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_Note: This story is based on, and set in, the "Cold Blood" universe which was made and written by Onyx Tao. Please read his brilliant stories! _

**_OBSERVE: My storyline, "Finding Home", is not to be considered canon to the Cold Blood universe, there are bound to be several differences between this "alternate universe" to Cold Blood and the actual one. So if you're a fan of Cold Blood, please don't be mad if you spot several "flaws" within this alternate Cold Blood universe. Artistic freedom and yadda yadda... :)

Also: This is the *first* chapter of Part 2. It will cover Livius' past, and might contain... unpleasant - aswell as pleasant - scenes. Unless it sucks. Then there will only be unpleasant scenes, inevitably. :) ..... oh but, do be warned. Gruesome violence is described. Viewer discretion is adviced and bla bla bla blahhh...._**

**_AND:

This chapter may be read indepently (with only slight difficulty of comprehending the contexts of certain issues) of previous chapters_ **** _....

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-Part 2-

-Chapter 4-

-A home far away, in a different time-

All that could be seen was a big "something" fluttering above him. It looked like still reflections from the moon upon watery layers, seen from below. The surface world was gone, and had been replaced by the blackness found beneath the ocean. Livius knew, in his mind, he had fallen asleep. An odd pressure formed around his throat. It felt strangely physical. Like an embryo cowering from his own birth, Livius now pressed against the conscious, and he was unwilling at first to slip into the unknown. It had to happen eventually though, but he felt so worried.. would this be his last night? Would he wake up and look into Matteus' eyes, or would he ...

Livius lost all ability to think, and sank down into a comatose sleep. He dreamt of the past. A past he knew all too well...

I remember everything like yesterday.

~~~~~~~~~~

"Do you have everything you need?", Skender shouted in the midst of the rainstorm. All the bags had been packed and Livius glanced the carriage so as to confirm he did indeed feel convinced he hadn't forgotten something. The men were still carrying things on top of it, and some had settled in already. Weapons everywhere. Livius felt eager to join them and hop into the fray. Finally some damn action.

"I only need my magic. Don't worry so much."

"It will be pretty damned dangerous, Livius. We wont be able to communicate over this distance!"

"It's all right. It's just recon. We will return swiftly, hopefully covered in minotaur blood, haha!"

"You're insane. Most recon troops don't want to be found."

"We probably wont be", Livius said with a frown and wrapped his coat around him. His face was freezing in this cold. It felt as though hard nails slit his skin open. "I only wish we had been given more resources by the damn council. Those pencil pushing bastards never allow themselves to risk more in order to gain more."

"You know it's a military cloak and dagger operation. The circle of magi rarely send mages along with spies. I never understood what you hope to attain with this mission. Going into minotaur lands as a recon .. mage? Are you mad? The circle council was right to deny you more resources."

"By more resources I hope you mean more mages. I had hoped you would join me"

"Livius, you're like a brother to me; but .. like an annoying, brazen and rather stupid brother who always gets into trouble. I would rather boil myself in oil than go with you!"

"You will miss me", said Livius with a sarcastic grin.

"Nothing good can come off this. What do you hope to achieve?"

"New information on their formations, movements... just about anything. With me on board, the recon team can go further into the minotaur lands. I will use my magic to obscure our presence."

"Well, good luck to you! I will make sure to read your favourite poems on your funeral."

"You mean poems I wrote? I haven't written my best poems yet. I plan to write a love poem about you one day.", Livius said with a smug grin on his face.

"Oh yeah? I thought you said you'd never write a love poem in your life."

"Well, maybe you'll be the one that makes me do it. You are kind of cute, perhaps my heart will eventually melt for you?"

Skender laughed intensily while Livius swung aboard the carriage, donning a self confident smile. His friend looked angry with him, but also genuinely worried. As they departed into the strange lands, Livius thought about the furious council, who had thought him mad to go. They wanted to send a younger, less valueable adept. Livius had persuaded them that it would be pointless to send an inexperienced mage for such an important task. His confidence was unlimited.

And so they rode into the night, across the borders, into an unknown future.

-

Several weeks had passed, and finally the scouts reported a perfect spot on a cliffside. It would be an ideal camp. As the tents were raised around the uneven rocks and hard soil, and boxes were unloaded all over the place, Livius approached the senior scout. He stood like an imposing scare crow; viewing the wide plains beneath.

"No minotaur sightings yet. Are you certain we are not too far away?", Livius asked.

The man looked weatherbitten and stern. His eyes never left the horizon. "I think we are being followed. The other scouts disagree with me, but they haven't seen the type of minotaurs I have. Some of them are subtle on top of being ferocious. The most dangerous type."

Livius felt a chill all over his spine, and he glanced the chasm below. The cliff was steep indeed, and in the darkness, it was easy to imagine phantom shadows sneaking across the rocks. A fall from this height would surely spell his doom.

With his eyes, the scout searched Livius thoroughly from top to bottom. "Sorry for imposing, Sir, but do you really think it's wise to carry your robes in these lands?"

Livius didn't understand at first. He looked at his clothes; it was his traditional robes, signifying his arcane proficiency. Blue, fine silk with detailed adornments. "Why wouldn't I wear these?"

The scout spat into the chasm before grimly continuing; "Those robes might be your undoing. And I am not talking about death, either. If minotaurs fall upon us and we are unable to fend ourselves, they will want survivors to interrogate. The fancier clothed, the better. If a minotaur gets his hold on you; it's all over. Do you know how they treat humans?"

Livius shook his head. He had certainly heard tall tales, but nothing that would remotely pass for real information.

"They make you their slave. They rape you, beat you and torture you at their leisure. Savage monsters, they are. Malnutrition, agony and despair; that's all they offer. Should you ever get the chance to kill yourself before they get a hold of you - take it."

"I am not sure that .. "

"Do you know greek?", the scout interrupted, his face emotionless in the coolness of the night.

"Why, yes. I do."

"That means you're easier to interrogate."

With big eyes, Livius withdrew. Returning to his newly arranged tent, he quickly installed himself. Rearranging the various items that had been randomly spread around by the soldiers, his thoughts inside him raged. His expectations about the whole expedition had been crushed on several occations. So far there had been no real excitement as far as encounters go, but he admittedly felt shaken up about the whole imprisonment ordeal that the scout mentioned. Unpleasant, to say the least. Looking out of the tent, Livius spotted nothing out of the ordinary. Some of the men carried things, others were in conversation. The night was quiet, and the tent was fairly warm. Livius went to bed.

-

Sounds of screaming broke out. Violence had ensued, and Livius felt a surge of adrenaline as he flew up from his bed, hitting his head against a metallic bowl of incense that he had hung on a string inside the tent. Incense flew like burning fireflies across the tent as he collected himself, listening in on the bustling chaos outside. He was already clothed, luckily. Heavy thumping clouded as thick assaults on the eardrums; either a lot of people were out there, or maybe.. a few heavy ones? Minotaurs?

Livius went up to the tent entrance, and separated the cloth to look outside. Someone fell on his back right in front of him. A gush of warm blood whipped across Livius' face, making him turn away in shock, letting out a short cry as his vision was stolen by the spatter. Quickly, he wiped the blood from his face, and once he could see clearly again, he realized that the soldier on the ground by the tent was still alive, eyes fixed on Livius. "S.. Sir.. run! Run away from here! Run like Hell!", he shouted with a detereorating strength in his voice. Livius didn't know what to do. Confusion snarled its thick rope around him, and he gasped for air, trying his best to stop the soldier from bleeding. It was pointless. Livius hadn't learned to properly heal with magic, and certainly not in the midst of combat. He decided to leave the tent, and wanted to run elsewhere. About 15 meters away from his position, he could see commotion. There were humans there, but also... A minotaur! He was larger than Livius had anticipated, and substantially faster. Three soldiers were attacking him. He appeared to wield something akin to a greatsword, except larger than any Livius had seen before.

The minotaur bellowed loudly as his sword was swept horizontally, with unnatural speed. The senior scout that Livius had been talking to earlier was running towards the giant creature, and just as the minotaur's sword landed inside one of the younger soldiers, more or less cleaving him in half, the scout descended upon the minotaur and sank a gladius deep into his chest. The minotaur gave a hideous howl, and was soon overwhelmed by one of the other soldiers who had flanked him. He jumped up onto the beast, driving his shortsword into the neck.

Livius panted excitedly, not sure what to do about the whole ordeal. The soldier on the ground in front of the minotaur looked very young. He was seemingly trying to put his intestines back into his obliterated body; his face a flush of shock and deathly paleness.. There was nothing to do about him.

Livius turned to his right, as he was damn well near stunned by a fearsome roar. Another minotaur, this one facing Livius. In the corner of his eye, he noticed the first minotaur had fallen. Although he couldn't confirm it, out of fear of losing his focus on this second minotaur, Livius believed that the old scout was rushing to his aid, based on sounds of steps.

