Chapter sixteen
Lord Apollo’s prophecy
Elizabeth fought against the heaviness of her eyelids, light flooding her vision in dazzling waves, sparkling like millions of tiny stars. It felt as though she had been thrust into a celestial realm.
Suddenly, a deafening crash sent her tumbling down onto the unforgiving, cold concrete floor below.
As she gathered herself, Elizabeth took in her surroundings with a mix of confusion and curiosity. She was sprawled out in the center of a vast, echoing room, its high ceiling lost in shadow.
Hordes of people surged around her, their hurried footsteps creating a symphony of chaos that resonated through the space like a relentless tide.
Casting her gaze back, she spotted Veronica, Percy, and Penelope, all shaking off the dust from their clothes, their expressions a blend of bewilderment and annoyance. And, clear enough, not a single one of them took a closer glimpse at the ceiling, where three glowing green words were emblazoned on the ceiling in an elegant, swirling script: ‘the Ethereal House.’
“Hey! You there! Identification!” a sharp voice boomed from behind, sending a scattered jolt of fear racing through Elizabeth.
She whirled around, her heart pounding in her chest at the sight of a commanding woman approaching, torch in hand. The flickering flame illuminated her stern features, shadows dancing across her face like wraiths. Elizabeth’s mind raced as indignation bubbled within her.
“Ma’am, don’t you recognize us?”
The woman halted her advance, her discerning eyes narrowing with skepticism as she regarded them. Her hands were firmly planted on her hips, nostrils flared as her mouth drawn down a suspicious curve.
“Okay, I see," she replied, her voice dripping with authority. "Yet you need to fill in a form to prove your identity—every Evil-Scarlet does that. I don’t think I’ll be making an exception. Come on, follow me.”
Veronica eyed the woman’s silhouette, skepticism etched across her features. “Really? It’s that easy?”
“Come on, Veronica, she clearly knows her stuff,” Elizabeth interjected, attempting to ease the tension in the air.
“Oh, yeah? And do you know what you're doing? You could've killed us! This feels nothing more than a trap, if I have to say,” Veronica shot back, arms crossed defiantly. Despite her anger, she reluctantly trailed after the rest of them into the long, dimly lit corridor.
Elizabeth's gaze remained fixed on the woman, who glided forward with an unsettling calmness. Her golden hair danced behind her like a living thing, coiling and twisting before settling into a tight bun.
Strange hissing noises echoed in Elizabeth’s ears, a distant sound that heightened her unease, as a sudden wave of dizziness washed over her.
It was as if her footsteps were entwined with the others, their pace synchronized as if they were being drawn into a choreographed dance, lending an unsettling harmony to their march deeper into the unknown.
Throwing a quick glance over her shoulder, Elizabeth noticed her friends’ faces dulled by an inexplicable haze, their expressions lost in a mist of confusion and fear that sent shivers down her spine.
“Um, ma’am?” she ventured, her voice quavering ever so slightly. “Where are we going exactly?”
“To my office, dear,” the woman hissed, her eyes glinting like polished emeralds as she flung open a grand glass door, revealing a lavish office.
The room was adorned with exquisite drapes and plush furniture, exuding an air of opulence that contrasted starkly against the chaos from which they had just emerged.
They plopped down onto luxuriously soft chairs, gazing around in a mixture of bewilderment and apprehension. “Please be patient for a moment,” the woman chirped cheerfully, settling comfortably into an overstuffed armchair, a disconcerting smile on her lips.
Minutes bled into a slow passage of time as they sat in tense silence, Elizabeth's leg tingling painfully under the pressure and her stomach twisting in anxiety. Time blurred until, at last, the woman stood, gliding over to a glistening counter, her movements fluid.
She prepared herself a steaming cup of tea, then retrieved a stack of pristine papers from an ornate cupboard, presenting them to the group with a flourish.
Elizabeth's eyes were drawn to the title inscribed boldly at the top of the first page: “You shall give us the authority to govern the Soulblender Institute.”
“What?” Elizabeth gasped, her heart racing. The words seemed to swirl and shift in front of her, and all at once, the chandelier hanging overhead flickered violently before plunging them into dimness. The text morphed in her vision, transforming into a dark command: “We shall free all the soulblenders from jail.”
A chill crept up Elizabeth's spine, the ominous implication sending a wave of dread crashing over her. Something was terribly wrong, but the nature of her unease danced just beyond her fingertips.
Veronica's expression mirrored her own suspicion, yet Percy and Penelope seemed entranced, pens in hand, ready to ink their names on the ominous parchment. Breaking the heavy silence, Veronica leaned closer, her tone urgent. “I think something’s very wrong here.” “What is it?” the woman snapped, her voice dripping with irritation as she approached them with an air of menace.
