Chapter 16: Opening the Chamber

Chapter 16 was rough and tough and took a long time.  Feedback would be much appreciated.  :)

***UPDATE*** a very special thank you to Haley C. who provided her expert feedback on this chapter.  I have expounded on the appearance of the chamber and am very satisfied.  Seriously, without feedback everything I do is terrible.
Read on!

---------

CHAPTER 16

They walked, and walked, and walked.  Everyone was silent, due to the gags, and Matt didn’t say a word.  Marcy was left to her thoughts.  It was difficult not to dwell on Ellah.  More than once, a tear slipped down her cheek, unnoticed by anyone but herself.  

Not--going--to--cry, she ordered herself more than once, but it didn’t work.  She sniffed and tried her best to wipe her nose with her bound hands.  She only succeeded in smearing it.  Ugh.

Marcy was so focused on her nose that didn’t see the line had stopped until she bumped into Alex’s back.  “Ow,” she said through the gag.  She tried to say sorry but it came out more like a choking sound.  Stupid thing.

“We have arrived,” Matt announced.  He looked over the group, and Marcy saw his eyes flash with darkness.  “Once again, you will do as you’re told, and I won’t have to hurt anyone.  Follow.”

As the line set off again, Marcy took a look around.  They had traveled to a clearing in the middle of the green forest.  The clearing was a perfect circle, which she thought was strange.  But it implies that this forest was specifically planted.  It didn’t just grow up around here.  Oh, there’s that weird building that we saw on the map Matt showed!  Wonder if Ellah could explain what it was…Stop thinking about Ellah!  

In the very center of the clearing stood a cylindrical structure.  It was made of grey stone, but she didn’t see any cracks where the individual stones would show.  Hang on, she thought, shocked.  It’s made of one, huge piece of stone!  It must have been made with magic.

The outside of the building was smooth and there was no sign of weathering.  Its roof was flat, and from the center protruded a strange chimney-like column of black stone.  

Suddenly, Marcy tripped and nearly fell.  She made a surprised noise through the gag.  What in the--?  Regaining her balance, she surveyed the ground.  It was grassy, like the rest of the forest, but there were small trenches set in the ground every few feet.  They looked like they were made of the same black stone as the chimney.  They looked like they surrounded the building.  What’s that called? thought Marcy.  I learned it in math…ah!  Concentric circles, that’s it.  They’re like concentric circles around the middle.  Funny how it takes my family to be wizards and my grandma to…to die before I remember stupid math.  I miss her so much already.

Matt stopped again, and this time Marcy caught herself before bumping into Alex.  “This,” he gestured to a blank wall, “is the door.  To get in, you must swear that your heart and intentions are pure.  If you do not get in, I will force you in.”  He smiled.  “Any questions?”

Marcy grunted.  “Ah, my lovely daughter has a question!” Matt exclaimed.  He snapped his fingers and the gag disappeared.  “Ask away.”

“A--” she began to say, but couldn’t speak.  Her jaw was stiff.  Marcy massaged the feeling back into  it, and then said, “I don’t see a door.  Where is it?”

“Oh, right.”  Her father slapped his head in mock forgetfulness.  “Once you swear that your heart and intentions are pure, the door will become visible and you may enter.”

“Of course.”  I mean, duh.  That’s so obvious.

“Leloni, since you’re first in line, you get to enter first.  I must warn you, the bonds will stay, so don’t try to run away.”  Matt gestured to the blank wall and a figure stepped forward.  Marcy twisted to try and see it, but could only make out a vague feminine shape.  “You might want to say the words out loud, so I’ll take away the gags for now.”  Matt snapped his fingers again and the rest of the gags disappeared as well.  “Saying the words out loud makes it more powerful.”

“I swear that my heart and intentions are pure,” stated a soft, very feminine voice.  Marcy leaned to the side just in time to see the woman pass through the blank wall of stone.  Matt ushered up the next in line.  

“Come on, now, don’t be shy.”  He sounds like he’s a man at a fair, Marcy thought disgustedly.  I hate that my dad leads people he’s kidnapped into an unfamiliar building after killing his own mother-in-law and sounds like he’s having fun.  She seethed in anger, mixed with sorrow.  

