Elizabeth Nardo

This journey has been long. She thought a moment about the old hag's warning: this was a dangerous place. But so far, she had heard horrid laughs in the shadows. Now she stands before the pool, the light of her torch reflecting on the silk-smooth surface. Her bones ache as she steps in. The warm water bathes her nude form with power. With each step, her soft skin glows, and the pain fades. Slowly, opalescent scales cover her, scattering light in flashes of color. Her bare foot rises from the water, now wearing sandals with golden bindings. She moves forward to the light-spotlit pedestal. The water flows up her body, and she fears it will drown her. But as it recedes, she is left in a peplos of fine white textile, glowing as if it were a gift of the Goddesses. She runs her fingers gently over the bow on the pedestal, its golden riser glowing in the light. She slips the quiver into place and lifts the bow. A bright light shoots from its riser in all directions, the pool and cavern walls illuminated. The laughing shadows are made flesh: twisted demons, once beautiful and feminine, now grotesque. She reaches into her quiver and pulls an arrow. The bow feels light as a feather as she draws back. She lets the arrow fly, and it turns into a streak of holy light. As it hits a nearby demon, the demon screams, turning to a corpse that lingers for a moment before turning to smoke. As she draws another arrow, she finds her quiver full once more. She fights her way down the cavern, drawn by a gentle hum, slaying demons left and right until she reaches a large oaken door. As she swings it open, she sees the bitch queen who ruled over all her demons. She draws an arrow and lets it loose, only to be stunned as the bitch queen waves a hand and stops it mid-flight. Like a machine, she fires three more quickly, each stopped, hovering halfway. She jumps back and slams the door as the arrows turn and strike it. The queen laughs as she informs her that she and the queen are one; they cannot exist apart. She and I talk, and she tells me a way forward. The bitch queen and I walk to the edge of the sacred pool. She hesitates as I take her hand. With a gentle tug, I pull her along as I step in. All my clothing vanishes, leaving my nude body lit by the glowing water. I look over at the pale white queen, her thin skin tinted blue. We move to the new pedestal and pick up the rings. She takes my hand and slips one upon my finger. I take her gnarly hand and slip a ring upon it. I radiate light, and she screams as her grotesque form changes, a glowing light of purity. She moves to me, and we become one. She is finally defeated, not by the sword, but by embracing her. At that moment, on a different plane, the old hag tosses a bundle of herbs into the fire, calling her back to her body. She awakes, confused, a glowing arrow in her hand.