It takes a while to get down the stairs in the dark, and they feel like they go on forever before Vincent finds the flagstones of the cellar floor.  And there, more or less right in front of him, is an ancient stone archway set into one wall, the deep purple swirly glow against the deeper black of whatever void lies beyond presenting a forbidding challenge.<br/><br/>"You will have to go through," Alice said cheerfully.  "I shall be right behind you."