Amari412: Thank you very much for the review. I promise an explination to how Melinoe & Asterion meet will be shown in a later chapter. =)
Birth of a Monster
Claws peeked through the thinly parted wood of the door. Pushing with great care, a pair of large maroon eyes danced across the moonlight court yard. No night guards. No soldiers. Rising up slowly, his quivering bruised body slipped out from the darkness, even with only moonlight the Beast had to squint his eyes. Casting his line of vision down, Beast starred in horror at the fresh cart wheel tracks. Eyes became hooded in anger, as he pushed himself forward. He didn't need to follow the tracks, he knew exactly where Melinoe was being taken.
Fifteen years earlier..
"What a simple thing to snap your neck."
Finger tips like curious butterflies danced across a racing pulse point hidden within a barely matured neck. Sea of rich urban hair grazed rosy flushed cheeks. A slow sarcastic clap of leather gloved hands, pulled the figure aside as he sliced his blade back within the pouch of the finest leather belt.
"Excellent Androgeos. Your becoming a more skilled swordsman than myself."
Asterion slumped against the tree trunk. Tears swelled within his eyes, though a swift nip upon his lower lip silenced childish whimpers. Watching through hooded hatred as his elder brother was praised, for smacking around his younger sibling, Asterion examined the wooden sword. Chipped. Splintered. He was surprised it lasted against Androgeos's real weapon. For a sickening moment Asterion's stomach twisted in fear. Surely his father didn't want him dead? Where Androgeos had thick locks, perfect green eyes and olive tanned skin. Asterion's hair held streaks of greasy ebony, eyes foggy grey and flesh more pale than the dead under ground. Asterion was his mothers son.
"Come. Enough training."
Minos's hand set proudly between the shoulder blades of Androgeos ushering him through the dense private court of trees. Asterion followed swiftly behind, trying to match the pace of stronger longer legs. A low stream of grey clouds began to loom through the once light blue sky. Glancing up in wonder, for once not afraid as no cracks of thunder shattered tense tree tops. A plan based on jealously began to form.
It was a mystery to how a young boy was able to sneak over the palace walls and tip toe past alert guards. Maybe it was luck or maybe the fates were feeling in a particular curious mood, whatever the reason; draped in a cloak, a basket filled with a foul stench of decaying flesh, young Asterion scampered towards the sacrificial pillar of Zeus. His grandfather. A fire continued to flicker, creating various shadows across marble white walls. Falling upon his knees, slipping the basket from his thin lanky arm, Asterion brought out the fresh corpse of a lamb.
Holding it within trembling hands Asterion placed it on the sacrificial alter.
"All mighty Zeus, I pray to you. Help father see what I can. Make Androgeos fail. Just a small little slip. Something."
Pulling out the blade, he opened up the stomach pulling with sickening 'squelch' and 'pop'. Asterion hated it. Animals were special. Dropping the intestines into the fire, watching as it grew in strength like a filling stomach. Staring at the blood on his hands, Asterion shifted closer. Stomach churning in disgust at the sickening smell.
"Accept my offering Zeus. Please."
Zeus listened. What happened next would go down in history. After another victorious win at the Olympics' Androgeos failed. It was unclear who exactly killed Androgeos but Minos placed his twisted mind on Athens. He blamed the ever growing heart of Greece for destroying his own blood out of fear of him. The people of Athens were of course horrified. They pleaded, begged even prayed to Athena to prove that their hands were clean. Minos would hear none of it. War wasn't an option. Minos wanted revenge.
Unlike Asterion, Minos found it harder to sneak out of his own palace. Soldiers were on high alert to keep the inmates within the palace walls safe. It only left one solution. Wrapping a solider of Crete around his little finger was easy. In the dead of night Minos, cloaked in darkness with ever watchful eyes guarding his back, finally made his way towards Zeus's temple.
