Ashwood University

Ashwood University Chapter Nine - The Labyrinth

Disclaimer

This story is a work of fiction, any resemblance with real life is just coincidence. It is a work meant to be funny, romantic and thrilling. If it offends your belief or religion I ask for forgiveness.

This story contains graphic descriptions of gay male sex. If that may offend you, or is illegal for your country I suggest leaving now. Sorry about my English. It is not my native language and I do not live nor the US or the UK.

I would like to thank Kev for helping with the editing of the story or make suggestions for future chapters contact him on his email ukwriter12@yahoo.com

This work is copyrighted and I ask that you do not copy, post or electronically download without my express permission. Here is Chapter Nine. Come on people let me know what you think by emailing your thoughts to mohamed180996@gmail.com. I plan on updating Ashwood University every week, maybe more. It totally depends on how the story is received.

If you enjoy reading the stories on nifty, consider donating to the site to help with costs - http://donate.nifty.org/donate.html ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________

Chapter Nine – The Labyrinth

I felt betrayed, I don't know why, maybe I do like MJ. I walked as fast as I could to get away without making a scene. On my way to the door I stole a bottle mead from the bar. I walked not really knowing where I was going and found myself at the mirror of the temple of Ferim. I touched it and I moments later I was in the temple. I sat on one of the last benches and started to drink. It must have been an hour later and the bottle was empty, but I wasn't as drunk as I wanted to be. The pain was still there. I looked at the altar.

"Neither John or MJ could ever be happy with me. Alex just wants us to be friends and Lance...Lance is a whore." I said to the empty room.

"That's a strong word to call a friend." said a manly voice that I've only heard in my dreams before. I looked beside me and Ferim himself was sitting there.

"Oh shut up!" I said and he looked surprised.

"You do know that I am a God? Right?"

"Yes and I don't care." he laughed.

"You are so like him." he said. I knew instantly who he was talking about.

"Why do I look like him?" he just shrugged his shoulders as if to say `I don't know'. "What is it with you Gods not knowing? ... First Aeon and now you."

He answered, "There are things that don't fall under our jurisdiction."

"What's that? Bureaucracy?"

"Sort of. You don't know the amount paperwork I had to do just to talk to you." he said.

"You guys are not what I expected."

"We were at one time, but then Eremir died." Ferim said with a dark shadow in his eyes.

"You really are here?" I asked.

He shrugged, "I can't tell you that." Looking at me he continued, "You're perfect in every single way. You look, talk and even think like him."

"As much as I would love to be compared with a God let's face it he is your dead ex... so..." I added.

"How do you know that he and I..." he started.

"Were a couple? I was sort of there." I said. "I had a vision. Morei, Eremir and you were at a pond in the forest. Then I saw Eremir leave."

"I remember that day. It was the last happy day."

"Oh, sorry to hear that. I..." I couldn't finish because I barfed all over the floor.

"It seems you were quite generous with the mead." he said laughing and holding my head.

"Yeah. What is with these people and mead?" I asked, "It's good but..."

"It was a present from us to mortals." he said and then he looked at me and I started to feel better. I looked to the floor and it was clean.

"Thanks." I said then he jumped at me and kissed me passionately, but then backed off.

"Sorry. It is just so hard to be sat beside you. I can't control myself." he said.

"Wow, I was kissed by a God!" I said. "It felt the same..."

"Hey!!! I am the God of sexuality." he protested.

"Well... It wasn't that good." I said and he laughed.

"If another mortal said that I would kill him." he said laughing.

"Ok, so what are you doing here?" I asked.

He shrugged again, "You called me."

"If it's not your jurisdiction, then whose is it?" I demanded.

"The Norns, or the Fates or Parcs; Whatever you want to call them." he said. I knew about those. The destiny makers. Even Gods fall under their power. They are even more powerful than Aeon and the other fathers of the Gods.

"So is it impossible to know?" I pointed out that the Destiny makers are secluded and they chose when to appear. He nodded, "Oh and I suppose that you can't tell me who I am..." he looked at me and said no with his head.

"Of course I can help you. Baba Yaga will help you if you bring her a present of a blue rose. The garden of the blue roses is guarded by one of my sons, Ganesh." he said.

"Ganesh the Hindu God?" he nodded.