“Nothing, ma’am,” Veronica whispered, eyes fixed intently on the paper, an unsettling glaze clouding her gaze.
“Would you like a drink, my dear?” the woman asked sweetly, pressing a steaming cup of coffee into Veronica's hands with a forcefulness that felt suffocating.
To Elizabeth's horror, Veronica's fingers stiffened, as the rosy hue of life drained from her cheeks, her body went slack. Her eyes lost their focus, staring upwards as if another force had seized control.
With an eerie calmness, her body leaned back, and she raised the cup to her lips, tilting it towards her mouth as if succumbing to an ominous spell—
“No—” Elizabeth screamed, lunging forward in desperation as she knocked the cup from Veronica's grasp.
It shattered upon the ground, the sharp cry of breaking china mingling with the spattering of crimson liquid spilling like blood among scattered china shards, staining the pristine floor like a freshly fallen blossom.
“Jordan, you’ve ruined everything!” the woman bellowed, her face twisted with rage as she reached for her belt, drawing a gleaming sword.
Sinister serpents coiled along the blade, their beady eyes locked onto the group with predatory intent.
Percy and Penelope recoiled, their pens clattering to the ground as confusion wracked their features, as if waking from a deep slumber.
In that moment, Veronica jolted back to consciousness, eyes wide and wild. Without a second's thought, Elizabeth shouted, “Run!”
She lunged for the door with all her might, crashing into it like a battering ram. The wood splintered violently, fragments bursting outward as they surged through the opening. It took a heartbeat for the others to comprehend the chaos that had unfolded.
They took off in a burst of adrenaline, sprinting past the towering marble statues of long-gone celebrities, darting around narrow restrooms, and navigating around a massive painting that almost blocked their escape. In pursuit, the woman followed closely, her expression a mask of fury.
With her heart pounding like a war drum and desperation coursing through her veins, Elizabeth drew her sword with a fierce determination, aiming a ferocious slash at the woman standing before her. To her utter dismay, the blade passed through the figure as if it were nothing but a mirage, rippling and shimmering in the air, leaving Elizabeth grasping at shadows rather than flesh.
In a heartbeat, the woman retaliated.
With a fluid flick of her wrist, she snatched up her spear, its polished tip gleaming in the dim light. She lunged forward, piercing the air with deadly precision. Percy, caught unprepared, felt the tip of the spear bite deep into his left shoulder, an electric shock of pain rippling through him. His bright blue eyes widened in disbelief, the light within them dimming as shock gripped his expression, twisting it into a mask of anguish.
Without a second’s pause, Elizabeth broke into a sprint toward her beloved, her every instinct screaming for her to reach him. Panic laced her movements, each stride filled with a fierce protectiveness as she sensed the peril drawing closer behind her.
The woman charged, an eerie smile twisting her lips into a grotesque mockery of their plight. The very air crackled with tension, each heartbeat echoing the urgency of their desperate struggle.
“What’s up, baby?” she taunted, her voice dripping with malice. Veronica, struggling but determined, rose to her feet. She nocked a poisonous arrow into her bow and let it fly, but the woman merely rolled aside, the arrow whizzing harmlessly past her. A snarl escaped the woman’s lips as she lunged at Veronica, baring her glistening fangs in the dim light, shadows dancing ominously around them.
The brutal impact knocked Veronica to the ground, a pained gasp escaping her as the woman's teeth sank into her flesh, crimson blood pooling around her.
With her heart racing like a wild stallion, Elizabeth grounded herself, gritted her teeth, clenched her fists, and unleashed the very spear that had pierced Percy, sending it hurtling through the air with fierce intent, her gaze unwavering and fierce.
The woman, agile as a cat, dove to the side just in time. Yet, fate had other plans; the spear grazed her left ankle, its sharp tip piercing the skin and embedding itself deep, drawing forth a thin line of crimson.
She crashed to the ground, the impact sending dust swirling around her. Anger flickered in her eyes, fierce and unyielding, as she fixed her gaze on Elizabeth, whose wide eyes reflected both shock and fierce determination.
In a display that sent chills racing down Elizabeth’s spine, the woman swiftly grasped the spear and yanked it from her wound, the flesh around it knitting itself back together almost miraculously, as if the very fabric of reality were bending to her will, leaving no trace of the brutal injury. The air was thick with tension as Elizabeth realized that she was up against something far beyond the ordinary.
“Don’t you dare—” Elizabeth shouted, her voice a mix of fury and desperation, but the woman paid her no heed. With a swift, almost mocking snap of her fingers, serpents coiled and slithered forth from her fingertips, each one a menacing glimmering threat in the flickering light of the torches that danced along the damp stone walls.
