rationality had been thrown out of the window. Gabriella pressed a circular pad by the double doors, which lit up. The doors rolled open after a few moments and we walked into an elevator. The sides were all mirrored. The floor was the same plush red carpet as the waiting room. The panel only contained one button. It looked like a triangle with a circle inside. Gabriella pressed it. A voice from somewhere said:
Temple of the Divine Elements.
Temple?
The corridor disappeared from view as the doors slid shut. I waited for the typical lurch of vertical movement, so was surprised when the lift jerked backwards. It went slowly at first and then gathered speed at an alarming rate. It became so fast that I shrank back to one of the sides, gripping the rail for fear of falling over. The metal felt cold and damp in my nervous hands. Gabriella kept her head down and didn’t say anything for the entire ride, which took an uncomfortable minute or so.
After what felt like an eternity, the elevator slowed and then even more unnervingly, rotated 180 degrees. There was a loud ding and the doors rolled open. Gabriella walked out with the confidence of those in the loop. I edged out, still wary of what I might find, my hands leaving clammy prints on the rail.
We were in some kind of tunnel. The walls were carved from uneven rock. Our footsteps echoed on the slabs of granite that formed the ground. At regular intervals we passed between rows of what looked like golden bird baths. Odd green flames curled and flickered from their centres. The scent they released was smoky but not unpleasant. It reminded me of roasted chestnuts.
After we'd been walking in silence for some time, we reached a set of stone steps which led up to a gigantic oak door. The tops of the arch were so high I had to tilt my head back as far as I could to see them. Thick iron handles were attached to the middle. Above, a Latin phrase had been etched into the wood. Curious, I moved close to read the words.
DILECTI SURGEMUS — SOCII POLLEMUS
“Chosen we rise — allied we prevail,” I translated. “Wait…how did I know that?”
“All in good time,” Gabriella said from behind me. I wiped a line of sweat from my forehead with the back of my hand. The preternatural flames made the area very hot. “So, what is this place?” I asked. “This,” she replied, “is the entrance to the Temple of the Divine Elements. “Please tell me this isn’t a cult.”
Gabriella gave me a sarcastic look and climbed the steps. With a feeling of great apprehension, I followed. There was a moment of hesitation and she took a deep breath. Then with a shaking hand, she knocked in a complicated sequence and drew back, regarding me with her vivid eyes. She looked nervous.
“Here we go.”
There was a cranking sound and the doors yawned open.
11
T he room was monumental. Thick, golden pillars stretched up and disappeared into the darkness above. The floor beneath our feet was literally paved in gold; my reflection stared back at me from the shining surface. Lush tapestries hung from the expansive walls. One depicted a colossal bird covered in flames, soaring up into the sky. Comets of fire rained down from its tail, igniting the ground below. Another showed a gigantic face in the woods, formed out of trees and other foliage. Even its beard was made from thick leaves. It smiled down with benevolence at various woodland creatures below.
Ahead, more flame baths lined a purple carpet that ran along the room towards a shallow set of stairs. A golden chair sat at the top. Two bizarre looking men dressed in white robes stood either side of it. They were completely bald and their pale skin was as smooth as wax. Roman numerals had been tattooed in the centre of their foreheads. The one on the left read XII. The right XIII. They stared at us through blood red pupils, powdery hands clutching silver staffs that curved into spirals at the top — they reminded me of the crosiers that catholic priests carried.
Except these were clearly weapons.
Must be guards of some kind, I thought. To protect…him.
Him was the old man who occupied the chair. Dressed in long black robes rimmed with gold, most of his face lay hidden underneath a deep cowl. I could just make out cotton wool eyebrows and a long beard which tapered to a point below his waist. In one hand he clutched a walking stick with a bright green orb attached to the top. His other hand rested in his lap. He raised it and beckoned. “You may approach.” The acoustics of the room made his voice boom like a megaphone. “Ella,” I whispered. “It’s okay,” she reassured, nudging me forward.
The old man pushed back his cowl. I swallowed hard, taking in the rest of his face. His skin was wrinkled and thin, like worn parchment. In contrast to his full white beard, his head was a smooth dome of baldness. A glistening black, tattooed eye stared out from the centre of his forehead. His actual eyes were just as odd as the guards. Instead of being red, they were totally white. Not like he had cataracts, but like he’d never been born with pupils.
He smiled, exposing a set of bright teeth. “Welcome Alexander, I’m so pleased you are finally here.” His voice seemed to echo around the room, coming from nowhere and everywhere all at once. “I was beginning to think our time and resources had been wasted,” he added in a more disapproving tone. The statement appeared to be aimed at Gabriella, who shifted uncomfortably on the spot like a child being chastised. “I apologise Faru. Alexander’s infiltration was badly handled. But he is ready and willing to listen.” I shot Gabriella a confused glance, but she remained facing the old man. He nodded. “This is good news.”
I couldn't handle the riddles any more. My head felt ready to implode. The frustration boiled up and before I could stop myself, I stormed towards the stairs.
“This is ridiculous!” I yelled, stabbing an accusatory finger at him. “I need you to tell me-”
I didn’t have time to finish my sentence. The guards reacted instantly. They smashed their staffs against the ground causing the coils to burst into blue flames. I heard Gabriella scream “NO!” before one of the guards vaulted into the air. Before anyone could react, I was lying on my back with the sizzling neon flame inches from my cheek. The heat seared my skin. Bloodlust blazed in the guard’s crimson eyes. I had offended its master, it wanted to hurt me.
“Enough Thirteen!” shouted Faru, clapping his hands together. Without a word, the guard released me. I crawled away with a whimper, holding my tender cheek. The guard returned to its position next to Faru. Both kept their unnatural eyes locked on mine, staffs flaming. From the corner of my eye I saw Gabriella staring at me in disbelief. As I climbed to my feet, she bowed onto one knee.
“Sage Faru, please forgive him. He is confused and scared.”
The old man waved a dismissive hand and began to chuckle.
“No harm done. I like this one, he reminds me of old friend.” He turned his head in my direction and stared with his blanched eyes. “Young man, you have passion in your heart, which is an admirable trait. However, I believe that you have held your frustrations inwardly for too long. This mixed with your recent…” he paused and waved a hand “…transformation, makes for a dangerous cocktail. As this evening’s events suggest.”
An image of TJ curled in a silent bloody heap entered my head. Horror and shame at my actions rushed through me.
Faru pointed a finger. “You must learn to control that anger of yours…” The same finger tapped his temple, “…and rely on this instead.” Smiling, he passed his ornamental staff to XII. Then he gestured his papery hands towards me.
“Alexander, it is time for you to shake off the bliss of ignorance. Please come here.”
I didn’t want to, but after what had just happened there was no way I could refuse. So I shuffled forward and climbed the steps until I was a few feet away. The guards stared at me, hands wrapped tightly around their crosiers.
“Please kneel.”
I lowered myself onto one knee and stared at Faru. It felt like I was waiting to be knighted. The old man pushed himself out of the seat. His guards motioned to help him, but he swatted them away like an agitated animal. Lifting his beard, he swept it over his shoulder like a scarf. Then he took a few steps towards me and leaned over, placing his hands on my shoulders to steady himself. Being so close made me nervous. His blank eyes
