Hope flushed through me. My heart began to beat wildly. Was it possible? Was there a way out of this dungeon?
“Why are we still here then?” I asked, my voice rising. “Let’s get out of here! Now! This instant!” I surged to my feet, intent on leaving then and there. And then I noticed Phaedra wasn’t moving. Something was wrong. “What is it?” I asked, feeling the hope drain away as quickly as it had arrived.
She took my hand again and gently forced me to sit. “There is a way out. But not for you,” she said sadly. “Daedalus and Icarus, like myself, are slim and slightly built. They built a secret tunnel for themselves that was only large enough to accommodate a normal sized person. Even in your state, there is no way you would fit.”
I knew that I had lost a great deal of weight. Even looking at my arms in the uncertain light of the lamp, I could see that my body had shrunk. Even so, I was much wider at the shoulders and hips than the two craftsmen. No amount of weight loss would change that. Then there was the matter of my horns.
Phaedra read my mind. “You are too big, Asterion. I know what you are thinking though. That I could bring you tools. Yes, that is possible, but it would take a great deal of time. The secret passage is long.”
“What then?” I asked, feeling my frustration spill over into anger. “Am I trapped here forever?”
Phaedra shook her head. “No, my love. I will think of something. But for now, at least, you will be comfortable. I will visit as often as I can, even though I am constantly watched. The ports are all guarded. Father has become paranoid. Spies are everywhere. Every boat, even the smallest fishing boat, is searched before it leaves the island. Father suspects that I am planning something. Outside, it is after midnight. My guards, drunk from the wine supplied by Catreus and Deucalion, are asleep. But we won’t get away with that very often. Here, I have brought you food, drink, light, and a blanket. You will not be in the darkness again. Next time, I will bring you parchments to read and some straw for a bed.”
Even though I was desperately disappointed, I realized that my predicament was much better than before. It was something. I had that to be thankful for.
“And are you still going to marry Theseus?” I asked a little more sharply than I had intended. It was a question I had wanted to ask as soon as I saw her.
Phaedra shook her head. “Of course not. The marriage was only necessary before the death of Androgeus. Now, Father has power over Athens. Far more useful than an alliance.”
I felt a huge surge of relief hearing those words. The thought of Phaedra marrying someone else—especially my friend—was almost unbearable.
“There is more I need to tell you, Asterion,” she said. “First, have you noticed your guards have been feeding you less?”
I nodded. This was certainly the case. I just assumed that Minos had finally decided to starve me to death.
“Soon, they will feed you nothing.”
“I guessed as much,” I said.
“It’s not what you think,” said Phaedra, her lips pursed into a grim line. “Within a month, the first tribute from Athens will arrive. That was the catalyst that finally forced me to risk the secret passage. I had to tell you what Father plans. Seven youths and seven maidens will be dropped into the labyrinth from the trapdoor.”
“Yes,” I said, unsure what Phaedra was getting at.
“Don’t you see?” she pleaded. “Minos means to starve you. Starve you to the point that you will eat anything. Anything.”
I suddenly realized what she was saying. My stomach, unaccustomed to such a large meal, lurched. I staggered into the corner and vomited, emptying the contents. Minos had intended me to become a cannibal. To get his revenge. To make the world realize that I was just a beast.
I felt Phaedra’s hands on my shoulders. She tore a strip of linen from her dress and used it to wipe the vomit from under my mask.
“That’s not going to happen, Asterion. I will make sure you always have enough food. You will never have to resort to such a thing.”
“But … but what will happen to these tributes from Athens?” I asked.
Phaedra smiled at me. “You will show them the way out. Lead them to the secret passage, and I will help them from there. They will fit, unless of course they are as massive as you. Which is unlikely. I know of no man as large as you.”
“It’s too dangerous,” I said. “Minos is watching you. In any case, how will you possibly get fourteen people off this island without him noticing?”
“Leave that to me,” said Phaedra firmly. “You just have to get them out.”
“Won’t the guards notice that I haven’t eaten them?” I asked.
“That’s the clever part,” said Phaedra, smiling again, this time a little smugly. “Your reputation is beginning to aid you here. The guards are starting to believe the rumors, despite what they know to the contrary. They’ve heard the noises. Their imaginations have done the rest. Some really believe that you have become part bull. A beast. They are terrified, and I doubt whether they will risk entering the labyrinth themselves to investigate. For all they know, you will have killed and eaten the Athenians, discarding their bones somewhere in the dark.”
I sucked in a deep breath and blew it out. It was a dangerous plan. So much could go wrong. Phaedra could get caught. Even if she didn’t, what about the Athenian tributes? How would Phaedra get them off the island when every ship was watched and searched? They could hardly swim back to Athens.
But that was Phaedra’s problem, not mine. I had a part to play, just like she did. Phaedra was a truly exceptional woman in many ways. That is why I loved her so. I love her still.
But for now, I had to concentrate on the present, and there was something I needed to see.
“I suppose you’d better show me this secret passage then,” I said.