Just as the minotaur was about to charge, he stopped. He looked at something behind Livius. When Livius turned to look, he noticed the body of two other minotaurs further away. We've killed three of them? Impressive, thought Livius. Then he noticed something else, as his eyes had partially adjusted to the fairly absent moonlight; half a dozen human bodies. Only four of us left. His heart began beating very fast. He noticed how awkwardly and clumsily he was placing his feet. Unbalanced at best, almost ready to fall over. The heat of battle was entirely new to Livius, who immediately began signalling defeat with his waving arms.

The minotaur snorted a white mist from his flaring nostrils, and noticed the other humans rushing towards him. He leapt forward with incredible speed, and gripped his weapon with both hands to gain momentum; driving the pommel of his sword upwards to break the face of the first arriving human, who happened to be the senior scout. The sound was horrible; a low, deafening crack that reproduced its muffled horror in surreal clarity across the cliffside camp. The impact sent the experienced veteran to the ground with a cataclysmic crash. His face was now a mush, and blood has sprayed in tiny dots, all of which had landed neatly on the wild minotaur, who continued his motion after knocking his opponent down. He seemingly transformed the pommel strike to an acrobatic dance move; spinning around 360 degrees, gaining far more momentum into his second strike, which had now been developed into a giant lunge that impaled the follow-up soldier.

With a gasp, Livius witnessed the blade of the greatsword protrude swiftly from the back of the soldier that had been impaled. It barely even slowed down as it went through, and the color of the blood was nearly black, indicating that a kidney or the liver had been destroyed on the way. The minotaur didn't seem to be able to remove the sword though, and as the soldier fell onto his knees, it became increasingly hard to struggle the sword out of the body. The minotaur placed a hoof on the face of the kneeling human, and gripped anew the hilt of the blade with his tense hands. As he pulled with all his might, he also pushed his hoof into the face of the human, who gargled incoherently from pain of having his face pressed in. An eyeball eventually erupted, hanging loosely from his face, and the sword had broken through a few ribs on its clumsy way through the body, effectively sawing its way diagonally up. It was still stuck inside the human though, and the minotaur continued to struggle.

The last human soldier approached from the flank, slowly, his face covered in sweat. The minotaur noticed him and grabbed the gladius from the human in front of him, letting go off his greatsword. This made the now-dead human fall over obtusely, like broken furniture. His final sigh echoing in Livius ears. The mage was stiff from fear, and felt impotent in every regard. The gladius shimmered in the minotaur's hand, and it seemed small and light as a feather when he drove it into the young, human soldier's throat and twisted it around. Livius had once heard someone break the neck of a chicken, and this sounded no differently, except louder. The human's eyes were beacons of terror as he looked into the eyes of the bovine beast, seemingly praying for mercy. He received none. With another quick twist and pull, his neck broke off entirely, and cascades of blood fountained the twitching human body as it slumped to the cold, unforgiving ground, which would now be his grave.

Livius stuttered in panic. He could not move. Not speak. This is not how I imagined it would be.. not at all.. I want to go home! I am afraid!, Livius thought as he urinated himself. The warm streams presented a welcome contrast to the chill of night. It wasn't even a cold night, but fear had made it the heart of winter itself. Livius was frightened out of his mind.

With sweat steaming from his huge body, the minotaur turned to Livius, who began stepping backwards slowly. "No, no.. don't ... peace! I surrender! I will do anything, just don't kill me, I beg you!", Livius said in greek. Only a few steps later, he lost his stance entirely, toppling himself over, at a collection of small rocks that lay about. From the ground, he pleadingly looked up at the minotaur, who was now more or less right before him, like an immovable tower of muscle and horns.

"You're wise to surrender, scrawny one. If I get to keep you, I shall name you 'Twig'.. pray you don't break in my grasp", the minotaur furiously whispered, his voice like an ominous humming in Livius ears.

Livius looked around and quickly established he was the only seemingly living human, and there were no more minotaurs either. "Please, let me... get up on my feet. I will do whatever you say, I am harmless. I cannot fight."

The minotaur let down his guard a bit. "Take your time, feral", he grunted as a reply. He looked around casually while Livius began to move. But he didn't get up. Instead, he reached into one of the pockets within his robe and subtly pulled out a plant when the minotaur wasn't watching. He shoved it into his mouth, ground it down with his teeth, and swallowed with haste, gaining focus nearly on instant. The foul taste was most unusual. Livius had heard rumours that this rare breed of flora would be useful in small amounts. It was far from beneficial to the body, and it was highly addictive, but Livius was desperate. As the strange sensation of warmth and control settled in, it seemed to also wash away his fears completely. He suddenly felt amazing.

Livius quickly assessed what powers he could muster, forming them quickly into a link between the minotaur and himself. He felt intense organic energies moving inside the minotaur. Big body, good. This should make for quite a ride, unless I fuck up. Reaching inside himself, steering arcane energies to interconnect his own energies with the static electricity found in the minotaur's body, he managed to create a conflicting flux between their bodies. Knowing the potentially disastrous outcome should the spell fail, Livius continued slowly even as he noticed that the minotaur begun realizing that something was wrong. The spell was hard to control, and Livius concentrated as much as he could in order to not cause his own death.

Creating an arcane pulse beam, he aimed it at the center of the enemy and unleashed it. What followed was a sudden explosion of magnetic and electric energies, and the minotaur was sent flying, as if pushed by an unusually strong battering ram. The spell had charred the minotaur's chest, making it ignite in the air. The minotaur appeared to be unconscious aswell. Livius only felt the effects of the spell as a fairly heavy push, slamming him into the ground. As Livius did his best to quickly crawl back up, he observed the apparently lifeless minotaur descending over the ledge. His fall would inevitably spell his doom.

Livius fought hard to stay awake, but his ability to stay focused had begun to slip once he realized that he was in no immediate danger. He listened carefully, and picked up almost no sounds. Only the wind. It seemed death had no sound. With that final thought, Livius passed out.

-

~

Livius woke up, but he did so in a mist. He saw no tents, no corpses of minotaurs; only corpses of humans. They were piled up, thousands and thousands of corpses on every side of him, forming unholy pyramids of death in the outskirts of the mist. It was barely visible to the human eye, but still the looming presence . The sounds of wailing filled the air, and Livius discovered he was bleeding. He began to frantically feel all over his body, trying to establish where he had been hurt. Then a booming laughter caused him to freeze. He looked up and noticed the minotaur he had repelled earlier. He was back, his greatsword gleaming like a diamond. The scorchmark was still on his chest, and it was still burning. "Time to pay your dues, little twig", said the minotaur and raised his giant sword. Livius looked in fearful disbelief as the sword was mercilessly thrust into his stomach.

~

-

Livius woke up with a scream. Sitting upright, he grabbed his belly with both hands. Intact. No blood on him. It had all been a nightmare. His sigh was only partially made out of relief, for all around him was carnage. The battle, unfortunately, had not been a dream.

Livius walked around as if in a daze. He tried to collect all valuables and food items, while searching for survivors. They had all died. For the longest time, he studied the body of one of the minotaurs. He was amazed at how big and muscular they were. He couldn't quite shake the feeling that he found them to be very... attractive. Even... sexy. For shame, Livius old boy.. you must have knocked your head pretty damn hard against those rocks before. Disturbed at his thoughts, he noticed the lifeless tongue hanging out from the muzzle. It had turned blue. His dry, dead eyes stared into the sky with a surreal sense of disconnection. Suddenly Livius felt violently sick, and all of his previous arousal was gone. He walked away from the body.

After having scavenged the tents on all supplies he could carry without tiring himself too much, he began to search for maps of the area. The one he found indicated that he was surrounded by vast, dry plains on all sides. Walking to various lookout points at the camp, he discovered it was indeed true. Even the small exertion involved in traversing the camp had made Livius sweaty and nauseous. He sat down at the center of the camp and began making a fire. He needed to prepare a meal, and drink.

-

The first few days were uneventful, but the corpses had begun to stink. The stench had developed into something unbearable, and Livius felt he needed to do something. He went into his tent to dip his handkerchief into incense. When the scent was strong enough, he carefully placed the handkerchief as far up into his nose as possible and went out to push the corpses off the ledge. The humans were fairly easy, although they had stiffened up. It was a macabre experience to move the bodies of men who had lived only a few days ago. The state they were in now, puffed up and pale, and non-moving; it was all so hard to grasp. Livius would sometimes have to sit down and push with both legs to get the corpses to move, as some wore quite heavy armor, and Livius was reluctant to try and remove it prior to pushing them down. The stench had broken through the tissues in his nose, creating a strange mix of rotting flesh and incense. It was disgusting. After having pushed a few down the cliff, Livius started crying. He felt desperate to escape this place, but didn't know how. The animals that once pulled the carriages had long since fled. He sobbingly approached the corpse of one of the minotaurs and tried his best to move it. It didn't work. Not even pushing with both legs helped. The corpse just kind of wobbled a bit. He gave up soon enough, and headed towards the rock where he had spoken with the senior scout only a few days ago. Standing on the cliffside, he wiped the tears from his eyes. The heat was intense, burning at his forehead. Branches of dead trees clutched around this whole vicinity like talons near a prey.

