Noxia Shade's Arc

Chapter 8 of 15

Past the chapel, the passage widened and the stone simply stopped. Noxia stepped into open air. A vaulted chamber spread before her, far too large for this depth. At its center stood a pale lodge, spiraled like a shell, its round door glowing from within. Stairs of cut rock led up to it. She crossed the floor slow. A small winged creature drifted past her shoulder, tendrils trailing light. It did not flee. It led. Noxia followed it up the steps and through the door. Inside, a single low table held a polished tray. Two champagne glasses. Fruit, cheese, bright slices of orange. Two glasses. She had been expected. She lifted one glass, sniffed it, set it down untouched. The chair across the table was empty, but the seat cushion was still warm. Noxia sat in the warm chair instead of the cold one. She placed her boot beside the tray where a hand would rest. Let them come back and find her in their seat. The fifth gate was not a door. It was an invitation, and she had just accepted it on her own terms.