Cutting the thread
There was no bright light breaking through darkness. Nor a gentle voice pulling him away. Instead Asterion felt blinding pain coursing through his body; starting from his gaping wound to the tips of his hooves. All around him, Asterion heard screams mixed with sobs. Melione... It didn't matter, that he couldn't see anything, Asterion had grown to recognize her voice anywhere; whether she pulled him from a nightmare or called him back through the darkness of the Labyrinth. This time, she wasn't calling out concern, her voice dripped in agony. Blindly waving bloody hands, claws curling trying to grab hold of something, anything that would suddenly latch him back to where she was.
Slamming into rocks, spinning around the air, hands blindly seeking out purchase. Asterion's eyes grew wide in fright as the ground came closer. Crossing his arms he hid within them, a terrified cry echoed as his body grew tense waiting for impact. If Asterion opened his eyes, he would notice that his body wasn't going to crash onto a rocky formation but a river.
'Splash!'
Stinging pain traveled through him, as eyes popped open. Opening his mouth to gasp, foul, ebony liquid traveled down his throat causing him to splutter as he struggled to reach the surface. Legs kicked till they ached. Arms flapped about. More water continued to poor; It tasted of copper, burnt meat and gold. Asterion had never learnt to swim, with each kick of his legs no matter how powerful only tired him out, causing his body to sink deeper. Lungs began to burn, while his stomach clenched at the foul taste. Maybe it was luck or Styx had grown tired of hearing Asterion bubble in terror: Asterion managed to splutter up to the surface. Waves sloshed about, splashing over his face not giving him a chance to catch his breath; after all those who crossed the river were supposed to be dead...
"He-!" - Asterion coughed as another waved sloshed over him - "Help! Someone!" - Another series of coughs - "Help!"
"Alright, alright keep your horses together. I'm only one man, if you can call me that..."
A tired voice, causing Asterion to spin around feebly in a circle. He hadn't realized that words spilled from his mouth instead of roars or stutters.
Grasping hold of the pale hand stretched towards him, Asterion was hauled onto the boat. Shivering. Coughing. Arms wrapped themselves around his stomach, as he hunched over trying to get some warmth back into his body. A gasp passed his lips, as a large blanket was tossed over his quivering shoulders. Snapping his head up, finally getting a look at his savior he swallowed, only to spin around, hurling his insides over the edge of the boat.
"Charming."
The elder male mumbled, as he pushed against his oar causing the boat to move slowly across the river.
Leaning heavily against the side, tugging upon the blanket, Asterion began to mumble out an apology only to freeze. Wide grey eyes looked down at his form. Naked. Hairless. No hooves. A series of stutters fell lips, which started to turn blue from the unnatural chill.
"Wh- What happened..? I'm... I'm not.. not.."
"Alive? I'm afraid so..."
Charon's words went unheard. Staring dumbfounded at bare hands, a few strands of wiry hair twitched upon his knuckles. Bright pink creases stood out on large working hands, coated in what looked like muddy chalk. Bare flesh. Asterion was terrified. Even after years of dreaming being normal, Asterion wanted nothing more than to tear it away. To reveal the true fur underneath. Finger nails began to claw with terror, revealing angry red welts. Finer hairs rose up almost in alarm. Where was his fur?! Angry tears began to swell, threatening to fall. Before Asterion tore away the blanket or even Charon could grab his wrists (while keeping the boat afloat) Asterion froze at the hideous sight. It wasn't the large gaping wound, where the lightning bolt had struck, but the remaining thick fur surrounding it stood out proudly. Instead of feeling fearful, Asterion began to gently stroke it with trembling fingers.
"Why...?"
Eyes turned black with rage, as he grasped hold of the remaining fur. Yanking. Tugging. No blood spurted from the wound, but pain flared never the less. What strands he could grab, Asterion tried in vain to smother them over bare arms and chest. Finally having enough of the insane display, Charon dug the oar deep into the ground, silently begging for forgiveness. Scrambling down to the frantically clawing young male, he gripped trembling wrists in a firm grip. Astreion tried and failed to get out of the elder boat mans grip. Looking up with hollow eyes, towards Charon feeling the burning gaze of irritation, Asterion's teas finally began to fall. They felt like hot lava against quivering cheeks. Charon had seen many sights while pushing the boat, but never a skeptical sight as this.
"Why does this only have fur remaining?!"
