Chapter 30 #2
"Is it him?" the girl with the braid asked. "The man from the facility?"
I didn't answer. Didn't need to.
Rafael moved toward the barn door, and I followed. Before we stepped outside, I looked back at the seven kids. They were watching us with those too-old eyes, already calculating odds, already preparing for the worst.
"We'll handle it," I said. "Just stay inside."
The taller boy with the baseball gripped it like a weapon. "What if you don't come back?"
"Then Hades will take care of you." I met his eyes. "But we're coming back."
I didn't know if that was true, but I said it anyway.
Rafael and I stepped out into the Montana sunlight. Across the yard, Hades had set up a table between the house and the barn. Rhadamanthys stood beside it, his Stetson shading his eyes as he looked toward the ridge.
The black sedan appeared on the ridge, crawling down the dirt road. A shudder ran through me as I thought of the disgusting mockery of a tea ceremony Constantine had set up for us in New York. This was too similar. Had he known it might come to this?
Get it together, Lorenzo. He’s an evil bastard, not clairvoyant.
Rafael stood beside me, jaw clenched. I'd seen him face down Cerberus operatives, survive Constantine's eagles, and walk through the Vatican covered in blood. But now, he was clenching his muscles tight to keep from trembling.
"Steady," I said quietly.
"I'm fine," he lied.
More than anything, I wanted to whisk him away and lock him up somewhere safe where there were no eagles, no Constantine, no labyrinth.
Rafael deserved to be safe and happy. But that wasn’t who he was.
He was too much like me. Too much of a fighter to ever accept peace that didn’t come hard-earned at the edge of a blade.
The sedan stopped, and the driver got out to open the rear door.
Constantine stepped out wearing an immaculate ivory suit, not a gray hair out of place.
He looked like someone's eccentric rich grandfather, the kind who'd slip you candy and tell you stories.
Not the kind who'd nail a man's hands to a table and force him to hunt his own father's killer.
Then I saw Caesar.
The bird was massive, bigger than Augustus had been, with golden brown feathers, a sharp beak and even sharper talons. It hovered in the air near Constantine like they'd been practicing this for years.
Rafael's breathing quickened.
Constantine crossed the yard with Caesar beside him. His smile never wavered.
"Judge Rhadamanthys," he said warmly. "Director Hades. What a pleasure to see you both." His eyes moved to Rafael and me. "And the men of the hour. Lorenzo. Rafael. I must say, I've been looking forward to this."
"Judge Minos," Rhadamanthys said with a tip of his hat. “Or would you prefer Prince and Grandmaster Constantine?”
“Oh, let’s not get all tangled up in titles now.
” Constantine patted Rhadamanthys on the back like they were old friends.
“It gets messy. You call me Grandmaster, I call you the adopted son of the same director who nominated you for your position…” He shrugged.
“First names are less complicated than nepotism, aren’t they, Santino? ”
“If that’s your preference, Baron.” Rhadamanthys gestured to the table. "Shall we begin?"
"Of course." Constantine pulled out a chair and sat. Caesar settled on the corner of the table, head swiveling to track movement. Those eyes locked on Rafael. The bird remembered. Or maybe it was just trained to recognize weakness.
Constantine folded his hands on the table. "The scarring,” he began, staring straight at Rafael. “Seems as if it will be quite extensive. I’ve had a few run-ins with their talons over the years during training but never something quite so…grotesque. Is it painful?”
“Excruciating,” Rafael admitted through clenched teeth.
Constantine let the word hang in the air for a moment before smirking. “Good. Caesar took his brother's death rather hard. Eagles bond for life, you see. When one dies, the other grieves."
He looked directly at me.
"But Caesar understands. Grief makes us stronger. Sharper. More focused on what needs to be done." Constantine's voice stayed pleasant, conversational. "I promised him he could have all the time he needs with you in the labyrinth. The space is quite large. Plenty of room for him to work."
Rafael's hand closed into a fist on the table.
Rhadamanthys cleared his throat. "The challenge has been issued. Three Director seals have been presented. You are bound by ancient law to answer."
"And so I have." Constantine leaned back in his chair. “Let’s get on with the ritual then, shall we?”
Rhadamanthys lifted an ancient-looking wooden box from beneath the table. "The terms must be set. The gentlemen will declare their seconds. Lorenzo, as the challenger, you may choose to go first.”
“Rafael,” I said without hesitation.
