"So, do you have any ideas what these fancy squiggles mean?" Dani asks as she crouches down to examine them closer.
I lean in, my brow furrowed in concentration as I study the symbols. There are otherwordly looking designs, but if I had to guess—musical notes etched beneath each instrument—drums, flute, harp, and of course, the fucking lyre. But here's the thing...I can't read music for shit.
"Don't look at me, baby," I mutter, shaking my head. "I'm about as musically literate as a tone-deaf goat."
"This oval-shaped note with a stem represents a half note, lasting two beats," Erik explains, his voice calm and measured as he points to each symbol. "The open oval is a whole note, four beats. The filled oval with a stem is a quarter note, one beat. And this filled oval with a stem and a flag is an eighth note, lasting half a beat."
I stare at him, my jaw practically hitting the fucking floor. "Since when did you become a goddamn music prodigy?"
Erik shrugs, silver eyes glinting. "I used to play the piano, brother. A very long time ago."
Dani, meanwhile, is off in her own little world, her head cocked to the side like she's listening to something only she can hear. "They're telling us to play the musical notes," she murmurs, her voice distant and dreamy.
I glancearound the chamber. "Play them with what, exactly? I don't see any fucking instruments lying around."
"We hum," Erik replies like it's the most obvious thing in the world. He turns to Dani, his expression serious. "Hum this beat, Dani." He demonstrates a note, and Dani mimics it perfectly. Then he does the same for me, and soon enough, we're all humming in harmony like some otherworldly choir.
And that's when the magic happens. As our voices blend, words materialize on the stone above the musical notes, glowing with an eerie, pulsing light.
"Holy hell," I breathe, my eyes widening in awe. "Is that...a song?"
Erik nods, his long silver hair falling into his eyes, his gaze intense as he reads the words aloud.
"In the calm, the light shall glow,
with a whisper where secrets flow.
Melodies of joy we weave,
to unlock the path, we believe."
We fall silent, waiting with bated breath for something—anything—to happen. But the chamber remains still and quiet. The only sound is the gentle lapping of the water against the platform.
"Okay, so...now what?" I ask, my voice echoing off the stone walls.
Erik frowns. "Perhaps we need to sing the melody," he suggests, his tone thoughtful. "Like this..."
And then, to my utter fucking amazement, he begins to sing. His voice is soft and haunting, the notes rising and falling like the ebb and flow of the tide. Dani and I exchange a glance, our eyes wide with wonder, before joining in, our voices blending in a harmony that sends shivers down my spine.
As we sing, the chamber begins to change. The water starts to glow even brighter, pulsing in time with the rhythm of our song. The engravings on the platform shimmer and shift, revealing hidden pathways and secret doors that were invisible before.
And then, with a final, resounding note, the chamber falls silent again. But everything has changed. The path forward is clear now, illuminated by the soft, pulsing glow of the water.
"Damn, that was some seriously impressive shit," I mutter. "Didn't see that coming."
Dani grins, her eyes sparkling as she turns to Erik. "No kidding, Mr. Stoic," she quips. "Who knew you had such a set of pipes on you?"
Erik smirks slightly, his expression as unreadable as ever."I am a man of many talents, Little Huntress. But perhaps we should focus on the task at hand."
"Right, right," Dani says, waving a hand dismissively. "Guess we'd better see where this yellow brick road leads, huh?"
I nod. "Damn straight, baby. Let's get this over with."
I can't help but think if Erik wasn't here to unfuck this music situation, where the hell would that leave us? Up shit creek without a goddamn paddle, that's where.
Shaking my head, we head through the now visible door, our weapons at the ready and our hearts pounding with anticipation. Erik takes the lead, his movements precise and calculated as he scans the path ahead for any signs of danger.
The passage is narrow and winding, the walls slick with moisture and glowing with that same eerie, pulsing light. But we press on, our footsteps echoing off the stone as we venture deeper and deeper into the heart of the cave.
