Minotaur's Curse

Chapter 22

"Now when I hand you this you have ten minutes to place it and leave. Am I understood?" Lyric scolded as they held the gem wrapped in a magic proof wrap.

"Place in the new hold, get out. Got it." Byrin started taking the wrap from his friend and held it secured to his chest. He could see Logan eyeing it unsure, as if one wrong move would cost them their lives. "It will be fine Logan, I'll make sure of it." Byrin promised his best friend.

The two men entered the new temple Lyric had built to store the gem from everyone. Inside was an exact replica of the way it was before the collapse. All but two things, no cells. Where the two men were held was removed and replaced with air. In the middle of the wall to the left was a hole, an exact replica of the original.

"I don't know how they got it this perfect, but it's scary to be back here." Logan grumbled, his horns brushed against the top of the room, causing him to shiver.

"I hate being back here." Byrin agreed.

He ran his hand along the wall of the room, his eyes scanned the room. In a sense he was reliving the events that changed their lives, only months prior. His hand grew charred with magma and soon his whole body grew consumed with the flowing light.

"Beautiful, yet painful." Logan watched him closely, his eyes showed no emotion in the new form but how his body relaxed told Byrin everything.

"It's not painful anymore, but I'm definitely going to not miss the shifting part when it's all over." He stated, his own body relaxed even while holding the gem.

"I won't miss the hooves, and the clothes." Logan remorse.

His current outfit was one he spent hours to tailor, luckily his legs and waist stayed the same size. It was his torso that held the issues, in his form he had to wear loose tank tops with deep sleeve holes. He knew that when he changed back it would be baggy on him, as long as he turned back.

"I never complained about the shirtless act." Byrin tried to lighten the mood, his eyes still fixed to the hole that held where his cell was.

"You enjoyed it, yes, now come on. Let's end this curse." Logan motioned the younger over.

The gem fit beautifully, its spark illuminated the cave around them and allowed the foundation to stabilize for the time being. What didn't happen was the magic to change the two men back.

"It didn't work."Logan's voice deflated. He held Byrin's hands as they stayed in their charred state, his own still kissed with fur.

"I'm sorry it didn't work, Logan. I wish it did." he apologized, his eyes focused on their hands.

"Hey, at least I got to help make you the hero. You made me want to be a hero, to be better. In both forms I held, you stayed and inspired me. If we stay this way for a day, a year, or till death. I'm glad you will be there." the minotaur confessed.

"You made me stronger, you gave me hope and respect when I was in the shadows. When I was on my worst days with throbbing headaches and horrible attitudes. You helped me through it, whoever you marry will be happy. No matter the form you hold."

"If it's alright with you, I plan to go nowhere. I'm at your side no matter what. This time I choose you, and only you." the older one smiled.

"It's perfectly alright." Byrin tilted his head to look at Logan.

Both men knew what they wanted. It was simple and universal, they held love more powerful than the gem,for each other. The younger grabbed his best friend's neck and pulled him down, bringing him down for a kiss.

Soon golden light covered the occupied men as they embraced. Logan's fur shed and dark skin reemerged, his horns disintegrated and his face returned to his human one, mostly. Left behind as a reminder were his fangs that protruded past her normal sized teeth.

In contrast, Byrin returned to his human form. His hair regrew, longer than it was originally, reaching past his shoulders. His eyes changed from red to dark brown, the remnants of his magma removed from his system. All that was left behind were the scarrs, and the flicker of magma in his hands.

That night the heroes rejoiced, they had ended the minotaurs curse. Logan got his answer, love was more powerful than greed. And this time Byrin chose Love.