I would be lying to myself if I tried to claim that I had gotten a restful night's sleep. In fact, it might have been the worst night's sleep I'd had since the restless nights following my return home after the accident. I'd spent the entire night tossing and turning under the bed sheets as I thought over the tale Medein had told me on the island, replaying the words over and over as I pictured the expression he'd had at my refusal, no matter how polite I had tried to be about it. I just couldn't accept his version as being the original legend.

Even now, with the sun peeking through the windows of my hotel room, I could clearly see the way his golden-green eyes seemed to almost shatter from the sorrow that had flooded them. How could he be so broken just from me refusing to change my mind about an old legend from well before even our many-greats grandparents' grandparents were born? Why did he put so much importance on something so ancient, so distant from either of us?

But the problem I had was that he did. He did put that much importance in it and it troubled me that he also seemed to put so much importance in whether or not I believed him about it. Because for some reason, what I thought of as mere myth and legend, to him it was obviously the same as if I had told him that his own personal history was a lie. This myth was obviously something that he'd been raised on, at least up until he'd been left alone on that island, whatever age that had been.

Once again, I could only wonder at how long he had been alone there, lost and forgotten, perhaps even afraid of being found. But then, why had he not continued to hide from me as well, the way he must have when other people snuck onto the island? I'm sure I wasn't the first to go there in recent years, even though it was definitely not part of the usual island tours.

The amount of trust he must have been placing in me nearly floored me just thinking about it right now. I'd never really considered it before, how much he had trusted a total stranger not to hurt him, not to use him or leave him behind. Sure, he was stronger than me, but he was so sweet and gentle at the same time.

But why, why had he trusted me so much? It was almost... disturbing how much trust he had placed in me without even knowing anything about me. The more I thought about it, the more I wondered why anyone would place so much faith in someone they had never met before. Especially someone who had been seemingly abandoned on an island few people went to and none with any sense of regularity as far as I could tell.

Of course, I myself had shown Medein a remarkable amount of trust, coming back again and again, but most of that trust had been earned over the daily trips I had made to his island. Initially, it had been mostly a desire to regain my lost journal. It had only been later that I had begun to gain feelings for the man, feelings that right now seemed almost too intense for how little a time I had known the man. Was it really love that I felt for him? Or simply a yearning to somehow regain a sense of what I had lost when Tomas vanished from my life?

I couldn't honestly tell and it scared me, far more than I wanted to admit.

Filled with so much doubt, both towards Medein and myself, I curled into myself as I sat on the corner of the large bed. Fingers digging into my hair, I began rocking back and forth, the world I had begun to feel so sure of once more crumbling around me and leaving me feeling lost.

~~~~~~~~

Something was wrong. Where was she? He slowly walked closer to the door he had seen her slip into last night, having peeked out of his room after she had left him behind, heart aching with the knowledge that she didn't believe his words to be true. But he couldn't really blame her, knowing how hard it was to change a belief you had held for most of your life.

It still didn't stop his heart from aching, his mind echoing with memories of the centuries he spent alone, wondering if (y/n) would pull away from him now that she did not believe him. It didn't stop him from wondering how he would deal with it if she didn't want to stay with him any longer. Just the thought of that made him feel something he hadn't felt since he was a small boy, listening to his sisters argue with their parents over who would raise him.

He was afraid of her leaving him.

Listening at the panel of wood that separated her from him, he could barely make out the muffled sound of her talking to someone, even if he could hear nobody answer. Was she conversing with herself? Had someone snuck in there with her while I was not beside her?

Was it a friend? Or maybe someone who wanted to steal her away for themselves! Did they wish her harm? Was she in trouble?!

Banging on the door, he shouted out to her, begging her to open the door and let him in.

~~~~~~~~

I mentally cursed the remaining language barrier between us once more, trying to explain to the frantic male that I was fine, nobody was trying to hurt me, that I had only been talking to my mother on the phone. Which caused me to go once again into an explanation of what a phone was. This was taking so much time, time that I no longer had to spare...

