One year later, Althea's real hair had grown to shoulder length. She took the underground metro in Daedelus's labyrinth and took the elevator in the highest skyscraper of the Olympus buildings. Althea still didn't know which city this was in the real world.
She entered the Great Hall of Olympus once more and presented the divine hairpiece to the gods.
Hecate's eyes widened as soon as she saw it in Althea's hands.
"What is this, mortal? Some of it is missing. Did you cut some of it to keep the magic for yourself?"
"Of course not!" Althea protested. "How… how can it be missing?"
"Look, girl! It has clearly been cut! These strands should not be in human hands! Mortals cannot be trusted!" hissed Hecate.
"It wasn't me!"
"It is fortunate that we anticipated your treachery. We added a curse that should you betray us, your entire family, yes, including your husband and his family will be plagued with nightmares. They will not be able to move, eat or sleep! They will die with nightmares!."
"I did not betray you!"
"But you were given the responsibility for it. How could anyone have known about it and stolen it?"
"Medusa… It must have been her! She's the only one who knew about it," Althea said though she knew she was grasping at straws. She must have escaped Tartarus!"
"No one can escape Tartarus! You must bring it back."
"How can I do this alone?" she asked. "I'm no match for a gorgon!"
The Goddess smiled cruelly.
"You won't be alone."
Althea screamed as her newly grown hair transformed into wriggling, writhing snakes.
"You have three days to save your family. Find all the stolen strands or you will wish we had killed your family instead."