The path ran ahead of me, a new section appearing with every step forward. It did a slow looping turn and then, without warning, stopped.
As did I.
Because before me lay gates, and they didn't even remotely resemble anything I'd ever imagined the gates to hell would look like. In fact, these delicate creations, enhanced with exquisite depictions of glowing beings, trees, and animals, were so similar to what I'd thought the entrance to heaven might look like that, for a moment, I wondered if I'd somehow taken a wrong path.
Then I saw the snake. It was small, and in one corner, a tiny blot of darkness in an otherwise glowing image. But its eyes seemed to burn with an inhuman awareness, and fear crawled through me. That thing was watching. Waiting. Judging.
Gatekeeper, Amaya said. Her thoughts were wary. Respectful. Fate his.
As in, he decides which section of hell is to be your particular pleasure?
Not alone. All portals.
I scanned the gate and the immediate surrounds, looking for our sorceress but unable to spot her. But she couldn't have disappeared. She had to be here somewhere. What happened to the first gatekeeper now that the first portal is open?
Remains.
I frowned. But the gate no longer exists. Or at least, we didn't appear to pass it.
Still there. Not see open.
Huh. I moved forward cautiously. I still couldn't see the sorceress, but maybe I wouldn't. She knew I chased her, after all, and I had no doubt she also knew how to conceal her presence in this place. What I should be searching for was the key. I'd feel it if I was close enough.
Only trouble was, I had no desire to step off the path, nor get any closer to that damn snake.
Something moved.
Something that was long and sinuous and had a mouth full of teeth.