Not all sacrifices go without reward
"Worthless.. pathetic scum... so easily swooned... you never knew what kindness was until I gave it to you!"
A crisp 'crack' echoed the throne room. Blood dripped from a twitching muzzle. Not once did the beast try to stop the striker.
"Do something!"
Screaming in rage, another 'crack' joined by a second, third... They all fell without a pause. Ears twitched. Eyes closed tightly, taking every blow. Yelling at the ceiling, the striker curled her fingers, clawing at the depressed expression of the beast. Always missing his eyes by a fraction. Grasping hold of his neck with both hands, she began to squeeze. Rising onto the tips of her toes, applying more pressure against the furry neck which dripped in blood. (Both his and other souls) Grunting in discomfort; her small hands just enough to make breathing difficult but not life threatening.
"Why? Why are you letting me do this to you?"
Hissing angrily, her knee pressed into his broad stomach pushing harshly as her knuckles turned white.
Beast wanted to speak. To tell her he knew this wasn't her doing. That no matter how much pain she consciously or by force put upon him, he would never harm her.
"That's. Enough. Let him go."
Despite the sickening twist of her lower intestines, she slowly backed away. Body sweaty. Hands bloody. Hair in a disarray. Only then did Beast making any movement. Grunting first, he rose his head. Upper lip curling in a threatening growl.
'Crack!' This sound however hadn't landed upon him.
Only just restraining Beast back, as he lunged towards Minos, he struggled feebly looking on with fire highlighted eyes. A red mark bloomed upon her cheek, angry tears pricked at the corner of hers eyes. But they didn't fall. Hissing through clenched teeth, as his warm hand buried its self in a grey highlighted hair. Head thrown back. Neck exposed. King Minos examined his reflection in the piece of jewellery that once gave her hope.
"It seems, I need to break you in a little more. You spoke the words beautifully and made him bleed. Still... He never responded."
Minos's weren't ignored, no response was given none the less. Instead she Melinoe, looked towards Beast Asterion. Guilt festered like a plague within her, feeling sick that she caused such physical harm too him.
"You see my boy. When you know what a man loves, you control him."
Leaning over Melinoe's shoulder, pressing his cheek against her trembling one. A slippery tongue glided across his teeth, causing them to sparkle.
"I use the term Man lightly though. I mean just look at you... What chance do you have?"
Head snapping to the side, not from a slap or a punch, but from warm liquid. Rising his hand, tracing it slowly with the tips of his fingers, Minos looked at the salvia dripping slowly. Even Asterion had become silent. Turning slowly towards Melinoe seeing the mocking gaze in her flickering eyes, he rose his fist, connecting it squarely within her jaw followed by one to her lower stomach, causing Melinoe to double over, heaving loudly. Not giving her time to catch her breath, Minos gasped her hair, forcing her back up, smirking as her knees began to wobble.
"Is there something you wanted to say?"
Minos mocked as he twisted his wrist to the right, causing Melinoe to cry out in pain. It felt like someone was scorching her scalp.
"Yes. Beast, will always be more of a man than you ever will be.. His chances are higher than your power could ever buy you."
Instead of giving Melinoe a verbal answer he used his fist instead. While continuing to hold her hair, he punched. Mainly out of frustration but also to hurt Asterion, who began to roar angrily, the sounds of the soldiers grunting as they held him back caused Minos to smirk. Despite every punch, Melinoe didn't once scream out in pain. Grunting on occasion or flinching, she wouldn't give Minos the satisfaction of knowing he was hurting her; a small part felt like she deserved it, she had of course done the same to Asterion only moments ago. A single tear trickled down her cheek.
"That's more like it.."
Minos hissed. Slowly letting go of her hair, not phased by the death glare which she sent him, a cruel smirk tugged at his lips hearing the sound of the doors opening.
At first Melinoe ignored the echoing creak of the large doors opening. Continuing to glare into Minos's eyes, body throbbing in pain, a familiar shadow within Minos's eyes caused Melione to turn slowly. A horrified gasp passed her lips, seeing who'd been lead inside.
"O.. O..racle.."
Melinoe stuttered out. A head of chestnut curls twitched, parting, exposing a bruised wounded face, that on more than one occasion had silently mocked Melinoe. Snapping back to Minos, Melinoe easily put two and two together. Minos walked around Melinoe slowly, placing to the side of the Oracle, he grasped hold of her chin, pushing his thumb and finger into a forming bruise. Examining the damage the Soldiers had placed upon her, he smirked in satisfaction.
"I heard about your little discussions and visions you both shared. Very interesting."
Minos didn't look back towards Melinoe as he spoke, instead he watched her in the Oracle's dying eyes.
"Strange seeming as she was the one who warned me about you. Claimed that I would meet my demise. Seems the tables have been termed. Because of her, I managed to get myself out of many scraps. I, cheated your father of claiming me."
Not wanting to believe what was being said, Melinoes heart began to pound. Despite their differences, the Oracle had tried to help her.
"What are you going to do? By the sounds of it you need her. She's your gift to immortality... in a sense.."
No one apart from the gods and other mythical creatures could obtain such a gift. Instead of seeing Minos waver at her words, a cruel chuckle passed his lips causing her blood to run cold. Leaning forward, he pressed his brow upon the Oracle's forehead, his noes pressed against her eye.
"That, is where your sorely mistaken. I don't need her anymore. I have you."
Slowly stepping away the Oracle, listening to her distressed whimpers only caused Minos to grin. Melinoe stumbled forward, only for her feet to feel like they were sinking into the ground, as Minos rose his hand. Everything started to slow down... Asterion began to roar, thriving against the bounds which held him. Melinoe shouted out pleads. As the weapon was produced: a hauntingly beautiful sword, it almost winked down to those watching the distressing scene, before it swung down, slicing cleaning through the back of the Oracle's neck, sending a shower of blood over those close enough.
