Keepers of the Labyrinth (25 page)

A weapon and a map, Lil thought, but why would her mother need it? It didn't make sense. She pushed herself farther upright, her ribs screaming in pain.

“But what does this, what do these things, these people, have to do with the leadership conference, and Bente . . . and my mom?”

“And if this is an archaeological site that would reveal ancient history—all those tablets could redefine what we know about our past—” Charlie said, “why hide it?”

“And why,” Sydney said, “is the labyrinth set up in a series of riddles?”

“Deadly riddles,” Kat added.

Athenia dropped the pendants into her lap once more and pulled her teacup up to her mouth, taking a sip. Lil gritted her teeth, trying not to be annoyed by her casual unraveling of the story.

“Valid questions, all,” Athenia said, swallowing. “Ultimately, the secret—the importance of keeping the secret—far outweighs the necessity of it being public knowledge.

“You see, as Zeus saw the skills of his captives, his desire for more power became insatiable. Looking to nature as the unrivaled phenomenon in the world, he wanted to be its equal. And so he observed it. He decided he wanted to harness lightning, so Daedalus created the
ch
eir thanatou
: hand of death.”

“The pressurized oven . . . the volcanic ash,” Sydney said.

Athenia nodded, gulping more tea.

“He created multiple weapons for Zeus. The charged ash was the most powerful and unique of the arsenal. It could wipe out more people than a battle-ax and from a greater distance. As time passed in the labyrinth, Daedalus, Europa, Minotaur and Ariadne saw that his power was growing, and even to them, he was becoming greater than human. With his new demands, the group tried to destroy him. Zeus had longed to fly like the birds for a long time, and”—she looked down at the Daedalus pendant—“Daedalus had it in his mind that he might make a set of wings that were triggered to fail. They would fly Zeus far out to sea so that he wouldn't be able to make it back. However, Zeus had caught on to their game, and he forced Daedalus' son Icarus to take the flight instead.”

Lil looked down at her hands, thinking of Daedalus watching his son fly out to his death. She remembered the line in the riddle at the door of the chamber, “creation to destruction bends.”

“Needless to say, he didn't make it,” Athenia said. “And Daedalus retrieved his body from the shore a few days later. Devastated, defeated and half mad. The Minotaur longed to give him a proper departure, cast a beautiful urn for the child, but Daedalus coveted the body almost as if he thought the boy would breathe again.”

“That's terrible,” Kat said quietly.

Athenia placed the mug on the table. “Wracked with despair, Daedalus began a project beyond any he had attempted before. He would spend the following months decoding the secrets to life and death—creation and destruction—designing the blueprints to resurrection.”

“But that's impossible,” Sydney said. “I mean, beyond cryogenics—”

“He didn't have the means, but in his fervor, he had unlocked the key to immortality.”

“That's also impossible,” Lil said.

“Mostly,” Sydney interjected. “Some scientists would say that death is merely a flaw in human cell reproduction. There are many living organisms that far surpass human life.” Sydney's eyes popped wide open. “Oh, those fossils in his chamber? Were those part of his experiments?”

Athenia's eyes glimmered. “Extremely observant, Sydney,” she said. “He did hundreds of experiments on natural species that were known for living forever, or at least for surviving an exceedingly long time. Daedalus longed to create something that wouldn't ultimately lead to destruction.”

Lil pictured opening the floor, reaching her hand into the empty chamber. “The folio, what the man was looking for, it wasn't there.”

Athenia's hand curled around the Zeus pendant once more. “Yes, the Icarus Folio, the secrets to eternal life. Zeus had found out about the blueprints, and Daedalus and the rest of them could see that once again, something created for good would be turned to evil by his hand. They met and made a plan, hoping that they might, at long last, truly free themselves from the cycle. They could still kill the man while he was, well, mortal.

