Something Wicked This Way Comes, Volume 2

lost.” He drew the golden dagger from his robe, pressed the tip to Larisa’s clenched fist and a tiny trickle of blood appeared.

Larisa glanced upward, tensely biting her lip. The small cut barely registered as pain but the priest’s ominous motions left her breathless with terror.

The priest caught a few drops of blood on the tip of the blade and lifted it toward the head at the top of the column. Larisa watched as a dark crimson trace of her blood was smeared across the star carved on the bull’s forehead.

The moment the blood touched the star, the ground shook and the thundering snort of a bull echoed from within the labyrinth.

A heartbeat later, the click of heavy hooves pounded the floor.

“It is done.” The priest stepped away from Larisa. “Asterion has been summoned into flesh.”

Then the priest dissolved in front of her eyes, quickly becoming so transparent the glowing torch shown clearly through his robe. His image faded until he completely disappeared into vaporous black smoke.

And Larisa was left to face the beast alone.

Chapter Two

The bellowing cry of a large animal rolled through the cavern. Larisa froze against the column, frantically glancing side to side as the chilling sounds of a snorting bull filled the air. The flickering torch provided minimal light, exaggerating shadows and revealing only vague details about the labyrinth. She squinted at what appeared to be several entrances to the chamber across the cavern, but she couldn’t be sure.

She strained to hear from which direction the creature would approach as a shudder of terror gripped her.

Nothing happened.

She waited breathlessly for many long moments as silence reigned. There were no noticeable animal sounds or movements within the labyrinth. The air hung heavy and a cold sweat broke across her brow. A frightened little whimper escaped her lips. Where was it? What was it doing? Why couldn’t she hear the beast walking toward her? Her wrists twisted anxiously from the ring. She listened for some clue the monster was near but the faint sound of dripping water was all she heard.

Harrumph!

She heard a single loud animal noise and trembled.

Snort!

Her eyes strained to see beyond the flickering shadows as her fear intensified.

The click of what sounded like hooves echoed through the cavern, each clopping step signaling a creature of great size moving closer. Every muscle in her body tensed. She wanted to cry out but was too terrified to release the hysterical scream building in her lungs.

A massive black bull, far larger than any she had ever seen in the fields, burst into the cavern with a loud snort! It thrashed its massive horns from side to side and briskly pawed the ground with a hoof.

Then bull looked directly at Larisa, huffed loudly…

And charged.

The beast pounded toward her with the speed and crushing power of a rolling boulder. Larisa screamed.

The bull skidded to a halt an arm’s length in front of her. She rose on tiptoe and arched away from the beast’s massive head and sharp-tipped horns. The earthy scent of field beast filled her nostrils.

The bull stared into her eyes as its tail swished back and forth. Huff, huff. Bursts of warm, moist breath panted from the beast’s muzzle. Every breath sounded like a large bellows drawing air into its massive chest.

Larisa waited in painful suspense to be gored or bitten by the wild creature.

Don’t be afraid. I’m not going to harm you.

The deep, gentle voice of a man floated into her thoughts.

She glanced around, expecting to see the priest lurking in the shadows whispering strange words, but saw no one. “Who’s speaking?” she whispered.

My name is Darron. The bull inched closer. Its snout brushed the very tip of her nose and sniffed her skin. I’ve waited years for this. I began to believe it would never happen. I am honored you’ve been offered to me.

She gasped in alarm. Was a bull truly speaking to her? Entering her thoughts? This was madness beyond all madness!

Phouff! The bull bellowed in her face, its booming roar resonating through the chamber. It galloped around the column, flicking its tail in agitation before bursting into a snorting charge at the far wall. The bull abruptly stopped just short of the wall, swung its head around and looked at her.

A body is a wonderful thing! He enthusiastically stomped in a tight circle. I’ve had it described to me many times but nothing could have prepared me for how it actually feels. It’s almost too much. So many strong sensations… It’s like feeling everything at once!

His ecstatic words continued to directly penetrate her mind. “Are you really speaking to me?” she asked.

The bull glanced at her sideways. Yes, I am, and just as soon as I get my bearings about breathing, moving, thinking and feeling, I’ll take a more traditional form. The bull ran in circles around the cavern, snorting with joy.

Larisa watched the dizzying sight, suppressing incredulous laughter.

I’m doing great! It’s not so hard. I’m going to attempt a new form. The bull knelt before her on its forelegs and somewhat clumsily lowered to the ground. I’ve waited ages to do this. The bull fell onto its side with a deep thud and began to vigorously roll back and forth, kicking its legs in the air.

She was alarmed to see a creature of such size thrashing against the stone and felt certain it would harm itself, but as she watched, the bull slowly transformed…

As it rolled on the floor, a man’s body took form.

Hoofed limbs became muscular legs and arms, articulate hands. A man’s broad shoulders and chest appeared.

Finally Darron cautiously rose on two human legs covered in thick, dark hair.

Larisa gasped when she looked at his handsome face, with its strong jaw and high cheekbones framed by dark, wavy hair. His up-tipped brown eyes appeared highly intelligent. His noble face was nothing like an animal’s —except for a broad set of sweeping horns still attached to his head, which made his tall frame appear even larger. A faint swishing motion behind his thigh alerted her to the presence of a bull’s tail.

“What are you?” she asked cautiously. “Are you an outcast god?”

“Can we speak of that later?” He grinned. “I want to enjoy this moment.” He slowly lifted one foot and then the other before carefully approaching her with an expression of wonderment on his face. “Walking on two legs is tricky!” He stood close and stared into her face. “And looking at you through a man’s eyes is a very different experience than looking at you as a bull.”

His approving gaze swept over her. “I feel quite strange standing near you. My heart’s pounding.” His fingertips grazed her arm, touching with gentle curiosity. “You’re so soft. I would never have felt the smoothness of your skin through a hoof.” He stared at his fingers. “Hands are amazing!” He lightly brushed the tip of one long finger against her parched lips. A look of concern crossed his face. He turned and walked away.

Larisa sighed in relief and allowed her arms to hang limply from the bonds. Certainly this situation was strange, but it wasn’t nearly as awful as she’d expected. Darron, as he had introduced himself, did not inspire terror. The man radiated awe and curiosity.

Based on his reactions, she guessed she was as great a mystery to him as he to her. Except for a couple of