Another sacrifice was made; this one no where near as innocent as the first. And unlike the first, Zeus didn't answer. It humiliated Minos to the core. He was Zeus's son. Grinding his teeth together after a third failed attempt to get his own way, Minos slammed his fists against the arm of his throne. Dragging the palm of his hand down his face, mind twisting as he tried to work out a way to gain what he saw as rightfully his he whispered out three words.
"Bring me Asterion.."
For the first few months things went smoothly. Asterion of course was harboured with guilt. He told himself that the fates were really behind when Androgeos's life line was cut. Forcing himself not to dwell on such a topic he basked in the attention King Minos gave him. If Asterion was more alert he might've noticed the worried looks his mother would send him, or even the particular phrases his father used when speaking about the Athenians. Five months after the terrible incident it was to late for anyone to stop fates cruel jokes.
1st of June - Five months after the 'death' of Androgeos
"Will your methods die with you?! Because I will not let you corporate him! You, are a monster!"
Tears streaked rosy cheeks. Lips quivered as a frantic wail echoed the stone draped walls.
"Don't touch me! Let go of me!"
Minos grunted with every kick and punch hitting shin and chest. Grabbing hold of his wife's flaing arms, he pinned her against a pillar, smothering her body with own. Legs becoming wrapped in chiltons, Pasiphae hoisted her head, biting her lower lip hard to reduce her whimpers. Minos hissed.
"My son, is my property. Your only here to nurse him. Nothing more."
With a sharp in take of breath Pasiphae pursed her lips. Minos flinched backwards, as warm salvia trickled just underneath his eye. Eyes glowed red. Without looking towards Pasiphae, Minos rose his hand, smacking it harshly against her cheek. Her snapped to the side, though she pushed her heels deep into the ground, not giving her husband the satisfaction of seeing her fall.
Knuckles stinging, Minos growled in distaste as his wife meet his eye. A bruise blooming. Letting out a cackling laugh, Pasiphae pressed herself against his chest hissing through clenched teeth.
"Your nothing."
Peering around the curtain, young Asterion watched with his heart in his throat. Tears streaked his cheeks, as snot dripped onto his pouting lower lip. Fingers tightened around the curtain watching helplessly.
Tossing Pasiphae onto the ground, Minos stood over her like a blood hound waiting for the snap of his masters fingers. Elbow grazed. Hair plastered against her forehead thanks to sweat. Pasiphae looked towards Minos with an emotionless expression. Rising his foot Minos kicked swiftly. Bones cracked. Not giving Pasiphae any time to protect herself, Minos kicked again and again.
"Ahh!"
Pasiphae cried out as Minos straddled her hips grasping hold of her throat tightly bringing their faces inches apart. Despite her husband's cruel face glaring into hers, Pasiphae saw Asterion peering around the curtains. Her heart beat wildly. She shook her head, eyes pleading that he remain hidden. Either Minos knew they had an onlooker or he saw his wife's movements as a plead for a second chance. It didn't stop him from clutching her throat with his large hands breaking her wind pipes.
Asterion covered his eyes with sweaty palms cowering. Praying to any god who would listen that his mother would be spared.
Stumbling from behind the curtains, eyes red with unshed tears Asterion looked around almost expecting his father to slither from the shadows. Hand stretched, fingers trembled; he grazed the purple shaded bruise dotted around his mothers throat. Lower lip quivering, Asterion collapsed onto his knees grabbing his mothers shoulders with brute force as he began to shake her wildly. Screaming in her face. Pleading for her to wake up. The only response he got was a 'clonk, clonk' of her skull hitting the ground. Collapsing upon his mothers chest, face pressed against her throat, Asterion wept loudly.
No one questioned why Pasiphae wasn't dinning with them. It was a rare occurrence that she would ever make herself known during such a private time for men. Asterion however was fighting back his tears. He was forced to sit on his fathers left, hiding himself away either behind his goblet or with a mouth full of food. Minos didn't notice. His own body toxicated with alcohol. Standing up slowly, eyes becoming blood shot though the rest of him remained stock. Graceful. He hoisted up the goblet towards the ceiling, the ever tell, tell of thunder just around the corner.
