CHAPTER FORTY

STAIRWAY TO HELL

FLOOR ONE

Light illuminates the silent, pale halls inside the Black Tower. Entering their feet step in shallow water. Somewhere close, they hear sounds of footsteps on the water.

The party draws their weapons in readiness. Waiting to see if they have been discovered. Suddenly, a masked man appears in front of them. Wearing a white expressionless mask, decomposing clothes, carrying a bucket, and looking with two lifeless eyes.

“Don’t make a move!” Tyr threatens the masked man.

Not batting an eye at the intruders, he continues his routine as if nothing out of the ordinary is happening. Moving forward.

Tyr makes a step toward the masked man with his drawn sword as Shaphas grabs his shoulder.

“Wait! There is something unusual here,” Shaphas says, observing the masked man.

“What?” Tyr asks in confusion.

“He is unarmed,” Noname adds.

The masked man continues walking with his glance looking through them, looking nowhere. Approaching the way they came from, he empties the bucket containing human waste. Without a thought or word, he continues.

“Can he not see us?” Tyr asks perplexed by this weird encounter.

“Who knows? Let’s follow,” Shaphas adds as they follow.

The monotonous hallways look devoid of life; all the same and indistinguishable. They notice similar masked men and women aimlessly wondering. Cleaning, carrying various things, or gazing nowhere with dead lifeless eyes behind the white masks.

“Excuse me,” Tyr asks approaching a masked woman. There is no response.

Noname approaches a masked woman who is staring at a wall.

“Hello?” Noname asks. Still no response.

She kicks her, making her fall to the ground. The masked woman rises and resumes her original position and an emotionless stare.

“Don’t do that,” Ulric adds.

“Why not?” Noname asks.

“Wake not a sleeping lion,” Ulric quickly responds.

“They ain’t sleeping or lions,” Noname says grunting.

Wondering aimlessly, the thoughts of futility swell in their minds.

Why are we here? What will any of this accomplish?

Whispers of questions and doubt wander through their minds. They feel as the distance between them has grown.

Shaphas questions his path, he questions Aion. Is this Aion’s justice? You follow the teaching of those that wronged you?

Do I believe, Shaphas wonders?

Tyr wonders, why is he here? He hates battles, but why does he always end up fighting? Why did I follow Patrick in his foolish so-called quest, why did I continue walking this path after his death? Did I not learn anything from the tragedy of my past? I want to be alone, but why am I searching for companionship? Why am I so desperate?

Ridiculous and full of contradiction, Tyr concludes.

Noname reflects on her past. She always strived for surviving one more day so why is she here risking her life for revenge? If I succeed, it will not bring Harry back to life. Would Harry want me to be risking my life, would he do the same if I was the one that died? Her right eye twitches as her finger flips.

“Lunch of worms!” Noname blurts out with her ticks ticking.

Ulric remembers the day his family died, the day his sister Everose died. He remembers the voice he heard before he took revenge. Are you the Moon? Was it the Moon, Ulric thinks?

Melione’s companions were always One and Two. One has vanished, and the other is... different. She thinks back on the words of the half-half woman in the Pale Forest. Always follow your nose is her motto. But what if she isn’t following her nose? Is she deceived, Melione wonders?

No! Shaphas shakes his head.

“My faith is strong! I shall not be led astray by this evil place. We must purge the evil in fire and forgiveness. In the name of Aion,” Shaphas says steadying himself.

“Don’t think now, Tyr. Don’t think! Do what your heart tells you,” Tyr says to himself. He was always more a man of action. Don’t hesitate! He remembers those old words.

Noname calms her ticks.

“I am Noname! I do wat I want. I am free,” Noname says to herself.

I will get revenge for it is what I want, Noname thinks.

Ulric violently shakes his body.

“I cannot be wrong! I must not be! For if I am my life is a lie and that I shall not accept,” Ulric says regaining focus.

Melione stops in her tracks.

“Stop!” Melione says as the doubts creep around.

“STOP!” Melione commands as the air itself trembles. This is her way.

Suddenly, the doubts vanish revealing a stairway leading up.

“This place is evil,” Shaphas says.

“For once we agree,” Ulric adds.

“Let’s go,” Tyr says as the party moves on leaving their doubts behind.

FLOOR TWO

The dim red glow reflects from the icy stone walls as the sound of gentle woodwind music echoes all around- accompanied by a symphony of pleasure. In front of them stands a vast open hall filled with cushions and blankets; on those, lie scantily dressed and/or nude youthful men and women. Their bodies intertwined in the desires of the flesh. Focused and immersed.

“In the name of Aion! What is this?” Shaphas asks, looking displeased.

“It is just some men and women having fun,” Tyr adds, shrugging at the entire scene.

“Those are not some men and women,” Ulric adds with a panicked look.

