ORPHEUS

Chapter 27

"This is it?"

"Yes"

"Are you certain?"

"Absolutely"

They were standing infront of a door. A door which Orpheus claimed to be the infamous portal. Of course it had to be something so obvious. A door. And she had expected an inconspicuous wall or a secret path. The isolated cabin- to which the door belonged- amidst the woods looked like it had seen better days. It looked as if it were about to crumble but Katherine merely pursed her lips and decided not to question Orpheus. So much for fascinating portals. She almost scoffed.

He clasped her hand in his and dragged her forward. "Don't let go, Kathy."

Katherine could only gasp as he broke out into a sprint and ran towards the door in full speed. She shut her eyes and sheilded her face with her arm, expecting impact. Impact that didn't come, instead there were feathery ripples along her skin, as if she were surfacing from water. She took a deep breath instinctively and opened her eyes only to lose her breath again.

It was unreal.

They were standing on a pathway, a bridge, made of gold, surrounded by stars. Stars everywhere, even when she peaked to look at what was under the bridge. She gasped and clutched Orpheus' arm.

"Where are we?!" She asked breathlessly, her voice echoing in the vast space.

"Portal" Orpheus replied, pulling her towards what looked like a dark hole amidst the starlight.

"Right. Portal" she mumbled.

He lead her into the hole of darkness as if stepping through a normal door. She felt no ripples or shivers or anything moderately exciting.

"That was disappointing" she said "I though-, Oh Lord!"

"Welcome to the Council House." Whispered Orpheus as he lead her through the massive golden dome like structure of the establishment. His voice was filled with reluctant awe as he told her that the whole structure was made out of solid gold and sorcery.

He held onto her by her waist as he lead her through the crowds of ghostly bodies and half animal shapes, towards the giant glass gate at the other end of the hall.

"So many creatures" she breathed out as a centaur, a half horse- half human creature, passed infront of them.

"Hmm" was his only reply as he dragged her across to the gate. Katherine tried to gape at her surroundings as much as she could. She realized that there was no source of light, but the gold of the dome seemed to glow with spells.

The ghosts that she saw were lined infront of a counter while the hybrid creatures in front of another.

"Why are they here?" She tried not to pant, to keep up with him. 

"They either sold their souls, or are putting it up for sale." He said gruffly. Seemed her husband didn't like this place. And within good reason.

"Oh"

They reached the gate after what seemed like forever. She realized it was more giant than she had thought it would be.
Orpheus answered her question before she had a chance to ask it.

"Everything us warped here. Time and space. Therefore it hard to realize what is real and what is just a trick of the portal."

"we're still in the portal?" She asked astonished.

"Yes, and we need to make an appearance infront of the council as soon as possible." He said as he traced shaped on the intricately cut glass gate. Maybe it wasn't glass, maybe it was a giant slab of carved diamond, afterall, Orpheus had said that everthing was warped. Why not the size of a diamond?.