The fifteen minute novel writing experiment is a attempt to write a complete (and very rough) draft of a novel by writing for fifteen minutes each day. I have taken a timed writing from one of the daily prompts done in 2021, cleaned it up a little and used it as my jumping off point into a story. Each day I will take the last line of the story written the day before and use it as my sentence starter and write for fifteen minutes, growing the story as the year progresses.
Day 164: Inside the room was built of carved stone.
Inside the room was built of carved stone. There were pillars of white stone threaded through with dark veining. The columns seemed to glow with an inner light so that the dark veins looked like metal wrapped around pillars of light. The pillars held up arches. The spaces between the columns looked like open doorways, but peering into them Anya merely had the sense of darkened rooms, not what was contained within them. She found her steps taking her forward, passed the darkened rooms and into the main space. There in the center of the space was a stone throne. Sitting atop it was a carved statue of a woman.
She was carved from the same white stone as the pillars while the throne she sat on was carved of something shiny and black. As Anya approached the statue she could see little pin pricks of light glowing in the black of the stone throne.
“Like stars in the sky,” Anya said to herself. As she drew closer, Anya saw that the white stone of the statue had the same darker veins as the columns but on her they looked more like the veins of a person than metallic threads. Anya drew closer, marveling at the sculptor’s skill.
The statue tilted her head down, blank stone eyes looking at Anya. Anya jumped back, tripped over her feet and fell to the floor in a heap. She looked up and saw the woman’s braid of hair swing slightly as she leaned forward to look at Anya. Anya could see each carved hair in the braid.
Her heart was pounding.
“What is it you want,” the statue asked.
At least, Anya thought it was the statue. The statues lips didn’t move but the booming voice was a woman’s and it came from the direction of the statue.
“I…I didn’t mean to disturb you,’ Anya apologized. Clearly this was not a place she should have entered.
“I am not disturbed,” the voice said. It was deep and echoed painfully within Anya’s chest, rumbling through her and shaking he bones. “What is it you seek?”
“I seek safety,” Anya replied.
“Safety,” the statue repeated. The word was mostly flat but Anya caught a hint of surprise.
“There are those chasing me,” Anya said.
“And you wish to be safe from them?” the Statue asked.
“Yes,” Anya said.
“And then?”
“Then?”
“What do you want after you have become safe from those pursuing you?”
“Oh,” Anya said. She frowned. “I hadn’t thought of that. A place to live. A community to be a part of. A home.”
“To rule? To have a crown upon your head and servants at your feet?”
“No,” Anya said. “Just a home where I can live comfortably. Safely, with friends and maybe family nearby.”
“You do not crave power then? Power over a kingdom? An Empire?”
Now Anya was certain she did not imagine the note of surprise in the statue’s voice. “I don’t think I’d be a very good ruler,” Anya said. “I don’t think I’d enjoy it either.”
“It is good to know your limitations,” the statue said. “Safety from those who pursue you and a safe home to call your own. It is not the grandest request to be placed before me, but obtaining it might prove difficult. What are you willing to offer in return?”
Ten til Midnight 