“Go!” Veronica screamed, her voice piercing through the chaos as she staggered backward, her face pale and glistening with sweat mixed with her own blood, which dripped like a crimson waterfall from a jagged wound. Her hands moved in a blur, releasing a flurry of arrows that sliced through the air, each one soaring through the air with the urgency of a lifeline desperately thrown.
The shafts of wood streaked toward the relentless assailant, but the woman’s malevolent gaze remained locked on her as her snarl echoed through the chamber, a sound that promised neither mercy nor retreat.
“Go—leave me! That door!” Veronica shouted, pointing urgently at a narrow exit at the end of the corridor. “In, you fools!”
Elizabeth grasped the doorknob and yanked it open. Flames billowed behind her, the heat searing against her back as she felt the flames licking at her shirt. Just then, a bolt of lightning burst forth from Veronica’s hands, forming a swirling vortex of violent energy that surged ahead of them.
“Get in!” Veronica pleaded, her voice strained and urgent, yet it was swallowed by a piercing scream that echoed ominously, reverberating through the air like a death knell. Elizabeth’s heart plummeted, heavy with dread, as she heard the sickening thud of a body hitting the ground, followed by the frantic, ragged breaths escaping Veronica's lips. A chilling, high-pitched laughter danced eerily behind them, sent chills crawling up Elizabeth's spine.
A tight knot of fear twisted in Elizabeth's gut as her gaze darted toward the swirling whirlpool ahead, its depths churning and frothing as if the very essence of darkness lay beneath the surface.
Panic surged within her as Penelope had already vanished beyond the brink, leaving only uncertainty in her wake. Percy stood by her side, his expression a tangled mix of terror and steely resolve, his eyes wide in the dim light that flickered around them.
“You first,” he urged, his voice wavering slightly. Elizabeth shook her head vehemently, her mind racing.
“No! I can’t leave Veronica; she’ll die!” she hissed, her voice trembling with the weight of her desperation. The thought of abandoning her friend to the mercies of whatever lay behind them was a wound too deep to bear.
With a heart heavy with sorrow and resolve, she reluctantly pushed Percy toward the treacherous whirlpool, her own heart breaking as she slammed the door shut behind him, the metallic clank echoing in the tense silence as it sealed their fates.
Drawing her dagger, Elizabeth turned around, only to find herself frozen in horror. The woman loomed over Veronica, who lay helplessly in a pool of deep red, a horrid gash marring her temple. Veronica's eyes flickered towards Elizabeth, fear and defiance mingling in her gaze as she screamed, “Go! What the hell do you think you’re doing, idiot?”
Tears shimmered in Elizabeth’s eyes like fragile crystals, vulnerable and shimmering with the weight of her turmoil, while her jaw tightened into a hard line, determination clashing with despair. In a heartbeat, the woman surged forward, a fierce glint in her eyes; instinct took hold, and Elizabeth clutched her sword with an iron grip, the chilling fingers of fear wrapping around her heart like a vice, tightening with each fleeting second.
The weight of the moment pressed heavily upon her, a palpable tension in the air as Elizabeth drew a sharp breath, the metallic tang of blood mingling with the sweat on her brow. She swung her sword, the hilt pressed hard into the woman’s forearm. Warm blood, tinged with a sickening green hue, trickled from her wound, pooling in Elizabeth’s palm as she struggled to maintain her composure.
The woman stared at her, stunned.
Then, with a haunting snap, the woman’s fingers elongated into claws, her hair morphed into writhing snakes, and her body contorted until she was a monstrous fusion of beauty and ferocity—a Sphinx.
“What do you want, Sphinx?” Elizabeth whispered, a shudder running down her spine. “A riddle?”
“Nah, I’ve moved on from that. Now, die, my sweetie!” the Sphinx laughed, her voice a sinister melody. With a swift surge of energy, she sprang into the air. As the air crackled with urgency, Elizabeth lifted her sword high, the blade catching the light and reflecting it like a shard of ice.
It sank deep into the Sphinx’s back, and greenish blood gushed forth, slick and foul, staining Elizabeth's clothes as she fought to maintain her grip.
Roaring in rage, the Sphinx caught Elizabeth midair, throwing her against the stone walls with brutal force. An agonizing scream tore from Elizabeth's throat as sharp claws shredded into her skin, blood streaming down in rivulets onto the cold ground beneath her.
With every ounce of effort, she struggled to lift her arm, the weight of exhaustion pressing down on her like a thick fog. The Sphinx approached, its massive form casting a shadow that swallowed the light, and its piercing gaze revealed a chilling intent that sent shivers down her spine.
Veronica shifted her gaze weakly. “Stupid… how dare you—,” she muttered, the fight within her still alive but fading.
