Kyros' Secret (Greek Myth Series Book 1) (19 page)

“Wench, bring me ale. Lots of it,” he bellowed and sat at the fire and pulled Thera onto his lap. Thera knew he’d already drunk too much at their wedding and couldn’t believe he was still sober enough to down more. “I don’t like having my wedding ruined like this.” The buxom wench came with a pitcher of ale and also a tankard on a tray. He grabbed the pitcher and bringing it to his mouth, chugged half of it. “Bring me another pitcher,” he ordered.

“Yes, my lord,” the wench curtseyed and gave a full view of her nearly naked breasts that were trussed up much like Thera’s.

“Wait! Come here,” he ordered and the wench did so. He grabbed a hold of the bodice of her dress and pulled her into his face. He buried his head in her cleavage and ran his tongue up her chest. The wench giggled. “I’ll expect you in my chambers later. Right after I’ve had enough of my wife.”

“Aye, my lord. Anything you say.” She then hurried off to get more ale.

Thera’s stomach turned in disgust. She was glad it was the wench he was tasting instead of herself, but she knew it was only a matter of time before he brought her back up to bed and had his fill of her. And Kyros wouldn’t be there to save her this time. And neither would the weaver, as she would probably spend the rest of the night making her way to the centaur’s village - if she ever got there at all.

“So who’s this ally who helped you, Thera?”

She jumped a little at his words and hoped she wasn’t thinking too loud. She tried to get up off his lap but he pulled her back down.

“Oh, never mind,” he said. “It doesn’t matter, since you told me where to find the sword. Now I’ll have it back by the morrow and just in time to be king.”

Thera’s gut twisted at the thought. She knew it would be so, unless she could do something to help Kyros.

“So, where is this labyrinth you spoke of?” she asked.

He raised the pitcher and chugged the rest of the contents. “Slick little thing you are, trying to find out so you can go and help Kyros.”

“I’m just trying to make conversation,” she tried to convince him.

“Well, then I can tell you that I had Daedalus the inventor make the labyrinth for me. He’s sworn to secrecy with his life of the way out of the maze. I, and only I, know the way out. And to make the story even sweeter, I house my new pet there.”

“Demogorgan?” she asked, repeating the name she’d heard earlier.

He chuckled and accepted the new pitcher of ale the wench brought him. He then slapped the woman on her rump before bringing his attention back to Thera.

“Aye. Demogorgan is the offspring of Hades’ pet Cerberus.”

“The three-headed monster-dog that guards the gates of Tartarus?” she asked.

“Oh, so you’ve heard of it.”

“I have. Uncle Hades loves that wretched thing almost as much as Ares loved his raven.”

“It is our wedding present from him,” he told her, his eyes half closing as he spoke. “He gave it to me as soon as he heard Ares gave me your hand in marriage.”

“What a thoughtful gift,” she murmured and held the pitcher to his lips for him to drink more. She could see he was highly intoxicated and about ready to pass out. Still, she needed more information before he did.

“So, what does Demogorgan eat?” She’d already figured this out, but had to keep him talking.

“He eats one human a day. But tonight is special. Tonight I’ve sent him two, since it’s my wedding night.”

“And does he like his new surroundings?”

“He does. The underground surroundings are nice and dark just like Tartarus, so it’s almost like home to him.”

Great, she thought. Now, at least she knew where to find the labyrinth. It was somewhere in the bowels of the castle. It had to be somewhere close to the dungeon. She thought of poor Kyros and the fate that would befall him if she didn’t do something to help him escape. She jumped off of Pittheus’ lap, knowing what she had to do next.

“I’m going to bed,” she announced.

The look of surprise on Pittheus’ face was amusing. “Let’s go,” he said and got to his feet. Thera watched the pitcher waver in his hand and then crash to the ground. Pittheus followed it as he collapsed into a drunken slumber. Thera looked around, but no one seemed to pay much attention to her. The serving wench walked up with another pitcher of ale.

“Will he be needing this, my queen?”

