chapter27

"So what is the plan big shot" Blake asks while giving Lucian chance to drink some water. They handed me a bottle too but I was so amazed I didn't know which one handed it to me.  It was hard to explain what I am experiencing right at this moment.
            "We go in and face whatever comes our way. We do it as a group" Lucian says and we all just look at one another.
            "All of you agree" Blake asks each and everyone, they all nod their head. Tabitha was last. It looks as if she was about to turn around and make a run for it.
            "Tabitha" Blake ask in a sweet tone. She didn't answer or looked up. "Babes, are you in" he asks and there was tears in her eyes.
            "I can't do this Blake" she whimpers and the others sigh again.
            "Just leave her here, I doubt anything will happen and if danger comes she can fly away" Arianna snaps in that bitchy tone of hers.
            "Arianna take a hike" Blake sounds furious and Lucian steps in.
            "We can't afford to fight. We need Arianna inside. She is the best at enchantments Blake, use your head."
            "Fine, but you stay as far away from me. Get that" and Arianna give him her I don't care attitude. We waited for our strength to come back and walk over to the door. A huge dragon came out of nowhere and stopped us.
             He roars something in Latin that I hardly understood.
            Blake bowed down immediately and we all follow his example. My heart was pounding so fast and loud that I struggle to hear what Blake was saying. It was some sort of introduction. I only catch the word Rubicon and all of our names. I didn't dare to look up, I was too scared.
            Words like unseen and millpond where the only ones that I did understood. I hate not be able to speak or understand this stupid language.
             The dragon replies and it's no use. I didn't get one word.
            "What is he saying" I whisper to Lucian.
            "He said there is no we, only one. Blake is trying to find out what are the rules and how to decide who to choose but he didn't answer back."
            The dragon spoke again. "Call me when you have made your choice" Lucian translates "no dragons." The dragon fly away and we got up slowly.
            "This is a waste of time Lucian" Blake snaps.
            "We just have to chose one person" Lucian bites back.
            "Yeah who is going to do it you, because you heard what he said no dragons." Blake sounded really pissed off. My heart took a notch up as I remember my list, my calculations quickly add up of how many of us can enter. Lucian won't make it out and it's between me, Becky and Arianna.
            "I will go, there is no other choice" he replies.
             "You can't" I interrupt fast.
            "What" they both ask me the same time.
            "No man has made it back. It was only women" I explain.
            "So what you say is that man can't do this" Blake asks in a horrible tone.
            "Yes" I reply.
            "Elena, you don't know that" Sammy interrupts.
            "Sammy, I did my research. Five made it out, they were all women." I gave them all something to think about and it was quiet for a moment. Blake cussed.
            "So you want to tell me it is between Arianna and Becky." 
            "And me Lucian" I reply and he looks at me the same as he did the first time I told him about my plan. As if I am nuts.
            "No Elena" he said again but stop. "I meant to say that you don't have nearly enough training to face anything behind these doors."
            "I will go" Becky steps forward.
            "Becky, are you still . . . intact" I whispers the last part.
            "What does that have to do with anything" she snaps back.
            "Everything, you have to be a maiden" I blurt it out and all of them froze.
            "Becky" George asks for her answer. It was written all over her face. "You got to be f*****g kidding me" he cussed. I try to change the subject.
            "They were all maidens, which only means behind one of those tasks is a Sun-blast" I reply. I look at Arianna and hope by some miracle that she might still be a virgin.
            "Well Arianna that means you are screwed too" Blake chuckles as if it was the biggest joke and she flips him off with a sarcastic curled up lip while George is scolding Becky.
            "Oh common, it was a long time ago" she yells back.
            "George not now" Blake orders him and he grunts. "So what you saying it's only you that can enter through these doors."
            "No, we tried you can't go through those doors" Lucian begs me to listen.
            "We can't back out now. We are so close" I shriek.
            "Elena, I don't know what is behind those doors" he started to panic. "If you don't finish in a certain time you will never come back."
