The Raven

Chapter 8 -Elleya

I was frozen in shock.  Zelda's face...  "Well come now, little ones.  I know your father is in danger, so don't just stand in my door like baboons."  Zelda never smiled, but her eyes danced in the firelight that was cast by an eerie floating candle and her voice rang with humor.  I continued to stare.  Alrien, just as thunderstruck, did the same.  The woman before us was not human.  Maybe once in her long ancestry had there been something vaguely human, but there was nothing recognizably so in the harsh angles and shadows that dominated her face.  

Zelda's skin was covered in a thin layer of brown fur and her lips were parted ever so sightly so show sharp incisors, which shone like pearls.  Her nose was triangular and slitted, flaring whenever she inhaled.  And there, peeking out of a long mess of dark curls, were the ears of some animal.  They twitched in the cold interior of the room, and several long, golden hoops jingled from the left one.  However, either most repulsive or most captivating were her eyes.  Zelda's eyes were slitted like a cat's, and they glowed a soft green in the dense darkness.  They flickered with mischief in the candlelight and the pupils were black as ink.  In all, Zelda had a feline quality that gave her grace and serenity.  Though, there was a sharp and dangerous air masked by the beauty.

Upon seeing Alrien's and my stares, Zelda grinned a little, which was terrifying.  She looked like she was baring her teeth at us.  Her pearly whites reflected the dim light from the single candle she was holding.  "I know I am not the prettiest of faces, but my mind is the finest in the land."  She purred, without the slightest modesty.  "Now hurry along, children.  As you will soon come to know, I am not the most patient of people."  With that said, Zelda swept her deep red robes around her in a furl and spun to waltz down the single hallway that led back into a deep gloom.  As the light from the flame departed from the doorway along with the Truth-Sayer, I glanced at my brother.  His face was now emotionless, but I could see the glimpse of arrogance starting to surface in his eyes.  He was going to do something stupid, and I knew it.  However, as Zelda disappeared with her candle down the passage way, I tripped into a run after her, fearing to be left in the dark.  Smartly following my lead, Alrien was not far behind.

After what seemed like an impossibly long hall, Zelda abruptly stopped at a dead end.  Alrien and I came up short behind her, out of breath.  For a lady wearing layer upon layer of heavy silk, Zelda sure walked fast.  I stared at the dead end ahead of me.  It was impossible!  There had been only one hallway.  There had been no branches off or other doors.  What was Zelda playing at?  However, after only a few seconds of a pause, the cat woman spun on her heels and began to silently walk back the way we had come. 

My brother and I parted to let her through, and I caught the thick smell of incense curling off of her.  My dark long hair stood on end, and goosebumps leapt to the surface of my skin.  There was an otherworldly presence about Zelda that just send shivers down my spine.  Despite these feelings, I fell into her wake as she continued down the dark hall.  Alrien hesitated a little, brushing gold hair out of his face before falling into line with me.  I expected Zelda to end up back at the front door, but after only a few seconds, we ended up at a set of double door.  They were oaken with heavy steel fittings and knobs shaped like a dragon breathing fire.  I was so confused.  How could this door be here?  

However, Zelda seemed to know what she was doing and strode straight up to the doors and pushed them open.  The thick smell of burning sage and rosemary assaulted my nose and brought immediate tears to my eyes.  I reeled back in surprise.  Bright blue light exploded from the room within the doors and it seared my eyes after only the dim glow of the candle.  After I blinked the stars from my eyes, I was able to make out the interior of the room.  It was circular and every inch of it was covered in silk.  Heavy drapes covered the stone walls with random mirrors placed every few feet.  So when I actually stepped into the room, I could see every angle of my unflattering self.  The floor was covered in countless silk pillows, strewn to no apparent pattern across the floor.  The only part of the room that was not ridiculously furnished was the center of it.  There was a low wooden table placed in the precise center of the room.  A bright white cloth covered the surface and in the middle of the table sat a shining blue orb.  All light that filled the room seemed to be coming from this small sphere.  It was roughly the size of a small pumpkin and the surface was perfectly smooth and unblemished.  Though ever few seconds, small ripples blinked into existence. It was as if water itself had been molded by the gods. The source of the light came from the heart of the orb and pulsed like a heart.  The effect was captivating.