The Queen's Conquer

Chapter 46 : The Origins of Life

Sirenize • [sai-ren-ize]
To bewitch or enchant.

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Fears are not things I've acquainted myself with. At least up until the Snow Ball, when I was forced to face so many at once. But being a sheltered child kept me from needing to have such defense mechanisms.

This, though...This is so different.

"Do we go?" Max says so quietly that I barely interpret it's him speaking.

My throat is beyond dry—so desolate that I'm unable to swallow down my growing anxiety. I'm frozen, not knowing if I should tell myself this is an illusion and walk away or take the risk.

Max finally turns to look at me. "Ana, I need you to tell me if we—"

"We don't have any other options," I answer, my words tight and unwanted. But they're what should be said.

Max swears under his breath, raking a set of fingers through his black hair. "Why the hell didn't you tell me there are hidden stairwells in this goddamn place?"

"Because I didn't know, either," I say honestly, still staring at the dark tunnel of stairs.

Without my permission, one foot steps in front of the other towards the opening, and it's like I'm being dragged towards the bottom of this Goddess-forsaken planet only so I can rot in hell for ever daring to trust my instincts.

***

It's freezing and musty being below ground, but I didn't expect anything less when I decided to take my first steps down these endless stairs.

We're ten minutes in and there's still no sign of a bottom. Max keeps his flashlight illuminated even though a brilliant array of dim, hidden light fixtures sparked to life the second we began our descent. And now I'm left wondering what kind of fantasy we're actually living in.

"How can you trust that we won't get trapped down here?" Max says, his words full of uncertainty. "I mean, how the hell did that wall even open up in the first place?"

"I don't know, Max," I say, answering another one of his relentless questions. "It's just—" My words cut short as another chill runs up my spine, whispering in my ear as though it knows me. "We need to find whatever's down here."

"And what exactly is down here?"

"Something," I say. "Something important." Answers, my heart whispers.

Suddenly, the stairs stop.

We've reached the bottom. Max seems to release a breath of exhaustion at this.

But in front of us lies a short hallway leading to a thick, relic-like door. I pause for a moment, hesitating.

"Why did you stop?" Max asks, pointing his flashlight straight at it.

A metal design covers its entire frame, curving to the shape of the ceiling. In its center lies an upwards-facing crescent moon, cradling a gleaming sun. But what sparks a distant memory more than anything is what lies under the moon, hugging around its shape.

Six silver stars—all identical—bend around the moon's backbone.

I stiffen and unconsciously pull back my long hair, gently tugging down my turtleneck to show Max exactly what's left me stunned.

"When did you get a tattoo?" is the first thing he asks, glancing between my mark and the metal detailing before us. "And why does it match the door?"