“Oh, yes, I do believe so.” She grabbed the pitcher and emptied the contents onto his head. He snored and didn’t move. “I think that will be all for now.” She replaced the pitcher on the tray and wiped her hands in her wedding dress. “I’ll be going to our bedchamber now and I don’t want anyone bothering me for the rest of the night.”

“As you wish, my lady.” The serving wench curtseyed and Thera took off at a fast pace for the stairs. She knew exactly what she had to do now, and with a new-found strength she knew she’d have half a chance of carrying it through.

Twenty-seven

Kyros was led blindfolded into the middle of the labyrinth. Ercole nervously led him there, taking most of the night to find the right way.

“Here we are,” he snarled and removed Kyros’ blindfold. He took the rope that bound his hands and tied it to a metal post that stood dead center in the room.

Kyros looked around his surroundings. It was dark except for the torch that Ercole held in his hand. Shadows shuddered off the stone walls of the maze and he could hear a low sort of growling getting louder and louder.

“It’s Demogorgan.” Ercole whispered this time. “I forgot. He can’t see or smell worth a damn but he’s got ears sharper than my sword. He must have heard us coming. I’m getting out of here.”

“Wait!” Kyros whispered back. “Take me with you. I’ll help you and we can both escape Pittheus and his plans for us.”

The growl got louder and now they could hear the beast’s footsteps as it came closer. Ercole took the torch and shone it around the cubicle, his eyes wide with fright and his breathing labored.

The beast came closer and Kyros could even smell it now. He glimpsed its rugged fur as it passed by them in an adjoining corridor.

“No!” screamed the guard. “No!”

“Shh,” whispered Kyros. “You’re telling him right where we are.”

The beast turned its head toward them, saliva dripping out of its mouth, its breath foul and revolting. Its head was huge, but then so were its teeth - all three rows of them. The two bottom rows overlapped and sharp incisors stuck out from the sides of its mouth. It had small, beady eyes that glowed a strange shade of orange-yellow, and tall, pointy ears that were three times too big for its body.

Smoke came out of its nose every time it took a breath. Its arms were small, but it had many, and each had talon-like claws that looked sharper than his own sword. It was a disgusting creature, and the stench from its body was wretched as well. Kyros’ tail swished nervously and he willed it to stop before the beast heard him with those keen ears.

The guard dropped the torch and backed into the wall, screaming even louder as he did so. Demogorgan approached Ercole, a claw-like paw outstretched and grabbed him, bringing him closer to inspect him. Kyros squinted and turned his head as the beast devoured the screaming guard whole. His stomach lurched and his body shook. He felt so helpless to save the man from the beast. So helpless indeed.

Kyros was alone now with this monster and knew he’d be consumed next. And he could do nothing at all to escape it. Nothing to defend himself from his attacker. The beast turned its head as if to look at Kyros and then cocked it as if listening.

Kyros held his breath and prayed his tail wouldn’t swish. The thing obviously didn’t see him or smell him but was trying to hear if someone else was there.

Satisfied that the guard must have been alone, Demogorgan lay down on the floor and closed its eyes. Kyros figured it had a full belly and would sleep for now. But when it awoke it would be hungry again, and he was sure to be its next meal.

Kyros had to work fast. He was standing in the same room of a beast that would consume him if he couldn’t get away first. He knew morning was going to be there soon and he also knew he’d have to wait until he was in human form before he tried to do anything. If he tried to sneak around now, his hooves would echo off the cobblestone and give his presence away. No, he’d just have to wait until he transformed and then sneak away on bare feet.

Kyros tried to breathe quietly and realized his own fear had him panting. He knew he would have to sleep in order to stay as quiet as possible and to keep his tail from swishing. He’d just close his eyes for awhile until his transformation took place. And by the gods, he hoped he had the strength not to scream with the pain it would cause him.

Thera made her way up to the bedchamber, thankful that the guards were no longer in the corridor as she entered. She remembered the old weaver’s words and rushed over to the tapestry hanging on the wall. Sure enough, the golden bow and arrows were hanging on the wall hidden behind it.