The head fell, bouncing on the floor before rolling away. The body quivered, before it fell, spouting out blood from severed arteries.
"No!"
Crying out in misery, watching in disbelief as the Oracles rolled across the floor, leaving droplets of blood.
Turning slowly, body trembling in hatred. Onyx iris taking over Melinoe's eyes, black swimming soot formed within her palms. Snapping her arms out to the side, striking the soldiers who held Asterion. They aged rapidly, bones turning to dust before terrified screams passed their lips. Turning slowly towards Minos, watching in disgust as he continued to laugh, nudging the Oracles lifeless head with the tip of his toes.
"Never act out in anger. Always have a strategy.."
Whispering the words of Hecate, Melinoe slowly stepped forward as Asterion slowly rose behind her, staggering on trembling hooves. Rising her fist, Melinoe punched Minos squarely upon the jaw.
As Minos laughed he was defenceless against the sudden blows. Staggering backwards, ankle twisting painfully on the step, he crashed harshly. Following his less than graceful movements, Melinoe rose her fists above her head, sending rain after blow down.
"Looks like I've finally got a response!"
Melinoe yelled, as Minos roared in humiliation and pain. Rising his large hands, trying to grab hold of Melinoe's wrists, she knocked them back with magic. Hair turning ebony black as more power began to coarse through her veins causing her to tremble. To much was dangerous, but Minos had gone to far.
"How do you like it?! How does it make you feel?!"
Lost in a daze, Minos lay upon his back, body become racked with pain. Veins turning rich ebony as Melinoe's magic attacked him from the inside, making him arch in agony. As blood began to boil through rage, Minos snapped his eyes open, looking up towards the furious expression upon Melinoe's features.
"I command you to stop!"
Melinoe obeyed. Chest heaved, as she gulped down air. Head pounding as body trembled; fighting against the necklace was more hard work than it seemed. Every part of Melinoe's body felt like it was being stabbed with poisonous arrows. Feeling Minos's heart beat race against her knee, lowering her arms down, bowing her head obediently, a few pitiful sobs and sniffles echoed the now silent throne room. Turning his head, body racked with pain as the magic began to slowly seep out, Minos snarled through gritted teeth. Looking around the throne room, seeing the remains of his guards he gritted his teeth breathing heavily through his nostrils. Turning towards Melinoe, eyes burning with fire.
"Your going to pay for this! I'm going to make you torture that beast... You'll be begging me to kill him just as swiftly as your Oracle friend.."
Minos began to rant his typical grin started to sprout, only to become silent as Melinoe no longer sobbed but instead began to chuckle.
"What is so funny?"
Minos pressed with an un-amused expression.
Wiping away a fake tear, Melinoe let out a sigh forcing herself to calm down. Feeling Minos's eyes on her, she slowly tilted her head to the side causing Minos's grin to wiped clean from his face. Instead of looking scared, Melinoe smirked down towards Minos watching as his brow twitched.
"Nothing, only that I've obeyed your command, but... who's going to stop him?"
Minos expected an attack, instead he watched in disbelief as the necklace slowly slipped away from Melinoe's neck. It dangled in the air between two bloody inhuman nails. Rising his fist, Minos smacked Melinoe so suddenly that she fell onto the ground, banging her head harshly upon the ground. As Asterion became distracted, Minos spun around scrambling onto his hands and knees. Kneeling down by her side, Asterion, carefully stroked Melinoe's hair, pulling back she stirred. Blood trickled down her forehead, eyes flickering as everything became a blurry mess.
"Be.. Beast?"
She stuttered out.
Patting her hair with a quivering hand, Asterion turned towards Minos watching as his father ran. Snarling, Asterion stood up; the throne room wasn't as well shadowed as the Labyrinth but that also meant there wasn't many places for his prey to hide. Prowling after Minos, grinning as the King shouted for help; for once commands landing on death ears. Slipping into a shadow, eyes glowing watching as Minos struggled against the heavy doors.
"Help me! Somebody!"
As Minos screamed Asterion stepped out, snarling angrily. Swiping his large hand, claws cutting deep into vulnerable flesh, Minos staggered backwards crying out in agony. Looking up with wide eyes towards the towering figure, Minos backed up, tears trickled down his face.
"No please.. don't kill me..!"
He begged, only to duck as Asterion took another swipe. Minos staggered backwards, looking around blindly for a weapon. Asterion blocked his path, forcing Minos into a tight spot. Falling onto his side, scrambling on his side, a pained cry passed his lips, feeling his ankle bone crush under the full weight of Asterion's hoof. Stretching his arms out in front of him, fingers scrambling upon the ground, breaking finger nails. His other leg kicking out blindly, trying to connect with Asterion's leg or stomach. As Asterion leant forward, muzzle quivering, drool hanging from his lower lip, he rose his arm high above his head only to freeze in time.
"Beast!"
Melinone screamed in heart ache as Alexander shoved the same sword which killed the Oracle into Asterion's back. Leaning over the beast's form, twisting his wrist driving the weapon in deeper, Alexander grinned.
"Well hello again, Asterion..."
Alexander hissed before ripping the blade out, watching the thick blood drip slowly down, as Asterion began to gasp for breath. Melinoe scrambled up, running towards the trio, tears pouring down her face. Asterion could only watch, before collapsing onto his side.
I realise the title might not make much sense, but it will in time. Sorry for the late update, I needed a break. Hope you all enjoyed this chapter, please leave a review.
- Signed The Broken Ghost