We’re onto the fourth day of this ‘festival.’ Three days, three male Athenians. I now have plenty of meat smoked and salted preserved. They will last me a while. Especially that last one, Menestheus, was a portly boy. Sitting on my bed, sharpening my ax, I listen to the crowd outside, waiting to hear the fourth name. “Welcome to the fourth day of the festival! Let the selection begin!" Minos called out as he drew today’s tribute. “Melite!" he called out, and I heard the sobbing of a girl that grew louder and echoed as she was forced into the labyrinth.
I cocked my head, setting down my sharpening stone, debating if I should bring my ax. This is some young maiden. Should I bother killing her? I guess I’ll decide that when I cross paths with her. I set my ax aside and start to meander from my room. I can hear her whimpering as her feet shuffle along the trails. I am beginning to feel sympathy for her. I suppose I felt pity for the three males before her. None of them wanted to be here. None of them did anything to deserve this fate.
As I turn a corner, I catch her scent. She smells like the meaning of her name… honey. I followed the smell and glimpsed golden hair and a green chiton. She’s a slip of a girl with creamy white skin, not much meat on her, at least in regards to being worth a meal. I kept my distance as I followed her. Watching her was… entertaining. I caught a glimpse of her face as she went to go down a dead end. Other than that, her blue eyes were red from crying and her face stained with her tears; she’s rather pretty.
I waited as she reached the dead end and started to cry again. “No… no… there must be a way out. I.. I don’t want to die." she whimpered, banging her tiny fists against the stone. I frowned and sighed. There is a way out, one she’d fit through too. But sending her through that without my mother’s knowledge would be dangerous. Minos can never know of the secret passage. And I’m confident seeing one of the tributes walking around his palace would raise suspicion. I would need my mother’s help to even think of helping this girl escape.
“There is no way out of here alive." I spoke, stepping around the corner. Melite let out a blood-curdling scream as she turned and saw me. From outside the labyrinth, we could hear the cheers of the crowd. They are the ones cheering for what they assume is the death of this girl, yet I’m the one they call ‘monster.’ “No… please… please don’t… don’t eat me." she stammered through her sobs. “I’m not. Come with me." I gestured with my hand for her to follow. “No...no, please don’t eat me." she kept sobbing, shaking as she curled up into a ball.
She’s not even acknowledging that I’m speaking to her. Too scared of me to wonder how or why the monster is talking. I sighed and rolled my eyes, coming closer. She screamed again in terror to the cheers of the festival-goers. “Will you stop screaming." I grumbled as I bent and lifted her, hefting her over my shoulder. She was petite, but as she started to flail, kicking at my chest and punching at my back, she showed she had spirit.
“Pipe down, pipsqueak." I grunted, slapping her across the ass with my other hand. She cried out at the slap, a mix of pain and being indignant, and then something strange. Something… a scent I was unfamiliar with hit my nose making my nostrils flare. I shuddered slightly, finding the smell… arousing. Then I realized what the smell was. As angry and afraid of me and this whole situation, she’s aroused. “Put me down! Let me go! Don’t touch me!" she yelled, still flailing on my shoulder.
Rolling my eyes, I conceded to her request as I tossed her down onto my bed. Which I doubt she’d find overly comfortable. It’s a stone slab with some blankets my mother snuck me. “Ouch! That hurt!" she yelled as she righted herself to sit on the bed. I watched as her eyes darted around the space. I know it’s not much. The raised stone bed she’s on, a stone table with blood still drying, bones piled in a corner, a trunk where I’m keeping the smoked meat, the fire pit I use to cook and smoke my food with, the well for my water, and then her eyes landed on my ax.
I saw her mouth open to scream and quickly put my hand over her mouth to silence her. “Stop screaming, Melite. It’s getting on my nerves." I ground out, narrowing my ember eyes at her. I thought she might bite me, but she didn’t. Her eyes went wide as she looked at me. I think she just finally realized I could talk and have intelligent thoughts. Or maybe that I used her name is what startled her. “Now then. If you can not scream, I will remove my hand." I warned. “Nod your head if you understand." I added.