The party unconsciously takes another look, noticing a crucial detail they missed. White hair and pale skin! The same appearance of the so-called mystics they faced before.

Tyr grips his sword as he remembers how dangerous they are; so far, they remain unnoticed as the mystics are preoccupied with each other, paying no attention to anything else.

“Quickly,” Noname says holding a couple of robes. They quickly put them on to hide their appearance.

“Where did you find them?” Ulric asks as Noname gazes over the entire hall. Indeed, there is no place where you couldn’t find them as they lie scattered everywhere except on the bodies of the mystics.

The four of them put on the robes except for Melione who walks forward.

“Melione!” Tyr softly yells afraid she will reveal them.

“It is fine,” Ulric adds as he nods in front of him. It doesn’t take long for them to realize the most obvious of truths; she looks like the mystic.

They walk through the naked bodies of the white-haired women and men; slowly and carefully. Passing through them, hundreds of hands caress them as they try to pull them down to where the pleasure lies. Shaphas walks around trying to hide his disgust as Tyr, Noname, and Ulric struggle to move on. Melione, in front, is the only one that moves unhinged by the entire situation. This is her way. The moans intensify, the number of arms grow calling to temptation.

Spending most of his life in the outdoors, living the life of a hermit, took its toll.

Why not enjoy this pleasure, Ulric thinks?

Noname was always one for comfort and living in the moment. This is her way of life. Why not take the paltry things that are offered? There may not come a second chance.

The loneliness of his solitary life was hard for him. It was long since he felt a warm embrace of another human, the embrace of love.

This is not love, but it is the closest thing out there, Tyr thinks.

Maybe for a moment?

Shaphas glances at two men as the memories of his past come rushing in; he shakes and quivers trying to stay on his legs. Tyr, Ulric and Noname slowly wander off as Shaphas loses his ground. Suddenly, Melione appears with a gentle touch. With a simple tap on the shoulder, they return to their senses. They move as the stairs up lie in sight.

Four of them enter the stairway as Melione stands at the end; before proceeding forward a white-haired mystic woman grabs her by the arm.

“Will you not stay and have some fun?” the mystic asks in an eerie voice.

Noname rushes grabbing Melione and kissing her intensely.

Another mystic comes grabbing the mystic woman as she gladly allows for this.

“Go now,” Noname says seeing an opportunity as the mystics lie preoccupied.

Some distance away they take a breather on the stairs.

“That was some quick thinking,” Tyr adds.

“Didn’t it bother you to kiss another woman?” Shaphas asks.

“Why? All the same,” Noname responds shrugging.

“The same?” Shaphas asks.

“Lips are lips and body is body. Some softer than the other though,” Noname responds unhinged. They continue their way leaving their desires behind.

FLOOR THREE

Arriving at the next floor they stand behind a closed gate; their mouths water as a pleasant smell reaches their noses. They open it. The smell intensifies. In front of them, another enormous hall with long wooden tables and on the tables a feast of food and drinks. The freshly baked meat with side dishes of fruit and vegetables glow brightly; the smell of sweet wine and spirits cover the air. Tyr takes an imaginary bite as his body hungers. The tables are filled with mystics who, like the previous ones, are unnaturally focused on the delicacies.

“Should we?” Tyr asks turning to the other party members.

“And risk getting killed?” Noname angrily responds as taking a deep sniff; she turns to glance at the tables. There are sweats, she notices.

“Well?” Noname adds, thinking.

“I am hungry,” Ulric says.

“This is no time for this,” Shaphas responds. They know he is right, but... maybe one bite? No one will notice, will they?

They walk through the giant hall trying to not look at the vibrantly cooked meat with fruits and vegetables; Ulric looks.

Trying to not smell the sweet scent of the red wine; Tyr doesn't resist.

The savage chewing noise intensifies as the almost possessed mystics plow through what is available. Most of all the chocolates and cakes;

Noname looks.

Melione wanders off, without thought, as she goes to sit at one table; Shaphas quickly grabs her.

“We must go,” Shaphas whispers.

“Go?” Melione asks.

“The one we are looking for is here,” Shaphas says.

Tyr grabs a bottle of wine as a mystic grabs his hand. The party stops as Tyr grips his sword. Not paying any attention the mystic releases his hand as he goes for a nearby cub of corn, making the party sigh in relief.

He got the wine and a couple of judgmental looks. It doesn’t matter, for a bottle of wine is a bottle of wine. Good enough.

They pass through the hall as they make their way up.

“You fool!” Ulric yells as Shaphas shakes his head.

“Whatever,” Tyr says, taking a big chug of the wine. The journey continues.

Noname stands at the back waiting for everyone to make a little distance. The coast is clear. She takes out two biscuits and gobbles them. What she wants, she takes. Ulric notices her as a slightly awkward pause appears; he takes out a piece of meat and eats it. There is no need for words. They continue leaving drinks and food behind... most of them.