THE 33 KEYS: Key 2 - ANSWER THE CALL "Listen for that Perfect Beat"

CHAPTER 67: NOW YOU'RE READY

The ninth door opens onto a pier. There is a multi-coloured boat waiting filled with glitter dust and rubies. Intuition directs me to enter for whatever comes next. When I do, everything splits in two with me at the centre. I spread my arms out to touch both worlds. My fingers help me tap into everything. I feel purity on my left and something dying on the other side. So I bring my right hand back to the middle and veer to my left for that clarity we all long for. The big ocean roars in response and tunes into the drumming in my head.

Suddenly I feel myself slipping away and up, and now I am here, there and everywhere. This must be what time machines feel like. Inhale. Exhale. I want to feel again. Inhale. Exhale. I want to breathe again. Inhale. Exhale. I want to rise again. And then I want to erase everything. The good and bad. My entire existence.

Is that where this boat is taking me? Back before my parents were born, so that I'm not even a thought? I remain absolutely still. So still that darkness can find and cover me. Instead it is the angry ocean that showers me with its blessing. Now the boat almost topples. Glitter dust gets all over me. First my face and hair then other parts without discrimination. Then, when I am completely drenched in gold, I feel my skin come unstuck from years of trauma.

My scalp and face peel back like dirty underwear – eyebrows, hair, everything – and run off with my old self. Leaving behind another me. The one I've never met before. I look down at the water in the boat to see what that me looks like. But now that my mask has crumbled there is no reflection for anyone to see.

Have I now become the shadow? Is that why she disappeared again? I try blowing like she does. Yet nothing comes out. Am I then less than the shadow? Who am I? No one's leader, that's for sure. Then I pass out as I see the ocean about to topple my boat.

When I awaken, it is at the feet of lions draping seven narrow steps. I make one step forward but then natural instinct ties my feet together so that I freeze in spot, right foot and left arm extended. Then I remember that this is just a game and quickly pull myself together.

A star pitches in approval of my decision. It falls somewhere beyond the steps. Curiousity tugs on the knot until my feet break free. Inhale. Exhale. Here goes nothing. It's definitely not how I intended to die. And to think I opted out of freefalling only to be shredded by fourteen hungry lions. But as I mount the first step the two most menacing ones lie down. So I continue climbing – and them bowing – until I reach the top.

I stand frozen, fixated on what appears to be a throne made of three interlocking mirrors. One at the back and the other two at forty-five degree angles. All partially hidden by an electric storm of colourful mists with a fleeting image galloping through them. I steady my breathing to slow the image down and for a brief moment I see its form. Or at least I think I do. Then absolutely nothing!

Even the storm is gone. Just three mirrors remain with nothing to reflect, not even the raging ocean that is its seat. And then a man appears standing at the left of the throne. A Rubrum with a staff in his hand that is really driftwood and looks like a giant bent magic wand. Light tiptoes across his black onyx eyes as he points it at me.

"A great war is coming, Mary!" he warns. "You just make sure everyone is ready."

And then Kat appears on the right and adds, "I think you're ready now. Go forth, Mary! Go!"

But as I'm about to tell her that I couldn't possibly be ready to fight in anyone's war, the Rubrum taps the ground three times with his rod and summons such a persistent ringing that all my senses get triggered. Then the glass shatters and both their images disappear on the ground together with my past.