chapter forty-three

There were no words to fill the awful silence that permeated the library. At some point, everyone sank into their seats, the queen still looking broken-heartedly at the rose while the king dug deeper and deeper into his records. Thea went completely numb, everything frozen from the shock of Lord Malik's twisted secrets.

"The labyrinth is Lord Malik's daughter..." Thea whispered, the truth feeling even more disgusting when it was spoken out loud.

Hayden and Priscilla looked up, both of their expressions riddled with the same pain Thea felt. None of them knew how to process what they'd learned, not when it was so horrible to think about.

"It all makes sense now," Hayden said as he steepled his fingers on the desk, pressing his fingers against his chin. "Malik was never a very powerful divine one. His gift could transform ordinary objects into complex puzzles, but other than that, he didn't have much use. He must have decided to test his gift on something other than an inanimate object."

"His daughter..." Priscilla swallowed hard. "She was a garden nymph. Her magic would have only fueled his own power, which, in turn, created the most complex maze known to Fairmyth. The labyrinth is alive because she lives in it." She brushed the petals, and they glowed softly in response.

"That explains why there are roses in the labyrinth," Thea said. "Dozens of bushes grow in the dark tunnels. It must be a marker of sorts from Daida."

Daida... It felt so strange to put a name to the maze, but at the same time it felt important to use it. Daida shouldn't be forgotten.

"And it explains why the key to it all took the form of a rose," Priscilla added. "You said Lord Malik kept it hidden, right? He must have feared that destroying it might end his daughter's life and subsequently destroy the labyrinth."

"Well, that fear surely disappeared when he discovered I'd brought the rose into the maze with me," Thea huffed. "He was more concerned about keeping me inside than what destroying the rose could do to the labyrinth."

King Hayden straightened. "Hold on, that's a good point. Malik was determined to keep the rose separated from the labyrinth. Which implies that putting them together could be the key to undoing Daida's curse."

"But I tried that, already," Thea said. "I had the rose inside the labyrinth for weeks and nothing happened."

"Then there must be something more to it," Priscilla said. "Something that only Lord Malik knows."

The notes in his study...

"I think you're right," Thea said as she rose to her feet. "When I worked in Lord Malik's house, I came across a document of sorts titled The Rose and the Labyrinth. I had planned to look for it if I made my way back to Olympia."

"Where was this document?" Hayden asked, rising from the desk to join her.

"In his study, hidden on the back of a shelf."

"That certainly sounds promising!" Priscilla said as she jumped up alongside Hayden. "Maybe it will tell you how to break Daida's curse and free her from the labyrinth."

"Free her?" Thea looked down at the flower, her heart pulsing in sync with the rose's glow. "Do you really think she can be saved? I mean... could she be returned to normal?"

"I don't see why not," Priscilla said as she placed the rose back in Thea's hand, allowing her to feel the warmth of her living soul. "She's definitely still alive. She's just trapped between the flower and the labyrinth walls. Breaking the curse that binds her may very well return her to her original form."

Her original form... Could she really turn the labyrinth back into a girl?

"But wait. What about Zared?" Thea asked, thinking back to his soft gaze and tender touch. "I thought the rose was meant to be a cure for him, not the labyrinth. What will happen if the maze is undone, and he's still inside?"

Thea bit her lip. She had learned so much, but none if it explained why Zared was a beast. She wanted to help his sister, but where would Zared go if the maze simply vanished?

"You said his mother told him the rose was the key, correct?" Priscilla asked, her soft smile easing Thea's tormenting thoughts.

"Well, yes."

"Perhaps his mother knew what truly happened to Daida. Or at least, found out later," Priscilla said. "Maybe she believes Daida has the answer."

Could that be true?

Thea looked down at the rose, wishing she could ask Daida herself if she knew what to do. She wanted to help them both, but for now, she just had to take it one step at a time. At least this way, she could go back to see Zared. Once she learned how to break Daida's curse, she could visit Zared again, knowing she had a way out of the labyrinth.

"I can send you straight into Lord Malik's study," Hayden said, already raising his hand to create a portal. "But after that, I'm afraid I can't get any more involved. If Zion ever suspected me of destroying his perfect maze—"

"He'll never know you were involved," Thea promised. "Thank you both so much for everything. I promise not to say anything that will endanger you or Underworth."

"Thank you, Thea." Priscilla smiled. "I hope you're able to help Zared. I can tell he's quite special to you."

Thea's cheeks flared. "S-special? I mean, he did save me a few times, and he's been great to talk to, and um..."

He is special... but why is so hard to admit that? Is it because I'm afraid that he's more than just special to me?

"He sounds wonderful." Priscilla laughed. "I hope we can meet him someday."

"I hope you can too." Thea smiled, pressing the rose against her chest. "Perhaps next time I visit you'll be able to meet Daida more officially, too."

At least I hope so.

"Are you ready?" Hayden asked, the portal already starting to form its ring of fire.

"Yes," Thea said, grabbing the bag she had entered Underworth with and tightening her grip on the rose. "I'm ready."

Hayden nodded, then hastened the connection of the flames. Once the circle was formed, smoke filled the center of the ring, then cleared away to reveal a study Thea never expected to see again, though it looked different than it had before.

The desk was smashed to pieces and swept up in a corner, along with dozens of other broken trinkets and tools. The shelves seemed broken, too, but most of the papers seemed to be stacked in cluttered piles around the room.

"Tidy guy," Hayden huffed. "You can step through whenever you're ready. Best of luck, Thea."

"Thank you." Thea nodded, then turned to the portal putting one foot through, then the other. The warm ring of fire heated the air around her until she stepped through to the other side and felt the first beam of sunshine she'd felt in weeks.

The portal closed behind her, leaving only the scent of smoke in the air behind. She stared out the window, eyes wide as she looked out on the kingdom she thought she would never see again, except from below.

She had finally done it...

She'd escaped the labyrinth.