The Minotaur

He never asked for this. Never asked to be born, never asked to be seen as nothing more than a monster, all thanks to circumstances far out of his control.

He didn’t ask for his mother to sleep with the Cretian bull, didn’t ask for the gods to charm her into doing it, didn’t ask for his adoptive father to hate his very existence.

He didn’t ask to be forced into a dark, lonely labyrinth, left crying out for his mother as they sealed the only way in, plunging him into darkness when he was barely four winters old.

Asterius didn’t ask for any of this.

But it happened.

For twenty years, he grew up in the labyrinth. He knew it like the back of his hand, could navigate it with his eyes closed. And with how dark it got, they might as well have been. There were a few bright points, however.

The very centre of the labyrinth had a well, full of good clean water that he could draw from, and an opening where he could see the sky overhead and feel a bit of sunlight on his face. It was just enough for him to grow a little garden, mostly of hardy vegetables and mushrooms that didn’t need much sunlight to begin with. It wasn’t much, but it was such a luxury he often indulged in.

And he had a little cubby, an offshoot of the labyrinth that didn’t really go anywhere, that was comfortably warm and dry, allowing him somewhere nice to rest. No Athenian had ever stumbled across it in the many years since they started sending them in, and Asterius was quite happy about that.

But perhaps his favourite thing was the little secret vent he’d found so long ago.

It wasn’t a large vent, only a two tall and three feet wide. He might’ve been able to escape through it as a babe, but certainly not as a full grown creature, standing well over seven feet with great horns atop his head. But that wasn’t what drew him to the vent.

The vent meant visitors, family. Every so often, he could find Ariadne on the other side, speaking to him through the vent, telling him of their brothers and sister and what they were up to, how things fared. And she would pass gifts through the vent as well. Seeds, blankets, cushions, anything to make life within the labyrinth just that little bit more comfortable.

The king had no idea of its existence. Ariadne only knew because she’d snuck around, and had overheard Daedalus mention it in passing. It’d taken her some time to find it, but both were glad when she did.

“How do you fare, little brother?”

Hearing his sister’s voice made tears come to Asterius’ eyes, though he tried to blink them away as he pressed his ear up against the vent.

“About as well as anyone can, in such circumstances,” He murmured, resting a hand on the wall. He knew logically he couldn’t touch her, not through the vent, and certainly not the wall. But the act drew comfort, and he hoped that somehow, maybe Ariadne would feel it.

“The newest tributes from Athens will be arriving soon. Father says they should arrive in a week’s time.”

“I do not understand why he feels the need to do this. He already has the Athenians under his heel.”

“I suppose it’s a good way to ensure they stay under his heel. Demoralizing them by sending their children off to die seems a pretty good way to keep them complacent.”

“He still doesn’t know then? That I don’t kill them?”

“If he did, I don’t think he’d keep sending the Athenians into the labyrinth. He’d probably just kill them as soon as they got off the boat.”

Asterius let out a slow breath, feeling that bit of tension in hiss shoulders ease away.

“At least I can make some use out of this vent,” He laughed, though it sounded hollow in his ears.

“And all of them are grateful for your aid.”

“For my mercy, more like. They’re always so... so frightened, and I can’t help but hate the king for his lies.”

“Oh, I can think of a good many things to hate my father for. The lies are merely the beginning of the list.” He heard Ariadne take a slow, deep breath, trying to calm herself. “I’ve heard whispers that one of the Athenians is the king of Athens’ son.”

“Why would he send his son? That makes no sense.”

“From what I understand, the prince insisted. Probably wants to stop the sending of tributes all together.”

“So he’s come to kill me.”

He always knew he would die. It was one of the only things certain about life. The kings will tax you, and death will find you. Perhaps it was a selfish desire to hope that the lord of peaceful death, Thanatos, would be the one to take him, rather than his more violent counterparts, but it didn’t really matter now, did it?

“Asterius, I promise, I will find this prince and I will speak with him. Perhaps he can help you escape! Maybe he can bring you to Athens! Away from father! You could be free!”

“My sister, I am a monster. That is all I’ve ever been seen as, and all I will ever be seen as. The only freedom this prince could offer me is the mercy of death. Nothing more.”

It was silent on the other side of the vent for a moment. Asterius grew worried that perhaps his sister had left him, upset by hiss words.

But then, in the quietest voice,

“You haven’t always been seen as a monster. Not by me. Not by mother, or our brothers and sisters. We see you as our brother, our Asterius.”

The sound of her voice cracking as she spoke made his ears draw back in shame. He wanted nothing more in that moment than to reach out and hug his sister close, to apologize for making her sad.

“I... I’m sorry. I did not mean to bring you sorrow.”

“I do not blame you. You’ve been locked away for... for a very long time. I suppose it grows difficult to remember those days. But I do, and quite fondly.”

Asterius let out a wet chuckle, pressing his palm against the wall.

“I do too. I can remember mother’s perfume. She always smelt of... of lotus blossoms, from that kingdom to the south.”

“Egypt, yes. She still wears it. It smells like home.”

“And I remember playing with our brothers and sisters.”

“Do you remember how excited we all were when your horns started to grow in?”

Asterius cast his mind back. It was fuzzy, the memory faded with age. But he could recall.

“I believe I do. Did Catreus lift me up on his shoulders?”

Ariadne laughed.

“He did. And ran around the palace while shouting about how your horns were coming in. Father was furious, but mother couldn’t stop laughing. It was something to be celebrated.”

“I don’t remember Minos’ anger... but I remember mother’s laughter. It was like ringing bells and rolling waves. I... I miss it.”

