It was 5:50 in the morning, just as the sun was peeking over the horizon. Klaus rapped on the door of the old neoclassical building that housed Gytheon's library.
The buzzing sound from the communication panel signalled that he could enter through the heavy wooden door.
"You're here early," a voice called out from a distance.
He didn't answer back; instead, his gaze wandered around the room. The living room was spacious, with high ceilings. The cedar-colored parquet floor complemented the large emerald sofa and matching armchairs. A striking carpet with white and black stripes adorned the floor, while the walls were painted in various shades of grey. A grand frame displaying the bust of Apollo stood proudly between two large windows.
Vintage bookcases lined the walls, and a cozy fireplace occupied the corner.
From the central windows, you could gaze out at the port of Gytheio and witness the vibrant hues of the sunrises and sunsets reflecting on the sea.
"Did you find your way here easily?" Noe asked, emerging from the second door in the corridor.
"I see you still prize your father," the hybrid commented, pointing at the half-face portrait of the god Apollo displayed on the wall.
Noe responded with a mix of seriousness and humor, "What can I say? I am dad's girl."
"I had no idea you were so unabashedly proud of being a librarian." Klaus jokingly quipped, alluding to her role as the guardian and holder of age-old knowledge and opting to reside atop a public library.
"Ha, ha, that was funny! And there I thought you left that witty humour of yours back in New Orleans." The woman flashed a playful stare and continued unaffected. "I suppose I grew weary of enduring centuries of isolation. If my purpose is to safeguard humanity's heritage, the least I can do is immerse myself in their world and make an effort to understand them," Noe retorted, effortlessly shrugging off Klaus' sarcastic demeanour.
"Ready?" She asked, not bothering to wait for an answer, and led the hybrid towards the exit.
Klaus's luxurious Ford Escape was parked by the street. Noe settled into the passenger seat, exclaiming, 'I think you'd prefer to drive.
The car traveled the route from the Spartis-Gytheio provincial road to the Spartis Mountaineering Refuge at 1550m. This early in the morning, the road was empty. As they drove along the deserted road, Noe couldn't help but ask, "Can we please break this awkward silence with some music? " Klaus glanced at Noe with a smirk before reaching over to the dashboard and turning on the radio. The sound of some old-school rock filled the car, instantly lightening the mood between them. "I will even let you pick the next song," the hybrid said in a facetious tone.
"Oh my, you truly are a fine specimen of chivalry!" Noe responded sarcastically, rolling her eyes playfully. The banter between them continued as they enjoyed the beautiful drive towards Spartis Mountaineering Refuge.
The mountaineering refuge was an old, rustic building made of stone with a breathtaking view of the surrounding mountains. It was the end of the main road, and from there, their journey would continue on foot.
Phemonoe, with a touch of humor, exclaimed, "I trust you've had your morning dose of the old O'Negative." "We've ascent 1550 meters, and now we're left with 857 more to go."
"Ah, the joys of mountaineering," Klaus muttered sarcastically.
Noe smirked. "Well, if you prefer teleportation, I can arrange that for you."
Klaus rolled his eyes. "I suppose I'll have to settle for the scenic route then."
The woman chuckled. "Just think of it as a test of your endurance. Besides, the view from the top will be worth it."
As they arrived at the familiar entrance Klaus had entered the day before, the woman gently touched the rock with her hand, and to Klaus's surprise, the passage opened instantly. With the newfound entrance, the two of them crossed the passage with ease. "That was quite the trick, love," Klaus remarked, only to receive a cheeky response from the woman: "Oh, just you wait, love. The real magic is yet to come."
As they moved deeper into the cave, the torches lit up. Just her presence alone was enough to make the veil that hid the sacred space disappear, revealing the magnificent temple.
Phemonoe snatched the torch and exclaimed, "Let's light this thing up!" In one quick move, she set fire to the massive brazier that proudly stood in the center of the room.
As the flames flickered and swayed, their radiant glow enveloped the entire area, casting a warm and inviting ambiance. The priestess then delicately placed a crystal into the crevice of the temple, where a solitary beam of sunlight pierced through, causing the light to scatter and fill the space in an instant.
Phemonoe glanced at Klaus, who appeared utterly bewildered, and playfully remarked. "Behold the light! The temple and the pyramid are, after all, a sacred tribute to dear old daddy Apollo, the almighty ruler of light and the sun." She flashed him a mischievous grin.
Klaus, being the control freak that he is, couldn't help but ask, "Well, what's the plan now?" He was uncomfortable with the idea of not being in charge.
"Ah, Klaus, now we have to rip your heart out, a customary part of the ritual," Noe said, her voice apathetic, causing him to momentarily lose his ability to speak due to sheer astonishment. "
"Relax, honey; we will start the cleansing ritual," Noe remarked.
"The triumphant return of 'Honey'! It took you an eternity to come back to that, didn't it? Was it 13 whole hours?" The hybrid mocked.
