“Yes?” I pressed, eager to find out, which was shocking as I wasn’t much for history or geography.
“They come from one of the countries that surround Zinc. Which is technically where the Civilians come from too, since a small group of them were chosen and then gifted with the blue blood cell. Since we are an island, I believe they must have come across Zinc by accident during a boat trip." And then obviously terrorized the native Palliums out of their skins.
“Many things are different outside of our small country, Solenum. Such as the house of God, or ‘church’ as they call it.”
"As if we were to create specific buildings to show the Creators of Zinc we appreciate them?" I asked to confirm. Why the hell were there elements from another country in this place? But then if the Regius originally came from those other countries, they must have worshiped the God those people outside of Zinc worshipped until they became close to Gods themselves.
"Exactly so. Gargoyles tend to have their mouths open. They're just decorative today, but a long time ago churches used them to pour hot oil through. As in, through their mouths to fight off the people who attacked the sanctuary."
"Either you just told me I'm about to get burnt alive in oil, or, and please let it be the following, you totally went off subject."
"Off subject." He confirmed. "But not completely because look at them, their mouths are closed." He pointed out.
"So?" I pressed.
"Well, they are the only things that kind of pop out of the general atmosphere placed in these rooms. Aside from the gargoyles the chamber is pretty much bare." Looking around, I saw he was right. Frowning in concentration, I moved over to one of the gargoyle heads, tilting my head back so I could try to observe them more closely.
"Can you zoom in with your camera?" I asked softly, curiously staring at a gap in the gargoyle's long neck. I checked the others and noticed they were engraved with similar gaps. It went around, kind of separating the face from the throat.
"They have markings on their chins. But the one above you has a different marking than the one next to it on the same wall." He murmured. "Check the other ones." I did as asked.
"Four heads have the same markings on their chins while there are two that, although share the same marking as each other, are different from the other four."
"I think you can push the heads backwards. Like you did the stone in the first room. But," I sighed, of course there was a but. "I think we need to find out whether you need to push the ones that are four or the ones that are two."
"Can't we just push them all?"
"Your funeral."
Someone better give me a fucking award when I get out of this place! Grumbling under my breath, I tried to decipher them. The markings were letters, that much was clear and I'm pretty sure it was Pallium again.
"The ones that are two say ‘Altors’ while the ones that are four translate to ‘Regius’." He paused, "You're going with Altors, right?"
I shook my head. "No way. This is a Regius dungeon, they expect me to pick Altors. They want me to pick it; it's like it's taunting me," I muttered. "I'm going with Regius."
"Very wise. There is a passage in the ceiling. Once you've pushed the four heads back, you'll have unlocked it. Two heads wouldn't have been enough as there are four locks on this trap."
"Why make me pick if you knew the answer already?"
"I just wanted to see if you were using your brain. I guess you were." He replied easily.
"I'm glad at least one of us is having a good time," I muttered. "Now all I need to do is grow real fast so I can reach them."
"Use the crashed door. You can pile the pieces on top of each other." He suggested.
Grimacing at my former opponent, I set to work and began carrying blocks of stone over to the first gargoyle head on the wall behind me. It took a moment, but once I'd piled them up as high as I could, which was pretty much my own height, I carefully climbed my way up onto them. Although a bit wobbly, it did do the trick. Reaching up, I wrinkled my nose as I couldn't get my fingers to close around the gargoyle.
"Still too short." Now I knew what Cali must always feel like.
"You're a jumper, aren't you?"
"Last time you said that I nearly died." I reminded him, bending through my knees to prepare myself for the jump upwards.
"Because you weren't nearly dying before I suggested the ledge to you? You do remember the dogs, don't you?" Sarcasm did not suit him. Sighing and ignoring him for the moment, I pushed off my feet, closing the small distance between my arms and the stonefaced gargoyle. Thankfully, I managed to get a tight grip, dangling in the air as the stones I'd piled up previously were now falling back to the floor with a crash.