One by one, the magicians repeated the sentence and entered the building through the invisible door.  Too soon it came to Marcy.  She sweated.  What if my intentions aren’t pure? she panicked.  Will it let me in?  How does it know?  What if I can’t get in and Matt has to force me?

“Hurry up now, Marcy,” Matt said.  “Don’t waste time.”

Marcy gulped.  “I--I swear that my intentions and my heart are pure.”  Oh no!  I said it wrong!  What if it doesn’t let me in?  What if-- “Oof!”

Matt shoved her into the wall before she had time to complete the thought.  She braced herself for impact when she saw it approaching, but it never came.  “Wha…?”  Opening her eyes, she gasped and took a step back.  “I made it!”

“Yes, you made it.”  The wizards and witches were standing in a semi-circle around the door.  The one who had spoken was a petite woman with platinum blond hair.  She stood at the beginning of the line.  That must be Leloni, Marcy noted.  She also noticed that the rope binding her hands had lengthened so that she was able to stand in front of the line.  “I’m Leloni,” the woman said.  Her voice was melodious and smooth.  

“Nice to--” she began to respond, but before she could get the words out, the rope abruptly went taut and yanked her over to beside Alex.  She stumbled and nearly crashed into him, but caught her balance before they collided.

“Happened to me, too,” Alex shrugged.  “At least we don’t have to stand behind each other though.”

“Right,” she mumbled, her head down.

As if on cue, Matt walked through the wall.  It startled her and she almost gasped again.  “And we’re here!” he exclaimed, spreading his arms wide as if displaying a prize.  “Are you ready?  I am!”  Clapping, he grinned.  He almost looks normal when he’s excited, Marcy thought.  If only that was the case.  

“Let’s get started!  Turn around, everyone,” Matt said excitedly.  He gestured for them to about-face and himself walked to the center of the room.  Marcy realized that everything in the room was exactly like the projection she had seen back at Matt’s cave.  Ellah was there when I saw it…I miss her!  Oh, I miss her!

“Now, you’ll probably recognize everything from what I showed you several hours ago.”  Practically skipping, he stood in front of the line, looking ecstatic.  “You probably don’t remember what to do, though.  So I will walk you through it, slowly, and you will obey.  Correct?”

Marcy heard several people exhale sarcastically and envisioned them rolling their eyes.  

“Haven’t you already told us that?” the Asian man asked.  

“Yes,” Matt answered in a voice that Marcy would have used for small children.  He’s so condescending and it annoys me so badly.  “But,” her father continued, “all people are selfish, and if I provide any chance to escape, I know that one of you will take it.  Which would result in your immediate immobilization and then immense pain.  I don’t suggest it.”  He looked around the group.  “Any more questions?  No?  Okay then.  Here we go!”  He clapped his hands again gleefully.  “This is what will happen.

“In the middle of this chamber, there’s an altar.  Which is, of course, illuminated in a shaft of light, because it’s aesthetic and because it will help open the passage to the Well.  On each corner of the altar, there’s a torch.  Shellie, you will light the torches as the first part of the ceremony.”  Reaching into his leather messenger bag, which Marcy hadn’t noticed previously, Matt drew out a piece of chalk.  He walked over to the altar and wrote the number one on the ground beside one of the torches.  He then proceeded to number each of the torches with the chalk in the same way.  “This,” he said, dusting off his hands, “is the order in which you will light them.

“Now, Dylian, like I’ve already explained back at my abode, there are four boxes in the wall, equally distant from the altar.  Each contains a jewel.  Find out which box contains which jewel.”

“Right now?” the rock wizard asked.  

“Yes.”  Matt sat down on the edge of the altar, which Marcy thought was quite irreverent, and crossed his arms.  “Go ahead.”

“Okay,” Dylian agreed warily.  He closed his eyes and his face took on a calm expression.  It had only been a few seconds when he opened them again. “There’s a ruby in that one,” he said, pointing to one of the boxes, “and a sapphire in that one, a diamond in that one, and then an emerald.”

“Notice the pictures of jewels above the alcoves that contain the boxes?” Matt inquired.  

Dylian nodded.  “They don’t match up, though.  The box with the diamond is where the box with the emerald should be, and the--”

“Good, you’re one step ahead of me.  Now, you must place each box in the correct alcove after Shellie finishes lighting the torches.  First move diamond to its place, then the sapphire, the emerald, and finally the ruby.”