The Sphinx tightened its grip with a ferocious roar and hurled Elizabeth aside. She crashed into the wall with a thud, her body sliding down the cold, unforgiving surface as the breath was knocked from her lungs. Panic tightened its grip around her heart as she gazed ahead, a chilling wave of dread engulfing her.
The colossal Sphinx, with its weathered stone skin glowing faintly, lunged forward with a sudden ferocity. Its massive claws, sharp and gleaming like polished obsidian, swept downwards, capturing Veronica in a vice-like grip. The weight of its grasp felt both oppressive and surreal, as if time itself had stopped.
“Go!” Veronica gasped, her voice strained like a taut string, brimming with urgency and the raw weight of fear. A command, yet an impossibility for Elizabeth.
Her heart thudded painfully in her chest at the thought of leaving her friend in the clutches of danger.
Elizabeth won't abandon any of her friends if she could do something, knowing their bond could not be severed by fear alone.
With a heartbeat of courage, Elizabeth lunged at the Sphinx. She leaped through the air, her heart racing, the gleaming tip of her blade aimed with deadly precision at the creature’s dark, beating heart.
The Sphinx howled in fury, its immense form twisting like a tempest, attempting to shake her off like a mere insect. But Elizabeth’s grip was unyielding; her fingers tightening around the hilt of her weapon as she drove the dagger deeper, feeling the rush of courage coursing through her.
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Then, in a flash of motion, the Sphinx’s tail lashed out with bone-crushing force.
It collided with Elizabeth midair, sending her spiraling down into an abyss of disorientation and despair, the world around her dissolving into a swirling darkness.
It moved inexorably toward Elizabeth, its elongated fangs gleaming like polished ivory, glinting wickedly in the dim, flickering lantern light. A wave of terror washed over her as she instinctively shut her eyes, her heart racing as she tried to steady her breath, preparing herself for the crushing finality she believed was imminent.
The chill of the marble floor sent jolts of sensation through her fingertips. She could feel the cold, smooth marbles beneath her palms—an oddly luxurious sensation amidst the chaos.
With every labored breath, the air enveloped her in a crisp, sugary sweetness, a tantalizing reminder of the vibrancy of life she was on the brink of losing. Still, the heavy, malodorous breath of the blood Sphinx loomed above her, a dark cloud of dread that threatened to extinguish not just her will, but her very existence. Elizabeth felt as if she were about to sink into the abyss, her strength slipping away like grains of sand through her fingers.
Then, a resounding crunch shattered the tension, reverberating through the chamber like thunder. The Sphinx let out a low grunt before it crashed to the ground with a bone-rattling thud, sending tremors through the walls. In that moment of chaos, a firm hand seized Elizabeth’s, its warmth cutting through the freezing dread, anchoring her back from the brink of despair.
She hoisted herself up, a surge of relief coursing through her body, and found a shadowy figure enveloping her in a warm embrace. “Percy?” Elizabeth whispered, her voice barely a breath. “How come you—” “I can’t leave you behind, darling,” Percy Harrison laughed, his tone a comforting light amidst the chaos. Ahead, Veronica struggled to regain her balance, her body a tense wire ready to snap.
“Good for you two,” she groaned, the words heavy as stones. Elizabeth surged forward, wrapping her arms around Veronica to catch her before she crumpled to the ground. “You could’ve died, fool, do you understand?” “Veronica, are you okay?” Elizabeth's voice trembled with urgency.
“Yeah, I am,” Veronica replied, her tone sharp and defiant.
“I think I can help!” a voice chimed in from the shadows. They spun to see a man bedecked in flamboyant tassels swaying toward them, exuding an unsettling cheerfulness.
“You can rest in my place! C’mon!” he said, joy lighting up his face as he effortlessly hoisted Veronica over his shoulder. With a surprising strength, he started to drag her away.
“Hey!” Elizabeth yelled, her heart racing, yet the man merely chuckled, “C’mon, don’t be shy.”
Panic surged through Elizabeth as she dashed after him, her mind spinning with warnings.
“It’s a trick!” she heard herself shout, “but I can’t leave de Angelo!” another voice clamored.
“Elizabeth, don’t!” Percy called behind her, his voice strained with alarm.
“No, Perce, I have to go!” Elizabeth bellowed as she quickened her pace, “By the way, thanks a lot for saving me!”
Percy tried to follow, but something invisible halted him in his tracks. He looked up, confusion sweeping over him; there was nothing to see.
Rushing back to him, Elizabeth frowned as her hands brushed against an icy barrier, cold glass shimmering ominously before her.
She pounded on it, desperation clawing at her throat, but it wouldn’t budge. From the other side, Percy’s horrified shriek was swallowed by silence. She waved frantically at him before turning to follow the man.