Suddenly Livius saw something in the distance. Movement. Large individuals. Minotaurs! Of course. Either it's a routine patrol or maybe even a search party. Whatever the case, they're on their way here, and once they find this camp, with all dead minotaurs and humans; they will confiscate all items and probably try and track me, arrest me and ... Panic struck Livius like a hammer. I have to get out of here, now!

Livius ran back to the center of the camp, where he had placed the packs. He quickly loaded as much as he could carry on top of himself and ran recklessly down the path they had arrived, which was on the opposite side of the slowly approaching minotaur party. He paced fairly steadily and kept his speed sustained for what seemed like an eternity. Eventually he was on level with the plains he had seen earlier, and they seemed to stretch to the edges of the world. He took a deep breath and started to walk into the unknown.

-

The barren landscape never seemed to end. In the horizon, only carrion birds made the scenery alive amongst the steep cliffs and dead trees. The dry earth was patterned with deep cracks, running its random web as far as the eyes could see. The heat was a heavy foe, strangling all endurance from Livius' tired body. No water remained in the satchel. No food in the pack. Livius was starving, thirsting and dying. He had no idea where he was. For days now, he had been travelling, the view hadn't changed much. It was like walking in a circle, in hell. Through the use of magic, Livius had been able to summon water into his satchel, but he relied on moisture from the air, and the effort made him tired. Ultimately, it wasn't worth it in the long run. And a long run, it had been. Livius had little to no strength left, and he prepared himself for his impending death. Under the unrelenting blaze of the sun, he fell down on the ground. For a while, he tried to keep his eyes opened, as if he expected a miracle. Nothing happened. Soon enough, his willpower subsided, and he allowed himself to drift into a deep state of relaxation. It wont be long now... goodbye, cruel world. I hope Skender picks a good poem...

And with that, he closed his eyes. The world was now black, and his only company was his own panting. Slowly, even that died out as his warm body appeared to melt, sensations disappearing into oblivion.

-

As if the world consisted of only pressure and pain, all notions of survival were washed away. It was impossible to focus on anything, and the blinding heat was no longer seen by opened eyes. Yet it was as if the sunrays had burned themselves through the closed eyelids and had established a curtain of golden canvas within the mind. Burning sensations on the skin was slightly dimmed out by some prickling sensations. Maybe the dryness had bitten through the layers of skin and dulled the nerves. Worse yet was the swollen, lifeless tongue. Livius felt as though he was eaten from the inside by a sensation of desperation. He could literally kill for water.

Strangely, it felt as though he was suddenly shielded from the warmth. Maybe just a light breeze, but it somehow made the yellow desert world within the dying eyelids turn slightly less saturated. Something similar to thick, wooden poles slid under his body; but it had to be imagination? As if someone carried him, he felt as though he levitated from the ground. Trampling the borders between being awake and being unconscious, Livius fought to leap into a state where he could do anything but moan and drool. Would he be in less pain, he would feel embarrassed. As it were, all he felt was nausea. He was placed on something hard and unstable, as if whatever he was placed on was moving. Clearly it was all a part of his imagination. It had to be. Perhaps he was dying, and these odd sensations were his last; a sign of his descent to death?

Something broke between his dry lips, forced itself in.

Are the worms already feasting on my body? Am I a carcass already?, Livius thought. An unbelievable gush of wetness filled his mouth, and lay itself gently and smoothly on his tongue, wrapping it in life. The taste was divine. Fresh water? Impossible. I must be mad from exhaustion, but I don't care. If this is my last sensation, at least it's a grand one!

The sensation didn't stop for a long time. Livius drank the fluid like an infant being breastfed. How could it be this amazing? It all felt so convincing. Livius could actually feel his belly being filled, his strength returning. He would have to try and open his eyes.

The strain was still overwhelming, and even opening the eyes slightly made the impact of light seem like a spear in the face. Shuddering from the sharpness of pain, Livius renewed his attempt after a minute or two, and it wasn't as hard once he had gotten used to the fatigue. So annoying that even something as trivial as lifting his eyelids now seemed like carrying a ton of bricks. The world slowly made it's way to his brain again, although out of focus. Someone was clearly feeding him water through a water skin. Livius heard some low frequencies resound gently in his ears. Must have been a snicker or something. It made him feel safe. Strange smell though. Very strong. Pine-like. Upon re-opening his eyes it was made clear to Livius that he was inside a compartment of some form. Maybe a carriage. It seemed like an unusually big one though, but it didn't matter; Livius felt small anyway. Something wasn't right though. Hard to place what was wrong. Maybe it was part of his imagination, but he was slowly feeling more and more sure that he wasn't in the presence of someone human.

That's the most ridiculous thing I have ever thought. Who else would be here? Except for maybe ....

With eyes fully opened the nightmare was confirmed: A minotaur sat in front of Livius, feeding him water. Still a bit blurry from the misted eyes, it was obvious. They had found him!

Horns and white (gray?) fur displayed their presence, moving slowly but with severe might. As he regained focus, he noticed that the minotaur was wearing a toga even whiter than his fur. He was huge. Fat, even. It was obvious though, that beneath the slightly excessive fat, there were muscles playing forth ripples on the thick skin as he moved his arms around Livius field of view, donning the skin of water. Extremely big muscles, in fact. This minotaur could crush Livius without even trying.

"You're awake?", the creature rumbled with a horrifyingly low voice. Judging by his voice alone, he didn't seem threatening. He seemed to ask the question with genuine empathy. Strange voice coming from a minotaur, it made Livius unsure about the intentions behind the facade. Looking at the minotaurs face, Livius was amazed to find a very odd expression. A twisted, odd muzzle and open, intelligent eyes that seemed searching and... gentle? That twisted muzzle.. was he smiling?

Livius made an attempt to speak, but only slurring noises came out. He was instantly embarrased, and felt undignified. It dawned on Livius that his future was now erradicated. The remnants of a life he would now live would be in a shattered state, being the plaything of a giant minotaur. What fiendish games would he have him play? Lock him up in a cellar, beat him senseless? Put him on piedestals for other minotaurs to see? Livius found he had lost all will to live, all strength was gone. Why couldn't I just have died in the plains?, he thought to himself. As much as he tried to hold the tears back, eventually he couldn't. He sobbed and broke out in tears. The final insult. I bet he's soaking all this up with glee, the fat bastard. If I could only..

"Oh look at you, dear human. Don't cry. It's going to be all right. You are safe now", said the minotaur, his white frame approaching Livius, kneeling down by his side. Livius froze in shock as the minotaur's giant hand stroked his hair. Eventually he pulled Livius head into his embrace, holding it against his chest. For a moment, Livius could do nothing. Then he started crying, and for some screwed up reason it felt good.

"Let it all out, there'll be no room for any tears of pain or sorrow in House Shade", said the minotaur gently. His warm hand on Livius neck soon felt like a blanket as they travelled by carriage, and Livius didn't even notice how the day turned to night. By then he was already sound asleep.

-

A gust of wind coated Livius' skin with a pleasant tingling sensation, and his weary eyes opened slowly. The door to the carriage had swung open, and he glanced nighttime grass peacefully dancing outside. The blades were lit softly by moonlight. It looked very serene, and not at all like the dead, dry plains he thought would be his grave this morning.

Suddenly a pattern emerged in Livius brain, it was familiar but different. A spell was being used. A spell that was used to close the door. Observing as the door to the carriage was being closed, a realization hit Livius; the minotaur was a mage. He is powerful.. this was a simple spell, but the intricacy of how the spell was woven, the pattern I picked up from his brain.. it is masterful. He is a better mage than I am, probably by far. Livius felt conquered. This was the final inch of hope being stomped; he would have no chance against a powerful minotaur mage. But perhaps I can learn from him.. whenever he uses magic, I am able to learn new techniques. It may be useful, provided I can hide that I am a mage from him. Maybe if I pretend I am a human who lost his former minotaur master or something? I just hope my greek is convincing enough...

"I didn't mean to wake you, so sorry about that. I will keep the door closed until you are ready to walk. A nice meal and a warm bed awaits you when we get inside", said the minotaur.

Clever bastard, he is speaking Latin. Maybe as a test? - thought Livius. "What?", he replied in greek.

The minotaur looked confused at first, then he broke out a mischievous smile. "I see. I didn't realize you couldn't speak latin."

"Why on Earth would I speak latin?"

