It was the biggest hallway Valaina had ever seen. A dark blood red carpet stretched from her feet, at least a hundred feet, to double doors at the end of the hall. Arched windows lined the wall, light flooding the dark channel. Small, unlit candlesticks lined the walls opposite the windows.
Valaina started down the hallway, thinking. Thinking fast. She didn't know where she was going! What would she do at the end of the hall? What if there were more halls?! I need to stop that she thought. I worry way too much.
She actually didn't need to worry. Through the hall's double doors was a small room. There was a small chandelier, dark umber colored walls, and two other girls. Valaina reluctantly made her presence known.
A short choppy haired blonde was first to speak. "Hi! Who are you? I'm Suzy. Twelve years old I am; turning thirteen in a month. Where'd you come from anyway and do you know what's going on—"
"Suzanne please!" the other girl said. "The poor thing hasn't been here for two seconds." She turned to Valaina and smiled, "Hi. I'm Raye."
The whole thing hit Valaina like a truck. She was confused, bombarded with questions, and tired. Really tired. Hungry too… But all the same, she put on a smile. "I'm Valaina. I came from Earth and I don't know much about what's going on. Only what my familiar told me—
"O-m-g no WAY!" Suzy squeaked, "we're witches too, yep, I guess then you're our third mate!" Raye just stood there staring blankly and twirling her flat black and blue hair. "I'm a water witch. Yep. A water sprite! Raye here is a pyro witch."
"Thanks Suzy. I might as well be mute." Raye half laughed. "Like motor mouth said, I do magic using fire. What's your domain?"
"Um," Valaina was embarrassed, "I use a book."
"A book?"
"So you're just a spell caster?"
"Yea I guess." Valaina gave a weak smile. She felt so much less powerful, needing to read her spell when these two just willed their powers "on." It was worse not even knowing all of it.
In mid thought a booming voice sounded out of nowhere. "CONTESTANTS. IN A FEW MOMENTS A DOOR WILL APPEAR. ON THE OTHER SIDE IS THE BEGINNING OR END OF THE REST OF YOUR LIVES. GO THROUGH THE DOOR AND YOU WILL EITHER SUFFOCATE AND BURN FROM THE INSIDE OUT OR PROCEDE TO THE GREAT HALL." The three looked nervously at each other. "IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO TAKE THE RISK THEN TURN BACK NOW."
The room was silent as a wave of nervousness swept over the trio. Then, an eight foot door sprung out of the far wall. It was transparent, and glowing. The size was intimidating. Especially to Suzy who stood no taller than five feet.
"Well," Valaina said with leadership, "If you both are ready, I'm going." She didn't wait for a reaction. She just took a breath, opened the door and hoped Suzy and Raye followed.
What lay on the other side of the door was amazing. The Great Hall wasn't so much a hall than a room. It was huge, dark, and circular. A single round platform rest in the lowest, most center area of the Hall. There were no walls. What would have been walls were series' of balconies packed with aliens and people and...things. Valaina didn't know how to describe them. What stood out most were three giant green blobs. Their skin looked like jell-o and the odor coming from them was repulsive. Cross between a dead animal and rotten fungus Valaina thought. Gross.
"VAL! C'MON!" Suzy yelled. She and Raye were heading towards an opening at the edge of the balcony. Valaina ran to them. "Wonder what happens now?"
"I think we are about to find out." Raye pointed to a miniature gadget resembling a metal rubix cube flying towards the platform. The room dimmed, and a giant hologram of a hooded figure appeared. He wore many layers of robes, but Valaina could tell how thin he was. The hood cast a dark shadow over his face, nothing but a mouth and a long grey beard. Silence fell across the vast cavern, as Svante began to speak.
"Congratulations to you all. You have passed the first of many obstacles in store. I now confess that nobody was in danger by stepping through the Door. It was a test of courage and determination," Svante's voice was low and gravely. Not exactly what our trio had first imagined. Though his age suggested differently, Svante's voice sounded 40 years younger than his appearance.
"Many of you may wonder what this gathering is for. I am growing weak, and unfit to protect your homes, therefore somebody has to take my place. In 8 days time, I will die. If no one has taken possession of the guardian energy I have, this half of the universe will expire, along with everything in it.
"Three beings of every species from every galaxy, you, will be pitted against each other in a race to determine who has the fortitude to guard this vast space. Tomorrow morning at sunrise, you will begin. Meet at the bottom of the canyon just outside this complex. First you will scale that canyon, find your way through the tundra labyrinth, descend into the forest and meet back here.
