19. Chapter Nineteen
Chapter 19
D ante Delacroix was going to be the death of Rieka.
The Atlantean had burrowed beneath her skin, and every time she closed her eyes, she felt his emerald gaze on her as if he was marking her.
The rosy fingers of dawn lightened the sky, sending the world into a Technicolor rainbow. Rieka looked back at the journal and touched the soft leather. Unable to sleep, she had spent the last two hours going through it, trying to find a clue she may have missed about the tomb. But so far, all she knew was that the tomb wasn’t in Turkey.
She flung herself back on the four-poster bed. The white canopy glittered in the morning light; it belonged in a fairy tale. Better suited to Cleopatra than a simple guest room. Rieka stifled a laugh. The Atlanteans did nothing in half-measures. But even ostentatious decorations suited for a palace couldn’t distract her from the silence that gnawed at her.
Or the uneasiness that surrounded her when she was alone.
She had never been afraid to be on her own, had relished the solitude, but now, she wasn’t so sure. Something was off. It wasn’t anything she could pinpoint. It was the same feeling she’d had at the archaeological site. No matter how foolish it sounded, there had been something down there with her. Something that hadn’t belonged. It was linked to the explosion. She just knew it.
Rieka flicked through the journal again. The page was thicker than she expected. Holding it up to the light, she noticed for the first time that two pages were stuck together. Somehow, she had missed it. Gently, she tried to pry the pages apart, but the distinct sound of paper ripping echoed loudly.
“Damn it.”
Rieka’s breath hitched. Something slipped out and landed on her lap. A photo of her mom and her. She must have been about nine years old when it was taken.
Lilian stared at the photographer. Her flowing black hair danced in the wind, a half-smile spread across her face. Lilian’s skin was a shade darker than Rieka’s, and it made her pale blue eyes appear white. In the background, Rieka made out the columns of the Basilica Cistern. They had been in Istanbul, Turkey.
A hint of sadness shone through Lilian’s gaze, a weariness that Rieka as a child—or even as an adult—never truly understood. She hadn’t thought about the trip in two decades, but that didn’t stop the memory from slamming into her as if it had only happened the day before.
“Come on, Rieka. I want to show you a secret.”
Rieka didn’t need any extra prodding. She followed her mother as they approached the locked door to the Basilica, ignoring the do-not-trespass sign.
“Are we allowed to be here?” Rieka whispered, hiding in the shadows. There were no signs of guards, but her heart raced anyway.
“No one will ever know.” Lilian winked. “If they didn’t want us in here, they wouldn’t have made it as easy to get in.”
Rieka nodded. The argument sounded fine to her.
“Come on.” Lilian ushered both of them in before shutting the door behind them.
Darkness surrounded Rieka, and she stifled a cry. She could not see in the dark, not the way Lilian could. Before she took another step, Lilian grabbed her hand. “Mama.”
“The darkness can’t hurt you, little one. But if you are ever worried, search for the brightest star. Even in the darkest moments, it will always shine on you.” Lilian moved. “Wait here.”
Rieka obeyed and was awarded with flickering lights. It was still dim, more atmospheric than practical. Lilian tugged at Rieka’s hand, and she followed her down the stairs.
Rieka stood, watching the red light illuminate the columns until it looked like they were in another world. Lilian pushed Rieka forward a couple of steps, but pulled her back as they reached the edge of the pathway.
She wasn’t looking in a mirror. It took her a second to realize it was water. So still, it looked like glass.
“We are just going to get a little wet.”
Lilian dropped her into the cistern. The cold water rushed up to her waist, lapping at her. She gasped at the iciness as it swallowed her body whole. She kicked out, her lungs screaming in protest before she was dragged up.
Lilian slid into the water, taking her hand. “A long time ago, before the Romans built the Basilica over the ruins, this was an ancient Temple.”
Rieka shivered as numbness threatened to overtake her. She loved hearing Lilian’s stories.
“It belonged to the Atlanteans and the old gods, the Anki.”
“Do they still exist?”
