floor.

Wearily, Jaden sank onto the chair. “Thanks,” he rasped. “Do you have water?”

“There’s water in the kitchen. Do you think you can make it up the stairs?” Maddie worried at her lower lip. “I can’t exactly carry you…”

Jaden huffed a laugh. “I’ll try. There’s no way I’m staying in this room any longer than I have to.”

With Maddie hovering, unsure how to help him, Jaden staggered to his feet again. “I’ll carry the chain for you, so you have some slack, would that help?” she asked anxiously.

“Please.”

Once out of the room, Maddie paused only to pull the door closed and drop the latch in place.

“I thought you said they were stone?” Jaden asked, confused. “Why bother locking them in?”

“Only for a short time; a couple hours at most,” Maddie said as they started up the stairs.

Jaden nodded. “That door won’t hold Typhon once he transforms.”

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