“Very well, I'll bring you straight away.”

The maze was so daunting that in mere minutes she had been lost though Medusa was still killed each day by the phantom images each day, those illusions that dispatched her. Leaking water and twists and turns. The labyrinth did not give up any of it's secrets easy and while she got lost the there was a trick that she was missing.

Her light placed her at a disadvantage too seeing that the Minotaur was probably without a light source throughout it's life.

The creature could see in the dark and her light had been a beacon attracting attention.

But she was stuck at the beginning of the maze and it was not a factor just yet. But as she whistled the absolute silence in the air disturbed it heard her. The Minotaur jerked his head up and listened intently to the sound as it sniffed the air. He could not pick up her scent yet so he was far off, a male … so his torment began a new and he reflected on the whistling? Was it a trap? The Minotaur was cautious that this was a trap just as the Queen discovered it …

Marking the passages she took helped as she found out that she was traveling in one big circle or that was what it seamed. She reached out to make her mark on the wall then realized that there was no wall there. She could see one though her hand passed through the illusion. She had found the entrance to the labyrinth though now as she proceed there was a stronger animal scent in the air.

Each corner she rounded filled her with greater dread that the creature was here particularly in those regions where the scent was stronger.

Eventually though the Minotaur had her scent … not male …. this aroused his interests as he followed. He knew the passages well. He also knew the secret doors that he shortened the distance between the two and one time as she rounded a corner she saw it, the large bull headed man in a toga and sandals. He was well muscled two and snorted out, his battle ax held loosely in his right arm as he lunges forth attempting to grab her with the left and it snorts out a challenge as it rushes at her.

When Alynia's fingers brushed against a wall, she realized something amazing. There was in fact no wall here at all. She stepped through the illusion with a sense of accomplishment only to be met with another endless maze. A tiny sigh fluttered off of her lips, but she continued onward into the crushing darkness.

At least this time, Alynia was confident she was closer to her goal. The scent in the air reminded her of a barn. Some sort of animal was near and the only creature that came to her mind was the one guarding Medusa. Unknowingly, almost everything she was doing attracted the attention of the beast. The sound of her whistling, the light she travelled by, even the sweet scent of her skin.

She walked along for almost and hour or so, this time in addition to painting the walls with scorch marks, she was following her nose. Against all of her instincts, she travelled toward where the scent of the Minotaur was stronger with the logic in mind that the beast would most frequently wander near the woman it was to guard.

But as time passed, her nose got more and more immune to the smell, almost to the point where she could hardly notice it. Alynia stopped to take another break. Her eyes closed briefly and she extinguished her light, letting herself take a short nap.

She woke up again feeling refreshed. Reconjuring the flame, she went forward. Suddenly, as Alynia turned the corner the beast was there. Her eyes widened in shock almost unbelieving in such a bizarre sight. It reminded her of the the undying she had seen so many years ago one of the first times she wandered about Llynoria... Except the Minotaur was much larger.

It rushed toward her with a giant battle axe in its grasp. She let out a cry as she barely dodged, as the beast grabbed a fistful of her cloak. A loud tearing sound ensued as he ripped away a large chuck of that cloak, revealing the short white toga like dress underneath. But the queen had escaped any harm, as she flattened herself against the wall.

Her heart pounded loudly in her chest, as Alynia concentrated hard on his axe. Trying to get rid of his weapon first, she turned the axe into sand that slipped between the creature's fingers onto the floor.

Alynia suddenly realized she was at a large disadvantage with sight. Even with the flame as strong as she could make it without wasting magic, she could only see a few feet in front of her. She needed to end this quickly. With her free hand, she made a motion of flinging her palm to he ceiling and golden chains sprouted like vines from the ground, tangling themselves tightly around the muscular beast. She then sent balls of fire, one after another, hurling toward the trapped Minotaur, hoping for a direct hit.

The Minotaur threaded the cloak off of the Queen with a muscular hand though he had missed his mark as she recoiled back against the wall, outlined in that green pale light as a frustrated snort was issued out and the cloak in his hand was discarded.

The Queen had assumed right, Medusa was nearby though shouldn't factor into matters at all, not that he needed her help though a quizzical look crossed his frustrated features as his weapon turned to sand slipping through his fingers.

