11

Hermione and Draco stopped dancing for joy and noticed Icarus and Phaedra staring at them.

"What are we going to tell them?" Hermione asked. "We can't tell them the truth; we have to make something up, fast!"

Phaedra and Icarus strolled out onto the terrace. In the distance, the roar of the Minotaur rose up, causing Hermione to jump.

"Excuse us, but would you mind telling us what in the name of Olympus are you so happy about?" Phaedra inquired, her eyes traveling over the gardens and the maze to the structure that housed the man-bull.

Hermione wrung her hands nervously, trying to come up with a reason they were acting so happy about the mirror. "Well... um... er... you see."

Draco saved her. "We have seen other messages like this one in our travels, and it made us very excited to see another."

"What do you mean, you have seen other massages like this one?" Icarus asked. "Where?"

Hermione finally found her voice. "In three other places we have seen messages that contained a sentence with only one letter being capitalized. We have concluded that these letters together must spell out another message."

"But where have you seen these other messages?"

"I'm sorry, but as of right now, we cannot tell you," Draco said.

"Why not?" Icarus demanded.

"Please, Icarus! If our guests say they cannot tell us, then they must have a good reason. People are allowed to have secrets."

Icarus looked very angry and suspicious. "Only people who have something to hide keep secrets. I have no secrets!"

Phaedra laughed. "Oh, really? How about the fact that your father knows nothing about your secret, lust-filled nights with the stable boys?"

"How dare you!" he spat. "Well, does your father know that you like to frequent the bull pen where you love to 'STROKE the beasts lovingly'?" He smiled wickedly at her. "You are more like your mother than he knows!

Hermione and Draco looked at one another. It was strange seeing two people acting just like them; it was like looking in a mirror. Speaking of mirrors...

"Pardon my interruption, but I was wondering if either one of you know anything about the mirror? Where it came from, who made it?" Hermione asked.

The arguing couple gave each other one last death glare and gave up the battle.

"All I know is what my mother told me when I was a child," Phaedra answered. "She said that a wise man visited the Palace and gave this mirror to her as a gift. She was told that it should be hung in a spot where it would not be missed."

"Did she ever describe this wise man to you?" Draco asked curiously. He was already very sure of whom it was, but needed proof.

Phaedra fiddled with her medallion nervously. "She was told never to tell anyone who he was, or a terrible fate would befall her."

"Well? Did she tell anyone?" Draco asked impatiently. "Did she tell you?"

"Yes, she told me! And look what happened to her!" Phaedra shouted. "I will never repeat what she said! I do not want my life to end in tragedy!"

Hermione wanted to shout at the girl that regardless of what she said, her life was going to end in tragedy anyway, so she might as well tell them. Instead, she asked, "You do not have to tell us his name; we just want to know what this man looked like. Can you tell us that much?"

Phaedra wiped the tears from her cheeks. "She said he had long, reddish-colored hair and a very long beard. His nose was long and crooked, like it had been broken..."

Draco slammed his hand down on the railing. "I knew it! I knew it was him!"

Hermione turned away from Draco and his angry ranting and addressed Icarus and Phaedra. "Would you mind if Perion and I had some time alone?"

Phaedra reluctantly agreed. "I guess so. Perion?"

Draco looked up. "Yes?"

"Your room is right next door. Make yourself at home." She turned to leave. "The feast is in an hour. I will send someone to bring you to the Hall."

"Thank you kindly," Hermione said. She waited for Icarus to shut the door and then whirled around. "Dumbledore!"

"What does he think he's doing messing around with us like this?" Draco yelled. "Who does he think he is?"

Hermione could only guess. "I think this is some sort of plan. I think he means for us to be... friends?"

Draco laughed in disbelief. "Friends? I think he could have just invited us to a tea party, instead of sending us gallivanting through time and putting our lives in danger!"

"I agree! I don't know what he was thinking..." She leaned up against the wall, watching the birds soar through the darkening sky. "There has to be something more."

Draco smirked at her suddenly. "Maybe he doesn't want us to become friends. Maybe he wants us to fall in love..." He made kissing noises in her direction.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Fat chance of that ever happening!"

"Ah, Granger! You hurt my feelings!" He took a few quick steps and pulled her to him, crushing her up against his broad chest. "You don't think we could fall in love?" He kissed her neck softly, his fingers digging into the tender flesh of her arms.

Hermione's head fell back, allowing him access to her lips. When they touched his, she almost melted into his arms. How could this feel so nice? So right? How could she be falling in love with this man? It was insane that Malfoy of all people made her feel this way. It had to be a mistake. She was not meant to be with this arrogant bastard of a man. She deserved better. "Malfoy, stop..." she said, pushing him away.