She had no idea how the old weaver knew where to find it, but was thankful to be holding a weapon once again in her hands. She liked the way it felt in her hands. Power. Strength. Confidence. She almost understood for a split second how her father must feel when he started up a war.

She shook the thought from her head and strapped the quiver of arrows beneath her shawl on her back. She then held the bow flat against her, with her huge stomach sticking out in between the wood and the bowstring.

“This’ll never do. How am I ever going to hide this bow?”

She looked around the room and found a cloak hanging by a nail from the wall. It was an ornate type of cloak, dark blue with intricate designs woven through it in gold. It was majestic, and somehow she knew it wasn’t Pittheus’.

She threw the cloak around her and pulled the hood up over her head. This would be a little better in trying to hide the bow and arrows. And hopefully most of the castle’s occupants would be sleeping about now as it was well into the night. She had her hand on the door handle when another pain wracked her body. The baby was feeling heavier and heavier; her own body ached and was in need of some sleep. She gritted her teeth and breathed her way through the pain. It was more intense now and she knew the baby would be born at any time.

She wished for someone to go through this with her. She wished for the old weaver by her side, and Kyros there to guide her. Unfortunately she had neither of them. But by morning she would have Pittheus trying to mount her even though she was in the midst of giving birth. This may be her last chance to save Kyros. And if it were the last thing she did before she died, she would see to it.

She pushed the thought from her mind, bit back the nausea that threatened to overtake her, and headed out the door to find the labyrinth. She put her hand on her stomach to calm the baby.

“Don’t worry, baby,” she whispered. “I’ll get you to your father before I die.”

It took Thera longer to find the labyrinth than she’d hoped. By the time she’d managed to sneak past all the guards, and then by the time she found her way through the dark dungeon, she was sure it must have been almost morning. She wondered if the old weaver made it safely with the sword to Chiron. And she prayed Kyros was in the labyrinth still alive.

She reached the entrance to the labyrinth and thanked the gods that the guard sitting watch at the door was sound asleep. She tip-toed past him, holding the bow awkwardly in front of her and trying not to trip on the long cloak that pooled around her feet.

She opened the wooden door to the labyrinth slowly, hearing the creak louder than it probably really was, and hoping the guard hadn’t heard it as well. She held her breath and looked back at him, thankful to see his head still resting against his chest and to hear his loud snoring.

She slipped inside and closed the door behind her. It was dark inside the labyrinth. Very dark. There were no torches lit anywhere and she now wondered if she should have grabbed the one off the wall by the guard. But if he awakened, he’d notice the torch was gone and she’d give herself away. Plus, she couldn’t risk opening the creaky door again to go back and get it.

Instead, she took a deep breath and tried to calm herself. Her keen senses smelled some sort of wild beast, mixed with the scant scent of centaur and the strong scent of fear. Not only her own fear, or Kyros’ fear, but the fear of another. The fear that somehow seemed strong, but muffled. Like perhaps the fear of a dead man inside the belly of Demogorgan.

She shivered in the cold room and hoped – prayed - it wasn’t Kyros who’d been eaten. She hoped she wasn’t too late to save him, and that she could somehow find him before the beast did.

She took a few steps into the labyrinth, feeling her way along the cold, stone walls. Then the thought struck her, that even if she did find Kyros alive and manage to help him escape the beast, they’d probably never find their way back out of the maze.

She needed something that would lead her back to the entrance. She needed to drop bread crumbs or something to leave a trail. It was then that the old weaver’s words came to her mind. She’d said Thera would need to use the shawl. She also said, by pulling on the loose string, the whole shawl would unravel.

She felt underneath her cloak for the shawl. Holding the bow under her arm, she grabbed the loose string and pulled. Sure enough, the thing unraveled, leaving her with a long lead. This would work. This would be how she’d find their way back out of the labyrinth. She tied the end to the door latch.

