Mirror of the gods, p.15
Mirror of the Gods, page 15
Something akin to victory blazed in his eyes as he stared down at her.
He’d been challenging her, testing her. But what for? She didn’t know.
Until he spoke.
“As someone who worships at the altar of knowledge, in the cathedral of humanity and life itself, how can you side with the Vanir?”
Lucy’s blood froze in her veins, her heart stopping along with her feet. They stood motionless in a sea of voices, music, and movement.
He held onto her, his grip on her hand tight. Her tongue felt like it was stuck to the top of her mouth.
She couldn’t breathe.
“I’m not sure—”
“Come, now. As an intelligent woman, I know that you can come up with something better to say than that.”
“You’re part of the Order.”
He hummed, beginning to move again, dragging her reluctant form with him as they continued to dance.
Where the hell is Dira? her mind screamed. Or better yet, Ridder!
“Not just a part of it, my darling. The head of the proverbial snake. I think some part of you knew that, however,” he mused, staring down his nose at her as she trembled.
“What do you want?” Tears welled in her eyes as panic seized her heart, a painful tightening spreading through her chest. The grip he had on her hand tightened, and she winced.
“We are faceless, exiled to the outskirts of history, operating in the shadows. The Order simply wants natural balance. From chaos, little Lucy, order is borne. That is all we want. Order.”
He hummed again, a low rumbling in his chest as he held her close.
“It’s that simple. Order, and the artifacts, of course. But something has changed since Norway, hasn’t it? They’ve changed.” He lifted their joined hands to stare down at the symbols now covering the cuffs. Lucy couldn’t speak.
As if remembering they were on her wrist, she debated using them.
Too many people, too close quarters.
Her training over the last week had helped her enough to know that it was a risk she couldn’t take. But still, she was having a hard time keeping the buzzing of her power inside her to just that, a buzz. The more afraid she became, the louder it got, like a swarm of angry hornets filling her mind.
“That means you’ve unlocked a secret within them. Which tells me that you are now as valuable as those bracelets. So you’re going to either come with me quietly now or—”
“No.” Determination flashed in her eyes.
“No?” Vexation flashed in his eyes. “I see. Well, before I take my leave, then, Lucy, perhaps you should know that the people you’ve placed your trust in haven’t been forthcoming with you.”
Too stunned to do or say anything, Lucy shuddered.
“Did Mordira tell you that the first Master of the Order was her very own father? Her flesh and blood?”
She paled, lips trembling.
As the song ended and couples began disappearing from around them, he leaned in and murmured into her ear, “Power breeds selfishness, and a penchant for unethical decision-making. How much power, do you think, does a group of immortals hold?”
Pulling back, he clicked his tongue. “Before this is over, Lucy, you’ll come to me. Of that, I’m certain.”
And then he disappeared, leaving Lucy terrified, confused, and betrayed in the center of the dance floor.
Alone.
Chapter Nineteen
Across the room, Dira was staring into her champagne flute, trying not to let her annoyance radiate from her and deter anyone who could possibly be their reclusive professor.
Jostled as a body connected to her, she glanced over her shoulder.
“Excuse me, I’m so sorry, I—”
“That’s alright,” Dira said lightly, having glanced at the spindly man’s name tag. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Dr. Krauss. I’ve actually been hoping to bump into you.”
His dark brown eyes widened, his already pale pallor turning a specter-like shade of white.
Dira frowned, raising a brow. “Are you alright?”
“Y-Yes. Forgive me. Why, may I ask, were you hoping to find me?”
Dira gave her best smile, keeping her shoulders relaxed, her posture approachable. “My colleagues and I are interested in gaining access to a specific book, within the archives of the Bodleian. A Rawlins manuscript.” Dira watched as sweat beaded across the man’s brow.
“Are you alright?” she asked. “You look like you’re going to be sick.”
The man swallowed thickly, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “I-I’m alright. I’ll give you access, but on one condition.”
Dira’s eyes tightened around the edges as she scrutinized him. “That depends on what the condition is.”
He slid his hand into his pocket and produced a small, folded piece of paper. “Meet me here, at this address, in an hour. There are things you need to hear, to see,” he said cryptically.
A gold signet ring on his right pinky flashed. An owl, wings folded over a book.
“I won’t be alone,” she warned, watching as the man blinked behind the wire rims of his round glasses.
“I would expect nothing less. One hour, please,” he said almost desperately, before moving away and disappearing into the crowd.
Confusion welled up inside her as she flipped the note open, read the chicken-scratched address, and sighed.
They needed to leave.
Clint was speaking to someone, Lucy white as a ghost beside him. Frowning, Dira made her way over. Kreager appeared at Lucy’s elbow, his hand brushing against her shoulder.
“Are you alright?” he asked with concern. She looked up at him, grey eyes filled to the brim with emotion. She said nothing, just gave a short, quick nod.
Her eyes flashed to Dira’s, and Dira’s steps faltered.
Gone was the emotion that had been swimming there just moments before. Now they were as sharp, as deadly as the karambits Lucy was becoming proficient in using. Dira frowned farther, watching in confusion as Lucy glanced away, inhaling deeply.
