Ari looked at Emery disapprovingly. Shaking her head in disgust at Emery's reaction as they passed through the waterfall. Let's go Ari said coldly as she climbed off the boat onto a dock that ran the circumference of the circular cavern. While Ari tied the boat up Emery looked around. There were big metal mounted torches lining the dock's edge lighting up the cavern. She couldn't decide where to look first as she followed Ari off of the boat. They were standing in a cave that had crystals embedded into the walls of the cavern.
The crystals shimmered in the firelight projecting rainbows all across the cavern that danced to the pace of the fire. Emery starred in awe, she had never seen anything quite so beautiful. She ran her fingers gently over the crystal protruding from the wall next to her. The reflection of the torches fire across from the obelisk-shaped diamond protruding from the wall swayed back and forth begging her to dance with it. Emery felt herself swaying along with the flame subconsciously.
The light from the fire refracted off the insides of the diamond from different angles. Until they swirled together into a kaleidoscope of colors. Mesmerized by the beauty of the rainbow that shimmered in the crystal Emery couldn't take her eyes off of it. She didn't even notice the world rearranging around her. Soon the colors settled and the rainbow disappeared settling into a hill looking up into a tree line of a forest. Emery frowned as she felt something moving against her leg.
Emery went to look down but stopped herself wondering what if it was a bug or a spider. Please don't be a spider, please don't be a spider Emery prayed as she looked down. She was standing in a field of wild purple flowers. As she looked up dazed Emery realized it was a beautifully sunny day. If she had to guess she would say around midday.
Her stomach started to tie itself in a knot as she soaked up her surroundings. There she was the blond she was running out of the trees and down the hill towards a small little town nestled a short distance away from where Emery stood. The blond looked behind her frantically at a group of men with hunting dogs that were chasing after her. Emery tore her gaze away from the blond and practically jumped out of her skin when she realized Ari was still standing next to her. Other people never joined her in her visions. Ari had a weird look on her face, a cross between shock and horror Emery thought. Where are we? Emery whispered mostly to herself. She was surprised when Ari answered her. Underground Ari said as she pushed Emery forward as hard as she could. Come on let's go, you're making us late.
Emery was reeling as she followed along behind Ari. But the sun's shining so bright and all the flowers Emery said as she turned to look back up the hill covered with the sunbaked purple flowers. In its place now stood sturdy dirt walls that were dimly lit by torches. Emery whipped her head around looking about frantically. They were in a tunnel made out of packed dirt that Emery could tell had been traveled often.
Emery pushed past her bumping into her hard as she took the lead, walking swiftly down the damp musty hallway. Emery looked at Ari's back silently pleading with her eyes. Begging her to confirm that she had been in the field of flowers too. Ari was walking quickly and Emery would have had to run to keep up with her. She looked down at her feet as she slowly shuffled along. Emery had fallen mute contemplating the sudden change in Ari's attitude. She stumbled along behind Ari in a daze wondering yet again if she was going mad. It was the only logical explanation for what was happening to her. Ari led her towards a white door suspended in the middle of a wall that was just wide enough for one person to enter at a time.
Air came to a sudden stop causing Emery who was looking down at her feet mindlessly to walk right into Ari. Ari who was lost in her own thoughts glared at her with an unconcealed malice. What the hell do you think you are doing? Do you ever watch where you're going? Why don't you get your head out of the clouds for once and pay attention to your surroundings?
What in the name of the goods is wrong with you. Emery gasped in surprise at Ari's words. They came out of nowhere. Emery wanted to deny the accusation but she couldn't think of any good reasons too. Instead, Emery just mumbled the first lame excuse she could think of.
I um… I think I might have accidentally swallowed too much saltwater. That can cause you to hallucinate right? Ari shrugged, casually dismissing Emery's concerns as she came to a stop just under the door. There was a three moon symbol on the door and what Emery assumed was the northern star centered behind the moons. The door was situated in the middle of the wall.
There were about four feet of wall between the door and the floor. Emery could see that there was a slight lip protruding from the base of the door. Ari climbed onto the lip that extended from the wall and expertly pushed the door open with the confidence of someone who had done so a million times. Ari disappeared through the door expecting Emery to be right behind her. Emery just stared after her as if she was afraid the door would disappear too. She was still hurt and dumbfounded by Ari's words. Wondering what the hell she was doing here in the first place. Emery told herself she needed to follow Ari but couldn't seem to get her legs to work.
Just then a shrill sorta shriek echoed throughout the cavernous hallway. Ari's screaming must have kick-started Emery's legs into motion because the next thing she knew she was sprinting the short distance from where she was standing to where the open door stood. Frantically Emery tried to pull herself up onto the wall. When that didn't work she tried to throw a leg up onto the wall. Failing epically at her attempt to climb the wall Emery lost her balance and fell backwards onto her butt becoming painfully aware that like most things in Ireland this place was built for tall people.
Emery was still sitting on her butt glaring at the open door when Ari reappeared in the doorway fixing Emery with a murderous look. Do you care to explain to me why I'm covered in blood Ari shouted? Emery looked up at Ari as a wave of relief washed over her. Oh, thank god is that why you screamed. You'll be needing your god by the time I'm done with you Ari threatened through gritted teeth.
I swear if you ever scare me like that again. Ari chided. Emery held up the hand that had been ripped open by what she could only assume was some kind of rock wall. This promptly stopped Ari mid-lecture. Get up here Ari ordered as she bent down to offer emery a hand.
