“What are you doing here?” you growl at the three newcomers. Two men and a woman are running their hands through the pile of coins and trinkets, whooping with joy. Their grinning faces turn serious, as they turn towards your party. The taller man – a lean and mean-looking hoodlum, wearing dark clothing, and who has sleek black hair, a neatly-trimmed moustache and short beard – smiles coldly.
“Hi, Princess! Didn’t think I’d give up looking for you, did ya? Despite that wrecked car of yours.”
“Dirk!” Sam breathes. She grips your arm, to steady her nerves. “And Delilah! And their chief heavy – Kurt.”
“You followed us here?” Yvonne’s face is pale.
“That’s right,” drawls the foxy-looking lady with the long, black hair, purple lipstick, and designer trouser suit. “One of the policemen in town, who’s in our pay, gave us the heads-up – having spotted you, Sam. Strange manor back there – but since the trail led us here to you and this gorgeous chamber, why complain?”
The bald man next to her – Kurt – sniggers, and pours gold coins into his pocket.
Feeling your temper rising, you step forward and level your axe at the cartel members. “Leave now – or feel this!” you warn them.
Dirk gives a mock yawn. “You don’t frighten me, little man.” He clicks his fingers – and both his sister and Kurt draw out pistols from their jackets. “Time to come with us, Sam,” he coos to your friend.
You feel Sam tremble, but her expression is resolute. “Never!” she whispers in defiance.
“Then your axe-wielding friend will suffer!” Dirk snaps. He nods to Delilah, and she shoots you as you step forward. The shot strikes the medallion hanging over your heart, and there is a frizzling spark of energy. As you fall backwards from the impact, the illusion enveloping you vanishes – revealing your minotaur nature to the intruders. Their eyes widen in shock.
“Holy cow!! A monster!” Kurt exclaims. He takes aim with his gun...
“No!” Sam instinctively moves forward to shield you – only to get a bullet in her chest.
“Nooo!” Both you and Dirk roar out at the same time, as Sam collapses upon her knees. Yvonne screams. Rising upon your hooves, you bellow and charge. Dirk and Delilah turn and scarper into the maze. Kurt, meanwhile, pauses – but he’s too shaken to fire again. Dropping his pistol, he stumbles and finds himself sprinting along the corridor that leads to the water-filled pit. He nearly topples into it – but manages to stop himself.
You halt your advance, and swiftly bring your throwing axe into play. With instinctive precision, your blade slams into Kurt’s chest as he turns around. He screams and falls into the pit, making a loud ‘splash’ at the bottom. He won’t be a threat any longer!
Sam! Heart thumping, you sprint back to the treasure room – where Yvonne is trying to stem the bleeding. Sam coughs up frothy blood.
“No! Don’t die, Sam!” You press your hand against the bullet wound. You realise you are weeping. “I... I love you,” you blurt out to her.
Samantha smiles weakly and grasps your free hand. She tries to speak, but can’t.
“Thaddeus!” you cry out, in alarm.
“I’m here – I heard the commotion!” he roars, running into the chamber. He quickly examines Sam, then gravely addresses you and Yvonne. “The wound is serious. She’ll die soon, unless... Unless I invoke the labyrinth to bestow its magic upon her. Like I did with you, Miles.”
You draw in your breath sharply. “But that means...!”
“Yes.” Thaddeus glances back down at Sam, who is wheezing. “Do you understand, human?” he says to her. “Do you accept what I am offering? It will hurt. But only briefly.”
Sam grips your hand tighter. She nods at Thaddeus – twice. “Do it!” she manages to whisper.
“Very well.” Thaddeus raises his head and invokes the ancient Greek words you heard him call out during your first encounter with him. Instantly, a glow emanates from the walls and bathes Sam’s ailing body. Her casual clothes disappear – and in the half-minute that she is naked, your friend transforms. Still lying down, she gains another two feet in height, and her body morphs into a leaner, more muscular frame. Painted toe nails are cast off, as her feet shift into hooves, and a short wave of light brown fur cloaks Sam’s now-firmer flesh. She cries out with the agony, and you maintain your hand-grip with hers, as Sam’s face and head change into the features of a bull, complete with a bovine muzzle and sharp fangs. A pair of horns erupts from her bulging temples and curve forwards. A final spasm of pain completes Sam’s transmutation, and she bellows. Your stubble-draped hand is matched by the one it is holding.
A third minotaur is now laying on the floor before you. The only physical remains of Sam-the-human are her captivating blue eyes, and her blond mane of hair, which still reaches the centre of her back. Her body has healed – the bullet rolls off Sam as she urges you to help her upon her hooves.
Well, the new minotaur is a tad slender-looking, and only seven foot tall. But as Sam recovers from the ordeal and takes a few hoofsteps, you see that your friend’s bosom has shrunk somewhat, underneath the jerkin that now cloaks the maze’s latest guardian. You wonder if Sam is still Samantha – or is now...Samuel. Are all minotaurs male?
Sam gazes into the nearby mirror, whilst you stand beside. Yvonne is too amazed to speak, and Thaddeus lays his hand on her shoulder, to hold her still. The new minotaur reaches underneath the loincloth that has replaced the jeans the human Sam wore...
You rub your hand gently through the blond locks of your friend, and speak. “Sam, you are...”