Bathed Silver in Mercury

IV. Elerie

Elerie peered down into the tunnel. "It's Egyptian."

"Oh, is that unusual?" asked Chris.

"We're in the Persian Gulf," Nick reminded him. "Egypt's miles away, so yeah, it's unusual."

"Oh you're so smart," sneered Elerie, quickly turning her attention back to the tomb. "Oh, it's beautiful! Haunting, but beautiful!"

"So," Nick said as they readied the equipment for the descent into the pit. "Still meddling with magic?"

She scoffed. "Still mocking me. And yes," she cut him off before he could say anything else. "I am. So watch out." Then she addressed them both. "Now gentlemen, minimal damage please. And don't. Touch. Anything. And remember, I'm in charge - Colonel's orders."

With that the group began the descent. A face that had been carved into the wall silently screamed at them. A warning perhaps?

Nick grinned at Elerie as they lowered themselves down into the pit. "Just like old times."

"Sod off."

When they touched down and released the harnesses, Elerie clicked on a voice recorder. "This is Doctor Elerie Taylor. We're in a large antechamber of some kind."

"Hey, is that mercury?"

Chris's comment caught her attention. Elerie peered into Nick's gloved hand where a small pool of silver formed from where it dripped from the ceiling. "The Ancient Egyptians believed it weakened evil spirits."

"Well now we know better. The stuff kills you."

"Yeah after it makes you crazy," added Chris.

"This is definitely a tomb," she recorded, continuing onward. "There is mercury dripping from the ceiling into holes in the ground. Possibly interconnected - wait, it's a canal system, leading all the way to-" She hurried ahead until she drew to a sudden halt. The others caught up and stared.

"Oh wow," she breathed.

Ahead was a large pool of silver mercury, surrounded by Anubis statues, chains holding something within the pool.

Elerie quickly switched from voice recording to video recording. "Doctor Taylor here. We are in a large, man-made cavern adjoining the antechamber. Chiseled stairs lead down from a ledge, and there is a canal running between them, feeding a large ritual well at the base filled with mercury. There is a ritual barrier chain that surrounds the well, with a warning to intruders. To keep people out." She ran the beam of her flashlight across the well. "It's strange, there's no sign of any provisions made for someone's journey into the underworld." She flicked out her pocket knife and used it to chip away at the grime caking the hieroglyphs on the wall. "Very strange. No canopic jars, no shabtis... To be buried in a place like this would be a fate worse than death." She circled the well for a closer look. "There are six watchers surrounding the well, all facing inward instead of out. Whatever's in there, those chains aren't for bringing it up, no - they're for holding it down. She swallowed hard, an ill sort of feeling creeping up within her. "This isn't a tomb - it's a prison."

(I love that last line! So chilling! :) Hope you enjoyed thanks so much for reading!)