"Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win." -Sun Tzu.
"They're onto us!" Jacob yelled.
"Then I suggest we get out of here!" Rakepick suggested running away.
"For once, I agree with Rakepick." Penny replied as she ran next to Ethan.
"Penny, are we going to ask why you chose to follow us?" Ethan asked.
"I didn't trust Rakepick and I didn't want anything bad to happen to you, Ethan." Penny answered.
"Guilty as charged." Rakepick commented.
"By the way, it seems like Larisa knew you really well." Ethan noted to Rakepick.
"Alright I admit it. Mistress Larisa and I were close. Really close." Rakepick admitted.
"How close were you-" Penny started to ask.
"Haywood! There are her servants that are coming for us right now. And do you want me to go into every single meticulous detail about my social life?" Rakepick interrupted.
"Fine. But we are not done with this conversation." Penny decided.
They sprinted out to the Vineyards with Larisa's guards on their tail.
"Hide." Ethan insisted taking Kassandra with him and hiding in the vines. That was when he noticed the rest of the group. He noticed Charlie and Tonks go up to him.
"E. You okay?" Charlie asked.
"Barely." Ethan answered. He looked at the Larisa's guard that were coming to the yard. But Chiara and Jae ambushed a couple of them.
"Chiara. Jae." Ethan said.
"That's why I only date one silver hair girl." Jae commented.
"Where are the others?" Ethan asked.
"Rath's setting up an ambush for the guards on your tail." Chiara answered. She then looked at Ethan "We heard what happened up there. That was impressive that you stayed so strong for so long." She praised.
Ethan wasn't in the mood for praise though. He had much too bigger things to worry about.
"Corey? Is your side ready?!" Tonks called out.
"What side and what are you talking about?" Ethan asked.
"It's all a part of the plan." Tonks answered.
"If Corey screws this up then..." Ethan started.
That was when Corey stood up. "It's all an elementary process. Dr. Watson." She announced. "Let's go! Let's go!"
"Still not Dr. Watson." Ethan pointed out as they all ran away.
Meanwhile. Jacob, Rakepick and Talbott had linked back up with Lizzie who was planting something on the ground. "Lizzie. What are you doing?" Jacob asked.
"Rath's plan." Lizzie answered. "There, finished."
"Lizzie. I know you heard a lot of things..." Jacob started.
"Yeah... we'll discuss that later, Jacob." Lizzie informed. "Now we've got to run!"
"Where to?" Jacob asked.
"Anywhere but here." Lizzie answered.
"Where are Rath and the others?" Talbott asked.
"Well, Rath took Orion, and Barnaby over to another area. We just have to finish here and link up with them and apparate away." Lizzie answered.
"Where are we going?!" Kassie asked running over along with Ethan, Jae, Chiara, Tonks, Charlie, Corey, and Penny.
"Away from here!" Jacob yelled. "Where am I apparating to?" He asked.
"Those hills over there." Chiara pointed to some hills in the distance. And Jacob did so without hesitation bringing everyone with him.
"Merlin's Beard. I think I was better off in Azkaban." Rakepick commented.
Rath was surveying the scene. All as she had predicted. Jacob apparated everyone to her location. "Did you get the Key?" She asked.
"We got it, Rath." Ethan answered showing the key.
"Good. That's one less loose end." Rath replied. "And I trust we've got everything planned out?" She asked.
"Yep." Chiara nodded.
"What plan?" Ethan asked.
"Oh, yeah that. See I came up with a plan with this Madam Larisa after we learned that she kept little Kassie as a slave and killed her parents. We're going to send her a little parting gift." Rath answered.
The Guards were looking around for where the group had apparated to.
Barnaby took out his wand. "Bombarda?" He asked.
Rath smiled. "Yes. Barnaby. Bombarda." She answered.
Barnaby raised out his wand in the air. "BOMBARDA! He shouted launching a massive explosion that sent the whole Vineyard as well as the hill the Mansion was on on fire.
The Guards were so distracted by the fire. That they had to go back and deal with it. "The Fire will cover our escape. If Trotsky can use distractions to his advantage. Then so can we." Rath explained.
"Nice thinking Rath." Ethan said.
"Actually it was Orion's plan." Rath admitted. "I just made a few tweaks to it."
"I was going to suggest we be like Kansas with Dust in the Wind." Orion explained.
"I can see why Rath had to tweak it." Penny commented.
"Yeah. Well. The Guards are distracted. Time to regroup at the Temple." Jacob decided. "Let's bounce." And they all apparated back to their Temple.
Back at the Abandoned Temple. Everyone was making a Campfire in the Atrium. Ethan was just looking at the fire all night long. And thinking about what had happened earlier that night. No one was saying a word.
Until Ethan broke the silence. "Why did you do it?" He asked Rakepick.
"Do what?" Rakepick asked as she was stroking Sickleworth.
"Why did you vouch for Jacob and I with the Imperious curse?" Ethan asked.
Rakepick figured this was going to get brought up sooner or later. "I suppose I have a thing for Nifflers. Like Sickleworth here." She answered. "I saw Sickleworth in that cage. And I just couldn't bring myself to see it suffer."
"Even though you had no problem killing Rowan?" Penny asked.
"We both know that I'm not above killing kids. But I have my morals." Rakepick answered.
"Yeah. I bet you do." Ethan replied disgruntled. That wasn't what bugged him.
Jacob on the other hand knew what it was. "E... I told you that I would never use that curse on you. No matter what." He reminded.
"Would you have in that heart of the moment?" Ethan asked.
Lizzie looked at Jacob.
"No." Jacob answered. "And even if I would've. I would never let you hurt anyone."
"You're a good big brother, Jacob." Lizzie told Jacob putting a hand on his shoulder.
"Could you say that-" Corey started to say. But Jae stopped her.
"Corey. Not the time." Jae said.
Corey sighed. "Nevermind."
"And what was the deal with you and Larisa?" Penny asked Rakepick.
Rakepick rolled her eyes. "It was a life time ago. Maybe if things were different. Then Maybe..."
"Maybe what?" Ethan asked.
"Nevermind." Rakepick answered. "It's done now. And I have a feeling that she won't be happy that we've stolen her key when she eventually gets up."
"Luckily she doesn't know we're here." Jacob admitted.
"Yeah. Thank God." Ethan replied.
"So what's the plan for tomorrow?" Chiara asked. "I assume we have a plan."
"Yeah. What is the plan?" Jae asked.
"The Plan is to use this key and get inside the Labyrinth." Jacob answered.
"That's it?" Lizzie asked.
"That's it." Jacob answered. "And since we're going in blind. We'll have to rely on Rakepick as our guide."
"And what are we going to do with Little Thief the Movie here?" Rath asked pointing to Kassandra.
"I don't have anywhere to go." Kassie informed. "And I wanted to say... I'm sorry. About not telling you about Mistress Larisa."
"Apology accepted." Ethan assured her. He then took out some chocolate. "Want some chocolate? It's good." He asked.
Kassandra took the chocolate and ate it. When her lips touched it. She fell in love with it.
"You like it?" Ethan asked.
"I like it." Kassie answered with a smile. "Why are you so kind to me?" She asked.
"Nothing wrong with being kind to people." Ethan answered.
"He's not wrong." Penny added. "Ethan likes to be kind to people."
"Except for Umbridge." Tonks pointed out.
"Well, there's her." Penny corrected. "I mean, calling Chiara Fur Ears."
"Why Fur Ears?" Kassandra asked.
"Because Chiara is a Werewolf." Jae answered.
Kassandra yelped. "You're a werewolf?" She asked.
"It's a long story." Chiara answered. "It's not something I'm proud of, I admit."
"What about you, Kassandra? Larisa said she killed your parents?" Rath asked.
Kassandra nodded. "My parents lived as poor destitute servants indebted to Mistress Larisa. We once heard treasure inside the Labyrinth that could possibly clear off our debts. And there was a key to unlocking it. My Pater would be the one to find the key and clear our debt. But one day. The Mistress arrived telling me that the key was lost and the debt had come due. She then took out her wand and shot them with the killing curse. I'll never forget that green energy beam when they died." She started to get tears in her eyes at the memory. "And... then the Mistress took me as a hostage. Over the years. I stole for her. I lockpicked, pickpocketed for her. And she still treated me like a slave." She admitted. "You could never know what that was like."