Draco released her reluctantly. "What's wrong?"

"This," she said, motioning to Draco and then back to herself. "This is what's wrong. This can't happen."

"Why?" Draco asked, trying to kiss her again. He almost fell over as she pushed him away again.

"I can't be with you, Draco. This cannot happen! I have waited and waited to find my true love, and it ends up being you? I refuse to believe it!"

"Are you saying that you love me, but that I'm not good enough for you?" His face turned an ugly shade of purple, and his grey eyes swirled with anger. "That's just cruel, Granger. You accuse me of being the heartless one, but you are a thousand times worse!"

He stalked off the balcony, through the room and opened the door. He paused in the doorway and said sadly, "You might be able to pretend that you don't love me, but I will never be able to forget the love I feel for you." He closed the door and left her standing there, stunned and heartbroken.

***

There was a knock at his door, and Draco managed to call out for them to enter. The room was pitch black, and he was lying on the bed, staring at the ceiling. He didn't want to go to the feast. In fact, all he wanted to do was leave this accursed place and go home to his mother.

"Feeling sorry for yourself?"

"Phaedra?" Draco asked, sitting up. "I thought you were sending someone to fetch me? Why did you come here yourself?"

She lit the torches on the walls and then sat down on the bed next to him. "I've heard that you and Arria have had a little spat." She placed her finger over Draco's lips, seeing that he was about to ask how she knew. "I know everything that goes on around here."

Draco threw himself back onto the bed and put his arm over his eyes. "So what? You know we had an argument, big deal."

"I know that she said she loves you and that she also said she refused to be with you."

"Have you come here to torture me? You women are all the same!"

"I have not come here to torture you; I have come here to help you."

"How?" he asked, uncovering his eyes and looking at her curiously.

"The plan? Remember?" she asked, stroking his smooth face with the back of her fingers. "It is a perfect way to get back at her, to show her that what she said does not matter to you."

"I don't know..."

"It will work, Perion." She straddled him and leaned in close, so close that their noses touched. "I will help you, you will help me, and in the process, we will have some fun of our own." She attacked his mouth, kissing him in a very passionate and seductive manner.

Draco's mind swirled. Here was a beautiful woman basically offering free sex, and he was thinking about saying no. She ground herself slowly into his growing erection, making him almost moan out loud.

"Say you will help me," she purred into his ear.

"I will help you," he managed to croak as her hands roamed lower and lower.

"Good," she said, slowly lifting herself from his flushed and hot body. "Then shall we go to the feast?"

***

Icarus knocked cautiously on Hermione's door. "Arria? Are you ready?"

Hermione opened the door and asked him to come inside. "Are you here to take me to the feast?" she asked with a slight smile.

"Actually, more than that. Will you allow me to be your escort this evening?" He pulled out a yellow flower from behind his back. "May I?" he asked and gently put the beautiful flower in her hair. "It looks glorious!"

Hermione tried to look happy, but she was just too depressed to make it look real. Suddenly, she just broke down crying. "I'm so sorry!" she wailed.

Icarus embraced her. "Shh. It's all right. Tell me what's wrong. Maybe I can help."

Hermione choked back her tears and said in hitching breaths, "It's Dra... Perion! I think I've ruined everything!"

"Here, sit down and tell me what happened." He walked her to the bed and then sat down next to her.

"I don't know where to start."

"Start at the beginning."

"Well, I gather you don't believe we're brother and sister?"

"I have that much figured out," Icarus said with a small laugh.

Hermione laughed back. "We're poor actors, aren't we?"

"It's hard to pretend you're not in love."

"You think I love Perion?" Hermione asked. "Is it that obvious?"

"Is that what the problem is? Does he not return your love?"

Hermione sniffed and wiped her swollen eyes. "What happened was that I told him I loved him, but that I would never be with him because he's not good enough for me. I think I really hurt him. He was so angry! And then just before he left, he told me that he loved me... He looked so... so sad!" She started to cry again. "He's never going to forgive me! I've ruined everything!"

Icarus rubbed her back and tried to soothe her. "If he loves you like he says he does, then he will forgive you. Does this mean that you have changed your mind and that you do think he's good enough for you?"

"You just don't understand! We have been enemies for so long! We've hated each other with a passion! How can I forget all the cruel things he's done to me and just let myself love him?" She stood up and paced the floor, becoming angrier with each step. "I always pictured myself with someone kind and gentle, not an attempted murderer who goes out of his way to torture people with unkind words and struts around like he's God Almighty!"

Icarus was shocked. "He's an attempted murderer?"