“What about the rest of us?” asked the Asian man.

“Good question, Yin Soke.”  Matt hopped off the altar and stood before the company.  “The makers of this particular space made it very hard to get to the Well, for obvious reasons, so there are several chambers that must be opened.  You will all have specific jobs later.”

“So, can we get started?” Shellie questioned.

“There’s one more instruction,” Matt answered.  He closed his eyes and Marcy saw his lips move.  Suddenly a bird flew through the roof, presumably through the black chimney she had seen earlier.  It landed on his outstretched arm and cooed.  A pidgeon?  Wait no, I remember him saying something about a turtledove, Marcy realized.  

“Alex, you will sacrifice this turtledove, following my instructions.  It’s a bit complicated so I’ll explain while we go.”  Matt lifted the turtledove up to his shoulder, where it sat.  “Now, is everyone ready?  Good.  Let’s begin.”  

The rope made of light disappeared.  In the back of her mind, Marcy noticed that he hadn’t snapped his fingers.  To her surprise, no one tried to run.  I guess Matt threatened them so much that no one will risk it, she thought.  Honestly, I don’t want to risk it either, after…after what he did to Ellah.  The lump rose in her throat again.

“Come come, Shellie,” Matt announced, breaking Marcy out of her thoughts of Ellah.  Reaching down, he marked a large “X” on the floor in front of the altar.  “Stand here.”

Shellie moved warily over to Matt and stood on the marked spot.  She self-consciously rearranged her multicolored kenga.

“Now, light the torches, in order,” Matt directed.  Shellie closed her eyes and breathed in deeply.  Why do they all close their eyes when they do magic? Marcy wondered absentmindedly.  Seems like it would be easier to leave them open.

Suddenly, the first torch flamed up with a whoosh.  Marcy inhaled sharply.  The second torch flared quickly after, followed by the last two.  The flames flickered and lit up the dim room.  They illuminated the walls, showing detailed pictures on every curve.  She saw drawings of forests and magical people, battles and books, kings and nations, each one vivid despite their apparent age.  The black walls provided the perfect backdrop for every line and streak of color.  

As she looked closer, she noticed that they weren’t created with paint--they seemed to be ingrained in the stone.  Woah.  These probably tell really old stories, maybe even older than this space! she thought excitedly.  I wish I had my phone to take pictures.  Maybe I’ll be able to bring Jenny back and she can tell me what they mean.

“Well done,” her father affirmed Shellie, shaking Marcy out of her revere.  “Dylian, your turn.  Remember, diamond first, then sapphire, emerald, and ruby.”

“Okay.”  Dylian strode over to a wall with an illustration of a blue jewel--a sapphire.  He removed the weighty box from the alcove.  Struggling slightly, he carried it over to another wall and set it on the floor next to the recess labeled with a diamond.  He replaced the box in the wall with the one he had carried.  He then heaved the recently withdrawn box and lugged it to the opposite wall.  The cycle continued until the last box was in place.  The rock wizard stood back and dusted his hands off.  “Now what?”

“Stand right here.”  Matt made another chalk mark on the ground across from where Shellie stood.  Dylian moved to his spot and awkwardly put his feet on the mark, facing the rest of the party.  

“Alex, come here,” barked Matt.  Their relationship is kind of strained now, Marcy noted.  Figures.

“I’ve brought all the herbs you need to do this sacrifice, so you won’t need your own.”  Her father set the turtledove down on the altar.  It hopped to the center, oblivious to its oncoming death.  

Marcy took a look at the altar.  Strangely, it contrasted with the rest of the chamber.  The altar was simply a large block of stone, unlike the smooth and beautiful chamber.  Some of its sides were rough and had been chipped away.  Odd how it looks like it was just plopped down in the middle of this magically created room, she thought.

Matt continued speaking, breaking her train of thought.  “When you sacrifice this turtledove, you’ll need to do it a specific way so listen carefully to my instructions.”

“Will I need to strangle it or slit its throat?” Alex asked levely.  

“Wring its neck,” Matt answered.  Marcy shivered.  

“When shall I start?”

“Now, while I set out the herbs.”

Alex picked up the turtledove and put his hands around its neck.  Marcy quickly squeezed her eyes shut and there was a sickening crack as he broke its neck.  She felt sick.  

