Water stretched out before Nel. It was at least as big as the bed, if not bigger. A thick layer of steam hung above the pool, thinning as it rose in the air. Faintly glowing red lines wisped through the basin in large curls. Water poured down into the pool from above.
Nel strode forwards, entranced by the magnificent wonders of the room. Her steps stopped again as her eyes flicked up to the source of the waterfalls.
Three pairs of glowing red eyes glared down at her.
A short squeak escaped Nel’s lips as she fell backwards onto the cold marble. It took a minute of stunned horror before she realized none of the creatures were moving. Nel pulled herself to her feet as a hot flush burned her cheeks. She used her glimpse to garner a closer look.
Three females appeared to have been carved from obsidian. They squatted on large pedestals with their knees spread apart and their hands placed in the center. Their very clawed hands.
A massive tail sprung from their lower back and wrapped around their pedestals. Wings reminiscent of a bat spread out from their backs. Their hair had been sculpted in a way that made it look like a strong breeze rushed past them before time stood still.
Each of their faces were uniquely carved. Thicker lips on one, wider eyes on another. None of them looked anything short of the noble beauty present on Ylva’s own face when she actually had skin on.
To top it off, each had glowing red lines that intricately ran up their legs, belly, breasts, and arms, before coming to a point at their eyes. Their tattoos were very reminiscent of the patterns beneath the pool.
Two of them had their mouths wide open. Water poured out into the pool below. The center one had its mouth carved in a closed position.
Minor heart attack over, Nel resumed walking towards the pool. She hesitated once again. Contaminating the water with the slime on her hands seemed like a poor idea. She looked around, hoping for some towels to wipe it off with.
Instead, Nel found another gargoyle. It perched on a far larger pedestal–almost as large as its body–just over a small depression in the floor. As Nel approached, its jaw snapped open.
Water spilled forth before Nel could stumble back.
A sudden fear struck Nel. She hadn’t had a shower in two weeks. With a small groan, she realized both Eva and Ylva had the misfortune of being in her presence.
After rinsing off her hands, Nel detached the leather straps that served as her only clothes. An unpleasant odor wafted from them as she tossed them to the side. Cleaning them or just plain getting new ones might be something to bring up with Ylva sometime.
Clothes gone, Nel stepped into the shower. She washed out her hair and soaked for a long while. Eva might need to add a some toiletries to her list. A new focus as well.
Underneath the just-shy-of-scalding water, Nel fiddled with her collar. Unlike the rest of her clothes, it had no latches, no seams, no hooks, and it didn’t stretch. It was made out of some deceptively heavy metal with a small black skull hanging on a ring at the dead center.
She couldn’t remember how it got on her. She couldn’t remember when it got on her. That the only way to remove it seemed to be with the removal of Nel’s head was telling.
Nel shook her head before any tears could well up. She glanced at the olympic sized bath tub and a fire lit in her eyes.
She jumped out of the shower. A pause came over her for just a moment as she realized the leather bindings had been replaced by a stack of towels. Nel decided not to complain and maybe bring that up with Ylva later. She used one to dry off quickly.
Running back to the main hall, Nel bent over and started wiping up her slimy footprints with one of the spare towels. She wanted nothing more than to jump into the pool of water, but better to clean up before the slime hardens. Whatever took her bindings could probably clean the slime, but the slime was her mess to clean up.
Tracks clear, Nel sprinted back to the bath chamber. She carelessly tossed the slime covered towel near the shower. If the towel didn’t disappear, she could find a way to get rid of it later.
A sparkle lit in Nel’s eye as she approached the water. She slowly, almost reverently stepped down the first step. And the next. And the next.
When the water level was at her shoulders, Nel swam over to the side. Rows of seats lined the walls. They had headrests, armrests and what looked like adjustable leg rests.
She quickly took a seat. Her legs spread in a giant stretch. Her feet pointed and her toes curled and extended to the point just before where a cramp might hit.
Nel went limp. All of her muscles relaxed more than they had since her memories began. She sank with the relaxation to the point of her head keeping just above the water as the chair caught and cradled her body.
