Chapter 18: The Maze of the Minotaur
Kal, Matt and Terry are just getting ready to drive to the manor.
“I’ve been meaning to ask as honorary best man. Where are the rings?” Terry asks.
Kal fishes around in his pocket and pulls out a beautiful diamond ring for Diana and a much planer ring for himself. “Here.”
Matt looks at them “They’re nice.”
Kal nods “Made them myself. One of the advantages of having superpowers.”
Terry examines them “What’s the writing in the inside?” he asks at the strange symbols. “Is that Greek?”
“And Kryptonian.” Kal answers. “It’s nothing really. I’m not some great poet. It merely says Kal and Diana bonded now and forever in love.”
“If I was a girl I think the reaction would be aww.” Matt says.
“Well I’m a girl and I want to throw up.”
All 3 spin to the source of the voice and there floating in a sitting position is a green haired woman. Kal knows that voice and that face “Circe.”
Circe smiles as she lowers herself to the ground. She then proceeds to look Kal over. “Oh she was right you have aged well. If I had known I would have paid you a visit years ago.”
“Who is this?” Terry asks.
“This is the sorceress Circe.” Kal tells him.
“Ok but how did she find us?” Terry asks.
Circe waves her hand dismissively “Like ‘Kal’ said I’m a sorceress.”
“How does she know your name?” Terry asks.
Kal shakes his head “It’s a long story. We ended up having to be allies during that near apocalypse in 09 and we got trapped together for a while and we ended up talking about stuff.”
Circe smiles “Oh those were the days.”
“Well anyway at some point I got fed up of her calling me beefcake and things like that so I told her to call me Kal.”
Circe pouts “Aww but you are a beefcake. You know I really miss that word. Shame it’s no longer in vogue.”
“She helped back in 09?” Terry asks totally confused. He knew of the stories of Circe. She wasn’t exactly known for selfless sacrifice.
“Of course I did. I have no interest in the end of the world. There’s nothing in that for me and I must say you are a gorgeous piece of manhood yourself.” Circe says coming onto Terry.
“And I’m also married. Back to how did you find us?”
“I have my sources.” Circe says vaguely.
Kal sighs loudly. He so doesn’t need this. “What do you want Circe?”
“Oh alright down to business. Well lets just say a interested party wants you and Diana dealt with and they, very wisely I might add, came to me.”
Kal folds his arms across his chest. “You can’t lay a finger on Diana. The gods forbade it.”
“True but rules can be bent if you know the loopholes and since I have been taking it easy for a few decades I have lots of energy stored up.” Circe smirks.
Circe floats up and chants “From ages long ago I call forth the maze that was lost. I call upon my magical kin to manifest the place with the minotaur within. Make it solid and whole until the 3 males make it back home.”
The apartment morphs around Kal, Matt and Terry till they find themselves standing in a walled passage that stretches off into the distance in both directions. Circe looks around at her work “I know it’s not my best worded spell but it is effective. Have fun.” With that Circe disappears.
“What was that all about and what is happening?” Matt asks.
“That was the sorceress Circe and this is magic.” Kal says the word magic with utter distain. He hates magic.
“She said something about a maze and Minotaur.” Terry says.
“The maze of the Minotaur?” Matt asks.
Just then there is a loud roar a bit like a bull.
“Looks like it.” Terry says. His attention turns to Kal. He can see a worried expression on his face “Clark what is it?”
“She has cut me off from the sun. I can already fell my powers waning. The maze must be surrounded by a magical barrier.”
“So what do we do?” Matt asks.
Terry tries to recall Circe’s words “She said something about us having to get home to end this.”
“Home? What home?” Matt asks.
“That’s the question isn’t it?” Kal remarks. His face then frowns.
“Clark?” Terry asks.
“I still have my hearing for now. I hear footsteps, a lot of footsteps. We need to leave now.”
“Which way?” Matt asks.
Kal points left “Unless Circe has moved us the manor is that way. I just hope that is the home she is referring to.”
“That sound like the best place to start to head to.” Terry says. “I take it you can’t fly.”
Kal shakes his head “I’ve already tried. My flying ability has already gone or it is against whatever rules govern this place.”
“This place has rules?” Matt asks surprised.
“There are always rules to magic but only Circe knows the exact ones she has placed on us.” Kal explains.
The footsteps get closer and louder so that Terry and Matt can hear them.
“We need to leave.” Terry says and all 3 set off in the direction they hope is the manor.
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“Call who?” Dana asks Diana.
“The league.” Diana answers.
At that moment Bruce and Barbara burst into the room “Mom! What’s going on? Bruce asks.
