Death and Shadows

Ch.11 Old Friends and Old Ghosts

~Lia's POV~

Once I exited the shadows, I fell to my knees on the ranch house porch. My vision blurred. I tried my best to focus and keep myself from passing out. I did not want to black out again so soon. Nico was so close. I needed to see him and make sure he was okay.

After a few deep breaths, I managed to gather myself enough to be able to stand back up. I entered the lodge and looked around. Nico wasn't on the couch, and the house sounded silent. I saw the two headed dog emerge from the top of the stairs. When his eyes locked onto me, he bounded down the stairs and started barking at me.

I held up my hands. "Hey, hey, it's okay. I'm just here for Nico."

The dog just growled and kept barking at me.

Eurytion appeared at the top of the stairs, and his eyes widened a bit when he saw me. "Orthus, heel."

Orthus immediately stopped and trotted back to Eurytion's side.

I let out a breath. "Thanks, Eurytion." I frowned when I didn't see Nico show up. He had to have heard us. "Where's Nico?"

Eurytion was quiet for a second before he sighed. "Your friend Nico left the ranch."

My eyes widened. "What? I was gone for like a day! When? Where did he go?"

"Last night while I was asleep. I'm not exactly sure why he left. Orthus tracked his scent as far as the cattle guard." Eurytion's face turned red, and he looked down at his cowboy boots. "I'm so sorry, miss."

"It's not your fault, Eurytion." I swore under my breath. "Now I have to go find him. He just had to make this harder for me."

I ran to Geryon's room and sighed in relief when I saw my backpack was still there. I grabbed it and ran back to Eurytion.

"Do you mind if I take some food for the road?" I asked.

 Eurytion shook his head. "Not at all. Take what you need."

"You're not going to stop me?"

"I don't think I could. I'm no oracle, but I think you and that boy are connected."

I smiled. I hoped so. The man had really changed since Geryon died. I went to the kitchen and took a couple water bottles and some random snacks. Once I got everything I needed, I said goodbye to Eurytion and was even able to give Orthus some goodbye pets. I ran to the cattle guard Nico and I crawled out of the first time we arrived at the ranch. I didn't particularly like the idea of going into a mysterious and dangerous maze by myself, but I had to find Nico. I took a deep breath and fell down into the Labyrinth.

Once I entered the Labyrinth, I summoned my daggers and gripped them tightly in my hands. When Nico and I went into the maze together, we had Minos guide us for the most part. This time I was alone. I had no idea where I was going, but I followed my instincts as I traipsed forward. I hoped I would find Nico before something happened to him.

No monsters appeared. I couldn't tell if it was because of me, or because they didn't want to venture into the maze. The place was creepy and completely erratic. One minute I could be in a room with a vaulted ceiling, and then the next I would be in a hallway made completely out of dirt. With no other life forms in the maze, it just made the place a lot more eerie.

Eventually I got tired from wandering around for so long. I didn't know exactly how long I had been walking through the Labyrinth for, but I knew I needed a break. I sat down in a random corridor made up of different kinds of rock. With my hands still around the hilts of my daggers, I rested my head against the wall and closed my eyes. I wasn't sure how long I slept for, but when I woke up I heard hissing from farther down the corridor.