Alteration magic was difficult but the Queen had shown a knack for it as the creation of materials had been in the realm of Alterations. Summoning had been easier and yet the Queen found it far more difficult, she was an anomaly here though everyone learned material at a different rate. One in her realm could learn Physics but struggle at English for instance and while most struggled with advanced Alterations the Queen had learned them easier than most.

The golden chains may have seemed to be a Conjuration effect but had actually been an Enchantment, restraining the mind through restraint of the body and while the Minotaur had been intrigued with the sand she managed to take advantage …

Flames sprung up to her hands and Evocation, though these destructive forces took her a bit more effort as she often employed the healing arts and did not so often generate the cause of such wounds. But while the Minotaur was restrained she had her best opportunity.

But the Minotaur was a Demi God, he was the illegitamate son of Zeus possessed with an unnatural strength and though the chains were chains of the mind as well it refused to be shackled, the chains shattering as a globe of flame was launched at it. It snorted in pain though able to dodge now she managed to only graze it as it came forth, eyes narrowed upon the Queen as it rushed onward content to take a shot or two in order to get his hands on such smooth skin. He was going to enjoy this.

Like father, like son, he would take her with or without her consent though he was not asking as he force her to the ground beneath him, his mouth and tongue firm against her neck, the animal-like musky scent strong within her nostrils now with him so close as he struggle first with her wrists having to strike her cheek hard enough to stun her and get both slender wrists in the grasp of his hand as he used the other to grope at a breast, squeezing the firm grasp in his hand.

He broke out of his chains with appalling ease, but he wasn't able to dodge all of her magic. The fire grazed and scorched the sides of his arms as he came pummeling back towards her. Alynia continued to toss blazing fire at the creature and mistakenly waited until last second in an attempt to swerve. The magic had hit its mark, as the beast was littered with burn marks that it seemed to be able to ignore, but the large muscular arm reaching toward her was also successful.

A mammoth hand grabbed her arm throwing her hard onto the dirty floor, and he was immediately upon her. She twisted and struggled beneath his weight as that horrible scent was reintroduced to her. Alynia cried out in pain as she was struck on her cheek. A walloping hit left her head ringing giving the creature the opportunity to take hold of her small wrists.

The side of her cheek stung, but that did not stop her from trashing, especially as the Minotaurs free hand went to her soft hills. It gripped and squeezed with no gentleness nor mercy over her dress knocking the breath out of the poor girl. She gritted her teeth in pain as the brute played with her sensitive breast.

Her head turned to the side, trying in vain to distance herself for the bull's head tasting her nape in a frenzy. Perhaps this was how Alynia regained the upper hand, the beast was far too distracted by her nubile flesh and was taken by surprise.

With the will of her mind and the adrenaline coursing through her, Alynia cast a immense gust of wind that knocked the beast off of her, slamming him into a wall of the maze. She quickly stood up, still a bit winded, her cheeks and wrists hurt from his treatment. Clearly she wasnt going to stay to face such a monster, though it was still a long shot to evade him, Alynia ran. She took off sprinting into the darkness.

Barely able to see, Alynia shot balls of fire behind her at a complete random. This fire illuminated her path as she was able to avoid colliding head first with the walls. Doing everything she could to deter him, she conjured up boulders and sinkholes, trying to get him to slip up. Occasionally she sent a sheet of ice behind her, hoping to cause the beast to slip and fall.

She was running as fast as she could, but the Minotaur was a creature of pure muscle. For how long could she evade him? She didn't even know where she was going.

The Minotaur was lifted and slammed back into the wall with enough force that it stole the wind from his lungs allowing the Queen to get free. She ran into the darkness as he tried to catch his breath and as she got a good distance away she could here the frustrated bellow that he emitted from his powerful lungs.

Perhaps he had assumed that this was going to be a quick conquest. If so he had been sorely mistaken as areas along his arms and chest had been blistered from the intense flame that was still effective against him though not as it would be against a man, his pain threshold was just a little higher than most.

The random shots into the dark had not helped as the globes of fire had been left behind, a glow that she could see for a bit until she had made enough twists and turns.

