10

Draco took a deep breath and followed them through the door. It was very dark, even though the hall was lined with lit torches. The air held a stench of blood and dirty animals, and he had to will himself not to vomit.

"Hurry up, Perion!" Icarus said, waiting for him at the bottom of a huge flight of stairs.

They all looked up as an old man came running frantically down the stone steps. "Where have you been? The King is getting impatient!" He reached out for Icarus and shook him by the arm. "You must hurry!"

Icarus sighed and motioned toward Draco and Hermione. "This is Arria and Perion. They are here on the orders of King Kokalos."

The man turned his watery brown eyes on the two strangers. "King Kokalos?" He let go of Icarus and bowed. "King Minos will be very pleased! It has been many years since we last had contact with your King!" He stood up and addressed Draco. "Were you sent to witness the Tribute?"

Draco cleared his throat and said in a haughty tone, "No. We are here to negotiate."

The old man looked at him strangely. "Negotiate? Negotiate what?"

"Our King wishes to put an end to this terrible Tribute, and he is willing to negotiate for the lives of the children who are to be sacrificed." Draco glanced at Hermione, who was impressed despite her current hatred for him. "He wishes for our countries to once again be friendly toward one another, but in order for this to happen, he must kill the Minotaur, release the children and promise never again to incur the wrath of Poseidon!"

Icarus laughed out loud at the man's shocked face. He slapped him on the back, making him lose his balance and almost to almost fall over. "Perion, this is my father, Daedalus."

Draco and Hermione stared at the old man in wonder. This was a man who was famous in mythology, renowned for his intelligence and great inventions. They were looking at a living legend!

"It is a pleasure to meet you," Hermione said.

Draco took the man's hand and shook it. "So, you are the great Daedalus!"

"You have heard of me?" the old man asked.

"Of course! Who hasn't heard of you?" Icarus said. "You are the builder of the cursed cow in which the Queen hid herself, so that she could mate with the sacred white bull. You are the reason she conceived the Minotaur, and you are also the reason that helpless innocent children are slaughtered and eaten!"

"But, son!" Daedalus cried. "I had no choice!"

Icarus glared at the man in hatred. "Don't say you had no choice! You could have told her no!" He was screaming at the poor man, who was cowering up against the wall.

"But she was the Queen! I could not refuse! Every moment of the day, I regret what I did!"

Draco interrupted. "Did you say eaten? The children are eaten?"

Daedalus and his son stopped arguing and looked at him.

Phaedra pulled Icarus away from his father and spoke to Draco in a calm but hard voice. "Yes, eaten. The children are brutally slaughtered by the beast, and then they're chopped up, cooked and fed to the bulls."

Hermione wanted to scream in disgust. "That is... that is... We have to stop this!"

"That is the plan," Ariadne said, walking toward them with a very handsome, muscular man, who was wiping the blood from his hands. "Are you willing to help us?" she asked Draco and Hermione.

"You cannot stop this thing!" Daedalus said. "It is the wish of the gods that this takes place!"

"Are you going to tell on us, dear father?" Icarus asked. He smiled maliciously at the old man, hatred evident on his face.

Daedalus loved his son with all his heart. It was a shame that this Tribute had come between them and had caused their once close relationship to crumble. If helping him rid the world of a monstrous beast was what it was going to take to get his son back, then he would most certainly do his part. "No, son, I will not tell. I will help you any way that I can!"

"We will meet in secret, tonight, in the olive grove," Theseus said. "We will devise a plan to bring about the destruction of this monster!" He slammed his fist into the stone wall angrily. His knuckles were bleeding, but he didn't seem to notice.

Hermione and Draco were quite taken aback by this hero's outburst and drew closer together. Phaedra just rolled her eyes, and Icarus just about peed in his pants, he was so excited.

"My lady!" a woman shouted from down the corridor. "They are just about to start the bull dancing!" She ran up to Phaedra and ushered her forward. "You still need to get ready!"

"Get ready for what?" Draco asked, puzzled. "Where is she going?" He watched Phaedra hurry down the corridor, disappearing through a door.