"You forgot to adress me as 'Sir', human"

Livius tweaked his brow ever so slightly. Minotaur customs would obviously be a huge problem to overcome, as he wasn't sure about them.

"I am sorry, Sir. I must be confused from the exhaustion... Sir!"

"Indeed you have to be!", the minotaur said and chuckled gleefully as he opened the door to the carriage and stepped out. ".. one does not easily forget they are an imperial mage wandering around in minotaur lands". With his arms, the minotaur motioned for Livius to step out and join him.

Livius was made rock solid from the statement. "How.. what makes you think I am ... that? Ehh.. Sir?"

"Why, your imperial mage robes, of course.. and the fact that you recited poems in Latin in your sleep. Are all imperial poems equally dark and moody, I wonder?"

Livius looked at his robes and fearfully realized this minotaur was very well educated. Not even all imperial soldiers recognized the robes for what they were. This spelled trouble. He looked up at he minotaur once more and felt pale as snow. The minotaur chuckled again.

"Sweet human.. no need to be so afraid! I can practically hear your heartbeats from here. Didn't I tell you before; you are safe here. Now come out here and join me, will you? I promised you a nice meal and a warm bed, didn't I? What manner of host would I be if I neglected such a well travelled guest such as yourself?"

Livius carefully made an attempt to sit up in the compartment. It wasn't as hard as he imagined it to be, much of his strength had indeed returned. He felt a bit nauseous and weak, but it was not unbearable. With slow, careful movements, he trod down the steps. The night was warmer than expected, and sounds of crickets caught Livius' attention. He looked out over the dark landscape. A small stream ran amongst lushious hills, and a collection of stone houses lay close by. Humble buildings, but spacious and somehow elegant in their simplicity. Torches illuminated small, pitoresque pathways between the houses, made up of carefully laid out shales and pebbles.

"Welcome to House Shade", said the minotaur. "I am Lord Shade, but you can just call me 'Sir' if you're used to such behaviours". The minotaur looked at the nodding human for a while, before snickering. "You have.. no experience with minotaurs at all, do you? Have you ever spoken to one?"

"I.. no. No I haven't", Livius said quietly. "..Sir!"

"Then I am the first! What an honor!", exclaimed an overjoyed minotaur. Livius wondered if there was a sinister reason for his excessive happiness.

"I would prefer if you simply call me 'Philon', to be honest. All that formal stuff is ... not really necessary here. Philon is my name. Would you mind terribly if I asked yours?"

"No.. no of course not. My name is Livius"

"..and may I call you Livius?"

"Well.. certainly. I mean.. I am your prisoner, why ask for my permission?"

"Prisoner", snickered the minotaur. "I can understand you would think of it as such, and were it another minotaur to have found you; you would be exactly that. Here, however, you are a guest"

"If I am a guest, doesn't that mean you would could simply let me .. leave?", Livius asked with smug grin on his face.

"Certainly", answered Philon, "although I insist you eat first. You must be starving!"

Sneaky of him.. he knows I can't just wander off into the wild unknown without risking death, so obviously he can claim I am a guest, to make me feel safer. I wonder what his plans are?, Livius thought to himself.

He nodded and followed the huge minotaur as he walked towards the largest of the buildings. The minotaur opened a gigantic oaken door leading inside, and Livius could only briefly glance the wonderful carvings on its polished surface; lots of different creatures dancing together around various flora. Upon entering the main hall that stretched far and wide with lots of room on both sides, the minotaur took an immediate right into the nearest room, which turned out to be very large indeed. As he entered, he went to sit on a rather comfortable looking chair by a small, round wooden table and waved Livius to join him. The room was full of books and in the furthest end, a very large desk. A fireplace spread warmth across all the four walls, and the windows revealed the magnificently still stream by the hills, all of it surprisingly well lit under the stars. Livius sat down on a chair on the opposite end of the minotaur, the small table reaching only to the creature's knees.

As Livius settled in on the way-too-large chair, another human entered the room. He was clad in a formal fashion, donning very extravagant robes to accentuate his forms. His expression was every bit as formal as his clothes.

"Will you be enjoying a late dinner, Master?"

"Absolutely! Could you please prepare some of that.. you know, the salmon thing you do so well? And do bring some for my guest aswell", said the minotaur and then looked at Livius. "Wine?", he asked, to which Livius gave a slight nod. "Wine for two, please".

The servant took a deep bow and then left the room. Philon gave off an almost inaudible chuckle to himself. "He is amazing, that one. You may call him Cook, he refuses to be called anything else. He had another master prior to me, and he was .. much more strict. But Cook likes it that way, you understand. So.. bear with him".

Livius nodded and forced a smile. Not for a moment did he believe the servant's name to be willingly chosen.

"So, what brings you to these lands, then? Warfare? Espionage?", asked Philon casually.

Livius was so baffled at the direct question that he couldn't speak at first. "I ... ehh.. well..", he began. The minotaur just looked at him, expecting an answer. He was smiling, which made Livius feel even more stupid. "I.. we .. were sent out here.. to investigate. Yes."

"Learn about your enemy, then?", the minotaur inquired gently, tilting his horned head.

"Well.. yes. What.. what do you plan to do with me?"

"Dine".

"Die... kill me?"

"No, human. Dine. D-i-n-e .. eat food with."

"Oh", said Livius. "What about.. after that?"

"Can I ask you a question, Livius?"

"Yes, of course"

"How do you intend to understand an enemy you haven't even spoken with? You come here collecting information about our troops, establish pattern on how we move and organize, no doubt - maybe even assess weak points in our formations and such.. and yet, you have never once sat down to speak with one of us. I just find it a bit curious that you try to understand us, in the capacity of being your 'enemies', despite never having spent a single intimate moment with one of us. Nature of this odd war, I suppose. No opportunities for such things... still, I wont hold it against you. Nor do I consider you an enemy, just a pawn in a grander scheme of things. But the pawn is removed now, isn't he?"

"I .. what do you mean?"

"You are, as of now, relieved of your services to the Empire, yes? Maybe you consider yourself a prisoner right now. Eventually, you will come to know that you are in fact a guest. A welcome one. One who will not be punished simply for being born on the other side of the fence, in a body different from my own, with a set of cultural values spoon-fed to him from birth. Here, you are not an enemy. Therefore, after we've dined; what happens is entirely up to you."

Livius tried to act as though he was relaxed. Partially, it might have been a success, as it seemed to soothe the minotaur mage across the table. He is lulling me into a false sense of security. I will pretend to bite the bait. His magic will prove useful to both me and the Empire alike. I have to stay close to him. Be his little slave, dancing to his tunes. Suck all his _.. , Livius couldn't help but glance at the minotaur's crotch. Beneath the white cloth, he could see the bulging outline of huge minotaur genitalia. Livius regained his focus and quickly reminded himself to not even dare think such foul thoughts... _Suck all his.. knowledge.. into myself. Oh yes. His knowledge will be mine.

The servant from before made his appearance known once more, with a subtle harkle. Livius responded by ceasing to slouch over the table, which he realized he had been doing. The servant professionally placed plates of food, cutlery, glasses and a bottle of wine on the table. How he managed to carry all of it was a mystery to Livius, who decided to smile pleasantly at the man. There was not a hint of emotional response in the servant's eyes, though, and he continued instead to pour up wine into both glasses. He then took a deep, elegant bow, and promptly left the room. Livius inspected the glass, which was finely crafted indeed. The limited light of the room shimmered gracefully on the surface, like dancing reflections of wisps.

"It's not poison, Livius, I assure you", said the minotaur. He looked almost hurt.

"Pois.. oh no! I was just admiring the craft!"

"Sure you were", said Philon with a hint of sarcasm.

"No, it's just.. we don't have glasses like this in the Empire, that's all. I am sure you wouldn't poison me", Livius replied and immediately took a sip from the glass to show his trust. He smiled, expecting a pleased minotaur to smile back. Instead he noticed that Philon's lips frowned and his ears drooped.

"I wanted to propose a toast.. ", the minotaur host rumbled disappointedly.

"Oh.. and I ruined it", said Livius with a feigned look of shame. "I just wanted to .. show.. that I ... well. The wine is fantastic though. How about a toast now?"

"A toast to friendship across borders!", exclaimed Philon and raised his glass. Livius did the same and took a deep gulp of the wine. It was exquisite indeed. Livius smiled a fake smile, and watched the minotaur carefully as he invited Livius to dig into the food. Friendship.. I have seen how your kind treat humans, minotaur beast.. savages cleaving us like weeds to a scythe. Your friendship is as real as a child's dreams.

