Megan Derr The Lost Gods 03 Stone Rose

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.Three great dragons writhing in the clouds, playing in the storms, in the sky and sea."The Sacred Firebird offile:///H|/NOVEL/New%20novel/3.htm[9/25/2009 10:25:54 AM]AmaSour FictionPozhar." On the rightmost door, just below the dragons, a bird with fiery plumage clinging to the branch of a great tree."TheFaerie Queen and Guardians." All down the left side of the door was carved three figures - a woman of unbelievable beauty,delicate wings on her back; on her right was a Pegasus, strong and loyal.On her left was a Unicorn, proud and faithful."I know all those," a woman said impatiently."Of course we know the gods."Jorge seemed not to hear her, and when the others too said nothing, the woman made an impatient noise and then fellsilent."Licht," Jorge said finally, and Culebra heard him move toward the door, knew somehow that Jorge would touch the lastimage carved into the great doors.Right beneath the firebird was the image of a man, rays of sunlight emanating frombehind him.He was simple, understated, nothing like his siblings in all their glory.Pain lanced through Culebra, so deep and harsh it took his breath away, forced him to reach out to catch and steadyhimself."Yes, Licht.First of the gods to be lost."Licht who felt too deeply."My power will not be abused.Not by you.Not by anyone.""I'm not going to abuse it.I'm going to use it to put everything as it should have always been.""I will not allow it!"Culebra shook off the echoing words, feeling cold.He hugged himself and tried to bring his thoughts to focus on theproblems at hand."So how do we open it?" A man's voice, almost petulant sounding, asked into the silence."There's no keyholes or anything.""Keys would be awkward in the dark," Culebra said calmly."There's plenty of light," a different man said - then suddenly fell silent, as his own words struck him.Jorge laughed."So, Highness, show us how to open the door."Culebra sneered."You profess to want to return me to godhood, you wear the mark of the Rose, call yourself after theStone Rose of legend& yet you know nothing of the temples which honor the lord you claim to worship?" He turned towardwhere Jorge seemed to stand."I will have your true purpose in this before I go a step further.""We want to see our Lord restored," Jorge replied calmly."To show the world that Piedre, too, has not lost faith in its god.""You are a liar," Culebra said.He could feel something in him snapping, overriding the fear and dread that were heavy in hisstomach.Part of him knew& knew what Jorge was trying to do& knew it had been tried before& knew he had to stop it onceagain.No matter what that meant.Touching fingers to the snake coiled loosely around his neck, calming and collecting himself, Culebra breathed out in along, silent sigh and then stepped forward.He heard boots scuff and slide on the glass-smooth floor as people scrambled toget out of his way, and then he felt the cold, smooth stone of the massive doors.No man would ever be able to move them;only the ancient spell work thrumming deep within the stone would move them.He let his fingers wander the deep carvings, fingers finding what his mind remembered, fleshing the hazy memories out,then began to seek out the triggers he knew were there though just an hour ago he'd had no idea this entire place existed.Soft snicks echoed in the entryway as he pressed the hidden triggers, six in all.The echoes deepened, almost booming withtheir force, as the gigantic doors unlocked and slowly began to open.Warmth washed over them, dissipating the chill clinging to them.Thick in the air was the scent of roses, and Culebrawrinkled his nose in distaste.He didn't care if they were the Basilisk's flower - he did not like that smell.Behind him, Jorge and the others had not moved.Culebra left them to stand and gawk, striding forward through the doorsas they stopped moving, boots clicking as he stepped onto a floor that he knew had been covered with white tiles.Thecavern in which he stood was massive, towering far above his head.Most of the ceiling and a portion of the curving wallswere covered in the glowing stones that provided light where none would ordinarily be.file:///H|/NOVEL/New%20novel/3.htm[9/25/2009 10:25:54 AM]AmaSour FictionThe cavern itself was notably absent of ceremonial miscellany.No altars, symbols, nothing of the sort [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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