"Why, didn't she tell you?" Icarus questioned him. "She is a bull dancer. Perhaps the best in all the land. The King is very proud of her." Apparently he was proud of her as well, even though he tried hard to hide it.

They all heard very loud cheering, and then all was quiet. Ariadne motioned for all of them to ascend the stairs. "Quickly!" she said. "The King is waiting!"

Draco looked at Hermione and shrugged his shoulders. "Shall we?"

"I guess..." She was a little frightened by the thought of meeting King Minos. "I'm interested to see exactly what a bull dancer does."

They followed Ariadne and came out onto a balcony. The sun was very bright, and for a moment they were all blinded. The King greeted them and told them to be seated. The event was about to start, and apparently he didn't have time to be bothered with introductions.

"Holy fucking shit!" Draco said under his breath.

"What?" Hermione asked, alarmed. "What is it?"

Draco pointed out into the arena where a gigantic bull was standing, snorting and looking murderous. Phaedra and another man came tumbling out of the door, doing flips and smiling at the crowd. She was wearing some sort of red one-piece outfit that hugged her every curve. It shimmered in the sunlight and made her look like she was on fire. The man was very slim and tall, but muscular. He wore his curly black hair tied in a red ribbon and was bare from the chest up.

The crowd roared with excitement, and the King was standing to get a better view. He was of medium height, had long, wispy, grey hair and blue eyes like his daughter, Ariadne. He was robed regally and had numerous rings on his long, thin fingers. "Isn't she beautiful?" he queried. "She has the grace of her mother!"

Phaedra stopped tumbling, and the crowd became very quiet in anticipation. The man that was with her slowly and calmly walked up behind the bull, which was totally focused on Phaedra and didn't notice that it was being stalked. He reached out and smacked it hard on the ass, making it jump and run toward her at full speed.

"Oh my god!" Hermione said, covering her face.

Draco's heart was pounding in his chest as he watched the massive animal charge toward her. She was standing very still, her eyes narrowed. He gasped out loud with the rest of the crowd when she grasped the bull by its horns, swung herself over its head, did a flip and landed on her feet behind it.

"That was bloody awesome!" he said in awe.

"What happened? What did I miss?" Hermione asked, uncovering her face and looking around. "Oh my god! What is she doing? She's going to get killed! I can't look!"

"Would you just watch?" he snapped, annoyed. "It's amazing!"

Hermione watched as the male bull dancer picked Phaedra up and lifted her onto his shoulders where she stood with perfect balance. The bull turned around and charged. It was snorting and foaming at the mouth in anger. A moment before the animal reached them, the man tossed Phaedra into the air, where she did three somersaults and landed on the back of the bull... on her feet. The other bull dancer cartwheeled out of the way as she rode the huge beast around the arena.

The spectators were on their feet, screaming and cheering. The bull altered its course and ran for the other dancer full speed. He turned around backwards and waited for it to be almost upon him. Suddenly, he did a back flip, his feet pushing off of the bull's head. He landed in a standing position in front of Phaedra. They smiled at one another and then both flipped off its back in opposite directions. They then bowed to the amazed crowd. The bull kept on running until a handler came out, calmed it down and led it back through the door to the bull pen. It was confused and exhausted.

"That was fucking hot!" Draco said, watching Phaedra's ass as she exited the arena. He was getting a raging hard-on just thinking about what she looked like under that skin-tight outfit.

Hermione saw Icarus notice where Draco was looking, and he turned bright red with fury and stepped over to converse with the King. She slapped Draco in the arm. "Wipe the drool from your chin. You look like a simpleton!"

"You're just jealous that your body looks no where near as fine as hers!"

"It does too!" she said. "You know it does!"

He raised his eyebrow in a mocking manner. "How would I know? I've only seen parts of your naked body, never the whole thing at once, have I?" He brushed his fingertips over her bare arm. "Perhaps later, you could prove to me that you look as good as she does."

Hermione pursed her lips, trying to control the urge to call him every name in the book. "Would you just shut up? We don't want King Minos to overhear us, do we?"

"What do I care if he overhears? It's not like we're stuck here for eternity." He pulled out his wand. "And besides, if he wants to start something, I'll just wave my wand and POOF! he'll become a fucking ostrich!"