Not looking up, Matt handed him a dagger with a leather handle.  “Use this to cut its belly open down the middle.”  

Alex sliced the turtledove’s belly and blood began to gush out.  Marcy felt bile rising in her throat, but swallowed it and prayed that it stayed down.  It did.  

Oblivious, Matt lifted a black branch with small leaves out of his satchel and set it on the altar.  “Splash the blood on the four sides of the altar, starting from this side and going clockwise.”

After completing the task, Alex followed Matt’s direction and cut out the dove’s crop, after plucking the bloody corpse.  He scattered the feathers and crop to one side, which Matt said was east, and then tore it open by the wings.  Marcy and the others still stood facing the altar, watching the gruesome ritual with disgusted interest.  It took quite an effort not to throw up.

Finally, he finished ripping the bird apart.  Alex looked at his hands.  He seemed to be as repulsed as they.  

Matt had finished setting out the herbs and was watching.  “Go over in that corner and take nine pieces of wood from the stack,” he instructed.

Sixteen pairs of eyes followed Alex as he picked up the logs from a pile they hadn’t noticed before.  As he walked by, arms full of wood and hands bloody, Marcy saw that the logs were green like the forest.  I guess it’s a special kind of wood, she realized.

“Put the wood in a stack in the middle,” Matt said, “four pieces on the bottom, then three pieces, then two.  When you’re done, place the bird on it.”

Alex did so.

“Burn it.”

“How?”

“You know how to do a simple fire spell.”

“Matt, you know how I feel about--”

“I said burn it!” Matt burst out.  “Do I have to make you?”

Paling, Alex took a deep breath.  “No.  I’ll do it.”  He muttered something under his breath.  Did he just say “I’m sorry” to that bird? Marcy wondered.  That seems odd.

A small flame showed from under the stack of wood, then a tendril of smoke wisped upward.  Soon the whole pyre was on fire.

Marcy’s father walked over to beside the altar.  “Throw these into the fire as I hand them to you,” he said, picking up a stack of herbs.  “And repeat after me.”

Alex tossed the herbs into the fire.  “Inoch lem dei oneb,” Matt intoned.  Wrinkling his brow, Alex repeated the words.  One by one, each stack was burned and the chants pronounced.  

The last herb to be burned was the black branch.  “Be careful with this one,” Matt instructed.  “Crumble it in your hands and then sprinkle it over the fire.”

Delicately, Alex picked up the branch and suddenly crunched it all into his palm.  Not a leaf was spilled.  He’s good at that, probably part of being a Healer.  Suddenly, the fire flared up as Alex threw in the dust.  Marcy gasped for the hundredth time that day.  “The flames are black!” she exclaimed, accidentally out loud.  

“Well noted,” her father said sarcastically, then turned back to the strange fire.  “Pilion ilel tena al mutte jenibijon yoxe!” he yelled, arms outstretched toward heaven.  The fire surged upward in a tornado of black.  Scared, Marcy stepped back toward the wall.

“Pilion ilel tena al mutte jenibijon yoxe!” Alex yelled, though with not near as much drama.  With a final crackling sound and a whoosh, the fire was sucked up through the hole in the ceiling and was gone.  

The altar was completely empty.

The unmistakable sound of stone rubbing on stone rang out through the chamber.  The grinding noise reverberated through her bones.  I can’t tell where it’s coming from!  Oh, it’s terrible and so loud!  Covering her ears, Marcy squinched her eyes shut and tried to block it out.  “AAHHH!” she yelled, dropping to the ground and curling into a ball.  

It went on for so long that she thought she might have brain damage.  And then, abruptly, it stopped.  Opening her eyes, she peeked around the chamber.  Everyone else was on the floor as well--everyone but Matt.  He pulled a pair of earplugs out of his ears.  

“Come on, can’t take all day.  To the next chamber!” he declared.

Jerk.

---------

Okay.  Tell me.  Do I need to draw out the feelings of remorse and sadness over Ellah's death?  What do you think of the funky language?  What do you think of the chamber?  Is it missing something????
Is it missing something since I updated it if you're reading it for the second time?

I literally post these as soon as I'm finished and don't edit them at all.  So I know they're terrible.  

~~Zoë Wingfeather