They curved around a corner, descending a spiraling staircase until they reached a place labeled “Spa Square.”
“I’ll grab a room key; you can stay as long as you want,” the man declared, his grin wide and disconcerting. Veronica let out a disgruntled grunt, but the man paid her no mind.
He led them into a vast square room lined with doorways to sauna rooms. The thick aroma of humidity hung in the air, steam curling lazily toward the vaulted ceiling, while music echoed in the distance, a haunting melody that made Elizabeth shiver.
“Enjoy yourself,” the man said, a sinister smile spreading across his face. Without hesitating, he flung open a door and unceremoniously laid Veronica onto the warm, tiled floor. He pressed a button, and steam erupted into the space like a dragon breathing out its fire, enveloping them both. As he shoved Elizabeth inside, she caught a glimpse of the man’s eyes, gleaming with malice.
“I’ll be outside; just pound on the door if you want to get out, okay? Have fun,” he said cheerfully before slamming the door shut with a resounding thud.
Steam filled the room in a matter of seconds, its heat wrapping around Elizabeth like an oppressive blanket. She scrambled to Veronica’s side, flames flickering to life in her palms. With a breath, she flipped her hands over, silvery threads shimmering as they stitched through Veronica’s wounds.
Blood faded from her shirt, and within moments, the injuries were healed, leaving only a faint trace.
“How do you feel?” Elizabeth asked, patting her friend on the back.
“Nice for you,” Veronica replied stubbornly, struggling to sit upright. “So you think it’s fair that someone just strolls up, asking us to enjoy an extravagant sauna? Something feels off,” Veronica groaned, rubbing her forehead, a pained crease forming.
The temperature in the room was climbing fast, sweat trickling down Elizabeth’s forehead and dripping down her cheek like tiny, molten jewels. Her cracked lips tasted of salty blood, and the floor beneath them felt like a scorching pan, urging them to keep moving to avoid getting burned.
Bursting with desperation, Elizabeth dashed for the door, yanking at the handle, but it was locked tight. She pounded on it, but the man remained oblivious, smiling wickedly as he withdrew a cigarette and spoke through a speaker.
“How may I help you?” he asked, his calm voice dripping with condescension.
“Get us out of here!” Elizabeth screamed, fists clenched in rage.
“I don’t think so,” he chuckled darkly. “Many of my customers have failed when the temperature hit a hundred degrees Celsius. How long do you think you can hold out? The Sphinx might already be hungry, and it won't be pleased if you die too soon—that wouldn’t taste good.”
“Wait, how do you keep your customers from escaping if they break the door?” Asked Elizabeth, her mind racing. She had to get them out of there, or they would be burned alive.
“Well,” he drawled, a slow smile creeping across his face as the rising heat crackled around them, heightening the palpable tension in the air. Elizabeth rose up on her tiptoes, her heart racing as she fought to avoid the searing warmth that threatened to engulf her.
Beside her, Veronica appeared to be in a battle of her own, her face marred by fresh bruises blossoming like dark flowers across her cheeks. Beads of sweat trickled down her legs, glistening under the dim light, while each labored breath she took escaped her lips with a rasp, revealing the exhaustion that threatened to overwhelm her.
“They often tried it; they’d get sucked right back in when I activated my magical fan. Anyone who makes it through that door gets drawn back in if I flip the switch,” he explained, the grin never leaving his face.
“Why do you have it ON, then?” Elizabeth demanded. “Simple. Nobody gets out loose now.”
Veronica scrambled to her feet, fingertips brushing against the searing walls, a sizzling sound emanating as she appeared to be stuck to the floor.
“What the—”
With a frantic rush, she pressed the button, and at that moment, Elizabeth smashed into the locked door, yanking it open with all her strength. A rush of energy surged through the opening, a wind howling wildly as yellowish parchment whipped inside.
Veronica staggered forward, and they curled up behind the door, their hair swirling chaotically around them. The man looked momentarily stunned.
Suddenly, Elizabeth spotted the familiar figure bursting toward them—Percy rushed inside, and without hesitation, leaped forward, driving the man back with a powerful shove.
Caught off guard, the man stumbled and, before he could regain his footing to shut off the fan, he was thrust into the sauna room, colliding violently with the wall before sliding down to the floor.
Veronica pressed the gleaming button labeled 'ON,' and like magic, the wild winds that had been whipping around them ceased their chaotic dance, leaving an eerie stillness in their wake.
In the sudden calm, Elizabeth collapsed into Percy’s arms, her breath coming in ragged gasps.
“How did you manage to break that barrier?” she whispered breathlessly, awe flickering in her eyes.
Percy remained silent, his only response a comforting tightening of his arms around her, gently patting her back in a soothing manner.