She nodded tentatively. I could still see fear in her eyes as she looked at me, but it wasn’t hysterical fear. I nodded and moved my hand away. She gulped as I stood back up. Instinctively she moved further away till she backed into the wall they set my bed against. “Are you… are you going to eat me Minotaur?" she cautiously, nervously questioned. “Asterion." I corrected. Her brow furrowed, and her nose wrinkled as she tried to understand. It was almost cute, especially with a speckling of freckles across the bridge of her nose.
“My name is Asterion. Minotaur is the term for what I am. Would you like it if I called you human?" I elaborated. She blinked, and now I was sure she was surprised at my ability to speak. “I… you have a name?" she questioned, confused. I sighed and leaned on the table, folding my arms. “Of course, I have a name. Everyone has a name, even monsters." I answered. “I… I’m sorry. Just… all anyone calls you is Minotaur." she apologized, trying to wrap her mind around all this.
“I doubt Minos even knows my mother named me before he tore me from her." I snorted with a shrug. She looked down at her hands that she’d clasped in her lap. Did she honestly feel empathy for me? “You… you aren’t what I expected." she admitted in a soft voice. “So not a deranged monster that wants nothing but to devour the flesh of humans? That’s what you expected, right?" I replied. “Um, well, yes. That’s basically how all the stories describe you. They don’t talk about you having a name, of…" she seemed unsure of saying what she wanted to.
“Of being capable of speech?" I offered. “Well… um yes." she nodded. “What are the stories then? I mean beyond that, I’m a monster that loves to eat the flesh of humans?" I asked. Her eyes dart to the pile of bones and the dried blood on the table I’m leaning against. “They say Poseidon cursed the Queen to take the form of a cow by the light of the moon and that she bred with King Minos’ prized white bull. And the product was a hideous monster that was half human and half bull. They hid the minotaur away, and after it ate a servant King Minos had the labyrinth designed to contain it and started to send criminals to their deaths inside to feed the Minotaur’s monstrous appetite." she explained, not looking at me.
I rolled my eyes, not surprised by how the story has been told. “There are some truths to it, and then much was left out." I sighed. She moved closer to the edge of the bed. “Can you tell me? The true story?" she asked. I furrowed my brow, not sure why I would. “I’m not going anywhere. There’s no escaping this place, and well, if you aren’t going to kill me… I hope you still aren’t going to do that." she spoke up.“Fine." I sighed, giving in. Melite smiled and seemed to perk up that I was giving in. “Well, go on. Tell me. Start from the beginning." she encouraged. “I’m not sure why you care, but fine." I sighed. “The part about the bull and my mother is somewhat true. Minos wanted Poseidon’s favor in his war against his brothers for the throne. Poseidon sent a snow-white bull with the instruction that the bull was supposed
She gasped into my mouth, her fingers digging into my fur, and damn, does it feel good. Carefully I leaned her back to the bed, not wanting to crush her with my weight. Pulling back, I licked the length of her neck, rewarded with her shivering and goosebumps forming along her skin. “Asterion…" she sighed softly, almost moaning. “You were well named, Melite. You taste like honey." I whispered in her ear.My hand traveled down from her head to her shoulder, unpinning her chiton tossing the pin aside. Melite arched up as my hand went lower, pulling the fabric away to kiss and lick at her exposed skin. It’s a good thing I’m still full from eating Idas’ liver earlier, because oh wow, does her skin taste good. She gasped as I shifted lower, ripping her strophion to reveal her perky breasts. Her nipples already hardened before my tongue even started flicking them.
