Page 36 of Curses & Keys (Curses & Gods #1)
PHAEDRA
H enry is waiting for us in the temple. Or at least, their recreation of it.
With magic, they’ve designed a completely realistic holographic image of the temple.
It’s startling to see the level of detail included in every aspect.
Nothing has been left out. In fact, it appears they’ve added a few things.
Tentatively, I step into the room. It’s so real I can almost smell the roses used to perfume the statues and the earthy scent of the nearby trees. I close my eyes to savor the moment. A pang of homesickness hits me, but I know what I long to see is gone and buried.
Jamison’s steady blue gaze is the first thing I see when I open my eyes. Slipping through his fingers is the Greek coin he carries with him. Sharp, observant. It’s easy to see why he’s their leader.
Henry points to a section of the wall that’s been excavated.
“According to the records we dug up, a human found a panel and key in this wall in 300 BCE. It was handed down from one generation to the next for a century. After that, it was lost. How Westgate got hold of it, we’re not sure, but we found them in his collection.
“They weren’t magical, but they were valuable.
We needed funds, so we decided to sell them.
We put the panel up for sale first. When an interested group contacted us, we tried to investigate them,” Rupert explains with a frown.
“We have contacts all over the world but could find very little information. We thought about calling off the deal, but we were desperate, so we sold it to them.”
Henry leans in. “But things took a turn after the sale. Instead of just taking the panel, they killed that young demon, Sia. Upset, we took the key off the market.”
Rupert admits with a heavy sigh. “But after Letz passed, we were contacted by the group he sold the panel to, demanding we hand it over. We explained that we didn’t have it.
At first, they didn’t believe us. Threatened us with exposure.
We realized the group who broke into the museum and killed Sia wasn’t the same group who bought the panel from us.
We didn’t know what to do except refund their money. ”
“Two groups,” Jamison states with an incredulous look. Gatlin swears next to him. “That’s why the dots wouldn’t connect.”
“The group who broke into my condo asked me for a panel and key. That must be the first group,” I remind them. “One group has the panel. The second group has nothing. I have the key.” My mind buzzes around those three facts, trying to sort through what they might mean.
“The first group knew there were two items. They purchased the panel, but you took the key off the market. So, they broke into the museum to get the key,” Gatlin surmises.
Mathias runs a hand through his dark tousled hair, then looks at me.
“We know the museum group and the one in your condo are the same, remember? I was able to place one man at both scenes. I’ve had software running for days to try to identify him.
So far, no results. Maybe it’s time I changed the parameters. Search the CCTVs for his location.”
“Agreed,” Jamison inserts before turning to Rupert and Henry. “We’ll take every piece of information you’ve dug up. Maybe between us, we’ll start to make sense of this mess.”
“Absolutely,” Henry answers for them both. “If you’ll follow me, I’ll…”
Jamison shakes his head. “If you wouldn’t mind bringing the information here? This seems to be a secure place to discuss everything.” His tone brooks no argument, and Henry quickly agrees and leaves to get his files.
“The group in my condo knew it was me with Letz at the abandoned warehouse, which connects them to the rooftop and his death,” I remind them. “That means both groups are killers. But what is so important about this key and panel that humans are willing to kill for it?”
“Do they wield dark magic?” Hawthorne asks, his head tilted to the side as if he’s trying to figure out a puzzle.
“They wield no magic,” I reveal, to their astonishment.
“But the key gave you a vision,” Hawthorne insists with a raised eyebrow.
How close can I get to the truth without revealing everything?
“The key was made by Hephaestus. It bears his symbol,” I share with them. “The gods don’t wield magic. Their power comes from a different source.”
Pausing, I let them digest that info before continuing. “When I held the key, the vision showed me several blue and gold panels. Each one has images on it, but the details are hazy.” I hold up my left hand. “It branded me with the Hephaestus’ symbol. Although it’s sort of disappeared.”
All four of them crowd in to look at the smooth skin on my palm.
Hawthorne swivels around and grabs my hand. He pulls me over to the temple wall where the key and panel were excavated and squats down. “Like this one?”
Above the carefully dug hole, the Hephaestus’ mark is etched into the Pentelic marble. I hold my palm up to the wall. The size fits. “Exactly like that one.”
Hawthorne laces his fingers with mine and pulls me along the wall. “There are more. Carefully hidden in obscure places. I was trying to understand why the builders would place these tiny emblems everywhere.” He points to several. “Here. Here. Here.”
“We have the original wall. Do you want to see it?” Rupert asks, brimming with excitement. “We thought there might be more panels, so we excavated it. We didn’t find anything but kept the wall. It was going to be donated to a museum when we were finished. All above board, I assure you.”
Hawthorne opens his mouth but then closes it. “It’s your call. We don’t know what will happen… maybe nothing. Maybe something. I remember the world before the gods left, and it wasn’t a good place. Supernaturals were persecuted simply for existing.”
Damn. I never really thought about it from the perspective of the supernaturals.
They locked me away during the first ten years of the “war.” The gods fought brutally to keep the human world intact, but when it proved too much, they settled for a treaty and agreed to withdraw from the world.
That’s when they decided to make me an offer, which I took.
I was the perfect spy. Supernatural enough to blend in if I needed to but human enough that I cared about protecting humans and this world.
What if this is leading to their return?
A shudder rips through me. I like the world how it is. Without them.