Hermione stopped pacing. "Last year he was forced into a mission by this evil bastard of a man. He was told that he had to murder this certain innocent man or Perion's family would die. Perion tried half-heartedly all year to accomplish his mission and in the process almost killed two friends of mine!"

"Did he succeed in this mission? Did he kill this man?"

Hermione frowned. "No. When it came time, Perion could not do it, and so someone else did it for him."

Icarus stood and walked over to her, placing his hand on her shoulder. "It seems to me that Perion is guilty of nothing more than making your childhood an unpleasant one. He proved to you and to himself that he is not capable of killing an innocent man. Men change as they get older, Arria. Perion seems to be willing to leave his past behind and make a future with you. I say you are lucky to have a man as courageous and noble as he."

Hermione let Icarus' words sink in. He was right. Draco was different, but they all were. Had she screwed up and lost her one and only chance at happiness? She looked up at Icarus. "He will never forgive me. He is a very proud man, and I'm afraid I'm going to have to find some other way to make him want me again."

Icarus smiled slyly at her. "I think I know just the way. Will you let me help you?"

"At this point, I'm willing to try anything!"

***

Draco was shocked out of his mind when he walked into the feast and saw that almost every woman there had their breast exposed. "What the hell?" His eyes popped out of his head as a richly dressed woman with giant melons for tits came strolling over to him and held out her hand.

"Hello. I am Huda."

Draco couldn't take his eyes off her mocha-colored breasts with the huge nipples. "I..."

Phaedra laughed at his apparent shock. "Forgive him. He is not used to our customs." She kissed the woman on the cheek. "His name is Perion, and he is from the land of King Kokalos." She took off her robe, and there she stood, displaying her much smaller, but still perky breasts.

Huda smiled at the dumbstruck man in front of her. "Yes, I see where this might come as a surprise to our guests." She picked up Draco's limp hand and shook it. "It is nice to meet you, Perion."

Draco wanted so badly to just reach out and slap her boobs like bongo drums. "Yesss... pleasure to meet you." His hand came up, and just as he was about to give her left one a good thump, Hermione entered with Icarus.

"What?" he managed to choke out. "She can't walk around like that!" He snatched Phaedra's robe from her hands and rushed over to Hermione. "What do you think you're doing?" he almost screamed. His stormy, grey eyes lingered on her bare bosom before snapping out of it and throwing the robe over her.

"I am simply following the Cretan custom of dress. Do you have a problem with that?" she snapped.

Draco was fuming. "I will not allow you to walk around shaking your bare tits for every man to see!"

Hermione smiled sweetly at him. "One would think you are jealous of the other men ogling my goodies."

Draco glared at her. "I am not jealous. I simply don't want you to catch cold," he said through clenched teeth.

Hermione smirked and threw off the robe. "Nonsense! I won't catch cold!" She jiggled her breasts a little on purpose, watching his face turn red with anger and want. "Now, kindly step aside, Perion. I have a lot of men to introduce myself to."

Draco watched with building anger as she was led by Icarus over to a group of foreign men, who licked their lips and stared lustfully at her bare chest. She looked over at him and winked wickedly. Draco huffed and stalked back over to Phaedra. "How dare she? How can she walk around all exposed like that? She always acts so prim and proper; I can't believe she would do this!"

Phaedra chuckled. "Can't you see what she's doing?"

"Yeah! She's leaning into that man way too closely! Look! Her nipples are grazing his fingers! I'm going to..." He reached under his dress clothes and clutched his wand, not caring if these people were going to witness him using magic.

Phaedra grabbed him as he took a step toward Hermione. "You are not going anywhere! It seems that my sly lover, Icarus, and your Arria have come up with a little plan of their own."

"They have?" Draco asked, watching Icarus slid his hand down Hermione's back, resting it on her ass.

"Of course! They are trying to make us jealous! Can you not see it?" She laughed like it was the most absurd thing in the world. "Icarus has tried this many times. It always ends with us arguing and then making wild love until the sun comes up."

Draco turned to her. "If it always ends up like that, then why even bother with all the jealousy shit?"

"Because," Phaedra said, taking Draco's hand and placing it on her bare breast, "the thrill of the game makes the fucking that much better."

Draco smirked. "Well, if it's a game they want, then bring it on!" He rolled her stiff nipple in between his fingers, making a tiny moan of pleasure escape from her lips. He glanced over at Hermione from the corner of his eye to make sure she was watching before he leaned in and slipped Phaedra's nipple into his mouth and sucked hard.

