The Eye of the Wolf
Page 35
“The Hope Diamond weighed originally 112 3/16 carats when it was taken from the diamond mines of India. It was originally known as the French Blue Stone and was found in 1642 by the French adventurer Jean-Baptiste Tavernier.” Mikayla smiled at the young faces of her History’s Mysteries class that rose up along the walls around her in the echoing lecture hall. She was almost sad to see the semester come to an end. She had enjoyed this class, even now as she drew closer to bittersweet memories. “According to legend, the original stone was pried loose from an Indian idol, which was a religious artifact. By removing the stone from its religious idol, a curse was put upon the stone. The curse would harm anyone who came in contact or possessed the stone.”
Mikayla shrugged as a new slide slid up the wall. An image of a woman wearing the Hope Diamond in its current setting. “According to history, Tavernier lost his entire estate after acquiring the diamond. King Louis the Fourteenth lost his head while wearing the stone, and shortly thereafter, the diamond disappeared. It reappeared forty years later in London. The jewel cutter who had been in possession of the stone stole it from his father. He then died of…” She paused for dramatic effects. When she spoke again, voices from the auditorium chimed in. “…mysterious causes.”
Mikayla’s laugh joined those of the eager undergraduates who scribbled notes and drew pictures in their notebooks. “The stone passed on through many families. Someone always lost a fortune or died of suspicious causes, such as drowning or a broken skull or poisoning.” She pressed the remote control in her hand, shifting images to the drawing of Lady Evalyn Walsh McLean, one of the last owners of the Hope Diamond. “ The diamond then moved to Lady McLean. Her husband bought it for her as a present for $154,000. While she was in possession of the stone, her family suffered a number of tragic events including a suicide, a murder, and the loss of a family fortune.”
Mikayla flipped the slide to the next image. “Mr. Harry Winston purchased the Hope Diamond for his wife as an anniversary present. He, however, never had any problems with the jewel, though the curse haunted him in that no one ever wanted to sit with him or his wife on a plane.” Ripples of laughter worked its way through the students. Mikayla flipped to the last slide: the Hope Diamond larger than life, sparkling like a humored blue eye, filling the wall behind her. “The Hope Diamond has been part of the Smithsonian since 1958. It arrived there wrapped in a plain brown wrapper, insured for one million dollars. Today, the Hope Diamond is estimated to be worth over two million dollars.”
Wows echoed throughout the room as Mikayla paused to let students stare at the diamond that was not far away, behind bullet-proof glass, protected by the most advanced security system in the world, even more advanced than the security protecting the Crown Jewels in Great Britain. As the oohs and aahs quieted, she flipped the slide to the next. Her fingers twirled the simple diamond pendant around her neck as the room became silent.
“This, ladies and gentlemen, is the Eye of the Wolf, an incredibly rare and precious yellow sapphire.” Although her voice was professor-like, commanding and clear, her mind wandered from the lecture-hall to a bright sandy beach where ocean breezes blow and salt is always teasing sun-bleached blond hair. She smiled slightly to herself as the voices of students’ questions rang through the air. She held up a hand to quiet them and was surprised that it didn’t tremble. It seemed a year could solve almost anything.
“Yes, ladies and gentlemen, yes, this is the stone owned by the royal family of Amor.” She glanced over her shoulder at the picture of the rare sapphire that was now housed in the Hall of Records under the same security system as the Hope Diamond in Washington. “This stone is 150 carats of pure sapphire. It was mined originally in the sapphire mines of Vietnam or Cambodia. Eventually, it made its way to Jerusalem. It was in Jerusalem that its deadly history begins.”
Mikayla moved across the front of the lecture hall, away from the projector so that she could see her students’ faces better. Her mind danced along ocean waves and through the halls of a fabled fortress as her mouth worked automatically, telling the story of a king long ago who went on a Crusade and never returned home. Danced in a ballroom with a dashing prince. Witnessed the fall of a princess who only wanted to be queen. “The Eye of the Wolf is said to have been cursed by the Sultan in Jerusalem who originally owned it before it was stolen by the Crusaders during the Third Crusade. The curse of the Sultan stated that anyone who possessed the stone would meet with horrible calamity.”