Livius began eating the food. Salmon and salad, and a marvelous sauce to go with it, aswell as garlic dipped bread. Livius came to the conclusion that he's never enjoyed better food or wine in his entire life. He knew it might have been due to his hunger and thirst, since in truth he's never been this starving, but even disregarding that; he found it hard to believe he has ever tasted anything like this before, even as a mage serving under the Empire. He was privileged back at home, yet this seemed like luxury. Provided he doesn't torture me, I could learn to live like this for the time being. As soon as I have all the information I could gather, I will be off, and he won't be the wiser.

The plate was soon empty, and Livius felt the desire to sink into the chair. He couldn't quite let go off the minotaur with his eyes though. The giant bull-man was still chewing his food, carefully. Slowly. Deliberately enjoying every bite with almost excruciating patience. His eyes half open, dim with pleasure. The gyrating jaws working the food between thick teeth and large tongue. Silent sounds of delight. Livius looked in envy, as he realized he's never once taken the time, no - never found the time, to enjoy anything in life that much. Especially not something as simple as mere food. His empty plate was now a reminder of another sensation he had let slip by. Get a grip, Livius old boy.

Once Philon had finished his meal, he smiled for a while, eyes closed. "You sure eat fast. Feral tradition?", he asked.

"Feral?"

Philon instantly opened his eyes and clumsily swallowed the last bite. He looked .. embarrased?, thought Livius.

"I beg your forgiveness, Livius. It is a strange and rather ignorant term for humans lacking minotaur supervision. We minotaurs are used to keep humans as slaves. These humans have lived their whole lives with minotaurs as their masters, and are therefore used to being pampered and submissive. In a sense, they are considered to be 'lesser' by .. well, most minotaurs. Not often in a negative sense, though.. it's just that most minotaurs do not believe humans are capable of living independently, without minotaurs to .. guide them. Care for them."

Livius looked baffled. He had heard rumours about these sorts of things, but had dismissed some of them as mere jokes. Maybe there was more truth to it than he had suspected?

"Of course, I do not agree with my brethren regarding that. It is a ludicrous notion. You obviously have a working society on your own, after all", he said reassuringly. "Nor do I consider humans to be 'lesser' in any way. . In fact, I have questioned many things as of late. My father was a philosopher and I have always nurtured those faculties myself. Him and I, we've had our fair share of debates and .. talks. I began doing things differently only a few years ago, and I have been reluctant to.. share that aspect of my life with other minotaurs. They would be hard pressed to understand, let alone relate.. to my methods"

"Might I ask what you mean by that? What .. methods? What do you do differently?"

A sly grin fell upon Philon's face. "Autonomy!", he proclaimed proudly, and Livius understood nothing. In fact, he looked like he had just suffered a stroke to his brain.

"I began asking myself how I would want to live with other people around me. Would I feel loyal and happy if I served someone unreachable, a self proclaimed demi-god; or would I feel loyal and happy if I was free to do what I wanted, serving not some holier-than-thou Lord sitting on a high chair, but rather all of those living under the same roof? What if they all did the same? Could you imagine? Lots of souls living in harmony together - serving, helping and pleasing each other out of their own free will and desire to do so? Noone is the master, noone is the owner, everyone has equal worth and say? Wouldn't that be fantastic? Wouldn't that mean everyone feels happy and safe, and self-fulfilled?"

Livius' face had now turned into a mushy canvas of twitching skin. It is official; he is completely bonkers. It's only a matter of time before he flips and eats my flesh or ... worse. This is not some twisted way of making me feel better; he actually means what he says. Too much passion to be hollow words.

"But.. that.. servant?", Livius inquired.

"Like I said, he refuses to abandon the teachings of his old, former master. It is like it has been imbued into him. It is entirely up to him though, that's the whole idea of our philosophy here in House Shade! He is happy living like this, and we are happy that he is happy! Everyone does what they can and want to do around here, and everyone benefits!", Philon said.

For a moment the minotaur remained silent, observing Livius' reaction. He chuckled heartily at the human's strange expression. "I realize it's a strange notion, surely even to someone like you. But as hierarchical, even hegemonial, as human society appears to be, we minotaurs are inclined to be even more conservative and restrictive when it comes to issues like rank and status. What I propose here is a system that would likely cause great distrust from other minotaurs, which is why I must be subtle about this. In truth, I could even potentially endanger the safety of all wonderful souls living here, were I to be exposed."

Livius was very tense by now. All of this had to be a ruse, or maybe he was already drunk from the wine, but surely there was no way that ..

"Do you know what you are doing right now?", asked Philon. Livius had a look of confusion on his face, and the question enhanced it.

"I.. "

"You are hardening your muscles around your shoulders and neck, cutting off the blood circulation and causing pressure trauma to your sensitive nervous system in your cervical area. From where I am sitting, it appears to be primarily the second and third vertebrae. Do you often feel nauseous and dizzy? Get a lot of headaches?"

Livius was struck with the genuine look of concern on the minotaur's face. Such compassion he tried to show. What an actor he is!

"Well.. I get by. Do you .. practice medicine?"

"I was a masseur prior to the tutelage I enjoyed under my Master; the greatly missed Lord Twilight". For a moment, Philon seemed nostalgic. As if reminiscing to himself, he looked out the window and sighed. "How I do miss him at times. He was a great teacher, and a great bull.."

Suddenly Philon broke out in laughter. "..he would have a fit, though, if he found out how I run things here!"

Livius smiled a bit, unsure on how to react. Obviously there was a great bond between master and pupil, that much he understood.

"Perhaps he is watching me from beyond? He always bit his own tongue when he was angry, so perhaps there is a minotaur ghost out there, biting his tongue.. wondering how his student could sink so low... oh my Lord Twilight...", said Philon. There was a hint of a tear in his eye, or maybe it was a reflection from the moon outside. Livius felt compelled to break in, though, to keep the conversation going.

"Lord.. Twilight. And you are .. Lord Shade? Why these names?"

"Titles", corrected Philon with a gentle nod, as he returned his focus to Livius. "Every mage leaks magic into their surroundings. We call it 'signatures', as every mage has a unique effect associated with them. Some are not even aware of what it is. I myself seem to cloud up an area around me, as though it was placed under the shade of a large tree in the summer time. My former Master, Lord Twilight, would bring about a strange light phenomenon around his person, sort of making it look as though there was a twilight forming around him. Maybe you know your own signature? I can't seem to figure it out, sadly."

Livius knew. Oh yes, my 'innocent' bovine friend.. My talent is to steal your knowledge, unbeknownst to you. I am a skill thief.

Pretending ignorance, Livius shook his head.

"Oh well, I am sure you will find out one day. I am worried about your tensions, though.."

"Don't be. It's probably just old habits speaking. You used to be a masseur, after all."

"Used to be? Actually, I never gave up that practice."

"You didn't?", Livius retorted in amazement. "Why on Earth not? It is a lesser craft than sorcery. Spells can heal what no simple massage in the world can remedy!"

Philon sat quietly for some time, and Livius was unsure on whether he had misspoken or not. The minotaur didn't look angry though, just.. amused. Suddenly he got up on his hooves, and began walking towards Livius, who froze up like a statue in winter. "What.. ", he blurted out.

"Shhh.. don't move. Relax. I want to show you something", said Philon. He took a firm grip around Livius' shoulders, and the human mage was now hyperventilating. Oh heavens, now he has to prove himself. He's going to crush me!

"It's.. really not... necessary.."

"Then think of it as a gift of repayment from me to you. I did call you 'feral' before, and that was unfair of me. Let me make it up to you."

"I would rather.. not.. you.. ", Livius began. But then he couldn't speak any more. The grip of those huge minotaur hands made him stop. They were so insanely warm, strong and.. gentle? As if he was a boy in his father's embrace once more, Livius crumbled like a sack of cloth. He groaned loudly as a new feeling spread inside him, directed by the movements and pressure from exotic minotaur hands. They found and manipulated points and tensions with extreme precision, and the treatment made Livius ecstatic. His muscles moved pleasantly beneath his skin, and the sensation sent ripples of warm flows all over his body. It was like warm waterfalls flushing inside and outside his pores, his veins. All thoughts disappeared, and every conceivable emotion erupted like volcanoes inside the muted mind of the now speechless human ragdoll. Oh gods.. Oh gods of all Elysia, it's so wonderful.

Livius leaned in on the hands, danced with their almost erotic motions, and he didn't even mind the odd sounds that fled his limp mouth and nose. Nothing rational remained of the once so controlled mage. He was reduced to a slowly declining cliff under sunlight; eroding gently under the clashing waves of a powerful ocean. What a creature he is, what power.. he.. ohhh..

And then; a new sensation. A scent. Philon's scent. Powerful minotaur musk, filling his nose, cleansing his brain. How can he smell so divine? The scent came from inside the minotaur's entire being, and now; from his bovine hands, it was passed onto Livius' skin, almost making its way inside. He could almost imagine how this.. minotaur essence.. was sinking into his body, as if he wasn't impenetrable to such vague energies, but rather an absorbant of them. Livius suddenly realized he was fully erect, and the arousal beckoned him to be the lusting property of this ... minotaur?! Are you mad, Livius, old boy? How can you... oh god... it's so good. It has to be hypnosis, or a spell.. I won't fall under his... strange influence... but.. I am sure I can just.. enjoy myself.. some more.

