Chapter Three

I rolled my eyes, not surprised by how the story has been told. “There are some truths to it, and then much was left out." I sighed. She moved closer to the edge of the bed. “Can you tell me? The true story?" she asked. I furrowed my brow, not sure why I would. “I’m not going anywhere. There’s no escaping this place, and well, if you aren’t going to kill me… I hope you still aren’t going to do that." she spoke up.

“Fine." I sighed, giving in. Melite smiled and seemed to perk up that I was giving in. “Well, go on. Tell me. Start from the beginning." she encouraged. “I’m not sure why you care, but fine." I sighed. “The part about the bull and my mother is somewhat true. Minos wanted Poseidon’s favor in his war against his brothers for the throne. Poseidon sent a snow-white bull with the instruction that the bull was supposed to be sacrificed in honor of him when Minos won. Minos, however, didn’t kill the bull but killed a different bull." I started.

“Minos is an imbecile for thinking he could trick a God and not pay the price. As punishment, Poseidon placed a curse on my mother. Though not to turn into a cow. He cursed her to fall in love, or I suppose lust would be more apt with the bull. So driven by this cursed lust, my mother had Daedalus build her a hollowed wooden cow that she could climb inside. Inside the false cow, she bred with the bull. And from that union, I was born. Which I think was just another part of Poseidon’s curse. After all, what better punishment to a pompous king than to be cuckold by the same bull he was supposed to sacrifice." I shrugged. 

"Oh. Well, I can see why the story was modified. I had even heard a version that the bull was actually Poseidon, and he turned your mother into a cow to secretly have an affair." she commented. To that, I rolled my eyes. Why do people make up wild stories about the Olympian Gods? They're just people, well, people with powers humans don't possess. "Yeah, no. My father is, or rather was, just a white bull." I shook my head.

"Was?" she frowned. "Well, after I was born and Minos saw me, my mother confessed to her infidelity with the bull. So as double punishment, I was taken to live in a dungeon, and the bull was castrated then slaughtered." I explained. "Oh, that's so sad. I mean, it wasn't the bull's fault. He's just an animal. And Poseidon cursed your mother for the king's actions, yet King Minos took you from her at birth." she shook her head. 

It was amusing that someone else saw Minos as the asshole of this. "I suppose, but he's the king, so there's little anyone could do. I spent the first eight years of my life in that dungeon. A blind servant was my caregiver. And my mother would sneak to visit me. It is from her visits that I was educated. But well, an incident occurred. I was angry with… well, everything, and I bit my caregiver." I sighed. "You were eight and raised in a dungeon. Of course, you were angry. My little brother bit our nanny's arm just for telling him no to sweets." she defended me. "Was it something in particular that set you off?" she asked.

"Rather big difference between me at eight and your brother. I was already five feet tall and bit through her arm. Minos had ordered my food rations cut in half in quantity and frequency. So I hadn't been given food in a week. And was told it would be yet another day before the king would allow me to be fed. I bit her forearm, and I was hungry, and she tasted good. I ate the severed arm till guards knocked me out." I shrugged.

Her eyes widened. "Oh...yes, that is certainly different," she said, uneasy. "My caregiver wasn't the last person whose flesh I've tasted. I ate a guard when I came to. Then he sent me here, and Minos started only to feed me criminals sentenced to their deaths. And well, now he's got this stupid festival he starved me for so he can sentence fourteen of you to die in the labyrinth as revenge for my brother's murder." I sighed. "So there's no way out of here?" she asked. 

“Not exactly… I mean, for me, there isn’t. I’m here till I die." I shrugged. “What does that mean?" she asked, furrowing her brow. “You came in through the only entrance built into this place. It is too short and narrow for me to get through, not to mention that they put a boulder across it. I am strong enough to move the boulder now." I explained. “Then you could move the boulder so that I could escape?" she asked, hope in her voice. “No." I shook my head. Her eyes hardened at my answer. 

“So then what, I’m supposed to just sit here till I starve to death? Because that sounds worse than you just eating me." she folded her arms in a huff. “I have food." I gestured to where I stored the smoked meat. “You have the flesh of three boys I knew." she glared at me. “I would rather starve than become a cannibal like…" she started to shout but then pressed her mouth shut tight. “Like me? Is it really cannibalism when I am not a human? In that same avenue of thought, would it make me a cannibal to eat steak like humans?" I questioned. 

She gulped, looking down. “I didn’t… I’m sorry. But I just… I can’t eat their flesh." she shook her head. “That’s your choice." I shrugged. “I’m not planning to eat you, though. Unless you ask nicely, I suppose." I taunted. Her eyes widened as she gasped at my innuendo. Maybe I shouldn’t have said that. But I still remember the brief smell of her arousal when I slapped her ass earlier. And I can smell it again now. “Or is that what you’d rather be doing while trapped in here with me?" I questioned.

“How… how dare you." she sputtered, backing away a little on the bed. “How dare I what? Insinuate that you are aroused at the thought of what it could be like for me to have my way with you? Granted, I know for a fact you are aroused, scared but aroused. I can smell it." I questioned, stepping closer. She gulped a little, looking me over as I got closer. “I… I can’t. I shouldn’t…" she shook her head slightly. “Why might that be? Because I’m a ‘monster’? Or some vow of chastity?" I asked, removing my shoulder armor.

“Well, I… I am a virgin, and I was saving myself…" she blushed, but her eyes were still watching my every movement. “Well, I already assumed you are a virgin. You were selected because of that, your age, and noble birth." I nodded, removing my vambraces from my forearms. “As for saving yourself… for who? A betrothed back in Athens?" I asked, sitting on the bed removing my greaves. “For what? You were sent here to die. There is no guarantee, even with my help, that you would survive to go home. Or that if you go home, your family won’t ship you right back here to fulfill the promise Athens made to Minos." I pointed out as the space between us got smaller. 

“I…" she frowned. I think she realized I was right. “Well?" I asked, waiting for her to say more. I wouldn’t force her even if I could easily. “I had no betrothed. And you’re right. If I ever found a way home, my father would be furious and disown me. As you said, they sent me here to die." she sighed, rubbing her lips together in thought. Her eyes looked up at me. Hesitation was in them, but so was intrigue and a touch of lust. “You are not what I expected at all… Asterion." she said, cautiously reaching out and touching my chest. 

It was the first time she’s said my name since I told it to her. I like it; I like that someone, not my mother, is using my name. Someone was touching me. I wasn’t going to tell her that I haven’t done this before either. I figure enough animal instinct will get me through this. I just have to keep in mind not actually to bite her. If she tastes as sweet as she smells, I might break my promise not to eat her. Leaning closer, I kissed her, a hand going into her tousled blonde hair.