Odysseus stared at the beginning of the maze. He had not expected the labyrinth. Of course, the Princess of Olympus would have Deadelus at her service. She always had a way of convincing her father to do whatever she wanted.

When Odysseus had heard that she was having a competition for her hand, he never wanted to come. After Penelope died, he lost the only woman he ever loved. Suitors tried, many like Calypso and Circe, but he had no interest in them.

So why did he come then? He wanted to prove Athena wrong. She had been by his side during the war. She offered Olympus’s army for the first few years and offered protection. They had grown close and interested in each other. She was a beauty; golden honey hair and hair tan skin. He was a king; powerful and wiser than most kings older than he.

Then she had insulted him. She had said that Odysseus had grown soft. He wasn’t the same man who she had faced the Trojans with. He was weak.

Athena believed in wisdom. She always knew what move to make or what action to take. She knew when to fight and when to flee. She knew the affect her words would have on him. They broke him, but she probably didn’t expect this.

“You may enter, knight.” King Zeus called down to Odysseus. “May you survive.”

He caught Athena’s eye. She stared at him in shock. She knew who he was. He winked at her. Revenge tasted sweet.

He entered the labrynth. Instantly, ten different passages appeared. It was obvious which to take. He knew the only way to win was to make it to the end of the maze. So which way led there?

He smiled to himself. He walked down the sixth passage. He knew exactly which one it was. Every passage had a pull and a scent. Each was different and unique. The sixth passage smelled like books and paper, Athena’s favorite smell.

Odysseus realized something; This wasn’t about a test of wisdom or strength. It was about who knew Athena the best. He was going to win.

The ground started shaking. The floors and walls rattled. A creature crept out of the darkness. It had large horns, fur, and muscles the size of his head. The Minotaur stood before him in all its glory.

“I am Odysseus,” he spoke, “King of Ithaca. You do not scare me.”

Then it attacked…