Ethan put a hand on her. "You're not alone." He assured. "Jacob and I lost our Father to Death Eaters."
Jacob nodded his head. "And after Dad died. I was lost for a long time. And I did... things I'm not proud of. But everything I did. I did for my Brother and Mother."
Penny also went up to Kassie. "Kassie... I also lost someone I cared about to evil. My best friend, Scarlett was killed by a werewolf. Fenrir Greyback. The same man who went after Chiara over there. Beatrice and I will never forget it. And Talbott and Orion lost their parents as well." She said.
Kassie looked at them as well. Talbott nodded his head.
"They're still with us. In spirit." Orion assured. "And in our hearts."
Rath also nodded. Even though she was a woman of few words. She also lost loved ones to Death Eaters. She thought about her cousin. Aidan.
"Thank you." Kassie hugged Ethan. There was something about finding comfort in strangers who shared her pain.
"Alright. Everyone get to sleep. We're off to find the Labyrinth tomorrow. Assuming we know where it is, Rakepick?" Jacob glared at Rakepick.
"It's on the Island of Crete." Rakepick answered. "I know where it is. All we have to do is get a boat and sail there."
"Thank you." Jacob thanked.
"And where do we get a boat?" Charlie asked.
"The Mistress has one." Kassie answered. "It's in a hidden cave. I found out where it was one day without her knowing about it."
"Perfect. We'll take that one." Ethan decided. He then went to another part of the temple.
"Ethan. Wait." Rakepick called.
Ethan stopped but didn't turn to face Rakepick.
"What happened to Rowan. It wasn't personal. I just want you to know that. For what it's worth. I'm sorry... for what happened." Rakepick told him.
Ethan sighed. "I can't forgive you for what you did Rakepick." He admitted. "Not after what had happened. And even if you meant to kill Ben. I still wouldn't be able to forgive you."
"I see." Rakepick wasn't surprised. "Well after this is done. I'll go back to jail. And you'll never have to deal with me again." She informed.
Ethan didn't say a word. He just went to another part of the Temple to sleep. Thinking about what had happened earlier that day. He wasn't sure if Rakepick was trying to trick him. But he didn't care. He just wanted to drift off into peaceful thoughts. At least he wasn't worrying about Penny being in a cage this time.
The next morning. Kassandra had led them to the secret cave that was thankfully far from the mansion. "What is it with Greeks and hidden caves?" Lizzie asked.
"Huh?" Ethan asked.
"Oh nothing. Just wondering." Lizzie answered Ethan's question. "I'm just saying that the Greeks sure do like their caves."
"It's true. We do." Orion said. "Who doesn't love a good cave?" He asked.
"They're okay. I don't say that I love them." Ethan answered.
"You're loss." Orion replied. He walked towards the cave.
"How much farther is it, Kassandra?" Jacob asked.
"Not too far. It should be somewhere near here." Kassandra answered. She walked up a hill to reveal the Greek Sea over the edge. But still no cave.
"Um, Kassandra? Where's the cave?" Charlie asked.
"It's right here." Kassandra answered holding her arms out.
"Kassie. There's nothing here." Ethan pointed out.
"Right here." Kassandra insisted.
"Maybe she means the Cave really is inside of our hearts. It's full of joy and love-" Barnaby took another step forward and fell down a water slide made of caves.
"Or this is the entrance to the caves that were below us." Rath clarified as Barnaby kept sliding down.
Kassandra nodded. "Well. That is one way to make an entrance." Ethan admitted. He then slid down.
"Water slide in the middle of winter. Why not?" Lizzie asked as she slid down next.
"Incoming!" Jacob yelled.
"Wait for me!" Penny went down as well.
"Ladies first?" Charlie asked Tonks.
Tonks pushed Charlie down. "No fair!" He shouted.
"WOTCHER!" Tonks fell after Charlie.
"Chiara?" Jae asked.
"Thank you." Chiara answered. She slid down with Jae following after her.
"And now we slide down to mystery-" Orion started to announce.
"I'm going down." Rath pushed Orion out of the way and slid down.
Orion followed after her. With Corey pushing Rakepick down next. "Elementary my Dear Watson!" She yelled but not before Talbott if he wanted to go down first.
"I'll get down on my own, just fine." Talbott transformed back into his bird form and flew down to the cave exit on the other side.
Sickleworth clinged onto Kassandra as they both fell down.
Sliding down. Ethan fell into a pool of water. Or rather the pool of water was part of the sea with a dock where they could take the boat and get to Crete.
"Slide into the sea. No big deal." Ethan muttered to himself as he could see Barnaby out of the water and already on the dock to the boat. That was when he saw Talbott fly down.
"You know. You could've just used the Animagus Abilities to get down." Talbott told Ethan.
"Yeah. But I like going down the slide more." Ethan replied.
"Hey, Ethan! You made it!" Barnaby yelled. "Can you believe this place has an indoor pool?" He asked.
"Yeah. It's really nice." Ethan answered getting up with Barnaby helping him. They then saw the others also fall down and swim over to the docks.
"Sliding down a water fall. I've seen crazier entrances to get into an entrance to somewhere." Jae commented.
"You have?" Ethan asked.
"The Cursed Vaults." Jae answered.
"Jae. You've never seen an entrance to a Cursed Vault." Penny reminded.
"Wait what about that time in year 5 with the Trials of Sir Cadogan?" Ethan asked.
That's when it clicked for Jae. "Oh yeah. It was by the entrance of the Ice Knight. What do you say to that, Penny?" Jae asked.
"Okay. Point taken." Penny replied.
"Well to be fair, it was a long time ago." Ethan pointed out.
"Now, if we'll all get on this boat. We can be underway." Jacob suggested.
Everyone got on the boat.
"I call steering!" Orion declared.
"You know how to steer a ship?" Rath asked.
"You don't know everything about me." Orion answered.
"Okay. Let's get to the Labyrinth." Ethan announced as he released the rope to the dock.
"Yes finally." Rakepick commented. She was especially ecstatic to finally be getting there.
"Orion. Take us out to sea." Ethan ordered.
"And away we go!" Orion announced. But when he adjusted the ship to go forward with an oar, they went back crashing back to the cave.
There was a loud thud on the boat, knocking everyone down. "Whoops. We went in reverse." Orion apologized. He then turned to oar to go the other way. And the boat turned forward. "Hey, Rath, Talbott. Give us a little wind speed, will you?" He asked. "Oh, and in case you don't want to get some random bugs in your teeth. Then keep your mouths shut." He suggested.
Rath and Talbott both used the wind spell to propel the boat forward with faster speed as they sailed to the island of Crete.
"Are we there yet?" Barnaby asked enroute to the Island.
"No." Ethan answered.
"Oh, don't you just love the sea breeze and the smell of the Aegean Sea?" Orion asked.
"Or the bugs in our teeth?" Penny sarcastically asked.
"That wouldn't happen if you kept your mouth shut like Orion told you." Corey informed.
Penny glared at Corey and splashed some sea water in Corey's face. "Hey!" Corey shouted as she spit out Sea Water.
Kassandra in the meantime was riding in the front and enjoying the Sea Breeze.
"Fan of the Sea, Kassie?" Ethan asked.
"I love it." Kassandra answered. "Always had a rush of the sea and the smell of Poseidon blessing our voyage."
"Well, I can't say I've seen Turquoise Waters like the ones in the Aegean Sea." Ethan admitted. "It's not like the English Channel back home."
"What's the English Channel?" Kassandra asked intrigued.
"It's the Channel that divides England and France. It's full of rough waters and big waves." Ethan answered. "It's not like the Woods though. Where Jacob and I live."
"The Woods?" Kassandra asked. She had never really been on the inside of a forest before. Her life had been by the Greek Sea. She never considered going Inland.
