Chapter Eighteen

"So what's so important you had to drag me out at nine at night?"
"I found a maze of some sort under the mountains. I thought you might be up for an adventure."
"Outside, in a cave. Chesi, what part of this sounded like I might find it interesting?"
"There could be old spellbooks; or magical weaponry. If you're serious about fighting a demon you should be prepared."
Petra grunted, accepting her fate.

The entrance was a very narrow tunnel on the face of a cliff. After squeezing through Petra saw why Chesi had been so interested. There was a doorway, twice as tall as she was, and wide enough she and Chesi could have lain down in it end to end and not touched the sides. Runes and archaic symbols decorated the frame, perhaps as a means of opening it with alchemy. More likely though they were a warning; a few skeletons littered the room, and there were scratch marks on the door as though someone hadtried to claw their way in.

"Why didn't they just leave?"
"We should be careful. It's probably a trap."
On cue, the tunnel behind them sealed itself. Chesi let out a startled yelp, but was silenced as a voice spoke from the door.
"Solve the riddle and you shall not die. Best our chalenge and prove yourself worthy."

Petra looked at the door, the runes and sygils were glowing a dim blue; the only light in the room. They were signs to let it speak, and to open it.
She decided to take the direct approach.
"Let us pass or it shall be you who dies."
"Your first attempt is expended."
"Petra what are you doing?"
Petra hadn't been training for the last two years so she could reason with doors. She raised a dark sleeved arm and extended a pale finger towards the door.
"Everything that was not, must one day be naught again. Heed my voice, enchanted stones, for it spells the end of those who oppose me."
The dim light of the runes was snuffed as tendrils of shadow sprung from her hand. Their light was quenched as she rewrote the spells, and drained the driving power of the door. When they flickered back to life they cast a purple hue on the chamber.
"Open"
And they did.

"The password was 'shortcake' by the way; I came through here yesterday."
"Now it's 'Reaper'."
"You take the fun out of riddles Petra."