“So, Europa, able to win Zeus' eyes, knew him best. She knew the son of Kronos had almost been destroyed by his father, eaten in a cannibalistic ritual like the rest of his siblings. But Zeus had been saved by his mother, Rhea, and told by all those who met him how special he was to have escaped his warmongering father's clutches. Europa played on his pride. She told him that a man, a god, of his height did not need a mere inventor to harness nature for him. He could harness nature himself. And if he did so, he would go down in the books greater than their forebears, greater than Gaia, the earth, greater than Uranus, the sky. The greatest that history would remember.

“And so Zeus, filled with delusion and wine, on a night long, long ago, met Europa. Together they made their way to the nebulous chamber. There, lightning began to shake the sky, pulse and electrify the air. And Europa had received a simple bronze rod from Daedalus. She was to give it to Zeus, tell him that this was the path to immortality. To become one with lightning, the greatest power known to the natural world, would make him immortal at last. They created an oculus in the ceiling. And Europa pushed it open so that the lightning would find him. But in the last seconds, as the lightning bore down and shattered the sky with its fury, Zeus implored Europa to become immortal with him.”

Athenia lowered her eyes to the floor. “She bore the ultimate sacrifice. Knowing he must die, she clasped her hand around his as he raised the bronze to the sky. Lightning found its mark. And nature did not spare her vengeance.”

Lil felt needles climb up her back as she listened.

“That night they disbanded. Daedalus, heartbroken by another loved one's death by his invention, could no longer stay in the labyrinth. Minotaur would see him on a pilgrimage across the sea, and Ariadne would stay to govern what was left. To protect the Icarus Folio and the secrets of the labyrinth from those who would seek its power. The same month Daedalus left, Ariadne walked the labyrinth. The ash had grown stronger over the nearby island of Thera—you know it today as Santorini—and she could see it billowing in the air at the top of the mountain. When it erupted, it sent waves fleeing, and a giant tsunami engulfed Crete, wiping out nearly an entire civilization like ants.

“Those who knew that Zeus had reigned on Crete longed for what he had, longed to become him. So it's no surprise that as the tsunami's effects dissipated, others arrived on the island. The people that the historians call Mycenaeans would come to rule the land, taking the remaining men to be unwilling soldiers of the sea, and the women, unwilling bearers of a new generation. Ariadne hid from her fate high in the mountains. And over time, a few others would stumble upon the cave entrance at the top, looking for a sanctuary from their destinies. Ariadne accepted those worthy into the fold, and a secret society was born—always made up of only four and those four taking the roles of the originals.” She held up the pendants once more so they swung in the sunlight that pooled in from the window. “Historian, Inventor, Artist and Protector.”

All of a sudden Lil's mind began to click, the puzzle pieces finding one another and snapping into place. If Mom had worn the symbol of Ariadne, then . . . Her heart thundered as Athenia continued.

“Ariadne had vowed to protect the archives from the outside world,” Athenia said, “and her mission in this way would not change. Everyone who joined swore a solemn oath. The labyrinth became an initiation chamber. The center became a study, a laboratory, a place of exploration, creation and innovation. From the death of Ariadne and the Minoan civilization to today. Those who had heard rumors of the mountain, who sought designs and weaponry, who were sick with power and seeking immortality would be put asunder time after time by the so-called Daughters of Ariadne, the Keepers of the Labyrinth,” Athenia said.

The image of Lil's mother danced on the antechamber wall and filled her head. The Protector, Athenia had said. “My mom was the Protector?” she whispered.

Athenia finished her cup of tea in one swallow and placed it on the table beside her. “Yes. An initiation happens every twenty-five years. Helene was the most recent Protector.” She lowered her eyes to the floor. “When your mother passed away, Bente returned in her place. She had preceded her and would fill her shoes until a new recruitment could take place.”

Lil's nose tingled, and she took a moment to peer out the corner of her eye at the others. They seemed to be as stunned and tongue-tied as she was.

“When she passed away?” The words on the page filled her mind. “When she was . . . extinguished?”

Athenia lifted her head and looked Lil in the eyes. “Helene would never take her own life.”

