A/N Finding their way to the Chamber of Silver. Helen and John have a frank conversation. Someone makes an unexpected reappearance.
FOURTEEN
They were standing on an incline, so that they could see part of the labryinth's outline from a bird's eye view. Aurelian pointed to the twisting, circular pathways and the center of the maze.
"That is where the Chamber of Silver lies."
"Were you ever any good at mazes, Will?" Helen asked.
He looked startled. "Are you telling me you're not?"
"Always preferred crosswords."
Will let out a gusty sigh, running his hand through his hair. "Can you teleport us to the center, Druitt?"
John looked around the cavern and shook his head. "The minerals in these stones … they're creating an electrical interference."
Will turned to the Sybarites pleadingly. "Any help?"
They shook their heads apologetically. Ylerin said, "I'm afraid that neither of us were ever brought to the Chamber of Silver. We know only as much as you."
"Okay … okay, I can do this. Just … think…" Will sat down, folding his hands under his chin as he surveyed the labyrinth thoughtfully.
"Can't we just go through it like a regular maze? Leave trackers, and if we hit a dead end, double back?" Helen suggested.
Aurelian shook his head vigorously. "No, doctor, do not attempt it. If you go down a dead end, you will find yourself closed in on all sides by stone walls. The Silver Path is protected."
"Great," Helen muttered.
"It's called the Path of Silver for a reason." Will stood up, looking at the hole in the ceiling that revealed the night sky. "And I don't think that's there just for decoration…" Will moved his head from side to side, still staring up at the hole. He could see the moon dart in and out of view as he moved around. An idea slowly dawned on him. "It's a compass."
Helen walked over so she could see the exact point Will was staring at. He pointed to the sky. "The entrance to the maze was a half-moon. Depending on what direction we're going, we can see either no moon, a half-moon or a full moon. I think we navigate the maze by making sure we see a half-moon at all times."
Druitt growled lowly. "It's too risky."
"I think Will's right. And we have to take that chance. Who knows what will happen if the cartel find their way into the chamber?" Helen hoisted up her backpack and slung it over her shoulder. She began making her way to the entrance of the labyrinth. Will shrugged apologetically at Druitt before following after.
John sighed, but knew he would follow. He would always follow Helen, not matter how foolhardy the task.
"Left or right?"
Will felt a crick in his neck forming from constantly looking upwards. It was beginning to take its toll. "Left. We lose the moon to the right."
Helen nodded and bravely strode forward. Will groaned and tried stretching and massaging the pinched nerve from his neck. Aurelian and Ylerin both had their hands on his shoulders, guiding him.
Helen insisted on leading first. She figured if they took a wrong step, she might be able to warn the rest and they wouldn't be trapped. John seemed to sense what she was thinking though, and insisted on keeping pace with her.
"I really don't know what you're hoping to find down here, Helen, but it isn't worth risking your life." John's voice was taut. It was taking all of his effort not to sound like he was scolding her.
He was failing miserably, though. Helen remained tight-lipped, resolutely navigating ahead.
"We both know this is unnecessary," he continued, "and foolhardy. You could have gotten the South American Sanctuary to head this operation. Hell, you could have even contacted the government. At the very least, we could have just blown up this entire cavern and left the rats to fight over insignificant scraps."
"Which one, Will?" Helen shouted, her voice rising as she tried to keep her anger in check. There was a pause and then he called back, "Center, straight ahead."
John sighed, rubbing his face tiredly. "I'm sorry, Helen. I guess I just don't understand—"
"Too right, you don't bloody understand!" Helen hissed. "I don't want to destroy something so important to an abnormal culture, that's also been around for over five thousand years unless I absolutely have to. And there's the Silver Lady to consider."
"What about her?"
"She may be a super-abnormal, like Big Bertha. And she might be here, inside the heart of the labyrinth. We might end up destroying her along with everything else if we just set our explosives and run. And not knowing what kind of abnormal she is … who knows what the ramifications of that could be."
John nodded evenly. "I'm sorry. You were right."
"Never thought I'd hear you say that," Helen snarled bitterly.
"Helen, stop for a moment." John held her hand, pulling her back to face him. "You harbour so much anger for me. If I could give anything to have you not hate me…"
Helen hung her head, fighting to stop herself from shaking. "I don't hate you, John."
"For you to forgive me."
"I wish I could, John. But knowing all the things that you've done … that it could still happen again…"
John trembled, his fist clenched so had his knuckles had turned white. "Believe me, I regret it more than anyone."
"I won't apologize for the way I feel," Helen snapped. "Or be bullied into forgiving you."
"I wasn't trying to bully you—" John stopped himself, hearing his own voice rising. He was choked with rage and frustration, but he was furious with himself. Nodding politely to her, he moved to the back of the team, giving her space.
"Magnus, look!" Will pointed excitedly ahead. Distracted, Helen hadn't realized that they had finally made it to the center of the maze. A large pillar stood in front of them.
The Sybarites pushed their way to the front. Running, they fell to their knees when they reached the pillar. An image of a woman clothed in stars was etched onto the column. Helen held Will and Druitt back, giving the Sybarites' a private moment. They seemed close to tears, reverently touching the carving of their goddess.
There was the sound of stone grating and the Sybarites pulled their hands back in shock. The stone pillar was turning, descending into the ground in a spiral. As the pillar sunk into the ground, a figure came into view standing on the other side.
Helen's mouth fell open in shock. "Nikola?"
He grinned sheepishly at them and shrugged. "I figured it out."
"How did you—" Helen began walking forward. The stone pillar settled into the ground with a shudder, revealing a stairway. Nikola hopped down into it.
"Sorry, Helen. But I'm not sharing this one." He descended quickly out of sight.
"What?" Helen's mouth worked furiously in shock. Snarling, Druitt broke into a run.
Ylerin grabbed Aurelian's hand and pulled him down into the stairway. The stone pillar started to rise immediately after they vanished from view, the stairway sealed.
"You selfish prat!" Helen bellowed, still reeling.
Druitt grappled with the pillar ineffectually, unable to halt its progression upward. The carving of the Silver Lady smiled serenely back at them, cold eyes unmoving.
Will groaned and sat down, defeated. Helen trembled with rage, but knew it was useless. Nikola had disappeared into the Chamber of Silver and they were locked out.