Page 201 of Monsters in Love

Surely, it couldn’t be. That would be insane. And also, the kind of thing someone would mention, right?

And yet...

It was hard to argue with the facts: this place was definitely abandoned, there was no rhyme or reason to the way the corridors went. I’d not seen a single room or door coming off it so far. Nothing. My stomach dropped as I realized that if I was right, it was going to be a whole heck of a lot harder to escape than I’d initially thought.

Maybe I should go back to the hole in the ceiling and take my chances with the wolves?

Kavi

It was a female, human, from the scent that tickled my nose. My stomach rumbled and my cock twitched, and I couldn’t decide just yet whether I wanted to fuck or feast. All I knew was that she smelled delicious, and I needed to find her.

This area of my labyrinth had been unused for a long time. I’d abandoned it as the days of glory fell away, as we gave up the hunt for a quieter life, as even our gladiatorial events faded into obscurity. And yet, that urge sang in my blood right this moment, to leap into battle, to fight and win.

She had awakened that desire again.

I strode the halls, my morning star trailing behind me. I would find her sooner rather than later.

And then another scent tickled my nose; one of the lesser beasts in this area. A wave of rage swept through me, and my feet moved faster, thudding against the ground as I closed the distance.

I could not let it find her first, and I would not let it live for longer than a few moments after I laid eyes on it. A soft gasp reached my ears, and I broke into a run, a strange protective urge washing over me.

That beast could not have her. She was mine.

Tamara

Somewhere along the way, I’d gotten lost. There was no doubt about it. I’d not been able to find my way back to the hole in the ceiling, and this hallway looked different to the last. The walls weren’t as crumbled, and not as many vines covered them or slithered their way across the ground; I wasn’t walking through cobwebs as thick as walls either. The air was still somewhat stale, probably because no breeze touched this place.

I was still trying to get my head around what this labyrinth was doing here in the woods. If there had been any reception, I’d have Googled it, seen if I could find out anything more, but there was no way in hell it was going to work down here if it didn't work on the surface.

The drip, drip, drip of water hit my ears and I moved toward it. So often water showed the way out of a place; maybe I would get lucky. I sure as hell couldn’t get unluckier.

My ankle ached, as did other parts of my body. My knees were no doubt skinned, my elbows too. And my wrist was tired from holding this damn torch. I just wanted to sit down and cry, but if I did that, I might not get up again, and I had no idea what else might be down here with me.

The hallway opened into a wider space and I glanced around, letting my torch disperse the shadows a little at a time. This was different. The first time I’d come across anything other than halls and junctions. A square room, and in its very center was a well.

A well. In a labyrinth. Okay. Well, there were stranger things to be found, I was sure. I just hadn’t expected this.

Small purple and blue flowers dotted the floor and climbed the walls on dark green vines. My gaze followed them up, finding a small circular window through which I could glimpse the moon. I flicked off the torch, letting my eyes accustom to the darkness, and then I sucked in a breath.

The flowers were glowing in the moonlight. It was the most unexpectedly beautiful thing in this desolate space. I hobbled toward the well, which the vines had also claimed, and cupped a flower in my hand, in awe at the glow against my skin.

This was magic. There was no other word to describe it. I’d never seen anything like these flowers, and I wondered whether they would crumble and collapse if I tried to take one with me. I lifted it to my face and inhaled the sweet, tangy scent. So fresh and clean in this dank space.

Bliss!

A wave of peace washed through me, easing some of the cramps and aches in my body as I let the flower fall back to its position.

The sparkle of light on the surface of water drew my attention. I peered into the well, surprised to see that the water came almost to the top. Close enough to drink from. Close enough to wash some of the grime from my body.

My hand hovered over the surface. A frisson of fear shot through me. Something nasty had chased me in the woods; something nasty could be waiting in this water too. Something that might want to eat or poison me.

Which was probably the thing I had to be more worried about.

How was I going to make sure it was safe enough? I couldn’t tell if it would make me sick, but I quickly stripped off my t-shirt and dipped the bottom of it into the well, making a shallow bowl for the water to drip through. No residue or anything else stuck to the fabric, which was a good first sign. Next, I sniffed it, but it smelled fresh, almost sweet, but not in a toxic way. Like spring water from a natural bore – not unlike the water at The Nest, come to think of it.

I dipped the hem in again, using the fabric to clean some of the grime from my face, my neck. The water was cool and delicious as it slid down my torso. A low rumble startled me and I looked around, trying to find the source. But I was alone.

Pain gnawed at me, so I cupped my hands in the water, lifting them to my lips. The water was sweet, delicious, and I groaned as it slid down my throat. This well was the single good thing that had happened to me tonight.

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