The ice was more annoying and had him abandon the straight forward path as he used to secret passages. He knew the maze well and knew what she was heading towards though it did not seem that she had any sort of plan or knew where she was going, how could she …

The passage up ahead came out of the maze … well it seemed that it was out of the maze! It was dark but she was on a beach, waves gently lapping at the sore. No, she was still in the maze, some sort of beach that was contained in it though how large or small it was had been due to her only being limited by her light source.

Currently the Minotaur did not seem to be following her or perhaps he was using stealth to sneak up on her.

From what she could see their was a pier and a house on silts above the water, though there was a wall either side of her that stretched on into the darkness.

It was still here, even the waves made no sound and there was a buzzing sound in her ears now given how quiet it was.

She was out of breath when her eyes first saw the sign of light. Confused and very winded, Alynia ran for it. The sudden brightness blinded her briefly, but when her eyes adjusted she was even more lost to see that she was outside. She realized it wasn't even day, it was the middle of the night, and she was standing in the midst of an empty shore.

The air felt cool and fresh. She shivered as the large gash in her cloak made it practically useless to her. Disposing of the cloak, the girl revealed once again her short toga like dress that Oberron would have delighted to see her in. Tight in the bust, short skirt, it truthfully didn't seem like proper attire for a trip through the labyrinth. Creating a new outfit wouldn't have been difficult, but Alynia didn't want to wast any magic.

Quickly, Alynia's head snapped back and forth searching for signs of be Minotaur... But the beast was no where to be found. The unscathed girl let out a tired laugh of pure relief. She had escaped for now, but of course the possibility that the creature could be lurking in wait haunted her.

Alynia allowed herself to relax a bit as she took in the relaxing landscape. She noticed a house sitting not too far off shore. And because she was very keen not to turnaround and return to the pitch black she walked steadily toward the structure.

Reaching into her satchel she pulled of the jeweled dagger she had conjured up before. She was interested as to who or what could be inside, and of course it was better to be safe than sorry.

The pier was rickety and old, but Alynia crossed it with good caution and made it across without much of a scare. How dreadful and cold it would have been to fall into the inky waters below.

Coming up to the house, Alynia tried to turn the knob only to find it was locked. She felt silly doing so, and perhaps foolish, but the girl rapped her knuckles on the door a few time, then listened closely for any signs of activity occurring inside

She could hear her footfalls on the pier as she walked down the wooden blank. For now at least she had not been pursued by the Minotaur though that could be either good or bad. If it did not follow there could be a danger here. But there was a chance too that this danger was only against the creature.

The water was cold and uninviting. Dark and inky it seemed to be as lonely as the River Styx though at one point she heard a splash but say nothing. It did not sound as if something fell or jumped in but more akin to someone dipping beneath the waves.

Finding the door before her locked though the house sat slightly above the pier on slits with stairs leading to it.

Another splash this one louder than the first emitted beneath the house and sounded more like someone diving or falling in though she knocked the heard movement from within coming closer.

A dead bolt was unfastened from within and a short bald man with large saucer shaped eyes and pale clammy skin opened the door. His attire was starkly different than the normal togas that she had seen and he seemed to be attired as a fisherman.

He reeked of the sea and fish though his eyes cascaded over her, not in a sexual manner but more of a surprised one she thought though as he concluded he grinned a little.

“Who are you?” He asked though he did not move aside. Those eyes did not blink and reminded her of a fish as they looked on her own and waited. Obviously he had not had many visitors though Alynia could see an ankh on the wall straight across from the door.

An ankh … Egyptian? Certainly the man did not appear Egyptian though.

Alynia stared at the middle-aged man before her with curious eyes. He seemed as if he were a fisherman. He watched over her with a knowing smile... It was difficult to comprehend what he was thinking. In her hand she still clutched the jeweled dagger, but she did not brandish it, not wanting to wrongfully threaten him... Yet it was still there, a small reminder that she was dangerous.

"My name is Alynia." She offered. It seemed she introduced herself to a lot of new people over the past few days. "I am searching for Medusa and I've barely escaped the Minotaur."

There was evidence her story was true. Her ripped and disheveled clothes indicated at least this much. Just enough was gone to show enough skin to strike a man's interest, but enough remained for modesty's sake.

