I turned a corner and found that the corn maze had ended and I was surrounded by twisted trees and dark bushes with needle-like spines protruding from them. What my Granny used to call blackthorn. For a moment, I wondered if I had made it all the way through the maze and out to the other side without having bypassed the center, but I swiftly realized that this was the outer-lying area of the center. I was going the right way, and now would have to pick my path gingerly through this spiky part of the maze to reach the absolute middle. Would the Minotaur be waiting for me there? Or would it come to find me? I wasn't sure which I preferred; neither seemed ideal.
A new sound reached my ears. A grunting, growling, snuffling, as of some large animal hunting for its prey. The sound seemed to come from all around me, leaving me no obvious direction in which to run. So ahead was as good a direction as any.
The blackthorn tugged at my clothes and scratched at my skin as I went on. It was wild and unkempt, as if no one had been this way for long years. The sound of footsteps that I had heard earlier was now clearer again on the hard earth, but I was beginning to think that “foot” was the wrong word. The heavy, solid thud was more the sound a hoof would make. Though it stood upright like a man and possessed arms and a torso like a man, the Minotaur was said to have a bull's hooves as well as head. At least I would hear it coming.
I turned a corner just as the moon emerged from behind a wreath of cloud and my heart sprang into my mouth. There it was. Picked out by the cold moonlight, standing, statuesque at the end of the alley, was the beast itself. It was at least seven feet tall, the ripped muscles of its body visible through a scattering of black hair that thickened around its broad shoulders and between its legs. Those legs terminated in heavy hooves, looking like they were made of polished metal, and its fingers were clawed with dirty nails. But, inevitably, the head was where I stared. Crowning the torso of a strong but otherwise normal human, was the head of a bull. Massive and heavy, steam erupted from its flared nostrils as it breathed and a pair of brutal horns curved from its forehead.
For a long moment, we stared at each other; I seeming to have lost the power of movement, it assessing its latest victim. Then, suddenly, it threw back its huge head and let out a baying roar, emptying its lungs. Still, I did not move, the blood like ice water in my veins, my legs refusing to respond to the urgent, panicked messages from my brain. The Minotaur charged.
That did it. I took to my heels as fast as I could, not caring which way I went, the blackthorn tearing at me as I passed. Any idea that I might be able to fight this thing had gone straight out of my head. This was a very far cry from playing Capture the Flag with Nico wearing a pair of cardboard horns. The principle might be the same, but the sheer voiding terror made it impossible.
From nowhere, the creature appeared in front of me and I realized that, even if it had the brain of a bull, it knew this maze inside out - there was nowhere for me to run. Which didn't stop me from trying. I turned on a pinhead, taking off back the way I had come and hearing its thunderous hooves, pounding the earth as it came after me. I couldn't get away from it, not like this. A low hanging branch caught my eye and I grabbed it, swinging myself up into the tree and clambering upwards to keep me out of the creature's grasp. The Minotaur screamed below me and I stuck my tongue out at it – because, however afraid you are, you can sometimes fool yourself by pretending you're not. The gesture didn't please the beast much; it screamed afresh, backed up a few paces and then charged the tree trunk, its thick skull slamming against it and setting the whole tree shaking. I clung on, then had the presence of mind to take in my surroundings. From my vantage point, the maze seemed to stretch on into impossible infinity, but while I could not see the way out from up here, I could see the way to the center.
The Minotaur's head smacked into the tree again and this time I was unable to hold on. I seemed to hit every branch on the way down, bruising my skin, tearing my clothes and bloodying my lip. I hit the ground rolling and was straight up into a running position before the Minotaur knew where I had come down. I took a series of sharp turns then hid in the shadow of a bush and tried to still my ragged breathing.
Somewhere - and pinpointing any sound in the maze was frustratingly difficult - I could hear the heavy tread of the Minotaur, slow now as it searched for me. At least it didn't know where I was, but I could hear that snuffling noise again that I had heard earlier. It was sniffing me out like a bloodhound. Didn't I have a single advantage in this fight? They say that animals can smell fear, and if that was the case, then I had left a clear trail in my wake. The snuffling now turned to a few grunts, which I took to mean that he had gotten my scent. I had to move again.