"My sons are the Gods of the humans. Mortals called them Gods, Mystics call them genies, but they are not either of those, their name is Melesir." he said, then he touched me and I felt a burning pain on my arm, shoulder and back. "This is a map of the Labyrinth. You will find Ganesh there. Good luck!" he added and then kissed me softly on the lips. It was a simple peck and with it I knew he loved Eremir. I felt it in the kiss."

He disappeared while kissing me leaving the feeling of electricity from his lips on mine for a time. Even when I left for my room I still felt it. When I showered, I was still feeling it. I saw the map. It was a simple drawing made of lines and symbols. I went to sleep and slept with the feeling of Ferim's lips on mine.

I was in a forest. In this forest butterflies were big, the size of a small dog. I saw birds, deer, cats, fishes that floated on the air as if they were on the water. The trees were a of multiple colors and had a multitude of fruits. I looked down and I saw my right leg.

I started walking until I reached a castle made of trees, the door was open so I went inside. I didn't know where I was going, but something was summoning me. I arrived at what looked like the throne room and seated on the throne was a woman dressed in what looked like a dress made of butterflies, but they moved so I knew that they were alive. The woman had a crown made of flowers on her head and beside her throne there was a variety of animals were sitting or lying around.

"What are you doing here?" demanded the woman. I thought she was speaking to me, but a man walked behind me.

"Lerei, my love." said the man. He wasn't dressed, but a dark fog surrounded his body. All animals and flowers moved out of his way. The woman was Lerei, the nature Goddess. Goddess of the forest, mother of the animals, plants and elves.

"Iromir, my dear brother." said Lerei. So this was the God of evil, darkness, death, injustice, lies and war.

"I come here to ask a favor." Iromir said.

"I know why you are here. You want to make me stand beside you in the war. Asdimir has already came to do the same. You are desperate."

"So, which side you are going to pick?" he snapped.

"None. I will stand along my sister Lorei. If Morei were more intelligent she would also stand aside. This war will be a bloodbath. The minor Gods and the celestials as a result will be extinct and the poor Valkyries will have a lot of work to do." said Lerei.

"Your triplet sister Lorei will stand aside because she is can't join in." Lorei is the Goddess of humanity, health and life. So it would be weird for her to be in a war.

"Well I am not taking any side. I will isolate my forest...and you know that I can." said Lerei standing up from her throne. "Now, GO!" she said and Iromir disappeared in a wave of darkness. "Catania take this to Eremir, he will need it." she said putting a necklace on the floor.

A blue Siamese cat came closer and said, "As you wish my lady." It took the necklace with its mouth and jumped out of the window, but before it left I was certain that it looked at me. I know the cat saw me, but that was impossible.

I woke and sat up because at the foot of my bed there was the same cat, Catania. Funny name to call a cat, Catania.

It is not funny. My Goddess has a very bad sense of humor! I heard in my mind.

"You can read my thoughts." I said too loudly and I heard John groan.

No I can't. You project your thoughts, and I must say way too loudly sometimes. said Catania, but then added You can speak to me mentally otherwise your friends will believe you are a wacko and have lost it. I laughed.

Said the immortal cat who is talking to a human. I projected and she started licking one of her paws. *What are you doing here anyway? * I asked.

Lerei sent me. I gave you that vision. That's why I could see you.

Why would Lerei send you? I asked surprised.

You need my help with something. I don't know what yet, but we will get there eventually. Oh and you have the necklace of Caelus in your possession. Catania said.

No, I do not. I protested

Yes you do...Well, at least a part of it. she said. I looked at my mother's necklace that I had on my neck. It was a simple silver chain with a bar made of silver filigree. At first I just thought it was something she liked, now I realized it had magic symbols engraved into it. Also on the chain I had my father's ring, a gold ring that looked like a little crown.

What do you mean by a part of it?

The necklace was broken centuries ago. explained Catania.

Exactly when were the blood wars?

Oh let's see...They were like three thousand years ago, approximately. explained Catania Now, prepare yourself. You and your friends must depart for Ferim's labyrinth as soon as possible. she demanded. I looked at my clock, it was 4:00am.

"Ok." I said out loud, "Guys..." I called and stood up to shake everyone, including MJ.

"Why the fuck are you waking us up so early?" protested Theo.

"We need to go, and we need to go now." I said.

"Where?" asked Alex.

"To Ferim's Labyrinth." I said and everybody shot up superfast.

"What? Why?" shouted MJ.