"An ostrich?" Hermione said, smiling.

"Yeah, well, couldn't think of anything else..."

"May I present the Ruler of Crete, King Minos," Icarus said.

Draco and Hermione bowed and then introduced themselves.

"It is a pleasure to meet you, your majesty. I am Arria." The King took her hand and brushed his lips across it.

"It is an honour to meet such a beautiful woman. I have been told that you bring news of King Kokalos?" He turned to Draco.

"Yes, your Majesty. I am Perion, the Ambassador for the King of Sikelia. He wishes for us to discuss..."

"Not now, my boy! We have a celebration to attend! And then tonight... we will witness the Tribute!"

He smiled as Phaedra appeared, accompanied by the male bull dancer. "Ah, my dear daughter! That was your most brilliant performance yet!" He kissed both her cheeks. "And you, Akakios! You amaze me more every time I see you perform!" He embraced the youth lovingly. "Are you staying for the Tribute?"

Akakios' smile faded from his face. "I'm afraid not, your Majesty. I have pressing business in Athens." In reality, he had no such business. He just wanted to leave this cursed island as fast as possible. The whole Tribute thing was disgusting to him, and he did not wish to see innocent children locked in a maze to wander around until ripped apart by the Minotaur. "Perhaps next year I will be able to stay." He knew that if his friends succeeded, there would be no Tribute next year.

"What a shame! It will be one for the ages this year! What with this arrogant hero running through the Labyrinth, trying to be noble..." He laughed in the direction of Theseus. "I cannot wait to see him torn to pieces! Then, and only then, will my daughter finally be free from his clutches!"

Theseus started to lunge toward Minos, but was stayed by Ariadne. "Please, my dear Theseus, stay calm. Soon, he will see just how much of a noble hero you really are." She kissed his flushed cheek, making the King frown.

"Shall we give our guests a tour of the Palace?" King Minos said to Daedalus, a fake smile plastered on his face. "Come, beautiful Arria and Perion the great negotiator! Wait until you see my wonderful Palace!" He motioned all of them toward the door and all followed, except for Ariadne and Theseus.

"Are you not coming?" Phaedra asked her sister.

"No, dear sister. I wish to be alone with my love."

Phaedra smiled at her. "I hope that some day I will find a love as deep and as pure as yours."

"You have, my sister. You are just too stubborn to see it."

Phaedra laughed and then went down the steps with the rest of the party.

Akakios bid his farewell to Minos, embraced Icarus and Daedalus, and then leaned in to kiss Phaedra. "Good luck to you. May you succeed with your plan," he whispered in her ear. He bowed to Draco and Hermione. "It was a pleasure to meet you," he said and then walked outside and disappeared down the path.

"First, I will show you the bull pen. It is magnificent!" He led them through a corridor that stunk like a zoo in the heat of the summer. Hermione put her hand over her nose and mouth, and Draco curled his lip in displeasure.

"Is this what Weasley's house smells like, Granger?" he asked her. "I bet it does!"

Hermione shot him a look of pure hate and walked faster, catching up with Icarus, who gave her a dazzling smile and took her arm. She looked over her shoulder at Draco and smirked.

"I really hate that asshole!" Draco said under his breath.

"They seem to be getting rather close in such a short period of time, don't you agree?" Phaedra asked.

Draco only raised his eyebrow. He watched furiously as Icarus said something amusing, and Hermione giggled like a school girl.

"I have a proposition for you, Perion."

Draco looked down at her, extremely interested in what she had to say. "I'm listening..."

"First off, let's cut the crap. You love her, she loves you, but for some reason, neither one of you will take the first step. I don't know what your background is, but I have a feeling that in the past things between the two of you have not been very pleasant."

"You can say that again!" Draco said sarcastically. "We were enemies. We loathed and hated each other, but now we are forced to work together, and it seems that beneath all that hate, there is a tiny bit of passion that has turned to love."