“Oh, come on! We don’t have it all day!” Veronica blurted out, her voice tinged with impatience, her feet tapping the ground as she glanced at them with urgency. With a flick of his wrist, Percy directed his attention to Veronica’s blistered feet, channeling a warm energy that gradually knitted the burnt skin back together. Veronica stared down at her feet in astonishment, her expression softening into a tentative nod of gratitude.
As Elizabeth turned momentarily, her gaze caught the sight of the man who had ambushed them, now writhing in agony within the very frying pan of his own making.
A satisfied smile broke across her face as she witnessed his downfall.
Together, they began to turn away, fingers entwining tightly.
Just as they started to step forward, Veronica called out, panic lacing her tone, “Wait, come with me!” Her voice sliced through the silence as she turned a corner and went down a narrow staircase, accelerating.
Suddenly, the Sphinx, now morphed back into a beautiful woman, appeared behind them.
Driven by an urgent need to escape, they charged down the old wooden staircase, each step creaking ominously beneath their hurried feet. The air was thick as they entered the narrow hallway, its walls lined with faded portraits that seemed to watch their every move. Their lungs burned as they gasped for breath, the cold, musty scent of aged wood and dust mingling with the frantic rhythm of their heartbeats.
"Where are we going?" asked Percy, gasping for breath.
"To the secret chambers, we've unsealed the first door." Yelled Veronica, her voice quivering with an unknown excitement.
"For heaven's sake, slow down! I can't catch up!" Elizabeth shouted as she took a glimpse back.
And a second later, Elizabeth had better wish she hadn't stopped.
That ferocious-looking woman was closing in on them; that torch glowing in her hands had turned into a bloody sword.
"This way." Whispered Percy, he grabbed Elizabeth's wrist and pulled her toward a hidden room in the corner.
Veronica hurled the heavy door shut with a forceful bang, just in time as the woman's form twisted and contorted grotesquely, transforming into a writhing mass of venomous serpents.
"That's a narrow escape." Sighed Elizabeth, clutching her chest, breathing rather fast.
"No time to waste, come with me," Veronica urged them forward
"Where are we heading?" asked Penelope nervously.
"Well, the secret chambers," explained Elizabeth instinctively. She had no idea why she said that, and she even felt like she didn't say that by herself.
Veronica bent down and tapped the third concrete block on the floor. It cracked open slowly, revealing a secret passageway.
"Here you go, hop in," she said softly, her eyes shining.
“What about you, de Angelo?” Asked Elizabeth, brushing her hair.
“I’ve got things to do, you two first.”
Elizabeth gently closed her eyes, and for a moment, she felt as though she were suspended in midair, tumbling through a vast, shimmering void. Suddenly, a radiant beam of golden light sliced through the darkness, compelling her to open her eyes and face whatever lay ahead.
When she did, she found herself perched on the cold, damp stone floor of an extraordinary chamber that felt like a hidden realm from another time. The air was thick with mystery and the faint scent of damp earth and ancient stone.
The ceiling loomed above, adorned with grotesque gemstones that sparkled like weary stars, their surfaces glistening with hues of emerald green, deep ruby red, and vibrant amethyst, refracting light like miniature prisms and casting a kaleidoscope of colors around the room. Surrounding her were countless meticulous carvings depicting mythical creatures and swirling symbols, their shadows dancing in sync with the shimmering light beams that seemed to originate from nowhere.
In the center of the chamber lay an enchanting magic circle, illuminated by a soft, pulsating radiance that seemed to emanate from the very ground itself. The circle was etched with intricate runes that glowed faintly, imbuing the space with a sense of ancient power and mystery.
As she took in her surroundings, Elizabeth turned her head to see Percy materialize beside her, landing with a graceful yet assertive thud. His expression mirrored her awe, grounded yet filled with excitement as they both absorbed the wonders that surrounded them.
"Veronica?" Elizabeth called out, her voice barely above a whisper, a tinged note of worry lacing her words. She strained to hear a reply, but the only answer was an unsettling stillness that clung to the air like a thick fog. Veronica’s absence felt like a betrayal; they were isolated here, left to face the unknown without their steadfast guide, leaving Elizabeth feeling vulnerable and exposed, like prey caught in a snare.
What could possibly possess Veronica to send them alone into this shadowy, hidden chamber? The thought stung, igniting a tempest of emotions within Elizabeth—deep sorrow intermingled with a fierce sense of indignation.
Did she want to retaliate against them and help the nonblenders?
Just then, a disembodied voice, cold and haunting, began to weave its way through the air, gliding towards Elizabeth like smoke curling from a dying flame. It echoed ominously around the chamber, sending a shiver down their spines and rendering them motionless, as if the very walls were holding their breath in anticipation.
