by Allie Burton
“It’s a semi-precious stone. A lapis lazuli jewel that belonged to my father.” Pitching the lie I’d rehearsed with Aaron, I twisted my hands together. He’d said the Warriors would trust me more if I wasn’t after the same prize. “The stone was hidden inside the case the trumpet was transported in.”
Math’s gaze narrowed, making me squirm under his scowl of suspicion. “Why would anyone hide something meaningful in a trumpet case?”
“To escape government detection. It’s considered a cultural artifact, like the trumpet, and illegal to take out of Egypt.” The squirming moved to my stomach as if I’d eaten live worms. For some strange reason, lying to him felt worse than lying to Aaron.
“You knew your uncle was dealing in illegal goods.” Math’s disappointed tone had the worms shifting into a different movement.
No longer squirming but sagging with shame. Did he think less of me? He must think I was involved with the illegal activities at the pawn shop. I pursed my lips. I hadn’t done anything illegal, yet, except exist completely off the radar. I could steal a car, a technique I’d been practicing on the Order’s cars. Maybe it would be better if he thought I was a criminal and not part of the Order. Not wanting to lie anymore, I moved on.
“What’s our first step?” I slipped the phone back in my pocket.
When I’d shown the recording to Aaron, I’d thought that would be the end of my involvement. I’d been wrong. He wanted me to show the recording so the Warrior would trust me and use the evidence to mislead him about who the real thieves were working for.
Math slid deeper into the booth, as far from me as possible, not wanting to be stained by my dirt. “Our?”
I sniffed knowing I didn’t actually smell and yet feeling as if I did.
Aaron said the Warrior would try to ditch me. I’d have to stick to Math like a gasket in an engine. “I’m working with you.”
“I don’t work with anyone.” His tone didn’t hold conviction.
Plus, I knew he worked with the other Warriors. For example, Falcon, the one he’d come to the pawn shop with. Math just didn’t want to work with me. Which was smart because he knew nothing about me.
“We’ll be partners if you want more information.” I held my breath, waiting for his response. If he said no, what could I do? Panicked thoughts circled in complicated circuitry patterns. I know what Aaron would want me to do. He’d want me to persuade Math with whatever means I could. Logic, flirtation, or downright threats. That’s how Aaron would handle the situation.
“Do you have more information?” Math leaned slightly forward. His interest piqued.
My instantaneous smirk twisted into a phony smile. “Of course.” I had a pyramid-full of knowledge. Not that I’d share it. Just parcel out as needed. I knew when to stay quiet.
He rubbed the darker patch of skin on his neck and his brow furrowed as if thinking. Then, his expression cleared and his hand calmed. “You mentioned the Order of Crucis. Did you know the word Magical is before their name?”
Not many normal people knew the word magical was at the beginning of the Order’s name.
“Magical Order of Crucis?” I pretended to question the name. “And they own the same museum?”
He sneered and a challenge lit his eyes. “Yes. And we’ll be breaking into the museum tonight.”
I held in a laugh. Did he believe I’d be scared off from breaking into my own home?
* * *
Both dressed in black, Math and I perused the area around the outside of the Crucis Museum late that night. Most of the sensors and security cameras were off so I wasn’t too nervous. Aaron was aware and had encouraged the plan. With full security, I never would’ve attempted breaking into the museum. This place was guarded like an ancient pyramid, minus the ghostly souls.
Math carried a black satchel with clanging tools inside. “I analyzed the museum maps and the best way to get in is going to be a small side door by the loading dock.”
I’d analyzed a few maps myself and had left a bathroom window open on the ground floor. I couldn’t tell Math. I couldn’t tell him this was where I lived, and the Order was aware of our break-in plans. Math would only discover a museum dedicated to ancient Egyptian life. He’d never find the hidden apartments and religious headquarters beneath the surface. I still got lost.
Aaron believed this outing would take an entire night. An entire night the Order would be ahead in the pursuit of the trumpet. An entire night closer to my ultimate goal of leaving the Order. I just needed to lead the Warrior around the exhibits for the night on a wild pheasant chase.