Even now, I could remember the way she had sounded on the phone as she had sobbed out her words. You need to come home, (Y/n). Your father... It's his heart... Please, I can't do this alone!

"I'm sorry Medein, but I don't have time to delay any longer. My family needs me and I can't ignore them. I... I'll try to come back if I can, but I... I'm sorry," the words kept catching in my throat, my mind still a mess from everything I had learned in the past twenty-four hours.

Brushing past the male, I kept my eyes focused on the suitcase I had pulled out while speaking with my mother. Grabbing the clothing out of the dresser, I turned to put it inside the luggage, only to be stopped by a hand grabbing at my wrist.

"You don't leave," the soft voice sent a chill down my spine, turning slowly to look into those familiar golden-green eyes.

Giving a slight tug against his hand, I took a small step away from the man before me. This was not the warm, safe feeling person I had spent so many weeks around, the eyes seeming almost cold compared to the warmth that usually filled them each day.

"Medein, let go of me," I whispered, my eyes wide as I shifted my gaze to the fingers that encircled my wrist.

"You don't leave me," he said again, his fingers slowly tightening as I tugged again.

"Medein? Medein, you're hurting me!"

--------

I shifted against the wall as I stared at the slight bruising on my wrist, finally tugging my sleeve down to cover the marks when I heard footsteps coming closer.

"Is there any news?" I spoke softly as I looked up at the person who'd just entered the room.

"No, we still can't find this Medein. But I promise, the moment there is news, I will come straight to you. Until then, please, you need to eat something, my dear child," Stelios' voice spoke softly, sadness filling his eyes as he looked down at me.

I still hadn't told anyone what had really happened, only saying that my friend had run off after an argument and had no phone with him for me to try calling. I didn't tell them what the argument was about, just as I did not show them the bruises.

Every time I opened my mouth to say something or touched the sleeve of that arm, all I could see was Medein, his eyes growing wide as he released me. All I could hear was his voice breaking as he spoke before rushing out of the room and down the hallway, vanishing before I was even able to think about trying to go after him.

"No. No, not again. Not her."

~~~~~~~~

He'd never meant to hurt her, hadn't wanted to do anything that would cause fear to ever enter her eyes like that. He'd never be able to remove the image from his mind, never be able to stop feeling the trembling as he'd held her wrist. He would always remember how fragile she'd seemed as he released his hold, seeing the bruising of her skin already forming where his fingers had held her far too tightly.

He wouldn't dare to let himself forget this time.

And oh how it burned him, remembering, at last, the memories he had locked away from himself during the madness that had gripped him during his imprisonment. Memories filled with anger, with a rage that blinded him to what he was doing until it was far too late to apologize. Memories of breaking something deep within himself, just as easily as he had broken so many statues over the years. Something almost impossible to repair, if it even could be.

Even as he felt shame at what he had done to his beloved (y/n), he felt just as shamed for what he had done to Percia and her princess. No wonder she had refused to return to his island... He wouldn't have returned either after what he had done. He could still remember the shock on their faces as he had reached slowly towards the bracelet on his arm, growling at them to leave now or remain forever on that cursed island with him, having already become trapped within the borders of its shore. He could only hope that the gods had seen fit to grant them happiness for the years that had followed their escape from his reach.

And now he could only sit down on the shore where he stood, looking towards the setting sun and praying to the gods that he wouldn't lose (y/n) to the madness that hid within him. And then he prayed that for them to remove the madness from him, although the chill that touched him at that moment had him worrying that they had refused his plea.

"Please, if you won't help me, then at least help keep her safe. Even if it must be from me rather than for me."

~~~~~~~~

"I'm sorry I can't stay any longer, Stelios. But if you find Medein, please tell him I will come back? That I'm not leaving forever?" I mumbled into the man's shoulder as I hugged him goodbye, the taxi waiting patiently behind me to take me to the airport.

"Of course. I will see you when you return, yes?" Stelios spoke, the now familiar sad smile barely lifting the corners of his lips.