With a slow, deliberate movement, Elizabeth turned her head, her heart pounding in her chest.
The chamber was vast and dimly lit, illuminated only by the flickering light of distant candles that cast elongated shadows across the stone walls.
Her gaze fell upon the floor, where countless intricate pentagrams and hexagrams were carved into the cold, unyielding stone, their shapes sharp and deliberate. Each symbol glimmered faintly, as if imbued with a life of its own, drawing her in with an unsettling allure. The air buzzed with an electric tension, thickening around them as if reality itself was holding its breath, waiting for the next chapter to unfold.
Yet Elizabeth felt like she was an animal waiting to be slaughtered.
Is it all a ruse that all Veronica really wanted was to have them killed?
“Hello—” a voice resonated, cascading down from the chamber’s towering ceiling to the polished stone floor. Elizabeth's heart raced as she instinctively stepped back, her eyes darting around in search of the source. Swiveling on her heels, she found the space behind her cloaked in shadows, revealing nothing but the flickering outlines of ancient artifacts lining the walls.
“Don’t be afraid—” the voice continued, its tone soft yet rich, as if woven with threads of silk and mystery. With a mix of curiosity and courage swelling within her, Elizabeth called out, “Who are you?”
Just then, an ethereal figure emerged from behind a shimmering veil, gliding gracefully toward her.
The elegant lady seemed to shimmer in the dim light, her long, beautiful silver hair with a violet sheen glowed in the darkness and streamed out behind her; her magnificent, dignified sapphire-blue eyes were sharp and bewitching.
She draped a silvery dressing gown, and a pair of violet half-moon spectacles was perfectly settled on her prominent nose bridge. Underneath that, as she snapped her fingers, her fingertips emanated a beam of light that surrounded her face veil, revealing her alluring smile.
"I'm Lady Athena, the goddess of wisdom," the lady said warmly, "You have successfully unsealed the first door to Grekheim."
"How?"
“Think about it, your bravery and resilience, your courage and perseverance, and how you never leave a friend behind to suffer alone." Lady Athena smiled.
"What are we going to do?" asked Percy perceptively.
"To receive a prophecy, Lord Apollo shall give it to you as a gift."
They stepped into the chamber together, with Lady Athena’s flowing veils cascading behind her like liquid silk as she glided deeper into the heart of the space. The only illumination came from the ethereal glow of Athena's fingertips, casting delicate shadows as the faint radiance from the pendants flickered dimly in contrast.
As they approached the grand platform at the center of the chamber, an awe-inspiring crystal chandelier descended from the ceiling, its multifaceted prisms shimmering with an otherworldly brilliance.
"This is the Predictability Chamber," Lady Athena explained, her voice tinged with excitement. "Now, we must await Lord Apollo."
Suddenly, the chandelier burst into life, illuminating the chamber with a dazzling array of lights. Holographic images on the ground began to twist and coil, their vibrant hues weaving intricate patterns that filled the air with shimmering iridescence.
Brilliant beams of light streamed from the chandelier, dancing across the ornate mosaics that adorned the walls of the circular chamber, casting a kaleidoscope of colors that seemed to breathe with a rhythm of their own. A resonant voice filled the air, echoing throughout the chamber, deep and enigmatic, yet curiously indistinct.
”Silence," Lady Athena instructed, her voice a mere whisper, laced with urgency.
In an instant, a blinding flash of pure white light surged from the chandelier, engulfing the space in a breathtaking brilliance before plunging it into stillness and shadow once more.
Blue hieroglyphs sprang to life, shimmering and swirling as they illuminated the sculptures embedded in the walls. Exquisite patterns emerged on the surfaces, revealing a graceful seagull in flight, an elegantly crafted hourglass, and a resplendent opal, each image more magnificent than the last.
"Only you can open it, only true bravery can unseal it," whispered Lady Athena.
Something came twirling back to Elizabeth's mind, Victoria's opal.
If only true bravery can open the chamber, it must be her necklace.
She lowered her head, her heart racing as her trembling fingers brushed against the smooth, iridescent surface of the opal. In that moment, the earth beneath her crumbled like old parchment, and a powerful gust of wind surged upward, lifting her and the others into the vast, star-studded sky.
They soared through a blanket of clouds that fluffed around them like cotton candy, and then, without warning, gravity reclaimed its hold, sending them plummeting back down.
The air rushed past them in a wild torrent, and Elizabeth felt an unsettling coil of anticipation tighten in her stomach. In a heartbeat, they landed with a soft thud at the base of an imposing tower that soared majestically into the night.
Daring to tilt her gaze upward, Elizabeth was mesmerized by the enchanting glow that radiated from above, casting a warm and inviting light that danced like fireflies against the darkened sky.
