Chapter 5:
Nicholas, Puck and I are walking along the Labyrinth when an awful stench hits us like a brick wall. "Oh god! What is that?!" Puck coughs out. "I don't know, but if we don't get out of here soon, I'm going to pass out."
"You think you've got it bad?! My nose is on fire and I've got a raging headache. Oh! My eyes!"
"Look, we just need to get out of here! Any ideas?" Puck asks. Both of them look to me. "Fine. But this is the last time. Okay."
I expand my wings and hoist both of the up into the air. "Alright. Just a little more distance to go!" Puck tells me. But I'm exhausted and they're simply to heavy.
We plummet into the bog, but I manage to get us to land on the ground, since the smell seems to be coming from the water. "Who goes there?" A fox on a shaggy dog asks us.
"My name is Prince Gabriel, and this is Prince Robin and Prince Nicholas. We're here to run-"
"To run the Labyrinth in order to win the Princess Laurel's hand in marriage, yes. Everyone in the Labyrinth knows. Well, my name is Sir Didymus and this is my noble steed, Ambrosias." The fox tells us.
"Could you help us get out of here? Gabriel's wings are tired from carrying us over the bog." Nicholas asks Sir Didymus. "Of course my dear boy! This way." He turns Ambrosias around to lead us out of the bog.
...
"Ugh! I'm starving!" Puck cries out. "Tell me about it." Nicholas says. I spot something out of the corner of my eye. "Gentlemen, why don't we feast on some fruit?" I fly up to the branch and pluck three peaches.
Landing, I toss one to both of them. "To the winner of the fair Laurel's hand." I toast. "Aye!" They both say at the same time. We all take a bute at the same time and I instantly feel dizzy and faint.
"Oh dear. My lady, did you really have to give them the peaches?" Didymus's voice asks. "Of course. Mother had to go through it, so they have to as well." 'Laurel.' Of course she would be in on this. But before I can interrogate her as to why she would poison us, everything starts to spin.
...
Elegant masks and glittering gowns pass by in a blur. Laughter and shrieks of delight pierce through the air. I stand silently in the corner watching all the participants of the ball dance the night away in their finery.
There's such a sad love
Deep in your eyes
A kind of pale jewel
Opened and closed
Within your eyes.
I'll place the skies
Within your eyes.
A glimpse of midnight blue in the sea of monochromatic colors catches my attention. I push through the crowd to find the blue mystery, but not succeeding.
There's such a fooled heart
Beating so fast
In search of new dreams.
A love that will last,
Within your heart.
I'll place the moon
Within your heart.
The voice is hypnotic, and also coming from the direction of my current obsession. I have to catch it.
As the pain sweeps through,
Make no sense for you.
Every thrill has gone.
Wasn't to much fun at all,
But will you be there for me-ee-ee?
As the world falls down.
A young lady in a midnight blue dress hides behind a silver mask. She smirks and lowers it. I inhale sharply.
Would you paint me mornings of gold?
Spin me Valentine evenings?
We've been strangers till now
We're choosing the path
Between the stars
Leave your love, between the stars.
"Laurel." She smirks again and stalks towards me. "Hello Gabriel."
"You poisoned those peaches." Laurel chuckles a little bit. "Oh no. Not poison. Mother went through it and she's still alive, I assure you." She circles me. "Then where am I? Where's Puck and Nicholas?"
"Oh, they're fine. Enjoying themselves as you can see." She gestures to a group of people near us who part at her gesture. "Take a look." I do as she says and see Puck and Nicholas both dancing with beautiful girls. "I had hoped it wouldn't go this far. The nymphs should have lured more than Dadrid into their den."
"You put the nymphs in the Labyrinth?" I ask her, shocked. "Yes. And I was also the one who enchanted the dream crystals to look like peaches. Once you bit into them you were transported to here, the dreamworld. But, I have to admit, all the others were easier to convince that they should drop out of the competition, but then there's you."
She gestured again and the crowd merged together, blocking my view of Nicholas and Puck. "You see, unlike the others, you aren't motivated by riches, young and beautiful girls, or even your greatest dreams." It was my turn to smirk.
"That would be because I, unlike the others, know that my duty to my kingdom is more important than any temptation I cross." Laurel's mouth twitches into her usual facade of bemusement. "Is that so?"
She comes closer and whispers in my ear, her lips brushing it,"What about, Arella?" And with that, she sunk the dagger into my heart.