Emery rolled her eyes carefully, putting her leg on top of the wall as Ari grabbed her around the waist. Awkwardly between the two of them Emery kind of rolled up into the doorway. Emery got to her feet and kinda stumbled through the door. Once they were inside the door Ari shut it behind them. While Ari examined Emery's hand she looked around and was stunned to realize she was standing in some sort of closet. There were shoes. Rows and rows of shoes on one wall.
Next to the shoes was an assortment of gowns. Ball gowns, party gowns, see-through gowns, any size, shape, and color of gown you could think of. Next to the gowns were pants some were jean material and some were leather. Emery could tell which ones were worn more than others by the way they were faded. On the wall across from where Emery stood was a mirror that ran from the ceiling to the floor.
The mirror was so wide Emery was pretty sure three of her side by side would still be able to fit into the mirror. Emery stuck her tongue out at her reflection. She looked like a drowned rat that just climbed out of the sewer. Maybe a slightly overweight drowned rat but a drowned rat all the same. Her long brown hair was tangled and stuck to her face. Her shirt was drenched with seawater and stained with a mixture of blood and mud.
Emery's tights and shoes were caked in mud. She stared at the state of her shoes in dismay. Shivering at the thought of walking all this way in nothing but her tights on. She decided that putting on her shoes had been the right decision. Ow Emery yelped as Ari pulled a sharp shard of stone out of her hand.
Ari glared at her it's not my fault you were dumb enough to touch the cliffs in the first place. Ari examined the stone she pulled out of Emery's hand closely and gave a slight sigh of relief. She pulled on Emery's wrist commanding her to come. I need to wash the blood off. I need to see how deep your wounds are. Emery didn't budge. She was staring down at herself. Emery yanked her hand away from Ari.
What the hell are you...Ari started to say but stopped mid-sentence when she realized Emery had started to strip. Emery was already halfway through taking off her ruined tights by the time Ari could say anything. I'm covered in mud, blood, and seawater. The least I could do is remove the majority of the mud-covered clothing before walking any further. Emery paused for a moment and looked at Ari whos being a prude now?
Emery chuckled as she finished pulling down her tights. Relax A I'm just taking off my tights and shoes. Still cradling her hand palm side up Emery finished kicking off her tights and shoes. Okay, she said sticking her hurt hand out I'm ready. Ari who had been waiting impatiently grabbed Emery by the wrist and dragged her through a beautiful gold archway that leads out into an almost empty room.
The yellow adobe walls were completely bare. Emery's bare feet were cold as she walked across the polished red stone floor. The only thing in the room was a giant bed that was centrally located in the room. The bed was covered in huge plush pillows and vibrantly colored velvet blankets. After they walked past the bed Ari dragged her through another gold and marble archway into a sitting area.
Emery blinked in surprise this room was the complete opposite of the one she just walked out of. The yellow adobe walls were covered in paintings of people and places Emery didn't recognize. There was a red lounge in the middle of the room. If Emery were to sit on it facing the direction she was being dragged she would see a vase and a beautiful spun glass bowl that sat atop a pedestal. Next to the pedestal with the basin was a slightly smaller pedestal that a stack of rags sat on. Emery looked behind her to see what was on the other wall.
There she found a beautiful dark brown wooden vanity with an oval mirror trimmed in different colored jewels. It was strewn with necklaces and rings. A few random jars and a couple of bottles probably filled with fragrance sprays. Next to the vanity was shelves that went from floor to ceiling. In fact, anywhere there would have been an empty spot on the wall was a shelf.
The shelves were covered with bottles of oils and jars of ground up herbs. Interspersed among the jars and bottles were splashes of color coming from live plants. Emery was paying so much attention to the room behind her she ran right into the rose-red lounge in front of her. She didn't even have time to stop and rub her leg before Ari yanked her around the lounge and dragged her to the vase and the basin. Hurry up your bleeding all over my bedroom floor.
Ari placed Emery's hand so it hovered over the red and yellow glass basin. She grabbed the porcelain white vase and poured cool water over Emery's hand. Grabbing one of the rags from the other pedestal Ari dabbed gently at Emery's hand. Ari looked up at Emery pleased. Your lucky you didn't drag your hand along the Isle of Death you would have gotten poisonous thorns stuck in your hand instead of these sharp little babies from the cliffs of the Isle of Youth Ari said holding up another shard of rock she just pulled out of Emery's hand.
Emery stuttered th, th the Isle of Death. Ari draped the rag over Emery's hand and walked away. Honestly Emery you're worse than a child with a fork and a light socket I swear. Ari walked around studying the bottles of herbs and oils in her room mummering to herself. After pulling two or three bottles of the shelves and pulling a leaf or two from a plant Ari walked back over to Emery. With one hand Ari pulled on the painting closest to them.
Emery blinked in surprise as the painting swung open like a door revealing a smooth piece of wood. Ari pulled the piece of wood down so that one side was propped in the wall and the other sat atop one of the pedestals creating a small table. Ari placed the oils, leaves, and dried herbs on the table. Brushing her hands off Ari turned her attention back to where the painting had hung. It was now a cupboard that had three shelves.
On them sat a mortar and pestle, a pair of scissors, and a few small bottles full of colored liquids. Ari pulled down the mortar and pestle mixing the ingredients in it until they became a paste. Ari coated Emery's palm with the paste. She then proceeded to cut up one of the rags and wrapped most of the strips of cloth around Emery's hand. Studying her work Ari Finley said I supposed that will have to do.