The neck was long enough for me to pull myself up and sit on top, my feet swinging gently back and forth on either side of it. When I placed my hands on its face and tried to push it inwards, it didn't budge. Looking up at the camera, I offered the kid a questioning look.
"Can you push it off its neck?" Trying that, I pushed with all my freaking might, but soon had to give up. "You aren't going to start crying dramatically, are you?" Glaring at the edged worry in his tone, he then added, "Do you want me to get the Steward so you can answer his questions?"
"Thank you for the pep talk." I grumbled and then tilted my head curiously, trying to look at the neck more closely. Tracing the shape of it, I let my hands slide over the cold stone, trying to feel underneath to make sure I was right.
"What are you-" I lifted a finger to shut him up before placing both my hands on the gargoyle's cheeks, grabbing them tightly before twisting the head sideways so that its eyes weren't looking down to the floor, but up to the ceiling instead. It wasn't easy, it did take some muscle but once the audible click announced I'd turned it all the way, I grinned at the camera in triumph.
"Sol..." What now? "Look down." When I did, I'm pretty sure my eyes twitched. Water. Lots of water was starting to fill up the room.
"Fuck."
"Colorful, but appropriate."
"What do I do?!" I pulled my legs up so I could place my feet onto the gargoyle's neck and manage to shakily stand up on top of it as I placed my palms flat against the wall behind me, watching the water rise at a very, very fast pace.
"I can't help you. You know what you need to do and you now simply need to do it. This loud speaker is going to fry once the water reaches it." He pointed out. "Talk to you in the next room." There was a scary pause. "Maybe."
I stared numbly as the green light on the camera blinked off, telling me he was no longer present. Shaking my head after a moment, I checked the gargoyle on the next wall. I didn't have time to pile up the stones again. The water was nearly a quarter up already.
Wonderful. I was going to drown. Hadn't it been Calycanthus who'd told me that it was one of the most painful deaths? I needed to see him again; I needed to know if he was all right. And of course, I needed to tell Galax that I loved him. I wanted to be present when Conium took over Pallium leadership from Flux. I wanted the opportunity to smack Flux for having kept many things from me. Another thing I wanted was to see Lupinus, tell him I was sorry for how I'd acted out. I wanted to meet Juglan Kish and fly on his sky ship called Apnea. I wished to see the Altor Coliseum.
Breathing fast, my eyes darted over to the distances in between each gargoyle. I had to try. Gulping, I didn't take too much time to think about it as I launched myself towards it and grabbing its neck, pulling myself up. I quickly crouched down to keep my balance, checking the water level in slight worry as I twisted the neck around. Once I heard the click, I didn’t waste any more time, balancing myself back up into a standing position, eying the corner of the room warily.
It was slightly more difficult jump and further ahead too. Pushing off my feet, I flung myself forward again and the gargoyle's neck connected with my stomach. I slipped then, not managing to make my way up.
Falling into the water, I slowly swam my way back up to the surface, letting myself flo
at as I stared at the gargoyles. I would be able to turn the last two once the water reached their height. That wasn't what worried me. The locator did. I hadn't had time to put it back in the plastic bag earlier, I’d just shoved it into my pocket. And with the water covering me, it was officially fried now.
I waited for the water to fill up high enough so I could simply swim towards the gargoyle heads. The third head I turned with some difficulty as my hands were slippery and the fourth head was such a pain, I was bawling like a baby as I pushed, pulled, twisted, anything really, with all my might. At this point the water was so high up, I had to go under.
Swimming up, I gasped for air, hearing the click reach my ears as a shifting sound followed. I sighed in very slight relief at the opening in the ceiling. It was the same one I'd fallen through. Lying back, I let myself float lazily upwards along with the water that continued to fill the room. Now that I’d done everything I needed to do to get the trap to unlock, I realized that this dungeon may just break me.
The kid certainly made my stay here a tad less depressing, but the situation was most definitely taking its toll. Now with the locator fried, I didn’t have that slight glimmer of hope someone would find me anymore. Was it on long enough for anyone to have noticed? Would they even venture into Immortalis Silva when they had no idea I was the one stuck here?