"Of course you will! I couldn't stay away forever! There is still so much more to see and experience here... Besides, I still need to find him and tell him... tell him that it's going to be okay... That I forgive him," my words ended in a whisper, so different from the enthusiasm I'm started with. But I did, I did forgive him. I could tell he hadn't meant to hurt me, the regret so clear on his face.

But I couldn't tell him anything if I was unable to find him.

~~~~~~~~

The longer he spent away from her, the more he felt like he had lost something integral to his future, to his ability to even continue existing. He could feel his ability to blend in with the humans crumble as his heart slowly grew colder with each passing day. Within just a couple of weeks, he began to wonder if he would ever be able to feel warm again.

It was when he saw a face that struck him as familiar that he felt something warm him up inside, seeing one of those who had whispered behind their hand as the other pointed at his beloved (y/n). It was not the warmth of love that he felt, but rather the almost forgotten heat of rage.

How dare this person come before him after what they had said about his love! Who did they think they were, to have whispered such venomous words to those around them, smirking and taking such twisted pleasure in the suffering others had gone through? But they wouldn't get away with it any longer. He would make sure of that.

Hidden within the shadows created by the afternoon sun, Medein began following them as they left the bar behind and headed towards their home. He was enjoying the feeling of something other than cold loneliness for the first time in far too long.

~~~~~~~~

"I'm not sure I will be coming back, mom. There are just too many painful memories here. Even in my new home, all I can think about is how much time you and Dad spent there, trying to make it into a home for me. But with Dad gone now, I just... Maybe in a few months or years, but right now... It's just too fresh a pain again and if I try to force myself to stay there any longer, I think I might start seeing it just like I did the house me and Tomas had. I don't want to do that, so I'm gonna take some of the money Dad left me and go back to Greece," I spoke softly, my voice breaking. "There is still so much left to do there. I left too many things unfinished."

I hugged my mother and pressed the spare keys to my house into her hand. When she stepped back, she gave me a quizzical look before looking down at the keys.

"Honey, I don't need these. I have my own home, you know that. Even if he's gone, it is still my home," she said, her tear-reddened eyes confused.

"I know that Mom. But I also want to know that, if things get to be too much for you, you will have someplace else to go. I know how a home can become overwhelming when something you thought would always be there is suddenly gone," I tried to grin but I'm sure it was more of a grimace than anything else. "I'm sorry I can't stay longer. I tried, I really did, but I just can't... There is so much left here, I feel like if I stay any longer I'll end up going mad... I'm so sorry Mom. I feel like such a horrible daughter!"

"Don't be foolish! You came when I called you and you stayed, even when I knew something was going on back in Greece. Don't look so shocked, do you think I would believe it was only the islands that had your attention after that long away?" Peering at me, her eyes wandering my face as she reached up and tucked a strand of loose hair behind my ear, she gave me as much of a smile as she could. "Whoever he is, go back and find him. If you can find your happiness, then do so, and don't let it get away this time. Even if it means never coming back again, as long as you are happy, then do whatever it takes so you don't live a life filled with regrets."

I loved that she could be so strong, even with everything that had happened during the past several weeks. The only problem I had were the questions that it left running in circles inside my mind.

Would I be able to find happiness with Medein? Did I love him enough to spend my entire life with him?

I'd realized that I did love him, although I'm not sure if it was as much as I had thought it was before. There was still so much I didn't know about him, so much he didn't know about me. We both had things we hadn't told the other and if we were going to have a future together, that would have to change.

The only question was if he wanted that future any longer. And if he did, then he needed to get help, because I wouldn't stay with him if he was going to hurt me. But I would stand beside him if he was willing to seek counseling and whatever else he needed. Although, in the end, it might end up being as no more than a friend.

If that was all we would be, however, then so be it. I would be happy with that much if it meant he was willing to try. Because not even being friends would mean he didn't even want to try and get help. Just the thought of that makes my heart ache, both for myself and for him.