She shrugged her shoulders as she moved up and down the rows of the lecture hall. Bittersweet memories tugged at her heart as the scent of ocean breezes and tropical flowers tickled her senses. “King Henry of Amor and his Crusaders set sail back to England only to be blown off course. They crashed on the island of Amor. Henry was killed by his own son in cold greed. His son was later killed by revolutionaries. The stone then disappeared under the next monarch for 800 years. It was only recovered recently after an almost 20 year search. During that search, people clost to the royal family died, along with the drowing of a prince, the poisoning of a king, and the accidental shooting of a princess.” She paused. A long, tapered finger tapped her lips. “Some might say the stone is cursed; I disagree. It’s just human nature.”
Pictures of tapestries filled the wall as her voice played a story so well-known. She gazed at the images on the screen as they flashed by feeling the overwhelming sense of loss that had filled her the day she had left that far-off island a year ago. It was only the giggling, bubble-gum popping voice of Amber, an annoying but bright undergraduate, that raised her from her imagination.
“Dr. Knight, isn’t it true that you solved the mystery of where the stone was hidden?”
Mikayla sighed and moved back to the front of the room. She flipped off the switch on the projector and turned up the lights. Students’ eyes blinked rapidly, adjusting to the brightness. She leaned against the podium, meeting each eye in the lecture hall. “Yes, I was there when the stone was recovered, but I wouldn’t say that I solved the mystery. I just happened to be at the right place at the right time.” She smirked, her eyes hiding thoughts of the irony of that statement. “If you’re so interested in it, you can read about it when the book comes out next month.” Several students laughed. This was an old joke.
Amber raised her hand again, giggling as she did so. Mikayla frowned and chose to ignore the bubbly blonde. Students were beginning to pack bags and move on to their next class or out into the beautiful Washington spring. She waved her hands briefly to settle the students before they flew from their seats. “Are there any questions regarding today’s lecture, the overview of the course you were given, or the final exam next week?”
When no hands rose in the air, Mikayla shooed them. It was Amber’s voice that stopped many students in their tracks. “Dr. Knight, at the beginning of the semester, you told us history isn’t about fairytales, hauntings, and curses, yet you’ve just spent the entire semester teaching us about those very things.” Mikayla smiled to herself. She had to admit it, the girl was bright. She almost wished Amber had signed up for the summer dig program overseas that Mikayla was in charge of. Almost.
“Well, Dr. Knight, does Cinderella ever get her Prince Charming in real life?” Amber stood from her seat, her bag slung over her shoulder. For once, her eyes intense and the giggling silent.
Mikayla twisted the diamond pendant and its fine gold chain around her finger as she thought through the question. She met Amber’s eyes as she began packing her own bag, moving aside the lavender rose that stuck out from one of the bag’s pockets. “Well, Amber, let me answer it this way. The ending hasn’t been written yet, so yes, Amber, it is possible for Cinderella to find her Prince Charming. You have to write the ending.”
Amber grinned and bounced down the steps to the exit. Her perky blonde pony-tail swung wildly around her head. Mikayla distinctly heard the pop of a bubble before Amber disappeared through the door into the crowded hallway. Mikayla shoved her laptop into the beat
-up backpack with its Hoya zipper pull. “You really shouldn’t feed her fantasies by sitting next to her and feeding her those questions.”
“I’m shocked she bought that cop-out of an answer, Luv.” A smooth British voice floated through the air answering her accusations. Mikayla grinned as she watched him unfold his lanky frame from the seats of the auditorium. He moved slowly down the stairs until he was even with her. He wrapped one arm around her, pulling her close. His hand cupped her cheek and she was enveloped in the scent of ocean breezes and sunny afternoons. His smile warmed her through to her toes, a stab of lust went through her, intense and overwhelming. He laid a gentle, sweet kiss on her lips before allowing her to answer.
“It’s true, Will. The fairy tale shouldn’t have an end. History doesn’t have an end. It’s what we make of it and nothing more.” She picked up her backpack and slung it over her shoulder.
Will smirked. He twisted coppery curls around his fingers, allowing the silky strands to slide through. He allowed himself one brief moment to wallow in the scent of her before releasing her. Love pulsed through him. “Your publisher called today.”
She raised an eyebrow as they headed for the exit. She flipped the lights off as he held the door open for her.
“He wants to know if you want to hold off publication for about a month or so. He wants to know if you want to write that final chapter about the Dauphin marrying the American professor.”
Mikayla grinned. Her laughter floated through the hallway as her hand slid neatly into his, their fingers entwined. A perfect yellow sapphire winked in the bright sunlight as they headed into the afternoon, hand-in-hand.
And they lived happily ever after.
The End.
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30