Once the water was high enough, I climbed through the trap and out of the hellish place only so I could continue onto the next. Dripping with water and soaked to the bone, I settled my feet on either side of the trap and then turned the knob of the door I hadn't been able to reach before so I could quickly make my way into a bedroom. I firmly shut the door behind me to keep the water out. My body trembled with cold and as I fell to my knees, breathing heavy, I tried not to freak out. I couldn't freak out. There was more to come and if I let it get to me already, I'd never make it out of here alive.
"You did really good, Solenum." I tensed as the boy's voice had returned.
"Thank you." I said softly, wiping the tears off my cheeks before turning around, pointing my gaze in the camera's direction as I sagged against the door.
"You're welcome." He sounded so sad, as if he were feeling my pain. "I'll leave you in peace for now." My body stiffened, my eyes alertly fixing onto the camera.
"Wait! What's your name?" I needed to know.
"Robinia Kowalski." I let out a breathy chuckle, closing my eyes and allowing my head to fall backwards. Robinia. Of course I'd unknowingly trust the person Mallow had told me I could trust.
"I'm glad it's you, Robinia."
"Get some sleep." He suggested, the green light turning off again telling me he was giving me some privacy.
This chamber was altogether different from the previous place I'd slept in. This was an actual room. There was a fireplace with a fire roaring and two armchairs placed before it with a low table in between. I could see a big plate filled with food set onto it and there was a new bottle of water beside it. A large bed was pushed in the opposite corner and the last thing my eyes fell upon, well, I couldn't help but groan in anticipation as I stared at the bathtub, the water steaming.
I got onto my feet, stripped down on the way to the tub, letting my clothes fall randomly to the floor. I whimpered as my muscles somewhat screamed in distress when I lowered myself into the tub. It wasn't unpleasant for very long and after a couple of seconds I could only be soothed by the warmth.
When I was done with the bath, I dumped my clothes into the water so I could wash the dirt and sewer stench out of them. I then wrapped myself up in the bed's blanket and sat by the fire, which is where I later set my clothes so they could dry. I ate the food that was offered and proceeded in tumbling my way into the large, warm and welcoming bed.
This was the worst kind of torture ever. Treating me like crap until I was nearly dead on my feet, only to replenish me comfortably so I could do it all over again. That was bad but I think even worse than that was that I was going to let them. I was going to let them play games with me and I was going to take advantage of the room they'd offered tonight. The room they'd offered just to make sure I wouldn't die before spilling the answers to the questions of the Steward. Questions I didn't know the answers of to begin with.
* * * *
Chapter 11
Galax Kaminski
For prison cells, those of the Coliseum could be considered luxurious. Each barred section that held a person had a bed, a comfortable chair and a proper table. Although the coloring of the place was a bit dreary as the entire Coliseum was made out of grey stones, and thus, it was quite depressing. Unfortunately, since these cells were built beneath the training ground, there were no windows.
Galax had tested the bars, but realized the Altors had kept the Regius strength in mind while building these cages. He could bend them or break the lock, but it would take time and a great amount of his strength. It's the kind of time he didn't have, because if he so much as managed to make a dent in the bars, the Altors would already be down and restraining him.
They were lucky he was cooperative. He could have broken free from Ilex and Aram when they'd guided him down here. It would have been hard, but it wouldn't have been impossible. They had Cali to thank for that. Had the boy not talked to him, calmed and managed to make him see the light again, he might have been riled up still and harmed the Trainer and Elder.
Of course Calycanthus' words were losing their effect as he was starting to feel more and more suffocated. The fact that they were purposely not interacting with him or Datura angered him all the more as this was the kind of time he couldn't waste. Solenum was out there and needed him. But because of the damned law, Aram felt it necessary for his adoptive father to be the one to let him out.
As for the Keeper...