--------

Standing on the shore, I looked around in shock. Why was everything so quiet? There was no familiar noise of people talking, no sound of children running, no shouts of merchants selling their wares. There were no people in sight, either, the streets empty as far as I could see. Even the sailors on the boat I had taken to get here from the mainland looked unsettled at the stillness that weighed down the very air around us.

"Where is everyone?" I mumbled to myself as I stepped towards the path that would take me to the cafe where Stelios often went for lunch.

If I was lucky, he would still be there eating his bowl of fresh cut fruit and the small rolls of bread with honey that he favored. Of perhaps the bread made with the barley flour and flax seeds that he liked, topped with goat's cheese and a drizzle of honey. He'd once claimed it was an old family favorite, passed down for generation after generation, supposedly from an ancestor who had ties to Egypt somehow. Or was it a sibling of an ancestor? A cousin?

I really couldn't keep it straight, no matter how many times he had told the short tale to me during the later boat rides once we'd become friends.

"Stelios?" I called out as I banged lightly against the locked door of the cafe, peering into the dark room that the curtains failed to hide.

There was no answer, nor was I expecting one after having walked through so much of the empty town. Because that was how it felt at this point, totally and unforgivingly empty, as if it had been abandoned.

"Hello? Is anyone there?" I called out, turning from the door as I heard the sound of rocks skittering across the ground.

There were no shadows to hide the person that appeared from the alleyway between the buildings opposite the cafe. No, that would have been far too forgiving, both for me and for him. Instead, it was with the sun shining painfully bright upon his sun-kissed skin that Medein showed himself, his hair tangled and the skin beneath his eyes bruised looking from an obvious lack of sleep.

"Medein? What happened?" I spoke slowly, unsure if I was asking what had happened to him or to the town.

"You left me. I searched and searched and couldn't find you, I had to return to the island after the magic stopped, but they must have forgiven me finally because they let me leave again. So I came here once the bracelet was charged again. I've been looking for you ever since, only going back when it needed to charge," he rambled, glancing from me to the streets around us and back as he spoke. "Of course, sometimes I didn't make it out of town before it stopped. But after a while, the people here left, so at least the screaming wasn't an issue the last few times."

I took a step back as he was looking towards the docks, his head snapping my direction as a few pebbles shifted under my foot. I froze the moment his eyes locked onto me, feeling a chill run down my spine as the shadows seemed to shift under the glaring sun.

"But now you're back! Everything will be okay again, now that you have returned! Just like you promised me you would. They tried to say you weren't coming back, but they lied. I told them you would return. Even the older human male said you would return," he said, his eyes shifting to the cafe window for a moment before settling once more on me, his eyes roaming my face before he smiled brightly. "You came back for me."

"You saw Stelios? When? Where? Is he still here somewhere?" I questioned quickly, eyes darting towards the road I knew lead to Stelios' home.

"All the ones who didn't leave are still here. They will always be here," he gave a soft laugh as his eyes met mine, taking a step forward as he watched me.

"Medein... Where is everyone? Where is Stelios?" I spoke, taking a step back as I watched him halt his movements at my retreat.

"They are all over the place. Some here, some there, some inside the buildings," he said, his arms sweeping out in vague motions around us before pointing at the cafe. "But he is inside there. He wouldn't tell me where you were, so I punished him."

I felt my blood freeze upon his words, my body trembling as I slowly turned to look behind me at the locked doors. Lifting my gaze, I peered once more into the dark interior, waiting for my eyes to adjust to the darkness inside.

I prayed I wouldn't see a bloody corpse lying within, that it was only Medein's disturbed mind that made him think he had done anything. Perhaps too much sun, not enough water or food. Or maybe just an inability to deal with the world he had returned to. Something, anything, that could be helped with enough counseling or even with medication. Something that didn't mean he had hurt someone else. Please.

I jolted when I felt an arm brush against my side, jumping to the side as I spotted Medein reaching past where I had been, jiggling the door handle until I heard it shift, the door slowly swinging inward.