"It's full of a vast ways of Trees. Big ones." Ethan answered.
"Yeah, just like that old Anglo Saxon Village that Ethan and I used to go all the time." Jacob added.
"Anglo Saxon?" Kassandra asked confused.
"It's a long story." Ethan said. "But it was full of Magical Creatures. Bowtruckles were the big ones."
"Bowtruckles?" Kassandra asked. "Do you mean the big weeds? That's what Larisa called them."
"Those would be the ones." Ethan answered. "The Bowtruckles I mean."
"Do you have any Magical Creatures here in Greece, Kassandra?" Charlie asked. He remembered Professor Kettleburn talking about the different Mythical Creatures in Greece.
"Not so many these days." Kassandra answered. "Greece used to be home to many Mythical Creatures. My Parents would tell me about them when I was younger. About the Greek Creatures. The Griffins, The Pegasus, the Centaur, the Chimera, and of course the Hippocampus." She explained.
"Oh yeah. We actually have most of them in Britain as well." Ethan informed.
"Do you?" Kassandra asked intrigued.
"Of course." Ethan answered. "We've got the Griffins as the Magical Creatures Reserves. We've also got Chimeras, as well as a whole Centaur herd."
"Except, they don't like humans." Penny added.
"Do you speak Greek to them?" Kassandra asked.
"Greek?" Ethan asked.
"Of course. Centaurs don't follow the language of Latin or English. It reminds them of the suffering they endured of the hands under the Roman Empire." Kassandra answered.
"That I did not know." Ethan admitted.
"Originally those creatures started off in Ancient Greece. But after the Roman Conquest. Many Roman Legionnaires abducted the Magical Creatures off to be sold to other corners of the Empires. The Griffins, the Centaurs, and the Chimera were all scattered to different areas. The Pegasus were driven to extinction. Their bodies could not handle the different environments. They then matted with the Spanish Horses. It gave birth to a new species. The Abraxan." Kassandra explained remembering her parents old stories before they were killed.
"Woah." Ethan said. "What about the Hippocampi?" He asked.
"They retreated back to the sea." Kassandra answered.
Ethan was liking this kid even more with her knowledge of Magical Creatures. That was when he heard a voice.
"Avast me, Salties!" Barnaby shouted from the top of the boat sails. "Pirate Ho!"
Ethan looked up. "Barnaby, what are you doing up there?!" He asked.
"That's Cap'n Brown Beard to you." Barnaby corrected.
"You know. I wondered when we were going to get a Pirate impression." Jae commented.
"Barnaby! You're going to fall over!" Chiara warned like a worried mother.
"Cap'n Brown Beard fears no falling over anyTHING!" Barnaby lost his balance and fell into the sea.
"And there goes Cap'n Brown Beard fallen to the Sea!" Jacob jokingly shouted.
Ethan was not surprised by this. But just then Barnaby got lifted out into the sea by what looked like Horse Heads.
"Oh look! It's the Hippocampi." Kassandra noted.
The Hippocampi lifted Barnaby back into the boat. "Thanks, boys." He noted.
The Hippocampi nodded at Barnaby and then swam away quite rapidly.
"Why were they swimming faster than before?" Lizzie asked.
"Because they do that when they get too close to Land. Like that one." Kassandra pointed to a beach head with a ruined palace on its head.
"Is that..." Ethan asked.
"Yep. That's the Island of Crete." Rakepick answered. "The entrance to the Labyrinth."
"Take us in. Let's get there before Slayton arrives." Ethan ordered.
"Assuming he's not there already?" Rath asked.
"I think he has." Penny answered pointing to another boat that was already docked up.
They arrived at the shore. Ethan tied up the boat by the dock. He looked at the other ship. "You think this is Slayton's ship?" He asked.
"Let's not jump to conclusions just yet." Chiara answered. "It could be some crazy archeologist or something."
"Are you just saying that as Wishful Thinking?" Lizzie asked.
"Yes I totally am." Chiara answered.
"Slayton did have a head start over us. For all we know, he could be right up that hill." Jacob warned.
"No. Remember what Larisa said." Rakepick reminded. "Slayton's been here. He must be in the Labyrinth already."
"Then we've got no time to lose." Jacob declared.
"But if Slayton's down there, wouldn't he be trapped without the key?" Penny asked.
"Not quite." Rakepick answered. "I remember this from my research. The Labyrinth is closed to those who seek to enter it. But open for those who want to leave."
"You mean even if we close the door. Slayton can get out whenever he please?" Lizzie asked.
"Exactly. I told you that I research this place." Rakepick answered.
"So where's the entrance?" Rath asked.
"Right this way." Rakepick took them inside the old ruins of the palace. "This Palace once belonged to King Minos." She explained.
"And this is where Daedalus built the Labyrinth underneath?" Corey asked.
"The very same." Rakepick turned another corner to view a massive door underneath. With Ancient Greek Writing underneath.
"And I take it that. Is the Labyrinth." Ethan said.
Rakepick nodded her head. "I always said that I would make it one day." She said to Sickleworth.
Sickleworth cheered with glee.
Ethan looked at the door and Jacob had the key. But everyone was looking at the entrance.
"We're going down there, aren't we?" Barnaby asked.
"Yep." Ethan answered. "We'll be fine. We gotta work together, and get that source of power before Slayton gets it."
"So it's just like a Cursed Vault." Penny figured.
"We've done plenty of those." Ethan reminded.
"Open the door?" Jacob asked Lizzie.
Lizzie nodded.
"Here goes nothing." Jacob figured. He turned the key. And the Labyrinth doors moved open. As if there were a massive dark energy that came out and a howling through the day. It made Sickleworth cower from Rakepick to Talbott.
Penny gripped Ethan's hand while Lizzie looked at Jacob with concern. Jacob was looking at it.
"Huh. Big Creepy door." Chiara noted.
"And it does go somewhere." Ethan replied. "Well goodbye sunshine. Hello rocks." He descended into the darkness with the others following behind him.
"Lumos." The spell was used to light their way going down the steps. Especially since the Labyrinth didn't look like it would be lit anytime soon by torch.
"Good thing they teach this spell to us in first year, huh?" Tonks commented trying to break the tension.
"Very good thing." Lizzie replied. She looked at Jacob who didn't have a wand to light. "Sorry, Jacob."
"Not a problem." Jacob looked at his metal hand and lit it to glow. "Who needs wand when you can have a hand?"
"Can I have a hand?" Barnaby asked.
"Barnaby, you already have two." Chiara said.
Barnaby looked at his hand. "Can I have a third hand?" He asked.
"No." Chiara answered.
"I wonder if there's a way to get a third limb from a spell." Barnaby thought out loud.
"Barnaby, what you even do with a third limb?" Penny asked.
"What wouldn't I do with a third limb." Barnaby corrected.
"Forget I said anything." Penny muttered. That was Barnaby for them.
Finally walking down the end of the stairs revealed the large entrance behind several walls.
"Welcome to the Labyrinth." Rakepick announced. "I told you I knew the way to get here."
Ethan looked at the walls. It didn't look old at all. It looked remarkably new. "Someone's been keeping this place in good shape." He commented.
"He has. Daedalus kept this place in good shape. According to my research if I can remember it correctly, he put some everlasting protection charm on the Labyrinth to keep it preserved." Rakepick explained.
"Why would he want to do that?" Talbott asked.
"He probably didn't want anyone to get his hands on the power or treasure, or whatever it's called." Rath suggested.
"That's exactly why he did that Miss. Rath." Rakepick replied. "Right now, the treasure is at the heart of the Labyrinth where it just waits for us to take it." She started to go in. But Jacob had stopped her.
"We're not here to get our hands on the treasure. We're here to keep it out of the hands of R." Jacob reminded.
"And we've got to get to that source, before Slayton does." Ethan added.
"We have to be careful. The Labyrinth isn't just a physical construction. It also... does things to your mind." Rakepick cautioned.
"I've been through worse. You were obviously not there for the final Cursed Vault." Ethan replied.
"I should've been." Rakepick groaned.
"No you don't. It would've destroyed you." Ethan clarified.
