Crawling Between Heaven And Earth by Sarah A. Hoyt

that if they replaced the Minotaur with a dangerous beast and it killed a few tourists, it would create fear that other artifacts might have been tampered with, cause a fall in tourism and a backlash against artifacts. Funny, though, how you two were the only ones who survived."

    A touch of edginess grated through Pol's voice. "I assure you he showed us no favoritism."

    Pol was alive. Fast on the heels of relief, I remembered what he had said in the tunnel. Pol an artifact? It couldn't be true. Hallucination, surely.

    I managed to force my eyes open.

    My leg didn't hurt. I felt no worse than someone with a hangover.

    Pol sat at the end of my bed, his arm encased in the pink bulk of a medsleeve. My leg was encased in one too. I lay in what looked like a hotel bed in a bland but pleasant bedroom with two beds, dresser, wardrobe, all of it white. Framed seascapes hung on the walls.

    "The tourism administration will pay for your treatment." The medical technician was young and female and better suited to a travel poster than to the blue uniform of a med. She sniffed, as if she resented having to treat us like people. "And for your lodging, of course. Both of you should be able to travel on within twenty four hours."

    She smiled—a tight smile—mumbled something about our getting better, and left me alone with Pol.

    I pulled myself up to a sitting position. "I had the strangest dream"

    I realized the significance of the two beds; of his being in my room.

    He'd told them he belonged to me.

    I looked down at his hand. The red ring of slavery shone on his long, square finger.

    He took a deep breath. "My name is Apollo Doris."

    "Oh," I said. He'd concealed the ring. No one concealed the ring. Had he done it of his own accord?

    Sitting on my bed, wearing an institutional white robe, he looked beautiful still, but also more naked than he'd been in his tiny shorts. It was as if a layer had been stripped off his skin, leaving him flushed and hesitant, tongue-tied and vulnerable, like a child who wakes in the night amid strangers.

    He took a deep breath. "Nary made me wear the gold ring. She'd rather be thought an old fool with a young lover, than someone desperate enough to take an artifact on a tour halfway across the world." He spoke with almost regret. "And she didn't mind the fines, should we be caught."

    And she wouldn't mind his dying? I looked at his golden skin, his dark curls, his oceanic eyes and I felt a great anger against the dead Nary. If she were alive, I'd kill her.

    Words I'd heard from his companion—Owner? Now took on a different meaning. You are not irreplaceable sounded chilling enough when said to a lover, but brutally threatening when said to an artifact. She hadn't cared. If he had got killed, she could have bought another.

    Nausea made me dizzy.

    He shrugged. "I was hers." His eyes lost all expression as though invisible shutters had fallen over them. "I was not created for such a reputable job as courier. Mind and body, I was designed as a companion, a lover . . .a pleasure toy for humans. And for a time I was owned by a brothel. It was . . .not pleasant. Too many of us, too little room, nothing of my own, no one . . .no one to belong to. It's part of my make-up that I need to belong. When Nary bought me, she gave me what I needed most. She also gave me the chance to play human for a time. She could risk my life if she wished. It wasn't much of a life before her. Now, I'm masterless again . . .. Listen, I wish . . ." He looked intent, desperate. "I don't suppose you could buy me? Her daughter has no use for artifacts."

    My heart beat fast. I could sense his pain and his fear. He'd thought quickly thinking in the labyrinth. He had feelings, emotions, even wit. But to his new owner, he'd be an object; an unwanted possession.

    To me, he was still a demigod, only now attainable.

    He was so beautiful. And he had a need to belong.

    From the expression in his green eyes, he wanted