***
I curse the heavy black velvet skirts that skim the snow as we trail behind Sebile. A scarlet dress hugs her curvaceous frame, and dips low in the back, showing flashes of her back when her hair sways. An ornate crystalline crown rests on top of her head. She appears to glide as she leads us up the path toward a snow-capped mountain. A woman on a mission, her pace is relentless. We reach the top of the trail that dead ends into a mountainside.
Sebile waves her hand. An opening appears carved into the rock.
“This is as far as I can allow anyone other than Louella to go. What’s beneath this mountain has been revealed to a select few. Each must prove their worth. Should you agree to enter, it must be of your own free will with this knowledge.”
“Wait, you expect us to allow her to go in there alone?” Marcellus asks.
“Are you questioning my integrity?” Sebile counters.
“When it comes to my lady there is nothing I won’t do to guarantee her safety. Since we’ve been here, you’ve spoken no words defining our protection in your kingdom.”
“You want an oath then?” she asks slowly.
“I do. That she will be unharmed by you or anything else you encounter while you’re inside that mountain.”
Sebile tilts her head to the side. “That’s a lot to ask.”
“Only if you’re planning on doing something less than honorable,” Larkin says.
“Clever vampires,” Sebile crows. We’re sport to her. A fun interruption of the monotony that is immortality. “I swear that no harm that befalls her inside will be due to me. I refuse to take responsibility for actions she takes which may bring things upon herself.” It’s as good as promise as we’re going to get from her.
Marcellus’ clenches his jaw. “Fine. Lady, proceed.”
“I agree,” I say solemnly.
“The mountain is alive. It chooses who shares its secrets.” She steps into the cave. Shrouded in shadows, she could be death’s handmaiden. I follow quickly before I give myself a chance to overthink things.
“Oh.” Ice coats every inch of the stone. Icicles hang down like fringe.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?” she asks.
“Yes.” I pull my cloak closer to my body, relishing the warmth as the temperature drops. My heels click over the cobbled stone.
“Not many can see the beauty in the darkness.” Purple Faerie lights hover in the air, illuminating the area. There’s an inviting quality to the darkness. Black roses grow out of the ice?large, vibrant, and fragrant. The sultry smell of dark spices and orchids. Here there are no limitations to what can exist.
The tunnels branch off into three separate entrances. We veer to the far left. Passing through the rounded arch, we enter a forest. Trees sprout up tall and curve inward on either side of the narrow path, covered with silvery snow. The light from the full moon in the night sky above us is brighter than the one on earth. Tilting my head back, I study the differences. The stars are so much closer and crisper here. As we move deeper into the forest, the trees close in around us, and the path becomes a thin ribbon of stone. The sound of running water reaches my ears.
“Is their water ahead?”
“Yes, we’re coming to a stream. Here you’ll face your first test.”
“Test?”
“I told you, the mountain judges who’s worthy or not.”
It’s not an outright lie, but the omission is splitting hairs. We wind our way around a bend, and I see the stream in the distance. A stone bridge leads to the other side.
“Peer into the water and tell me what you see.”
I kneel cautiously, never feeling the cold. Bending over hesitantly, I hold my breath. My reflection stares back, warped by the flowing water. I relax. A movement beneath the surface and a flash of white and blue catches me off guard. Aquamarine-skinned water sprites with long, white hair swim on their back. Their frosted white eyes latch onto my gaze. The glint of metal catches the moonlight. I lean in closer, narrowing my gaze. The water is lit from within, a soft blue that’s easy on the eyes. A rusted copper key rests on a pile of large gray stones. The top of the key has a Celtic knot woven into its design.
“What do you see?” Sebile asks.
“Water sprites. And a key.”
“They’re the guardians of this waterway. If your intentions are as pure as you claim, they’ll allow you to remove the key. Providing they find you fit to wield it.” Her tone lacks certain confidence.