"And Azkaban didn't?" Rakepick shot back.
"It's what you deserve." Ethan replied.
Rakepick rolled her eyes. "Keep telling yourself that, Bauer." She walked through the maze.
Jacob who still acted suspicious whispered something to Lizzie. "As soon as we get to the center. Stun Rakepick."
Lizzie nodded. "She's going back to Prison."
Ethan in the meantime looked at the others. "You don't have to go with me." He told them.
"Ethan. We made a commitment to you when we all went on this journey." Charlie told him. "We're not backing down now."
Ethan swallowed hard. Penny took his hand. "We're with you, Ethan." She comforted him.
Ethan and his companions then entered the Labyrinth.
Walking in seemed so easy. Right until they passed through some wall that turned right. And another that turned right, and then left, then right again, then it went straight. Suddenly there was an intersection.
"Oh great." Ethan muttered.
"Huh? Which way do we go?" Rakepick asked.
"You mean you don't even know?" Charlie asked in disbelief. "Some Curse Breaker you turned out to be."
"Some Curse Breaker your Brother Bill turned out to be." Rakepick shot back.
"Hey! He's a great Curse Breaker!" Charlie snapped coming to his brother's defense.
That was when Lizzie noticed some writings on the walls. "Hey guys! Look at this!" She yelled.
Everyone looked at the walls. It showed a picture of what looked like a man standing above an anvil. And on the right of that stood some large suits of Armor that were moving.
"Suits of Armor?" Tonks asked.
"That must be Daedalus, or the Greek God Hephaestus." Kassandra suggested.
"Well it is the Labyrinth so I assume it's Daedalus." Ethan replied.
Orion was examining the wall very carefully. "Fascinating." He said. "Truly mysterious."
When all of a sudden. The Ground began to shake.
"What the?!" Ethan yelled out.
"Is it an Earthquake?" Lizzie asked.
Rakepick knew what this was. "No. The Tunnels are changing." She answered. And true to her word the walls of the Labyrinth began to change.
"That's not good." Jacob commented.
"Move!" Lizzie yelled to everyone. And everyone began to scatter away running in different directions.
"No! We have to stick together!" Ethan shouted. But a large column of walls began to come up.
"Ethan! I think we should go!" Penny took his hand and they ran for a hall. Kassandra followed them.
"Ethan!" Jacob began to run after him. But a large wall had cut him off. And another wall opened. "NO!" He ran towards that wall in an effort to get to Ethan. But was cut off by another wall that popped up in front of him.
Suddenly there was a large shaking and dust was beginning to cloud up. It was covering everywhere. And people had to cover their mouth and eyes.
"Keep moving!" Lizzie grabbed Jacob's hand and they both ran.
Finally after a long dust storm. It finally cleared. But nobody knew where everyone was. Ethan stopped running sheltering both Penny and Kassandra from the dust. When Ethan looked back all he could see was a large wall.
"What in Merlin's Beard just happened?" Penny asked.
"We've been cut off. The Labyrinth has changed." Kassandra answered.
"What?" Ethan asked confused. "Is that even possible?"
"Apparently so." Penny answered.
Ethan got out his wand. He tried to use Contactu. "Jacob?! Jacob are you there?!" He yelled out.
"Ethan!" Ethan could still get a clear signal now. "Are you okay?!" He could hear Jacob from the other side.
"I'm here!" Ethan shouted. "I'm with Penny and Kassandra. Where are you?!" He asked.
"In another section of the Labyrinth with Lizzie, and unfortunately, Rakepick." Jacob answered.
"Where's everyone else? Are they dead?" Ethan asked. Penny felt her heart beat faster.
"We're fine, Ethan!" Rath shouted on another area of the Labyrinth.
"Loud and clear!" Chiara also declared.
"Well, where is everyone?" Ethan asked. Even though he already asked that question.
"I'm with Orion." Rath answered. She noticed Sickleworth who grabbed onto Orion's cloak. "And... Sickleworth, apparently.
"I'm with Jae and Talbott. Talbott's just waking up actually." Chiara answered.
"Charlie and I are with Corey and Barnaby." Tonks informed. "Blimey! That was crazy!" She then looked around to see Barnaby who was just waking up.
"What happened?" Barnaby asked looking around him.
"We've been cut off." Charlie answered. But then he looked at Corey who was apparently limping on one leg.
"Guys! There you are!" Corey shouted hopping.
Charlie ran over to help her. "You okay, Corey?" He asked.
"My Leg's messed up." Corey answered.
"I can see that." Charlie replied.
"Alright. What do we do now?" Barnaby asked.
"Stay calm everyone." Jacob commanded. He then grabbed Rakepick. "You're the expert of this place. Now how do we get out of here?"
Rakepick stayed silent.
Jacob grabbed Rakepick pinning her against the wall. "I asked you a question."
"There's only one place to go. Forward and to the center. You'll have to move fast if you want to see your brother and his friends again." Rakepick answered.
"You're lying!" Lizzie shouted pointing her wand at Rakepick's face.
"No I'm not!" Rakepick insisted. "I warned you that the Labyrinth messes with your mind. Well now it's messing. You want to get out of here. Get to the center."
Jacob let go. "Fine. But if your lying. There won't even be a cell you're going back to." He warned. He then got back on the Contactu Spell. "Listen up! Head for the center! And hope that the Labyrinth doesn't make any more changes on us."
Rakepick nodded knowing what Jacob meant by that. She motioned the two to follow her.
"We have to go forward now?" Kassandra asked.
"Yep." Ethan answered. "Let's get going." He motioned the girls to follow him. And Penny held Ethan's hand.
"Ethan. I have every confidence you'll get us through... actually who am I kidding. I'm actually freaking out right now." Penny commented.
"Just keep holding my hand, Penny." Ethan assured.
"What do you think Rake what's her name meant by tricks on the mind?" Kassandra asked.
"It's probably just a little mean thing she likes to do, nothing more." Ethan answered. He took another step forward. That was when he stepped on something. It made a crunching sound. He knew what it meant.
"Ethan? Did you step on a bag of Potato Chips?" Penny asked not daring to look down.
"No." Ethan answered looking down to reveal his foot that stepped on a human ribcage.
Penny closed her eyes. "It's just a bad dream. It's just a bad dream." She insisted.
Ethan looked ahead to reveal a whole mess of skeletons that were streamed around the halls.
"How long do you think they've been down there?" Kassandra asked.
"I have no idea. And I'd rather not stick around to find out." Ethan answered. Taking Kassandra's hand and leading her down the hall.
Penny decided to follow them.
They followed another hallway that went to the left that was thankfully, away from skeletons.
"Oh, thank goodness we're out of there. If we ever get out of there. I want to be the one to throw away the key from Rakepick's cell." Penny commented.
That was when Ethan heard a noise. As if someone was coming.
"What was that?" Penny asked nervous now with her wand on standby.
"You think it might be one of the others?" Ethan asked. He held out his wand as well. "Guys?!" He yelled down.
But it didn't sound like any others. Shadows revealed something else moving. And in a slow distance. Almost Skeletal.
Penny gasped as the Skeletons who had some type of Ancient Greek Armor on them and swords charged up to them.
"Living Skeletons." Ethan drew out his Energy Sword from his wand. "Get behind me!" He yelled.
The Skeletons all moved forward making some weird clanking noises. Ethan sliced one in half but another charged at him. Ethan shot a fire spell at that one. "Ethan!" Penny shrieked as a skeleton grabbed her arm. She took her wand and shot a fire spell at it.
"Run!" Penny yelled as she grabbed Kassandra's arm and they both ran.
Ethan ran with them with some Skeletons on their tail.
"Ethan! They're running after us!" Penny shouted.
"I know. I see them." Ethan replied. He shot a whole ring of fire to separate him from the skeletons. "That'll hold them for now. Come on, let's get out of here!" And the Three of them ran away.
In the meantime. Tonks led the way through some more halls. "Um, Tonks. These Halls all look the same. I don't know about you, but I'm pretty sure we'd be lost without a map." Charlie said.