Constantine’s smile widened. “And I choose Ceasar.”
I arched an eyebrow. “You’re bringing a bird? Is that allowed?”
“The laws don’t prohibit it,” Rhadamanthys said with a frown. “Which I’m sure Judge Minos is well aware of.”
“Ceasar is more than a mere bird to me.” Constantine stroked the eagle’s feathers. “He’s been mine since the day I found him. I trust him with my life. There is no one else living now I trust more than Ceasar.”
Rhadamanthys nodded. “Then it is decided. Rafael will serve as Lorenzo’s second, and Judge Minos takes the eagle, Ceasar, to be his second.
Now…” He flipped open the ancient brass locks on the trunk.
“We must draw for terms. I must remind you that the lots are binding. Judge Minos, as the challenged party, you have the right to choose first.”
Constantine leaned forward to peer into the box. Glass tiles glittered in the afternoon light, each one marked with a golden Greek letter. Twenty-four tiles. Twenty-four chances.
"The first draw determines weapons," Rhadamanthys said. "Judge Minos, as the challenged party, you declare your preference first."
Constantine smiled. "Blades."
The word hung in the air. He knew. He had to know I preferred knives, that I'd trained with blades since I was seven years old. Why the fuck would he choose the one thing he knew I was skilled with? Unless…
This is all a fucking game to him. My fingers twitched as I fought the urge to clench them into fists. He doesn’t give a damn what weapon we fight with. The bastard thinks he’ll win either way.
"Bludgeons," I said finally.
Constantine's smile widened. "Oh, playing risky, are we? How exciting!"
Rhadamanthys gestured to the box. "Draw."
Constantine reached in and plucked out a tile, setting it face-up on the table.
Rho.
My turn. I reached into the box. The glass was cool and smooth against my fingertips. I grabbed one and pulled it out, setting it beside Constantine's tile.
Sigma.
Fuck. The one time I didn’t want to win.
Constantine laughed. “I’m looking forward to seeing how well that works out against Ceasar.”
Rhadamanthys collected both tiles and set them aside. "The second draw determines advantage," Rhadamanthys said. "As challenger's second, you draw first this round, Rafael."
I held my breath. This was the critical one. The one that could save or damn us in the dark.
Rafael glanced from me to Rhadamanthys. “What are my options?”
Constantine sighed and counted out the options on his fingers as if he expected Rafael to know them. “Lantern, map, compass, or…” He smirked. “A head start.”
Well, it was clear he knew which one was the best option.
I looked at Rafael. C’mon Rafael. Make the smart choice.
“The head start,” Rafael said after only a beat of hesitation.
“Yes!” I pumped my fist. I could kiss him.
“Don’t celebrate yet, Kleiner,” Constantine mused. “You still have to win the draw. Let’s see if fate is still on your side.”
Rafael reached into the box and placed a glass tile on the table.
Epsilon.
Okay, it could be worse, I thought, until Constantine drew Kappa.
Fuck.
"Well," Constantine said, still smiling. "Looks like fate has other plans for you both." He leaned back in his chair. "I'll take the head start. Caesar and I will need time to get properly positioned, after all. The labyrinth is quite large, and there are so many... interesting places to wait."
"Lorenzo," Rhadamanthys said. "Your choice from the remaining options: Lantern, Map, or Compass."
The lantern would give us light, but it would also tell Constantine exactly where we were. The lantern was a curse dressed as a boon, and the compass… useless in a maze.
"Map," I said.
Rafael frowned. “Are you sure? What about the lantern?” He gestured to the maimed side of his face.
“Lorenzo has chosen, and the choice is binding.” Rhadamanthys collected the tiles. "The final draw determines supplies. Judge Minos draws first. Your options are: rations, water, bandages, or rope."
Twenty tiles left in the box. Twenty chances for something to go our way.
Constantine studied the remaining tiles like he were considering a chess move. "Water," he said finally. "The Labyrinth gets quite warm in places. Dehydration can be... disorienting."
Constantine reached into the box and set his tile down. Delta.
I reached in. My fingers found a tile near the edge. I pulled it out and placed it beside Constantine's.
I let out a sigh of relief. At least one draw had gone our way.
But Constantine's smile never faltered. "I suppose that means we should take the bandages. Of course, I should also warn you…" He gestured to the remaining options. "There are several pits in the labyrinth. Deep ones with spikes and sharp edges. But I'm sure you'll manage."
