The key finally fits something Took long enough One turn then another The stone gives under my hand Cold air climbs the stair carrying dust and that sweet smell again Flowers gone bad I take the first step Then another Behind me the opening seals itself Of course it does The marks from the burned page show up along my wrist Not ink Light Seven lines Six go dark One points down I came looking for what was gone Found something waiting instead One piece in my hand one thought in my head They said it was lost Maybe But this place doesn't feel like it forgot The stair ends My foot doesn't I drop hard Catch stone with both hands hang there kicking at nothing Below me gold eyes open One then two then twenty Metal shifts in the dark Slow Heavy Something made of brass pulls itself upright Wings folded wrong face smooth as a coin Sword already raised Yeah You look friendly It swings I let go HIT THE FLOOR ROLL MOVE BLADE DOWN SPARKS IN MY FACE GET UP IT DOESN'T BLEED BREAK THE ARM NO OTHER ARM DUCK STEEL THROUGH BRASS KEEP MOVING DON'T LET IT SAY YOUR NAME Its hand closes on my throat Cold metal no breath behind it Then it speaks One word I know it Never heard it Still know it My whole body locks The marks on my wrist flare white I drive the old key into the seam beneath its jaw Twist The thing stops Not dead Waiting Behind it a little stone box That's it? All this for that? I touch the lid The brass thing moves One inch I pull back Still Touch it again One step closer Right So we're doing this together I came looking for what was gone Found something waiting instead One piece in my hand one thought in my head They said it was lost Maybe But this place doesn't feel like it forgot The lid opens No gold No relic No weapon Just a piece of stone with half a word cut through it I laugh Actually laugh Nearly get killed for half a damn word Then the brass thing kneels Not to me To the stone That shuts me up I turn it over Same cut Same hand The rest of the word sitting underneath I stare at it "You've gotta be kidding me." I fit the edges together The brass thing kneels lower I pull them apart It stands Together Kneels Apart Stands Okay Now I'm listening I came looking for what was gone Now I'm holding both halves No answer written out No voice from the dark Just one thing becoming different depending on how I hold it The brass eyes dim The marks leave my skin And somewhere far above a door I haven't seen yet opens I put both pieces back Close the lid Take nothing The brass thing watches me Then steps aside Guess that was enough