"Sorry, Charlie. I knew we should've gotten a map of the Labyrinth before we came in." Tonks replied.
"I don't think they sell maps or that sort of thing." Corey pointed out.
"Maybe if they did, people wouldn't have died." Barnaby said. "Including 50 Curse Breakers that one time."
"If only." Tonks admitted.
Corey looked around. "Wow. There is nothing in the Detective Conebush series about going through the dark Labyrinth."
That was when Barnaby noticed something. It looked like a road marker. "Hey everyone, Look! It's a sign!" Barnaby shined his light on it to read out the words. All it had was different words on it. And arrows. One that pointed to lost and another that pointed to the other direction called very lost.
"Well that's not very nice." Tonks commented.
"Well, we are good and lost now." Barnaby announced.
"And that's good how?" Corey asked.
"For certain you have to be lost to find the places that can't be found. Otherwise, everyone would know how to find them." Barnaby answered.
"Is it me, or is Barnaby starting to make sense around us?" Charlie asked helping Corey to walk.
"I think this Labyrinth is starting to effect everyone of us. We're going through some crazy mental deliberation And Barnaby is starting to talk facts!" Tonks started to freak out.
"Let's just keep walking so nothing too crazy happens." Charlie decided wanting to be the one to keep the group intact. They came across a square of a 4 way intersection and a note.
Tonks picked it up. 3 ways to go. 2 are the wrong. 1 is the right." She read. "Do you wish to challenge Tyche?"
"Who's Tyche?" Charlie asked.
"No clue, but we should approach this carefully." Corey cautioned.
Barnaby was looking at it. "I've got the perfect way to do it!" He announced as he looked at the doorway. He held out a finger. "Let's see, the Black Sheep had 3 bags full of wool. One for the Master. One for the dame. And one for the little boy who lives down the lane. Now living down the lane for the boy, he has to walk farther. But if I have wondered what a twinkle twinkle little star was as it appears like a diamond in the sky..."
Charlie, and Tonks wondered what Barnaby was talking about. While Corey just looked intrigued.
"...Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch a pale of water. But when Jack came down and broke his crown, Jill came tumbling after. However overtime she had Vinegar and Brown Paper. Two things that obviously don't coincide. Taking that into consideration...
He went on like this for a longer time. "...But if Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers... and then you subtract that to Humpty Dumpty sitting on the wall and having a having a great big fall..." We should go that way." He pointed to a door. The door opened to reveal another hallway that glowed to indicate it was the correct way.
"Barnaby, how did you solve that?" Tonks asked impressed.
"I used an extremely complex notion of indicated correctly anticipated notions to propel us to the correct indication." Barnaby answered. "Wow my brain hurts." He said.
"You did what?" Charlie asked.
"I guessed!" Barnaby answered. "That's what I get for trying to read a dictionary and sound smart."
"You read a dictionary?" Tonks asked.
"Tried to. It hurt after 5 minutes." Barnaby answered as they all ran down the hall.
"Hello?" Orion called out to people.
"I don't think there's anybody in this Labyrinth but us, Orion." Rath pointed out to him as they ran forward. "And Sickleworth of course."
Sickleworth stumbled out of Rath's hands and trotted down the hall.
"Sickleworth, wait up a second." Rath insisted still using the Lumos Spell on her wand.
Orion looking around him at all times admiring the Greek Architecture built in the Labyrinth. That was when they saw some light coming from one of the halls.
"Is that, Daylight?" Orion asked.
"I don't think that's daylight. It's going downwards." Rath answered. "And the light is blue." They went down towards it. It was revealed to be far more advanced than the other sections of the Labyrinth. As if they both entered a scientific space ship in the future. "What is this place?" She asked.
"I have no idea." Orion answered. "It's almost as if we've stumbled into the future." He approached a massive glowing rock with strange symbols on them.
Rath looked around as well. That was when she noticed a wall detailing pictures. The same ones that were in one of the walls before everyone got separated. One of a man making metal ones. "Hey Orion! Look at this." She shouted.
Orion ran over to look at what Rath was talking about. And there was writing in Greek. Rath decided to try and use a translation spell on the wall. Worst case scenario was that it didn't work. It did work. The Letters translated into English words. Orion decided to read it.
"This is my Workshop. My Labyrinth. My Prison." Orion translated. "Through this great creation. I made an army for King Minos. But after what he has done. I will not build anymore creations. I have locked them in my Labyrinth. And I will give my body and soul to protect. As is my Guardian. The... Auuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuugh."
"The what?" Rath asked.
"The... Auuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuugh." Orion answered.
"Can you not read it?" Rath asked.
"No. That's literally what it says." Orion answered.
"Why would it say that?" Rath asked flabbergasted.
"He must've died while carving it." Orion suggested.
"Well if he was dying as he was carving it. How could he have carved it?" Rath asked.
Orion was about to answer. But Rath decided not to press the issue. "On second thought. I don't want to know. She interrupted. "The Guardian of the Labyrinth. You think that it might be the Minotaur?"
"Probably." Orion answered. "But look at these carvings. It looks like Daedalus is making Armor or something."
"I don't think that's armor." Rath looked at them as well. "It looks more like creatures he's making. As if they're metal."
"Metal creatures?" Orion worked more closely. Suddenly the carvings began to move like one of the Portraits in the Grand Staircase. However the Carvings looked like a scene on a T.V. A Man putting a hammer on one of the Metal Creatures. The Metal Creatures moving. Swinging large swords. And that same man using a type of Magic Rod or wand, commanding them.
"What does this mean?" Rath asked confused.
"I don't know. That's all it says." Orion answered.
"Who's there?!" A thundering voice called out.
"I don't think that's any of the guys?" Rath took out her wand. She looked around and could see a large column where they could hide in. "Hide." She hissed Orion. And they both hid behind it.
That was when they heard a large creature come forth. It had a giant axe, and what looked like one center eye.
"Is that a Cyclops?" Orion whispered to Rath.
Rath nodded. "That's a Cyclops." She whispered.
"Who is there?! I smell you!" The Cyclops roared.
Orion leaned down to smell his arm pits. "Have I gone nose blind, Rath? Because I don't smell anything." He asked Rath.
In the meantime. Chiara, Jae and Talbott walked down their own path in the Labyrinth. "How long do you think we've been down here?" Chiara asked worried on how long they've been down there. And if they needed to worry about Chiara transforming into a werewolf.
"Let's not think about that at the moment." Jae answered trying to ease the tension.
"I'd kill to see what's down these hallways faster." Chiara grumbled.
"And a bite. I'm starving." Jae added.
"Talbott, do you think you can transform into a bird and fly around?" Chiara asked.
Talbott nodded. He started to transform. But he just stood there. "Huh?" He asked confused. He tried harder to transform. But he wasn't for some reason. He grunted in an effort to transform.
"Um, Talbott. If you need to go can you not do it in your pants?" Jae requested.
"No, Jae! I can't transform. I can't transform into a bird." Talbott replied completely in shock.
"What?" Chiara asked nervous. "But you're an Animagus."
"Yeah. And I can't transform." Talbott shot back with panic in his voice.
"Okay, stay calm." Jae insisted.
"I can't... I can't transform into a bird." Talbott was panicking now. "How is this possible?"
"I don't know. Maybe it has to do with the Labyrinth." Chiara suggested. "It's powers are effecting your Animagus abilities."
"Is that even possible?" Jae asked.
"It's the best theory we have right now." Chiara answered. "Either way. We need to get to the center of the Labyrinth right now."
Talbott was going through a bit of a culture shock because Jae grabbed his hand to keep going.
Chiara stopped in front of a large door. "You think this might be the center?" She asked.
"I have no idea." Jae answered. "I don't even know where the center is. We could be on the edge for all I know." He opened the door to reveal a large circle room.
"A Circle Room?" Chiara asked looking around. That was when she noticed it was very different. It was as if it had some silver statues. Some Wolf statues. And at the center stood a statue of a Huntress with a Silver Bow. And a full moon.
"Wow! Look at that." Jae said heading towards the statue. "What do you think this costs?" He asked.