The girl glanced over the man's shoulder to peer at the Egyptian symbol behind him. The sight only increased her confusion on this man's character.

She felt cautious, especially after her brief encounter with the beast who guarded the maze. Why had it not chased her to the beach? It was a good thing too... She was tired.. Expending so much magic in such a short amount of time was toiling on her endurance.

Was it possible she had escaped one danger into the hands of another? Someone even the mighty Minotaur himself avoided? She wanted to know who this man was, and what he was doing living in the labyrinth.

"If you don't mind... I would like the pose you the same question."

He had barely looked at her … not that she had been conceited or anything but one expected at least a stolen look so he struck her as uninterested or gay perhaps, such a state of being was open in the ancient society, at least back on her Shadow.

There were other matters too that didn't seem right such as the Minotaur not pursuing her, the Ankh and the fact that he was in this labyrinth too. His eyes were creepy too and did not blink and he barely regarded the threat of the dagger too.

“The Minotaur will not come here, Alynia. He fears the water. I doubt you could pronounce my name so I will simplify it. You may call me Da. Please come in.”

Inside was a small living room with a single table and chair. A stew had been shimmering in a cauldron over an open flame.

“Hungry?” Whether she was or not he gestured her to take a seat and rest.

“You search for Medusa. She is near though you have to best the Minotaur. Regardless of how quickly you move through the maze he can move through it quicker. There is that, waiting for the figments and using them or …” he paused then looked towards her.

“What do you have in trade? Trade for the secret to bypass the Minotaur and get straight to Medusa from here?”

"Trade?" Alynia repeated rather confused... What was this man thinking? She was in possession of practically nothing on her save the clothes on her back. She felt uncomfortable in the presence of the fisherman. His unblinking eyes were, unable to put it in more delicate terms, creepy.

She sat down at the small table on invitation, placing the dagger in front of her in plain sight. He didn't at all seem phased by the weapon. This worried the girl, it seemed he was hiding something.

She turned down the food politely, not that she wasn't hungry but because of the stories she heard about food in the underworld. Persephone's predicament was far too real, and Alynia was far too cautious to end up in the same situation as her.


Though Alynia was keen to escape this confining room as soon as was acceptable, the man had offered up information that would be beyond invaluable to her. She had no intention of wandering the labyrinth for the rest of her life as many unfortunate souls end up doing.

"I would have a better idea what to offer if you supplied a hint as to what you want." Alynia responded with a slight challenge in her tone.

She didn't have much on her, but she was after all versed in magic. If the man wanted anything material, it wouldn't take all too much effort to conjure it, provided she rested for a moment or a few.

She declined the food though he nodded slightly and seemed just as unconcerned with that as he had been about the dagger. There seemed to be something off about him, an uneasiness that she felt. The disregard in the dangers that the dagger present, the way he did not blink, her tone near challenging as she asked what he wanted.

She did not have much after all and while he may have said her body or something as lewd as that he did not. Unblinking eyes settled on her brown ones for less than a moment as Da seemed to think the matter over.

He could surmise of course. She had a weapon at least and made it this far although she wasn't near the center of the labyrinth she was close to finding an easy path if she thought outside of the box.

Was he in possession of Psi magic? His neck words indicated that perhaps he was …

“Flowers would brighten up this place a bit, don't you think?” He sported a grin at her then moved to a shelf getting out an unlabeled bottle of wine. He uncorked it and poured himself a drink before setting the bottle on the table … it was not wine but water. He drank as they spoke lifting the bottle towards her in silent offer though he assumed she would decline it as well.

It began to click, he may not be mindless like the shades in the underworld she had read and heard about. If he knew the path then he had memories of one. The Minotaur seemed to remember his maze but the Minotaur was a Demi God, Zeus' son …

The labyrinth was set in the Fields of Despair … he was being punished? Or did he escape here but unable to escape Hades? Why the flower? Why the want of it? These questions seemed to click within her mind just then.

Alynia wasn't sure what words would come from her next. There was only one flower in the room, in fact the only flower that wouldn't simply wither and die in the underworld. She could probably generate as many roses as would please the stranger, but she had little hope of their longevity.

How did he know? Without the flower how was she to return? He wanted her escape route, but for what reason? It came to her it might be possible for him to escape the labyrinth if this magical rose was in his possession.