Chapter 14
Life became so much better then. Phaedra saved me. She dragged me out of the dark abyss of insanity. If I’d spent a little longer in the darkness, there was a very real possibility that I would’ve become permanently insane. Phaedra came to me at just the right moment. Sometimes, I think perhaps Poseidon helped her, not that Phaedra really needed anyone’s help. I guess I just like to think that my father was watching over me in some way.
As promised, Phaedra brought me more food and fresh water. I quickly learnt not to stuff it under my mask and into my mouth as hastily as possible. The three months of my imprisonment had taken their toll on my stomach. It had shrunk and cramped unless I ate in small amounts. I gradually increased the amount of food I could tolerate. Soon, I regained my ability to eat normally. My strength also returned.
My pet rat, Glaucus, seemed smug and quite pleased with the changes in my—and by default—his fate. His coat became glossy with his improved diet. He even started to get fat, taking on the appearance of his namesake, which I found funnier than it probably was.
Before she departed, Phaedra showed me the secret entrance to the labyrinth. It was an extraordinary piece of craftsmanship, as I would’ve expected from Daedalus and Icarus. It looked exactly the same as the rest of the limestone wall it was hidden within. Even though I knew where it was, I often failed to find it. Eventually, I marked the wall opposite to avoid any confusion.
It opened by a cunning latch that appeared as a normal outcropping of rock. You had to twist it, which meant it couldn’t be opened by accident. Even if I had brushed against it in the dark, it would’ve failed to open.
As Phaedra had assured me, it was much too small for someone of my stature. A normal person, as long as they weren’t too broad, would manage, even though it was still a tight squeeze. I hoped that none of the Athenians were terribly large.
It doglegged. I couldn’t see any indication of the outside world from glancing within. I watched Phaedra leave, and the glow from her lamp followed her for some time, giving me a clearer indication of its true length.
The length of the escape tunnel was inti
midating. It would take months to widen. But that didn’t deter Phaedra. On her next visit about a week later, she brought me a bronze chisel that I began to use, slowly chipping away at the tunnel. I only chiseled as far as I could comfortably reach. Then, I had to make a troubling decision. I couldn’t reach any further into the secret passage unless I widened the entrance itself. To do so would be to destroy the clever latch plate and cover. What if it needed to remain a secret? What if Minos and his guards decided to investigate? From what Phaedra had told me, it was unlikely, but I was loath to take the chance.
I decided to wait and see what happened. If I got the first tribute of Athenians out without incident, I would begin to tunnel further.
As promised, Phaedra brought me some straw. To me, it was like sleeping in a palace bed again. After three months of sleeping on cold, damp rock, straw was bliss. Not only that, but she brought me parchments to read and light. Light! An oil lamp with tinder and flint to strike a spark. It took me a long time to adjust once more to having light. I often just lay on my bed of straw looking at the lamp sitting next to me, watching the tiny flame flicker with the occasional eddy of air circulating around the maze.
For a long time, I considered the light and my ability to make it nothing short of amazing.
I set up my bedroom some way from the secret entrance, in another dead end of the labyrinth. Even if by chance Minos’s guards did investigate the maze, I didn’t want to make finding the entrance any easier than I had to. They would no doubt wonder how I came to have food, a bed, and a lamp, but I had already concocted a simple explanation. My father, Poseidon, had appeared and given them to me. Let them wonder over that.
Phaedra had said they would soon start to starve me. To keep up appearances, I journeyed in darkness to the trapdoor every day, relying on my marks incised on the walls to guide me. Sure enough, a few days after her first visit, they stopped lowering food. I still received the same bowl of muddy water, but no food.
It didn’t matter of course. I had more than enough food by now. Phaedra had even supplied me with some fresh clothing and warm blankets. For the first time during my imprisonment within the labyrinth, I was warm and comfortable.
I had companionship too. Glaucus would snuggle under my blankets, and we slept together in cozy contentment. Phaedra visited twice more. I looked forward to seeing her like a flower looks for the sun. She brought light and happiness into my world. Thanks to her, even in that terrible place, I was almost as happy as I’d ever been.
Her last visit, however, brought news that I both dreaded and hoped for.
“The Athenians will arrive in two days,” she said, as we lay on my straw bed, caressing each other. We could no longer kiss of course, but at least I could touch her. “Are you ready, Asterion?”
I shrugged casually. “Of course. I don’t have to do much now, do I?”
She laughed and swatted at me playfully. “Take this seriously, Asterion. You cannot afford to make a mistake; otherwise, all is lost. Tell me what you plan to do.”
“I will meet them at the trapdoor and escort them to the secret passage.”
“It’s not that easy, you dullard. You’ll have to appear as a beast; otherwise, the guards will suspect something is wrong. Roar at the tributes. Make them scared. Look hungry and deranged. Do not take the light. Remember, the guards will be watching closely.”
“But what happens if I scare the Athenians?” I asked.
“Better that than to have our ruse uncovered,” said Phaedra. “You have a part to play. Play it well.”
“As do you,” I countered. “Have you decided how you are going to get them out?”
“I have,” said Phaedra. “But I won’t tell you just yet. A woman is entitled to her little secrets.”