“Where did you go?" she questioned as she spotted me. “And where did you get those baskets?" she continued to question, brow furrowing. I sighed and set the baskets down. “Are you hungry?" I asked, digging into one of the baskets. “Where did you go? Where did you get those baskets?" she repeated. I sighed, setting out some cheese, bread, and meat. “I went to light some of the fires to ensure you are warm." I explained.Glancing over my shoulder, I watched as she wrapped the fur blanket around herself and started coming closer. “As for the food. It is from my mother." I explained. She froze at the mention of my mother. I smiled a little as the blanket slipped to the floor, revealing her naked body. There was some redness on her thighs from earlier. “You may want to cover up. It’s distracting. Might not be inclined to let you eat and instead take you on t
I woke to the sounds of people gathering outside. Groaning, I was reminded the 'festival' wasn't over. Melite murmured in her sleep, snuggling closer to me. I smiled, remembering how after we had sex against the wall, I carried her back here, and she fell asleep cuddled next to me. With a sigh, I carefully slipped out of bed, getting dressed."Mmm… Asterion." she murmured but didn’t open her eyes. I decide to leave her to sleep and make her something to eat, knowing the drawing will happen soon and probably wake her. And it doesn’t take long for Minos’ voice to echo through the labyrinth, “Welcome to the fifth day of the festival!” Of course, this wakes Melite.“What’s going on?" she grumbles, sitting up rubbing her eyes. I look over at her as I set a plate of eggs and fruit down. There are some light marks
With the fire started under the tub, I left her to her business. I doubt she wanted me to stand there while she used the toilet. By the time I was back to my room, Europa was awake and looking terrified, huddled in the corner of the room at the head of my bed. She screamed when she saw me and this time I covered my ears she was so loud.“Knock it the fuck off!” I bellowed. My bellowing startled her. Her eyes widened, and she blinked slowly at me as her mouth fell open in shock. “Yes, the monster speaks and has sensitive hearing. It also has a name. It’s Asterion, by the way.” I said, stalking forward to sit at the table. She flinched as if I was stalking towards her. I’m not sure if she was more surprised when I spoke or that I had no intentions of touching her.“You… you aren’t going to…
I wanted to hit something. I can’t beat Europa, no matter how much I want to. As much as I hate to admit it, Melite has me wrapped around her delicate fingers. Why is it no one warned me this could happen from having sex? Or is this just me? I doubt Minos got emotionally attached to my mother the first time they had sex or with any of the whores he’s fucked. Ironic he got pissed that my mother, under a curse from a God, slept with a bull while she’s not allowed to say anything about his many affairs and bastard children.I wish I could talk to my mother. I’m sure she could help me understand this and that she’d also put Europa in her place, but I don’t know when I’ll see my mother again. So I must leave it to Melite to deal with Europa. I can only hope any of the others aren’t like this. However, I do worry about what will happen when one of the boys is
We walked in silence as I led the way to the bath. “Here it is. I’ll be around the corner while you do your business.” I said, gesturing to the bath area. “I… thank you.” Europa said before quickly dashing past me to the bathroom. “Is there not anything for privacy?” she questioned. “No. Remember, this was built for me. No one else is supposed to be alive here. And thus, I’ll be around the corner.” I waved a hand, turning my back to wait around the corner.It didn’t take her very long to do what she needed then come looking for me. “Asterion?” she called out. She sounded nervous, like she thought I’d just left her there. “I’m right here.” I greeted, stepping out into sight. “Oh, good. I wasn’t sure how far you’d gone. Of if you’d just left me to return to
Europa had genuinely looked shocked that I would promise to protect her. Maybe before my mother can help her escape, Europa will truly understand that I’m not a monster. I won’t hold my breath, but it’s something to work towards. The rest of the day went by slowly and without incident. The girls busied themselves reading what I brought back from my makeshift library. I stayed occupied the same ways I always have, sharpening my ax and wandering the maze.By the time I had returned, both girls were on my bed, sound asleep. “There goes my plans of having Melite to myself.” I sighed, looking over their sleeping forms. They were both under my blanket, sleeping on their sides, facing away from each other. I carpet closer, trying to be quiet or as quiet as a hooved animal of my size can be quiet. I crouched down, gently moving some loose strands of Melite’s golden hair from her