Phaedra nodded her head knowingly. "It is the same with Icarus and me. Since we were children, we have had this love-hate relationship. We fight, we make up, we make love, we fight again... It is a vicious circle because neither one of us has the nerve to admit to the other our true feelings." She looked sad for a fleeting moment but smiled when she looked up at him. "It has become a game. He tries to make me jealous by sleeping with other women... and men. I try to make him jealous by sleeping with his friends. The whole reason we do this is to make the other so angry that they will admit how much they love the other."

"And how's that working for you?" Draco said with a smart ass smirk.

"Up until now, it has not worked, but this time it will be different. I can tell he is worried that you will win my heart. He has never had this look before. I think I can anger him to the point that he will profess his love for me."

Draco rolled his eyes. "Why don't you be the bigger person and just tell him that you love him?"

Phaedra grinned. "I will never tell him for the same reason you refuse to tell her. We hate to lose!"

Draco had to admit she was right. Winning was everything. If he gave in and told Hermione that he was falling in love with her, he would be weak and a loser. "So... what's your plan?"

They came to a fence and beheld about one hundred bulls wandering around the enclosure. Minos looked very proud as he talked about them. "There is no other nation with more bulls than us. We are the..."

Draco tuned him out and instead leaned on the fence next to Hermione. "He's full of bullshit, isn't he?" he said with a laugh.

"Lower your voice," she whispered. "This IS rather boring..." she stifled a yawn with the back of her hand.

"I can make it more exciting," he proposed.

"How?"

"A joke."

Hermione snorted. "A joke? Okay. Go on then... let me hear it."

"What do you call a masturbating bull?"

Hermione thought for a second. "Hmmm. I haven't the slightest idea."

"Beef strokinoff!" He laughed silently, amused at his wittiness.

"That is THE worst joke I've ever heard!" she said, smiling.

"That it is, but at least you're having fun now!"

"True!"

They made their faces look serious as Minos turned around and led them back inside. They walked for what seemed like forever, down dark corridors and numerous flights of stairs while the King babbled on and on about the gardens and his crops until they finally reached the Palace. "And now, I will show you what my good friend, Daedalus has built..." They followed him onto a terrace and he spread his arms wide. "Behold! The great Labyrinth!" A loud, inhuman roar rose up and echoed through the massive hedges.

"Holy shit!" Draco breathed.

"And that, my dear friends, was the Minotaur." The King pointed to a building in the very middle of the maze. "We keep him locked up in there until his time comes. Then he is free to stalk his victims."

"Where are the children kept?" Hermione asked angrily. "Are they chained up also?"

"They are kept in a wing of the Palace, which is called the Bull Chamber." Minos said. "They are well fed and well-taken care of." He waved his hand in annoyance. "Why worry yourselves about them? Soon, they will be dead."

Phaedra's face turned a bright shade of scarlet, and Icarus was literally shaking with anger. Draco and Hermione could not believe what a heartless bastard this man was. They looked at each other and silently vowed to stop this madness.

"Your Majesty, it is almost time for the celebration meal to be served," Daedalus said. "Should we not proceed to the Hall?"

"Ah yes! I'm in the mood for roasted meat and red wine!" he said happily. "Let us go now! I will leave it to my daughter Phaedra to show you to your rooms. You will eat with us tonight?" he asked Draco.

"Wouldn't miss it for the world!" He smiled hugely at the King, but his voice dripped with contempt. "Perhaps we can discuss the matters I was sent here to resolve?"

Minos, who had no intention of discussing anything with this boy, lied through his teeth. "Of course! Of course!" He bid them all good evening and made his exit, Daedalus following behind.

"Your father is..." Draco searched for the right word to describe Minos.

"A heartless child killer?" Phaedra finished.

"Yeah, that too," Draco smirked.

"Ever since my mother killed herself, he has been a cruel and bitter man. While she was alive, he hated her for her illicit desires. And after... he realized it was his own fault that she mated with the bull. He should have sacrificed it to Poseidon as he was supposed to, and none of this would be happening!"

Hermione laid a tender hand on Phaedra's shoulder. "That is all in the past. We must think about the present. There is a lot to plan before the Tribute tonight. Do not let your feelings for your father cloud your mind. You must concentrate on the task at hand!"

