Chapter eight
Elizabeth conjures up a water wall
The very next morning, a loud gasp of horror echoed in the peaceful silence in the seashell house.
Elizabeth, sinking in the mattresses, jerked awake. Rubbing her wrist, her entire body gave a hard shook when she heard somebody stumbling up the stairs. Elizabeth reached for her dagger and prepared to lunge.
The door burst open, propelled by a fierce gust of wind, and there stood Penelope, her face pale and breathless.
"Veronica is missing!" she gasped, her voice trembling with an unnameable dread that sent a chill through the air. Elizabeth, startled by the urgency in Penelope's tone, hurried down the stairs and followed her into the living room. What awaited them stopped her cold. The walls, once adorned with calm family portraits, now bled with ominous, blood-red letters that clawed at her senses.
“Fire is flickering in the torches. Darkness is approaching. She and I shall bring death upon you all.” Beneath those chilling words lay a vibrant pool of fresh blood, glistening ominously on the floor like a macabre flower blooming in the shadowy light.
And in that haunting silence, Veronica was nowhere to be found.
"What can we do now?" Penelope said shrilly.
"It could only mean that Veronica's in trouble!" gaped Elizabeth, clutching her heart.
"You remember how strict she was when we were interning, how hard she pushed us? Who cared if she was in danger or not?" Muttered Percy as he flung himself onto a sofa.
"But still, she had helped you to get into the institute, she had offered you a house—" Elizabeth said earnestly, "How can you be so ruthless?"
"Alright, what are we going to do?” Sighed Percy, straightening up. He tugged at his lopsided bag and fished his sword out.
"We are going to finish the task by ourselves, remember the first jewel, the Sagacity Sapphire, in a well?"
"Yes, there is a well that can provide people with immense wisdom, the Well of Wisdom, in Jotunheim, the Kingdom of Giants," Penelope exclaimed cheerfully.
"The kingdom of giants? Tell me you are kidding." Retorted Percy, looking incredulous.
"When shall we start?" asked Penelope suddenly, standing up, rubbing her palms together.
"Now." A voice rang in Elizabeth's head, which she had repeated to the others without realizing what she had just said.
"Now?" asked Penelope, looking aghast, "But—"
"How on earth can we get there exactly?" asked Percy, shaking his head slightly.
"Well, if you have decided—I’ve got you something amazing." Whispered Penelope as she sat bolt upright.
"Now."
They unlocked the door, cracked it open softly, and stepped out of the gate.
The seabed was glittering with millions of shimmering pearls.
But nobody was there, no one, not even a seahorse was wandering around on the street diagonally.
"This is weird, usually—" whispered Percy, looking utterly bewildered.
"Shhh, the vehicle is on its way." Penelope ejaculated smoothly, "The Oriental Plane of the Sky." She added tentatively.
"What's that supposed to be?" asked Percy crankily.
"It's the only vehicle that can travel to the kingdom of giants." Snapped Penelope briskly, she then thrust her palms toward the sky. And the immediate emerald flame began to flicker in her palms, changing various tints by seconds, and dancing violently through her fingertips.
Penelope started to sing, a deeper voice grunted out from her throat, followed by a long exhale.
But it didn't sound right, though.
Unknown hymns hummed out from her pursed lips, and the multicolored flames began to swirl in the middle of her palms, forming something pointy. And with a loud crack, the flame had taken the form of a harmonica.
Penelope blew hard, and somewhere high above, an engine was blowing.
An enormous silhouette glided menacingly toward them from the enveloping darkness, accompanied by a dazzling beam of light that burst forth, blinding them momentarily. Elizabeth squinted against the intensity and her eyes gradually adjusted to reveal an astonishing sight: four opulent armchairs, their plush cushions gleaming softly, were affixed to a remarkably large skateboard that floated through the air with an otherworldly grace. As it descended, the hum of movement filled the air, and with a resounding thud, it landed heavily on the ground, sending wisps of dust swirling around it.
“Up, visitors, up, soulblenders,” croaked a voice that was raspy and deep, echoing from the core of the peculiar vehicle as if it were alive.
Determined, Elizabeth gripped the edge of the skateboard and deftly hoisted herself onto her elbow, launching herself into one of the indulgent chairs. The fabric was rich and soft, enveloping her like a warm embrace amid the strange circumstances. One by one, her companions followed suit, settling into their own cushions while the bizarre scene unfolded.
“Ready for your flight?” the gravelly voice reverberated again, a tinge of excitement lacing its tone.