"There are no rules. You may do whatever it takes, even killing or betrayal.
"One last item of importance regarding this competition. During the race, when you overcome a terrain you will receive a small orb," Svante held out his holographic hand. Three small spheres appeared one a light misty blue, one rough and brown, the other was a deep green. "When you return here, place each orb on the designated pedestal. You will again be transported to me, where you will receive your prize."
Svante's expression changed. Though they didn't see his whole face, everyone there felt the tension he gave off lift. "On a lighter note, I expect you all are eager for food and rest." More transparent glowing doors appeared on each floor. "Through those doors are either your rooms or a feast," his expression hardened, "No harm comes to anyone before you leave the canyon floor. Any form of disobeying my order will result in immediate disqualification and, depending on the severity of your insubordination, death."
"Now go. Eat, rest, and mingle. We will resume business at sunrise." The metal orbital turned off and flew through some sort of invisible barrier. Noise started up again and everyone went through doors, conversed, and just stood in awe.
"I'm hungry!" Suzy said with a bright smile, "Let's go eat!" Raye looked to Valaina. She just shrugged and went through the nearest door.
After eating their fill, the trio separated. Raye went to their room, Suzy played with some sort of small fuzzy purple beast from some other world, and Valaina took a look at the competition.
She had to admit, she felt pretty outmatched against most of the creatures she saw. Except the mini purple fluff monsters. Valaina decided she could probably take them. She saw those big green blobs again. Their called Shivas, according to a flying brain-squid looking thing she encountered earlier.
Valaina walked around some more, trying to learn more about these things. Suddenly, she felt something run into her. Politeness kicking in, Valaina quickly turned with a smile and apologized.
"Hmph. You should be sorry little girl. If I weren't so much better than you, I would kill you on the spot." Valaina opened her eyes, and dropped her smile. The source of her bumped bum was woman, maybe mid thirties in earth years. She had short, choppy, straight, bubble gum pink hair, green eyes, and a skimpy, sluttish looking outfit. A one piece, complete with stilettos. Valaina already didn't like her very much.
"Little girl?!" Valaina growled, "I'll show you little you…you…dirty space-ho!" She moved to pounce on the woman but was stopped by someone grabbing her arm. Being pulled out of mid-pounce doesn't feel pleasant. "Hey! No! Nu-uh, let me tear her face apart!!!!" Valaina screamed as the arm held her down.
"Stop this. Are you two stupid? Weren't you listening to Svante?! NO fighting." The voice was calm, though obviously agitated. It was deep, but still had a young touch to it.
The woman laughed, "Alright pretty boy you win." She turned to Valaina, "My name is Narmolanya. Don't forget it either." Narmolanya turned on her heels and strode off.
Valaina growled and turned on the boy stopping her. He was taller than her, and had dark skin. He had short black hair and, strangely, wore clothes similar to those found on Earth. He had dark red, long sleeves and normal black jeans. Accessorizing to his outfit were black fingerless gloves and boots. Despite all that, she was drawn to his eyes. They were a bright yellow, almost glowing. She was going to yell at him, but she was stunned.
"Don't start any trouble okay?" Valaina saw fangs as this mystery man spoke. She couldn't speak. All she did was dumbly nod. "Are you… alright?" he asked, waving a hand in front of her face.
"He's really cute…"
"…"
"I said that out loud didn't I…"
"Yep."
"Ah…." Valaina said and started to laugh. He laughed too. "I'm Valaina. I'm a witch."
He nodded, "My name is Dante and I'm a vampire." Dante barred his fangs in a smile. A smexy one too, Valaina thought (Inside her head this time).
The two walked around, met other life forms, and talked. By the time each of them ran out of things to say, the giant room was nearly empty.
"Well I guess I'll see you at the canyon." Valaina said. She tried so hard to seem cool.
"Yes. 'Til tomorrow." If Dante had a cape, it would have swished at his turn. He was so incredibly smooth. Valaina eyes drifted down to his butt-ish area as he walked away. Her girly teen thoughts were interrupted as a bubbly Suzy ran over.
"O-M-G Valy I saw the whole thing. He was cute! Too bad we have to kick his bum in the race. Yep that we do. Well time to go! I'm sleepy lets go!" Suzy grabbed Valaina by her bag's strap and pulled her through the door.