In the morning, you and Sam discuss your plans over breakfast. Due to your larger frame, you are eating more - which raises the issue of having to shop for groceries. Sam offers to do this for you - but remembering the medallion the minotaur left for you, you go into your bedroom and slip it on. Your body shimmers for a moment, and you look down to see your normal human form - clothes, unfurred pink skin, and all. Touching your face and torso, however, reminds you that you are still a brawny minotaur.
Presenting yourself to Sam, she gasps and reaches out. Her fingers stroke first along your arms, then the fur on your muzzle. “That’s weird,” she mutters. “I see the man from that photo. A nice-looking guy of normal height - but your head and shoulders are really higher than they appear.”
“I wonder how I look in a mirror?” you say, striding over to the one above the fireplace. Surprise! Even your reflection is human. Strong magic indeed! “Yes - so I can go out!” you exclaim. “Well, my voice is a bit deep. How about this?” you try to speak softer.
“That’s better, Miles,” Sam gives her approval. “And as long as no one touches you, you’ll be okay. What about your work? What do you do?”
“Oh, I’m a freelance writer and computer games tester. So my work is mainly done on-line, here at home. Luckily for me.”
With some trepidation, you leave the house with Sam, dressed in a loincloth and cloak that are disguised by the medallion’s aura of illusion. The neighbour sees you in your human form, in your usual attire. His only voiced surprise is that you have a female friend staying round. So far, so good! Not wanting to squeeze your minotaur bulk into your car, you and Sam walk to the nearby shops and get your errands done without hassle. Still, you’re relieved to be in the safety of your home when you both get back.
“Thanks, Sam,” you sigh, stocking up your larder and fridge. “So… What will you do now? How long will you stay for? Don’t forget to report your car to the police and the insurance company.”
“Ahh…” Sam looks pensive, as she turns to you. “I haven’t been entirely straight with you, Miles. Don’t get me wrong - I haven’t lied…”
“What is it, Sam?” You stiffen. “Are you…having to hide from the world, too?”
She nods. “I’ve left my abusive boyfriend. He’ll be trying to find me - but he doesn’t know about Yvonne, my friend in this town. So…if either you or Yvonne can put up with me, I’d be grateful.”
Sam trembles, and you sense her genuine fear of her boyfriend. You feel an urge to embrace her, to make Sam realise that anyone wanting to hurt her will have to go through you first. Instead, you gently lay your hand on her shoulder, and say, “I would be happy for you to stay here, Sam. I… I’d be grateful for your company.”
“You would? Thank you!” Sam hugs you as best as she can hug a minotaur. “But how would you feel if I rang Yvonne and got her to come here? Do you want to see if she can help you? I would trust Yvonne with my life. If you showed her your, er…big secret, she would take it to her grave, if you wanted her to keep mum.”
You think it over, and snort your acceptance. “All right. You can use my phone to ring her. But I’ll keep my medallion on when she arrives - until I feel she’s ready to see me for what I am now.”
Smiling, Sam makes her phone call. Whilst you wait for Yvonne to drive round to your house, you and Sam get talking. You discover that the two of you have several shared interests. You both like fantasy literature and films, you have similar concerns for the protection of nature, and so on. Also, you both had no siblings, and felt you were outsiders during your childhoods.
“When’s your birthday, Miles?” Sam asks you.
“Next month. 28th of April,” you say.
Sam smiles. “A Taurean.”
You nod, sighing. “And now I’m half-bull. Apt, I guess.”
Sam speaks again - but this time there’s a serious look on her face. “28th of April… That’s my birthday too! We seem to have similar personalities and outlooks. I wish I’d met you before I got snapped up by Dirk, my ex.” She tells you more about him. How, during their year-long relationship she came to realise that Dirk and his sister Delilah were senior members of a criminal gang, with connections to corrupt policemen in the regional force - and how she fled for safety, knowing that Dirk still wants her as his trophy girlfriend. Meanwhile Delilah, it seems, would be prepared to silence Sam, if necessary, for what she knows.
“Even if they somehow manage to track you here, I’ll protect you, Sam,” you vow, as you hold her hand in yours. She looks at you, and her eyes start to water. Acting on mutual instinct, the two of you lean forwards and kiss. Sam’s arms wrap themselves around you, feeling your strong arms and firm torso. She begins to moan with pleasure as you nuzzle her - and her hand reaches down to examine the rising bulge underneath your loincloth…
You gasp and pull back. “No, Sam! We can’t…!”
“Gosh! Did I…?” Sam snaps out of her blissful daze. “You’re right! We shouldn’t - not whilst there’s this…physical…divide between us.” Her sad, yet captivating blue eyes pierce your soul. “But we feel so right, together, don’t we? It’s as if we were fated to meet and help each other!”
You think about that, and wonder why you walked into that manor, and took the doors you did. You were wandering about, yes - but also following your instincts. Or was it something else…?
“Maybe,” you concede. “But what I do know is that, despite us only meeting recently, I feel as if I’ve known you for much longer, Sam. I…I like you. A lot. And if - no, when - I become human again, I’ll still be here for you.”
“I’ll be here for you, too, Miles. Minotaur or human. You are a good soul.” Sam hugs and kisses you again.
You are lovingly stroking her long blonde hair, when the doorbell rings. Startled, you and Sam fall off the sofa - then laugh at your clumsiness. Making sure your medallion of illusion is on, you check on your visitor through the spy hole first.
“Who is it?” Sam whispers to you, frightened of it being Dirk.