"Look at what he's doing! He doesn't even care that your hand is on my ass or that these perverted men are staring at my tits!" Hermione watched angrily as Draco suckled Phaedra and then kissed her passionately. "I knew it! He doesn't care! He's decided to move on already... to forget about me!"

Icarus knew Phaedra better than anyone, and he wasn't fooled for a minute. Although another man feeling up his woman WAS difficult to stomach, he knew that she was only playing. He knew she loved only him... At least he hoped. She seemed way into this Perion. Perhaps she had grown tired of it all and decided to end the games and move on. "I do believe that dear Phaedra has talked Perion into a game of 'make your lover jealous'."

"How can you be so sure?" Hermione asked. "It looks to me like they're enjoying themselves."

"Oh, I'm sure they are. That's part of the rules."

"You two are sick. Do you know that?" Hermione said. "And I refuse to play this game of yours any longer!" She turned to stalk off, but ran smack into Draco, who was behind her.

"Having fun, my love?" He sneered at her, his eyes dancing with amusement. He snaked his arm around Phaedra's tiny waist, and she responded by licking his neck.

Hermione decided right then and there that she would win this little game. "Not as much fun as I'm going to have later tonight when I rip off Icarus' clothes and fuck him so hard that his father will feel it!" She smacked Icarus on the ass, smirked at Draco, and then together they walked off, laughing.

King Minos entered, everyone bowed, and beautiful music began to play. He welcomed everyone to the Tribute Feast, said he was starving and took his seat at the head of the table that ran the length of the Hall.

Ariadne came in alone and took a seat next to Minos. Daedalus sat on his other side, looking agitated. He and Ariadne kept glancing at each other nervously.

Draco and Phaedra took seats next to Daedalus and Hermione, and Icarus seated himself right across from them. All of the other guests then sat down, and the meal commenced.

"Tell me, dear daughter, where is your brave hero?" Minos asked Ariadne while a servant placed an array of cheeses and fruit in front of him. "Is he not brave enough to eat with me?" The King laughed and bit into a fig.

Ariadne frowned, and those that were present could tell she was trying desperately to hold her tongue. "He has decided to join the children, who are eating what they think is their last meal."

The King stopped eating in mid-chew. "Does my daughter put so much faith in her lover? Does she really believe that Theseus will succeed?"

Ariadne squared her shoulders and looked her father straight in the eyes. "Yes, father, I have total faith that he can and will put an end to this curse, and then maybe you will let us marry."

The King grinned. Cheese was stuck between his teeth, and Hermione wished she had some floss on her to give to him. She was so into the drama playing out before her that she literally jumped when she felt a hand slowly lift her skirt and warm fingers circling on her naked thigh. She quickly looked at Icarus, who smiled slightly and raised his eyebrows. He leaned in close to her and blew lightly into her ear, making goosebumps erupt all over her flush body.

The King was saying something about how no man was good enough for his daughters and that if any man dared lay a finger on either one of them, they would suffer the consequences. Draco was hearing nothing but a loud buzzing noise in his head because he was watching Hermione's face. He knew where Icarus' fingers were and that he was working her pussy under the table... She looked like she was in heaven. Draco wanted to throw up just thinking about another man touching her in places that were only meant for him. He saw her shudder slightly and hitch in a breath, her fingers grasping the edge of the table as an orgasm flooded through her body.

Icarus smiled wickedly at them, and Phaedra's cool exterior almost cracked when she saw him slip his hand from under the table and lick his fingers slowly, as if savoring every drop.

Draco glared at Hermione, and she just gave him a Malfoy-esque smirk. She reached for her glass of wine and sipped it, never taking her eyes from Draco's. Her red lips parted, and she ran her tongue slowly and seductively across them. She was so good at being a fucking tease!

Phaedra and Draco endured the rest of the meal, watching the people they loved flirt and feel each other up under the table. When the King announced that the Feast was over and suggested that everyone retire to their quarters to ready themselves for the Tribute, Phaedra and Draco just about ran from the Hall.

"Wait! Phaedra! I need to speak with you!" Ariadne rushed over to them, and they were soon joined by Hermione and Icarus, much to Draco's dismay. "We need to discuss the plans; I will send a message to each of you of where we are to meet."

"Have you given any thought to what exactly it is we are going to do?" Icarus asked.

"Your father has given me something that is sure to help Theseus in the maze, but we still need to go over a few details." She kissed her sister on the cheek. "I will send for you all soon."

The four of them stood there, two of them smiling, two of them frowning. Hermione cleared her throat, trying to get Draco's attention, but he just stared at the floor. "That was a VERY INTERESTING dinner, wasn't it, Perion?"