"To my soldiers who have guarded me and my son well.."
Asterion swallowed down a snort.
"But not to you, father. Your silence has caused me and my people nothing but shame! I curse you Zeus! I curse you to the depths of hell where your twisted specimen can now rot!"
An ear blowing crackle of lightning caused heads to rise. Breaking through the marble roofing, a dazzling blue lightning bolt hurtled towards Minos's head.
Everything happened slowly. As chunks of marble and flickers of glass scattered the floor, Minos tossed in front of him the closest object. Asterion. The young boy held no weapon to defend himself. Piercing pain coursed through his veins. Muscles began to twitch as if a second layer was being draped over them, sandals burst as burnt feet became to large. Clothing ripped. Asterion screamed. He howled. Finally amongst the rumble of thunder, he roared.
"Father.."
Asterion tried in vain to speak. Tears swelled within his eyes as something sharp pinched his tongue, filling his mouth with blood. Lifting his head caused his neck to tense as it felt like an extra tone was growing from his scalp.
"Fa- wahh.."
A frustrated roar echoed the room. Asterion's once misty grey eyes now shimmered with specks of maroon, looked up in horror as Minos stumbled back reaching with a trembling hand for the handle of his sword. Shaking his head, Asterion began to rise. Hind feet twisted and slipped. Claws racked the rock steps. Freezing in horror Asterion looked down. Though his hands resembled humans, ugly charcoal claws replaced cream white nails. A thin layer of rich chocolate sprouts of animal fur grew from the back of his palms, fading as travelled further up his arms only to become thicker on top of his shoulders.
Asterion followed the hair with trembling hands. Mouth filled with sour acid as a hollow 'clunk' caused his ears to twitch. (Literally) Horns. Curved, sharp: sprouted from the side of his head. Dragging his hands over his face, brow thicker, mouth twisted outwards in the shape of a muzzle. What pinched his tongue earlier now became clear. Canine fangs. Asterion didn't know if he felt grateful when his torso resembled more flesh than fur, his lower half however held more animal than man. Thick fur covered legs. Bull legs.
Tears of terror trickled down Asterion's quivering maw. Looking up pleading towards his father, he stuttered in fear seeing his reflection staring back at him in his fathers drawn sword.
"What have you done with my son?"
Minos's voice whispered above terrified cries as guests ran for the doors. Asterion stretched out his hands, trying in vain not to ruin his fathers clothing.
"What have you done with him?!"
Slashing the sword down, Asterion just had enough time to spring backwards as the sword sent sparks as it dug deep within the ground. Spinning over onto his taunt belly, hooves creating ear bleeding noise as he managed to somehow claw his way upright, he sprinted forward. People parted out of his way. Voices of out rage followed by women screaming caused Asterion to run faster.
"After him!"
Whimpering. Roaring. Asterion claws slashed at armoured covered chest's as soldiers tried to corner him. For a split second Asterion's hooves became caught in an expensive rug. Landing with a bone shattering 'thud!' Asterion cried out.
"There!"
Turning his head sharply, eyes becoming wide Asterion kicked, wriggled even clawed at the expensive threading. Nothing stopped a huddle of shadows from looming over him. Even with his body coiled with ropes, his unfamiliar eyes looked up with longing hope towards the twisted disgust upon his fathers face.
"Take that thing to the dungeon."
For the first night in over five years Asterion wept for his father. Hooves kicked against the cold brick wall, as horns scrapped the ground. Body shaking in fear, he had no idea that his first night of horror was only the start of eternal darkness. Rising himself up, he peered through the moss covered bars out into the world he once roamed freely. Blinking back tears Asterion pushed his muzzle through the bars and roared.
As always hope you enjoyed this chapter and please leave a review.
- Signed The Broken Ghost