“No. And you should hope they never return. They herald nothing but subjugation and death for anyone who crosses their path.” Lilian dropped to her knees. Water splashed up to Rieka’s chest, but she was getting used to the coldness. Lilian’s pale eyes looked white with violet streaks. “Promise me you will stay away from them.”
She scrunched up her face. “And the Atlantean Houses?”
“Yes, baby.” Lilian lowered herself to Rieka’s eye level. “We only have each other.”
Rieka nodded. Anything to stop the desperation in Lilian’s voice. If they didn’t exist anymore, why did Rieka need to promise to stay away? Rieka ignored the question in favor of letting Lilian hold onto her tightly for a second more before she stood.
“We are almost there.”
Rieka obediently followed Lilian, stopping in front of a column.
An upside-down woman’s face crowned with snakes stared at her.
“The humans call her Medusa,” Lilian explained. “Come over here.”
Rieka moved to stand in front of her mother. Lilian grabbed her hand, placing it on the cold stone. Her fingers traced the entwined snakes until she found it.
“Can you feel it?”
Rieka nodded as she continued to trace the outline of the flower. “It’s a flower.”
“It is the symbol of Vandana. Find the lily, and you will find your way home.”
For a moment, she wanted to stay in the memory. Rieka blinked and wiped the silent tears away. She clutched the photo to her heart as she mentally tried to imprint Lilian’s features into her mind. Lilian had disliked photos being taken of her, and Rieka had only a handful of them left. But even then, her memory was dulling and beginning to blur into one. Some days, she was mourning the passing of her mother a second time. She lingered on the photo for another heartbeat before replacing it. The slight breeze caressed her skin.
“Sinha, get your act together. The tomb will not find itself.”
Rieka turned the page. A charcoal drawing of an ancient temple stared back at her. Rieka counted fourteen columns. The structure looked like it belonged in ancient Greece or Rome, but it could have been located anywhere in the world. Black dots representing the constellations littered the sky. They were not in any pattern she recognized, but then she wasn’t an expert in astronomy. Nor did she care to become one. She half-lingered on the page and stared at the photo, lost in a daydream.
Knock.
Rieka scrambled off the bed. It was time for her visit to the vault. The smell of coffee wafted through the thick, wooden door. At least her escort had the sense to bring her caffeine. She glanced back to make sure the journal was hidden from any curious guests, invited or otherwise, and opened the door.
Green eyes met hers.
Dante.
Surprised was a mild understatement. She had assumed he would be far too busy to play her escort, but clearly, she was mistaken. The coffee was a bonus.
Rieka took the cup from him. Their fingers brushed, and the barest touch sent an electrical current through her. She ignored it. Ever since Dante had tried to supercharge her heightened senses at the airstrip, she was half-convinced it had worked. Well, at least every time she was in his company, and over the last twenty-four hours, that had been a lot. She was far too attuned to Dante and the way he made her feel—it would be almost stalkerish if she wasn’t careful. It would make a great addition to her resume.
Unemployed archaeologist. Wannabe stalker.
“Thank you.” She took a sip, using it as an excuse to take her fill of him. The Atlantean was far too handsome for her not to get distracted. “Delacroix, you keep this up, and I’m going to think you like me,” Rieka teased. She took another sip of coffee; it tasted like heaven. It really was the elixir of life.
“We would not want that to happen,” Dante replied, amusement edging his voice.
Maybe she was more tired than she had thought. Or maybe Dante Delacroix had just flirted with her.
“I promised you access to the crown jewels. They will be moved later this afternoon; this will be an opportunity to observe them without a glass cage for the next four days,” Dante turned and walked off but stopped after a few feet. “They are kept separately from where you were working yesterday.”
Rieka sipped the coffee as she continued to watch Dante. He did really fill out his clothing in all the right places. Broad shoulders were accentuated by his perfectly molded white shirt that just hinted at the muscles underneath.
“Are you finished?” Dante asked, the masculine smirk on his face unmistakable.
Heat flushed through her; she should be ashamed that she’d been caught ogling Dante. But she wasn’t in the least. Dante was out of bounds, but it didn’t mean she couldn’t torture herself with some innocent flirting. “For now.”