Taking a deep breath, I headed off once more but, rounding a bend, I found myself facing a dead end. I turned, and there was the Minotaur behind me. Trapped. I didn't stop to think, I just acted. I ran towards it. Perhaps this took the Minotaur by surprise but not for long, as it lowered its head to meet me in the charge. We ran at each other and then, at the last moment, offering up a prayer to any gods listening that this would work as well today as it had yesterday, I sprang into the air. My hands pressed into the thick, coarse hair on the creature's shoulders as I leapfrogged over it, and a rush of insane joy flooded through me as I hit the ground and ran on. It had worked.
It would take the Minotaur a moment to get its bearings again and I wasted no time. Weaving my way through the bushes and trees, trying to remember what I had seen from above, I dashed towards the center. Through the darkness, I saw a flickering light, appearing and disappearing in amongst the tangle of branches. I made for it and saw a pair of flaming torches mounted on a curved wall, either side of a wide entranceway. There was no time to hesitate, I hurried on, past the torches and through the entrance into a circular space with lit torches all around the walls and, in the middle, a round table. On the table stood a simple bust of Zeus, King of the gods. Leave it to that self-important jerk to make himself the prize. All I had to do was touch it and I had fulfilled the first part of the task. Then I had to get out with my life.
I should have run up to it, touched the bust then run out again. That was certainly what I had intended to do, but my feet seemed heavy and the air felt thick. There was something indescribable in the scene, some enforced reverence that would not allow hasty action. Or, maybe, I was just overawed by the whole thing, or by how close I was to victory. I crossed to the table slowly and placed a respectful hand on the head of Zeus. The cool marble seemed to warm noticeably beneath my fingers.
A sharp snort from behind me made me start around to see the Minotaur blocking my exit, its malevolent eyes trained on me. It charged and I barely had time to vault over the table out of its way. The beast barreled into the table, sending it flying. The bust of Zeus shattered to marble fragments on the stone floor. No matter to me - I had already touched it - but I still had to get out or the task would be considered incomplete and mankind was doomed. Plus, I would be killed.
I dove for the door but the Minotaur was quicker, seeming to get the measure of me and surprisingly agile on those heavy hooves. I cast about for another way out but there was none. The walls were too high for me to climb and, while on the outside they were rough, in here they were clad with marble, smooth as ice and impossible to climb. Perhaps if I stood on the table? It was still more or less in one piece. I ran for it but the Minotaur seemed to guess my mind, charging at me again, swinging its head like an offensive weapon. Again, my training with the guys yesterday came to my rescue as I dove out of harm's way, then rolled to avoid a hoof coming down at my head like a sledgehammer. Bouncing back to my feet, I tried for the door again, but again the Minotaur was there. On this game went, of him charging and me dodging, of me running for the exit and him cutting me off.
Grabbing a piece of the broken bust from the floor, I flung it at the creature's head. My aim was good and the momentary distraction this gave me was enough to snatch up the table. But the Minotaur wasn't about to let me use it. It c
harged me and, as I was unwilling to put down the hard-won table, I used it as a shield.
It was a mistake, and one I paid for as the beast's horns split the wood, passing through the table. I shrieked in pain as one horn penetrated my side and went straight through me. The Minotaur pulled the table from my hands but it remained stuck to the beast's horns, infuriating it and sending it off, banging its head against the walls, trying to remove the encumbrance.
Even through the blinding pain I was in, I knew this was my chance. I ran for the door, clutching my side and feeling the hot blood flow. I didn't stop running until I was back in the corn maze, where I stopped, leaning against the wall, crying with agony. I had to focus, it wasn't over yet. I grabbed for my phone in my pocket to look for my way out. But it was gone. Somewhere in the fight, I had lost it. How would I ever find my way out of the maze now? I could hardly even stand.