            "I know that."
            "What if there is a dragon that you have to fight" and I show him my axes that was safely in a harness tide around my waist. I fought a dragon before, well sort off.
            "Elena! You can't do this" he had tears in his eyes.
            "I am the only one that can go through those doors Lucian. Please have a little faith in me" my hands cupped his face.
            "I promised that nothing will happen to you" he whispers. I closed my eyes trying to stop them from tearing up.
            "And nothing will" I sound assure as if I knew exactly what was waiting for me in that cave. Blake spoke to him in Latin. I just sigh as I can't make out one word. "You better come out you hear me otherwise I will blow this cavern apart" and I nod my head.
            He held me for a long time. It was difficult for both of us to let go. Sammy was next.
            "Be save" she was crying too.
            "You are a cool chick Sammy, I mean dragon" and she smiles. "Don't change anything and have faith okay."
            She nods her head.
            "Good luck Elena" George grunts still pisses at Becky.  I give him a soft smile.
            "Take care of my girl okay" I ask him nicely as Becky turns her back towards me.
            "It is going to take a miracle for you to make it out alive" Blake sounds serious. "But if you do, you will have my respect." I was stunned by his words and could only nod my head with a faint smile.
            "I guess we will see how right Master Longwei is about this mark." Brian chuckles. "You are one crazy chick and it's driving me nuts."
            "Brian" both Lucian and Blake scolds him.
            "What, it's the truth."
            I shake my head. He sure is insane.
            "Good Luck" was all Tabitha and Arianna said. Blake called the dragon back and we bow again as he landed. He spoke in Latin once more and Blake replied.
            He stay quiet for a brief period. Then the strangest thing happened the next time the dragon spoke it was in English.
            "Did you understand him Elena" Blake asks and I nod my head.
            "Thank you great one" he said and kept quiet. Lucian taps me softly on the bum and as I look at him he was staring up at the dragon, with tears in his eyes. It was my queue to get up.
            "What is your name" the dragon asks me.
             "Elena Watkins."
            "Well Elena Watkins, are you about to face the consequences if you fail to face what the Cavern beholds."
            "Yes" I reply and a shiver runs up my spine. I might be stuck in there forever.
            "Good, let the games begin" he reply and flew away. There was a big rumble that almost felt like an earth quake. We all lost our balance but when it stopped one of the wooden doors was halfway open. Lucian hugged me again before he let me go.
            "Come back to me" he whispers. I just nod my head before he kissed me very passionately. I had to break away and wasn't ready by a mile to go inside, but had no choice. This is it.
            "Elena wait" Becky shouts. She was crying too. "You know I would do this if I could right" she asks and I nod my head. She hugs me tightly. "You kick some a*s and you come back to us. I am so sorry about earlier."
            "It is okay Becky. I am sorry too" I whisper back. She held on me a little longer before letting me go.
            "Wait for me two days please. If I am not out by then, go home" I said before I enter the door. It closed immediately as Lucian yells something back. I didn't even hear what it was. "Please just get me through this" I beg. I don't know if it was to God or the queen but she appeared in my dreams so she better be here too.
            When I open my eyes I turned around and find myself inside a small cave. It was barely lit with fire lanterns that was mounded onto the wall.
            In front was a small waterfall.  Then I could feel a soft rumble again. Something was coming out of the floor. It was a square stone and I had no idea what it is they want me to do.
            Words magically appeared on the right wall. I was glad that I could understand it. "A challenge you have to complete. In fifteen moves and fifteen minutes" I read the first words out loud. Then a riddle came.
            "Paegeia is enchanted with dragons, shifts and nymphs behind a wall, the most  important one is not one but them all" and I frown.
            Common Elena you have to think fast. The most important one. For some reason the only thing that I could think of is Blake's words. That I will have his respect when I exit those doors.
            Not one but them all, it is Blake. The riddle is about the Rubicon.