Lil's body twitched into motion, but her sore muscles stilled her. “Then who took it?” she growled. “It was that man? The one in the labyrinth?”

Athenia licked her lips. “Ariadne has kin, and Zeus brethren. They call themselves the Zephylites. They seek the Icarus Folio. They believe that when Zeus died that day on the mountaintop, he in fact did become immortal. The story is that he rose and dashed out the Minoan civilization with the volcanic eruption. And he did it out of vengeance. The Zephylites would use their power for evil, to take control of the world and of mortality, that they might also become Zeus. They are his keepers, but their ways are greedy.”

“They have a god complex,” Sydney said.

“A small order,” Athenia said, “just like ours, but extremely powerful in the workings of the world. Now imagine power unchecked by time.”

Lil's eyes stung with tears, and she could feel the heat rising in her body. “So he . . .”

Athenia shook her head. “The one sent to retrieve the folio? He was a mere henchman. Don't dwell on him.”

A knock came at the door, and without pause Colleen stuck her head in.

“Your workshop is about to begin,” she said to Athenia.

Athenia rose from her chair. “Is it that time already?”

“Wait,” Lil said, shifting to get out of bed. She needed more answers. The story was only half finished. Why had her mother died, and by whose hand? Lil clutched at the bedsheets, trying to rise.

“There will be time for more discussion later,” Athenia said.

Lil stilled herself, her mind working to keep the information. She needed to go home with answers for Dad. With something more tangible than a story about a near-invisible secret society longing for immortality. Her father would never believe it.

As if reading her mind, Athenia leveled them each with a grave expression.

“As you likely know, everything I have said here is absolutely confidential.”

Colleen placed a basket on the chair that Athenia had just occupied. “We had not intended for you to go into the labyrinth,” she said. “We had a series of other, less threatening tests that would require you to display your skills aboveground. However, Bente—” She choked on the name. “Bente ended up with you. And by some catastrophe, you were pushed through the door. You have made it through the labyrinth. You have proven yourselves to be bright, bold, thoughtful and creative. You do possess all the virtues of the order, and now you know its secrets.

“In this basket,” she said, lifting the top, “there are two rocks for each of you.” Colleen reached in with both hands and extracted a red rock and a black one. They were egg shaped and no bigger than her hands.

“Tonight you must make your choice,” Athenia said. “If you choose to stay, you will place the red rock outside the door of your dormitory. If you choose to leave, you will place the black rock outside the door.”

Lil gulped, wondering what would happen if she chose not to stay.

Athenia continued. “If you choose to depart, you have nothing to fear. You will receive an amnesiac from Aestos and all of this will fade away into dream. If you choose to stay, then more will become clear as time passes.” She turned to the door. “Besides the dangers of the labyrinth and protecting it from the Zephylites, I assure you there are many benefits in joining us. You will have state-of-the-art resources at your fingertips. Your connections will be worldwide. You will have special missions that will fit your key roles, and you will become leaders in our world. Just as the original four influenced humanity, so must we as future Keepers.”

Lil pictured the airfield with the empty spot where the Longhorn had sat. Had her mother been doing special ops for the government, or had she been doing something special for the Daughters of Ariadne? Every time she had left, where had she gone and what had she been up to?

Colleen placed the rocks back into the basket and closed the lid. And with a nod, she and Athenia left. Lil, Sydney, Kat and Charlie stared at one another. Lil didn't know what to say. Her mother had been here. Had done this. Had believed it. Had died for it. Had even deemed it worth dying for. Perhaps, Lil thought, she would do the same.

45

T
hat night, Atticus handed Lil a basket as she readied to leave the
mitat
o.
He lifted the lid. Inside she saw a Turkish coffee pot, the tin of menthol salve and a small terry-cloth wrap that seemed to emit a heady herbal aroma.

“The fresh essences will sharpen your senses and calm your mind enough for you to sleep,” Atticus said, pulling the wrap from the interior of the basket. “The stones”—he lifted a cloth to reveal the two stones that Colleen had shown them—“are here as well. You must decide tonight.”