"Jae. You are not stealing that statue." Chiara answered with her arms crossed.
"I wasn't going to steal it. I was just asking a question on how much do you think it costs." Jae justified.
"Sure you do." Chiara replied sarcastically. When she took another step forward. It was as if the statues eyes glowed.
"Guys? The Eyes." Talbott pointed to the eyes.
Chiara jumped back. "Is that normal?" She asked.
"Another servant of Lycaon comes to the walls of Daedalus!" The Statue boomed.
"Is she talking about Chiara?" Talbott asked.
"I'm not a servant of Lycaon." Chiara insisted.
"Who's Lycaon?" Jae asked.
"Lycaon. The Son of Pelasgus. He angered my father Zeus when he served him a meal made from the remains of a sacrificed boy. As punishment, the enraged Zeus turned Lycaon and his sons into wolves." The Statue explained.
"Your Father?" Jae asked. "But wouldn't that make you the Statue of Artemis?"
"You are correct." The Statue answered.
"So, what are you doing in the Labyrinth?" Chiara asked.
"I have sealed myself away from the Outside World." Artemis answered.
"Well... okay then." Chiara replied. "That's your choice."
"Why have you come to my chambers, Servant of Lycaon?" Artemis asked.
"I'm not a servant of Lycaon." Chiara repeated. "My name is Chiara Lobosca. I'm with my friends. We're trying to stop a very dangerous man from taking the power of the Labyrinth."
The Statue eyes then glowed even brighter at Chiara. Chiara screamed at the sight of it.
"Chiara!" Jae shouted. He tried to get closer but he was pushed back.
"What are you doing?!" Chiara asked nervously.
"Ah, I see. You were bitten as a child by a servant of Lycaon. And from the Curse of the Gaul Ancients that your Father was inflicted with." Artemis learned. "And every full moon. You transform into a servant as well."
"If you mean Werewolf. Then yes. It's horrible." Chiara replied. "I don't want this power. I want to help people. Heal them if I can." She insisted. "Also, it's really not fair to blame my Dad for this."
The eyes glow died down. "Yes. I see it now. Yes." Artemis said.
"What's she going on about?" Talbott asked.
"You are no servant of Lycaon. You are a woman of healing. And your mind is woman over beast." Artemis said to Chiara. "There is a way to heal your pain. If you are willing to prove it."
Chiara looked confused. "You can take away my Werewolf Curse?" She asked.
"No." Artemis answered.
Chiara looked down.
"But I can give you the power to control it. Assuming you are willing to conquer the beast within you." Artemis answered.
"What do you mean by that?" Chiara asked confused.
The Eyes glowed brighter. A large glowing hand emerged from the statue and grabbed Chiara ripping inside of her. It was pulling out something dark and sinister out of Chiara. A large shadow.
"Um, Chiara?" Talbott asked.
The Large Shadow had taken shape in the form of a Werewolf. It howled right at Chiara.
"...Is that me?" Chiara asked.
The Werewolf then reached out its claws. It then spoke in a howling voice. Like nails on a chalkboard. "I am you. And you are me."
"Chiara! That's not you!" Jae yelled.
Chiara stared in horror at the shadow. Was that how the world saw her. She then looked at Jae and Talbott who were looking nervous. Chiara then realized what she had to do. She took out her wand. "You leave them alone." She ordered the shadow werewolf.
"Begin." Artemis commanded.
Jacob traveled further with Lizzie grabbing Rakepick by her neck. "Must you grab my neck so forcefully?" Rakepick asked.
"Must you imprison the love of my life in a portrait for 5 years?" Lizzie shot back.
"It had to be done." Rakepick answered. Which earned her another punch from Lizzie.
"You know. This is actually very therapeutic." Lizzie told Jacob. "Would you like a punch, Jacob?" She asked.
Jacob didn't answer. He was more concerned with finding his little brother.
"Jacob. We'll find him." Lizzie assured. "He's a smart kid."
"I know. I just want to find him alive." Jacob replied.
"We're in the Labyrinth. No Curse Breaker ever-" Rakepick then got a punch to the jaw which chipped a tooth out of her mouth.
"Not ONE WORD!" Lizzie yelled. She then transfigured a gag and put it in Rakepick's mouth. "Ah, that's better."
Jacob then looked at Rakepick. "Just point the way to go." He ordered.
Rakepick nodded. She led them to a intersection. She moved right. Jacob and Lizzie followed her.
"She could be leading us into a trap." Lizzie warned Jacob.
"She could be." Jacob agreed. "And if she is then we'll drop her and find Ethan, and the others and get the hell out of here."
"Are we going to trap Rakepick in the Labyrinth if we find ourselves doing that?" Lizzie asked while whispering to Jacob.
Jacob nodded. "I'm starting to think we never should've come here."
And Lizzie was thinking the same thing.
That was when Rakepick showed up and tugged on Jacob's shoulder. She pointed to a large statue of a...
"A Sphynx?" Lizzie asked examining the statue.
"It looks that way." Jacob answered. "That's down here as well? What else is in this Labyrinth?"
"Well there's a Minotaur." Lizzie answered sarcastically.
Jacob touched the nose. "Look at the chisel work on this statue though." That's when the Sphynx outstretched its wings.
"I would appreciate it if you didn't touch my nose." The Sphynx requested.
Jacob stood back. "Sorry. This hand is fake anyway."
"A Man with a metal hand." The Sphynx noted. "And who are these people with you?" She asked.
"My Love, Lizzie. And this woman is Rakepick." Jacob answered.
"We've come to the Labyrinth to reach a powerful artifact before a mad man named Slayton does." Lizzie added.
The Sphynx looked at Jacob and Lizzie. "So you seek the way to the Labyrinth? I happen to know it." She informed.
"But not without a price, I take it?" Jacob figured.
"If I remember my Greek Mythology correctly. You would agree with the statement that one must risk everything in the pursuit of knowledge, right?" Lizzie asked.
"Nothing is without a price, my dear." The Sphynx replied. "And yes. I agree with the statement."
"Then let's make a deal. We answer whatever questions you ask us. And you let us pass to the way to the Center of the Labyrinth." Lizzie offered. "My Family are business makers. So let's make a deal."
"I accept." The Sphynx agreed. And the Riddle game began. "In Spring I am gay in handsome array; in summer more clothing I wear; when colder it grows, I fling off my clothes; and in winter quite naked appear." She started.
Jacob decided to weigh his options. "Huh. Let me think...." He had to think about it. "A Tree." He answered.
"Correct." The Sphynx replied.
"That was just the first wave though." Lizzie cautioned. "Okay. My turn." She declared.
"Some try to hide, some try to cheat; but time will show, we always will meet. Try as you might to guess my name, I promise you'll know when you I do claim."
Lizzie tapped her foot. Jacob knew that she did that whenever she was thinking. "Death." She answered.
"Correct." The Sphynx said again.
"You're up, Jacob." Lizzie motioned.
Jacob stood forward and listened to the next riddle. "As small as your thumb, I am light in the air. You may hear me before you see me, but trust that I'm there."
Jacob took a deep breath. "Light in the air. So it has to be a bird. Hear me before you see me..." He looked at the Sphynx. "A Hummingbird."
"Clever boy." The Sphynx praised. She then gave the next riddle to Lizzie. "Never resting, never still; moving silently from hill to hill; it does not walk, run, or trot; all is cool where it is not."
Lizzie smirked. "Is this a joke? It's the Sun." She answered.
"Impressive. That is correct as well." The Sphynx said. "What can bring back the dead; make you cry, make you laugh, make you young; is born in an instant, yet lasts a lifetime."
Jacob thought about it for a minute. But he had his answer. "Memories."
The Sphynx nodded. Lizzie stepped forward. "What can run, but never walks; has a mouth, but never talks; has a head, but never weeps, has a bed, but never sleeps?" The Sphynx asked.
"It's a river." Lizzie answered immediately.
"Correct again." The Sphynx said.
Lizzie smacked her chest in victory.
