Page 42 of Of Monsters and Mazes

“So fucking immature.” Theron spat back.

“And you’re both wasting my time.” I interrupted again, while pointing up at the always ticking clock. Fifty-four-and-a-half hours remained, and whatever feud was between these two, it was going to slow me down. “I have an actual mission to accomplish, in case you forgot.”

Alessi tilted his chin and watched the clock for several seconds. “Hmm, so you do. That’s plenty of time though. The last person to play Jericho’s game was only allotted fifty-four minutes, while you’re already in the Green Sector with days to go.” He returned eye contact to offer the most dazzling of fang laden smiles. “You’ll have plenty of time if you let me help you through the Labyrinth, lovely Sela.”

I looked to Theron, like I needed his permission to invite this guy along, but I wasn’t sure if that was actually a good idea or not. I felt like an outsider looking in on the boys’ club of Tartarus. While that should have been another day in my life, this whole scenario was considerably more dire than simply having a vagina on the programming floor.

“Alessi is a coward. You don’t want to count on him as we enter the Yellow, Orange, or Red Sectors.” Theron shut down my pleading immediately. “Especially not the Yellow Sector.”

“I’m a coward?” The fox never lost his cool, even through the insults. If anything, he seemed to revel in defending himself. A man after my own heart. “She knows everything you do is for his royal highness, right? That the moment he comes to collect, you’ll sell her down the river for a pat on the head?”

That reminder made me frown. To my surprise, it made Theron frown too.

“She’s aware.” Though Theron spoke sharply, I couldn’t help but notice the subtle way he still stood to separate us. “I’ve always been up front about my intentions, unlike you.”

Alessi recoiled ever so slightly, like that was the first jab that actually hurt. “That’s not a fair statement.”

His playful demeanor immediately broke down, and I felt obligated to step in and smooth over Theron’s usual lack of social grace.

“Obviously you two have a bit of a history, but it’s also obvious that you don’t actually hate each other, so how about we all move on together and stop being so dramatic. I could use both of your help if it’s really that bad up ahead.” One more appeal to reason.

“It’s obvious, huh?” Theron glared at me briefly, then he unceremoniously shoved the fox with excessive force, sending him back into the green walls of the Labyrinth. The vines immediately coiled around him and started dragging him into the thicket. “I hope that shit eats you alive, you furry fuck.”

“Hey, hey, hey!” I ran to Alessi’s aid, which only earned more of Theron’s aggravation.

“You two deserve each other.” Theron growled before he stormed off into the maze.

Alessi took my hand and pulled himself free of the vines. By the time he was done brushing leaves from his jacket, Theron had disappeared around a bend, and I had completely lost sight of him.

“He’s always been a drama queen. Don’t take it personally.” Alessi patted me gently on the shoulder. “He’ll be back when he realizes no one is crying over his little tantrum. He cares too much to leave it be.”

“He was helping me a lot though.” I muttered nervously.

No, this was fine. I was strong and tough and resourceful. I’d figure out this maze with or without him. I’d never intended or expected to have help in the first place, and he’d openly admitted he planned to betray me. So… so it was fine.

“I’m sure you were helping him more than the other way around.” Alessi chuckled, before he hugged me around my shoulders and nuzzled into my hair. “If you’re worried about the monsters, I’ll take you through the Labyrinth from here, Bijou. You helped me, so I’ll help you. Unlike our prickly little Dream Weaver, I don’t have any loyalty to Jericho, so you’re safer with me anyway.”

“Because you’re from Olympus?” I turned my head so we were nose to nose, and Alessi gave me a squeeze.

“Because I’m an independent person with a mind of my own.” With a quick rustling of my hair, he ruined my pony tail, and then he released me from his hug. I’d traded one impossible to read, dangerous companion for another, and I wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or not. “Plus, it serves my own amusement to assure you don’t fall into the hands of Jericho, and there is no higher purpose in all the realms.”

Something about the way he said that put me immediately at ease. Theron had confirmed he was from Olympus, so he had to be safer than anyone from Tartarus, right? Although I had my reservations about trusting anyone too easily in a place like this.

Still, even if he was a safe bet, I was a bit sad to have lost Theron’s company. He was becoming a weird comfort in an uncomfortable place, and maybe I’d already trauma bonded with him more than was reasonable. I didn’t know what grudge these two held between them, but the sad knit to Alessi’s brow led me to believe that it wasn’t actually nefarious in nature. I may not have been a great judge of character, but I had a decent understanding of heartbreak. That look was heartbreak.

“Do you think he’ll come back?” I asked idly, and I shook my head when I realized what I’d said, embarrassed to imply I wanted him to.

“Where else is he going to go?” Alessi smirked, like he was enjoying his own inside joke. He patted me on the shoulder with a reassuring pressure. “He was just going to hold you back anyway. I’ve been around long enough to understand the assignment. Let’s go get your cat back.”

I nodded, sharing an easy smile, then we both faced the wrapping corridors.

Alessi took the first step towards the castle, before he added, “Now try not to get too close to the walls, but I can get you free again if you do. The Yellow Sector isn’t terribly far.”

Chapter 21

Fucking Alessi.

Why was he even in the Labyrinth? Especially this time of year, when he knew we would be playing the tribute game. Sometimes I wondered if he enjoyed rubbing everything in my face at the one, and only, time of year I had responsibility to the king. We’d danced around each other for millennia, and I was over his games and his bullshit. Not even Butterfly was a good enough excuse to stay in his insufferable presence for another minute.