Chapter Three

Temptation in the Hedge Maze

A week had passed since the incident at the banquet. Rhoda feared the day that the curse came true.

Rhoda sat in the castle gardens one night, Rontu laying at her feet and Zoë perched on the branch in the tree next to her. Rhoda had a lot on her mind that night. The number of guards patrolling the castle grounds had been doubled, but it didn't make Rhoda feel any better.

Rontu yawned and shifted his position. Rhoda smiled and rubbed his head. Zoë sang a beautiful lullaby. "If only everyone was as carefree and loving as you two," Rhoda whispered. Zoë spotted something on the ground and took off after it. She returned a few minutes later with a mouse in her beak.

Rhoda suddenly heard a beautiful melody floating in the air. It sounded like a flute. Rontu lifted his ears and listened. Zoë gulped down the mouse and listened also. Rhoda stood up and headed for the source of the song. Rontu trotted beside her and Zoë rode along on her shoulder.

Rhoda found that the music was coming from the hedge maze. Her heart beat faster. Something wasn't right. Rontu whined and backed away from the maze entrance. Rhoda looked at him. "You don't have to come if you don't want to," she said. Rontu sat down. Zoë stayed with Rhoda, who felt safer with a strong phoenix riding along on her shoulder.

Rhoda and Zoë entered the maze, following the sound. Sometimes they would take a path that led away from the music. So, they'd have to retrace their steps and find their way back to the main path in the darkness. Rhoda kept her hand on the hedges so she didn't run into something. Zoë alerted her whenever a small animal scurried quickly past.

The hedge maze was very eerie and frightening at night. Once a snake had slithered out of the hedges and crawled down Rhoda's leg, scaring her half to death. Zoë had almost been knocked off by a low-hanging branch a couple of times. Rhoda could have sworn she saw eyes watching her from the trees.

The music was louder than ever. Rhoda figured they were near the center of the maze. Rhoda peered around a corner. Sitting beside the fountain that lay in the center was Nuka. He was playing the flute that made such lovely music.

A twig snapped under Rhoda's foot. Nuka stopped playing and looked around. "Who's there?"

Rhoda took a deep breath and stepped into the moonlight. Nuka's face softened. "Ah, it's you, Rhoda."

Zoë hissed. This startled Rhoda, for she had never heard Zoë hiss like an angry cobra before.

Nuka flashed a glare at Zoë then looked back at Rhoda. "So what brings you here?" he asked. Rhoda paused for a moment. "Zoë and I were looking for the source of the… music."

Nuka smiled. "You've found it."

Rhoda looked down, avoiding his gaze. Nuka started walking toward her. Zoë hissed again and flew into the branches of a tree, staring at Nuka the way a vulture stares at a dying animal.

Rhoda sat down on one of the stone benches surrounding the circular center of the maze. Nuka sat next to her. "So what do you think of this whole curse thing?" he asked. Rhoda again paused. She looked away from him. "I fear the day it comes true."

"How do you know it will come true?" Nuka asked. Rhoda changed the subject. "So, how did you learn to play the flute so well?"

Nuka was surprised. "Well, my dad used to play for me when I was young, and I pretty much learned from him."

Rhoda nodded. "I don't think your girlfriend would like it if I stayed here," she said.

"I don't have a girlfriend."

"Is that so?"

"Yes. I was searching for the most beautiful creature on Vandaxa."

"Have you found her?"

"Yes."

"Who?"

"You."

Rhoda looked at him in alarm. Nuka tried to kiss her. Rhoda held up her hand. "What are you doing?!" Rhoda demanded. Nuka looked surprised. "What's wrong?" he asked. "I'm engaged! Didn't you know that?!"

"Oh," Nuka said, "To that pampered prince."

"Don't talk about him like that!"

"He doesn't have to know, Rhoda."

"No! I could never betray Fiore!"

"Like I said, he doesn't have to know. What he doesn't know can't hurt him."

"NO!!!" Rhoda screamed, "No matter how much you badger me, I will NEVER BETRAY HIM!!!"

Nuka grabbed her arm. "Why do you defend him?"

"Because I love him!" Rhoda shouted, trying to get free. "Yes, and Ramos loves that vain Jezebel. But does she really love him?"

Rhoda flashed a glare at him, eyes blazing. "I love you, Rhoda," Nuka said, "How can you reject me?"

Rhoda struggled to get free, knowing that the worst might happen if she stayed. The sound of screeching and the flapping of wings filled the air. Nuka screamed and let go of Rhoda. He clutched his arm. Blood dripped off. Zoë and Rhoda ran back out the way they came, stumbling around in the darkness. Neither looked behind them. They found their way out in twenty minutes. Rontu, who had been waiting by the entrance, jumped to his feet and ran beside them. Rhoda ran through the doorway, into the palace, and right into Fiore. "Rhoda?" he asked. Rhoda looked into his kind blue eyes and threw her arms around him, tears forming in her eyes. Fiore put his arms around her. "What happened?" Fiore asked. Rhoda looked up at his face. "Oh, Fiore," Rhoda said, tears rolling down her face, "Someone has tried to badger me into betraying you! I refused them and ran."

On hearing these words, Fiore grew angry. "Who was it, Rhoda?" he asked. "It doesn't matter," Rhoda replied, "But I am afraid that I will not get away so easily next time. This time I was lucky."

Zoë held her head high. Fiore put his arm around her shoulder. "I will walk you to your room," he said. "I would like that very much," Rhoda replied. They started off, with Rontu and Zoë beside them. Thoughts ran in and out of Rhoda's mind. Oh, I am so frightened, she thought. What if Nuka catches me when Zoë is not around?

She felt safe being back with Fiore again, but there was only one week to go before the curse came true. What would happen then?

Isn't Nuka a twisted slimball? I tell ya that guy has issues. Anyway, read the next chapter.