“I found the professor.” Three pairs of eyes swung to Dira. “He’ll let us view the book, but he has a condition, that we meet him at this address in an hour.”
“It could be a trap,” Ridder said, appearing on Lucy’s other side, his brow furrowed as he glanced from his sister to his woman. The crinkle in his forehead deepened, his hand sliding across the back of Lucy’s neck.
“What’s wrong, querida?”
Lucy looked at him, jaw clenched, and shook her head.
Dira paid them no mind. “It could be,” she said, “but it’s our only option. If he denies us access to the book, then we’re back to stealing it from the library, and that would add a few extra months at least to come up with a plan, surveillance, all of it.”
“It’s our only choice, then,” Jay said, stepping up beside Clint.
“Wait, I think—” Clint gave Lucy a look, and Lucy shook her head, eyes hard as steel.
“You think what?” Dira demanded, eyes flickering between the two of them.
“Later,” Lucy murmured, voice devoid of emotion as she stepped past the group, heading toward the doors of the hall.
“What happened?” Dira asked, but Clint just shook his head. They watched as both Ridder and Kreager followed Lucy, Ridder scanning the hall one last time before ducking out.
“She’s right. Not now. We’ll explain everything later.”
Dira and Jay exchanged glances as they made their way out of the hall, Clint leading the way.
As they crossed the lot, Ridder and Kreager were speaking quietly.
“What is it?” Dira asked.
“Something happened, but none of us were watching. We were all focused on finding the professor. We didn’t notice.” Ridder scowled.
“It’ll be alright, whatever it is. For now, we need to focus on getting to this location,” Dira said, giving the slip of paper to Kreager. Ridder opened his mouth to reply but bit it back after exchanging a look with his brother.
***
Silence reigned supreme as they all climbed inside the SUV, with Kreager and Dira in the front, Clint and Jay occupying the two seats in the middle, and Ridder and Lucy in the back.
Ridder’s hand wrapped around her smaller one, holding it firmly as emotions warred inside her. He brought her so much comfort and peace, but she was more than a little shaken up by the events of the evening. She had so many questions, so many feelings, she didn’t know where to start.
The solid stroking of Ridder’s thumb over the ridges of her knuckles helped to keep her centered and calm.
***
No one spoke as Kreager maneuvered the car out of the lot and onto a practically abandoned street. It was late, nearing eleven, so it didn’t surprise anyone that the roads and city had taken on an eerie atmosphere.
Kreager glanced in the rearview mirror, watching with a frown as Lucy closed her eyes and leaned her head back against the seat, lip trembling.
Before turning his attention to the road again, he met Ridder’s worried gaze and gave a small shake of his head in confusion.
Something significant had happened, and none of them had been paying attention. They had failed her in some way tonight, but how?
She was never supposed to leave Clint’s side. So how could anything have gone wrong?
“This smells like a trap,” Jeger said, shifting in her seat and crossing her long, lithe legs delicately.
“It could be. But we have no other choice,” Dira said.
“Tell me someone at least packed weapons,” Jeger mumbled. Kreager knew his sister always felt practically naked without any of her knives on her.
“There’s a case of them in the back,” Kreager told her, glancing in the mirror to see her sigh happily.
***
Ridder squeezed Lucy’s hand gently. She squeezed it back, finally opening her eyes so she could look at him.
“What happened, corazón?”
Lucy was about to open her mouth, to let the entire story spill from her lips, but was cut off as they turned out of the city, the car darkening significantly.
She was reminded that no matter what she said, it wasn’t a good idea to get into everything right now. She was in an enclosed space, and if she lost control, she could hurt them.
“I’ll explain later. This is what’s important right now,” she murmured to him, resting her head against his shoulder as they drove.
No one spoke after that, but farther they got from Oxford, the higher the tension in the car built.
“This isn’t sitting well with me,” Jeger whispered as Kreager started down a road framed by large, thick oaks, their branches knitting together overhead in a leafy canopy.
“Anyone getting the feeling we’ve stepped into a horror movie?” Clint’s dry comment was met with looks of irritation and vexation. Lucy subconsciously gripped Ridder’s hand tighter.
“Oh my God,” Lucy gasped as the trees gave way, opening up to a view of the most beautiful estate she’d ever seen. It was immense, regal, and dignified, warm light spilling from an array of windows decorating the face of the building. Vibrant vines of ivy crept up the facade.
A large stone staircase led up to the front of the estate, where two lanterns were positioned on either side of an incredibly old, but well maintained, double door.
As Ridder parked in the drive before the house, they all stared at it for a moment.
“Now or never,” Clint uttered, opening the door and holding it open for Lucy as she hunched, making her way out of the car. She took the offered hand and stepped onto the light gray gravel, the rocks crunching beneath her heels. She moved out of the way for Ridder, then rounded the car to stand back, and watch the others open the trunk, where four black cases sat pressed tightly together. Ridder began flipping them open, showing a small arsenal of weapons, ranging from handguns to a long silver rod that Kreager took, knives, and even Lucy’s karambits.
