Chương 22: Chapter 22. Heavenly Wine

A silent Medusa was an ominous sign, and Bernard could feel the palpable tension inside the car. He knew the gorgon had the power to easily destroy the vehicle and leave them both injured if she lost control of her anger.

Just as Bernard was about to suggest they stop so he could retrieve a bottle of wine to help ease the beautiful god's temperament, Medusa's phone began to ring. Instantly, the heavy tension in the air dissipated, and Bernard could sense a shift in the gorgon's demeanour.

"Aleysia..." Medusa spoke softly, and Bernard could feel the weight of those words. In that moment, he knew he would do anything in his power to ensure the young lady's happiness.

"Ariadne, I can't sleep; I'm too excited," Aleysia's voice rang out. "Sorry, I shouldn't have called. Did I disturb you?"

"It's alright, I'm on a break, just finishing up a morning meeting," Medusa replied, a smile gracing her features.

"Are you okay? Is everything fine?" Aleysia asked, her tone soft and polite.

Medusa's curiosity was piqued. "Why do you ask?" she questioned, her voice lighter than it had been moments before.

"I don't know, the way you were speaking, I just had a hunch that you were kind of upset," Aleysia explained.

"I was mad, but not anymore, not after hearing your voice," Medusa reassured her. "So, tell me, what has you so excited, Aleysia?"

As the conversation unfolded, Bernard was surprised at the transformation in Medusa's demeanor. The demigod's rage had seemingly melted away, replaced by a warmth and tenderness that he had rarely witnessed. It was clear that Aleysia held a special place in Medusa's heart, and her primary concern now is to ensure the young woman's well-being and happiness.

Aleysia then proceeded to tell Medusa everything, even though the gorgon was already aware of the details. However, Medusa listened with genuine pleasure, delighting in hearing Aleysia's enthusiasm.

The young woman spoke of her joy at the news that Jamal and Yolanda would be there to witness the proceedings, as well as her excitement about regaining ownership of her parents' company and their family home.

For Aleysia, it was as if a dream was becoming a reality. Not only would she be able to reclaim her parents' house, but she would also be restoring the family business to its rightful place.

"So, when are you going to San Francisco?" Medusa asked softly as the car continued its journey back to the hotel. With a subtle gesture, she spoke the name, "Dion."

"Tomorrow! Everyone is so excited to go by private jet. Thank you so much, Ariadne!" Medusa could almost see Aleysia's joyful, animated expression as she spoke.

"No problem, Aleysia," Medusa replied with a smile.

"Who's Dion?" Aleysia asked, her tone slightly hesitant.

"My friend, he owns a vineyard in San Francisco. If you're there, I'll be sure to take you to visit his winery," Medusa explained. "But for now, be careful for tomorrow. And you should try to get some sleep, Aleysia."

"Can you talk to me until I fall asleep?" Aleysia requested.

"Of course," Medusa responded, her voice soft and soothing.

Medusa and Aleysia conversed for several moments, the Rolls Royce gliding elegantly through the streets as it made its way to Dionysus's vineyard, located approximately an hour's drive from the school.

She knew she needed a good, godly wine to help soothe her nerves and prevent herself from potentially going on a rampage that could harm the humans around her. After the events at the Lombard Catholic School, Medusa's emotions were still raw, and she required the calming influence of a divine vintage to regain her composure.

"Back so soon?" A man with strong, chiselled facial structure greeted Medusa with a wide smile as she emerged from the car.

He then noticed Bernard and remarked, "Oh, you've gotten old."

Bernard looked at the young man before him, whose long, flowing curls of hair emphasised his divine, androgynous beauty. Dionysus' expression conveyed both a sense of serenity and a hint of mischievous delight, reflecting the duality of his nature as a god who presided over both the ecstatic, intoxicating aspects of wine and celebration as well as the more primal, transformative powers of the natural world.

"How can I forget?" Bernard said, giving the god a familiar greeting. Dionysus was the same man Bernard had met in Spain during his younger, more reckless days—another demigod like Medusa.

"Hahahahaha, you humans are always fascinating," Dionysus remarked, walking barefoot into his vineyard, revelling in the feel of the soil and gravel beneath his feet.

