Excerpt: Labyrinth

“My name is Safirna,” she said.
“What do you want?” Raphael asked when she said nothing more.
Movement from behind made him turn, the sudden movement sending echoes of pain through his body. He silently cursed as Cassor rushed over, watching Safirna sharply as Cassor fussed over him, apparently unaware of the winged woman only a few feet away.
“What happened?” Cassor asked. “Why are you out here alone?”
Raphael looked at Cassor in confusion, then at Safirna.
“He can't see you?” he said. “Why not? What is it that you want?”
“Raph?” Cassor said, his voice full of confusion and concern.
Raphael couldn't draw his attention away from Safirna, needing to know why Cassor couldn't see her.
“What do you want?” he asked again.
The woman smiled. “Haven't you guessed yet?” she asked. “I want him.” She pointed at Cassor.
Cassor yelped in surprise as Raphael shoved him behind, placing himself between Cassor and Safirna.
“You can't have him!”
She was unfazed. “But I can,” she contradicted. “I already do.”
Raphael tensed as she lifted her hand, a small blue orb resting on her palm. Without warning light burst out of it, surrounding them. Surprise froze Raphael in place, and when he turned to grab onto Cassor, there was no one there.
“What have you-?”
His words were cut off as the air around suddenly became thick. He struggled to breath, pressing a hand to his chest as he gasped. Safirna came to stand in front of him, unaffected by the strange air.
“He's mine now,” she said. “But you can get him back. All you have to do is find the centre of the maze.”
Maze? He opened his mouth to ask the question, but now even a gasp was more than he could manage. As the world went dark he heard her words.
“He's waiting for you.”