The room was bathed in an eerie green glow; it lacked decorations of any kind. “This is interesting,” Kakri said taking casual steps through toward the next door that was straight ahead. “No spider web either.”
“A little concerning might be more accurate,” Liz said. “The lack of the webbing is a small blessing I would say.”
Kakri swung the leg around in front of her. “There is more writing up ahead.”
“Can you read it?” Liz asked.
“It refers to a password.”
“First a blood offering and now a password…” Liz sighed. “They truly do not want anyone getting in here even their own kin.”
“We don’t know it though,” Kakri pointed out stopping.
“Can we just bust down the door?”
“Let’s look around here and see if there are any clues given their habit of jotting down other information in these rooms.”
They split up examining the walls carefully; barely an inch was left unchecked. Kakri thought it was hopeless and was about to suggest they try the first option when she saw Liz examining the door once more. “My birthmark,” she whispered then turned around fast toward the opposite wall a blade appeared in her hand.
She’s getting quite quick with it. Kakri approved.
“What is there?” Liz demanded. “Show yourself!”
There was a soft sliding noise and a rattle. Kakri looked around her confused trying to figure out where the sound was coming from. The sounded echoed, making them hard to pinpoint even with her hearing. Liz shifted around revealing a second blade as the sliding noise continued and then a wall opened up. Kakri took a step towards her as a giant snake lunged out of the opening, its fangs bared at them. Liz backed away while Kakri sent a blast of wind at the creature to stop its charge. Out of the corner of her eye she saw more movement as another opening appeared. Liz darted toward the second snake before she could act, slashing it with her blades. The beast recoiled slightly and slithered toward the door effectively cutting off their only exit. Meanwhile the one that Kakri had dazed against the wall slithered back up and poised for another attempt.
Liz shoved Kakri out of the way as it struck, using one dagger to catch a fang and push the head away from being able to strike and sliced through the head allowing it to fall with a splat. As it fell away she saw that Liz now held a sword in one hand instead of a dagger. The wounded snake creature hissed loudly and the rattling noise increased. It ducked into another hole causing silence to fall once more around them. Liz pivoted in place, weapons raised and ready, Kakri backed toward her keeping her own gaze moving around constantly. “Maybe it went away,” Kakri said. “I somewhat doubt these are part of Ahiel’s traps.”
“Wishful thinking, I believe they are not part of his plans as well but more something my ancestors placed here. You cannot go through unless you have the birthmark after these creatures are driven off.”
“I doubt they killed them every time they came down here,” Kakri pointed out.
“I doubt it as well. They must have trained them to obey a password but these lack that training growing wild. The mechanisms though still work, they were built to last and provided them shelter...”
“And probably had some help with upkeep and food from a certain someone,” Kakri muttered as a hiss came from the walls behind her.
The snake was back and ready to try again. It reared back, fangs fully extended with its long tongue darting out tasting the air. In a moment it lunged at them, Liz quickly slide up and at the creature landing a small blow along the side before turning and bringing the sword down and slicing through, spraying blood across her arm. The creature fell to the ground with a final protesting hiss that continued to echo long after it landed. Liz cleaned off her arm while she watched Kakri go around and check to see if the openings were clear of any more of the snake creatures. Once her arm was cleaned she lifted it where the most light was coming from the room and aimed the birthmark toward the ceiling. Kakri gapped at her as she did it.
“What in the name of all the Realms are you doing?”
“Look,” Liz said pointing with the blade in her other hand.
Kakri turned until she saw it, tucked in a partly shadowy corner of the ceiling was a mirror. It was placed in such a way that it would easily catch what was shown where Liz stood but where it would take time and careful searching to see. The door to the next section slid open and Liz lowered her arm. She vanished the remaining blade and turned to Kakri, “Onward?”
Kakri nodded and allowed her to go first admiring the change within the queen. From following the superior being’s lead to leading instead and sitting on equal footing. Like most magic in Segennya it reflected directly in how her power acted; changing from dagger to sword with little thought when just levels above them she had struggled to even form a blade with the same method. Not exactly how I intended on teaching this lesson to her. Kakri smiled as she stepped through the door but it fell from her face just as fast.
A narrow path spanned a dark, tall chasm; barely skimming the path was long swinging blades. Kakri looked down to see how deep it went. The bottom was obscured completely from view. Next to her Liz picked up a small pebble and let it go over the edge. It plummeted with a whistle until even that wasn’t heard anymore. Liz gulped and eyed Kakri nervously, “No other way I suppose?”