            I step towards the stone block that got hoisted out of the ground with a small waterfall behind and found a puzzle, the type that you have to move. It used to be my favorite when I was a little girl, so this should be easy.
            There were ten square disks in front of me with only one square empty space. I got fifteen moves to move them into the right place. Each and every square disk got the sign of a dragon and know immediately that it is Blake's sign. I closed my eyes imagining the order, I really wanted to draw this but didn't get to it.  The Fin-tail was first and then the Copper - Horn, next was the Swallow annex sign. The Crown-tail and the Fire-tail after that. It was the first five and the Metallic dragon signs. Then came the Chromatic dragons. The Snow dragon followed by the Moon-bolt, the Sun-blast and Green-vapor. Last was the Night Villain. I got the pictures in my head, I know all the signs because I memorize it and saw each and everyone fit in together.
            It wasn't hard to find the Fin-tail and reach out for my first move. It was stuck. I couldn't move it and started to panic a little.  Calm down Elena, you got this.
            I started to look around and find a hour glass shape object to the right. Something tells me that it was the timer but the amount of sand is not equally to an hour. It was only fifteen minutes. I ran towards the glass and wipe off all the spider webs with my hands. I took a deep breath and turn it around.
            There was a big clicking sound and I ran back towards the puzzle. I didn't think and start moving the Fin-tail into the position I worked out inside my head that will make it move into its right place when I would be done with the last move. Every move is crucial and I guess adrenaline made my brain think ten times faster. I shift the last one in place and closed my eyes.
            My heart stopped beating, I was sure of it and I could only think about the consequences if I am wrong.  I am going to stay here forever until I die.
            The cave rumbles again and when I open my eyes, I saw that one of the walls opened up.
            I blew out some air and turn around to look at the door I just entered. Right behind  it was the love of my life. I slip through the wall not saying my goodbyes.  I just have to give it my best and make it out alive.
            It closed behind me as I enter through it. It was really dark and then fire start running against the wall all the way down to light up the second cave.
            My throat became really dry as I faced my next task.
            It was my worst nightmare. In front of me was the obstacle course I imagined being an extremely tiny human. It didn't work out so well for my tiny self. This one was different though.
            The only thing I do see is two huge upside down axes swinging slowly past each other.  Words appeared on the wall again. "A task you have to complete, that only the brave can defeat. One false move and you might be without a heartbeat." That is very comforting. There was no time limit but I really got to use my head otherwise it will be gone. If that was meant to be funny, they missed the point completely.
             I couldn't see what was past the axe blades. I took a deep breath and hope that Lucian was right about my reflexes. My legs wobbles as I climb the stairs and when the blades swing apart from each other I got a glimpse of a crusher and something that looks like if it could slash me in two.  There were balls turning at the end with things going up and down. At least the speed was manageable but I had to hurry because it was increasing slowly.
            I slipped through behind the blades and almost got hit by a wooden log coming out of nowhere. I fall down immediately and missed it by a inch. My heart pounds so fast that it felt as if it's in my head. Somehow it didn't slow me down and found myself sliding forward and fast as the log was coming back.
             Move your a*s Elena and trust your reflexes, I hear Lucian's voice inside my head. The crashers was next and decided to dive for it. If I lose a leg I would still manage to go on. When I was safe on the other side I had to duck again for the blades that could split me in two but moved forward one step as they reappear. I jumped because of another hidden one hoping to hit me in surprise. I ran a couple of feet but stop as I hear something coming my way. I fell down too late and one hit me on my shoulder. I cried out of pain the instant I hear a loud snap. I bit hard on my jaw, trying to suck it up and forced myself to move forward. The pain coming from my shoulders triggered my tear ducks and wipe them away vigorously.
            When I got up there was no more other obstacles and I can't believe that I have manage to escape each and every single one, almost. It felt as if my shoulder was broken and it hurts like hell. I ran again but slide as a fire blaster appear suddenly. Not thinking I let my body do the work and slide myself into the third cave. m