Room16c
Jora reaches for the black mirror which races forward to envelop the group.
The transition is different than before. No cold assaults them; instead a dry heat like the open mouth of a blast furnace washes over them. Their mouths fill with grit with the taste of brimstone and salt. Dust and clouds swirl around them and then the air clears and they stand in the center of the room, their feet covered in sand.
The mirrors have disappeared.
In the corner of the room between the black and white doors crouches an enormous beast.
The creature’s body is that of a lion but a lion of a size which no man has ever seen. Its shoulder is level with the top of Jora’s head and each paw is as wide as his hips.
The human head perched on the monster’s neck snarls with fury and shakes the long black hair and beard as the youngsters appear.
“Will you face me in a battle of wits?”
“That we shall, monster,” Jora says.
The sphinx sits on its haunches and regards the group.
“Long have I dwelt here. I am tasked to guard the way. Only by matching my wit shall you pass unharmed. Four of you come before me, four riddles must you answer or face my fangs.”
“Can’t one of us answer the riddles?” Lamia steps in front of Conrad who she knows is the weakest at riddles.
“Four riddles, four players, each must answer or all shall die. Hear now your first riddle.
“At night they come without being fetched,
“And by day they are lost without being stolen.”
“That’s easy,” Safir says. “The answer is stars.”
The monster hangs its head. “That was too simple. Now I shall truly challenge you.
“The beginning of eternity
“The end of time and space
“The beginning of every end,
“And the end of every place.”
The remaining three friends look at each other, clearly at a loss until Jora’s eyes go wide.
“I have it,” he says. “I know the answer. It’s the letter E.”
The sphinx roars and the adventurers retreat several steps in fear.
“Luck favors you but two yet remain. Hear now my penultimate riddle.
“I never was, am always to be,
“No one ever saw me, nor ever will
“And yet I am the confidence of all
“To live and breathe on this terrestrial ball.”
Lamia and Conrad stare at each other with wide eyes. Lamia shakes her head and Conrad shrugs.
“Do you forfeit?” The sphinx almost sounds like it’s salivating.
“No,” the duo says simultaneously.
Lamia paces, thinking frantically while Conrad chews on a finger.
“Your time is up, humans, answer or die.”
“I’m not sure but I think I might have heard this,” Lamia says.
“Then answer,” Conrad says.
“But what if the next one is even harder?”
“We’ll be dead anyway if you don’t answer, I don’t have a clue.”
“Tomorrow. I think the answer is tomorrow.”
The sphinx screams in rage and claws the floor. Deep gouges appear in the sand and a cloud of grit flies behind the monster.
“One remains. I offer you my hardest riddle, child. Fail and I shall eat your heart.
“Runs over fields and woods all day
“Under the bed at night sits not alone,
“With long tongue hanging out,
“A-waiting for a bone.”
Conrad looks at his friends, panic is written large across his face.
“You can do this,” Safir says.
“Just think it through,” Jora suggests.
“It kind of sounds like a dog.”
“Is that your answer?” The sphinx rises to its feet.
“No,” Lamia shouts. “It is not. Come on Conrad. Don’t go for such an obvious choice. Think about it. It runs and then sits under your bed…”
“No aid shall be given,” the monster roars. “The boy shall solve my riddle on his own or you all shall die, regardless.”
Conrad paces in front of the monster. “I don’t know. How could it be anything else? It’s got a long tongue. Jora, I don’t know.”
“Try your best buddy.”
“Answer now child,” the sphinx moves closer to Conrad.
“Dog. The answer is a dog.”
“Wrong!” The sphinx pounces upon Conrad, gutting the helpless boy with its rear claws. Conrad doesn’t even have time to scream before he dies.
The monster launches itself at Jora who tries to draw his sword but he cannot move as swiftly as the pouncing beast and is in turn savaged by the claws.
The sphinx turns toward Lamia and Safir.
“But we answered correctly,” Safir cries.
“That is why I save you for last. You both look sweet. You shall be a tasty dessert.”
The monster leaps upon the girls and blood flies through the air.