Dana bends down and takes her children in her arms “It’ll be alright.” she tells them.
“They’ll be fine as long as they stay inside.” Diana tells Dana. Diana starts to leave. “Come on Donna, we have a call to make.” she says to her sister.
They make their way down to the Batcave, bumping into Max as they do. They bring her up to speed as they make their way to the main computer.
“Here let me.” Max says. After all she’s the one that keeps it all running and up to date. Curse of being a genius.
Max frowns “I’m having trouble getting a signal out. The only way one can get out is straight up. We’ll need to give it a minute for a satellite to be directly overhead.”
“It has to be Circe’s doing.” Diana assumes. She is going to kill that witch when this is all over. She can’t believe this has happened on her wedding day.
“Here we go.” Max says. She manages to link up to the tower in Metropolis. “Micron is that you?” Max asks.
“Max? Why are you calling? Where’s Terry?”
“We’ve got big problems and we need help.” Max says as she reiterates the story of Circe.
Some time later Green Lantern, Micron, Aquagirl, Warhawk and Barda arrive at the manor.
“The whole city apart from above the manor is surrounded by a mystical barrier.” Kai, the Green Lantern tells Max as they walk inside. There he notices two unknown female figures. “Well I better make introductions. Everyone this is Diana and Donna.”
Barda actually breaks out into a smile “Diana!”
“Hello Barda.” Diana replies. She has change out of her wedding dress and into her armour. She’s glad she remembered to bring it.
Barda actually runs over and hugs her old friend “What are you doing here?”
“It’s a long story but it can wait till we save Kal.”
“Where is Superman?” Rex asks.
“Trapped in the maze.” Diana informs him. “We have to find him and Terry and Matt. That’s why I thought you needed to be called. It’s a large maze and we have little time.”
“Why doesn’t Superman just fly out?” Rex asks.
“I’m sure Circe thought of that and has come up with a way to stop him.” Diana answers.
“It is worse than you know.” Kai adds. “The barrier blocks all electromagnetic radiation including the light of the sun.”
Diana’s heart freezes “She’s cut Kal off from his power source.”
“How long will his powers last?” Micron asks.
“It depends on how many super powered feats he performs. Could be days. Could be hours.” Kai informs them.
“Then we shouldn’t hang around here any longer. It’s time to leave.” Diana decides.
“Diana. No.” Donna says.
Diana turns to face her sister “What do you mean no?”
“Are you forgetting? About your condition?” Donna reminds her.
“No but I can’t leave Kal out there and I am not an invalid.”
“I never said you were but it’s not just you, you have to think about anymore.”
Diana hesitates. Donna’s right and it will be dangerous but she won’t have her child grow up without a father. “I’ll be careful but I’m still coming.”
Donna nods in acceptance.
“Ok what the hell was that about?” Barda asks.
“What condition?” Marina asks.
Diana takes a breath “Ok the whole truth. Barda I’m here because today I’m marrying Kal and…” Diana doesn’t know the girl.
“I’m Marina. Aquaman is my father.”
Diana breaks out into a smile “Oh he had another child. I’m so glad to meet you. To answer your question my condition is that I’m pregnant.”
The League members stand there in stunned silence.
“You and Kal?” Barda finally says.
Diana nods “Yes.”
Marina bursts out into a smile “Oh that is wonderful. I wondered if there was something more than just you two getting married.”
Rex turns to Marina “You knew?”
“Only since last night.”
“Unbelievable.” Rex says with barely contained anger.
“You’re definitely Shayera’s son.” Diana comments.
“So are we going or just hanging about here?” Barda asks impatiently.
“You are correct Barda. We can discuss these revelations once we have rescued Superman and Batman.” Kai says in agreement.
“I’ll stay and help Dana with Bruce and Barbara.” Max says.
“Tell her we’ll bring them back soon.” Donna says to Max as the whole group exit the manor and head into the maze.
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In the meantime Kal, Terry and Matt are trying to negotiate the twists and turns of the maze. They come to a halt at another dead end and take a breather.
“How are you holding up Clark?” Terry asks.
“Ok for now. I’m trying not to use my super powers. I think I better save my energy for when we really need them.”
Terry nods in agreement “Matt, you ok?”
“Yes. I can’t believe this though.” Matt says in disbelief at the current situation they are in.
Clark’s head shoots up “We’re in trouble.”
Before either Terry or Matt can ask what he means about a dozen creatures carrying weapons appear at the end of the passage they are in.
“We’re trapped.” Matt says.
“I know.” Terry answers. “I hope you practiced those moves I taught you because the only way out is through them.” Terry tells Matt.
