Miles of stonework sprawled before him

The King’s Maze was king Azmodius’ masterpiece

Though for those few who found its center

They found the king had something to hide

Something so terrible it had to be contained within this structure

Our hero rested his hand on the arch of the entrance

A chill ran up his spine at the cool touch

Something in its simple stonework

Whispered terror into his soul

With a step he crossed the threshold

Left hand trailing along the wall

He would find what hid within

And expose Azmodius for the devil that he was

Our hero felt the air cool, breath fogging

The world twisted rolling onto its side

He lost all sense of up or down

And soon fell upon his knees

As he raised his head

Something had changed

The stone was different, alternating

Path inlaid with dull metal

He stood unsteadily and placed his right hand upon the wall

Slowly he began to walk again

Footsteps echoed in a rapid cascade beyond and behind him

Louder until they seemed not to be his

Something followed far behind him

Thunderous hooves stampeding

He cried in horror as he turned about

Arms raised across his face

The cry thundered in crashing resonance

But soon all fell silent

He lowered his arms

And found it changed again

The stones stacked in intricate swirls

The path, metal and wood shaped intricacies

All of which depicted a phantasmagoria

A crown enwrapped in hands and swirling smoke

People clutching faces, screams issued from twisted shock

He trembled as he wrapped his arms around himself

Seeking warmth of some kind

The air was so cold here

He walked awhile more, the cold slicing through him

Soon his eyes grew heavy as an unknown warmth encircled him

Collapsing against the wall

He lay for but a moment before his eyes flew open

Again it had changed

The stone a fantastical design inset with gems of all colors

Upon the floor the design had changed once more

The crown now was grasped by twirling tentacles of purple and black

Eldritch things tearing off the flesh of their own faces

But he was finally warm

So warm

Somewhere far ahead something began to beat

A thumping low and ponderous

He did not hesitate

This was what he had sought

He was sure of it

As he turned a corner something occurred to him

He had not turned a single corner before this

Only ever curving walls obliterating at the horizon

This thought was swept away as the center came into view

Red light flooded his senses

Cinnamon and blood

The sound shaking his bones

The sight of all that was hidden

The flesh

The words

The steel

Left him tasting something acrid

And fearful

There was no escaping

He knew this

The truth here would die with him

And that death would come swiftly

On wings of silk and skin

The thumping beating its sky-long span

The claws descended