Extract Taken From 'The Host' A Novel By Matthew James
They listened as Theseus related to them his tale of defeating The Minotaur deep within The Cretan Catacombs. He had been fearless and deeply in love with King Minos's daughter, Ariadne. Armed with magical sword and a length of thread he entered The Labyrinth. He had encountered the mighty beast, and had been at first taken in by the imagery that stood before him.
"I realised then, quickly, Xahus spoke, his voice soft and compelling, "that it was nothing but a hologram! I laughed at it. I rolled about on the ground in raptures! I had found the central part of The Labyrinth, and located the computer consule. It was so easy! I defeated The Minotaur and became in that instance a hero! The Cretan people's were indebited to me! The Labyrinth had been nothing more than one of the stations that lead into The Inter Zone! Daedalus had programmed The Minotaur as a defense mechanism. He was cleve. Fear and panic actually made the hologram real, so that it did devour the unsuspecting and the gullible!"
"What happened next?" Asked Conrad Jackson who was totally intrugued.
"I left Crete with Ariadne by my side. We were completely besotted with each other. We arrived at Naxos, and we consumated our union. I drifted off to sleep and was contacted there by Minerva. She warned me of Ariadne's deceptive appearance. She told me to leave and travel quickly home. Which I did, never to lay eyes on her again." Xahus fell silent, wiped the tears that had welled in his piercing blue eyes, before gazing around at the mortal humans that constituted his audience.
"Wow!" Remarked Conrad Jackson. He stood up, and began passing up and down in the chamber that they had been led to by Xahus. Stephanie Diaz could sense his frustration, and stood up, walking over to him before putting her arms around him. "Xahus, what of The Labyrinth? Where is it?" Asked Conrad, bemused.
"It remains where it was, below The Isle Of Crete. The passageways between it and the surface have been sealed." Replied Xahus in reply to Conrad Jackson's question, "enough of this! It is time for us to leave! The time has come for mission!" He then roared. After he finished all looked at him in wonderment, with bated breath.
"I wondered when you were gonna get 'round to that!" Wayne Gillan said excitedly.
"Wayne!" Warned Shining Moon, who sat beside him, digging her elbow into his side and throwing him a dangerous glare.
"No, it's okay! I tend to digress easily. He's righ. It's time I told you all of thy mission. Behold!" Xahus raised his left hand, and began to chant a mantra that quickly became a high pitched sound. A distortion began to quickly form in the air around them, followed by a crackling and fizzing blue discharge. Soon, the room they were in began to swirl, a white mist forming concealing its walls and ceiling. The mist began to clear, and they all gasped as they found themselves in a courtyard.
Ahead of them stood a group of white robed beings. There was an ornate fountain to their left and an avenue of tall trees to their right. They watched as the beings began to walk slowly towards them. It appeared that they were expected, the beings displaying no surprise as to their sudden appearance.
They all stared at the middle being as it pulled down its hood, to reveal fine and pale feminine features, "Welcome, I'm The Essene Bethany. WE have been expecting you."
