chapter forty-one

Thea's voice caught in her throat, partially from the curse tensing her body from the inside out, and partially because she wasn't sure what reply would be sufficient for a divine queen. The rose heated in her palms, and the queen's thin brows raised. She had some sort of plant-based gift from what Thea knew. Could she sense the magic in the rose?

The heat from the rose climbed up her neck, reddening her cheeks as her heart pounded faster. The curse was infecting her more by the second. She opened her mouth to speak, but the pressure in her body left her throat tight. Her tongue felt like lead. How much longer could she keep standing here?

"You're mortal!" the queen gasped, her bright eyes finally drifting away from the rose to see Thea's panicked expression. "Oh goodness, hold on a moment."

Her eyes beamed with a vibrant pink glow, and she raised a palm directly toward Thea's chest. Thea's heart beat faster. Was she going to kill me for trespassing? Bind me in vines? Toss me into Tarteron?

Plants shot out from the granite floor, cracking the stone with ease as they raced up toward Thea's neck. She shut her eyes, wincing as the ticklish vines curled around her throat like a slithering serpent. She prepared for the squeeze, certain the queen was going to strangle her where she stood for trespassing into her domain. But the tension never came... in fact, it lessened.

The tightness in her throat faded with a soothing breath, and even the racing in her heart seemed to slow. Her head felt a little light from the release of pressure, but it was already so much better than feeling like she was about to combust. She opened her eyes, surprised to find that a necklace of what appeared to be black lilies was now intertwined around her neck.

"W-what did you—"

"Those are life lilies," the queen explained, a relieved smile softening her features. "They're my own creation. I cultivated them in Underworth's soil as a method to protect the lifespans of mortals if they cross into our kingdom. I'm glad to see they work. You should be protected from the kingdom's curse until the lilies wilt and die."

Thea brushed her finger across one of the velvety black petals, her skin tingling from the magic buried beneath it. "Thank you," she breathed.

"It's no problem," the queen said. "Now, let's try this again. My name is Priscilla, and you're Theabelle, correct?"

"You can call me Thea."

"Thea, then." Priscilla smiled. "How did you find yourself in Underworth? And that rose... Where did you—"

The door swung open behind Thea, smacking into the wall and causing Thea to nearly jump out of her skin. She turned, her heart racing all over again as she found herself face to face with the red-eyed king of the dead.

" You ..." King Hayden growled, his voice so much colder than Zared's. He was tall, with ebony hair and pale skin that never saw any sun other than the hazy light of Underworth. He was younger than Thea imagined; maybe mid-to-late twenties? Which made sense, considering his queen was close to Thea's age. His eyes flickered between a blood red and a dark burgundy that matched the shade of an aged wine. He was surprisingly attractive compared to the stories she'd heard of the ghastly king of the graveyards, but that didn't make him any less terrifying in the moment. "You're the one who bypassed my portal... I knew something was odd when I sensed a mortal step foot through my magic. "

"You came through a portal?" Priscilla asked softly, her tone the complete opposite of her authoritative husband's.

"Y-yes," Thea said through a sharp breath. "I'm from Olympia. I just want to get back and see my family..."

Not a lie, but not very convincing, either.

"I see," Priscilla said.

"I don't," King Hayden huffed. "Don't trust her, Priscilla. She didn't come through just any Olympian portal; she came from the labyrinth."

Oh no...

Callum's eyes went wide behind the king, and Thea felt herself shrink back under the blazing red eyes of the divine one. It made sense that his magic could detect who or what passed through his portals, though she hadn't even considered the fact that she would run into him during her escape.

"I..."

"You're a prisoner, aren't you?" King Hayden crossed his arms.

"Well, I was but—"

"Those sent to the labyrinth are beyond mercy, that's why they're sent straight to Tarteron." The king waved his hand, and a small flame sparked beside Thea's shoe. She jumped, but there wasn't room for her to run. The fire was starting to circle around her, preparing to open a hole in the floor that would no doubt, lead straight to Tarteron. "I won't have anyone like that wandering through my kingdom."

"Your Majesty, please!" Thea cried out, her nose already filling with the scent of smoke. "I was sent to the labyrinth, but I committed no crime! I only escaped because the labyrinth's beast set me free!"

"The beast?" Queen Priscilla asked behind her. "You mean the labyrinth's executioner?"

"Yes!"

"It doesn't matter," King Hayden said coldly, speeding up the circling flames until they were only a foot from connecting. "She'll say whatever she can to avoid the pits of Tarteron. I don't negotiate with Olympian scum."

"Please, I'm telling the truth!"

"Hayden." The queen's strong tone rattled Thea. She'd been so soft-spoken before now, but with one lift of her voice, the flames froze, only inches from forming a full circle and completing the portal underneath her feet. "Hold on a moment. I want to hear what she has to say."

The king frowned, but he didn't make any motion to finish the portal, either. "Priscilla, she came from the labyrinth . She could be dangerous. I don't want you or anyone else getting hurt."

"She's a mortal, dear," Priscilla said with a nod in Thea's direction. "What could she possibly do to hurt us? You know as well as I that those in Olympia don't always pass fair judgment. Plus, it makes sense that the labyrinth's beast would have had to show her the portal. No other prisoner has escaped the labyrinth until now."