While he had tried to harbor a fugitive and keep him hidden from the other Altors, his punishment was a bit excessive in Galax's eyes. But as Cali had said, Aram was a bully and Datura had defied him. The Keeper wouldn't be released from his cell until the Elder had a conference with the other Elders. And who knew where Pieris and Rose were at this moment with all that was going on in Zinc right now.
Soon all those that had gone to look for him would return once Aram or Flux had contacted them to give the news of his location. Iso might be spared a conversation with his twin and Galaxi and Ivy would be able to return to the sides of their husbands. Hopefully, Vervaine hadn't even made it to District Leader Reed. Galax hated the man and knew that Vervaine wasn't particularly fond of him either. Although the uproar of his disappearance annoyed him, he was glad that Iris had made the decision to bring Anemone to Iron Island, leaving her under the care of District Leader Angi. It was the safest place to be in Zinc at the moment, and the child deserved to be kept away from the mess that was trying to break free.
Detaching his gaze from the monotone wall before him, he turned his head to look at the neighboring cell with the Keeper laying in his bed, fast asleep. Of course, his slumber wasn't disturbed. Although he wasn't beside Cali, he knew the boy was safely upstairs. Galax didn't get that luxury.
Had he not momentarily forgotten that Flux knew him inside and out, he might not have ended up in this trap. Had Galax known Galaxi was at the Coliseum before he'd arrived, he might have guessed. But no such luck. Instead, his sister had tampered with the Coliseum's security system, making it so that when he tampered with it, a signal would be sent to their father instantly. Aram was the closest figure of power in the neighborhood and because of that silly mistake, he now found himself locked up in the cells of the Coliseum.
"We I et zat yer!" Galax frowned deeply as Datura spoke the death tongue, growling at the empty air as he sat up in the bed, clearly unhappy to have been forced to wake. "Ij moi noi."
"They can contact you from outside the Valley?" The Keeper seemed surprised at hearing Galax's voice and the look on his face told the Prince that Datura had momentarily forgotten he'd been locked away. When the realization hit him though, he fell back on the
bed, groaning.
"Not exactly. The souls within the Valley have the power to do harm if they were to break free from their realm."
"Then who are you talking to?" Galax stood, deciding it might be time to stretch his legs a bit and started pacing the small cell.
"Ghosts. They are slightly different from the souls." Datura explained. "They refused my call and guidance to peace and have forsaken their souls. It is where they let go of their revenge, but instead of following the path to peace, they deny themselves that and return to our realm where they roam the lands in search of answers."
"You are speaking with dead Altors still trying to play their part as soldiers in this war?"
The Keeper grunted, sitting up. "I have more conversations with dead Altors, be they souls or ghosts, than those that are alive. These have the privilege of being present outside of the Valley." Galax raised an eyebrow when Datura whacked the air. "Unfortunately for me, I can see and communicate with them, so they are always breathing down my neck." His red gaze landed on Galax. "I had hoped they would stay clear since you are here."
"Ah, so they hate me even after death." Galax wasn't impressed. "I'm not even surprised."
"Not hate." The Keeper murmured, standing so he could pace as the Prince was. "Afraid."
"Then why are they not keeping away?"
"They wish to inform me of something important." Datura explained. "But I won't listen until they understand that they need to talk one by one, not all hundred at once!" He growled at the air.
That held Galax's curiosity. "You cannot control them?" Apparently, the ghosts were being particularly persistent, as the Prince had never seen Datura quite this agitated.
"Of course I cannot. I am a Medium; I can see and speak with them and because I am alive, when I use my voice to suggest they follow the path to peace, it is clearer than any other voice they can hear. They feel compelled to listen to it, but if they end up not wanting to, they either remain stuck in the Valley forever, or manage to reach the second alternative of peace and forsake their souls to roam Zinc as ghosts forever." Galax sat down as the Keeper was doing the pacing for the both of them at this point, his fingers rubbing his temples, most likely trying to keep a headache at bay. "There is no grey area in the powers of a Keeper, sire."
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