Chapter 11 Eleven
Danica stared at the brick wall in front of her as if it were some foreign object she had never seen before.
"This is the place?"
She had already asked the same question three times but still couldn't quite accept it.
Mason had insisted this was where they were supposed to be for their meeting, and he hadn't made a mistake. She was having a hard time believing that this was their destination; after all, it was nothing more than a brick wall.
"Tell me again how a wall is the location of a meeting." Danica murmured, furrowing her brows. It was already fifteen to twelve, and they didn't have time for Mason to play jokes. "It's a wall."
"Just wait," Mason, who was ill at ease beside her, responded.
Opposite Mason, Danica was a ball of nerves. The closer they got to their meeting, the more nervous she became. By this point, she had developed the strong urge to turn and run.
"Calm down." Mason whispered, wrapping a soothing hand around Danica's. "It's all going to be okay."
A long breath Danica hadn't realized she was holding escaped her as Mason's touch and confident words filled her with warmth.
Nodding, she opened her mouth to thank him but stopped when a dim light began forming on the brick wall. It traveled up from the ground to about six feet before making a turn to the right and across about two feet before traveling back down.
As they watched, she realized that the light was forming the shape of a door. The outline of it glowed brighter as the sound of metal grinding began to emerge from the brick itself.
Turning to Mason, Danica looked for an explanation, but he simply smiled and motioned for her to continue watching.
The door that had formed had begun to rise as smoke emerged from it, billowing out towards them as it rose higher and higher until finally it was fully open.
"Let's go."
Not waiting for a response, Mason moved through the entryway that was now available to them.
Hesitantly, Danica followed, still in disbelief at what she had just witnessed. How was any of this even possible?
Upon entering, the sound of metal grinding echoed around them as the door began to close once more, causing the area around them to slowly grow darker and darker until Danica couldn't see at all.
"Mason," she rasped, unable to control the panic that was building within her as she began to feel claustrophobic.
"Look up ahead," came his soothing voice from the darkness beside her.
Turning her eyes towards what she assumed was the end of the dark tunnel they were currently standing in, Danica found small little balls of light beginning to make their way towards them. As they grew closer, the path ahead became more and more visible until she could see the tunnel again.
"What are those?"
The first ball of light had made it to them, and it was beginning to turn circles around Danica as she remained rooted in place.
"Fairy lights," Mason responded, while another began to circle around him. "Most likely created by the elven elder to light our way."
Holding up a hand Danica allowed the small, fluttering ball of light to twirl its way around the length of her arm before landing on one of her fingers. She had expected it to be hot to the touch, but instead it radiated a calming warmth.
"If you're done gawking, we need to get going."
Nodding, Danica allowed the fairy light to lift off her finger and spin circles in the air, beckoning her to follow.
Obliging, she began moving forward towards the slowly growing exit.
Like the door in the wall that allowed them to enter, the exit door began to rise, allowing light to flow in to light the way.
The area around them began to come into view as the door ahead grew until Danica could finally make out the area around her.
Brick slab walls stood to either side, with moss and cobwebs littering them. The ground below their feet was nothing more than dirt and rock. Danica couldn't help but wonder whether or not inside all the walls looked like this. Did all the walls even open into passages?
A gust of air hit Danica in the face, drawing her from her thoughts and filling her nose with the smell of fresh grass and a faint hint of flowers. Furrowing her brow, she continued moving towards the exit.
When she stepped through, blinding sunlight attacked her eyes, causing her to use one hand to block the onslaught. She found herself standing in the middle of what could only be compared to a very large greenhouse.
Vines with roses snaked along an arch that marked the entrance to the greenhouse itself. Large trees filled with various fruits grew along the sides of a cobblestone path. Many flowers of different sizes and colors covered the grounds beyond the path up to the glass walls of the building. Every other panel of the walls held stained glass murals portraying each creature in existence that reflected vivid colors around the area, giving it a warm glow.
The whole scene before Danica had a fairytale feel, and she was having a hard time believing she wasn't dreaming.
A gentle squeeze to her hand reminded Danica that this was very much real and she didn't have the time to be so engrossed in the scene before her.
Sucking in a calming breath, she allowed Mason to begin to lead her towards the path ahead.
The sound of water flowing met Danica's ears as they reached the end of the line of trees. Just ahead, she could make out a large fountain with three naked stone maidens standing in the middle of it. In their hands were multicolored jugs that water flowed out of, splashing into the pool below.
Lounging on the fountain's ledge was what appeared to be a woman with large white wings folded down her back. Her head was titled back, so her long white hair cascaded down around them and her very exposed breasts.
"What is she?" Danica whispered in Mason's ear, not wanting her to hear.
"Harpie," Mason chuckled as he took in her shocked expression. "If you're already that amazed by her, how will you react to the rest?"
Not responding, Danica began looking around to see if she could spot the rest that he was referring to. As she did so, the Harpie Elder seemed to notice their presence.
Standing, she allowed her wings to stretch out to their full glory before she began sauntering towards where Danica and Mason stood.
"Welcome," she beamed, flapping her wings. "Alpha Mason Thompson and his future Luna, I presume."
"Yes, elder," Mason responded, pulling Danica closer to him so he could wrap an arm around her waist.
"Please call me Rebecca."
As she spoke, she kept her eyes locked on Mason as if he were some sort of foreign delicacy.
"I've been waiting for you both," she continued. "Come, the rest are waiting in the garden."
"This isn't the garden?"
Danica couldn't help but blurt out as she looked around her.
Rebecca turned her gaze toward Danica, as if just noticing that she was even there and gaze a tsk.
"Luna, this is most certainly not the garden." Her voice, which had been so welcoming and friendly towards Mason, became cold and indifferent. "Now please follow me."
Turning on her heel, Rebecca began to hastily make her way away towards another arch made of stone and jewels, while Mason and Danica followed behind.
"Don't worry, all Harpies are like that towards females," Mason explained.
Danica raised an eyebrow.
"Why?"
"I will explain it to you later," Mason chuckled, shaking his head.
Explain it later; that seemed to be his favorite phrase.
Beginning to feel irritated, Danica kept quiet as they finally arrived at a large lawn.
Artificial wind provided a soft breeze that swayed the grass and flowers beneath their feet as they entered the garden's garden.
Sitting on what could only be described as thrones made of wood and flowers were the final five elders. All their faces remained impassive and unmoving as Rebecca made her way to join them, leaving Danica and Mason behind.
Gulping, Danica fixed her gaze straight ahead and prepared herself for what was about to come her way.