Chapter 17: The Dance of Unity (Greece)

The darkness of the secret chamber still held John in its embrace, but the magical force that had pinned him to the stone floor moments ago retreated, leaving an emptiness in his chest. Beside him stood the pursuer-girl, her dark hair clinging to her cheeks with sweat, her eyes, filled with anger and fear, glinting in the dim light filtering through ceiling cracks. Her chest heaved with ragged breaths, her hand clutching her side, likely aching from their scuffle on the stairs. John felt his own shoulder throbbing with pain, sweat trickling down his temples, mingling with the dust settling on his skin.

“I think it’s one of Apollo’s Muses,” John said quietly, his voice calm but laced with cold resolve. “Maybe Clio. But she won’t say.”

“Nonsense!” the girl snapped, her tone sharp, though her eyes shimmered with fear. “Ghosts? Spirits? You actually believe this drivel?” She took a step back, her hand still gripping her side, but her gaze locked on John, as if he were a greater threat than the voice.

“The Order of Shadow knew where I was going. Why did they send you?”

She scoffed, looking away, though her cheeks flushed slightly — from anger or embarrassment, John couldn’t tell. “Dance if you want to live,” she muttered, her voice low, almost hoarse. “Questions won’t help you.”

Before John could respond, the chamber’s stone walls shuddered, the floor trembling as if the earth were waking from an ancient slumber. Flames flared along the arena’s edges, thin tongues of fire rising, humming like a living breath, casting golden glints on the spirals and stars carved into the walls. The air vibrated, filled with a whisper that echoed like a chorus from the depths. Figures emerged from the shadows — spirits of ancient Greek myths: nymphs with fluid movements like water, satyrs with predatory smiles, their silhouettes swaying to an invisible melody. Their hands glided over each other’s bodies, fingers caressing necks, thighs, breasts in erotic gestures that made John look away. Their eyes, gleaming like stars, watched him and the girl, as if waiting for them to falter.

The voice spoke again, softer now but with a haughty note. “The Dance of Unity begins. Let your bodies lead. Trust is your key. Force is your enemy.” From the darkness came a song — nine voices, melodious, hypnotic, weaving into a melody that pulsed in John’s chest. The Muses sang, their words incomprehensible but piercing, as if calling to something deep within his soul. “Take her,” they whispered, “match her rhythm. She is weak. You are stronger.”

John glanced at the girl. Her eyes narrowed, lips pressed into a thin line, but she stepped forward, her movements hesitant, as if battling fear. Her dark hair swayed as she moved, her skin glistening with sweat in the firelight. John felt his heart quicken, not from fear but from the rhythm pulsing in the air. He stepped toward her, his body catching the melody, and they began to move.

The dance was mystical, as if their bodies became part of something greater. Their movements swayed to the Muses’ song, not touching but so close that John felt the warmth of her body, her breath mingling with his. Her chest rose in time with the melody, her arms swaying, nearly brushing him, her eyes, though frightened, watching him with tense focus. The flames hummed, casting shadows that danced with them, while the spirits — nymphs and satyrs — circled closer, their fingers gliding over each other’s skin, caressing intimate areas with blatant allure. Their eyes laughed, their movements fluid as water, and John felt heat flood him, but his resolve, cold as steel, kept him in rhythm.

“Who are you?” he asked quietly, his voice low but firm as they circled each other. His hand swayed in the air, nearly touching her shoulder, but he held back, heeding the voice’s words.

The girl sharply looked away, her movements growing jerkier, as if pushing back his words. “None of your business,” she snapped, her voice hoarse, tinged with fear. “Dance, or we both die.”

“The Order of Shadow sent you,” John pressed, his feet moving in rhythm, his eyes watching her closely. Her movements, smooth yet tense, reminded him of Lucy’s tenderness, but he banished the thought, focusing. “Why? What are they hiding?”

She scoffed, her lips curling in a smirk, but her eyes flickered with uncertainty. “You think I’ll tell you?” Her hand swayed, nearly grazing him, and she stepped closer, her breath mixing with his. “You don’t know what you’re tangled in, hero.”

The Muses sang louder, their voices sharper, as if urging them on. “Take her!” they whispered, their words humming in the air like a storm. “She’s yours if you want her.” The spirits drew closer, their bodies swaying in an erotic dance, fingers caressing necks, breasts, thighs, their eyes gleaming seductively. The air vibrated with tension, and John felt his heart pound faster, but he didn’t yield, his movements remaining fluid, trust guiding him as the voice commanded.

