2.16 Goddess of Healing Waters

      Nulu's Spa was on the outskirts of Anur close to the banks of the river An. It was getting dark by the time Mina and Zara arrived at the house at the end of the cobblestone street, the overgrown garden of spiralling blackberry tendrils, black against the rose colored sky, gave it a spooky feel. Zara noticed something unique about the architecture the moment they arrived. This was one of the few houses that didn't look as if had been completely destroyed at one time. The stoop was magnificent, carved from stone, she could barely make out the design it was so heavily cloaked by an overgrowth of Morning Glory; the brown and brittle leaves still clinging to the stems, rustled in mystical ways as they stepped through the proscenium-like archway, crowning the door.

         The door was open ajar, Zara followed Mina inside expecting a sterile or salon type environment but it wasn't anything like Doctor Seton's lab or Dion's Salon at all, it was more like a home, warm and cozy inside, wafts of delicious food filled her senses with desire. There was a small seating area by the front door, a candle burned in a bowl of water on the table, the place was filled with calming beauty and aromas that soothed her head already.   

         "Hello Mina, come in" Nulu smiled, noticing Zara coil. All the refugees did the same thing, none of them liked her at first, she didn't take it personally. Mina introduced her and Nulu stepped closer, holding her hand out to greet the reluctant refugee.

         "Welcome to Anur. I'm Nulu, goddess of the Healing Waters."

         "Doctor Nulu?" Zara was paying attention, she wasn’t going to let them fool her now.

         "Yes" she smiled. "But not the same as a doctor in Atlan."

         Lost for a polite alternative to bolting and running away, Zara took her hand, expecting a firm grip not a gentle touch, it took all the powers she could summon not to look at her. "My name is Zara" she replied, curtly, eyeing the ground. "I'm from Infrastructure."

         Nulu knew where she was from. "Come with me, let's get you feeling better, your head needs some medical care." She dismissed Mina with a wink and a wave. "You need a warm bath and some clean clothes. You came at a good time, I was just cooking a meal, there's enough for two!"

         Once again it all sounded too good to be true. Realizing she was trapped, Zara stole a glance. Doctor Nulu hardly resembled a doctor, more like an ancient goddess from her textbooks, she looked much older than Zara had ever seen the likes of before, too, she made Mina look young. Her face was sweet and soft, aged with wrinkles like she had never seen, Nulu possessed a different kind of beautiful, her soft white tresses and porcelain skin gave her a magical glow... Just like the Unicorn.

         Warning bells went off, accordingly. This evil illusiory beauty was a Lemurian thing! She was beginning to see a pattern! It was Hellias here, she just didn't understand what Hellias really was before! Perhaps the images and renditions of Hellias that she was more familiar with were just around the corner! 

        Zara decided this had to be some kind of test, she just couldn't figure out what the test really was. She followed Nulu through a narrow hallway into an enormous bathing room, it was almost as amazing as the Crystal Temple. The walls were decorated from top to bottom by a beautiful mosaic tile, this had to be an ancient artwork showing images from the myths and fables... There were images similar to those from her text books! Overhead, the ceiling was a mosaic rendition of the sky, the sun, the moon and the stars… Were those gems and jewels embedded as stars among the tiles?

         "Wow…" For a moment Zara forgot her fears as the amazing undiscovered palace took her breath away. The room had six baths, beautifully plumbed together with golden pipes and ornate looking faucets powered by fantastic looking machinery; again, this sort of thing came right out of her historical text books! But how could it be if these things were ancient history? How come no one knew about this place?
         "Choose the bath that draws you in" Nulu advised, "for that’s the bath which will draw the most poison from your body. Once the poison is withdrawn, your body will begin it's healing journey, which might make you feel light headed. I assure you though, these feelings will pass and you will be feeling much better very soon." She handed Zara a robe and a clean towel. "Take your time, I'll be back to take a look at your head in a few minutes."

         Alone in the bathing room, Zara removed her torn and bloodied clothes, some of them drew fresh blood as she unstuck them from her skin. Gingerly, she walked around the bubbling baths, an experience only the gods could ever afford the luxury of. With skeptical eye, she examined them one by one, it was hard to decide, they all looked so inviting... Aromatic wafts of eucalyptus, lavender, rose and pine tempted her in different ways… Vanilla? She dipped her toe into the bubbling water… Was it safe? The idea was really appealing but she was awakened to the truth; Lemurian Beauty was an Illusion. Vanilla was a manipulative lure, she learned that already from Dena.

         Feeling empowered by a new awareness of her own wisdom, she opted for the eucalyptus bath, it was also hotter, the sterile aromatic cleanse was what her body truly desired. Tossing her fears aside, she slipped into the bath and let her body submerge into the bubbly bliss, the feeling was unbelievable. She took in a deep breath and inhaled the sweet vapors, clearing her head and closed her eyes, willing herself to believe that Nulu was not going to hurt her as she laid in this vulnerable state, that the water really would rob her body of all the ills and pains that had befallen her of late.

         Nulu's Spa was like a trip into Heaven. Her body felt like it was melting as she laid back in the bubbling tub, only subconsciously did she notice Nulu returning with some clean, Lemurian clothes...