"Why, it seems that all of you want to go?" I looked at Catania, "You're sure the place is completely safe?" I asked her.

Well...

"Who are you talking to?" asked John.

"The cat." I said, but they just looked at me as if I had lost my marbles.

"Nick are you on drugs or something?" asked Alex laughing.

"No. Her name is Catania. I know a very weird name for a Cat, but if I were you I wouldn't mock her owner. I had a vision that I needed to go to the Labyrinth. There is a blue rose garden, we need blue roses to give to Baba Yaga." I explained.

"Ok, you know about labyrinth? Right? Not many mortals come back from it." explained Theo.

"Yes, but none of them had a map of the labyrinth. I do, I saw it on my vision." I lied.

"Ok, so let me see this fabulous map of yours." demanded MJ.

"No. I will keep it to myself, for now." I said putting on my training uniform along with my athletic leg.

"I am not going, this nonsense." added MJ.

"Well don't go then. I'll go by myself." I said picking up my things to go to the bathroom. I peed and brushed my teeth. When I came back to the room everybody was getting ready. Including MJ. "I thought you weren't going."

"Oh Gods! If I leave you alone, you'll kill yourself." he said.

"If I remember I said to stay away from me" I said.

"OH go Fuck yourself. I am going if you want me to or not!" he shouted.

"I'm going to wake up the girls." said Alex.

"I'm going to wake my brother." said Theo.

"I'm going to wake...someone." added John as the three of them left.

"What is wrong with you?" I shouted and I felt MJ lifting an aether barrier. "Sometimes you care. Sometimes you act as if you don't know me and other times you lie."

"It is not that simple." he defended, but I wasn't buying it.

"It is simple, everything in life is simple if you try. Explain!" I demanded.

"I can't! It's not that simple." he shouted.

"Oh go fuck yourself." I shouted. I was going to leave, but MJ grabbed my arm and pulled me against him. He pressed his forehead against mine. He pressed my body against his. I felt his breathing on my face. I felt his heat emanating from under his skin. He looked into my eyes and our eyes locked. Then he kissed me, deeply, passionately. At first I resisted, but eventually gave in. When the kiss broke both of us were breathless.

"Simple enough?" he asked, but then I heard a knock on the door. I felt MJ eliminate the barrier and I opened the door. There Amelie and Claire.

"You're not going anywhere without us." Amelie stated. She stepped inside and saw MJ. He looked odd at me and then smiled. What the fuck was that about

"Well let's go then." I said and I started walking downstairs. I had to speak with someone before we left. We were going to meet downstairs in half an hour. I went to my grandmother's room and she was awake. She said, old people never sleep. I told her where I was going to go and she called Luzeiza, at the end of the discussion the Dean let me go as long as Luzeiza and professor Will go with us. I accepted, the more the merrier.

I was at the entrance with my friends when my sisters arrived along with Luzeiza and Will, seconds after my two grandmothers came accompanied by the Dean.

"I don't want you to go," said Maman, "but it is the right thing to do. You need to do this," I nodded, "but promise me one thing."

"What?" I asked.

"That all of you will come back alive." she said with a tear on her cheek.

"I promise." I said.

"Good because you will be taking two of my best guards with you." she said.

"Oh no, Maman..." I shut up when I saw the guards were Oscar and Gert.

"Now go, while it is still dark. You have at least one hour before dawn. The travel from here to Seattle is at least two hours, so drive as fast as you can. You have to try not to be inside the Labyrinth at midnight."

"How are we going to go there?" I asked.

"Easy." said Luzeiza pointing to two black Cadillac Escalade parked meters away.

"I drive!" I shouted walking to one of the cars.

"Oh no! Hell no!" shouted Oscar. "We want to get there ALIVE!" he exclaimed.

"Asshole.!" I said, then I saw Catania and grabbed her. "Come on let's go!" I said loud enough.

We were speeding down the highway, I looked and we were driving 85mph, way more than the speed limit in Washington (75mph). I was in the passenger's seat and Oscar was driving. MJ, Alexander and John were in the second row with Syre, Sarah and Stella in the back seats. Theo, Lance, Gert, Luzeiza, Will and my sisters were all in the other car.

None of us felt like sleeping. Let's face it, it's hard to sleep when you are heading for the slaughterhouse. I felt a light burning pain on my arm, shoulder, pecs and back. As I lifted my sleeve I saw the map and it was a little different now. The walls had moved.

