Page 55 of A Trial of the Heart

Such a twisted yet beautiful mind you have… Oh, the games we shall play.

“Who’s there?” I screamed again into the emptiness. Shivers crawled up my spine as I realized my ears hadn’t heard the voice. It echoed inside my mind.

I would not dawdle if I were you, sshhhifter. Time, as you know, is not on your side. The key you seek will only be freed if you can meander the pathway and reach my center. If you reach this point before the Mother seeks her rest and the Father takes his turn watching us from above, you may leave here alive.

I realized this inhuman, cold, decrepit voice speaking directly into my mind was the labyrinth itself.

Must another fall so soon?The voice of the Labyrinth gave an audible sigh of pity.I had such high hopes after the last champion. He made it so far, but alas, his mind was ultimately lost.

Suddenly, I felt the floor beneath my feet tremble, forcing me to stagger and fall to my knees. I braced my hands against the wobbling stone, praying for the shaking to stop. I had never felt anything like this inmy life. The rolling shockwaves vibrated the earth, forcing me off balance and preventing me from moving onward.

Hurry along,the labyrinth taunted as the sounds of crumbling stone echoed around me. Was the labyrinth collapsing?

I twisted my head to look behind me as the floor began to disappear. “What the—”

Never say I didn’t warn you.

Adrenaline surged through my veins as I sprang to my feet, sprinting as fast as I could down the path. Each time the heel of my foot lifted from the cobblestone, it vanished into nothing, disappearing into a bottomless chasm.

My animal pumped power through me, urging my limbs to move faster than they ever had before. Drafts of vile-smelling air wafted from the empty abyss that chased after me, reminding me of death incarnate and what awaited if I faltered in my steps. I pumped my arms as fast as I could, trying to encourage my trembling legs to follow suit.

Daring a glance over my shoulder, I could no longer see the entrance or the fog I passed through to enter. I took a sharp turn to my right, grabbing the corner of the wall with my outstretched hand to help continue my momentum along the corridor. The labyrinth shuddered and shook once more, throwing me off balance, and I crashed hard into the ground. My chest collided with a protruding piece of stone, but thankfully, the armor of Aegis kept me from cracking my sternum.

Lucky break for you, it seems…

Rubbing the center of my chest, I silently thanked Rhett for giving me this armor. Then, to my surprise, I noticed the halt of the vanishing cobblestonefloor during the earthquake. Thank the Gods; this gave me time to think and get my bearings, but my relief was short-lived. Crouched on the ground, I heard a faint growl and screeching sound from beneath me, under the labyrinth itself. I bent to place my ear on the ground to listen but soon regretted my decision.

“What in the Gods’ names is that?” I exclaimed. The sounds of teeth and claws vibrated beneath the layer of cobblestone, steadily growing louder from the empty pathway behind me.

My children are hungry…

Well, fuck… this was not good. “For what?”

For you. And, yes, I agree, not good at all. They only awaken and are granted an opportunity to hunt and eat once a century when my gates open. They absolutely love the taste of fresh shifter flesh.

“Sorry to disappoint them, but they won’t be dining on me tonight.”

It’s actually the bones they enjoy the most. The flavor lasts longer.

“Or any other shifter ever again!” I yelled at nothing and everything all at once.

The soul-rattling scraping of claws against stone amplified. The echoes of jaws opening in anticipation of a meal quickened my frantically beating heart. They were mere inches away, hiding in the darkness behind me where the stone path once stood. I gasped in pure terror and scurried from the gaping hole filled with deadly creatures. In all my life, I had never heard such monstrous sounds. These creatures, or children—whatever was lurking down there, were not something I wanted to meet.

So brave. The other champions thought that as well. But in the end, fortunately for my children, they were wrong.

“Well, I’m not like the others that have come before me.” The walls and floor finally stopped shaking, and I regained my balance enough to jump to my feet and continue running.

No…The voice of the labyrinth paused for a moment, making my insides turn.You are definitely not. You aremore. Interesting. This shall be a treat.

“If you say so.” I wasn’t planning on sticking around long enough to find out.

I sprinted round another corner, bearing right. My feet pounded against the cold stone with relentless resolve. I was determined to distance myself from those monsters as much as possible. As I rounded another turn, the fog from the entrance reappeared along the straightaway, forcing me to skid to a halt. I shuddered with surprise and fell backward, thrusting my arms in front of my face to try and shield myself. The mist encased me, encircling my limbs and brushing over my skin with its magic, almost like it was tasting me.

Ahh—there it is. You’re not just a shifter; you’re also human. This is a first. I’m genuinely intrigued.

It wasn’t the first time I’d heard that. “Happy to hear the trial of the mind has some intelligence present. I was curious when you’d discover that hidden gem about my origins.”

And a quick wit as well. Oh, what a delight.

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