Draco did not want to look at Hermione; he didn't know if he could ever look at her again. He grabbed Phaedra by the arm and rushed her out of the Hall, Hermione and Icarus' laughter ringing in their ears. "I never knew that girl had it in her to play dirty like that!" he said as they walked at a brisk pace. "I wish I could get back at her, make her feel what I felt in there, having to watch her be pleasured by another man!"

"It seems as though plan A has been a disaster! It's time to 'play dirty' as you say." Her eyes glinted deviously in the torch light. "Come to my room, and together we will bring them to their knees!"

"What exactly do you have in mind? You wicked, wicked girl," Draco asked as they ascended the Grand Stair Case.

"Revenge... and a lot of sex..." She led a curious and very willing Draco to her room.

***

"That was brilliant! Did you see their faces when they thought you were getting me off under the table?" Hermione's face was bright red from laughter.

"And you!" Icarus said. "Faking an orgasm like that!" He swiped at his tears of mirth. "I thought Phaedra was going to jump across the table and stab me when I licked my fingers clean!"

"We were so close to winning!" Hermione said. "If only King Minos hadn't called an end to the Feast!"

Icarus stopped laughing. "Oh, now I wouldn't count Phaedra out yet. She has a very devious mind, and she hates to lose. I have a sinking suspicion that she is already planning her revenge." They came to the massive staircase, and he turned to Hermione. "Would you like to come to my room?"

"I... well..."

"Just to talk... nothing more!"

She breathed a sigh of relief. "All right then!"

As soon as Phaedra heard a knock at the door, she ripped it open. Standing there was a boy of about twelve with kinky black hair and small black eyes that reminded Draco of raisins. He handed her a note, and instead of dismissing the boy, she invited him inside. He hesitated for only a second before crossing the threshold.

Draco watched as Phaedra opened the note and read it quickly. She tossed it to Draco, who saw it simply said, "Nymph Fountain, one hour."

Phaedra approached the lad. "Have you delivered a message to Icarus yet, Krisos?"

Krisos shook his head. "Not yet, Princess Phaedra. I was told to come to you first."

Phaedra smiled at the boy and then turned to Draco. "It is as I hoped!" She went to a small table and wrote her own note. Luckily, she was skilled in forging her sister's handwriting. "Give me that note, Krisos, and take this to Icarus instead." She handed the folded message to the confused boy, who knew better than to ask questions. He handed her the real note, and she threw it into the fireplace where it was soon reduced to ashes. "If he asks, you are to say that the note is from Princess Ariadne. Do you understand? No matter how hard he questions you. You tell him Ariadne sent it."

The raisin-eyed boy nodded. "I understand." He bowed and left, closing the door behind him.

Phaedra whirled around and said, "Shall we get naked?"

Hermione and Icarus were standing on his balcony when Krisos knocked. "It must be the message we have been waiting for!" He opened the door, and the first thing out of his mouth was a question. "Is this from Ariadne?" He plucked the note from the boy's long, thin fingers.

"Yes, sir. The Princess sent for me and told me to deliver this to you. I came right away!"

Icarus unfolded it and read it. "You are not lying to me, Krisos, are you? This is not from Phaedra, is it?" He examined the writing in the torch light.

"Sir, I would never lie to you. You have helped me out of many difficult situations. I consider you a friend, and a friend never lies." Actually, the boy was used to telling fibs. Phaedra paid him richly for his services, and with so much practice lately, he had become a very cool liar indeed!

Icarus studied him for the slighted hint of guilt, but saw nothing except a smooth, unreadable face. "Very well, Krisos. You may go." He shut the door behind the boy and handed the letter to Hermione.

"Phaedra's in twenty minutes," she read out loud. "First, I need to stop at my room to put on a robe. I'm not very comfortable walking around like this." She pointed to her bare chest and frowned. "Do the men on this island walk around with permanent erections from looking at women's bare breasts all day?"

"You better believe we do!" he said, leading her from the room.

As they approached the dark corridor to Phaedra's room, they could hear sounds coming from her slightly opened door.

"What the..." Icarus said, holding out his arm to stop Hermione from going any further. "I don't believe her!"

Hermione was thoroughly confused by his sudden anger. "What is it? What's going on?" Her head snapped toward the room as Phaedra cried out. She was moaning Perion's name, telling him to fuck her harder.

"I think we should just go back to my room." He tried to turn her around, but she slid out of his grip and headed toward the noise. Icarus slapped the wall with his palm in frustration and went after her. "You do not want to see. Believe me!"