The creatures charge and so do Terry, Matt and Kal. All 3 manage to dodge and then disarm the first few creatures and then pick up their weapons to use against them. Kal is trying to keep the energy he exerts to a minimum. However he is a skilled fighter himself considering the number of battles he ahs fought over the decades. It has just been a while since he has not had to rely on his strength. Eventually all 3 manage to subdue the creatures.
Terry shrugs his suit jacket off which is now ruined. “We should go before more come.”
“Yeah.” Kal says.
“You’re bleeding.” Matt says to Kal
Kal looks down at his arm “It’s only a scratch. The weapons are magical and I may point out you’re bleeding as well.”
Terry looks back at Matt who does indeed have a small cut on his cheek. “We have got to get out of here.” Just then that bull like roar is heard again.
“Is that just me or was that a lot closer than last time?” Matt says.
“It’s not you. It is getting closer.” Kal tells him.
“I am so hoping not to meet whatever that is.” Terry comments. “Come on we’ll go back and take the left turn at the last junction.” Terry decides as all 3 jog off back the way they got into this dead end.
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Meanwhile the league plus Diana and Donna have also meet the armed creatures. “Ok what in the name of the gods were those things?” Donna asks after they have beaten them.
“I have no idea. Obviously Circe created them.” Diana says in response.
The they too hear the ominous roar.
“Ok what is that?” Rex asks.
“It’s the Minotaur.” Diana informs him.
“I really hate that witch.” Barda comments. She had hated her the last time they met and she still hates her.
“Hmm my ability to fly is no longer working.” Kai informs them.
“Neither is mine.” Rex says.
“Then we do it the hard way.” Barda says as she runs forward with then others in pursuit. She stops at a junction with 3 possible directions.
Kai knows what she is about to suggest “Splitting up may not be wise.”
“Probably not but we need to cover more ground more quickly.” Barda says.
“Donna and I shall go this way.” Diana says pointing left. She didn’t know why she chose that way. She just had a hunch.
“Very well. Micron, Aquagirl and myself shall go straight ahead and Barda and Warhawk you will take the right passage.” Kai says.
With that the 3 groups go off in their separate directions. Donna watches the worry etched into Diana’s face. “He’ll be alright.” She says trying to reassure Diana.
Diana wants to believe Donna. She wants to believe Kal will be fine and maybe they can still have their wedding and then they can raise their child together. Their beautiful miracle and Diana already believes that their offspring will be that.
“Diana?” Donna asks at the silence.
“I hear you Donna. I just can’t believe this happened on my wedding day. Once this is over I’m going to make Circe and Eris pay for all this.”
“I’ll help.” Donna offers.
“Thanks.” Diana says and then stops. “Do you hear that?” She asks Donna as a noise catches her attention
Donna listens “Sound like someone fighting. The league?”
“Wrong direction I think.” Diana says all though she couldn’t be sure in this maze. She runs forward to the next junction and points to the right “That way I hope.”
She and Donna run off in that direction.
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Kal knocks out the last of their current attackers and then stops for a breather.
“Is it me or are they getting more frequent?” Matt says as he regains his breath.
“They’re herding us in a certain direction.” Terry says. He had noted that they were trying to push them off whatever path they wanted to go.
“Terry’s right. Towards the centre of the maze if I’m not mistaken.” Kal says. God he was tired. He can’t believe this happened on his wedding day.
“How long have we been doing this?” Matt asks.
Terry looks at his watch “Don’t know my watch has stopped.”
Kal looks at his “So has mine. I guess time is meaningless here or both our watches have stopped at the same time.”
“I think option one is more likely considering our circumstances.” Terry concludes.
“So what do we do?” Matt asks.
“Well we have two options. We can keep trying to get out fighting our way through who knows how many of these creatures or we head for the centre and confront whatever it is that keeps making that roar.” Kal tells him.
Terry takes a large breath “We’re getting worn down. Sooner or later those creatures will get lucky and we’ll be dead. If we go to the centre before we get too tired and try to fight whatever is there we may have a better chance but of course we don’t know what is there.”
Kal sighs “The truth is I think we’re getting further away from an exit rather than closer. It seems we’re not getting an option.”
Terry reluctantly agrees “Yep so which way do we go?”
Kal listens “Well there are no footsteps that way.” he says pointing down a passage “so I’m guessing that way.”
“Right then lets do it.” Terry says as they set off.
Now they seem to be heading in the right direction they don’t come across the creatures.
“How are your powers holding up?” Terry asks Kal as they turn a corner.
“Not good. I doubt my skin is invulnerable anymore not that it matters much in this place.” Kal replies. “I have some strength and speed left but I can’t say how long that will last.”