Thick brows lowered. Concern crept within Charon's wrinkled eyes. Looking down where Asterion had been recently tugging in terror, he too noticed the wound. Despite taking a dip in the river, the smell of a lightning bolt was still strong. Hairs across the back of his neck began to rise up. Darkness crept over the river. Forgotten whispers crept around their tensed bodies. Reaching back for his oar, fingers brushed against the wood causing it to fall with a loud 'Splash!'. Poor Asterion almost jumped out of his skin. Looking up with confusion sparkling within his eyes, Charon opened his mouth only to stumble to the side as the boat was jolted forward violently: not by the river, but by black smoke which seemed to have come from no where. Returning to his position, holding tightly onto the curved wood cutting. Watching in dismay as the bank came within closer range, Charon gained a fearful tug within the pit of his stomach. Turning slowly towards Asterion who suddenly found the blanket more interesting than his lack of 'fur', Charon frowned.
"It seems someone else has beaten me. Certainly an embarrassing moment on my behalf. Let's hope that it doesn't soil your already bad reputation."
Asterion didn't have time, to stutter out uncertainty or demand answers. His bad reputation? Not understanding what was going on, every blood cell within his body turned icy cold at a truly terrifying roar from across the bank. Daring a peek, his heart lodged within his throat. A huge beast stood tall and proud. Coat shimmering black, with razor blades (claws) twitching. Three sets of mouths dripped in saliva. As the boat drew nearer, the middle head snapped its jaws threateningly, while the other two lowered, nostrils flaring, snarling. Its whole body tense, fighting back the urge to pounce.
Squelching, as the dampened under belly of the boat, broke through the sandy bank. The three headed hound backed away, its bone chilling eyes never leaving Asterion's quivering form. Each head snorted bitterly, before a fourth snarl was heard. This beast was smaller, (much to Asterion's relief it only had one head). Grey fur, glimmered against the darkness of the walls. Much like the beast, it snarled at Asterion's presence, though there was something hidden within the eyes. For a brief moment, Asterion didn't fear it. Dampening his mouth with a swipe of his dried tongue, Asterion turned towards Charon who looked down at him with a pitiful glance.
"Wha-"
Chocking back a pained gasp, as Charon grasped his shoulder in a vice grip. Asterion looked up like a gawping fish, before he was hauled to his feet.
"I'm sorry lad."
Wrenching Asterion's trembling form, soaring from the boat, Asterion barely had time to yell before he fell face into the river bank. Black sand stuffed his noes and mouth. Yanking his head back; coughing, spluttering there was no time to claw away sand particles from his eyes. More hands grasped hold, pinching, tearing away the blanket. His one source of dignity. Hauled onto his feet, Asterion stumbled clumsily along side the marching creatures. Their odor over powering. Asterion couldn't describe it. It never seemed to occur to Asterion, that while every other 'being' inhabiting the Underworld, was either a figment of something from a nightmare, he was the only soul who remained solid...
A once rich vibrant room, now nothing more than a chaotic playground. Walls cracked. Weapons shattered. Even the throne nothing more than a pile of ash. And in the middle of it all, Melione stood, un-moving. Dazed. A black sheep.
It felt like her body had broken out into a dangerous fever. A mixture of blood, muck and sand, created vein patterns upon quivering cheek bones. Everything stung. Her body rippled with magic; it took every ounce of her will being to fight back. Maybe she could run after Asterion. But the bolt had come from Zeus... Running a trembling hand over the dust covered step, being extra careful not to destroy the imprint of a large hoof. Melione finally whimpered out a name, that she wished she called upon long ago.
"Mother... Please, help me..."
Tears fell. Doubt entered her mind. How many times did she have this opportunity, only to use it now, when it was to late. With eyes cast down, her pouting lower lip catching falling tears, something began to move behind her.
A strange mixture of pearl white with ashen black, crept across the ground. Shattered remains of Melione's necklace, began to piece together. The smoke, collected it from the ground. As the necklace clinked together, Melione didn't stir. A shadow formed across Melione's curved back, a few highlighted details formed, in the shape of a woman's body.
Grasping hold of her arms, curling herself tightly as if to hide within the confines of her hair, Melione jumped out of her skin. A petrified shriek past her lips, as something cold and heavy slipped over her neck. Spinning around sharply, Melione's body tensed ready to strike, only to stop. Mouth opened in a 'o' of surprise, as she looked upon the tearful smile of Persephone.
"M.. M.. M..other..!"
