Chapter Three #2
“I don’t know how it could be.”
She leaned back in her chair, the leather crunching with her weight. There was an obstinance about the woman and a sudden unwillingness to help, if she even could.
“I do wish there was something I could offer you about your missing sisters. If that’s all, I have other pressing matters to attend.”
Brianna didn’t like the dismissive tone of the director. Even so, she got to her feet. She’d gotten nowhere with the standoffish woman.
“Thanks for your time.”
Brianna left the woman’s office and wandered out in the main gallery of the museum.
She was impressed by the soaring white pillars and the glass roof that bathed the space in warm sunlight.
She stood off to the side of the atrium and tried to imagine what the night of the gala was like.
Why would men invade the museum and steal nothing?
Why would one of the men chase Evie up the stairs?
In her pocket, the stone continued to hum and vibrate.
Ignoring it, Brianna decided to retrace Evie’s steps the night of the gala. There was a staircase within sight that led to the next level. As she started across the atrium, she sensed someone heading toward her.
The man with steely blue eyes walked toward her with a purposeful stride. The moment their eyes locked, she recognized him as the man she had run into on the sidewalk. He granted her a knee-melting smile as he approached.
An eerie sensation went through her. Had he followed her?
“Hello, again,” he said, his voice deep and thick.
Brianna stared at him, suspicion skipping through her. “Are you following me?”
He chuckled. “Not at all, but I’m glad to see you. Are you quite all right, miss?”
Her eyes narrowed. “I told you I was fine. I meant it.”
Without waiting for a reply, she started for the staircase again. Much to her dismay, he fell in step beside her.
“Glad to hear it, lass.”
Brianna halted, huffing out a breath, and turning toward him. “Look, I don’t mean to be rude, but what do you want?”
He looked abashed. “I wanted to make sure ye were all right. That’s all. And it appears I’ve been rude.” He stuck out his hand then. “John MacDonald.”
She hesitated a moment before shaking his hand. “Brianna.”
“Pleasure to meet ye, Brianna. Where ye headed?”
“Why do you care?”
He laughed. “Dinnae fash yereself, lass. I mean no harm. It’s clear ye’re visiting my country and I thought I could show ye around a wee bit.”
“The museum?” she asked, lifting a brow.
“If ye like. Do ye fancy a tea? The rooftop terrace has a lovely view.”
It was against her better judgment, but she nodded. “Tea sounds nice.”
They headed to the elevator where they took it to the top floor. All the while, the cursed stone in her pocket continued to hum and buzz. She tried to ignore it, but it was getting more difficult as the humming and buzzing grew louder.
The balcony café had several tables that allowed patrons to sit and view the atrium. Brianna wasn’t sure why she allowed John MacDonald to buy her tea but she was weary from her travels and worried about her sisters.
“The terrace is one more level up. I’ll meet ye there with the tea.” He motioned to the elevator.
Nodding, she said, “All right.”
Minutes later, she stepped onto the terrace off the elevator. John was right. The view was breathtaking. It had a lovely panoramic view of the city, including Edinburgh Castle in the distance.
But it was hard to enjoy the view with the continued buzzing in her pocket.
She removed the blue velvet bag from her pocket and then dropped the stone in her palm.
The faint lines across the stone were glowing, the buzzing continuing.
When the stone hit her palm, a dizziness swept through her.
She staggered a bit as her hand closed around it.
Then she felt a strong hand on the middle of her back.
“Woah, there, lassie.” John’s voice was strong and sure behind her.
She glanced up to see him holding a paper cup in one hand. His other was still on the center of her back.
“Thanks,” she muttered as she took the cup from him. It didn’t escape her notice he had nothing for himself. “No tea for you?”
“Och, no. I was glad to buy ye one, though.”
A tentative sniff determined the scent was a heady bergamot. She allowed the steam to warm her nose and cheeks. In her other hand, she clutched the buzzing stone that refused to be silent.
“You’re right. The views are stunning,” she said.
“Aye,” he said slowly.
He turned to her, his arm wrapping around her as he eyed her in a way that sent a shiver up her spine. His demeanor suddenly shifted, his gaze predatory. His arm tightened around her.
Her breath caught as her pulse pounded a rapid beat. He’d trapped her in his embrace, this stranger who leered at her.
“Now, lass, ye’ll be handing over that buzzing stone in yer hand.”
Confusion flickered through her as her heart drummed a wild beat against her chest. How did he know about the stone?
“What?”
“The stone.” He nodded to her clenched fist. “It calls to me. Give it to me.”
She tried to pull from his embrace but he turned toward her, his other hand wrapping around the wrist of her fisted hand. She still held the scalding paper cup in her other hand.
“Let me go.” Her tone was one of warning.
“Open your hand and give me the stone and I will.” There was an evil, determined glint in his eye.
Moira’s warning burst through her mind.
Never let it out of your sight. You are its guardian now.
Brianna did the only thing she could think to do. She flung the scalding tea in his face. He screamed, releasing her and putting his hands up as it splashed over him. He was an idiot to give her the cup so he deserved that. It also gave her enough time to stumble away from him.
Her heart was in her throat, the panic mounting as she made for the elevator.
Her gaze flickered over the terrace looking for stairs—a quicker way out.
But she saw none. The elevator would take too long.
Once he regained his composure, his anger would drive him to her.
His determination to get the humming stone out of her hand was written in those glittering blue eyes.
Footsteps pounded the ground behind her. A quick glance back to see he was closing the gap between them. He would get to her in seconds.
She opened her hand a bit to see the lines on the stone pulsing a bright white. It was mesmerizing as she peered down at it. Seeing it sent a pang through her and something told her to swipe her finger over the lines. Intuition maybe? She wasn’t sure.
Brianna halted and spun to face him. He came to a halt, his face red and blistered from the tea she’d flung in his face.
“Hand it over and I won’t hurt you,” he said through clenched teeth, holding out his hand.
She backed away, the pulsing light growing brighter and brighter.
“I don’t know who you are or why you want this stone, but I’m not giving it to you.”
“Fool,” he spat.
Then he lunged toward her as she swiped her fingertip over the glowing lines.
In a breath, the world dissolved around her.
Tiny bright white pinpricks exploded against her eyes and her head throbbed with a sudden pain.
As John lunged toward her, his hands trying to grab her, the ground fell away from beneath her feet and then she was tumbling through space.
Instinctively, her hand clenched around the stone, clutching it tight in her grip as a cold wind sucked the breath out of her lungs.
For a moment, she felt as though she were drowning.
She no longer saw the terrible face of John MacDonald and she fell into a free fall.
And then there was nothing but blackness.