"It sticks," he spoke softly, his eyes looking away from me as if to ignore the way I was acting around him.

Walking inside, I couldn't see any sign of Stelios anywhere, nor of anyone else inside the building. I turned my head to peer at Medein for a moment before taking another step into the darkened room, only the sunlight streaming in through the open door keeping me from tripping over the various pieces of rubble on the floor. Had the ceiling fallen in or something? Looking up as I stopped in place, not wanting to chance a fall, I saw no damage anywhere.

"Medein, where is Stelios?" I asked as I started to turn in place, freezing when I felt a hand on my shoulder as an arm appeared next to my head as he pointed at various pieces of stone.

"He's there... and over there. And there," he spoke as he pointed to each piece. "

"He's there... and over there. And there," he spoke as he pointed to each piece. "He did not want to talk. So now he never talk again."

It wasn't making sense. He was just pointing at rocks, where was Stelios? Where was- was that a hand? Had he smashed a statue? Like the ones on the island? But there hadn't been any statues near the cafe and the ones I had seen in town had been far too large and heavy to just up and move. Unless he had smashed it first and then carried the pieces into the cafe? But that wouldn't make sense to go through that much trouble.

What the heck was going on here? What was Medein up to while I was gone? This was just too much! Spinning around quickly, I grabbed his arm and glared at him.

"Medein, stop playing around! Where is Stelios?!" I shouted, upset that he would play around while I was seriously worried about someone I saw as my friend.

I refused to back down when I saw him frown down at me, his eyes growing dull as his shoulders slumped and his arm dropped from my grasp, falling to his side. I barely noticed the way the bracelet seemed to shimmer in what little light there was to be had in here.

"I tell you. I even show you. You do not believe me, just like before when I tell you truths. Why do you not listen?" He spoke softly, the air from his words brushing over my skin as I stood there.

My mind refused to allow even the idea that he might be something other than insane. It wasn't possible to turn people into stone. It was just myths and legends. Reality was not something ruled by gods and magic, it was ruled by logic and science, sometimes by emotions and ideas, but not by myths are long since proven false.

"You're not Medusa," I whispered slowly, not looking away from the man before me, even as his eyes raised once more to meet mine, his expression sad but understanding.

"No, not Medusa. Medein. My name is Medein," he almost breathed the words out, his voice was so soft as he smiled, lifting one hand slowly to grip at the bracelet on his arm. "And I'm a monster."

The sound of the bracelet falling to the wooden floor echoed almost as much as my scream as I saw the man before me change into something my mind told me wasn't real, couldn't be real, even as my heart told me it was past the time to deny what I had been seeing since the ship had docked.

~~~~~~~~

He'd tried so hard not to miss her, not to let his heart twist with her absence, but he just couldn't help it. After so many centuries alone, no matter what the reason, he couldn't stomach the idea of spending the rest of his life without the company of the one person he'd opened himself up to again, the only one who had seemed to see him as a person to love rather than either a monster or a mere friend. He'd finally had a chance to be looked upon with love and he had ruined it.

But now, here she was before him again! It was his chance to fix things! Even if deep inside he knew there was no fixing what he had broken. And he had broken so much more than just their relationship, the rubble of so many littering the streets and alleys of the town.

However, with the madness of loneliness and regret blinding him, Medein couldn't help but ignore that voice whispering deep within himself, trying to tell him to stop before it was too late. And when the screaming began, he ignored it, simply happy that the one god that had finally answered his prayers had kept his word.

She would not die at his hand, his gaze would not freeze her in stone, and once he gave her the ambrosia hidden within his home she would not die from age either. He would happily seal their fate, trapped together on that island for eternity, if it meant he could have her by his side the whole time.

Although, he did wonder just a bit what the god had meant when he'd said "Forever is a long time to love someone. It's an even longer time to be hated." After all, she loved him. Medein just knew that (y/n) loved him. After all, the gods themselves had sent her to him, hadn't they?

Of course she loved him, he wouldn't believe otherwise. If she didn't love him, he would likely break even more than he already had.