Pulling Melione tightly into an embrace, Persephone wept. Melione's frail frame, felt sharp against her slightly rounder figure. Shaking fingers, stroked Melione's hair softly. Lips descended rains of kisses, upon her daughters trembling skull. Placing her cheek, upon the dark mass of hair, Persephone took just a moment to reassure herself that this was real. To many times, had she woken up from a false dream only to find that it was Hades who she was holding. She wanted nothing more than to fuss over Melione, but Persephone knew that time was of the essence. Pulling away, but keeping hold of Melione's upper arms, Persephone's firm gaze locked upon Melione's large fearful eyes. Letting out a breath, Persephone lightly cupped Melione's chin, wiping away fallen tears.
"Melione, I'm so sorry..."
Melione's chest twisted with guilt. Her mother had no reason to apologize for anything. Before she could voice her disapproval, bile rose up within he throat.
"Your father has Asterion..."
After being thrown at the feet of Hades terrifying thrown; all humiliating thoughts of being stripped bare became a distant memory. Staring up with a petrified gaze, towards two endless black orbs, Asterion longed for strength of the Minotaur. Even so, Asterion knew that he would be cowering at the 'lord of the dead's' feet.
"M- My- Lord.."
Hades upper lip curled into a snarl. Rising sharply from his thrown, an endless see of hypnotizing black soot resembling a cloak, wrapped it self around his feet, giving him the impression that he was floating. Hades began to descend the steps. The subjects who brought Asterion before him scuttled off into the shadows. The faint clinking of their jaws, sounded like jittering laughter.
Asterion wanted to move away. He was terrified that Hades would step on him, like he was nothing more than a insignificant bug. And maybe that was true. Instead, just as Hades reached the final step, he stopped. His over powering figure, loomed over Asterions quivering form. Large eyebrows narrowed into a disgusted frown. Giving the prince, a once over, his cold icy voice melted into the air. Asterion barely picked up the words, but the repliers voice caused all of his blood to drain from his features.
"Yes my lord, he's the one. He took your daughter. Kept her a prisoner!"
The faint sound of chains rattling, forced Asterion's head to turn. A quivering shadow could just be seen poking out from the darkness, the rancid smell of Hades subjects caused Asterion's noes hairs to burn. But it wasn't them who was speaking, they were holding the speaker back.
"I saw it with my own eyes. The beast deserves none of your tolerance or just worthy judgement."
"Mi- Minos!"
Forgetting himself for a moment, Asterion rose sharply to his feet. Agonizing pain rippled through his body. Crumbling down, grasping hold of his legs, he looked down expecting to see blood. Nothing - yet he could've sworn that someone ripped the muscles from his very bones. Tears of humiliation and rage followed by a pained whimper, left Asterion's body. Asterion barely had time to let out the fearful gasp, when he came face to face with Hades. Despite the aging features, Hades radiated power. Was this, really Melione's father?
"You have her eyes..."
The words fell before, Asterion's brain caught up. There was no time for apologies. Cackling echoed from across the room, as a thick cluster of soot and smoke enveloped both Asterion and Hades. Asterion barely had time to scream.
Once rich, colourful eyes shining with a forgotten hope, now only fulled by a raging fire scorching his belly. Those same eyes remained wide, while his upper twitched into a snarl: Giving him a sinister almost comical look of both horror and rage. Stumbling across charred ground, one curled hand dragging lifelessly, across fearsome looking rocks.
'I failed her... No.. No I didn't fail her. She failed me... She. Failed. Me!'
Pausing in both wollering of self pity and walk, Asterion gazed upwards. Thick black clouds, mixed with crimson gashes across their underbelly, traveled slowly.
'Is he watching me, right now? Even after he sent me down to this, pit of hell, he still wishes to taunt me...'
An inhuman laugh began to erupt from Asterion's jaws. His whole body started to shake, knees began to wobble. Wrapping an arm across his belly, clutching, tearing at his naked side. Fine hairs pushed through clenched knuckles, instead of thick bull fur. Collapsing hard onto the ground, Asterion only laughed harder. Tears spilled down quivering cheekbones. Long, unruly hair hung casting a shadow across twisted facial features. Thick shoulder blades quivered and rippled beneath muscled flesh. No longer hooves, but feet began to slip within the over burnt ground.
There was no trace of the Minotaur left. Only a terrified man, banished to Tarturas.
How could he have been so foolish? No undeserving reward goes unpunished...
*Peeks out* Hello strangers. I'm so sorry for the delay in updates, things have been very hectic as of lately. I promise you this story will be finished by August. Do hope you enjoyed this delayed chapter. Please leave a review.
- Signed The Broken Ghost