I laughed. It felt good to produce a happy sound in such a dreadful place used to the sounds of misery and despair. I had spent far too long wallowing in misery and madness. “Shall I wait for you or just send them through?”
“I will try to meet you at the entrance. Otherwise, you may accidentally send them outside during broad daylight. I will wait for the cover of darkness. If I cannot sneak away—which is likely—I will send someone else in my place.”
“Who?” I asked, trying to think of someone who Phaedra could trust.
“Who else but our brothers?” asked Phaedra.
Of course. I hadn’t thought of that. From what Phaedra had told me, it would probably have been safer to send them in the first place. Catreus and Deucalion were not guarded or watched as closely as Phaedra.
“I will watch for them,” I promised.
“Make sure you do,” said Phaedra. “Now, come lie down with me and hold me in your arms. We don’t have much time. I may not see you again for some time.”
I hardly needed to be told again. I did what I was told without protest. Phaedra was right. We had to make the most of our time.
“Did you know you are called Minotaur now?” asked Phaedra suddenly, breaking the comfortable silence.
No I didn’t. “What?” I said, sitting up.
“In Greece they are calling you Minotaur. The bull of Minos. I thought you should know.”
“So I’m not Asterion anymore?” I asked, feeling my anger rise.
Phaedra pulled me down to her again. “You will always be my Asterion. I guess that people need to put a name to their fears. Asterion just wasn’t that name. I quite like it. Minotaur,” she said, savoring the word. “It’s got a nice ring to it.”
“I’m not sure I agree with you,” I replied, trying to let go of my anger. “It makes me a beast, which I’m clearly not.”
“Of course you’re not,” said Phaedra soothingly. “But that reputation will keep you safe down here. Even the people of Crete have started using it.”
I was still unconvinced. I knew Minos had probably come up with the name and encouraged its use. I resented any association with him.
“I have something for you,” said Phaedra suddenly, trying to change the subject, extracting herself from my embrace and sitting up. She opened up her satchel and brought forth some flowers. They were slightly crushed, but I knew what they were as soon as she brought them forth.
They were sea daffodils, a beautiful white flower found all along the coast of Crete. The damp earth smell of the labyrinth was suddenly overwhelmed by their sweet, heady perfume.
“Happy birthday,” she said simply.
My birthday? Was it my birthday? I had no idea. Phaedra obviously had a much better grasp of time than I. That meant I was now seventeen. I would never have guessed that I would spend my birthday in such a place. Who would’ve?
My initial reaction was to try and kiss Phaedra, but that was impossible. I had to settle for several birthday kisses Phaedra planted on my neck.
“Thank you,” I said finally. The flowers were the most beautiful gift anyone had given me. They reminded me of the happy times Phaedra and I had spent on the shores of Crete. Now, every time I smell the perfume of the sea daffodil, I think of that moment Phaedra and I shared deep in the labyrinth.
I felt so happy then which is why I always keep sea daffodils on my window sill. To remind me of Phaedra and the love and comfort she brought me when I needed them the most.
Ω
The Athenians arrived two days later. I positioned myself with some care, two twists of the maze away from the trapdoor.
I decided not to wait directly under the trapdoor for a variety of reasons. The first—I didn’t want the guards to get a good look at me. If they did, they’d quickly realize that I wasn’t starving. Secondly, I didn’t want the Athenians to panic. I could imagine the bedlam. If the unfortunate tributes caught sight of me too soon, anything could happen. I was all too conscious of my appearance, especially with the bull mask fixed permanently in place. It would be best to give them a little time to adjust to their predicament and let their initial terror diminish.
Finally, I wasn’t sure ho
w I felt about all this. Other than Phaedra, I had been all alone for three months. I couldn’t really predict how I was going to react. I wanted to observe the intruders and become comfortable with their presence first.
Looking back now, it was a little comical to think that I regarded others coming into my labyrinth as intruders. I guess I felt slightly possessive of the place. It had become my home, and I was about to have unwelcome guests. Slightly irrational I know, but there you have it.
I heard their screams long before they reached the trapdoor. Shortly after that, the thud of flesh hitting rock echoed about the labyrinth. More cries. More sounds of bodies being thrown down the trapdoor. It sounded like the guards were fairly ruthless, barely allowing any time for each victim to get out of the way before another body toppled down.
Then, I heard the sounds of the trapdoor being shut and the click as the bolt was drawn across. More screams. Pleading. I wondered if I had sounded like that and realized that I probably had.
Eventually, the screams became sobs, the sobs gradually turning into whispered conversation. I gathered from the fragmented voices I heard that they were trying to decide what to do. Most sounded like they wanted to stay put. A few brave souls voted for exploration.
Now that they had settled a little, it was time to put on a show. I didn’t relish this, but Phaedra had insisted. I needed to be convincing. Even though the trapdoor was closed, I knew the guards would be watching and listening. Probably Minos as well, relishing each moment.
I opened my mouth and bellowed. The noise echoed away into the labyrinth and was met by complete silence. I could imagine the fourteen Athenian tributes, shocked and frozen, their imaginations running wild. Fated to be eaten by Minotaur, the bull of Minos. I can’t even begin to imagine how terrified they must have felt.
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