“Cian.” My voice trembled his name. “Cian . . . look at this.”
He moved around the table to stand behind me. Uncle Lachlan and Darek moved closer as well. The tension of my voice no doubt had alerted them that I had found something significant on the parchment.
“Is that what I think it is?” Cian uttered in disbelief.
I nodded. “Aye.”
“How long will it take you to translate this?” Cian asked.
I looked it over, recognizing more words than not and noticing a few phrases that got me a little more than excited about hunting down the Kanna Stone. “A few hours, if all goes well.”
“What can I do to help?” Uncle Lachlan inquired.
I scribbled a quick note on a sheet of paper, tore it off, and handed it over along with the list of questions I had jotted down while going through his notes on the second Silver Scroll. “If you could help with this,” I pointed to the note, “and offer some clarity to my questions on the list, I can get this translated. That might put us in a great position for locating the Stone. It’s easily the closest we’ve been so far. I feel like the pieces of this puzzle are starting to come together.” It was all I could do not to stand up and jump around with excitement.
Twenty-Two
Nailing down information on the artifacts The Saiad had in their possession quickly became secondary to translating the document from The Kanna Tribe. Being the only one with a background in dead languages, that job fell to me. Somehow, Uncle Lachlan had sensed the tension created by being confined with both men, and he gave Cian and Darek the task of gathering material surrounding the remainder of the list. He’d sent them to the research area on the first floor and also written down precisely where to find certain reference books dealing with a few particular artifacts he felt might be of significant importance. I was grateful for the reprieve.
Just over halfway through completion of the translation, Uncle Lachlan scared the cac out of me with an outburst that could have woken the dead even without an artifact. He leapt to his feet and slammed a hand down on the table. “Ha!”
Naturally, my head snapped up and I stared in his direction. “What’s wrong?” I asked frantically.
“Absolutely nothing! Somethin’ ya asked in yer list gave me an idea, so I started searchin’ for one thing which led to another and then another. And I do believe I’ve actually found a startin’ point for locating the Stone.” His smile widened ear to ear. “We have a startin’ point, m’dear. Do ye know what that means?” Enthusiasm laced his every word.
“If we can trace it, we can find it,” I responded flatly.
“Precisely!”
“What’s the location? I can be packed and ready t’ go in thirty minutes.”
“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. We have a starting point, a ground zero. There are still many avenues we can travel. Let’s see what we can trace from here. No point in going on a wild goose chase and wastin’ time if we don’t have t’.”
“Of course. I’m just a little excited.” I knew he was right. Deep down, my fight or flight reaction was trying to take over, and flight wanted a fast track out of my current conflict between the past and the present.
“As am I,” he expressed. “As am I. Ground zero is Cairo. Nira is quite familiar with that area and has several contacts there. I’m going to go locate her now and see what I can find out while you complete your translation. Maybe she can steer me in the right direction.”
“Let me know as soon as you learn anything at all!”
“Aye, of course,” he assured. Within a matter of a minute, he had gathered what he needed and was gone, leaving me alone with my thoughts and my work for the first time all day. I stared down at the parchment on the table and my eyes gravitated to the drawing at the bottom.
The Tartaros Blade.
Why’d it keep surfacing? It had to mean something. Cian had said the night before that he didn’t believe in coincidences. I wouldn’t go that far, personally. But when something continued showing up, I had to trust that there was something more going on. Three times is more than a coincidence. That’s significant. The fact that I had first seen this item cutting a life short also played heavily into my reasons for wanting to find it . . . and take it out of play.
I had to get it translated, because I knew this document had more to say than information on the Kanna Stone. This document was going to help me save a life. Cian’s life.
Sometimes an hour seems like an hour. Sometimes an hour can drag by and you’re convinced it was at least half a days’ time. That is how the last hour of my life felt as I had translated the final line of the Kanna Tribe parchment. But the word-by-word or phrase level translation was only part of the process. Next was the more complex part—conveying the meaning as accurately as possible.
Before I began this final stage, my eyes needed a rest, my lungs needed some air, and I needed caffeine. It was time for a short break. And since I remembered seeing a sign for an employee break room on the second floor, I was certain I’d at least find some coffee.
I found myself subconsciously counting the steps as I wound around the spiral staircase to the second floor below. Twenty-one. It was more than I expected, but I suppose when you have extra high ceilings, the usual twelve to thirteen steps wouldn’t get the job done. Yes, I did have a subconscious habit of counting steps as I walked them. It was a handy piece of information in the dark. There were thirteen at the cottage.
A voice echoed faintly down the hallway of the second floor. I began moving toward it since a sign also indicated the break room was in that direction. As I moved closer, the voice sounded familiar, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on who it was. I stopped dead in my tracks a few feet from the source when I heard the words “Kanna Stone.” In the matter of a few seconds, while listening intently from outside the cracked door, I processed a mental list of people who knew we were on the hunt for the artifact.
He was trying to keep the volume low, but the acoustics of the old building carried more than one might have thought. Definitely more than he thought.
“They have pinpointed a location for the Stone,” he offered in a hushed tone. He was on the phone. I waited and listened, still trying to place where I had heard the voice before.