I didn't have long to wonder. The next second, the wall beside me exploded in a shower of corn dust and Minotaur. The beast had smelled me out and taken the path of least resistance, straight through the wall. Fear was, of course, my topmost emotion, but behind it my brain was working. If the maze posed no obstacle to the Minotaur, then perhaps I could use it to get myself out. I just had to convince it to lead the way.
But right now, I had bigger problems. Trying to ignore the screaming pain in my side, I ran from the Minotaur, not caring which way I went. Another wall exploded beside me and I backtracked desperately as an idea formed in my mind. Fumbling in my pocket, I found my cigarette lighter - I don't really smoke but it can be useful in grifts and I'll smoke if the situation calls for it. Now, I lit the thing and shoved it into the corn wall. The wall lit fast and I hurried on, lighting walls as I went. Soon enough, the maze was an inferno of blazing flames, and I realized that if this plan didn't work, then I had doomed myself to an even less pleasant death than being gored by a bull-headed man.
Then the Minotaur screamed. I looked back to see it, stumbling this way and that on its hooves, petrified by the fire, its quest to kill me forgotten. In common with all animals, the Minotaur did not like flames. The labyrinth might be its home, but at a time like this, it just wanted to get out, and it would take the quickest route possible.
With a roar of anger, the Minotaur charged, bursting through a wall of corn, then another and another, heading for outside, and safety away from the spreading flames. I followed as fast as I could, the scorching flames pushing me on as the severe pain in my side encouraged me to just give up and stop. Just a little further. Just a little further and then I could lie down and bleed to death, safe in the knowledge that I had saved mankind.
Chapter 18
My feet felt like lead as I dragged them forward through the path made by the Minotaur. Despite my injury, I thought I was moving pretty fast, but the fire moved faster. I was barely keeping ahead of it as it raced through the corn maze, licking at my heels as I drove myself on. Just a little further.
Then, up ahead, I saw a shimmering wall like the surface of a bubble. Beyond the final wall of the corn maze was the barrier between the labyrinth and reality. Through it, I could see Alexei, Christoph and Nico waiting for me in the ruins of Knossos. They could see me and were shouting, urging me on, though I could not hear their voices. Still, the sight of them redoubled my resolve - they were my goal, my reward. As I watched them, I saw Nico start forward to help me. I frantically held up my hand to stop him, but, fortunately, he was held back by the others. Any mistake now could cost humanity dearly, and I had to finish this on my own, unaided. But for the first time today, I was really thinking that I might actually do it. I could finish this. I had done the hard bit. All I had to do was keep going. I passed through the final hole in the maze left by the fleeing Minotaur - for whom I kept a watchful eye. Now, there were only a few feet between me and the barrier. Through that was victory and a future for mankind. I clamped my hand harder to the wound in my side, fixed my eyes on the guys who were waiting to grab me and heal my wounds, and drove myself on.
Then, from nowhere, a black swirl of cloth swept in front of me, blocking my passage. I stepped back, the pain flaring up afresh, and gazed at what was blocking my way. The cloth twirled in mid-air, dancing as if caught in the wind before resolving itself into a human shape, a hood forming to reveal a human face.
"Hera?" I gasped. The Queen of the gods stared at me with ice in her eyes and I knew at once that she was not here to congratulate me on my victory.
"Setting fire to the maze? How clever. And how very human. Something in your way? Just burn it down. All you people know is destruction."
When I had met Hera on Mount Olympus, her feelings for me had been somewhat ambiguous but I had quietly hoped that she was on my side. For a grifter, misjudging a person to this extent is something you often pay for.
"It was you, wasn't it?" Despite the pain in my side, and the devastation at the happy ending denied to me, I wasn't just going to back down. "You're the one who's been trying to stop me."
"Not much of a revelation at this point."
"Why?" I didn't much care, but I needed time to think.
