Amari412: Thank you for the review. Sadly I haven't seen the film. ='( Though with this storyline, it might be similar in some ways. They are rather cute together. Glad that you enjoyed the chapter.
"You there! Get back in line!"
She ran.
Teeth gritted. Breaths coming out in terrified pants, the young woman ran as fast as her beaten legs would allow. Tears streaked rosy cheeks. Hands gripped tightly onto stools tossing them behind her, causing guards to curse as they either ran into them or fell over, breaking either a jaw or noes in the process. It seemed almost to good to be true. The large wooden doors remained open. Clearly no one expected the sacrifice to flee. Running out onto the court yard. Crunches of war sandals right behind her, the young woman let out a chocked gasp. White burning pain shot through the back of her skull.
She twisted. She kicked. All that it caused was more strands to snap out from her scalp.
"Oaf!"
A frozen chill ran down her spin, finding herself pressed up against an armoured chest. The hand which was once bedded in her dark brown locks, now wound tightly around her waist hoisting her from the ground, as rope cut off the blood circulation from her ankles.
"Take her down with the others."
With her mouth left ungagged, she screamed. Pleaded for mercy. It fell on death ears. Watching with wild eyes that belonged more to an unbroken stallion. The trap door carved into the ground, opened like a dragon urging a terrified rabbit into it's shell.
"Please! No! No!"
King Minos
'And he saw corruption everywhere. Expect; within.'
He didn't sit on a throne made from rocks. No snake wound tightly around his middle, as he held the tail instead of the head; as if daring the serpent to bite his bronze flesh. No creature resembling a daemon stood before him humbly. Subjects didn't cower in fear; at least not in an obvious context.
Instead he sat with pride upon a throne made from gold. A thick lightning bolt carved into the golden arms, resembling power instead of appreciation to his father Zeus. With a goblet in a muscled hand, Minos looked down on his subjects who laughed with glee. A feast laid out commenting another glouris year of sacrifices to the beast within the labyrinth. Dark green eyes sparkled with amusement. Rising from his throne, everyone stopped. Even those who had food in their mouths swallowed harshly as if to chew would have them punished.
"Please, don't stop your celebrations. Feast. Enjoy. I shall return shortly."
"Hail King Minos!"
A shout soared through the room, as Minos walked gracefully down the long steps. Everyone cheered in agreement. Goblets spilled red wine, causing people to laugh.
Closing the golden doors behind himself, Minos walked with pride. Every heavy golden handled door he passed. Carvings, armour hanging from the walls, everything seemed to become darker. Dimmer. Cobwebs hung from the corner of stone walls. Heavy wooden door, window covered in bars, starred back at him, as if daring the king to step into a room where innocent people were held. Pushing it open, listening to the sound of armour scrapping, guards getting into position.
"Leave. Watch over the feast."
The guards who stood tightly side by side, glanced at one another almost as if judging their kings command. Minos said nothing. He knew that to show anger, would only bring up unwanted questions. Placing his hands behind his back, the guards bowed knowing that to accpect their king's wishes was better than having their head on a platter. Listening to the sounds of their armour clinking far into the distance, Minos looked down towards a figure dressed in a thick green cloak. (It was the only source of warmth he provided)
Chains rattled as the figure stepped forward. No words were spoke. Kneeling down with speed that no human should posses, the cloak spilling around like freshly spilt milk, chains just long enough to prevent bones being ripped from sockets. Minos narrowed his eyes until even his pupil was shadowed.
"What do I owe this... pleasure"
Rising slowly from its kneeling position, the figure looked up towards Minos. Even behind the hood, a pair of dark golden eyes, could be seen glowing. As the figure stepped forward, Minos stepped back. A flicker of fear passed across Minos's face.
"I bring a warning. Rumours, started deep within the fates cave, have reached ears of Athens. Someone is coming to break the curse. To end your ruling."
Purring, the figure shifted. Minos's face grew red with rage. So far he'd managed to kill two hero's, survived Poseidon's wrath even cheated death. Such a rumour would seem laughable. Minos however was no fool. The figure standing before him, would only demand his presence, if there was a chance of it succeeding. The last time was when Theseus came to slay the beast. It was clear who'd won with Athens's preparing for another sacrifice.
"When is this to be arranged... Oracle?"
Shifting so that the hood fell upon bony shoulders, a young woman gazed up towards the King. Unlike others who praised themselves with loyalty acting skills, she looked up towards him with distaste. Snarling with a sneer, dark green eyes fluttered closed, as lips pressed firmly into a frown. As quickly as they shut, they snapped open. Once decaying green, now a bone chilling grey. Her hands snatched hold of Mino's wrists forcing the king to stumble upon his knees. His ears burned pink in humiliation as his stomach twisted in terror.
Minos was yanked forward so harshly he fell against the Oracle's bosom. But it didn't comfort him. He could feel her body shaking, practically smell her magic wafting off of her.
"Be warned spawn of Zeus. The lightning bolt that was meant to destroy everything you hold dear returns. But first she comes. As the blood red moon rises for another year of Demeter's harvest and promise of a new day; you will meet her. Fear the one who wears black around her neck. Fear. Her."
The Oracle's words sounded like someone was being drowned. Her face aged with every word she spat out. Trembling upon the ground, until his knees started to bleed as he pleaded for the earth to swallow him whole; Minos was left alone. Back in the corridor leading to the dungeons. It was almost like nothing had happened. Wrists bruised. Brow dripping in sweat. The Oracle no longer where she stood. It was a typical situation to find himself in.