Before any protest could escape their lips, thick, rough-hewn belts sprang forth from hidden compartments beneath the chairs, snaking around their bodies with an alarming speed. The restraints tightened with an uncomfortable grip, pinning their arms firmly against the chair's cushioned sides, leaving them trapped.
“What the hell are you doing?” Penelope shouted, her voice laced with urgency as she thrashed against the constricting bonds. With each passing moment, the belts pulled tighter, increasing her panic as she realized the extent of their helplessness.
"To keep you secure." Hissed the voice gleefully.
"Please, we're trying to get to—"
"The kingdom of giants. I know it, 'cause I am Thought and she is Memory."
"The magical crows of Odin's," gasped Percy, sounding aghast.
"Now, quiet." Purred Memory as the plane gave a three-hundred-and-sixty-degree turn.
The plane, or let’s say the weird flying skateboard with chairs, soared up into the sky and began to circle itself in midair while twirling over, leaving its passengers’ legs dangling loose from at least fifty feet above the ground. It rose higher, carrying their screams of terror toward the vast skyline.
Elizabeth felt her stomach was coiling over; the frigid night gale whipped her right on the cheeks as she leaned back against the chair, breaking out in a cold sweat. She felt the sudden surge of weightlessness overwhelm her as she clutched the armrest hard, and her knuckles turned white. Her face was chalk-white, and she’d appreciate the way the evaluator inside Yggdrasil sent its passengers, now she felt a churn to vomit.
"What the—" Yelled Percy in anger.
"Get to the kingdom of giants, of course." Answered Thought happily. Suddenly, splendid, multicolored light emanated from the ground, where a deep, endless pit had been dug previously.
With a tremendous tuck, they had been thrown head down into the pit. The skateboard turned upright and dived toward the depths of the earth.
Swirling and spinning as if out of its mind, until something glowing came into view. It was a door, a large golden door stood ajar at the end of the pit.
"What the heck is going on?" shrieked Penelope as she took out a handkerchief and wiped her face, which was already covered in mud and inked with grime.
"Here we go." Ejaculated Thought and Memory together as they jerked around and dashed into the door. Gliding downwards, Elizabeth let out a sigh of relief when she found out they were decelerating.
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Yet the next second, they were again thrown hard into the air. And with a loud crunch, they had collapsed on the ground beyond.
"Where are we?" gaped Percy, rubbing his already-numbed wrists.
"The kingdom of giants. And we're supposed to find a well." Said Elizabeth as she patted Percy on the back softly.
"How on earth are we going to find a well in such a vast kingdom?” He asked, staring up. His gaze met Elizabeth’s, and a shy smile emerged on his face. He quickly looked away.
"Wait, if my eyes weren't lying, I think there's a well right over there, in the center of that vast clearing." Gasped Penelope as she dusted herself off.
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go."
Together, they set off along the sparse trees that stood at either side of the clearing cautiously, but to their surprise, no one was there. Elizabeth walked over to the well and skidded to a standstill. She lowered her hands into the well, and fresh water washed away the dirt instantly.
"This doesn't feel right. It had been too easy." Whispered Percy gingerly, clenching his fists.
"The Well of Wisdom used to be guarded by a giant. Once, Odin sacrificed one of his eyes to receive a gulp from the well, which gave him the knowledge of the past, present, and future." Penelope explained patiently, gazing at the two of them happily.
"So, we're going to find Odin's lost eye, right?"
"Yeah, don't know what we are gonna sacrifice."
"I hope that's not my eyes." Laughed Percy. Elizabeth chuckled, and Percy looked as if he couldn’t be more pleased than ever.
"You said this well is supposed to be protected by a giantess, but the question is—where is she?" Asked Penelope, looking around curiously.
"Perhaps she’s dead." Suggested Elizabeth, hopefully.
"What are we going to do, anyway?"
"We split up and search."
As Elizabeth took her first tentative step northward, a sudden crunch echoed beneath her boots, halting her in her tracks. She glanced down to discover a fragile egg, its once-smooth shell now shattered beneath her weight. From the remnants of the shell, something slimy and unsettling began to squirm its way out. It wasn’t a fluffy chick, nor was it the wriggly form of a baby snake. Instead, it was a bizarre creature, a curious hybrid—its body possessed the round shape and soft feathers of a chicken, while its long, sinuous tail swished like that of a serpent, glistening with a slick sheen as it slithered unsteadily onto the ground.