Thea had only just met the queen, but she felt like she could hug her until she squeezed all the magic out of her. It wasn't often that divine ones took mortals seriously.

"Very well." The king sighed, and the flames vanished from the floor in a puff of smoke. "I trust your judgment, but I won't be leaving you alone with her, either."

"Perfect." The queen smiled at her husband, and the king's hard shell seemed to soften. "Let's all sit down and chat together, then. Do you like tea, Thea?"

"Uh, yes, Your Majesty," Thea gulped.

"Wonderful," she said brightly. "Callum, would you kindly brew us a pot?"

"It would be my pleasure, my queen," Callum said with a clean bow.

Thea's head was still spinning from her multiple near-death experiences and the distant smell of smoke burning the inside of her nose. She somehow staggered through the castle, being guided by the golden-haired queen while being closely watched by her cautious husband. The queen led them to a parlor with black velvet couches, a glass tea table, and large windows that looked out onto the barren land of Underworth. It was strangely cozy, in a calm and serene type of way.

Thea sat in a tall armchair, and the king and queen seated themselves on a sofa directly across from her. The king wrapped a protective arm around his wife's shoulder, and the queen merely smiled like she was having tea with an old friend.

"Meow."

A small black cat jumped up into Thea's lap, causing her to flinch until she realized it wasn't trying to harm her. "Oh, hello," Thea said to the odd-looking creature. It was as black as night, but with rather strange-looking paws that only had three toes each.

"See, even Cerpurrus likes her." The queen elbowed her husband. "Sorry for all the commotion earlier, Thea. Why don't you start from the beginning and tell us why you were in the labyrinth?"

"And don't leave out any details," King Hayden added, his brow lifted as he watched the cat snuggle into Thea's lap.

"Well..." Thea took a deep breath, her hand naturally stroking the cat's soft fur.

She told them everything. Starting from Ceyden's obsession with her, ending with the beast's decision to let her leave. She wasn't sure how much of her tale they would choose to believe, but it was better to place it all on the table while she was given the chance to be heard. The king and queen listened with rapt attention, even to the point where they all neglected to notice the tea after Callum had so kindly served it. When she was done, she felt the rose pulse in her hands, as if reminding her that her story was true, even when it felt bizarre.

"So that rose is meant to be some sort of key?" Priscilla repeated, her gaze glued to the vibrant rose. "Both to Zared's curse and the labyrinth itself?"

"If what Ceyden claimed was true, then yes," Thea said as she twisted the flower in her fingers. "Though to be honest, Zared and I could never decipher it. It always felt like it was trying to tell us something, but we could never figure out what."

"May I see it?" Priscilla asked, stretching out a delicate hand toward the flower. "I promise to be gentle with it. I just have a few things I want to try."

Thea looked down at the rose, then back at the queen. She'd given her no reason to distrust her, and if anyone could figure out the mystery of the rose, it would be the divine one of spring. Thea handed her the rose, her fingers growing cold as soon as it left her grip .

"I can't say I'm surprised that the labyrinth would have such a dark history," King Hayden said as he leaned back in his seat. "Olympians always make the selfish choice. It's sick to think that Lord Malik would trap his own child in the maze over some silly curse."

He gritted his teeth, his arms stiff as he crossed them over his chest. He was cursed, too, from what Thea had heard. His brothers tricked him into eating a cursed pomegranate that bound his soul to Underworth, hence why he could never leave for more than a short period of time. If anyone would understand the abandonment that Zared was going through, it was him.

"I only want to help Zared," Thea said. "He's lived in solitude long enough. He shouldn't be forced to hide away while his family lives like kings above the surface."

"I agree," the king said, shocking Thea by how quickly he turned to her side. He looked over at his wife, but she was too entranced by the rose to join the conversation. "If there's a way to help, you have my support. As for the labyrinth itself, I can't intervene. That prison is under my brother's domain, so I can't have any hand in unraveling it, but freeing your friend shouldn't cross any lines."

"Thank you." Thea smiled. "I know there's a good chance I'll be sent back into the labyrinth if I'm spotted in Olympia, but I've had my time in the sun. It's Zared's turn."

"That's rather noble of you," the king said.

"I prefer to think it's rather human of me." Thea shrugged. "I just wish all divine ones could think the same way."

"As do I..." The king sighed. Perhaps he wasn't so scary after all...

"Hayden?" Priscilla looked up from the flower, her face frighteningly pale as she turned to her husband. "Do you feel what I feel?"

She passed the flower to Hayden, and he furrowed his brow as his eyes turned the slightest shade of red.

"What's wrong?" Thea asked, her stomach knotting as the king's expression darkened.

"You said this rose came from Lord Malik, right?" Priscilla asked, her gaze still trained on the bloom. "And that it seemed like it was alive?"

"Yes, that's right." Thea shifted forward, a sick sensation settling over her as she watched the king's eyes widen.

"It is alive," he said in a ghastly tone.

"But not like a flower would be," Priscilla explained, her ashen face turning to Thea. She looked like she was going to be sick.

What does she mean, not like a flower?

"Like a soul..." Hayden breathed, and Thea felt an icy shiver crawl down her spine. "This flower used to be a person."