“Here, let me help you strap this on,” Jay commented, pulling out the holster and Lucy’s knives from the case, ushering her to the side. She followed easily, and let the woman slide her hands over the skin exposed by her dress.
“They’ll be visible, but honestly, if anyone tries to take our weapons, it’s not going to matter,” Jay grunted as she pulled the strap around Lucy’s middle, beneath the loose cascade of silk, and positioned the holster at the small of her back.
When she was done, Lucy placed a hand on the leather strap digging into her navel beneath her dress.
“Thanks,” she whispered, giving Jay a smile that looked more like a grimace than anything else, although she was grateful for the weight on her back and across her stomach. It made her feel secure again. Safe.
Ridder and Kreager pulled off their suit coats, tugging on black leather shoulder holsters, and tightening them into place. Dira was strapping a thigh holster onto one leg with a semi-automatic pistol tucked into it. Glancing up, she met Lucy’s eyes and straightened.
“Here,” she said simply, holding one out for Lucy as well, who nodded silently and placed it around her leg.
When they were all as armed as possible, Ridder closed the trunk of the SUV and moved immediately to Lucy’s side. Together, the Vanir, Lucy, and Clint started up the stairs toward the main door.
***
They hadn’t even made it to the top step before the door opened. Everyone tensed. But out popped Dr. Krauss, his eyes wide as he surveyed each person there, eyes flicking to Lucy’s bracelets, then away again.
“Welcome to Buscot Park. Please, come inside. We have much to discuss.” He motioned, stepping out of the way. Dira entered first, casting her gaze around the grand entrance hall, over every single nook and cranny before continuing over the threshold. The others followed suit.
“I know this is an odd request, but I’d like to show you something before we discuss the book,” Dr. Krauss said, his eyes darting around all their faces before settling on Dira. He looked like he’d seen a ghost.
“Lead on, then,” Kreager said, stepping forward to stand beside his sister.
That jolted the man from his thoughts. He nodded frantically and wiped damp palms over his houndstooth coat.
“Right, please, if you’ll follow me, I’ll explain a bit as we walk.”
Exchanging glances, they nodded, starting after the almost giddy professor as he made his way through a side parlor decorated with priceless paintings and antiques. There were twists and turns, and Dira realized they were heading toward the back of the house.
“Buscot Park was built in the late 1700s, for a man by the name of Edward Townsend,” the professor said as they walked. “It was sold in 1859 to an Australian business Tycoon, Robert Campbell. The estate has passed through many hands, through many different families. Generations upon generations of Stewards have maintained this as their family home.” Dr. Krauss lead them farther and farther, down toward the servant’s quarters, and along stone passageways lit by flaming torches.
The temperature dropped significantly the farther down they went. Dira continued, confusion warring inside of her as she listened.
“Yes, while that’s fascinating, what exactly does that have to do with us, professor?” she asked as they stopped in front of a large door and the man produced a wrought iron skeleton key from his coat pocket.
“This house was built as a meeting point. A safe haven, a headquarters, for our league—those tasked with protecting knowledge and the secrets of the past.”
He slid opened the door and stepped aside.
“This is the headquarters of Les Gardiens du Savoir.”
***
Lucy gasped as her mind reeled, hurtling toward the vision she’d had on the plane, where the man dressed in all black was demolishing an entire village.
What he’d said at the end of the vision had ended with “du Savoir.”
The room they stepped into was more like a cavern of stone, covered in paintings, plush chairs and couches, rows and rows of towering bookshelves, and what looked to be a myriad of historical artifacts. Some even looked like they were made from the same gleaming silver as her bracelets.
“It means the Keepers of Knowledge. Since our establishment in 1535, we have loyally and faithfully adhered to the task set before us by our founder: to protect the truth—the knowledge—that you exist.”
Dira whirled toward Dr. Krauss as he stepped further in, leading them to a monstrous fireplace, roaring and crackling with light and heat.
“This is our founder, and why I knew it was time we revealed ourselves to you.”
Her blue eyes rose and rose and rose until they landed on the painting above the hearth. The face, so achingly familiar, peered down at her.
So familiar, as she’d seen it every morning in the mirror since she’d stopped aging. Every night in her dreams, begging for one last moment with her.
“Oh gods,” Jay said.
Clint, confused, glanced at Lucy for an explanation. She couldn’t pull her eyes away. It was odd seeing the woman from her visions so still, so solid, dressed in the same leather armor she’d seen her in every time she closed her eyes.
“That... is Dira’s mother.”
Chapter Twenty
As they surveyed the painting, Lucy and Dira’s entire frames were frozen solid.
“Please, sit, so I can explain more.” Dr. Krauss gestured toward a sitting area within the warmth and light of the fire. Clint moved toward one of the maroon velvet couches, settling in as Jay took a spot on the couch across from his. Kreager sat beside his sister, while Ridder and Dira moved to sit with Clint.
Ridder held his hand out for Lucy to join him, but she refused, giving him a small smile, and remained standing.