Tell me more about this labyrinth I asked Catania telepathically who was on my lap.

Actually it is not a labyrinth it's a maze, but both words are the same on our old language. she said. It has an entrance in almost every big city in the world. All of these doors take you to the same place inside the maze. There is only one entrance and only one exit, without counting the center of the maze.

*What's in there? * I asked.

In the center of the maze is Ferim's castle. The maze changes all the time. Not many people have come out of it. Inside of it you can find your greatest dreams, but also your worst nightmares. she said. You know once you go inside there is no way back. You will have to tell your friends who you are? I smiled and nodded.

"We'll be there soon." Oscar said. I looked out of the window and sometime while we had been driving the sun had come up, but not that long ago.

We stopped in front of an old building. "So this is where the door to the maze is?" I asked and Oscar nodded. "Why is it called a labyrinth, if it really is a maze?"

"Mystic society is weird. They like their labels and names a lot." said Oscar.

"So, what are you?"

"Oh, I'm human. I am just blessed with the gift of sight and I am one of your grandmother's best warriors." he said.

"Ok, let's talk later. Now we have things to do." I told him

Everybody got out of the cars and we started following Luzeiza. This was an abandoned building, all doors and windows were missing, the walls were stained with things only the Gods knew. There were empty bottles and beer cans discarded all over the floor. Many of the walls were covered in graffiti. We went to the last floor, as we arrived we saw a wall with magic symbols painted in golden ink. I understood the runes. They spoke to me.

"This is it." said Luzeiza. "Now we have to figure out how to open the door."

I know how. said Catania and Luzeiza jumped.

"Shit, you scared me!" she said then she realized what she had said and went red as a tomato.

"Sorry." I smiled and then I remembered Luzeiza was also a telepath.

"Luzeiza this is Catania. Catania this is Luzeiza." I introduced them. "What do you mean that you know how to open the door?" I asked.

We all touch the wall and if we are found worthy of it the Labyrinth will let us in.

"That simple?" I asked surprised.

"What do we have to do?" asked MJ.

"According to this lovely creature we have to touch the wall." said Luzeiza.

Call me lovely creature again and you will be smashed against the wall! Huffed Catania and I laughed.

"Easy, we're all partners." I said and I put my hand on the wall. We heard a sonic boom and I felt and electricity run through my arteries and veins. "Come on! Do it!" I said and everybody walked toward the wall. One by one they put their hand on the wall and a sonic boom was heard. Then the runes glowed and a bright flash of light blinded us. The wall moved letting us pass in to the labyrinth

WOW! We all managed to stay alive. said Catania.

"What the fuck do you mean that all stayed alive? Was there was a chance of getting killed?" I asked.

If one is not worth then the door will not open. Sometimes the Labyrinth claims you as part of it...so...

"Ok, let's go." I said and walked into the labyrinth as everybody followed me. Once we were all inside the wall moved again leaving us trapped. I looked at the sky it was daytime. The labyrinth walls were made of hedge and the floor was of yellow brick. "Seriously a yellow brick road?" I asked.

"Where do you think Lyman Frank Baum got his idea?" asked Professor Will.

"You know there is a famous human called Will Smith?" said Lance.

"Yes I know." answered the professor a little uncomfortably. "I hear that almost every day." he added. He was way more sex than the Will Smith. Our beloved Professor looked like a marine or something. He took his jacket off and I could see his muscular arms. The right one was covered in tattoos. Most of them in white ink. It was beautiful. "My name is not even William." he added.

"But you told us..." started Sarah.

"Yeah I know what I told you. My name is Wilfred." he said and many of us let out a little laugh. "Now let's keep moving. Where to Nikolas?" he asked.

"Please call me Nick." I said walking a little out of sight and lifted the sleeve of my jacket. The entrance was on my wrist, and from there a line went a little way up my arm and then the line divided in to two and then it happened again and again. "Show me the path to Ganesh." I whispered and a line got darker. "I know. At the next fork in the road we take the left one." I said, but nobody started walking behind me.

"I want to see this map of yours." John protested.

"If you don't show us this supposed map we'll go back and you come with us." said MJ.

"Ok fine. I would have had to show you sooner or later as there is a part of the map that I can't see." I said and started taking off my black leather jacket and my shirt.