Hermione glared at him. "Yes, I do, and don't try to stop me!" She was shaking with anticipation. There was a weird sick feeling in her stomach as she reached the door and peeked in. Phaedra was on her hands and knees in the middle of her bed, her hair was in tangled curls and her eyes were closed in ecstasy. Hermione took a very deep breath and slowly let her teary eyes travel to where Draco was. He was behind her, holding her ass tightly and pounding his cock into her relentlessly. He looked like he was enjoying every thrust.

Icarus said quietly, "Arria. Please come away from the door." He placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. She turned around and pushed him out of the way.

Hermione had never been so angry or humiliated in all her life. Here, she thought Draco loved her... yeah, right! He loved her so much that he didn't even think twice before fucking some Cretan whore! She shoved Icarus out of the way and ran down the corridor, barely noticing that Minos was coming toward her the other way.

"My dear girl! Where are you off to so quickly? Are you in a hurry to get a good seat for the Tribute? Never fear! You shall sit with me as my special guest! You and the Negotiator. I fear he still wants to speak with me..."

Hermione was breathing so hard that her nostrils were flaring, and if this stupid man didn't shut up soon, she was going to pull out her wand and blast him to pieces!

Minos trailed off in thought. "Ah yes! Have you seen my daughter, Phaedra? I want to tell her once more how proud I am of her bull dancing."

"Yes, King Minos. As a matter of fact, I just came from her room. She's alone, preparing for the Tribute."

Minos thanked Hermione and continued to walk toward Phaedra's room. He passed a shocked Icarus on the way, and the young man bowed his greeting and then rushed to catch up with her.

"My god! What have you done?" he said angrily.

"Nothing. He was looking for Phaedra, and I told him she was in her room." Hermione grinned. "Won't the King be surprised to see she's not alone?"

Icarus grabbed her arm angrily. "You stupid girl! Don't you know what you have done?"

Hermione opened her mouth to snap at him just as Minos screamed obscenities and called for the guards.

"You have sent him to his death!" Icarus said.

Hermione, realizing that she had gone too far, fell against the cold stone wall in anguish. "I can fix this! I'll just tell the King..."

"Tell him what! There is nothing you could ever say that will fix this!"

"I have to try! I can't let this happen!" She sprinted back down the hall, just as a naked Draco was being pulled from the room, pleading for his life. His eyes locked with hers as the guards dragged him past her. She wanted to tell him that she was sorry, that she didn't mean for the game to go this far, but nothing came from her mouth.

Phaedra and Minos were in her room, screaming at one another when Hermione ran in to beg for Draco's life. "Please! You have to release him!"

The King turned his fearsome eyes on her. "You! You told me she was alone!"

"I know... I know I did! Please forgive me! I was just very angry, seeing them together, and I wanted revenge!"

"Well, now he will pay for your pettiness. How dare he touch my daughter?" Minos stalked out to the terrace and looked out at the Labyrinth.

Hermione followed him, glancing at Phaedra, who was throwing clothes on to cover her nakedness. "What do you mean 'pay'?"

"He will join the brave hero, Theseus, tonight in the maze. Let us test his power and strength against the mighty Minotaur!"

"No!" Phaedra and Hermione cried at the same time.

***

Theseus was in shock when Draco was thrown in the door of the Sanctuary where he awaited his fate. "What are you doing here?" he asked. "And why are you clothed in wool as I am?"

"I'm clothed in wool, you fucking twit, because I have been forced to take part in this fucking Tribute as a fucking punishment!"

"There is no need to scream at me, Perion!" Theseus said. "Tell me what has happened!"

Draco explained everything to him. "And so here I am... a sacrificial lamb. I'm even dressed in this fucking hot ass wool like a damn sheep being led to the slaughter!" He scratched his sweaty back with his wand, which he had managed to smuggle on his person, but had not had the chance to use yet. "I will not just stand there and let that freaky man-bull rip me apart..."

Theseus smiled at Draco. "Then I suggest you and I work together."

Draco looked the man over. He was very tall with huge muscles. He wasn't very smart, but what the hell... "I think with your strength and my brains, we can survive this." They shook hands to seal the deal. "Where are the children?" Draco asked, looking around the bull-decorated Sanctuary.

"They have been set free... until next year." A mighty roar echoed through the room as the Minotaur was set free. "It has begun."

***

The King forced Hermione to sit with him and watch. He wanted her to see Draco's death and to report it back to Kokalos. "You can tell Kokalos what happens when he sends his servants to ravish my daughters!" Men were walking the perimeter of the maze, lighting hundreds of torches. Soon the night was lit up, and all were able to see.

Ariadne held tightly onto Hermione's hand, trying to comfort the distraught girl. "It will be fine. You will see. Daedalus has made sure that Theseus will know his way out of the maze. All they have to do is kill the Minotaur and get out."