“Thank you,” Lil said, accepting the basket from Atticus' hand.

“So you know everything?” she said, looking up at his tanned face.

He nodded. “My family have been healers for the Daughters of Ariadne for nearly as long as the history of the order itself.”

“But you're not doctors?” Lil said.

“We're better than doctors,” Atticus said.

Lil turned to see Aestos at the potbellied stove in the opposite corner. He poured a liquid into a small vial and placed it into a basket next to him. Then he brought it over to Charlie. “This will be good for the wound, numb away the pain when it gets bad. Rub it on gently.”

“Merci,”
Charlie said, leaning on a pair of crutches that looked like they had been freshly whittled that morning.

Sydney lifted her basket from the bed, and Kat joined her.

“Oh, I retrieved all of your dormitory keys from the chaos,” Atticus said, pulling two of the large cast-iron keys from each pocket. He held them out.

“We'll see you in the morning,” Aestos said. “At breakfast. It goes without saying—you must not mention a word of this to anyone.” He went over to the freestanding sink, lathered his hands with a bar of soap and ran them under the water.

“But what do we tell the other girls if they ask?” Kat said.

Atticus wiped his hands. “Do not fret. I have made up a story for each of you. Sydney, keep calm. Nerves are the worst you have to battle. Lil, you're bruised up. You fell down the stairs on Tuesday night when you left your room without your candle.” He turned to Charlie, who held the crutches securely under her arms. “Wednesday, each group went on a field trip to Samaria Gorge. Charlie, if you can manage, say you fell on the first part of the trail. It's the steepest and most dangerous. You had to ride the rest of the way on the back of a mule.”

“I would have liked a more adventurous story, but it will have to do, I suppose,” Charlie said.

“And, Kat, you attempted to catch her as she was falling, yanking your arm from its socket. You'll keep it covered, but this will help explain away the sling. Understood?”

They all nodded.

“All right, follow me.” Atticus turned toward the door and opened it.

Lil looked outside to a moon-soaked garden, then jumped as the shrubbery next to them shifted. Sydney grasped her arm, but out into the moonlight shot a small goat, who fell into stride beside Atticus.

“It's only Baskin,” Atticus said, reaching down to scratch the goat's head. “Not to worry now.”

All together, they walked a stone path through the garden and back into the kitchen. Atticus lit four candles, handing them off one by one. Lil took hers and Charlie's, so that Charlie wouldn't have to manage the stairs with the basket, candle and crutches.

“I think you know the way from here,” Atticus said, sliding the kitchen door open to the stone stairwell to Hall D.

“Thank you,” they said as they made their way slowly up the stairs and into the quiet of the hallway. No one said a word. Lil helped Charlie with her door and candle.

“I'll see you in the morning?” Lil said. “At breakfast?”

“Definitely,” Charlie said, leaning the crutch against the wall.

Lil set the candle down on the dresser and turned to the door. She stopped and looked back before leaving.

“Charlie, do you think you'll stay?” Lil asked.

Charlie pulled two fountain pens from her pocket and laid them side by side on the dresser. They were both badly cracked, and ink stained her fingers. She wiped them off on her pants. “There's a lot to consider, isn't there?” she said.

“I suppose for some,” Lil said. But she'd chased after her mother, chased after answers, for what seemed like ages. She longed to wipe the sleepless nights out from beneath her eyes. From beneath her dad's eyes. She longed for truth. She pictured her mom kissing her dad good-bye. Off on another mission. She had been coming here. Lil was sure of it. She could continue her work. She could follow in her footsteps. Catch up to them.

She stepped into the hallway, wondering if she could talk to the others before they closed themselves inside, but Sydney and Kat slipped into their rooms, doors closing softly behind them.