He continued, "You know, without Medusa, your family wouldn't be as big as it is now. You should teach the younger generation of yours to act more properly. I don't think Medusa has taught you a lot well enough."

Dionysus then brought a golden chalice filled with wine as he spoke.

"You talk too much, Dionysus. Get your wine," Medusa cut him off.

"Oh, someone's pissed. Alrighty then," Dionysus said, calling two of his workers to bring out his secret stash and take it to the dining room.

Medusa and Dionysus made their way to Dionysus's private dining room, where the god of wine had arranged a sumptuous spread of food to complement the wine.

Not long after they get inside the dining room, with Bernard following them from behind, two people bring a few golden bottles. Inside the bottles are brimming with a deep, ruby-red elixir that seemed to shimmer and glow with an otherworldly radiance.

As Medusa and Dionysus settled into their seats, the god of wine reached one of the golden bottles, his long, graceful fingers caressing the ornate, intricate designs etched into the bottle. With a flourish, he took a deep, reverent sip, savouring the divine nectar as it passed his lips.

Medusa watched as Dionysus opened another bottle and poured the ruby-red liquid with the divided aroma into the glass and gave it to her. She accepted it, her fingers brushing against his, and brought the glass to her own lips, inhaling the heady, fragrant aroma that wafted up to greet her.

The first sip was like a bolt of lightning, sending a surge of energy coursing through her veins. Medusa's senses were immediately enraptured, the divine wine awakening a primal part of her being that had long lain dormant. Flavours and sensations she had never experienced before danced across her palate, igniting a fire within her that threatened to consume her very soul.

Dionysus observed Medusa's reaction with a knowing smile, his golden eyes gleaming with mischief. He then reached beneath the table, producing a small, ornate bowl filled with a shimmering, golden substance—the legendary ambrosia, the food of the gods.

With a playful wink, Dionysus dipped his fingers into the bowl, retrieving a small morsel of the divine confection. He held it out to Medusa, silently beckoning her to partake. Medusa did not hesitate, her lips parting to accept the offering—the sweet, nectar-like taste of the ambrosia mingling with the rich, intoxicating wine that still lingered on her tongue.

As the divine sustenance melted on her palate, Medusa felt a surge of power and clarity unlike anything she had ever known. The boundaries between the mortal and immortal realms seemed to blur, and she found herself transported to a realm of pure, unbridled ecstasy—a place where the cares and concerns of the mortal world held no sway.

Bernard just stared at Medusa and Dionysus, wondering if that's how the god and the demigod got drunk and high. On their wine and ambrosia, their senses heightened and their very beings infused with the power of the gods.

Sensing Bernard's curiosity, one of Dionysus's staff members approached him, a knowing smile on their faces. "You can drink this one, sir," they said, offering Bernard a wine glass filled with a deep, ruby-red wine. "This one is safe for us humans."

Bernard's eyebrows rose in surprise. "Oh?" he responded, intrigued.

The staff member chuckled. "Don't worry, we know who they are," they said, gesturing towards Medusa and Dionysus. "Last year, we even had Artemis and her twin brother come to visit. You're in good company here."

Feeling at ease, Bernard took the glass, put it to his lips, and took a slow sip. His senses were instantly delighted, and the heavenly wine filled his body with warmth and energy he had never felt before. It was like the wine itself had been filled with the gods' energy, bringing up parts of him that he had forgotten about for a long time.

As the deep, complex flavours danced on his tongue, Bernard couldn't help but be amazed at the divine skill with which it had been made. He tried some of the finest wines of the human world, but none as divine as this one. After the staff member persuaded him, Bernard took another, deeper sip and let the wine do its job.

While Bernard enjoyed the divine wine, he couldn't help but take a look at Medusa and Dionysus. He wondered if this was how the gods and goddesses saw the world—in a state of constant, ecstatic bliss, with all of their senses heightened to the point of transcendence.

At that very moment, Bernard felt incredibly lucky to have been able to see into the world of the immortals. "Holy sh*t, this is good stuff." He said to the two people in front of him.

"We know, right?" They laugh and clink there, waiting for Medusa and Dionysus to return to their sanity once again.