“No. No one suspects anything.” He paused. “I’ll learn what I can. We’ll need to move swiftly though.” Another pause while he listened to whoever was on the other end of the call. “Very well. I’ll keep you posted.”
It was obvious the call was ending, and I didn’t want to get caught eavesdropping. I did, however, want to see who else had a mark on the Kanna Stone. Especially when I suspected they weren’t on the same team. Scratch that. I knew he wasn’t on the same team. You don’t have a clandestine conversation if you’re on the up and up, and I needed to know who the enemy was.
I crept down the hall to the first open door I came to and slipped inside, hiding to the left of the door so I could get a look at who I was dealing with. Only, they didn’t walk by. I waited a solid three minutes, definitely long enough. When no one showed, I edged to the brink of the doorway and peeked around to make sure the way was clear in both directions. When I was certain, I eased into the hall and headed toward the break room again as if it were my first time. When I reached the doorway where I had stopped short before, the door was wide open, the light was off, and the room was empty. I didn’t stop just in case someone happened to be watching. I didn’t want to seem suspicious. But I did glance in, as I did for the next open door, and the next until I reached the break room at the end.
I entered the lit room and went straight for the coffee maker. But my mind was spinning. There were no other exit doors at this end of the hall, only the one just before where I had been hiding. So, there was no way of slipping out without being seen. He would have had to walk past me. The mystery voice had managed to disappear into thin air.
As I reviewed it all, I stirred creamer into my co
ffee.
“There you are!” Cian stated from the doorway causing me to nearly knock my coffee over.
“Geesh! Don’t sneak up on me like that,” I sputtered and grabbed a napkin to clean up the spillage.
He chuckled as he walked toward me. “My apologies. I didn’t think ya were so jumpy.”
I exhaled. “I’m not, normally.”
“And now isn’t normal why?” He stepped up beside me and brushed a strand of hair out of my face, studying me thoroughly. “What’s wrong, lass? Somethin’ has ya on edge. Besides the Darek situation,” he added with a wink.
I held up a finger in a “hold please” manner and took a long sip of the calming nectar. “You’re not wrong. Darek being here is a contributing factor. But there’s something else,” I began. And I went on to explain what I’d overheard in the hall and how I had secretly waited, but no one passed by. Then I gave a detailed account of how, after waiting and being certain no one could have slipped past me, the mystery person was nowhere to be found.
“Hmm.” It was all he said.
“That’s it? Hmm?”
“Well, I’m not sure what to make of it. We are going to have to be sure we keep our inner circle tight.”
“I need to find out who Uncle Lach might have told when he left the archive room. Because I didn’t even leave the room until I came down here for coffee. That might help up narrow down who I overheard. Still not sure how they got past me though.”
“That is an enigma.”
“Had he told you what we’d found and where he was going?” I asked.
“Aye. He called to let me know he was heading to meet with Nira. Said he’d let me know what he learned. That was over an hour ago. Haven’t heard back from him yet. Are you finished with your translation?”
“Not quite. I completed the naïve translation. Now I have to go back over it and clarify the intended message. As I’m sure you know, there can sometimes be several English options that an Aramaic word might be alluding to.”
Cian nodded. “I understand. Is that something you want to finish now? Or are ya maybe hungry? It’s goin’ t’ be dark soon, and you’ve been at this all day. We could go grab a bite and come back here t’ work or grab a bite and finish up at your place. Your call.”
“Ya know, I’m over being cooped up in the archives. Also, I could really go for some pasta. Do ya have pasta over at the café?” I teased.
“I have a better idea,” he slid up next to me, slipping his arms around my waist.
“Oh, is that so?” I sat the coffee on the counter and snaked my arms up over his shoulders. “Do tell.”
“How about I stop and pick up a few things, bring them to your place, and cook dinner. Pasta . . . of course. I’ll even make sure there’s buttery garlic bread t’ really represent your favorite food group,” he wagged his eyebrows playfully.
“Mmm, now, how can I say no t’ that?”
“Hmm . . . I don’t think ya can.”
“Well, if I can’t, I can’t.”
“That’s settled then.” He leaned in and planted a soft kiss on my lips. “C’mon. I’ll help you get everything together.”
“We need t’ check on Uncle Lach, too. And over dinner, you can tell me what you’ve been up t’ this afternoon while I was chained t’ a desk.” What I meant was, you can tell me what you and Darek have been up to and if there was any conversation I needed to know about.
As we walked back down the hallway toward the stairs, I found myself scanning every room we passed and studying the walls and ceiling for anything that might indicate a possible escape route. After all, Pyreshore was built for Supernaturals, and Supernaturals tended to prepare for anything. Especially if it meant survival.
“So, how much do you know about these buildings?” I asked as we reached the artifacts room on the third floor.
Cian glanced at me over his shoulder with a sly grin. “You’re still tryin’ t’ figure out how that guy disappeared into thin air, aren’t ya?”
I shrugged one shoulder and smirked back. “Maybe.”