She was thoughtful for a moment before reaching into her bag for the requested item. Teasingly, she rolled the stem between her fingers and brought the sweet scent to her nose.

"Would something like this interest you?"

The flower was the brightest color in the room, redder than blood in contrast to the drab background.

Alynia had made up her mind, there was no point in having an escape if she couldn't even arrive at her goal first. But still, she was cautious.

"But I have nothing besides your word that would prompt me to believe you'll send me in the right direction."

A cold wave of dread flushed through her as she imagined being eternally trapped in the labyrinth, not at all a place for a mortal. It was even worse imagining what would happen to her if the Minotaur found her again.

"How do I know you don't mean to send me to the beast's lair?"

She questioned thinking of the strange dream or vision of some sort she had of the red-haired satyr. Her knees pressed together embarrassingly at the memory.

His eyes seemed focused on the rose as soon as it was in view. Those unblinking eyes seemed to focus on the object that she was so cautious about and it was obvious to her that he had been very interested in. Despite this he had made no immediate move to possess it or take it from her. Perhaps he understood that if she had wished to use it then he could be left with nothing if she gave up whatever quest she had for getting to Medusa.

“Yes, I believe we can work something out.” He drank slowly from his goblet of water, the label less bottle resting on the table before him.

“In the route you need to take you will be comforted by the fact that it is not a way by which the Minotaur may follow but you ultimately have no guarantee that it is sound information and have to make that call for yourself.

“I will tell you that you are on the borders of the Minotaur's territory. He will not come here so if you desire to consider it for the night so be it. The path will lead you to the heart of the labyrinth where Medusa resides. It will by pass the Minotaur and while I do not know what business you have with her I am guessing there is a small window there you can take advantage of. I do not know tour aims.

“So it comes down to simple belief in whether or not you think I would cheat you in a fashion. But I will sweeten the pot so to speak. Give me that rose, now that I know it is the real thing then I will tell you a means out of here too though it is a bit treacherous.”

She clearly had his attention, his unblinking eyes had not left the flower as he spoke. Alynia was suspicious, but clearly weighing her options. She did not like this Da, he made her feel uncomfortable, but that didn't mean that he was a liar. Perhaps it was her trusting nature that got the better of her as she slowly nodded.

"Very well, I have no intention of staying the night." the girl began meaning not to be rude. Alynia had no intention to delay. There was work to be done before she could return home, and of course she was most keen to escape the underworld. "But I will consent to those terms." She spoke slowly her eyes watching his expression as if still trying to find a hint of deceit.

"It's a peculiar thing you ask for, a simple flower. I can't help but think there's more complicated reason behind it."

Rather unwilling to do so, but true to her word, Alynia extended the flower for him to take. "Now uphold your side of the bargain, so I may be on my way."

Even though he had not shown much interest in her sexually there had been the desire to get away from his creepiness as she made mention of not staying the night. He did not take this as an insult as he seemed to be viewing this more as a business transaction.

In a way he was far worse then the Minotaur and had landed himself her because he had backed the wrong horse in a race so very long ago. Da was quite ancient, far older than he appeared and while he had little interest in the girl seated before him there had been interest in that flower.

Now he had it and for a second he had pondered following through with their arrangement. It was of little consequence to him of course.

He smiled, sniffing the rose before placing it aside. He was eager to use it but not eager enough not to think out all the steps he would employ along the way.

“You could continue on through the maze and deal with the Minotaur. Eventually you may find the way if you are not killed first in the process. Their are traps the closer you get to the center the more traps you come across.

“But you cannot pass through the stone walls nor are you capable of flying over this one but you can go under … no confusing tunnels. There are some choices to be made and with the right ones you are lead to a pool that emerges at the center of the labyrinth at Medusa herself … the only trick is being able to breath water.

“As a mortal creature there is a means out of the Underworld. It is guarded so that I cannot escape via that way. There are certain safeguards in place so I am unsure how the guards will take to you. “ He gestured to the bottles of water he had shelved.

“Of course I have the means of breathing under water for great periods of time. A bottle for a story? It does not even have to be a real one, it can be made up. I've been hear for a while after all.”