"Come on, you know you love that nickname."
Klaus rolled his eyes at Noe's comment, trying to hide his annoyance. He couldn't deny that the nickname had grown on him over time, but he didn't want to give her the satisfaction of admitting it. Deep down, he knew he had missed their banter. "If that's what floats your boat, love, then by all means, go ahead and believe it. But hey, don't keep us in suspense any longer! Share the damn plan with the rest of the class, will you?
Noe grinned mischievously, enjoying Klaus's subtle admission.
"Well, aren't you just a ray of sunshine today?" She teased before finally getting serious. "Alright, here's the plan... It is actually quite simple. First, we'll purify ourselves by using water from the temple's spring. We'll change into white attire: you'll wear a tunic, and I'll wear a veil. Then, I'll make the kykeon, the cleansing drink, and we'll both drink it. While we wait for our bodies to be purified, I'll recite prayers and begin chanting the old gods. Once ready, we'll make our way towards the center of the pyramid and immerse ourselves in the lake's waters when the sun is at its peak in the sky.
The lake's water will cleanse us entirely. Your vampirism and immortality will be temporarily gone, while I'll shed my mortal form.
And that is the scary part. As I mentioned yesterday, it's not just about being physically pure but also about having pure intentions.
If all goes well, I will be able to see the future, and you will be able to walk out of that lake alive."
Klaus rolled his eyes in annoyance. "That sounds incredibly safe. I mean, what could possibly go wrong?" Despite being aware of what to anticipate, it failed to alleviate his anxiety.
The woman kindly grasped his hand and reassured him, saying, "Honey, relax. Everything will be okay. Our talk yesterday truly convinced me of your intentions, and I have faith that the gods will perceive them in the same light."
They took off their garments and used linen cloths soaked in the spring water to cleanse each other's skin. But when Phimonoe brought the robe and wrapped it around Klaus' naked body,
The original hybrid couldn't help but express his dislike for the white sheet he was forced to wear.
"Oh, stop whining like a spoiled little brat, Klaus. Alexander the Great honored that tunic, so I am pretty sure it is good enough for Klaus the Mad." Noe shouted with a hint of exasperation, and Klaus shot back a venomous look. But the woman, regaining her composure, gave him an ear-to-ear grin and continued her preparations for the cleansing drink.
Κykeon was a flavorful aromatic tea that left a cool mouthfeel.
Klaus couldn't help but exclaim, "Wow, this is absolutely scrumptious! You know, my sister, Freya, is one heck of a powerful witch, but her herb-blending skills could use a little boost. It's like she's brewing up disappointment in a cauldron! Maybe you could sprinkle some of your expertise and add a pinch of good flavor to her concoctions!"
Klaus's compliment made the woman laugh. " Maybe next time I will be in your city, you can introduce me to her, and we can have a cauldron party." She commented mischievously.
"For now, I need you to take a few steps back. You are immortal, but I am not in the mood for a hybrid Flambé."
The priestess tossed a couple of handfuls of spices into the fire, causing the flames to shoot up towards the ceiling. Then she started chanting some words. With each chant, her voice grew more powerful, resonating with the growing intensity of the flames. Yet, despite the fiery embrace, Phemonoe's body remained resilient, unyielding to their heat. As the flames roared, the priestess's voice grew louder, losing its human quality. All of a sudden, the raging flames subsided, and the priestess's voice became softer. Before Klaus stood a seemingly human figure, yet an eerie and otherworldly aura emanated from her being.
"Follow me," the woman ordered; her voice sounded ancient and divine, and the hybrid obeyed.
As they ventured further from the temple, their path delved deeper into the mountain's core. It was a dim and winding route, with narrow passages that seemed to stretch on forever. The air grew colder and more damp as they reached an open space resembling a cave. Sunlight streamed through a sizable hole in the ceiling, casting a shimmering glow on the waters of a sinkhole—a clash of light and darkness. It was a sight to take your breath away.
Stalactites adorned the surroundings, resembling delicate ornaments suspended from above, with some nearly grazing the stalagmites that had formed over countless millennia.
The priests guided them along a stone walkway that gracefully cut through the shimmering water, eventually leading to a circular platform positioned at the center of the sinkhole.
"We are standing at the heart of the world's oldest pyramid, a sacred place where the Divine Harmony bestows its 'everlasting' fire upon humanity." Her unearthly voice resonated through the space as she spoke. "This mountain pyramid serves as a cosmic conduit, a gateway to ancient cosmic energy, because the world is constantly in flux, always 'becoming' but never being.
A mystical alignment connects the pinnacle of the pyramid to Olympus, the Great Pyramid in Egypt, the Lighthouse of Alexandria, Stonehenge, and other ancient sites. It is a powerful energy vortex if you will. It is a place of synthesis with that eternal fire of creation," the priestess explains, "and what you will experience in that lake is diving into the waters of that flame."