📖 Scene — A Deceptive Smile and Entwined Hearts
Medusa stood there in shock, trying to comprehend what was unfolding before her, as if her mind refused to accept the strange scene… but that didn't last long. She quickly regained her composure, made up her mind, and began walking calmly toward her daughter, a warm smile on her face—one that concealed a different intention.
She spoke gently:
"Weren't you the one who wanted to go outside, my beautiful daughter? I'll allow it… but on one condition."
The child's eyes widened in surprise. She immediately dropped her defensive stance, her eyes sparkling with excitement and longing as she hurriedly said:
"Really? Really? What's the condition? I'll do anything, Mom!"
Medusa looked at her with a faint smile, then raised her hand and pointed at Lilith, who stood behind the child, and said in a chillingly calm tone:
"Tell your aunt that you don't want to see her again… and I'll do it."
She then crossed her arms confidently, as if waiting for the insult to fall upon Lilith from the child's own lips.
A moment passed…
Then another…
But the child didn't move.
Medusa's expression shifted. She looked at her daughter—only to find her staring back, tears filling her eyes.
Medusa froze in place.
Then she spoke quickly, worry creeping into her voice:
"My little one… what's wrong? Are you alright?"
But the child didn't answer.
Instead, she suddenly turned and ran toward Lilith, clinging tightly to her leg as she cried bitterly:
"I love my aunt, Mom… don't take her away from me!"
Time seemed to stop.
Shock swept through the space.
Medusa… and Lilith… neither of them had expected this.
For the first time, Lilith felt a flicker of genuine unease. She had only intended to annoy Medusa a little… but things had slipped out of her control.
She lifted her gaze toward Medusa—
And found her staring back with overwhelming fury.
The snakes around her slowly bared their fangs, as if preparing to strike at any moment.
Lilith's body stiffened.
She understood the message.
Without hesitation, she bent down and quickly lifted the child, speaking in a soothing tone:
"It's alright, it's alright, my dear… your mother was only joking."
Then she continued quickly, trying to fix the situation:
"She told me earlier that she wanted to go on a little outing with you and me… she invited me herself. Everything that happened… was just a joke, believe me."
The child calmed slightly, her crying easing. She looked up at Lilith, searching her eyes for sincerity… then slowly turned toward her mother.
She saw Medusa… smiling.
The child asked hesitantly:
"Was it a joke, Mom? Really… like Aunt Lilith said?"
Medusa cast Lilith a sharp, warning glance, then let out a soft laugh and said to her daughter:
"Of course… a joke. Lilith is my sister, and I will never part from her… not even after death."
There was something strange in her tone—something dark, hidden…
Lilith felt it.
But the child—
Noticed nothing.
She smiled instantly, as if her tears had never existed moments ago, and said excitedly:
"Then let's go out now! I want to see the outside world! Is it really as fun as the snakes say?"
Lilith chuckled softly, then glanced sideways at Medusa, who was staring at her with a cold, unsettling gaze…
She realized something important—
Medusa only looked at her like that… when her daughter wasn't watching.
A faint smile formed on Lilith's lips, as if an idea had just crossed her mind… an idea that might be "fun" in its own way.
She then turned to the child and said lightly:
"Oh… look behind you!"
The moment Lilith said that, the child quickly turned toward where her mother, Medusa, stood.
Medusa was caught off guard. She tried to fix her expression quickly… but the shock was faster than her, freezing her face into a strange, distorted look.
The child—and Lilith—looked at her face, then—
Burst into laughter.
They laughed from the depths of their hearts, without restraint.
Lilith said between laughs:
"What's wrong, Medusa? Did you eat something weird or what? Hahaha!"
The child added playfully, bouncing a little:
"Mom! Mom! Do that again! You looked so funny!"
Medusa's face flushed with embarrassment, her eyes blazing with anger. She glared at them and said in a low voice filled with clear threat:
"I'll show you, Lilith… I'll show you, and I won't forget this as long as I live."
The laughter faded a little. After catching her breath, Lilith said with a wide grin:
"What do you say we go to the nearby lake? I heard some time ago that there are delicious little creatures living there."
Medusa thought about it for a moment—
But before she could answer, the child beat her to it, jumping excitedly as she said:
"Yes! I want to go! I want to see those little creatures!"
She then looked at her mother with pleading eyes:
"Let's go, please!"
Medusa sighed, as if surrendering to reality, then said:
"Fine… and what harm could it do? Let's go and enjoy ourselves."
She looked toward the snakes blocking the cave entrance and gestured to them. They immediately scattered, clearing the path.
Medusa and Lilith stepped out of the cave, while Lilith carried the child in her arms.
Suddenly—
Medusa spoke in an exaggeratedly annoyed tone:
"Give me my child… you don't know how to carry her properly."
Lilith looked at her, then chuckled lightly and said while glancing at the child:
"What do you think, my little one? Would you rather be carried by your Aunt Lilith… or your mother?"
The child looked at Lilith, then answered with disarming simplicity:
"I prefer you… your skin is warm."
Medusa froze.
Her eyes widened in disbelief. She quickly touched her own skin, as if checking for herself… only to realize it was slightly cold.
Meanwhile—
Lilith's skin was indeed warm.
Medusa looked at Lilith with clear jealousy and thought to herself:
"I won't let that wretch's warmth steal my daughter from me…"
Lilith sensed her thoughts. She glanced at her sideways, then smirked before turning to the child and saying with exaggerated tenderness:
"Would you like your Aunt Lilith to visit you often, my dear?"
The child answered enthusiastically:
"Yes! Come visit me often, Aunt Lilith!"
Lilith laughed softly, then lifted her gaze toward Medusa with a victorious look, as if saying without words:
"I've outdone you once again."
Medusa clenched her teeth so hard they nearly made a sound, staring at her as she thought:
"Enjoy it while you can… I'll destroy that warmth, and cut out that tongue that tempts my daughter, you wretch."
And yet—
They continued walking together.
(Author's Note):
Hello everyone! Thank you for your continuous support of this novel; your comments and interactions mean the world to me.
Stepping away from our story here for a moment, I wanted to share another project I've been working on with great passion. I have started publishing a webtoon (comic) on the Webtoon platform titled "Me and the Wolf."
It is a [Comedy / Fantasy] story about a miserable young man and a cunning wolf who is constantly getting him into trouble! If you enjoy my writing style and the way I build scenarios, I promise you're going to love this comic.
I would be so grateful if you could go check it out, subscribe to the series, and let me know what you think in the comments there!
🔍 Search on the Webtoon app for: [Me and the Wolf]