Before long, Livius was more or less asleep, half comatose with pleasure. Long after Philon had ceased to give him massage, he began to regain something akin to a dignified posture again. As he sat up, he was panting from the exhaustion of being the recipient of these never-before experienced sensations. He felt reborn.

"How.. what did you do? What was that?"

"It was massage, nothing more. No spells, no magic. You see.. I believe there are some things magic can't do. There are places magic cannot reach. You can cast a spell to heal a wound, sure.. but you can never replace touch. When someone who cares about you touches you, there is something far stronger than any spell at work. No mage can emulate that connection by cauterizing a wound, or mending a bone with his magic. The magic I speak of has a different origin than the arcane craft, whose practicioners perpetually seek to attain a state of divinity. The magic I speak of is divinity. It is a connection between souls. Empathy."

Livius was stunned, and couldn't say anything. He just looked at the minotaur and knew one thing for certain; his gleaming eyes had no match. Livius had simply never seen eyes more radiant, more caring. Perhaps he isn't a psychopath, after all?

Almost as if he'd read Livius' mind, Philon smiled a huge, twisted minotaur smile, and Livius couldn't help but smile too. This time, a genuine smile.

"Would I be terribly rude if I asked you a favor, Livius?", the minotaur said, still smiling. Livius had lost himself in the minotaur's eyes, and when confronted with this question, he became aware of this. Livius lost his smile and became a bit erratic as his attention suddenly kicked in again.

"Yes.. I mean no! Of course you can! Ask away."

"Could you be so kind as to .. rub the base of my horns?", the minotaur said. Livius grinned a bit, expecting himself to be the butt of some strange, tasteless joke. It soon dawned on him, though, that it wasn't a joke. "I always seem to swell up there, for some reason, and it feels so wonderfully nice to have human hands stroking that area."

Livius continued to grin, but his eyes began to wander all over the place. What am I supposed to say?, Livius thought_._

Philon noticed how Livius felt, and seemed to be ashamed of himself. He hung his head. "What a lousy host I am, asking these things from my guest. I beg you a thousand times for your.. "

"No, no, it's quite all right", Livius interrupted, instantly regretting it. He forced an insecure smile at the minotaur, who shone like the sun as he heard Livius interjection.

"Really? Oh, you kind, wonderful human! Are you sure it wouldn't be any trouble?", Philon asked.

"Not at all", Livius replied, trying his best to look comfortable with the alien concept.

Philon nodded gleefully and got down on his knees right next to his estranged guest. He carefully placed his heavy head in Livius lap, which made the human cringe a bit from the insecurity of the situation.

Trembling a bit, Livius placed his hands around the base of Philon's horns. So hard, the surface. This has to be a trap. What will he.. what will he do? Will he gore me with those horns? I have to watch out for sudden movements, thought Livius. Reluctantly, he began rubbing, staring out into the spacious room around him, refusing to watch the minotaur. He felt like a rape victim, glaring into nothingness to try and imagine he is elsewhere. This whole situation was the embodiment of awkwardness.

Time passed, and Livius began noticing the profound minotaur scent once more. Maybe it is a reaction to my touch?

Livius began feeling at peace with the surreal nature of the situation, relaxing a bit more as he kneaded the gently squirming head who weighed his legs down. He decided to look down at his odd patient, but in the back of his mind he was still fearful of having his face run through by horns.

Nothing happened. There, on his thighs, lay the head of a minotaur who was at rest. His peaceful eyes were closed, but even his eyelids were given a benevolent character when combined with that tranquil smile he wore so well. The giant muzzle and skull stretched all over Livius' lap. It was huge and white, but it seemed almost gray from the effect of his signature. Lord Shade... Livius massaged the protruding area around the horns to the best of his ability, and eventually his hands travelled down along the side and back of the head. I can't believe it.. I am .. touching a minotaur. And I like it... I don't understand.

Livius felt conflicted deep inside. This is something he wasn't trained for, and all of his previous life had revolved around training. Discipline. Loyalty to the Emperor. This was all he knew. And now he was stroking a minotaur. _More than that - I seem to be pleasing him. I am.. giving pleasure to a minotaur? I don't even do these things to my fellow countrymen. What is all this? _

The hide was thick, but it still sank delightfully easy when Livius decided to put more force into his strokes. The minotaur sighed deeply as Livius did so, spurring him to continue doing what he did.

"How can I be so lucky, to have found someone like you?", said Philon drowsily. It seemed to come out of nowhere; these words, tinged with warmth.

Livius didn't understand his feelings. Like a zombie, he stared out the window and tried to feel something other than what he felt now. Anything, as long as it was familiar to him. Above all, he wanted to feel lost. He wanted to feel as though he didn't care what the minotaur had just said to him. He wanted to feel like escaping from this place. But instead, he felt no disconnection. No yearning to escape. For the moment, he wanted only to please the gentle minotaur, who rested his head on Livius' lap...

Livius suddenly felt morouse, but he didn't know why. For some reason, he suspected that part of what he felt was guilt. He knew his involvement in this war, and this strange, kind minotaur didn't seem capable of violence. Livius still believed it could all be a ruse, he could not let his guard down entirely just yet. But somehow, he did feel something for this minotaur. Perhaps he was under the effects of a carefully woven web of deceit, perhaps it was all an illusion; but right now, none of that mattered. His life had been saved by this ... person. This person, who appeared to think the world of him.

"I am no saint.. I have done terrible things in my days."

The minotaur opened his eyes lazily, but kept his smile. Slowly, he raised his head from Livius' lap, and suddenly the sensation of blood flow manifested itself as a thousand prickling needles, as the weight was lifted from weary thighs. Philon got up on his knees and raised his head to level with Livius, and he looked straight into his eyes. It was an overwhelming sight; this ominous minotaur only inches away, his enormous head more or less occupying the entire field of view. Yet despite all that, Livius no longer felt fear of him. He had begun to believe that he wouldn't be harmed; that he was safe.

"Nonsense", the minotaur voice boomed. "A person with death in his heart cannot channel life with his hands. But you just did"

"I.. I have never given anyone massage before. I doubt it was half as nice as you make it out to be."

"I assure you, it was fantastic. Granted, I am very easy to please", Philon said with a grin. "But if it's inexperience you suffer from, I will make sure to bless you with a remedy. I may call upon your hands plenty of times, should you want to. Love is not a talent one wishes to see atrophy"

"L.. love?"

"Love is not a curse word, Livius. Love is everything that is good in this life. You may not love me, but it was still some kind of love that made your hands touch me like they did. Like you did. That much, I could feel. I think there is more good in you than you might have allowed yourself to believe."

"You....", said Livius, but was unable to continue. He was at a loss for words.

Philon shifted his weight around to gain some momentum, and then he lifted his heavy body, standing upright. Livius felt puny as he looked up at the minotaur, but the expression that was reflected somehow made Livius feel that he wasn't regarded as such by Philon. It was an odd feeling to shake.

"I think you must be very tired by now, Livius, and I would be a very bad host if I didn't leave you to your own peace. It's been a turbulent day, and hopefully the chaos inside you will settle soon, but you need sleep for that. Would you be kind enough to join me?"

Livius stood up. He was a bit light on his feet, but it wasn't too hard to find balance. Livius couldn't remember the last time he'd been this tired. The minotaur began to walk, slowly, to the hallway. In fact, 'slowly' was an understatement. Considering how quickly someone of his size should be able to pace about, he must have made an effort to slow his speed down to a crawl, so as to not leave Livius behind.

They arrived at the hallway, and the corridor continued far away and disappeared around a corner. Philon only walked past a few rooms and stopped by the entrance to a door on the left. Livius suddenly noticed something odd about the door.

"No locks?"

"There are no locks of any kind in House Shade", Philon said casually.

As he opened the door, Livius glanced into the room. It was a bed chamber, pleasant and large. In it was the largest bed that Livius had ever seen. Upon it lay pillows of finest silk, and the wood construction seemed oaken, with intricate carvings of minotaurs and humans running across its vividly designed bed ceiling and borders. As Livius looked closer he noticed that some of the figures in the carvings had ... _intercourse?! That's.. no? It has to be something else. Perhaps they are just.. holding each other. Except most of the time, when you hold someone, you don't shove your ... _

"This is my bed room", Philon said. "Not that I truly consider any room to be solely my own, as everyone is free to live here as they please, but I usually end up sleeping in here, at the very least. If you wish, you can join me in bed, although I will have a room prepared for you on the other side of the hallway". Philon pointed out the door, and Livius dutifully stepped out into the hall to take a look. He found the room and looked into it. Very spacious and cozy, it contained nothing more than a fairly large bed, a large cupboard, one small table by the bed, and several windows overlooking the currently pitch black garden and river outside.