Jacob walked forward next. "This thing all things devours: birds, beasts, trees, flowers; gnaws iron, bites steel, grinds hard stones to meal; slays kings, ruins towns; and beats high mountains down."
Jacob thought about it. "Well it's not my stomach. So I would say Time." He remembered that riddle from reading The Hobbit. Lizzie got a copy from her Grandfather in their second year. And the answer being time.
"I'm impressed." The Sphynx replied. "At night they come without being fetched, and by day they are lost without being stolen." She riddled to Lizzie.
"The Stars." Lizzie answered. "Though in hindsight, the Sun is technically a star." She turned back to Jacob.
The Sphynx nodded and gave the next riddle. "I create my lair with earthen string, and dispatch my prey with a biting sting."
Jacob thought about it for a second. "Okay... A Nest with earthen string. String and Sting. Of course. It's a Spider." He answered.
"Correct." The Sphynx said.
Rakepick looked at the two. They worked well together. She should've gone after Lizzie as well. At least. That's what Rakepick thought.
The Sphynx continued onward. "I'm alive, but without breath; I'm as cold in life as in death; I'm never thirsty, though I always drink."
"Always drink. Never thirsty..." Lizzie snapped her fingers. "A Fish."
"Correct." The Sphynx said.
"What is large, yet never grows; has roots that cannot be seen; and is taller than trees?" Jacob was asked.
And to which Jacob responded with: "A Mountain."
"And now for the final Question." The Sphynx spoke it. "What is always old and sometimes new; never sad, sometimes blue; never empty, but sometimes full; never pushes, always pulls."
Jacob and Lizzie nodded at each other. And they both answered the question. "The Moon."
"So, you have guessed all of my riddles correctly." The Sphynx noted.
"As promised." Jacob requested.
"You have answered all of them correctly. The Door is open to you." The Sphynx got out of the way. And one of the halls was lit up. "Follow the light. It will show you the way." She informed.
"Thanks." Jacob thanked. And they all went down the hall.
Ethan and Penny ran down with Kassandra down their hall. "That was way too close." Penny commented.
"And it's stuff like this that made me not want to originally bring you on this trip, Penny." Ethan reminded.
"Well, how were you to know that we were going to encounter living skeletons?" Penny shot back.
"I didn't. But I thought it was heavily implied." Ethan replied.
"Will you please stop arguing?" Kassandra raised her voice. Both Ethan and Penny looked at Kassandra. "And where do we go next?" She asked.
"Not sure. But hopefully everyone is having an easier time than we are." Ethan answered.
"You'll get us out of here, right?" Penny asked. "I don't like this place anymore. It's too creepy."
"What was your first clue? The fact that we're separated from everyone in this Death Trap? Or that we're in a creepy tunnel?" Ethan asked sarcastically.
"Or surviving every single Death Trap in Ancient Greece?" Kassandra asked.
"All three." Penny answered.
Ethan couldn't blame Penny for thinking that. "Okay... I'll figure something out, Penny. At least we have each other if we're stuck down here." He said looking on the bright side.
"Well, that's true, E. But all the same. I'd like to go back to Hogwarts, where there are Butterbeers and Potions and my sister, Bea." Penny pointed out.
"Don't worry, Penny." Ethan assured. "All we gotta do is get to the center. We'll all link together. And get to the power before Slayton does. Besides, it's not like we can go back anyway. The paths have changed."
"Well, that is true." Penny admitted. "So we have to go forward."
"Let's be careful. For all we know, there could be more traps ahead." Ethan cautioned.
"As long as it's not more skeletons." Penny said.
They continued down more hallways going where ever Ethan thought was the right place. Suddenly they saw the hall split into 2. One that glowed Red and one that glowed Blue. And there was a sign in-between them.
Kassandra looked down at it. "It reads: Sparta or Athens. Rome or Greece. In the days of old These wars were fought and one always dominated the other. Follow the side that won to find the center. Or be doomed to follow the path of the slain."
Penny swallowed hard. One would let them proceed ahead. The other would take them to death.
"Talk about no pressure or anything like that." Ethan commented. "Sparta or Athens?"
"It was the Peloponnesian War." Kassandra told him. "Sparta won that conflict and ended the Golden Age of Athens." Every Greek knew about the Conflict, and Kassandra was no exception.
"And they had the color Red right?" Penny asked.
Kassandra nodded her head. "As it was the color of Rome that conquered Greece." She added.
Ethan nodded. "Then that's where we go." He went down the red path.
Kassandra followed them. But there was another passage on the sign. "Wait! It also reads. The Road to Victory comes with a price. Can you pay it?"
Ethan looked at Penny. Penny reluctantly nodded her head. They didn't have a choice. "What do you think they meant by that?" She asked.
"Well the Labyrinth messes with your mind. So I'm just going to assume that it means that it's yet another death trap that will somehow mess with our minds. Like the Buried Cursed Vault."
Kassandra took another step forward. But she stepped on a tile that appeared to step down. "What was that?" She asked.
"If I know deadly Booby Trap Movies like I think I do. It can't be good." Ethan answered.
That was when the air started to get all musty, and smell bad.
"POISON GAS!" Penny yelled.
"Don't breath it in!" Ethan ran over to Kassandra to shield her from it. "Penny, we've got to run!" He ran forward with Penny following him trying to hold his hand.
But suddenly, Ethan lost his grip. "Penny? Are you there?" He looked behind him to see no one but Kassandra holding onto him.
"Kassie? Did you see Penny?" Ethan asked.
Kassandra shook her head.
"I've got a bad feeling about this." Ethan said. He then saw something. It looked like Merula. "Merula?" He asked surprised. "What are you doing here?"
But the face of Merula looked at Ethan. "You're nothing but a disgrace, Bauer, just like your brother." She said very familiar.
"Wait a minute. This is just a trick. Just like the Final Cursed Vault. The Gas is effecting my head. It won't work." Ethan told himself and Kassie.
"Ethan? What do we do?" Kassandra asked nervously.
Ethan wasn't sure if Kassandra could see what Ethan was saying. But he didn't want to stick around to find out.
"Penny! Where are you?!" Ethan shouted.
That was when he saw a figure. And a Green Beam of Energy. Ethan had a hunch he knew what that was. The Killing Curse. He ran over to it. And indeed he saw a dead corpse.
"Is it, Penny?" Kassandra asked.
Ethan looked down at the dead face of his old friend. Rowan Khanna. "No. It's my brother." He answered.
"That doesn't look like Jacob." Kassandra pointed out.
"My other brother." Ethan corrected. "I've seen this before, Kassie. In the Final Cursed Vault."
"What do we do?" Kassandra asked again.
"Just keep moving. No matter how bad it hurts." Ethan answered.
In the meantime, Penny was looking through everything and darkness. "Ethan! Ethan!" She yelled out in panic. She was breathing heavily again. That was when she saw metal bars in front of her. And her hands in chains. "Oh no. Not again." She said. She turned back but she was in a cage. The Face of Slayton above her. "Wakey Wakey, Princess!"
"No! I escaped you!" Penny shrieked in terror. That was when the cage floor opened. And Penny fell through. She fell on the floor to see her sister, Beatrice in a portrait. "BEA!" Penny ran over but Beatrice still looked around. It was her in her first year. Back when she was young and innocent. "Bea! It's ME!"
But the portrait fell into darkness. "No! No! Come back!" Penny yelled out. But her hands fell on nothing but darkness. And for some reason they felt sticky, like there was blood on them. They were caked in red blood. She looked down to see Ethan all bloodied up and Chiara working tirelessly to heal him. Penny felt like screaming. And she nearly did. But her screams were drowned out when Ethan grabbed her hand.
And he spoke in a voice that didn't sound like Ethan at all. "You couldn't even protect your love. Anymore than you could've protected your friend. Scarlett."
"Scarlett?" Penny asked confused. She turned around. "Penny? What's happening?" Her Friend looked entirely scared.
"Scarlett?!" Penny yelled. She ran over to Scarlett only for her to be ripped apart by Fenrir Greyback. "NO!"
But Greyback laughed. "It's begun." He roared.
