Chapter 11

I glanced down at the small woman slipping and sliding around the corridor, looking so determined between her pursed lips, furrowed brow, and those tiny squeezes of my palm every time she started to lose balance.

I wasn't interested in human women beyond tasting their nightmares, but this little butterfly was a bit of an amusing contradiction. She was weaker and more emotional than she'd ever admit, being a classically frail human and all. In other ways, she was tougher than she'd ever realize with the way she was so stubbornly charging through the Labyrinth, more worried about solving puzzles than the potential pitfalls ahead. I'd never seen a human attack each sector with more spite than fear, and I pondered if she subtly got off on the thought of new challenges.

Granted it hadn't gotten difficult yet, but she gave me the impression that she was naively tenacious. That attitude was so comically dangerous it was almost precious.

It's not that I liked cute things or anything like that—it's also not that I was trying to imply, internally or otherwise, that I found her cute—but she was a spicy gumdrop of a person, and at least she kept me entertained. I'd been tasked with endangering and misleading less interesting characters.

What am I saying. Stop psycho-analyzing her. She's just a tribute.

"This isn't so bad," Butterfly said in her blissful naiveté, fractions of a second before she lost her footing completely and fell back into me with a yelp.

I dug in my heels, but I'd been caught completely off guard, and not even I had enough traction to keep from slipping on the ice slickened floor. The back of her head smacked against my chin, and my otherworldly balance didn't do jack shit to stop us both from toppling over. My boots flew out from under me, and my back hit hard against the ice. Her body landed with just as much force against my chest, knocking the wind clear out of me. I choked out air, then drew in a steadying breath, filled with the aroma of whatever sweet, fruity oils were masking the natural scent of her hair. Why didn't we have anything in the realm that smelled that good?

Why the hell do I keep having these weird thoughts?

"By the devil, woman." I groaned as I stared up at the Twilight Clock in the sky, ticking away like an idle threat. I rolled my head back, scraping my horns against the ice in the process. She was lucky I didn't get a concussion from that hit. "Maybe you should start mentally preparing to give your cat to Jericho, because you're unobservant, your brain is a bleak and disturbing death trap, and you even suck at walking. I don't see how you're planning to actually make it to the castle in less than sixty hours. "

Staying on top of me, Butterfly dug her elbow into my gut to leverage herself up to turn over. I made my best effort not to flinch, but that pressure point was more unpleasant than it should have been. She flipped onto her knees, straddled my hips, and supported herself at arm's length with her hands on my chest. Those blue eyes of hers really popped in this corridor. Even if they were filled with an impressive amount of irritation.

"Do you know how many times in my life I've had to walk on ice while living in Southern California?" She shook her head, clearly offended.

"I don't even know what a Southern California is." I responded flatly.

"Of course you don't." She released a heavy sigh, but still made no effort to get off of me. Maybe she was just enjoying the extra warmth. She stayed in position for several moments, and I, admittedly, didn't make any effort to remove her either. It's not like I was in any hurry to go anywhere. I was perfectly content laying on the ice right here, just like this. The view of a beautiful woman on top of me, with her legs spread to each side of my pelvis, wearing a short skirt, squeezing her breasts between her biceps, and with hard nipples poking through her blouse, leaving nothing and just enough to the imagination, certainly wasn't the worst thing I'd ever seen in the Labyrinth. It wouldn't even rank in the top two-million-five-hundred-eighty-thousand-and-twelve worst things.

Plus, if she couldn't figure out the maze on her own, then that was her problem, not mine. On the contrary, if she did figure it out on her own, that was my problem. So, we just laid there in a stalemate as she figured out what to do next. Her expression was filled with restrained anxiety, and I couldn't help but think she was stalling for time and composure.

"Are you going to move, or are you hoping for a ride while you're up there?" I finally said, not at all because she was in such a good position to do so, nor because I was picturing any such thing, and absolutely not because she was pressing her whole pussy against my jeans, just a little too close to where she shouldn't be. It would be prudent for her to move sooner than later if I wanted both of us to believe the last three lies I'd just told myself.