Lil went to her door and pressed her key into the lock. The stained-glass window had been repaired with an exact replica and cast a soft moonlit glow down on her arms as she turned the key. The door itself had been put back together, and when Lil opened the door, all stood as it had when she first arrived. She went over to the window seat, sat down and placed the basket in front of her. Lifting the lid, she pulled the wrap out and placed it on her collarbone. The ache around the break quickly subsided, the warmth of the wrap sucking it away. Then she pulled out the two rocks and placed them in front of her: the red one on the right and the black one on the left. She picked up the red one and clutched it in her hand as she extracted the picture of her mom and Bente from her pocket. It was so badly damaged it looked like it was under a cracked frame. The glossy front split. Colors in the right-hand corner ran. But her mother's smile remained unchanged.

She could learn more about Mom. Lil's fingers tightened, but more important, she thought, she could extract some answers. She would never take an amnesiac. Lil clutched the red rock and went to her door, sliding it open and peering into the dark hallway. She glanced quickly from one rush mat to another at the base of each door. No rocks were set out yet.

The door in front of her swung just slightly in the breeze, and she noticed that Sydney had left the top half open just a crack. Lil stepped across the hallway and pushed the door open gently. There was Sydney, holding up a frame with a picture in it. By the light of the candle, Lil could see two girls. One was definitely Sydney, and the other one was nearly identical to her. Younger, but had her features.

“Is that your sister?” she asked.

Sydney turned, placing the picture on the table. “So much for that scholarship.”

Lil rolled the clay rock in her hand and deposited it into her pocket.

“Still thinking about that, huh?” Lil said, wondering how she could possibly be considering that after all they had been through.

“It's why I'm here,” she said, crossing to her bed where she had laid out the shirt and pants she had worn into the labyrinth. The shirt seemed to have taken on a new, darker color, and the pants were dirt-covered and torn.

“So you won't be staying? Even after everything Athenia has told us?”

Lil looked her over as Sydney sat down on the bed and began to scrub a patch of dirt off her shirt. Sydney looked up and leveled her with a stare.

“Do you think they're really trustworthy? Blueprints of immortality. It's a bit far-fetched, don't you think? Even our greatest scientists haven't figured it out. How could some ancient man have the resources to understand it?”

“But there are people who seek it—” Lil started.

“The Zephylites?” Sydney stopped scrubbing, her eyes going wide. “You realize they are utterly psychotic, right?”

“So you've made up your mind, then?” Lil asked.

Sydney guffawed, as though it were all a joke. “I would say so.”

Lil felt the weight of the rock in her pocket.

She went back into the hallway. Stopped and turned. She wrapped her elbows over the bottom half of the stall-like door.

“Hey, Sydney?”

“Yeah?” she said, switching her shirt for her pants. She held them, surveying the damage. “Might as well just throw these away,” she muttered.

“You know we wouldn't have been able to survive without you, right?”

“Nah.” Sydney shrugged, as if trying to throw off a hand on her shoulder. “You would have found another way. That's all. I slowed you down.”

“You saved my life. You saved all of our lives,” Lil said. “You see how things work. How they're put together. We would have died in trap after trap without you.”

“Okay,” Sydney said, dropping the pants into her lap. “Thank you for the awkward pep talk.”

“If you stayed, it would be a great asset to . . . to whoever else stays.”

Sydney looked toward her. Lil watched as she glanced at the picture of her sister and then back at her bag.

“Think of it,” Lil said. “If not for us . . .” She remembered the words Athenia had said. “Unlimited resources. Perhaps to help find a cure—”

“I'll take it all into consideration,” Sydney snapped, turning back to her pants and shaking her head in dismay.

Lil turned toward her door, stood for a moment in front of her mat. She pulled the rock from her pocket and placed it in the corner. She stepped back into her room, glancing at her watch. The front of the watch was scraped and scarred, but she could see it said 11:00. She pulled her pajamas on, got into bed, set her sneakers securely at the foot of her night table, placed the picture of her mother on her nightstand and stared at it until her eyelids grew heavy.

Then she fell asleep until morning.