Scrambling back onto his feet, chest heaving with breath he didn't know he held. Minos looked around with sceptical eyes. No one saw what happened. It did little to soothe his beating heart. Trembling, Minos marched out of the dank corridors, which seemed to almost move in closer as if trying to suffocate him.
Unaware of their King's recent prophecy subjects and guests continued to laugh. Even a couple of the guards, now leant against tables, as alcohol mixed with their usual stern expectations. Minos didn't return to the feast. Instead he sought the safety of his bedroom. Minos felt like a fool to cower away in his own palace. Wrists throbbed. He dipped them into a water filled basin, hissing in pain. Eyes narrowed, Minos starred at his reflection as if expecting all of his problems to suddenly play out in front of him, with answers to yet another riddle that came from no where.
"You promised to punish them. I am not Athenian. I didn't spill the blood of a prince."
Tossing the basin aside causing it to crash. Water trickling down the cracks of the floor. Snarling angrily, fist risen as if to punch the mirror, Minos stalled himself for only a moment.
"Your nothing. Nothing!"
Shouting hysterically, Minos allowed his knuckles to blind him with burning white pain. Glass stuck deep into his flesh. Instead of seeing his own face in the fallen pieces of glass, he saw the Oracle's. Her laughing, mocking eyes, watching him as she laughed, swinging herself from the chains. Kicking them aside, Minos stomped towards his bed where he sat himself down. Back curved, allowing his fingers to burry deep within his hair, finger nails dug deep into his scalp relishing in the pain. A loud knock at the door called Minos to spring up right. He stood with a straight back. Eyes a blaze with authority.
"Enter."
He snarled. Stepping inside a guard, bowed in respect before rising.
"Your highness. The sacrifices are about to begin."
Standing under ground, Minos felt a thrill travelling through his spine. A single torch light behind him, giving off a flicker of light, he peered through thick bars which showed a single corridor.
Clothing torn, bloody. The female who attempted escape ran on trembling legs. Knees grazed. Wrists throbbing from an inhuman grip, she pressed up tightly against a thick wall. Rancid breath, followed by elaborate breathing, forced her to cover her mouth in vain hope that her whimpers would be to muffled to hear. Tears pricked the corners of her eyes, noticing hot steam curling around the slab of rock which protected her from a twisted series of corridors which always lead to dead ends.
A heavy hoof slammed against the ground. A huge hulking body curled forward. Closing her eyes tightly, the female shook with terror on the spot listening to a thick tongue clucking against curved fangs. She liked to believe she could feel the heat of the beasts breath on the back of her neck.
"Somebody help me!"
Screams from a second victim, who found the wooden door leading out of the maze, caused the beast to turn around. Hooves pounded into the distance. Waiting for what seemed like an eternity the female slowly removed her hands, gulping in large chunks of air before the burning within her lungs ended. She knew there was no hope for the fool who screamed, though it didn't stop her stomach swelling with guilt knowing she could do nothing. Keeping her back pressed against the wall, she began to side step, before she could barely see the turn from the corner of her.
Peeling herself away she ran. The sound of her sandals crunching against the ground echoed, making her cheeks flush.
"Sir. Someone is coming."
Behind the very walls of the cruel hunting game, Minos noticed a shadow stretched across the walls within the dark maze.
The female stumbled. Trembling hands gripped tightly onto her ears tempted to rip them off. Anything was better than listening to veins being ripped out and crunched. Screams bounced off the walls, being a familiar tearing sound of limbs being ripped apart silenced them. Hot vomit escaped her mouth, splattering on the ground. It burned like acid. Hearing hooves retracing their steps before being disturbed, the female scrambled up not even caring when her hand disappeared for a brief moment into the vomit.
Coming closer towards the barred window, unaware that behind them lay her true murderer, the female ran head first into the wall. Blinding white pain travelled behind her eyes, making her dazed for just a moment. A low huff of a laugh caused her to blink franticly. Eyes danced around, trying to make out the cruel amuser. Nothing. Even the sound of hooves had vanished. It took only a moment to notice faint light flickering on the wall opposite the one she crashed into. Head rolled back, she looked in horror towards the mad dancing eyes of King Minos.
"Y- You..?!"
She hissed out in disbelief. Heaving breath. Stomping. The female didn't turn around and flee. Instead she turned her whole body, rising on her tip toes in an attempt to push her face through the bars. She gripped hold of them tightly. Tears travelled angrily down her face. A roar so loud it caused the corridor to shake, Minos began to back down.
"No!" - The female snarled. - "I want you to look at me. I want you to know that you killed me!"
Her voice rose into an angry shout. Minos didn't pay her plea any attention. Not until the sound of ripped fabric followed by terrible screaming reached his ears. Expecting to see the females face missing from the bars, Minos watched instead, as her head was pressed so tightly, the flesh moulded around them. Judging by the angle she had been literally hoisted from the ground and was being ripped in half. Blood trickled from the corner of mouth. Her eyes never once closing in pain, always watching him.
'Slop'
Such a sickening sound, Minos didn't need to move in closer to know what had fallen on the ground. Only then did the female's fingers become lose enough that she slid slowly from the bars to re-join the rest of her body. Looking away, ignoring the concerned glances the guards starred at him with Minos walked forward.
"Take me back to the palace."
Armour and weapons clanked together as the guards followed Minos out of the corridor. Behind them the beast ate greedily. Blood splattered onto the unclosed eyes of the female, which never lost their hatred.
King Minos has been introduced. If anyone is wondering Minos was the son of Zeus & Europa.
Please leave a review. I have started up a new story called 'Skin Deep'. If your interested please take a look.
Signed The Broken Ghost.