"R-right." She stuttered. All of a sudden, her body was noticeably warmer than it had been before, and her cheeks even looked a bit red.

If she had the power to heat herself, what was she using me for? Weird ass humans.

She backed off of me, scooching away a ridiculous, unnecessary distance, and I sat up on the ice. I was about to say something else, when a loud bang, followed by an ear shattering crack, echoed off the Labyrinth walls.

Oh that's not good.

The floor shook as clean breaks in the ice ravaged the frosted surface beneath us. Another bang, then another, and the weak support that separated us from the frigid water below splintered to near oblivion.

Fuck fuck fuck—

"Grab onto me!" I heard myself yell, while my body reacted on pure instinct. I was on my knees and scrambling to get to her, digging in the balls of my feet to find traction on the slick surface. I was a few feet away, just getting to my feet, when a hand burst through the ice and grasped her ankle.

"Theron—" her yelp was cut off as it yanked her downward, splitting the floor, and pushing up a large frozen sheet between us. She flailed her arms like she was trying to outswim a current as the powerful arm pulled her into the water below. Through the ice, I watched as another hand took hold of her, then another and another.

Our eyes locked and bubbles characterized her soundless scream for help, as she was plunged into the icy depths of the blue hole.

I slid to a stop, but the ground had already refrozen between us.

"Fuck you, Aegaeon!" I pounded my fist into the surface, until the freshly frozen ice started to splinter again.

I should have realized if we stayed still too long, Aegaeon would come for her. No, I specifically knew that, but she was so damn distracting, it was like I'd blanked the real danger of this section. It had been ages since anyone had dilly dallied long enough in the Blue Sector for the hell-forsaken Centimane to show up.

"She's mine, you bastard." I growled. Though even if he was capable of hearing me, I knew he wouldn't care. Give a man a hundred hands, and it's amazing how quickly he becomes entitled to take, take, take.

I continued to beat on the ice, slamming down my fist harder and harder, until the ground started to break under the force of my blows. My bones hurt and my knuckles cracked from the ricocheting force of repeated punches. I couldn't see her anymore in the darkness, but I knew exactly where they were going.

Wait.

What the hell am I doing?

My whole mission was to make sure she didn't make it through the maze in time, so Jericho would win his stupid game and either get another human pi?ata to murder on Pasiphae's grave or another sex slave for his bedroom… also to upset Pasiphae. The man was obsessed with the old queen, so it's not like he cared for Butterfly in particular. If she died here, he'd just get another tribute next year. Then another and another and another.

I idly touched my fingers to my cheek, tracing the deep scars that marred my face with a permanent grin, and it was several seconds before I realized I'd been doing so. I blinked at my own image looking back at me in the reflective surface of the ice.

Every time I saw my face in a mirror, I was reminded of the day Jericho had pinned me down and cut open my mouth from cheek to cheek, because he couldn't accept the word no. It had taken four millennia before I'd stopped hiding from my own face. If I saved her and kept her caged for long enough to run out the clock, would he do this to her next?

I shook my head to dismiss the thought.

It would be a mercy if I let her drown and freeze. I would be doing her a favor and sparing myself the agony of dealing with the Centimane in the process. There was no reason I needed to risk my neck for the likes of another disposable tribute. No reason at all. Jericho can go grab another human, Aegaeon will be fed and happy for another five minutes, and I can get back to creating nightmares instead of babysitting some snarky brat.

Everyone wins.

And yet…

My fist broke clean through the ice barrier, then I gripped the edge of the sharp, jagged edge and wrenched the sheet upwards. With my broken hand and shredded knuckles, I painted the ice red, and spattered droplets on the walls.

My bones would heal in an hour or two. I didn't have time to fret on a little pain.

Fuck it. I'd save her and do as I was told. Maybe I'd even help her make a fool of our arrogant king this time around. Jericho could use a little adversity in his life to build character. He sure as Hell hasn't been growing up and maturing on his own.

"You fucking owe me for this, Jericho." I snarled, knowing he could hear me. He was always watching and always listening in this place, and I was much more loyal than he deserved.

I didn't waste another second thinking on him before I plunged into the water.