The ground seems to rise to meet your steps as you sneak past, following a path that breaks off into an area not within the labyrinth itself. Trees as old as the sky reach arms of twisted oak colours to the clouds. The grass is coloured in impossible emerald, flawless and untouched by yellow. Lush plants spring from the carpet of green, waxen leafed and perfect. Beads of uncut, unfaceted dew, oddly silver stain the leaves in rows catching light greedily.

The entire grove sings with life, and the mystery it holds that enchants its inhabitants into such vivaciousness. A sudden slick of silver catches your eye.

A pool, a pond, a slip of water. But no, it's not water. It cannot be. The surface of the pool is entirely sterling, shining and perfect as molten stars. No breeze stirs its mirror smooth surface. In fascination you lean over slightly, brushing fingers through it. None of the liquid clings to you at all. Only a faint whisper of beads rest in the furrows of your fingerprints.

Remarkable...you think, playing with the liquid without fear now. It must be mercury. But how can the life around it survive on mercury instead of water? Your hand seeks the leaf of the nearest plant. Upon further investigation you realize the leaf is not real... it's very realistic, but not growing, nor alive at all. It's fake. Phony...all phony!

Your wonder fades to utter disapointment. As you turn to leave the pool churns, lifting upward. From its depths rises a beautifully sculpted neck, slender and sinuous. Then a head, the head of a pointed eared woman. She is almost as enchanting as her surroundings, but entirely liquid, and beads of mercury roll constantly down her neck from hair that never leaves its place clinging to a sterling body. Her eyes are startling, pupil-less and blank as broaches. In a voice as liquid as her form she calls your name.

You pause, answering a simple "Yes?"

She speaks without moving curved lips. "Such lonliness...such unhappy ignorance. Let me help you.... let me..." Arms dripping beads of the stuff raise to enclose you. It would be so easy....