How'd That Happen?

Chapter 11

"And there it is!" Lilith exclaims. Before them is a great waterfall, with water that is glass-clear and seems to be flowing so gracefully, moving in a mesmerizing synchronization. Beautiful green vines on each side of the waterfall, giving it structure with brightly colored, exotic flowers. Next to said waterfall is a three-headed dog that looks to be taking a nap and failing at its job to guard what looks to be a secret entrance.

"You think it's behind there?" Maria asks. Whispering as to not wake the dog.

"Oh yeah! Could it be any more obvious?" Lilith replies with a smirk.

"I don't know Lilith; the way it's structured, it looks like it's just rock behind it." Lani gently argues.

"There could be another cave that leads us deeper to where we're trying to go." Lilith replies, eyeing Lani.
   
"guess it couldn't hurt to try," Lani says, trying to smile.

They walk a few yards to the left of the waterfall. With a little tug from the bright, green vines, they were able to move around them and, behind the water, fall.

"There's...nothing here." Lani's states dryly in disappointment.

"What? There has to be. This is the only opening that makes sense. There's nothing past the fall. Should we go over it?" Lilith asks disappointingly. She walks a little more to the center of the water. Only to find a dead end with a rock wall. "Could it be behind this?" She knocks on the wall a few times, but nothing sounds hollow. The three stand there for a moment, until Lani stands and stares at the water that's falling.

She thinks for a moment and gradually reaches her right hand out to touch the water. "Careful Lani, that could be dangerous; we don't want you getting hurt again." Lilith speaks. Lani side-eyes her with a smile. Then she continues to reach out her hand until it's touching the water, parting the stream. When she does so, it opens under her touch, leading  into a beautiful spring garden. Lani and Maria are in awe, while Lilith gulls down with hesitation.

"Do we, uh, go in?" Lilith asks.
   
"What kind of question is that?" Maria replies rhetorically, "Of course we go in." She's the first to step onto the other side, under Lani's arm.

"Is everything okay, love?" Lani asks. Realizing the hesitation from Lilith.

"Yeah," Lilith says, slowly going in on Maria's side. Lani follows behind her, and the three of them are mesmerized by what they see.

Beautiful sets of trees and flowers lay before them. Everything looks well taken care of. The green fields have a variety of flowers, vegetables, and herbs that go alongside a running stream of water that continues from where the water fell. An enchanting spring garden.

But when Lilith turns her back, there is nothing there but a large mountain and a small crack where the stream of water let them through.
   
"What a beautiful spring garden!" Lani exclaims, mesmerized. "This must be Persephones doing! Hades' wife. Right Lilith?" She turns her head in Lilith's direction.
   
"O-oh! Right?" Lilith smiles sheepishly, facing Lani again. "You guys, go ahead; I'll be there in a moment." Maria and Lani look at each other in bewilderment, but Maria takes off anyway. However, Lani stays behind.
   
"What's the problem, love?" Lani asks sincerely, intertwining her hand with Lilith's.
   
"It's really nothing," Lilith replies halfheartedly. She tried to pull her hand away, but Lani kept a firm grip. "It's just... this place... it reminds me of the garden in Eden."
   
Lani's eyes widened, ashamed that she didn't realize the correlation. "Love, you don't have to go if you want to." She says it in that sweet, sugary voice that can make anyone's heart melt.
   
"No, no, please; I can do this. Just give me a moment." Lilith tries to sound strong. Lani gives her a small peck on the cheek, which makes them both blush.