Rhadamanthys collected the final tiles and closed the box.
"The terms are set. Judge Minos and Caesar will enter first with a fifteen-minute head start.
Lorenzo and Rafael will follow, chained at the ankles.
Both parties will be armed with bludgeons.
Lorenzo and Rafael will be given water and a map, while Judge Minos gets bandages.
" He looked between us. "The trial ends when one party dies, or exits the labyrinth.
You will enter the labyrinth in pairs, and exit in pairs. Are the terms understood and accepted?"
"Accepted," Constantine said pleasantly.
Rafael and I exchanged a glance. Rafael nodded.
"Accepted," I said.
"Then it is done." Rhadamanthys stood. "Gentlemen, you must both appear at Aventine, at the keyhole door, by dusk tomorrow.”
Constantine stood and adjusted his jacket.
Caesar shifted on the table, wings stretching slightly before settling.
"Well, this has been delightful. I do love a proper ceremony.
" He looked at Rafael. "I'll see you tomorrow evening, priest. Try to get some rest. You'll need your strength for what's coming. "
He turned and walked back toward the sedan, Ceasar flying near his head. The driver opened the door, but Constantine paused before getting in.
"Oh, Lorenzo?" He called back. "Do give my regards to Director Hades. I understand I have him to thank for the incident in Alaska. I’ll be sure to pass that information on to Zeus the next time I see him."
The threat hung in the air. Then he was gone, the sedan pulling away down the dirt road.
Rafael's hand trembled on the table.
"He's baiting you," I said quietly.
"I know." Rafael stood. "Doesn't make me want to kill him any less."
Rhadamanthys packed the wooden box under his arm. "I'll arrange transport to Rome. We'll leave tomorrow afternoon. That gives you tonight."
Tonight. Our last night. Possibly our last night alive.
Rafael turned and walked toward the barn without a word. I followed, because that's what I did now. I followed him. Even into death.
"They're going to be okay," Rafael said quietly as we watched from the doorway. "Even if we're not."
"We're going to be okay too."
"You don't know that."
"I know we've survived everything else." I moved closer to him. "Alaska. Constantine's eagles. The catacombs. Rio. We're still here."
"Barely." His hand moved to his eyepatch. "And we keep losing pieces."
I caught his hand before he could touch it. "We're not losing anything else. Not tomorrow. Not ever."
Rafael looked at me. Really looked at me with that one remaining eye. "You can't promise that."
"Watch me."
He almost smiled. "You're an idiot."
"Yeah. But I'm your idiot."
"My idiot," Rafael repeated.
His hand tightened around mine. Then he turned and walked out of the barn, pulling me with him.
The Montana sun was setting, painting the sky orange and red like blood in water.
Rafael didn't stop until we were past the house, past where anyone could see us, into the trees at the edge of the property.
Then he shoved me against a pine tree hard enough to rattle my teeth.
His hand fisted in my hair, yanking my head back, and when his mouth found mine. It wasn't a kiss; it was a claim, all teeth and violence and the kind of desperate possession that came from knowing we might not survive tomorrow.
When he pulled back, his eye was dark. Hungry. "At least I know if we die tomorrow, we die together."
My breath caught. "Rafael—"
“It’s stupid, isn’t it? It hasn’t been that long since I wanted to kill you.”
I swallowed. “Admit it. You were never really going to kill me.”
“Maybe,” he allowed. “But I was so blind. Even more blind than I am now with one eye. The irony is, losing this eye? It’s let me see clearer than ever before.
For the first time in my life, I’m making my own choices.
Tomorrow, live or die, it’ll be on my own terms. Better to die free than live as someone else’s pawn. ”
I clutched his shirt. “I don’t plan to die tomorrow.”
“You really think we can win this?”
I shrugged. “Why not? Stranger things have happened.”
Rafael's mouth crashed against mine again, harder this time. When he broke away, his breathing was ragged. "I'm not losing you tomorrow. I can’t. Not when I just…”
"You won't." I grabbed his wrist, holding his hand against my throat.
His jaw clenched. The last light bled from the sky behind him, turning his hair copper and his remaining eye molten. Tomorrow we'd walk into darkness to face Constantine and his eagle and whatever else waited in that maze. Tomorrow we might die.
But tonight...
Tonight we were alive.
"Come on," I said, pulling him toward the house. "We've got hours until dawn and I don’t plan to waste another minute."