Penny then looked away. All the while voices around her head. "It's too late, Penny Haywood. You are going to rot in here." They all chanted. "Coward." "Stupid." "Helpless." "Pathetic." They all chanted to her.
"No. No." Penny wanted to scream to let it all get out of her head. That was when an arm grabbed her and she fell into darkness.
"Come out!" The Cyclops roared. "I can smell your human stench. Who are you humans?!"
"No One!" Rath answered taking Orion and hiding behind another pillar.
"Then I will get No One!" The Cyclops declared.
"Isn't that the truth?" Rath sarcastically asked. They both headed for the exit. But except for.
"And what's this? A little appetizer?" The Cyclops asked grabbing Sickleworth.
"He's got Sickleworth?" Orion asked in disbelief.
"Hey, One Eye!" Rath yelled out.
The Cyclops looked at Rath. "No One! I will now destroy No One!" He yelled.
"Drop the Niffler." Rath ordered. "On the ground.
They Cyclops laughed. "And why would I do that?" He asked.
Rath then used Accio to bring Sickleworth to her and put her in Orion. "Run!" She yelled.
Orion didn't need to be told twice. He knew that Rath had a plan.
"HEY! THAT'S CHEATING!" The Cyclops yelled. He charged right at Rath. But Rath slid underneath him. "Where did No One go?"
"Right here, bub!" Rath yelled. She shot the Cyclops in the back with a fire ball spell.
"Ouch! Why does No One hit me with Fire Balls?!" The Cyclops asked.
"I could hit you with Fire Balls if you want?" Rath offered. She then took out her Beater stick, then proceeded to create a Fire Ball the size of a Bludger and Rath took a swing at the Cyclops with her stick. "Looks like you're not the only one who plays with sticks." She commented.
The Cyclops lost his sight when that Fire Ball hit. But Rath didn't want to wait for him to recover. "Bombarda!" She shot it right at the pillar over the Cyclops. It crashed right on top. But she didn't want to wait to see if he got up. She went to join the others.
The Werewolf charged right at Chiara. "No!" She yelled out. She shot a fire spell at the Werewolf which shuttered back. She remembered from Defense Against the Dark Arts that Werewolves were vulnerable to fire. It was actually the reason why Jae chose not to use fire when it came to being with Chiara.
"You are me." The Werewolf boomed at Chiara.
"No. I'm not!" Chiara yelled back. She shot another fire spell.
"This is how the world will see you." The Werewolf countered. It then spoke in Umbridge's voice. "You will always be a monster."
Chiara looked at Jae and Talbott who were looking at Chiara to succeed. . She then looked back at the Werewolf Shadow. "I know." She admitted. "And I would've certainly become a monster. Had it not been for my friends. Ethan who saved me and didn't let anyone harm me. My Boyfriend Jae. Who will always watch out for me. And a new Job at St. Mungo's where I can do good and help people. That's what separates you from me. Monsters always will be alone. And as long as I keep fighting for those who care, I'll never be alone."
"Then I will tear them apart!" The Shadow Werewolf charged at Jae and Talbott. But Chiara didn't move. "Perhaps, I will be a monster. But I am your Monster no longer." She declared. She raised her wand. "You leave them alone!" Chiara shot the fire spell at the Shadow Werewolf destroying it.
Chiara breathed heavily. "Are you guys okay?" She asked.
Talbott nodded nervously.
While Jae smiled full blast. "Chiara... that was awesome." He commented.
"Thanks." Chiara replied.
"So. You are indeed not a servant of Lycaon." The Statue of Artemis glowed.
"I'm beyond that if you really know me. Jae can see through it." Chiara explained.
"While I cannot take your Curse away. It shows that your mind is not a beast. You have moved beyond that." Artemis informed.
"So, what does that mean?" Jae asked.
Before Artemis could explain. A blast of silver light emerged out of the statue. It shot straight at Chiara.
"Chiara!" Jae shouted.
Chiara was bathed in a glowing light. She suddenly returned to normal. "W-what just happened?" She asked.
"I have given the gift of the Moon to you, Chiara Lobosca." The Statue of Artemis answered. "When you become Beast. You will have free control over your actions."
"You mean-?" Chiara had a hunch over what that meant.
"You are free, Chiara Lobosca." Artemis informed. "You are free."
"I'm free?" Chiara felt like this was a fever dream she was having.
"Chiara. You heard the glowing statue. You're free." Jae commented.
And Chiara let the tears flow out of her. The Tears of pain and torment. Of having to spend every full moon in living fear that she would hurt someone. But if what The Statue of Artemis was saying was true. Then Chiara was free of that. And would have control over what she did as a Werewolf. She then hugged Jae. "I'm free." She said in-between sobs.
"Chiara..." Talbott started. "This is... incredible." He said.
"Come on!" Chiara insisted excitedly. "We better go find our friends and tell them the great news!"
"Then what are we waiting for?" Jae asked following Chiara through the Labyrinth.
Penny breathed in heavily as the arm of Ethan grabbed her down another hall. "Penny. It's me." Ethan said.
"Ethan?" Penny asked.
Ethan nodded.
Penny sobbed into Ethan's arms. "That was so scary."
"I know. But it's over now. That Gas it must've affected our minds. That must've been why we saw those visions." Ethan figured.
"You saw visions too?" Penny asked.
"Yeah. I had to cover Kassandra's nose and mouth so she wouldn't breath it in." Ethan answered.
"W-what did you see?" Penny asked.
"Some things that happened before. Rowan's death. Merula. The Same stuff I saw last year." Ethan answered not exactly thrilled to talk about it.
"Oh Ethan. What I saw..." Penny struggled to find the words. "I was so terrified. I...I thought I had l-lost you."
"Penny..." Ethan kissed her lips. "I'm not going anywhere."
"And... S-Scarlett. I saw her dead by Greyback. You were injured. Bea was..." Penny sobbed.
"Penny... you don't have to say it." Ethan told her. He already figured what it was that Penny was talking about. And what she had experienced. "It's over now."
Penny nodded reluctantly. "Ethan?"
"Yeah?" Ethan asked.
"Can you never let me go?" Penny requested.
Ethan was about to answer when Kassandra interrupted him. "Um... guys?" She pointed to where they were. Arguably the largest part of the Labyrinth. A Large Dome like area.
"It must be... the heart of the Labyrinth. We've made it to the center." Ethan figured.
"Oh, no. I was referring to that guy." Kassandra pointed to an unconscious man on the ground. A Man with one ear.
"Is that Slayton?" Penny asked.
Ethan looked at the body. It looked like Slayton alright. His face was all bloodied on one side. "Yeah. It's him. But I don't know if I should be very happy that he's in that state. Or very concerned about why he's in that state." He answered.
Even Penny was concerned as well. But not for Slayton obviously. "What could've done this to him?" She asked.
"I don't know. But I don't think we're going to like it. Though, I suppose he can't be all that bad if he's defeated Slayton." Ethan replied.
That was when he heard a loud noise. Like heavy breathing.
"Penny. Please tell me that's your breathing." Ethan requested.
But Penny's legs were shivering. "N-no." She replied having a really bad feeling about this. That was when they all heard steps.
And what came out was a large creature. A dark creature. A big creature. It's footsteps clinging like every single step was causing an Earthquake. Ethan's eyes opened wide. Penny stood there with her mouth open. And Kassandra cowered behind Ethan trying to take shelter. The Creature towered over Ethan even though it was 20 feet away. Ethan got a better look at the Big Creature. With it's Greek Standard Armor. It's large Calf feet. It's buff humanoid build. And it's bull face with horn. It also wielded a massive large Bronze Shiny Battle Axe with it. It made a roaring Bull sound at Ethan.
"Um, wild guess here. That may have done something to Slayton." Ethan guessed.
Penny wanted nothing more than to scream at the sight of it. But that may have only provoked the creature. Instead she just kept stuttering out her words. "T-t-t-t th-that's a... b-b-b-b-big bull."
Kassandra looked at the Creature. "No. It's the Minotaur."
The Minotaur roared at Ethan.
(What the Minotaur looks like)