Math bent over the security pad by the door. He plugged a couple of wires into the panel to try to decode the system. “Don’t worry. I’ve got this. If I can’t figure out the code, I’ll break the door down.”
He couldn’t pick the highly sophisticated lock or break down a steel door. I needed him to discover the open window. I scanned the area, thinking. An idea struck. An embarrassing idea.
“Um, Math?”
“I’m close to getting in.” He spoke through gritted teeth.
Heat rose to my cheeks. As long as he didn’t glance my way, I’d be okay. “I have to um, use the bathroom.”
“Oh.” His fingers stopped working on the security pad. He studied me with red splotches on his cheeks.
“I’ll just…” I indicated the corner of the building. “I’ll just go over there. Be right back.”
I headed around the corner and stopped by some bushes. Now what? Tapping my foot, I waited a reasonable time before heading back.
A loud bang sounded, and I rushed around the corner to see what had happened worrying that he’d gotten hurt or worse, caught. “I found an open window.” I halted in front of him.
He stood by the now-open doorway wearing a swaggering smile. “No need. I kicked in the door.”
He spoke so casually as if breaking down doors was a normal occurrence. And maybe it was for him. But this door was enforced by steel. The Order used a special manufacturer to protect the valuable items in the museum, and their other hidden secrets. Math must have a special tool. I noted the tools were still in the bag. He wasn’t huffing as if he’d exerted any physical effort. His expression appeared calm. Maybe he had more strength than I’d thought.
He held his hand in a gentlemanly gesture. “After you.”
I passed him and crossed the threshold into the storage area of the museum. The dark gray of the door hung on only one hinge. A single boot mark marred the sleek surface of the door.
Aaron hadn’t mentioned the Warriors had specialty tricks up their black sleeves. A tingle of knowledge shivered across my skin. Math must’ve kicked at the door once and used some type of blasting device to open it. Except, I hadn’t heard an explosion.
More secrets he was hiding. He was like complicated computer circuitry and I needed to figure out how all the wires connected and crossed.
Guess we had the secret thing in common. “Besides the tattoo I showed you on the thief’s neck,” which I’d added to the video, “why do you think the Order has the trumpet?”
He followed behind me and stopped, unfolding a map of the museum layout.
Studying the map, his lips firmed into a serious line. He looked studiously cute. “Your uncle has received stolen goods for the Order before. I think the Order was supposed to pick up the trumpet and your uncle double-crossed them.” He gazed up and there was a sad glint in his eyes. “Sorry to say bad things about your uncle.”
“He’d sell his soul to make a profit.” The truth slipped out before I could stop myself. Secrets were my currency, but I hadn’t wanted sympathy from Math. I knew what my uncle was. “You think the Order stole the trumpet from my uncle?”
He folded the map and shoved it in the back pocket of his loose-fitting black jeans. “I think your uncle tried to sell the trumpet to someone else and the Order found out and took it from him.”
An ominous sensation swirled in my gut. Math was spot on about everyt
hing up until the part about the Order stealing. He was intelligent and could read people. How long until he figured out my lies?
“This way.” He took my hand and my palm sparked and heated.
This attraction to him was wrong. He was bad—not that I was so good, but he was the enemy.
Everyone except Mom was my enemy. Aaron and the Order. Uncle Louie. Math. I couldn’t trust anyone from the social workers to the cops. Something I’d learned from Mom at a young age. And yet, she’d put all her faith in Aaron because he’d gotten her off the drugs.
Math led us through the back room and down the hall past the security room, which was empty. He took us up the back stairs and skirted around the main foyer of the museum.
The Order used the grand entryway to showcase their wealth and knowledge. Or how I thought about it, they bragged. Deep-blue ceilings made the room feel soothing, even while below the museum, chaos and power struggles and the search for magical elements took precedence.
Glancing at the many Egyptian Eye of Ra images, I pictured who would be watching. Of course, Babi would enjoy this show. The eye was all-seeing because of the multitude of cameras hidden beneath. The Order mistrusted and watched every visitor.