They enter a large circular area.
“I’m guessing this is the centre.” Matt comments. Then his eye drifts to a small pillar. He walks over. “Why is there a ball of string here?”
Kal smiles “It’s how we get out. That’s how Theseus escaped after he defeated the Minotaur in the myths.” He goes over and picks it up and the string begins to unravel and float through the air down one of the many passages that connect to the centre.
“Now that’s handy.” Terry comments.
Just then a loud roar is heard and in the direction that the string is heading the Minotaur appears. It’s massive, 8 or 9 feet tall.
“I knew this was going too well.” Terry says.
The Minotaur charges forward at them. Terry and Matt roll off to the side while Kal uses what strength he has left to tackle it. His feet dig a trench as he slows it down to a stop. The Minotaur picks Kal up and then throws him some distance away where Kal lands in a heap. By the time he gets up he sees that Terry has jumped on the Minotaur’s back with his arm round it’s throat. This is going to be a long day. He signals at Matt and they tackle the Minotaur together.
The Minotaur throws Matt away and then with its now free hand grabs Kal and pulls him off. It then punches him and uses the rakes his chest with its claws. Kal staggers back at the pain. The Minotaur then uses this moment to throw Terry of it’s back and then it moves forward and picks Kal up by the throat lifting him in the air.
Kal struggles to break the grip as he gets choked, his powers are now all but gone. He can feel the blackness of unconsciousness approaching and his last thoughts are not consumed by his imminent death but at the fact he will never see Diana again or his child even once. The light then fades from his eyes and all goes black.
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Diana and Donna follow the sound of fighting and find themselves at the centre of the maze where they find Kal being strangled by the Minotaur.
“Kal!” Diana says in outright fury.
She and Donna tackle the Minotaur together knocking it off its feet and dropping Kal. Diana goes over to him and feels his pulse. She lets out a breath of relief when she finds he still has one but the numerous cuts she can see on him is a sign he’s not doing so well.
“He doesn’t look so hot.”
Diana looks up and floating there is Circe.
“Witch.” Diana says with hatred. “I’ll make you pay for this.”
Circe laughs “Don’t think so. Looks to me you have your hands full.”
Diana looks round and surrounding the this central area are now legions of those creature warriors.
However it is Diana that smiles when several of them are knocked away by an unmistakable giant green fist.
Circe’s face darkens as the rest of the league members burst in. “Warriors destroy them.” she orders.
Barda smirks. She thought this was going to be a slow day as she charges into them. Rex is no less happy at this prospect.
“Diana! A little help!” Donna shouts as the Minotaur starts to get the better of her.
By now Matt has made his way over to where Kal lies “I’ll look after him. Go.”
Diana nods, gives Circe a death glare and launches herself at the Minotaur. A series of punches knocks it down but it gets back up without a scratch.
“Whoops. I think I may have made it unbeatable.” Circe taunts them.
“Nothing is unbeatable.” Diana says back.
“We’ll see.”
Diana’s attention is drawn back to the Minotaur which is charging her head down. She braces herself as it drives head first into her stomach. Oh Hera the pain. The baby! She grabs the Minotaur by its horns and twists its head until with a sickening snap she breaks its neck. The Minotaur collapses followed quickly by Diana holding her stomach in pain.
“Diana!” Donna shouts as she her sister collapse. She runs over to find Diana clutching her stomach.
“Donna! The baby!” Diana says in agony.
“It’ll be ok. I promise.” Donna’s glare turns to Circe. “I’ll make you pay for this I swear.”
“You won’t live that long and at least by the looks of things I’ve solved one of the Gods problems. Maybe they’ll even reward me.”
Donna was reviled at Circe’s claims of getting a reward for doing this to Diana. Terry who had managed to get himself up from being thrown looks around. Ok Superman and Diana are down and the other league members are being slowly overwhelmed by the seemingly endless masses of creatures.
“Matt! Pick Superman up. We have to go”. He looks to the direction the still floating string is heading for. It is blocked by more creatures “Warhawk! We need to go that way.” Terry says pointing at that direction.
Rex looks around to where Terry is pointing. “That won’t be a problem.” he says as he charges into the mass of creatures.
“Lantern! Aquagirl! Barda! Micron! We are leaving!” Terry shouts.
“Pick up your sister. We have to go.” Terry tells Donna.
Donna picks Diana up who groans in pain while Terry grabs the ball of string.
Kai, Marina, Micron and Barda cover the others as they start to leave.
“You won’t get out of here alive!” Circe tells them. After all they barely only begun to see what she had awaiting them.