Livius returned into Philon's room, and noticed the minotaur preparing his bed. Once done, he shamelessly removed his toga, which made Livius blush something fierce. In a matter of seconds, the minotaur was completely nude, yet seemed to have no care in the world about that fact. Livius fought manically not to stare between Philon's legs, but the struggle was in vain. It was simply impossible not to, the eyes were drawn there automatically. _I have to get a grip, what am I doing? How can I behave like this, I am not interested in human males, so why would I be interested in minotaur.... males... _

Livius interrupted his train of thoughts as he observed the big, rounded testicles. They hung like heavy stones in the meaty sac between his muscular thighs. And above them, his thick, potentially juicy sheath was blessed with an abundance of soft skin that swayed elegantly as the minotaur moved about, arranging his bed with satin, cover and pillows. Livius made sure he wasn't observed as he peeked. He felt embarrassed and confused. With infernal angst, he suddenly felt himself hardening. Livius tried to stand in an angle where it wouldn't be evident to Philon that he now sported a royal erection. His face was strawberry red as the minotaur turned to adress him, pausing as he noticed Livius' expression.

"Are you all right, Livius?"

"Yes..", whimpered the blushing mage.

Philon observed him for a while, then he began to chuckle. "You have never seen a naked minotaur before, I take it? Maybe I should have warned you before I undressed. Here in House Shade it's commonplace to be nude, but you come from a different culture. I beg your forgiveness, once more."

"No, no.. it's.. all right. It's your house, your rules"

"It's your house too now, if you want"

"What... do you mean?"

"Well, being a guest here was never really your choice. But now, you can choose to leave, or you can choose to stay. Even as a permanent resident. As family."

"Family..", whispered Livius, almost to himself. He didn't understand.

"Certainly. The choice is yours, and yours alone. I cannot dictate what you want to do, or who you want to be, or even where you want to be. All I can do is welcome any choice you make with open arms, as long as you do no harm. For now though, maybe you should just sleep, and let decisions be made once you are well rested?"

Livius stood in silence for a while, letting it all sink in. The minotaur grabbed a book and laid himself down on his bed, but still kept his eyes on his guest, awaiting a reply.

"What if I decide to flee?"

Philon smiled and shook his head. "You can't flee, Livius."

"I.. can't?"

"No. In order to flee, you first have to be restrained or bereft of freedom. You aren't. I would never in my life hold you prisoner, Livius, no matter what you've done in your past. It is your present I care about, and your future. If you find your future lies elsewhere, you are free to leave. I won't stop you. But you are also welcome to stay. I suggest you look around, make yourself comfortable. Feel free to walk around and settle in, I will make sure someone prepares your room. Or, if you prefer, you can sleep here with me."

"Sleep .. with you?"

"Yes, certainly. I understand it may sound strange, even preposterous, given your perspective. But nonetheless, you are welcome to sleep here with me. Should you want to, we can even explore each other. Enjoy the delights of giving each other pleasure."

Livius harkled distinctly, and felt how his face started to blush up once more.

"No pressure, dear human. Every choice is yours to make", said Philon with a snicker. "I would recommend that you explore this house first, though. No room is restricted. I am glad to have you here, and I will pray for your safety if you decide to leave. I will not impose myself more on you tonight, out of respect for your desire to enjoy your personal space."

Livius nodded, turned and walked. As he set his foot outside the room, he halted, and let loose a sigh. He turned once more to Philon, who looked concerned the moment he noticed that Livius wore a somber expression.

"I am really not a good person, Philon. I have done things.. I am.. I am glad you don't know what I have done, but... I don't deserve your kindness", said Livius. For the strangest reason, he felt guilty, ashamed. He was confessing to the proposed enemy, feeling no hostility towards him at all. Only gratitude. What a magnificently odd beast he was, this minotaur host.

Philon smiled and set the book aside. "Livius, sometimes what we do and who we are clash like tidal waves against the rocks, but we still allow it to happen. Culture often erodes that which nature has carved in stone, but the stone will always remain. I just hope you will one day find your carvings beneath the dust, because I see them clearly; and they are beautiful carvings, dear Livius. But no mirror in the world has been built yet, that will let you see what I see. You will have to find it yourself. Who knows? Maybe you might even find it here in House Shade? Such are the hopes of this old bull."

"Heh.. ", Livius exclaimed. He was terrified to say anything else, as he felt his emotions bubbling within. He had to leave. Nodding at Philon, he departed.

With a beating heart, and shaking hands, he stood alone in the corridor. Where would his path lead now?

-

The moon was full. Livius hadn't noticed that before. White, ethereal lines were drawn across the edges of the rising waves in the still stream. Livius was sitting in the grass outside the entrance to House Shade. He had been staring at the surroundings for hours now, but he hadn't noticed that the moon had been full all through the night. Was it the same moon, at home? In the Empire?

He had run. Prior to sitting here inactively, he had run from House Shade. He tried to flee. The minotaur said I couldn't flee.. So.. I guess I tried to leave, then? He had taken some food from the kitchen, noone seemed to care. In fact, they even helped him pack. All these... human servants of the minotaur Lord. Willing. Loyal. Free. They helped me pack my bags for my departure and they all wished me well. Now I have returned. What must they think of me?

It wasn't even the terrain, that had made Livius stop and return here. No, the terrain was mild, easy to traverse. He'd been helped by Cook - odd fucking name - who had given him a map over the local area and possible routes leading back to the Empire. Livius didn't need to make it all the way, just enough to send for help through communication magic. It was a long road ahead of him though.

As he had begun walking, every step felt heavier and heavier, and his decision somehow made less and less sense. When House Shade was but a small flicker of light in the horizon, it had seemed like a lost beacon of hope to Livius. His lighthouse on stormy seas. And for all his hopes of returning home to the Empire, it suddenly felt like it wasn't a good home to return to, at this point. He realized that deep down, he missed the minotaur. Maybe he was just intriguing, but there was something there. Something to him. Livius had started to think about the prospects of learning his magic, his political and martial plans. Those things had been his original goal, not shy of half a day ago, but now they somehow felt like they were a subordinate clause. Livius did his best in trying to convince himself that it would be in the best interest of the Empire, if he returned to steal the knowledge of the minotaur mage. He would not return because of his interest in the minotaur. Absolutely not, ridiculous to even think something like that. I return for the knowledge, for the Empire. That's it. Empire above all.

But now he was back at the house, and he hadn't dared enter. He'd been sitting out in the cold for hours. The moon was still full. Crickets still disturbed the air by bursting the bubbles of silence with their repetitive singing.

"Second thoughts?"

Livius turned around. Strangely, he hadn't been frightened by the sudden voice of a human behind him. It was a young man from the kitchen personell. Or maybe not, noone seemed to have specific duties here, after all. He looked peaceful, non-judging, as he stood there polishing a rather thick glass. The question had clearly not been asked to make fun of the returning prisoner. Prisoner? I am not sure I am a prisoner, after all. No guards, no magic. Noone stopped me. I just left. They even helped, knowing full well that I could have, theoretically, made the trip in good health.

"Yes.. I ... suppose so. Too tired tonight. I ... thought I might stay after all", Livius replied.

"I see. Your room is ready. When we saw you sitting outside, we decided to prepare it for overnight sleep. Do you want help, finding the room?"

"No, it's all right. I remember the way."

"Would you like something, Sir?"

"Hmm?"

"I was wondering if there's something you would like? Something to eat, drink?"

"No, no.. it's all fine. I was just wondering... "

"Yes?"

"What does he expect from me? What does he want me to do?"

The young man interrupted his polishing of the glass and had a look of confusion on his face. "Who?"

"Why, Philon of course"

"Oh", said the young man, but still looked confused. "Well, I suspects he expects nothing, demands nothing. Why would he?"

"I just can't get my head around it... why would he let me stay here if he wants nothing from me?"

"When I asked him the same thing once, he told he that I asked the wrong question"

"What did he say was the right question?"

" 'What do you want to do?' "

Livius just snorted approvingly and smiled. So typical of that minotaur. Typical? I sound as if I know him. I don't.

"I must admit, I didn't believe minotaurs were like this..."

"They aren't"

Livius looked up at the youngster. "They.. aren't?"

"Oh no. Certainly not. I used to work for Lord Twilight, back when he was alive. He lived not far from here, actually. Me and Cook, we were part of his staff, and he made us work damn hard. I suppose you could say he was a typical minotaur. Strict. Hierarchical. Demanding. Not unkind, never raised a fist or even his voice at his human slaves, but.. very strict. You had limited freedom and no say in any matter. It took a long time for me to get used to Lord Shade once he took us in. I must say I love this freedom he's given us". The young man once more took up polishing the glass, then suddenly interrupted it again. "Cook hates it though", he snickered.