“Doubtful,” Kakri said. “The spikes close those options to us right now, remember?”
“Damn,” Liz studied the blades with increasing apprehension.
Kakri too eyed them though it was more for pattern than actual concern. “If we go after the first one and keep running without letting up we should be fine and reach the other side.”
Liz nodded, casting another apprehensive glance at the side. “I cannot.”
“Don’t give up now!”
“That is not what I mean; I mean that I cannot cross this. I am… I am… afraid of heights.”
Kakri’s eyes widened but she didn’t laugh. “We don’t have another choice though.”
Liz backpedaled slightly away from the edge with wide eyes. “I do not think… I cannot…”
Kakri caught her hand, “Tell you what, you go first. I’ll tell you when and just don’t look down.”
“Easier said than done,” Liz muttered.
Kakri pulled her back toward the path then stood right behind her almost to block her escape. Putting a hand on each shoulder she squeezed them tight. “You can do this,” she repeated.
Liz took a step forward then instantly took a step back. She took a deep breath and then retook the step. “So go when the first one is where?”
“On the left.”
Liz’s entire body clenched with tension under her hands. “Okay… here goes nothing!”
As the first blade swung just clear of the left side of the path Liz darted forward. She cleared the first five easy but slowed suddenly and stopped. “What’s wrong!” Kakri shouted.
Liz twisted her hair blew slightly at the force of the blades going back and forth on either side. “I cannot make it!” she called back, voice shaking.
“You looked down, didn’t you?”
“I lost my footing and had no choice!”
They fell silent, Kakri trying to figure out how to motivate Liz to finish the crossing since she couldn’t cross yet without her being across. “You stood against enemies that were much greater than you, this should be easy! Underworld, you even stood down a god! No doubt we are close to Terra now!”
Kakri watched as she continued to stand there like the fear was freezing her though she seemed focused on the blades. Kakri tapped her foot impatiently as the lack of response was rather disconcerting and annoying. She was about to pull out more vicious material when Liz darted forward after the blade cleared the path and didn’t stop until she was clear of the next set of five. Kakri beamed at the sight and then quickly flew over herself, the mortal now safe. Liz was leaning against the wall farthest away from the edge breathing hard. “You could not have done that before?” she huffed.
“Takes too much strength to take passengers,” Kakri confessed. “Also I would think Ahiel would have measures that would not allow me to simply take you and essentially blow past all these traps.”
“True.”
Kakri walked past her and faced the door. It was intricate in design, carved with pictures of days long past. Each carving was painted but the paint was chipped and faded; a couple were completely wrecked with giant gashes across them. Instead of a turning door it had giant ringed handles and a large keyhole. In the corners of the door and extended down the floor she saw thick pieces of the webbing that filled the hall earlier. “We’re here.” Kakri said.
Liz pushed off the wall, walking to stand next to her and studied the door as well. “It appears so.”
Kakri took a step over to stand next to her. “Are you ready?”
“As I ever will be.”
“You’ve done well so far, and I mean that with my entire being. Most would have completely frozen on the bridge and not moved but you did.”
“Most probably would have been smarter and not told a God to shove it either,” Liz smirked.
Kakri’s shoulders shook as she tried not to laugh. “True, but he deserved it.”
The two women fell back into silence and Kakri wondered why it felt like they were facing a battle that couldn’t be won. She knew it could be. After all humans had dealt with the Esaira long before now and with much cruder tools than what they had at their disposal but she couldn’t justify shaking the feeling. She hesitated because she honestly didn’t want to go in though Terra was likely within the chamber. To do so would bring the truth she had tried not to think about until now.
“Are you ready?” Liz asked quietly.
Was she? Could she face the final step in Ahiel’s hatred of humans, half of those who looked to her for guidance in their times of need and when lost? It was easy when she could say that they could simply save Terra and walk out after defeating the last monster in this labyrinth. Entering this room would break the illusion of who was the master of the creature, who arranged most of this. It would destroy the fact that after they got out she couldn’t face Ahiel as the same brother she always had.
Regardless she nodded, “As I’ll ever be.”
Together they walked side by side toward the door, giving each other one last glance they reached out and pushed the door open. It groaned as they pushed with all their might, slowly parting. Inside there was a dim glow that almost appeared to be coming from the webbing that was visible. Long pillars could be seen just inside showing how massive of a room it was. Taking a deep breath Kakri attempted to calm her nerves knowing they had officially reached the point with no return.