I heard some gasps and Alex say an "OH GOD!"

"Nick, how did that map get onto your skin?" asked Luzeiza.

"Someone gave it to me." I said. "Last night." I clarified.

"Do you know that person?" asked Theo, now everybody was surrounding me.

"I don't know him too well, but I know that I can trust him." I said.

"Him?" asked MJ. I still hadn't figured out what that kiss meant.

"YES MJ, HIM. Don't worry. I know the map is real. So let's move on." I said and started to walk. I knew the rest of the group followed me.

We stopped at noon to rest and to eat something. We had walked for almost 20 miles and we still had a long way to go. Now the walls were stone and the road was wider than it had been before.

"How far it is now?" asked Syrena as everybody was seated on the floor against the wall.

"A lot, but less than the first part." I explained. "The thing is that from now on there are obstacles in the way." I said looking at the little circles drawn over the lines.

"What do you mean by obstacles?" asked John.

I shrugged, "I have no idea." One hour after stopping to eat we started to walk again. When we approached the first obstacle I decided to go ahead as a scout to assess the situation. As I moved ahead MJ and John acted all macho and accompanied me.

Professor Smith came with us, saying, "Any of you know battle magic?" We approached the first obstacle slowly. I became invisible and MJ created an aetherial barrier around us all and went invisible. We entered the circle. It was a circular conjunction of four ways. We had to go left now. In the middle of the circle was a tree.

"Oh, it's just a tree." I said and in that moment a rabbit came in from one of the roads and the tree moved its branches and smashed it against the floor. "OK! So it is not just a tree." We went back to the group deep in thought.

"What did you see?" asked Amelie.

"A tree." I said.

"What kind of tree?" asked Luzeiza.

"The kind of tree that crushed a rabbit and now we have smashed up bunny all over the floor." said MJ.

"Oh Gods, that is so gross." said Stella.

"Yes sister, it is." said MJ. It's weird thinking of him as one of the Eleven. A Prince, he looks such a badass.

"I could talk to him." I said quietly and everybody looked at me. "From a far and secure distance."

You know how to do it? asked Catania.

"No, but I could try." I said and everybody started walking towards the circle. MJ and Stella created another barrier making them invisible and we all stood at the entrance. I was invisible again.

*Hello, there is someone there? * I asked telepathically. I felt the connection between me and the tree and I knew it was a talking tree immediately.

WHO DARES TO DISTURB ME? shouted the tree inside my mind. Ouch that was horrible, it felt like a punch in the head from the inside.

I do. I said turning visible.

I will crush you! You insignificant little shit.

WOW easy! I come in peace. I just want to go along the right path. I lied.

Only if you pass a test.

OK, that seems fair actually. I approached a little more and I signaled subtly to the left knowing my friends would go that way.

*It is actually a question...I had never been and I will never be, but you know I am always there. You live thinking of me, but you are always wondering how I am going to be. What am I? *

"Fuck!" I said out loud. "I had never been and I will never be, but you know I am always there. You live thinking of me, but you are always wondering how I am going to be. What am I?" I repeated to see if any of my friends knew the answer. Then I remembered, I knew the answer to that. My mother used to tell me this riddle.

TOMORROW! You are TOMORROW I shouted.

Correct. You may pass. he said so I started walking to the right.

You know what? I'm going to change directions. Wish me luck! I said. When I was going to enter the left way. The tree talked again.

Oh, one last thing I turned over my heels.

*What? * I asked

*How dumb do you think I am? * he asked. I was going to run, but one of his branches came flying fast and furious in my direction. It was going to hit me. I knelt. I wasn't ready to die. I felt a huge weight, but nothing more. I looked up and I saw the branch, it had stopped over me. There was some kind of glittery substance between me and the branch.

I was falling unconscious, but I looked beside me and I saw one of the most beautiful creatures of all creation...My mother. She was dressed in a white lace dress and she was so radiant that she glowed. "Hello my little one." was all I could hear before I fainted.

That's all for now folks ... This is Chapter nine – Chapter ten will follow soon.

Let me know what you think as it really helps to inspire me... Write me with your feedback and comments and ideas at mohamed180996@yahoo.es or mohamed180996@gmail.com ...

As stated above if you want to contact Kev the editor please contact ukwriter12@yahoo.com

The story will take a big turn soon I hope. Please let me know if you hate it, like it, love it, IDK.

Thanks