"Look!" whispered Athena, now staring up toward the inky sky.
The indistinct moon was now glistening with blue lights toward the tower, a perfect ultramarine sphere with a silvery sheen surrounding it.
"A blue moon?" muttered Percy, "What good can that be?"
Lady Athena didn't answer. She snapped her fingers again. Instantly, a silver-white carriage appeared out of thin air in front of them. Its shafts were curved with gold, and fine silver shimmered from its whiffletree, as if radiating a calm wave throughout the carriage. The front and rear axles tolled on the ground in cracks as the wheels reflected the ultramarine glow over the silver.
Four white horses were stamping their feet on the ground nearby, bending down, burying their faces in the ground, and chewing down mouthfuls of grass.
The step fell to the ground in a clutter, glittering with silvery lights, and the handrails glided down from the gold-framed door and settled above the steps. The door clicked and swung open.
Penelope and Veronica stood eagerly by, their faces lighting up with exuberant smiles that seemed to radiate warmth and joy. With animated gestures, they beckoned the others to approach, their excitement palpable in the air as if it were a vibrant, welcoming beacon.
Nestled within the plush embrace of the carriage, the white sofas enveloped them in a tender softness that felt like sinking into a cloud.
Overhead, ethereal wisps of clouds danced gracefully in the star-strewn night sky, while the interior revealed an opulence that far surpassed its exterior façade. A petite restroom nestled in the corner added a touch of practicality to the luxurious setting.
The curtains billowed aside, unveiling a kaleidoscope of breathtaking patterns and intricate scroll embroidery that adorned the fine silk, drawing their gaze like a magnet. Moonbeams, more radiant than ever, cascaded down upon them, wrapping them in a shimmering, magical net. Silvery threads of light wove themselves throughout the interior, tracing pristine lines that illuminated every structure, casting an enchanting glow that transformed the space into a dreamlike sanctuary.
"Lady Artemis lent me her carriage, isn't it wonderful?" said Lady Athena in a quivering voice.
When they reached the top of the tower, the carriage halted in midair high above.
Athena pushed open the silvery door and jumped down; Elizabeth and the rest followed bravely. It felt like floating in the air, except she was descending toward the tower with the wind.
The silvery moonbeam billowed across the platform, mingling and enveloping the same precise location—the identical spot.
Athena rummaged through her pocket and took out a silvery compass. She bent down to draw a hexagram with its shape edges on the ground and put it at the exact spot where the moonbeam had shone most brightly, where all the moonlight met, right in the center of the hexagram.
Out of a sudden, splendid lights shone from every direction of the compass, and the oracle came into view:
"Three shall reach deep to a friend in chain,
One shall leave forever but not in vain,
The other shall mourn the lament in scarlet pain,
The last shall vanquish the dark with hatred and wrath,
Or else leave the scattered world reduced into ash,
One shall betray his kind and leave,
Whilst his departure weaved another's grief."
Then the prediction burst into twinging stars and melted in the air.
"Well, that's inexplicable, a friend in chains? How baffling!" exclaimed Penelope, pacing around the tower.
"So, mourn the lament in scarlet pain? I mean, what the heck could a scarlet pain be? That is cryptical," laughed Percy, rubbing his forehead.
"Just wait and see, Lord Apollo had never yet made a wrong prophecy," stated Lady Athena proudly, "But yes indeed, his prophecy is never easy to understand."
"I wish you could accomplish your task with joy; you've already done a very impressive job." Whispered Lady Athena as she vanished in a flash of light.
"Anyway, how are we able to get down there?" said Percy. He had not yet recovered from the shock of the prophecy.
"I don't know, but there must be a way," said Elizabeth crisply.
Then, she stared at the compass Athena had left behind. She headed toward the platform and touched the compass.
A shot of light soared out of the compass and encountered them. With a flash of dazzling light, their surroundings had melted and changed, twisting and zigzagging.
In a split second, Elizabeth found herself staring at the ceiling of their own house in the Soulblender Institute.
"Prepare for the ball tomorrow." A voice rang in front of Elizabeth. Her head snapped up at once, and she saw Veronica reading a newspaper on the sofa.
"What ball?"
"The ball after the Election Campaign, remember? That's the ball to celebrate the winners; all the people in Alfheim must attend." Veronica answered, her eyes still glued to the newspaper.
"Elizabeth, prepare yourself, there's a reason why Athena chose to tell you the prophecy today, and you'd better prepare if something out of control happens tomorrow."
Elizabeth stared at Veronica, stunned. But de Angelo’s lips weren’t even twitching.
Who had just spoken to Elizabeth?
And what was gonna happen tomorrow that the mysterious voice didn't tell?
But Elizabeth got a feeling that something gonna happen directly to her.
And it could be nothing good.