SHADOWBOUND HEARTS

Chapter Nine

Selene pushed the door open with the wave symbol and was met with a wash of cool, damp air. The room beyond was vast, its walls and ceiling clad in shimmering blue tiles that reflected the soft, ambient light from overhead. A susurrus of running water filled the space, punctuated by the occasional splash and ripple.

The floor was flooding with an inch of water, thus constituting to serenity, yet an eerie one in the room. As Selene walked, her footsteps sent the water into uncontinuous circles, and she could view her reflection wobble as she walked.

In the center of the room was a raised platform — much the same as the previous chamber, yet instead of a chalice, this one bore a crystal vial filled with glowing blue liquid. Around the platform, above-ground pools, small waterfalls, and smaller channels of water combined together in constant motion to flow through the area, creating an almost maze-like design of paths intertwined with obstacles.

Selene made her way to the platform, eyes locked on the vial. She could make out that it was, indeed, filled with the bestial blue liquid. That, she had to get—but would have to swim through this marble mess of water and deadly traps.

It was not long before cool water enveloped Selene's skin, and, sure enough, she could easily see what the first obstacle facing her would be: several spinning water jets that aligned in her way. They shot streams of water high into the air, creating a curtain she would have to carefully pass through.

Selene timed her movements to get through the jets just when they would pause. The cold water hit her, and with all the movements and various jerks and spurts of water, she had to be careful about getting drenched. She got to the first set of spinning jets and squeezed through with her heart pounding in her chest.

As she went further, Selene crossed over to a possible second shore, a site of floating platforms--uneven and moving about in a fashion that one could barely predict. She had to jump from one platform to another, timing her jumps just right so as not to miss them and consequently fall into the deeper parts of this maze. The water level was superficial in some parts and quite deep in others; big chances of slipping were there.

Selene made the jumps from platform to platform easily, fluidly, one after the other, her legs screaming with each leap she made, muscles strained. As she jumped from platform to platform, she could feel the tightness of the cords that worked along with her muscles; the splashes resonated through her ears like a siren as she approached the center where the vial was.

After the platforms, she then came across series of narrow channels with gushing water. The channels snaked rapidly, hence creating rapid current that could sweep her off-route. She could only use the walls of the channels to push herself forward as they were tiring to keep a line against the current.

The water was so strong and pushed Selene along. The force almost knocked her down, but still she kept using her raw muscles and skill to press on. Clothes and hair got totally wet, but that did not change her attention toward her aim.

Finally it was a shallow pool, with a small waterfall trickling in, and the vial was set right in the middle on a tiny pedestal at the middle and Selene could see the shimmering in the light and at that moment, she knew that nothing lays in her way but that.

The taken waterfall exuded constant mist, making the area slippery and dangerously treacherous. Selene drew in a deep breath and approached the pedestal very carefully, moving very slowly, taking care not to fall. Arriving at the pedestal, she grasped the vial and felt its cool surface against her fingers.

When she took hold of the vial, the water in the room began to ebb away and the intricate maze of runnels and terraces disappeared, leaving Anastasia standing in the now tranquil pool. The waterfall stilled, and the room was filled with an enchanted silence.

Selene looked around the room, the water below was clear now and the changes the room had undergone after solving the riddle had been calming and tranquil. She felt pride that was almost overpowering as she took the vial from the room and examined the contents to ensure nothing had been lost.

Wading back through to the central chamber, Selene found the guardian there; watching her with an expression that seemed to reflect the pride and expectation of awaiting the true challenge to begin.

"You have passed the Trial of Waters," the protector said. He had told her that the trial also came to test adaptability and endurance. She was now ready for the final ordeal. "Pick another door."

Selene eyed the few doors that remained, her heart still pounding from the last few ordeals. This final ordeal felt particularly straining, and she could not wait to finish it to get what she came here for. She took a deep breath and took the one with the symbol of the mountain.

She stepped into the door, ready to be the final test, whatever it was, to handle her.