Given the barrier outside that there would be worse inside wasn't a surprise at all to Wanda. She stopped short when Tony took her arm and gazed into the shadows, trying to figure out if she'd really seen what she'd thought she'd just seen. For just a split second before it went black again she could've sworn she'd seen- well, there was one way to find out. If she was right then they were relatively safe and if she wa wrong, well, that was clearly her m.o. anyway.
There were pools on either side of the walk way, oil by the smell of it, and she pointed with her free hand at one and it burst into flames then she did the same to the other. With a whoosh other pools along the hallway lit up, connected by little rivulets of oil, until the room was bright with flickering fire light and shadows that danced high into the darkness that the light couldn't quite reach.
When Wanda saw the thing at the opposite end of the hall she broke into a wide grin. She knew exactly what that was and she actually felt foolish as the pieces fell into place- it should've hit her sooner, might have if she hadn't been so preoccupied. They were in a pyramid, in a desert, and this was a Sphinx.
Here was that enthusiasm she'd been lacking before as she gave a quiet laugh and broke away from Tony's hold, walking forward with her shoulders back, trying to appear confident and hold the creature's unblinking gaze. This was something right out of a book and she knew the stories and the lore and what they were supposed to do. Its wings rustled as she approached and she stopped a safe distance away and inclined her head respectfully. After a moment, the Sphinx did the same and rose slowly to its feet. Muscles rippled under the gold fur of its massive lion body and it spread it's wings then folded them again as it settled up on its haunches, staring passively down at them with a human face.
"Sorceress," it greeted and then languidly turned its gaze to Tony. "Metal Man." It regarded them both in silence before it spoke again to ask, "Why have you entered this place?"
"We seek the treasure you're guarding," Wanda answered, still as a statue, trying to appear as no threat to the beast but not dropping her barrier either, just in case.
"You feel it," it said, not a question, and nodded to itself. "Are you worthy of it?"
Wanda didn't really have any idea of what it was other than something immensely powerful that was giving her a migraine, but she was here, after all, so Nick at least seemed to think she was worthy. "I am."
The Sphinx looked on Tony and posed the same question, "And you, Metal Man, are you worthy of it?"