As Elizabeth stood transfixed, an all-consuming urge surged within her, a tidal wave of longing that swept through her very being. She felt an insatiable pull to uncover the mystery cloaked beneath those enigmatic eyelids, which lay sealed as if guarding ancient secrets. The intensity of her desire was almost palpable, a burning flame that ignited her spirit. It seemed as though a piece of her soul, long hidden away, yearned desperately for that eye contact—a fleeting connection that felt as vital as breath itself. In that moment, she would have willingly sacrificed her safety, trade her very life, just for the chance to glimpse the creature’s eyes, convinced they held a truth so profound it could unravel the fabric of her existence.
Suddenly, her contemplation was shattered by a voice slicing through the stillness, sharp and laced with panic. "Elizabeth! Percy!" The familiar cry belonged to Penelope, who stood at the center of the yard, trembling visibly. A scarf was tied securely over her eyes, shrouding her in darkness, yet she seemed hyper-aware, her body quaking with dread. The sight of her, frail and vulnerable amidst the chaos, sent a tremor of anxiety racing through Elizabeth’s veins, adding a jarring layer of urgency to the bizarre scene unfolding at her feet.
And the look of panic on her face assured Elizabeth again that something had gone wrong, terribly wrong.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, a cacophony of squawking erupted in the yard.
Countless roosters, their feathers shimmering in shades of gold and crimson, came racing in, each one carrying a serpent coiled regally on its back.
Elizabeth stood frozen, her heart pounding wildly in her chest, and she felt a wave of terror wash over her. Just as she was about to gasp in fright, Percy instinctively reached for her, wrapping his arm around her shoulders to steady her.
They stared, their mouth agape as the creatures began mating right in the center of the vast clearing. A moment later, with a series of wet plops, several whitish eggs tumbled onto the ground, quickly enveloped in a thick swirl of emerald-green smoke that curled and writhed like tendrils of a living creature.
“I can’t even begin to imagine what was gonna happen to—that creature. This is utterly bizarre—” Percy muttered, his voice low, filled with disbelief as he shook his head slightly, as if trying to wake from an eccentric dream.
“That made a cockatrice,” Penelope hissed urgently, her eyes wide and shimmering with fear as she shot a glance toward the disturbing scene.
“What?” Elizabeth gasped, her pulse quickening. “You can’t be serious—A cockatrice?” She felt a chill run down her spine as the thought struck her.
“Yes,” Penelope replied steadily, her expression serious and grave. “It’s a mythical beast that has the body of an exquisite, handsome rooster and the tail of a sinuous green ocean serpent. It boasts powerful wings like those of a dragon, and locking eyes with a cockatrice can be instantly fatal.”
“But cockatrices are supposed to be deadly to the crow of roosters, and that’s why—”
“—All the roosters here are completely oblivious,” Penelope interjected, urgency spilling into her words. “But it's also lethal for a cockatrice if it catches a glimpse of its own reflection.”
“Does anyone happen to have a mirror?” Elizabeth asked desperately, glancing around. However, her hopeful glance fell on the ground, where shards of shattered glass glinted ominously—and she knew instantly that it was no good.
“Everyone, close your eyes right this instance!” Penelope urged, her grip on their wrists tightening.
Fear flickered in her chest as the sense of impending doom loomed over them. In a moment of panic, Elizabeth raised her hands to clear her mind. To her shock, a shimmering water mirror rose from the well nearby, its surface rippling gently.
Cautiously, curiously, Elizabeth peered into the reflective surface, a wave of dread washed over her.
She blinked uncertainly.
What she saw made her blood run cold.
A fully-grown cockatrice with a pair of large emerald dragon wings slithered out from the bushes nearby, its beady eyes shimmering with emerald and ultramarine glows.
Thank goddesses she was looking at its reflections, or she would probably be dead right away.
The cockatrice raised its head high and sniffed the air.
Elizabeth couldn't think; her brain was on fire, and in such panic that she couldn't even control herself.
Blue flames erupted from her fingers and began to sparkle. With a sizzling noise, a bolt of lightning zigzagged through her palms.
And the next thing she knew, the water she had solidified began to splatter in the well. It formed a long tube and soared out from the well, swirling in midair, which gave Elizabeth a terrific idea.
Elizabeth bent down on her knees on the grass, closed her eyes, and began to concentrate. The flames flickered rhythmically while the lightning bolt zapped from time to time. She felt immense power stretching through her body as the water drops in midair began to swarm toward the three of them.