I bite my lip. The wheels are already in motion, and I’m not sure I can stop them. Whatever their plan is… I’m a part of it.
“Yes, let’s see the wall,” I hesitantly agree.
“I don’t think their intent is to hurt me.
As Gatlin guessed, my gifts …came from them.
” I hate that word. Gifts. Maybe I shouldn’t have confirmed Gatlin’s theory, but if I’m right and the gods are involved, I’m going to need their help to figure this out.
The four of them share a loaded look, making me tense, but the small smile on Jamison’s face tells me he’s not mad about it. In fact, he seems sort of happy. Although if Mathias and Hawthorne knew the whole story, they would hate me.
Hawthorne pulls me closer. “Whatever happens, we won’t let you face it alone.”
I lift a shoulder, trying to be nonchalant. “I won’t hold you to that if the world turns upside down.”
Mahogany brows draw together, but Rupert arrives with the wall before he can say whatever he was thinking. I mean it, though. If—when they find out who I am, I know they won’t stay.
Rupert sets the wall down on the stone altar. “Here you go.” Hawthorne and I move closer to the marble slab.
Henry returns with a laptop and quickly disappears again.
A second later, one of the members follows him in with a small table.
Gatlin, Mathias, and Jamison gather around it to read through the information the society found on the group they sold the panel to so they can compare it with their intel.
I bend over and slide my hand up the cool marble. It’s remarkably well-preserved for its age. As my left hand nears the symbol, it heats up, and the brand appears. Passing over Hephaestus’ mark on the marble, a glow connects the two symbols but fades a second later.
“Hmm,” Hawthorne murmurs. “It definitely triggered something.”
“Maybe the brand is a key,” Rupert interjects. “We found the symbol all over the temple. If you pass over the right one, perhaps it leads to a secret door or something.”
Ancient biometrics? Hephaestus’ was always creating something new. Is there something at the temple he wants me to find? In the sketch Doran did, he was one of the gods depicted on the panel. My gut churns as the tug of destiny pulls me in that direction.
Jamison comes over to stand next to us. “We made a connection between the training camp in Greece Gatlin discovered a while back and the group who originally bought the panel. Based on our surveillance, the camp is full of soldiers, though. I’ll need to brief the council in order to get additional security teams assigned so we can conduct a raid. ”
“And that means I need to find somewhere else to go for a while,” I conclude with a rueful smile. “Fortunately, I think I know where that might be.” I point to the marble slab and the symbol. “The temple is full of these brands. I need to know if one of them leads to anything.”
Jamison’s brows draw together. “I don’t like the idea of you going alone.”
Hawthorne places a hand on my back. “I’m going with her. From what I know of the gods, I doubt they’ll make this easy to find. Two experts are better than one. And you know I’m quite capable of keeping her safe.”
Jamison gives a decisive nod. “Gatlin will hate the fact we’re splitting up, but it’s the right call. Take every precaution. This group is ten steps ahead of us. If anything appears remotely suspicious, find a safe place to wait it out. We’ll come for you.”
I glance from one determined man to the other.
“If anyone wants to know what I think…” Both of them fold their arms across their chests and turn to face me, and I throw up my hands in surrender.
“I agree. I agree. Besides, it will be fun having another academic nerd with me on this adventure.” I slide my arm around Hawthorne’s waist, and his face lights up with a broad smile.
Green eyes sparkle with anticipation, like he can barely contain his excitement over visiting an ancient temple.
I see why the tabloids follow him around.
Elven royalty is only a tiny part of his appeal.
The passion he exudes for discovery and the world is intoxicating.
He quite literally takes my breath away.
Jamison clears his throat and looks at Rupert. “Besides Henry, not a word to anyone on where she’s going. For her safety, it’s imperative nobody knows.”
Rupert straightens and flashes his fangs in anger. “We’re the last people who would ever put her in danger. Of course, we won’t tell anyone.”
Jamison gives a satisfied nod, then turns to me. “Can you call Maverick? You’ll need a jet for all the gear. Don’t tell anyone where you’re going until you’re on the way.”
“I’ll get Mercer to drop off the supplies we’ll need,” I tell him, my thoughts racing to make a list of everything.
He scowls. “Who the bloody hell is Mercer?”
I raise my eyebrows at his tone. “Mercer works for Harlequin.”
He pulls me closer and dips his head. “Sorry. I’m a jealous wanker.”
I teasingly roll my eyes, but I secretly love it.
Raising his head, he looks at Rupert. “Is there a shorter way out of here? We need to get moving.”
“We have a portal,” Rupert reveals with reluctance. “But you need to promise me you’ll never use it to enter our society. Letz laced it with deadly spells that require certain phrases in order to enter without harm.”
Jamison agrees and returns to Mathias and Gatlin to let them know we’re leaving.
I smile at Rupert. Letz might have appeared as a harmless older man, but he certainly knew how to wield magic to safeguard those under his protection. “Thank you. For everything. I’d like to return if I can?”
He takes my hand in his and pats it several times. “We’d love to have you visit us. The pieces we showed you today are only a tiny portion of the artifacts we have in our possession. We could use your help. Here’s my card. Call me when you’re ready.”
His mention of artifacts makes me think of something, and I pull Rupert into the corner. “By the way, I took the box from the altar.”
There’s a glint of satisfaction and knowledge in his gaze that makes me realize they know more about me than I might wish. “I thought you might like that one.”