"She's right," Icarus said. "Now, I suggest we take your guests to their rooms, so that they may get ready for tonight." He reached out for her hand, but turned at the last moment and grasped Hermione's instead. "The rooms in the Palace are very beautiful, lush and inviting... like your lips."

Draco wanted to bum-rush the romantic retard, sending him over the terrace where he would plummet to his death. He looked at Phaedra, who to his surprise was smiling. As Icarus led Hermione back through the door, Draco whispered to the princess. "I see nothing funny about this!"

Phaedra told him to calm down. "Everything will be fine. Before the nights end, the Minotaur will be dead, the curse lifted, and we will have the pleasure of hearing them profess their love to us!"

"Are you certain this plan of yours is going to work?

"Trust me," she cooed.

"I should have told you before, but I have trust issues..."

Icarus and Phaedra led them through the magnificent rooms of the Palace, only stopping if Draco or Hermione had a question about a certain piece of art work or pottery. The walls were painted in bright colors, and mosaics and frescos of huge proportions covered at least one wall in every room. The floors were made of something resembling marble and were so shiny you could see your reflection in them.

"This..." Phaedra said, opening a huge wooden door with a large snake knocker. "Is the Sanctuary of the Snake Goddess..."

Draco and Hermione entered it cautiously, not knowing what to expect. In the middle of the dark room stood a life-size statue of a woman. Her enormous breasts were exposed, and in each hand she held a snake. Light from the torches danced on the surface, making it seem as though she was alive. It was hideous and alluring all at the same time.

"You worship this...?" Draco asked, raising his eyebrow and looking at them like they were crazy.

"She is our Mother Goddess. We worship her... and many others."

"And to what god do you show your loyalty and allegiance?" Icarus asked, clearly offended.

"Well, I have allegiance to only one god, and that happens to be the all-powerful god of magic and lust. His name is Draco."

Hermione almost laughed out loud. "Tell them about this 'all-powerful' god!"

"Well, he is strong, handsome and well dressed. His style is impeccable, his hair well coiffed. He has all the riches in the world and a way with the ladies..."

Icarus smiled. "I should love to be like this god- Draco. He seems perfect."

Hermione did laugh this time. "Although he may possess some of those qualities, he can also be cruel, obstinate, cowardly, conceited, and his morals are questionable at times!" She waited for a response from him, her hand on her hip, daring him to deny what she said.

Draco glared at her. "Is that what you really think?"

She had no time to answer; Icarus took her hand once again and almost dragged her from the room. He had no idea what just happened, but he knew it was bad.

They walked in silence up the Grand Staircase until they reached a room that was in the east wing, overlooking the gardens.

"This will be your room for the length of your visit. I hope you like it. It is one of my favorites." Phaedra opened the door and they all stepped inside. Immediately, their eyes were drawn to the huge fresco adorning the far wall behind the bed. It was an ocean scene complete with leaping dolphins, sharks and whales.

It's the most beautiful thing I've ever laid eyes on!" Hermione said, walking across the room to get a closer look.

Draco started to follow her, but something caught his attention from the corner of his eye. It was a mirror, or at least he thought it was. It wasn't glass, but perhaps they hadn't discovered how to make a proper mirror yet. This in itself wasn't important, but what was etched across the top was.

He hurried over to her. "Granger. There is something you need to see."

She looked at him curiously. "What is it?"

"The mirror! Look at the mirror!" He sounded so excited that she just had to see what he was going on about. She walked over to the wall, and her jaw dropped. "It's another message!" she cried.

"What are you talking about?" Phaedra asked. "What's this about a message?"

"Excuse us for a moment," Draco said apologetically. "We need to discuss something. He took Hermione by her elbow and pulled her out onto the terrace.

Icarus and Phaedra were staring at their guests in bewilderment. Phaedra walked over to the mirror and read it aloud to Icarus. "a great deal of what you see, dePends on what you are looking for. I've always found it curious that one letter was larger than the others. I wonder who carved it and why?"

"Maybe our visitors will be able to shed some light on it..." Icarus said. "They seem to know something about it."

To be continued...