In a fleeting moment, a formidable wall of water materialized, glistening like a cascade of diamonds under sunlight, and erupted around Elizabeth, creating a formidable barrier against all that threatened them.
A cockatrice, the fearsome creature with a twisted beak and glistening, scaly skin, advanced ominously, its menacing gaze fixed on the three figures. With a sudden and violent thrust of its massive head, it slammed against the water wall, sending ripples cascading outward, and eliciting a sudden jolt of sharp sting in Elizabeth's palms that felt as if she had been pierced by the venomous fang of a serpent.
She gasped in pain but steadfastly managed to cling on to her power. There was no way she would allow the it—the looming figure of the cockatrice, with its scales glinting coldly in the dim light—to harm her friends; they meant everything to her.
The stakes were high, and she couldn't afford to let panic and anxiety take hold that easily. She pushed back the tendrils of fear that threatened to seep into her mind and shook her head swiftly. After all, this was all her idea, and if they got harmed…She had drawn them into this treacherous risk; this was all her fault—
Thoughts of regret flashed through her mind, but there was no time for that. She had to stay strong; she owed it to them, and she had to soldier on with determination.
With a heart swelling with unyielding hope and a spirit blazing with determination, Elizabeth pressed her palms against the water wall, even as her elbows trembled uncontrollably. Her singular focus remained steadfast—she would not relent.
The sweeping breeze halted, the cockatrice jerked its head upright and widened its grotesque eyes, momentarily entranced by the fluid reflection of its own terrifying visage rebounding off the vibrant water.
In a split second, it stared.
Elizabeth felt her heart thumping frantically inside her as she witnessed the great beast collapse with a heavy thud, its head bowing low, its eyes bursting into showers of scarlet from its eyelids.
Its powerful wings fluttered weakly for a few frantic moments, then fell lifelessly to the ground, enveloping the surrounding area in an eerie stillness.
“How on earth—” Penelope gasped, her voice trembling as she blinked against the blinding light. With a heavy breath, Elizabeth poured the water back into the well, her chest heaving with exertion.
When she finally collapsed onto the sun-warmed lawn, her face was pale, like freshly fallen snow, while beads of sweat trickled down her cheek. Yet, in her eyes, a spark of victory flickered like a flame refusing to be extinguished.
"You are so brave, Elizabeth," Percy breathed out, his voice filled with admiration as he gently patted her shoulder. A rush of warmth surged through her, as though fueled by his words. Wincing slightly, she straightened, feeling newly emboldened.
"Let's go," she whispered, tossing him a wink filled with determination. But within moments, a sharp gasp escaped Percy's lips, pulling her from her thoughts.
Elizabeth whirled around just in time to see a tendril of glimmering water curling around his waist like a serpent ready to strike. Panic seized her heart, and before she could scream, the water yanked him downward into the dark abyss of the well.
“No, Percy!” Elizabeth scream, her voice breaking as they lunged forward together. Desperation filled her gaze as she turned to Penelope, tears welling in her eyes. Penelope gave a firm nod, determination hardening their resolve.
They had come so far, and nothing—not even a formidable cockatrice with its menacing wings—would deter them now. United by purpose, they leapt into the well, propelled by sheer will.
The world blurred around them as they descended into darkness, landing with a heavy thud in the dirt below. Yet as they scrambled up, their hearts sank; there was no sign of Percy.
Elizabeth's hands dug frantically into the earth, desperately pushing the dirt aside, but then something sharp pierced her finger. She hissed in pain, glancing at her hand to find a jagged piece of broken glass glinting ominously in the dim light.
Almost simultaneously, Penelope’s fingers brushed against an object hidden within the shadows—an old oak door, weathered and worn, yet steadfast. Without a moment's hesitation, Elizabeth pressed the glass fragment into the lock of the door. A strange sensation rippled through her fingertips, as though the door itself was alive, responding to her touch. Penelope shoved it open, and a brilliant surge of golden light poured forth, illuminating their faces like a dawn breaking through the darkness.
As Elizabeth stepped forward, half-shielding her eyes from the brilliance, she was abruptly engulfed by the swirling golden mists, her body weightless.
Penelope trailed behind, her curiosity piqued as she peered into the dim shadows beyond the threshold, completely distracted by the secrets that lay within. In her haste, she failed to tug the heavy door shut, leaving it ajar.
Suddenly, an eerie, chilling laughter echoed from the depths of the upper well, slicing the silence with an unsettling sharpness, reverberating through the air like a sinister omen.