Hermione wanted to slap the sappy girl in the head. Who was she kidding? Was this woman so delusional that she actually believed everything would turn out all right? "Where is your sister?" Hermione asked. She hadn't seen her since they took Draco away.

"Father has forbidden her to attend. She is locked in her room... or so he thinks." She winked at Hermione.

Before Hermione could respond, the heavy, golden door to the Minotaur's cage was lifted, and he roared angrily before charging out. She didn't know what she expected the beast to look like, but it was way worse than anything she could have imagined. The crowd screamed and applauded as Theseus and Draco were lead into the Labyrinth, blind-folded. Hermione was glad to see that Draco was holding his wand.

Predator and prey were on opposite ends of the sprawling spiral. The Minotaur sniffed the air and headed toward the middle.

"What the bloody fuck is that?" Draco asked as Theseus pulled out a ball of red string. "Don't you think the King will notice that there is a fuck load of bright, red string running through the damn maze? Give that here!"

"What are you doing?" Theseus asked as Draco tapped the ball with his wand, making the string change color to blend in with the shrubbery. "How did you do that?"

"Don't ask," Draco said, tossing the string back. "After we kill the bull-thingy, I'll turn the string back so that we can find our way out.'

Theseus was looking at Draco with huge, awe-struck eyes.

"Don't look at me like that! Get moving! You dim-witted fool!" He shoved him forward, and together they made their way through numerous confusing paths, most of them ending in dead ends. Once in a while, the Minotaur would roar, each time sounding closer and closer.

"Is it always this boring?" Hermione asked. "I mean, I'm still frightened for the men, but does it always take this long?"

"Usually there are screaming, confused children running around. They are caught very quickly." There was a tremor in her voice as she struggled not to cry. "These are two strong, able men. It will last much longer."

Hermione watched as Draco and Theseus made their way through the Labyrinth, inching closer and closer to their fate. There were times when the Minotaur was close and the spectators would lean forward in anticipation, only to be disappointed when it took a wrong turn.

***

Phaedra heard the key turn the lock in her door, and Daedalus rushed in. "You must hurry! We have no time to waste! The ship will be here!"

She quickly followed him out of the Palace and down to the water. "It is not here yet!" she said frantically.

"It will come! I need you to stay here and wait. Do not let the ship leave without your sister!"

Phaedra stood in the dark, listening to the cheering in the arena, wondering what was happening.

Draco looked up at the crowd as they starting cheering, and they screaming all of a sudden. He knew that sound must mean that the monster was near. "We should..." he started to say to Theseus as the Minotaur crashed through the hedges to their right.

"Holy fucking shit!" Draco couldn't manage to get out of the way, and was knocked to the ground. He fell hard on his back, and his head bounced off the ground. Opening his eyes, all he saw was darkness, and for a fleeting second, he though he was dead. That was until he could smell the fetid, rotten breath of the Minotaur in his face and feel the heavy weight of its body crushing down on him.

It was the most hideous and grotesque moment of his life. Draco struggled to bring his wand up, but the beast was slashing at him with its horns, causing him to scream out in pain. In the far distance, he could hear the spectators screaming in anticipation.

Hermione jumped to her feet as the Minotaur tried to disembowel Draco with its sharp horns. "My God!" she said, clutching her heart. "He's going to die and it's all my fault!" She turned to run from the arena, but was halted by two guards standing in the doorway.

"You, my dear girl, are not going anywhere! Now sit down and witness the death of your precious Perion!" King Minos said in a commanding and extremely angry voice. "I cannot wait for my monster to rip him apart and then move onward to the great hero of Athens!"

Ariadne gently pulled Hermione back to her seat. "Do not fear! Look! Even now the tables have turned!"

Hermione saw to her relief that Theseus was beating the shit out of the Minotaur and trying to pull him off of Draco. She got to her feet and screamed along with the crowd.

Theseus took his strong arms and hammered and beat the beast in the head until it became so angered that it lifted itself from Draco's bloody body and stood, snorting and glaring at Theseus with glowing red eyes. Theseus took three staggering steps backwards and prepared himself to battle. "Come on, you freak!" he yelled. "You, killer of helpless children!"

Draco rolled himself to a sitting position and wiped the blood and bull snot from his face. He quickly realized that he was now free to use his wand. He unsteadily got to his feet and screamed at Theseus, "Throw him!" Draco aimed his wand.

The Minotaur, covered in Draco's blood and foaming at the mouth, charged at Theseus. The Hero bent over slightly and lifted the confused monster into the air over his head. He let out a triumphant yell and then threw the Minotaur into the air.