“I can’t say I know enough t’ cull your curiosities. I wish I did. But, and not that I really needed it, it’s more reason for you to not stay alone tonight,” he added and looked up from the books he was stacking together, as if he were waiting for me to give my permission for him to stay.
“Yeah, you’re right. I should probably stay over at Uncle Lach’s house,” I said with as straight a face as I could manage. I made sure to keep packing the materials to take with me.
His tone fell, but he was going to go along with it. “Okay. As long as you’re safe.”
That’s when I looked up and grinned. “I was joking, Cian. I’m sure Uncle Lach isn’t nearly as entertaining as you.”
He smiled. “True. I mean, I am hilarious, remember.”
“Ya know, I believe I’ve heard that somewhere.”
When we finished gathering what we needed, we carried everything to my car and settled it into the back seat.
“I’ll meet you at your place as soon as I get what we need for dinner and a change of clothes.” He kissed my forehead, opened my car door, and made sure I was safely inside before he headed to his SUV parked a few spots away.
I called Kara and filled her in on a few key developments as I drove back to the cottage.
Twenty-Three
“Did he try to kiss you?” Kara’s question echoed through the speakers of the car. “And what did you say? I mean, even I’d like to know the answer to that question.”
“No. He didn’t. We were interrupted. Uncle Lach and Cian came back just in the nick of time to save me!” I responded as I drove past a small public garden just one house down from my cottage. I made a mental note to check it out later.
“Well, it’s probably best if ya avoid that topic. How long is he in town? And you know I’m going to ask. Do you still have feelings for Darek?”
She asked just as I was pulling into my drive, and I saw him sitting on the steps of my front porch. “Ya know, K. I am going t’ have t’ discuss this with ya later.”
“No. You can discuss it now, young lady.”
“Umm. Darek is sitting on my steps, K. In person. We’ll discuss this later.”
“Ugghhh . . . you have got to be kidding me! This is like watching a show on Netflix that leaves you with a cliffhanger! You’re killin’ me,” she huffed.
“I wish it weren’t.” I put the car in park and tried not to look over at the man on my porch. “I’ll call ya later, not sure when because Cian is supposed to be here shortly. So, I need to see what Darek wants and get him out of here. Ugh. Why is my life such a soap opera right now?”
“Good luck! I hate to say ya might need it,” Kara offered. “But . . . ya might need it.”
“Yeah, thanks for that. I’ll keep ya posted. Talk later,” I added. Kara said her farewell and ended the call.
I pulled in a slow breath before looking over and making eye contact. The moment I did, Darek stood. I opened the door and got out.
“Hi.” It was all I said. I didn’t know what else to say, to be honest. Once again, he’d caught me off guard.
“Hey,” he replied, walking toward me. “Sorry t’ surprise ya like this, but I was hoping we could talk.”
I moved to the back door of the car and opened it, needing to gather the research materials and take them into the cottage, but also needing to have a reason to avoid looking at him.
“Here, let me help ya with that,” Darek offered, jogging up to me and taking the stack of books from my arms. Still a little unsure what to say or how to react, I didn’t argue with him. I reached back into the car and grabbed the last stack and pushed the door shut.
“So, what is it you want t’ talk t’ me about, Darek?” I asked flatly.
“Ya don’t know?” He sounded surprised, and maybe a little confused.
“Is there an artifact you have a question about?” I asked a
s I started walking away from the car, leaving him stunned for a brief moment before he followed me toward the cottage.
“Umm. No . . . Aish, I’d like t’ talk about us.”
“What about us, Darek? I’m not sure what ya think there might be t’ discuss,” I remarked keeping my tone neutral. When I made it to the door, I placed my stack of books on a small table situated between the front door and one of two rocking chairs. My plan was to not invite Darek into the house. This conversation needed to be short and then done.
“Seriously?” He placed the books he’d carried next to mine on the table and positioned himself to face me, shoving his hands into the front pockets of his jeans. “Ya really think I came here because of an artifact?” His gaze held mine, unflinching and intense.
I maintained my careful façade. “I have some translating to finish up, so why don’t you tell me what you came here for.” I knew what he wanted to talk about. Of course, I knew. I just didn’t want to have that discussion. However, it would have to happen sometime. Best to get it done and out of the way, right?
“Ya didn’t get to answer my question earlier. And I need to know . . .” he trailed off and took a step closer to me. The air grew thin around us and flashes of memories with Darek played in my head again. “Do you still feel something for me, Aish?” He waited for an answer I wasn’t sure how to give.
I stared back at him like a deer frozen in headlights, unable to blink or speak.
“Well?” he asked after a moment. “I just need you to say it, Aish. I know the answer, but I need to hear it.”
“I . . . I will always care about you, Darek. I’m not sure what else it is you’re wantin’ me t’ say.”
A satisfied smile turned up one side of his mouth and his eyes crinkled. Sunlight hit them just so, igniting the golden flecks until they danced like fire and matched the light auburn highlights of his hair. Under different circumstances, at a different point in my life, I would have swooned a little.
Silver at Midnight: A Paranormal Romance Urban Fantasy (The Keepers of Knowledge Series Book 5) Page 17