Thera unraveled the shawl as she walked, letting the string fall to the floor to hopefully guide her way back to the entrance. She had no idea where she was going, but used her senses to guide her way. Although she couldn’t see much, her eyes eventually became accustomed to the dark. And her eyesight was ten fold of any human’s since Zeus let her keep her power of the senses. She could make out the outline of the walls, and also she could hear the sound of the beast snoring.

She followed her ears, not to mention the strong smell that was coming from the right corridor. Unraveling the string as she made her way into the depths of the labyrinth, she couldn’t help but wonder what she’d do if Kyros was indeed already dead. She couldn’t live with Pittheus the rest of her mortal days. She wouldn’t. Kyros had to be alive. This all just had to somehow work out, though she had no idea of how it would.

The baby kicked within her and she stopped in her tracks. Something was different with this pain. The weight of the child had shifted lower and she felt a surge of liquid beneath her robe. She remembered the time she’d gone with Persephone to witness the birth of a human baby. She remembered that the mother felt this way just before she delivered. The pain intensified and Thera did all she could to keep from crying out.

Why did this have to be happening now? She didn’t have time for the birth of a baby just yet. She had to get to Kyros first. This would just have to wait. She pressed on, though the pain was becoming more and more severe with each step she took. She had no idea how much longer she’d be able to stay on her feet. And she could only hope she’d find the center of the labyrinth and Kyros before she fell to the ground helpless to birth their child.

“Kyros,” she closed her eyes and whispered. “Kyros, please be alive. Please.”

Kyros awoke from a deep sleep by a dream of Thera calling for him. She was about to birth their baby and she wanted him by her side. He shook his head and looked around, suddenly remembering exactly where he was and what was about to happen. He was still in centaur form and still had his hands tied together, and the rope was tied to a pole in the center of the room.

Demogorgan lay sleeping a short distance from him, and he couldn’t help but hear in his mind the awful cries of the guard as he was devoured. Kyros knew he could wait no longer to try to escape. He’d just have to risk the beast hearing him. He had to get to Thera. He was sure she needed him.

He moved his hooves as silently as possible toward the pole that kept him prisoner. He carefully used his fingers to untie the rope that held him there. He looked over his shoulder and was thankful the beast still hadn’t heard him. He then spotted the torch on the ground, somehow still burning from the night before. Only it was a bit too close to the mouth of the beast. Still, he knew he needed to use it to get the ropes off his wrists. With his hands tied together he’d never even have a chance of fighting off the beast.

He took a step and his tail swished in anticipation. The beast stirred. Kyros stopped in his tracks and held his breath. When the thing rolled over and went back to sleep, he continued. He made it to the torch and held the ropes above the flame. The burning rope made an odor and he was glad the beast didn’t have a good sense of smell. He gritted his teeth at the pain that burned at the edges of his wrists.

When the ropes were burned away enough for Kyros to work them, he pulled his wrists from the fire before they were burned further. He was wiggling out of his bondage when he heard a noise from the corridor. Then he saw her. Thera was standing there, doubled over, looking scared and in more pain than he’d ever seen her in before. Her hand was on her belly and she looked as if she were ready to pass out.

“Kyros, help me.” She reached out her hand to him. Kyros put his finger to his mouth to silence her, but it was too late. Demogorgan had heard her as well. The beast opened its eyes, seeing Thera and got to its feet.

She first noticed it and screamed a blood curling scream, much like the one the guard had given just before he was eaten.

“Thera, get out of here!” Kyros threw the ropes from his wrists, just as the beast heard him and turned to find the second person in its lair. Kyros picked up the burning torch and held it out as the beast reached for him. Thera screamed when she saw what was happening.

The beast turned back to her, and Kyros realized if he were to save Thera, he’d have to get the beast’s attention off of her.

“Thera, be quiet. The beast is attracted to sound.”

Demogorgan growled, and when it did, fire sprang from its lips. Kyros side-stepped it barely, and horse kicked the beast as it tried to get him. He galloped over to Thera and ordered her to get on his back.