“I know. But I promise, you will not die in this cursed labyrinth. We will set you free again... and... perhaps I will have a chance to properly hug you once more.”

Tears began to fall from Asterius’ eyes as he laughed wetly.

“That would be nice. I’d like that very much.”

The prince was small. Then again, everyone was to Asterius. His golden curls were long, and the boy was so bright, it reminded him achingly of the sun. The other Athenians stood behind their prince, cowering at the sight of the fabled Minotaur.

“I mean no harm,” Asterius said, crouching down low to appear smaller, and less threatening. “There is a way to escape the labyrinth. I will guide you to it, and you can flee. I will not harm you.”

“If there’s a way to escape this prison, why have you not taken it?” The prince said, planting his feet in a fighting stance.

“It is too small for me to squeeze through. Perhaps once, when I was still in swaddling clothes, I might’ve been able to use it, but not now.”

The prince eyed him for a moment, golden brow furrowed in thought. Asterius noticed the ball of thread clutched in the prince’s hand. A way to find his way out the labyrinth again. A clever idea, and one his sister Ariadne would think of.

“That thread, did my sister give it to you?”

The prince froze, watching the Minotaur with suspicion.

“I wasn’t aware such a beast had a sister.”

“I do. Four sisters and four brothers. My memories of them are few, but all are fond,” Asterius closed his eyes, trying to will the tears away. “Did my sister, Ariadne give that to you?”

The prince seemed to... relax, after a moment, his stance loosening, though he held tight to the ball of thread.

“Yes... she did. She said that... that you would help us. But I did not believe her.”

“I do not wish to be the pawn of Minos, and I’ve no desire to help in his campaign of terror. If you follow me, I can show you the way out. I may not be able to leave, but you all can.”

The prince took a step forward, which seemed to snap the other Athenians out of their terrified stupor. They walked towards the bull man with hesitation, but loyally following their prince.

“I am called Theseus,” The prince said as they walked. “What do we call you?”

“My... my mother named me Asterius. It is... all I have of her. I miss her greatly.”

“Mister Asterius, sir,” Came another voice, a young woman, barely into womanhood. “How long have you... have you been in here?”

Asterius paused, ears flicking in thought.

“I was locked away after my fourth winter. It is difficult to tell time in the labyrinth but... if my memory serves, my sister said that I have been here for... nigh on twenty years.”

The small hoard of Athenians were silent, watching him with wide eyes. Even in the dim light, Asterius could see their faces.

“I can see why you miss your mother so,” Theseus whispered. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. You were not the ones to lock me in here.”

Asterius pulled the vent cover away, grunting at the weight as he set it aside.

“You must go one at a time. I will help each of you up. Ariadne will have a boat waiting for you all. You will go to her, and she will make sure that you’ll escape Crete unseen.”

One by one, Asterius lifted the Athenians up into the vent. Some thanked him for his kindness, others just silently scrambled out, desperate to escape the still air and feel the wind upon their face again. Soon, it was just him and Theseus.

“Your sister told me that... that she wanted you to escape, to be free.”

Asterius nodded, though he said nothing. It was a wonderful dream, but one out of his reach.

“She gave me this, along with the thread.” Theseus reached into his tunic, pulling out a small bag and a tinder box. “She told me to place this bag in the vent and to light a fire. We’re to run as fast as we can away from the vent. It’s supposed to make it bigger, so you can get through.”

Asterius stared down at the little bag in Theseus’ hands.

“Why would she... would she give you such a thing, and the thread to find your way back out of here?”

“I suppose the thread was to get my trust. She said something about how... how one of the gods had given this to her, to free you from this place. I thought it silly before, but now...”

Asterius’ ear flicked. He heard his sister mention this god. Dionysus, if he remember correctly. The son of Zeus had taken a liking to his sister, and treated her well. He never thought the gods would give him so much as a sideways glance.

“Then... let us try. If I know my sister, she will ensure that your people will be far away from whatever happens.”

Theseus gave him a blinding smile, and Asterius couldn’t help but feel a sense of... of hope.

They worked together, Asterius lifting Theseus up so that he could place the bag into the vent and light a small fire with the tinder box.

Neither were sure how much time they had, but they were quick to run. Asterius pulled Theseus around a corner and mere seconds later...

BANG.

The very walls of the labyrinth shook from the sound. Asterius and Theseus crouched low to the ground, their ears ringing as they shook. Neither had expected such a loud noise.

Asterius peeked around the corner of the wall before his eyes widened and his jaw dropped.

Where the vent once stood was now a massive gaping hole. One he could easily crawl through.

He could escape.

He could leave the labyrinth.

He could be free.

Theseus excitedly grabbed his hand, dragging him towards the massive hole.

“Come on, come on, your sister will be waiting.”

Asterius followed after him mechanically, still not quite believing that this was happening. It all felt like a dream. A wondrous, impossible dream.

The ground was covered in broken bits of stone and clay, cutting into his palms and knees as he crawled through. But the pain was worth it. It was worth feeling the soft breeze on his face for the first time in... in so long.

Tears streamed down Asterius’ face, his breath stuttering as he stared up at the night sky, unobstructed. The stars were so bright, so brilliant. They were beautiful.

“Asterius.”

He looked towards the voice and let out a sob. Ariadne had grown, and she had become a beautiful young woman. Her face was wet with her own tears as she walked towards him.

“I never thought I’d see your face again,” He sobbed, reaching out towards his sister. He was almost afraid to touch her, afraid that he would suddenly wake up to find this all some cruel dream.

But his sister was real, hugging him tight. She was solid, warm, real.

“Welcome home, little brother,” She croaked. “I’ve missed you.”