Hera's eyes turned black and her cloak swirled about her more violently. "Because I will not play second-best to your filthy little race anymore," she snarled. "My husband spends all his time watching you meat bags, wishing you'd all pay him tribute like you used to, having his sordid little affairs with you, trying to twist your unimportant lives into stories like the good old days. I thought that now time has moved on and the world has forgotten us, he might forget them back, but no. As long as your petty race and pathetic planet exist, then he will have more time for you than me, and I am done waiting for you to kill yourselves with bombs and global warming - this way is quicker."
I wondered about telling her that a woman who sets out to destroy an entire species because her husband wasn't paying attention to her was an insult to feminism, but decided that might not make things better.
Hera went on. "I didn't think a runt like you would have any chance of completing the tasks, let alone survive the wolves and the shark - how did you escape a shark? - and the fire escape."
"You did all that?"
Hera rolled her eyes. "Do you really not understand yet? I am your nemesis. I am your doom. I would have liked to stop you in the course of the tasks but beggars can't be choosers, and however lacking in subtlety it is, I have little recourse left but to crush your pitiful head and blame it on the Minotaur."
I sank down to my knees, still clutching my side. I was afraid - this was a god, after all - and still in pain, but through that my fury rose. I had done everything right and this bitch had made my life hell every step of the way. I wasn't going down without a fight. My grifting skills might have been useless against a Minotaur, but I had a hunch I could get under Hera's skin.
"What happens when Zeus finds out that you cheated?"
Hera snapped out a humorless laugh. "He hasn't noticed so far, and I got him tanked up on booze so he won't be watching now."
"Boy, you really are under the thumb," I commented.
"What?"
"You're jealous of humanity, you can't get your own husband to pay attention to you without exterminating a species, and you don't even dare kill me unless you've put him out of the way first. I guess we know who wears the toga on Mount Olympus."
The black of Hera's eyes flashed red for a second as her anger flared once more.
"How dare you speak to me like that? You pathetic little..." She stepped forward and leaned over me, lulled into a false sense of security by her power and my apparent weakness, hunched on the ground. But, weak though I was, I still had one trick left to pull, and now the Queen of the gods was in my reach.
I sprang forward, catching Hera unawares and off-balance as she stooped over me. With whatever strength was left to me, I pushed her backwards and she stumbled through the shimmering barrier between the maze and reality. The moment Hera's arm passed through, the guys grabbed hold of it and pulled
her the rest of the way, keeping her away from me. I followed her through, more from weight of momentum than by taking steps, practically falling through the barrier then dragging myself the last few faltering feet to make sure I was completely clear. Looking around, I saw that I was in the ruins of Knossos - the burning cornfield had vanished back into whatever dimension it had come from. I was on my hands and knees, I was bruised and bleeding profusely from the wound in my side, but I had completed the final task. Mankind was safe.
But as Hera screamed her displeasure, it became obvious that I wasn't.
"You'll die for this. All of you."
Hera might have lost the war but that didn't mean she was going to stop fighting the battle. Humanity had been saved but she was determined to punish those who had saved it. Nico had been holding her but now she shrugged him off, a simple gesture that sent the enormous Nico flying into a wall. Hera rounded on me where I lay, too weak to get up, and strode towards me. Instantly, Alexei and Christoph put themselves between the Queen of the gods and me, but Hera did not even break in her stride. Christoph reached out to stop her but Hera took his hand and flung him over her shoulder so he landed hard on the stone floor. She didn't even touch Alexei but simply raised a hand and a rush of sudden wind slammed the big man back into a wall. She took another step towards me and suddenly Nico leaped onto her back. It was a ridiculous sight, as Nico dwarfed the god - it looked like a toddler giving a piggy-back ride to a horse. But Hera just laughed, grabbing both Nico's arms and flinging him bodily over her head, over me and over one of the broken walls of the old palace.
She shook her head in amusement. "Everyone's in such a hurry to die. Don't worry, you'll all get your turn, but this one goes first." She pointed at me.
I met her gaze, showing none of the fear I was feeling - another essential skill for a grifter. I noticed the star sapphire hanging around her neck and recognized it immediately.
Her Immortal Harem Book Two Page 13