“I’ll find the truth,” he said, his voice quiet but relentless. “With or without you.” His hand slowly neared her waist but didn’t touch, following the rhythm. Her eyes widened, but she didn’t retreat, her body swaying in sync with his, their movements growing more harmonious.

She suddenly laughed — short, nervous, but with a hint of amusement. “You’re stubborn,” she said, her voice softening as she spun, her hair swaying like dark silk. “But you’re not ready for this.” Her hand rose, barely brushing his shoulder, then quickly pulled back, as if burned.

The dance quickened, the Muses’ melody turning hypnotic, the flames flaring brighter, casting golden sparks that danced in the air. The spirits circled, their movements growing bolder, fingers caressing each other, eyes gleaming invitingly, as if beckoning them to join. John and the girl moved closer, their breaths mingling, yet they kept their distance, their bodies swaying in perfect rhythm. Her eyes sparkled, fear mixing with excitement, and she spun, her hips swaying so close that John felt the heat of her body.

“Why are you here?” he tried again, his voice tense but calm. “The Order fears me. Why?”

She turned her head sharply, her gaze piercing, but her lips trembled. “You ask too much,” she snapped, but her movements grew lighter, as if the dance eased her. “Dance, or we won’t get out.” Her hand swayed, lightly brushing his chest, then quickly withdrew, her cheeks faintly flushing.

The Muses sang louder, their voices roaring like a storm. “Take her!” they cried. “She’s weak! Subdue her!” But John didn’t yield, his movements fluid, trust guiding him. The girl watched him, her eyes gleaming with a mix of anger and surprise, but she kept the rhythm, her body matching his every move.

The dance reached its climax. The air vibrated, the flames blazed brighter, and the spirits froze, their eyes glowing. John and the girl spun in a final movement, their hands finally meeting, fingers intertwining, a spark of electricity coursing through them. The magical force holding the arena weakened, and the Muses’ song faded. The spirits’ shadows melted away, the flames extinguished, leaving only dim light.

The voice spoke again, calm now, with a note of approval. “You have passed the Dance of Unity. Trust prevailed.” A grinding sound echoed, and the wall opposite slid open, revealing a dark passage exuding cold. “Congratulations on your first trial!”

John and the girl stood, still holding hands, their breaths heavy. She yanked her hand away, her eyes gleaming, but a hint of respect flickered in them. John’s heart pounded. What awaited them beyond this passage?

“The first trial?” the girl echoed, indignant.

“Of course, my dear,” the mysterious voice replied. “We so enjoyed your dance that we couldn’t resist the pleasure of watching you again.”

“What’s the next trial?” John asked coldly.

“I don’t want more trials! This voice is deceiving us!” the girl snapped.

“Oh, no… Me? Deceive you?” the voice retorted. “You, little girl, came uninvited into our home! Be so kind as to play by our rules, not dictate your own. We might take offense, dear… and you wouldn’t like that.”

“I think we should continue,” John said.

“What else would you say!” she shot back.

“The first trial wasn’t hard. If it keeps going like this, we’ll both get out alive.”

“Where’d you get the idea they can even harm us?”

“Didn’t you see the fire on the floor? Or those spirits? Forgot the force that pinned us down? They can definitely harm us, but from what I can tell, they don’t particularly want to. They just want to have some fun.”

“You’re suggesting we give it to them?”

“Why not? Besides, I don’t see any other options here. They’re not likely to let us out just like that.”

“John, you’re absolutely right!” the mysterious voice chimed in. “That’s exactly why that sweet lady from your work fell for you! Step through the next door, and good luck! I’m sure you’ll succeed…”

“Damn it… If I die, I’m taking you with me, got it?” the girl said angrily, but less coldly now.

“Alright, alright. I don’t plan on dying here, so we’ll have to survive together! But what’s your name, at least?”

“Me?”

“It’s a bit unfair that you know my name, and I know nothing about you!”

“Ugh, enough with the questions. It’s Gwen…”

“Nice to meet you, Gwen!”

“Can’t say the same!”

“Doesn’t matter what you say!” John shot her a mocking but warm glance and stepped through the next door.

Gwen flushed but quickly turned away, pretending to adjust her clothes. “Hope he didn’t notice…”