Livius smiled and nodded.

"Except the sex of course"

Livius stopped nodding. "What?"

"I said.. "

"No I heard what you said but.. what do you mean?"

"I can tell you're a feral... I mean... that you've never been in minotaur lands before. We need minotaurs, it's just how we are made. I suspect they might need us to, in a sense. They have an influence on us though. We get addicted to being in their presence, for lack of better words. And trust me; sex with them is ... something you will come to desire. Lord Twilight wasn't very sexual though. He was the silent type, and rarely showed us any passion. Shade is like passion itself, love in concentrated form. Sex with him is like.. uniting with the divine. And he always shares himself with anyone who wants it. He is like a bottomless well."

Livius shook his head and slurred an insecure laughter. "I.. guess it's a feral thing .. to ... not understand this. As strange as you seem to me, I must seem every bit as strange to you. I understand if my presence is.. unsettling. Threatening."

"Not at all. Philon always says to us that we should never judge another person; for if we would have lived their lives, we would have understood their perspective and their choices."

"He is... really something, this Philon, isn't he?"

"Unlike anyone you will ever meet.", said the young man with unshakeable certainty. He then nodded and went inside, leaving Livius alone in the moonlight.

Livius pondered what the young man had said. Influence. It is certainly not a spell, at least. I picked up no such thing from his mind. Therefore, it has to be natural.. the makers must have made it so. With this knowledge though, I might have an easier time shielding myself from becoming ... infatuated.. with him.

Livius was appalled at his own thoughts. Or was it .. feelings? He knew that the minotaur might have some biological effect on him, but ... more than that, it was his demeanor. His way, his methods. It was intriguing. Empathic. Kind. It was hard not to ... like him, Livius concluded_._ Livius felt it was time to sleep. He would have to see for himself what tomorrow might bring.

He went inside, took his clothes off, and fell upon the bed. It was warm, soft and delightful. But something was missing. What could it be? Oh yes. The scent of a minotaur...

Livius couldn't bear the fresh air, it was too.. empty. After pulling the sheets above his head, throwing them aside, thrashing about in bed.. he eventually decided to sneak a peek. Tip-toe, he snuck out into the corridor. Distant sounds of muffled laughter revealed nighttime activity, but it sounded like it was far away, maybe outside. Perhaps another building. Livius felt almost perverse, sneaking around in his underpants. He should be asleep... and ashamed of himself.

The door was open. Loud noises of snoring minotaur amused Livius' ears, it was very soothing music indeed. He stepped closer and was now right by the giant minotaur, as he lay on his side, facing the wall on the opposite side. He was in deep sleep. Livius touched the base of his left horn, rubbing it slightly. The minotaur resounded a thankful moan, and turned over on his back, leaning into the strokes. His chest was fully exposed, with rippling muscles dancing to the touch of human hands. His sheets covered everything below the stomach. This has to be rectified, thought Livius and took a firm hold of the sheets, pulling them away. He beheld the nude body of the huge minotaur. As the sheets had been pulled away, the masculine scent of his genitals fumed Livius nose in a powerful gust of its erotic wind. Under the sheets, his thighs and calves had become all sweaty from the absorbed air pocket. Livius was envious of the silk, being in a position to constantly cling at the minotaur's body. Livius slowly allowed his head to descend, aiming at the crotch. His heartbeats made his chest ache, but curiousity forced him forward. Hovering above the dark colored, massive testicles, he observed the glistening pearls of sweat upon them, making them look firmer and somehow smoother than he had imagined them to be.

Livius could no longer tell if he was afraid of being discovered, or if he was hopeful about it; but he squinted his trembling lips, and laid them upon the balls of the minotaur. As he assumed the pressure of a lover's kiss, the sweat from his musky genitals appeared to be absorded by Livius lips. The testicles were hard, to be sure, yet somehow just enough squishy to be pleasantly shapeable by human lips and hands. And so incredibly firm and lean. He kissed them again, this time harder. As he could hear Philon's unconsciuos moaning, he let his tongue out, to soak up the taste of the minotaur's most sacred, holy parts. This is what a minotaur tastes like.. this is .. so powerful..

Livius felt compelled to explore more. Philon had laid his arms behind his heavy head for the moment, and Livius was drawn to the scent of his armpits, for some reason. They were drenched in minotaur sweat. Pinelike, profound scent suffused the air, and Livius drew his face closer. He expected to be disgusted by the smell of an armpit, but this was no ordinary armpit, clearly. It was far from disgusting. It was alluring. The scent alone was from the heavens themselves, and .. he had to lick. His tongue traced the warm pits with childish delight, and he swallowed the sweat like it was mother's milk. He began to lick along the shoulder, then down the chest. He stroked his face lovingly against the muscular chest, and felt so inhumanly safe. Then he noticed the stiffened nipples, and he had to suck them. He could almost pick up a taste of .. something? Unfamiliar though. Damn good taste.

The minotaur was still asleep, and Livius rose up, planning to walk away. He had to stop this behaviour. In the motion, he noticed the sheath, where his penis was bound to emerge from, should he get excited. It seemed so soft, thick and cozy.

He had to rest his cheek against the strange sheath. Just for a while, thought Livius_._ Without expecting it, he noticed how it started to swell. Livius raised his head and saw Philon becoming erect, the thick penis getting wider, harder, as it slithered out like a swelling, wet snake along his belly. Although there was some excessive fat on his body, his shivers of pleasure drew forth hills of muscled undertone, and painted themselves as erotic maps across the thick hide. Livius stared at the huge penis, and felt desire washing over him like summer rain. How does it taste.. his thick, experienced penis.. it's given so many people lots of pleasure no doubt.. I guess I would be.. amiss.. if I didn't know.. it's ... taste... all in good science of course...

"You can taste it, if you want..", boomed a minotaur voice. Livius turned to Philon's face, very slowly, expecting the voice to be a trick of his brain. It wasn't - Philon was awake, smiling at him. Livius eyes were open, wide as could be. He didn't know how to respond. He just nodded, and looked back at the erect penis. It lay there, patiently awaiting his attention.

Livius once more leaned down close to the minotaur, and noticed small flows of precum all over the surface of the magnificent shaft. The tip of the penis was especially swollen, and pulsated an erotic rhythm, hypnotizing Livius into approaching it, and encasing it with his obedient mouth. No words could describe the taste, as the swelling tip filled the skin inside Livius' mouth, pleasantly rubbing and kneading against the tongue. Livius looked at the length of the penis, quaking with a will to orgasm as it jerked in ecstatic spasms from the heat of Livius' sucking. Livius was beside himself with insane excitement. He had never lusted as much, and the sounds of the increasingly loudly moaning minotaur drove him to suck with more force and pressure. He could see the balls bouncing in the distance, as Philon paced and kicked with his gigantic legs, his hips thrusting the throbbing penis deeper into the human throat. Livius grabbed the soaking wet balls, rubbing them greedily as Philon moaned even louder, and pounded his hip faster and faster. Small stretches of veins bulged as improvised hills on the shaft, forking into new roads all over the penis, which was on the brink of its eruption.

With a loud sigh of pleasure, Philon tensed his thighs, showing how amazingly muscular they were. His hooves pressed themselves against the silk, and he released his seed into the lusting human. It quickly flooded Livius' mouth, but he hungrily swallowed what amounts he could muster, the rest poured out and streamed down the minotaur's beautiful belly. Livius felt the whole situation was surreal, and he felt how the penis slowly went limp in his mouth, the length retracting into the sheath with infinite patience as time had slowed down to a crawl. The tip soon slid out of Livius' mouth, gaining leverage from saliva and seed as it fell down with a wet 'smack' onto the heavy minotaur skin. Livius saw how it followed the commands of the sheath, shrinking and being dragged back to its holy cave.

Livius got up on his knees and looked at Philon with an expression of guilt and ... wonder. "I.. I ... I didn't ..."

"Livius.. it was wonderful of you. I am so glad you did this for me. What a fantastic gift."

"But I ... this.. "

"You have done nothing wrong. This was a holy moment that we shared together, and I look forward to plenty more. You were just curious, and I assure you I am too. Don't feel bad about this, Livius. I realize it has to feel strange, even awkward for you. We will talk about it tomorrow. But right now I suggest you try and get some sleep. And once more - you have done nothing wrong"

Livius felt like he was about to pass out from the swirling chaos in his mind. He walked back into his room and crashed upon the bed. He was certain to not find sleep due to all his conflicting thoughts, but like a raven in flight, his consciousness disappeared. He slept like a baby within a matter of seconds, and was sent into a dream of looming plains that went on forever. In his dream he looked down and noticed he wasn't walking, but rather; he was being carried... by a colossal, white minotaur.