Behind My Shadow - Book Three

36. Getting Swept Away

I carry the sacred Vorpal helmet under one arm while I glance at the golden compass I hold in my other hand. Besides the beautiful helmet I found in that chest, I also found this compass that does not point out the directions.

No, it's definitely a magical compass with a mind of its own.

I've been following the swaying golden needle for the better part of the day now, in fact it's practically time for the sun to set now. I think as I glance up to watch how the scarlet rays wash everything in a fleeting, cramoisy glow. But I try to assure myself that I've already conquered one Labor today. I'm still kinda in awe that I managed to find the Vorpal helmet, I marvel down at it in my arm.

Despite not wearing my Amulet right now, I still trudge on at a good pace and even after the sun sets, I'm still able to move through the forest with the light of the moon shining down over me.

I finally look up from the compass as I see a mist of some sort slithering around an outcropping of mossy boulders. It's not mist though, I realize now as it winds around my skin. It's steam. The ground itself feels hot and as I move closer, the soil breaks apart into puddles of mud under my boots.

I widen my eyes with amazement as I emerge into a clearing surrounded by boulders. The moon overhead basks a silvery glow right over this huge round pond. It's a hot spring, I note as more steam wafts off the glowing white waters. I glance down at my compass again, the needle points right at the pond.

I gulp as I gingerly lower my sacred helmet to one of the boulders beside the pond. I'm guessing my next piece of armor is at the bottom of this pool. 

I cautiously creep closer, anxiously looking around but I can sense there aren't any living creatures around to prey on me. I kneel beside the edge of the springs and gingerly test the water with my hand. It's not scalding hot, actually it feels perfectly inviting, especially after nearly freezing to death in that volcanic crypt earlier.

I hop back up and return to the helmet. I carefully put my Amulet beside it and now I put my compass down. But I hesitate. Call it my sixth sense, or a gut feeling, but I pick my compass back up. I might need it even in the pond.

I hesitate a moment more by the shore, but now I throw caution to the wind and dive head-first into the pool.

It is soo much deeper than I imagined! It's like I've dived into an ocean, I realize with disbelief as I swim underwater. I can't really see anything down here; everything is glowing bright white from the moon overhead and the water is far too murky to even see my hand right in front of my face. It's so incredibly warm in here and, as I pull myself farther down, it gets even hotter.

Geesh, one extreme to the next during these Labors! Either I'm freezing my toes off or I feel like my face is about to melt off.

I anxiously bring my compass right under my nose to see. To my relief and awe, the needle is glowing like a beacon. The golden needle subtly changes directions as I swim farther down, instructing me to move deeper.

Where's the bottom to this thing?! I worry as I desperately feel around beneath me. It's just open water! My lungs begin to burn and my head feels like it might pop. Unbelievable! Who knew you had to be a diving expert for these Labors?!

I shakily pull myself farther down despite my aching lungs, I have to be close to the next piece of armor!

Somethings bumps past me as I descend.

OMG, what was that?!

I turn over in the water to look around frantically. It's too foggy to see anything! My heart throbbing in my chest sends another ache quaking through my already straining lungs, but nevertheless I force myself to dive deeper. My hands suddenly hit the pebbles covering the bottom of the pool.

Finally!

I desperately start patting the ground, struggling to see further than three inches in front of me. Much to my surprise, at my touch all of the rocks I turn over begin to glow golden. I swiftly run my hands over as many rocks as I can, lighting up a circle around me.

I startle and some bubbles escape my lips as I suddenly register dark shapes hovering close by, they have me completely surrounded!

They don't press forward though and stay just out of my line of sight. I can't even sense these creatures through spirit, it's as if they are just a mirage. But they're real, my instincts assure me, they are definitely real. I can't see them well enough to distinguish their appearance, all I can tell is that they are large marine creatures with jagged fins that fan around their heads like crowns.

I swallow hard but force my attention back down to the bottom of the pool. I feel so lightheaded... I'm on the verge of passing out!

I clumsily overturn move stones; I can practically feel the precious particles of oxygen evaporate within my body as I force myself to stay submerged for just a moment more...

There! I suddenly feel something cold despite the hot water practically bubbling around me. It's another golden trunk! I frantically pull myself closer, straining to look it over. No! It has a keyhole too! Unbelievable! I left my Amulet up top! I struggle to move the trunk, hoping on bringing it with me to the surface but much to my dismay, I find it entirely too heavy to carry.

No! I'm running out of breath. I gotta leave it down here...

Wait! I suddenly notice the lock is a different shape than the last one. OMG, the Amulet wouldn't work for this lock anyway! It's shaped like an octagon... Like my compass. I smile despite myself, shakily pressing the compass into the lock and now to my relief and immense joy, the trunk unlocks with a flash of golden light.

The cuirass!

I seize the platinum looking cuirass etched in gorgeous gold with shaking hands and now push off the bottom of pool, my compass secured in my other hand.

I break through the surface with a ragged gasp, sputtering as I struggle to stay afloat with the hefty cuirass in my hand.

Suddenly Raetri begins trembling all around me. The pool briefly forms wild waves worthy of the ocean and I'm helplessly thrown back and forth through the water before all goes still and quiet again.

OMG, yes! I did it! My eighth Labor is complete!