My eyes blew wide as realization hit me.Oh, shit! Is that what they wanted me for? Theywantedme to get into the minotaur’s mind? And here I was, playing right into their hand.Fuck! I had opened the door. I’d forced myself into his mind, exactly where the shadow person wanted me. It was no wonder the minotaur reacted so strongly.
My thoughts turned to the rooftop talk with Aurelia.“Anything given can also be taken. A memory shared can be a memory stolen.”She shared a memory with me, but it meant I was capable oftakinga memory as well. That was what the shadow person needed, for me totakefrom the minotaur. No! I wouldn’t. I wouldn’t do that!
I am Bowen Thomas, descendant of Gwrhyr, Interpreter of Languages,Keeperof Secrets. NotTakerof Secrets. I lifted my chin up, and narrowed my eyes. “Fuck you! I’m not helping you.”
Once again, the minotaur’s air was cut off, and an inky hand clenched my jaw, squeezing it and forcing my attention upward. The shadow person leaned close and whispered in their unnervingly nasal voice. “You will, or you will watch him die. What are a few measly tokens compared to a life?”
Through a strained voice, the minotaur forced out, “I… would… rather… die.”
Fuck! What was I supposed to do? I couldn’t sit here and do nothing, and I couldn’t do what was asked of me.
I felt afamiliar itch in the back of my mind, and with it came a surge of anger and determination in my chest that I knew wasn’t mine. It was closer and stronger than before.Rudy! Focusing on that connection, I poured everything I could into it. “Rudy, I need you!”
“Boooowwwen!” My name came with a roar that sounded as clear as if he were next to me. The relief I felt at hearing him almost had me sighing out loud, but I caught myself and closed my eyes to focus on him.
“Fuck, it’s good to hear you.” I could feel him, too. He didn’t feel as distant. Hope and love thrummed inside me.
“Bowen hurt?” The question came in the wolf’s voice. I hated to hear the fear in him, but I was glad it was the wolf, because that was who I needed right now.
“No, I’m not hurt, but someone else is. They want me to do something to him, and I can’t do it. I can’t. But if I don’t, I… shit, I don’t know what to do.”
“Coming, Bowen.” The words were tense and sharp, but in my chest I felt a strong pulse as though he was pushing himself further and faster, closing the distance between us. The thought of him growing nearer made my heart swell.
“I’m underground. It’s an old mining shaft. There’s gotta be a tunnel or an opening somewhere.Copper. I think they mined for copper here.” Perhaps that would help him be able to find the right tunnel. I only hopedit was big enough for his werewolf form to fit through. My eyes slid over to the minotaur. He was sitting down, so it was hard to get a full scope of his size, but he seemed big. There must be a way. Therehadto be.
“Tell me, Bowen Thomas. Will you unlock the vault, or willyoubecome the monster and end this ancient being’s life? The choice is yours; it’ll be our little…secret.” They hissed out the last word, telling me they felt like they would win no matter which direction this went.
Neither, I thought. I glanced sideways at the minotaur and tried to convey as much apology as I could. His eyes steeled, and he snorted out a loud breath. I hated to do this, but I needed him to know what was happening. “I’m sorry. I understand why you don’t want me in your mind. Just… please, I need you to listen. Just listen, that’s it.”
His head cocked, and he hesitated, but then answered with a huff.
“Help is coming. Mymateis coming. We’re going to get you out of this, I swear. I just need to buy him a little time to get here.”
His prominent brows rose for a moment before fixing his face. I could feel the shadow person watching us both intently. They seemed to know when I’d been communicating with the minotaur, but how much could they grasp of it?
Talking. That was my tool, right? Now was the time to use it. “When I was five, my pet turtle told me he’d seen anotherwoman in our house who had been friendly with my father. I tried to tell my mother, but she took away my turtle and kept my father.”
The shadow person tilted their head, and I felt a sense of confusion from them, so I kept going. “At eight, a neighbor’s dog told me she was worried about her owner. I called nine-one-one and was laughed at. ‘Silly child, don’t call unless it’s an emergency.’ Well, there was one.”
“What are you doing?” The figure’s nasally voice pitched up.
“You want secrets? I’ve got plenty.” I continued before they could speak. “At eleven, a crow told me about suspicious activity happening in the park they frequented. They were bothered by the extra people and the loud noises. You know what I did? Nothing, because I learned adults didn’t listen to a child who talked to animals. There was a big turf war, and someone died. I don’t know if it could have been prevented, and I’ll never know if I could have changed the outcome, and… that’s a secret I’ve carried with me my entire life.”
“Hmm, tasty.” The figure stepped closer to me. From the corner of my eye, I could see the bands around the minotaur loosen ever so slightly. “Give me more.”
Before I could share another story, a deafening howl sounded, echoing through the mine. The shadow figure jolted, and my mouth stretched into a wide grin.I could feel him; he was so close. Pride filled me as I reached out to Rudy. “I hear you, big guy. I’m right here.”
“Bowen!” My name came out in another howl. Then he was moving. I could feel the tug in my chest with him drawing near.
The shadow person stood over me, and the darkness flickered around him as if the piercing sound had shaken him. “Why are you smiling?”
“Because I have another secret.” I couldn’t stop the grin on my face.
“What? Tell me!” The figure shouted as the light and dark began to tremble around him.
With complete confidence, I said, “You are going to bereallysorry you brought me here.”
Fast, thudding footsteps sounded in the tunnel behind the figure. The light was extinguished, and darkness exploded around me. Thrust into the deepest, darkest black as I had been when I first awoke in the tunnel. Only this time I didn’t feel alone. Rudy was here. I could feel him inside me as much as I could hear his rapid approach.