Draco prayed to whatever god was out there that he didn't miss.

Hermione acted quickly when she saw what Draco was about to do. She knew by the way everyone, including Minos, was reacting that all hell was about to break loose. This was just what she needed to escape. The clock was going to appear very soon, and she had very limited time to get herself and Draco to their destination.

Minos was in total shock as he watched Theseus toss the Minotaur into the air like it was nothing, and he was even more shocked when a bright green light hit it in the back and the beast fell to the ground, dead. All the spectators in the arena were shouting and going wild, but the King just stood there.

When the Minotaur's body landed with a sickening thud on the ground beside him, Draco reacted quickly. He reversed the color spell on the string, returning it back to its bright red. "Let's go! Now!" He and Theseus ran through the maze, following the string, and quickly found the exit. He could think of nothing but getting to that damn clock before it left without him.

The King finally came to his senses and yelled out a command to his guards. "Kill them!" Ariadne and Hermione looked at each other with huge, frightened eyes.

Hermione knew that it was now or never. She pulled out her wand, told Ariadne to get down and blasted a huge hole in the wall of the Palace. Rubble and dust flew into the air, and Hermione took hold of Ariadne's hand. She dragged her toward the door, firing off random shots over her shoulder.

Out in the corridors, it was complete and total chaos. People were running and screaming, trampling over each other. "Which way is it to the olive grove? The one where we first met you," Hermione asked, shaking the stunned girl. "Tell me!"

"Down those stairs, through the door and up the path!" Ariadne managed to say, coughing from all the dust in the air. She fell against the wall as Hermione fired yet another spell that shook the ground, and the ceiling started to crumble.

"Thanks! I suggest you get out of here before you die!" Hermione said, running toward the stairs. She knew that Draco would be waiting in the grove for the clock, and she kept running toward it as fast as she could.

"Princess!" Daedalus said, "It is not safe here! You must come with me! I have arranged passage on a ship for you and Theseus!" He pushed her out of the way just as part of the ceiling collapsed. "He is already on his way. He will meet us there!"

They walked quickly toward the water, hiding every time a guard ran past. Finally they made it; the ship was already setting sail. She quickly kissed her sister, embraced Daedalus and turned to her love, who was waiting for her.

Phaedra watched her sister sail away, knowing that she would probably never see her again. The tears streamed down her face, and a comforting hand was suddenly on her shoulder. She thought it was Daedalus, but when she turned around, she saw that it was Icarus. She collapsed into his arms, sobbing. "I'm so sorry! Sorry for everything!"

Icarus kissed the top of her disheveled head. "I'm sorry too. Sorry that I never had the courage before this to tell you that I love you."

Phaedra stopped crying and looked up into his face. "You love me?"

"With all my heart."

"I love you too," she said and kissed him tenderly on the lips.

Hermione was out of breath and close to fainting when she heard the clock make its first chime. "Damn!" she said, clutching the ache in her side. Rounding the corner, she saw Draco standing in the dark, his pale hair gleaming, his eyes lowered to the ground. She approached him cautiously. "I see we made it in time.'

Draco looked up at her, his face contorted with hatred and anger. "Don't you fucking talk to me, Granger!" He opened the secret door and stepped in.

Hermione wasn't sure she actually wanted to be stuck in a small confined space with him, seeing as how he wanted to kill her right now. The clock struck 10, and she decided she should get in; after all, she had to confront him about what had happened sooner or later. After shutting the door, she turned to him to speak.

"Just shut the fuck up," he warned. "I am so sick of being stuck with you! I'm sick of time traveling, I'm sick of almost dying, and I'M SICK OF THIS FUCKING CLOCK!" He kicked the wall as hard as he could, and the clock suddenly came to a stop. He didn't move to open the door.

"Aren't we going out?" Hermione asked in a tiny, almost frightened voice.

Draco glared at her. "No. We're not. Let's just see what happens if we refuse to get out!"

Hermione's heart jumped into her throat as the clock began to shake violently and the air was filled with a bright white light. "Open it!" she screamed at him, blindly groping for the door. A loud, shrill noise rose up, making them cover their ears.

Finally, Draco could take no more, and he opened the door, both of them falling out and landing on the soft, wet ground. The clock disappeared right in front of their eyes with a pop, and they were left in silence.

Light rain was falling from the dark sky, and as Hermione looked around, she noticed they were in a graveyard. Tomb stones and mausoleums rose from the darkness, illuminated by the lights from a nearby Manor house that sat on the hill.

Draco slowly got to his feet and stood, as if paralyzed, staring at the house. "It can't be!" he said and took off running through the cemetery toward the house.

to be continued...