I fisted my hand to control the urge to give them the finger.
Aaron had promised the security staff would be minimal tonight, which was why the security room had been empty. Only his most loyal would be on duty and they were all in on the plan.
Math waved his hand for me to follow him past the counter with the visitor maps and toward the wall with painted murals. He led me through large wooden doors.
I could’ve told him there was a secret tunnel between the foyer and first exhibit. I could’ve shown him shortcuts and even the secret elevator code to access the Order’s headquarters. I could’ve told him the trumpet wasn’t here.
That’s not how Aaron wanted to play this game of cat and rat.
Math’s muscular thighs bunched, moving ahead of me. The black jeans tightened around his butt. I mentally fanned myself. His brain wasn’t his only nice asset. He moved in front of a large statue of Anubis.
I tugged him back without thought. “Electronic alarm beam.”
He shot me a curious glance. “How did you know?”
I’d sensed this alarm was set because of my affinity for machines. The quality had been something I’d been aware of since I was a toddler and, since working with the Order’s cars and computers, the skill had been honed.
All the security measures hadn’t been turned off.
“I saw the green light.” I pointed at a tiny light emitting from behind the statue’s ear.
This might be Aaron’s plan, but I didn’t want to be seen by him or his cronies. Learning how to sneak in and out of the museum would be good to know in case the trumpet hunt went off kilter or when I finally got Mom away from the Order. Over the years, I’d played in the secret basement headquarters by myself, but wasn’t allowed into the museum unsupervised. Maybe Aaron thought I’d tell a visitor the museum’s secrets.
Secrets he kept so close, even after living here for almost a decade I didn’t know the ceremonies or the levels of management. My distrust rubbed raw against the secrets. If he didn’t trust me or Mom, who did he trust?
“Good catch,” Math said the words slowly.
I wanted to knock my head against a marble column. I needed to distract, look dumb. “Tell me about the Order of Crucis.”
This should be interesting. How would an outsider view the Order?
I thought of it as a weird cult. Mom had always been into Egyptian culture. She’d lived in Egypt right before I was born. She’d returned to the States pregnant with me. I remembered her complaining about some internal pain no doctor could cure. That was when she’d started using cocaine and heroin and our lives had gone from bad to worse to devastating.
My eyes pricked hinting at remembered sorrow.
We’d lived in a dirty, dump of an apartment in the worst part of town. Rats and cockroaches were nightly visitors. I didn’t understand why the creatures bothered us when we didn’t have any food. I’d been hungry every day.
Mom had recovered with Aaron’s help, and I’d been grateful. Now, I believed Mom and I had given enough thanks.
“The Magical Order of Crucis’ official history says they were founded in Upper Egypt and took the sign of the rosy thorn. Really, they first organized in the nineteen-twenties at the height of interest in occults and alchemy. The earlier history was backdated.” Math continued through the exhibit, reciting facts as if he were a textbook.
Displays of jewelry and pottery were showcased in this hall.
Except the part about the founding, his information coincided with my knowledge. “Alchemy meaning magic?”
“They believe there are cultural artifacts storing magic from the ancient gods and goddesses.” His tone stayed neutral.
My interest piqued. If he believed he’d been made of stone and come back to life, he must believe in magic and powers. Who had brainwashed him? Were the Warriors a similar organization to the Order, except more evil?
I couldn’t ask any of these questions because he didn’t know I knew about his group. He didn’t know I knew about the intricacies of the Order.
“All this in the twenty-first century?” The wonder in my voice was not fake. How could modern day people believe this crap?
All I’d ever seen were manuals about the Order and what they believed, and statuary and etchings telling stories, not fact. I’d heard discussions about the magical properties of certain items, usually tuning out because as I got older, I didn’t believe. Didn’t believe Aaron was the overseer in the western continent awaiting a visit from the true leader from Egypt. Didn’t believe their ceremonies had true meaning. Didn’t believe certain artifacts had powers.
