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

CHAPTER 82: SNAKES AND LADDERS

Somehow, the serpent senses my readiness and reappears to help me exit every wrong room.

"Before we go any further, there are some things you should know."

"Like what?"

"Every step you touch from here on out is ruled by a different throne. But you'll only see each throne master the way your mind allows."

"And? What other crazy thing can possibly happen to me today?"

"Now this is very important. In order to leave as a master, you must enter as a slave."

"Break it down, serpent; or whatever your name is."

"Three things. Bow before the throne. Empty yourself. Then sit on the throne and rule."

"Anything else I should know?"

"Yes," it says. "Up is down. Right is left. Whatever you've heard is bad is really good."

"Opposites. I've got it. How do I get out afterwards? Just walk through how I entered?"

"You assume that's how you really entered?"

"I'm not even going to breathe life into that. Just tell me, serpent. How?"

"Stand in the centre of the room."

"For what? To be the perfect target?"

"No." It laughs. "But I like the way you don't trust anyone."

"I guess I should take that as a compliment then."

"Mary," it says calmly. "Just stand at the centre."

I move towards the centre then attempt to climb the erect ladder. The serpent clears its throat.

"Forgot everything I said already?"

"What? There's a ladder and I'm using it to get out of here."

"For goodness sake, Mary; this has definitely got to stop."

It exhales in my direction. Now two mirrors accompany the ladder like Ebony's fat yellow candles once stood on my dresser. Then it becomes clearer that we're not going up. Suddenly, tiles fall away from the extremities of the room until I'm standing on the first step down.

"This is where the tour ends," I say, eyes widening. "There's no way I'm going down there."

The serpent looks downward with knowing.

"That's not too far. We'll be out of here in no time."

"Hey! That's no basement I've ever seen."

"You'll be fine, Mary."

"Until I run out of air, you mean?"

"If that happens, you already know what to do. Inhale. Exhale."

"That's easy for you to say."

"Relax, Mary. This is the top, remember? That means you already ascended what you fear."

"You know what? How about I just close my eyes and leave them closed until this is over?"

"If you close your eyes, you'll fall asleep," it reminds me. "And you need to see everything."