And yet, the silver trumpet had made my uncle and the other employees at the pawn shop fall asleep. Not me. Why?
Maybe because I didn’t believe.
The thought firmed my theory. If I didn’t believe, then this supposed magic couldn’t affect me.
Math passed into the next exhibit. He was intent on his path, knowing where he was headed. He must’ve visited the museum before. This room held an old fishing boat and a carriage purportedly used by a real pharaoh.
“What about Tut’s silver trumpet? Why is it so important?” I only knew what Aaron had told me.
“The Trumpet of Peace is used in a special ceremony related to the number Pi. Three-point-one-four, etc.” Math’s face flushed red as if embarrassed to know math, which was a weird coincidence because it was his nickname. “The ceremony is performed on March fourteenth and a human vessel blows the instrument and is used to capture the powers.”
My heart stopped and then sped ahead. My thoughts tumbled along with the pace of my heart. Mom was a vessel. Was that how Aaron proposed to cure her? By giving her powers?
Internally, I scoffed. I didn’t believe in the powers.
“The vessel is a person, right?”
I didn’t believe, but…that had to be why the trumpet was so important to Mom and Aaron. If Mom was the vessel, then she believed blowing the trumpet would cure her of the strange illness. And if she believed, it might happen—the brain was a powerful thing. Mom would be healthy, and we could escape and live a normal life.
But if the Order cured Mom, she’d be even more indebted to Aaron.
My shoulders slumped. Doubts about mom’s motherly devotion gouged everything inside me. Maybe she wouldn’t want to leave, then what would I do? I didn’t want to think about the other option—leaving on my own and leaving my mother in their manipulative hands.
“Yes.” Math flashed a disgusted expression my way. “The vessel is female and has been prepared for months with a special drink so the vessel is open to receiving the powers.”
Could it be the medicine Aaron had been giving my mom? She seemed to be getting sicker. I yanked my shoulders back, anger stiffening my muscles and
my bones. Mom or Aaron should’ve explained everything in detail. How could I plan when I didn’t know? The secrecy of the Order blasted through me and I wanted to punch the chest on display. I’d do some digging on my own about the medicine, asking questions that wouldn’t betray my doubts.
Math trod into a narrow hallway not leading to any other exhibits. “On the day of Pi, the vessel plays the trumpet to send blissful harmony into the world.”
“That doesn’t sound so bad.” Harmless, even if it was true.
“At first, everyone falls asleep.” He tapped on a wall with his knuckles. “While they’re sleeping, the playing of the trumpet by the vessel gives the vessel control of people’s minds.”
All the truths and half-truths and lies simmered in my mind. That sounded terrible. If Mom believed it was real, why would she agree? Why would she want to control people’s minds? The simmering bubbled into confusion. If Mom believed, was she as bad as Aaron? Maybe she hadn’t been told the entire truth either. Like me. Ignorance wasn’t bliss.
“If an Akh is involved, then the strength and the terror is multiplied.”
I wasn’t even listening. The simmering confusion incinerated in my chest and made me feel sick. Doubts and others’ opinions crowded my thoughts and tainted my emotions. Aaron wasn’t that evil, was he? Math’s information must be false. Was Mom’s life dependent on rumors of ancient magic?
I needed to make up my own mind, discover my own truth. I’d read everything I could get my hands on in the basement of the museum. None of the material said anything about controlling minds. Of course, my library usage had been restricted by Aaron, and any eavesdropping I’d accomplished hadn’t given me anything useful. My body jerked, counting off the days of the month. “Isn’t Pi day in two days?”
“That’s why we have to find the Trumpet of Peace fast.” Math stopped knocking on the wall and moved further down the narrow hallway toward a dead end.
I felt as if I were walking toward a dead end. “If we don’t find the trumpet here, where do we look next?”
“I’m not sure.” Shaking his head, he proceeded. He must not realize this hall went nowhere. “We know the Order has procured a vessel, although why anyone would volunteer for such a treacherous position, I don’t understand.”