Shadow Sight

by T. G. Ayer

  Max frowned as he wrote down her words without asking her anything further.

  Allegra sighed and gave him the details of each location, and the timeframe that she’d managed to identify for Fornia. “I couldn’t find anything to let me know when the eruption will happen in Pompeii. But for Bali, I think I recognized one of the tourists.”

  “That’s a good place to start,” murmured Xales.

  Max flicked Xales a sharp look, reminding Allegra that she needed to introduce the pair.

  “Who was this tourist?” asked Max.

  “Pedro de la Corta,” Allegra replied. “He was taken up into the hills so I do think he may survive the tsunami, but I think we can use his presence there to find out when his booking is for. I saw the emblem for the hotel on the side of the car, so we have something to go on.”

  “But only for Bali and Fornia,” Max said almost to himself. “But if these visions happened at the same time, perhaps we are looking at three events that occur simultaneously.”

  “We’ll know as soon as we can place Pedro in Bali. If the dates match Fornia, then we can assume Pompeii will happen at the same time. The only problem is how are we supposed to investigate three simultaneous events. I can’t be in three places at the same time.”

  Even as Allegra spoke the words, she knew they were not entirely true. Still, moving through time was probably not the best solution for their current dilemma.

  “Then we split up. We have enough team members, and I can get Marcus to come out with a small team as well.” Max closed his notebook and reached for Allegra’s arm.

  As she got to her feet, Allegra met Max’s eyes. “Split up? Are you sure you’ll be able to handle not being at my side all the time?” she asked with a smirk.

  Max’s eyes narrowed. “Where you go, I go. So that’s not even up for debate.”

  Allegra shook her head then dusted off her hands. “It doesn’t make sense for you to waste manpower by staying with me. You and Marcus both head a team, and leave Athena with me. She’s more than capable of running her own mission. And besides, I also have Xales.”

  Max let out a soft laugh. “I agree with Athena as a valuable asset. But Xales? He only appears when your life is in danger. What if he’s too late this time.”

  “He won’t be too late,” Allegra said, a smile blossoming across her face as she turned to look at Xales who gave an almost imperceptible nod.

  When Allegra turned back to Max, his expression was a mix of confusion and irritation. “You’re very confident about that. But I wouldn’t rely on him. It’s not as if he can come when you call him.”

  Allegra laughed softly then waved a hand between Xales and Max. “Max, meet Xales. Xales, meet Max.”

  The look on Max’s face was priceless.

  Chapter 19

  In the following days after the dream, Allegra forced Mara to show her Aurelia’s library. Now she stood within the old Pythia’s inner sanctum wondering why Mara had been so reluctant to allow Allegra entry to what technically now belonged to her.

  Allegra stared at the piles of ancient books now lying all over the tiled floor at her feet. She was seated on a fat cushion, with many of the books opened and abandoned around her.

  She found historical accounts of many different Pythias through the ages, discussions on the influences of the Oracles’ visions and how it shaped modern history, even a selection of theses claiming the oracles to be overly influential and far too powerful, and suggesting the removal of the Pythia’s influence over governments.

  Allegra let out a low grunt and boosted herself onto her feet. She stretched and twisted, aware she’d been sitting on the floor for hours now. She hated not having access to the web anymore, and had requested a computer, to which Max had replied that they would need a satellite connection as Argentina didn’t have the infrastructure as yet to facilitate access to the web.

  Allegra sighed, then downed the remainder of the weak red wine the estate produced, then focused again on the bookshelves. She paused to consider that perhaps Aurelia would have hidden the books that Xales had mentioned and that maybe even Mara had little idea as to their true value.

  Walking the length of the room, Allegra studied the walls, searching for a secret doorway, or a false panel, something that could hide the existence of a hiding place.

  And Allegra found nothing.

  Frustrated, she studying the size of the room, then tapped her lip as an idea popped into her head.

  Reinvigorated by her hunch, Allegra hurried to the door to the meeting room outside, the hall where Aurelia would often receive dignitaries and other guests.

  Here again, she studied the hall but came up with nothing. Disappointed, she returned to Aurelia’s study and stared outside at the small patio area. A wooden pergola offered some shade from the harsh sunlight, assisted by the grapevines weaving their way along the wooden beams.

  Allegra stepped outside and turned to study the villa again, her attention shifting to the room beside the study—which had turned out to be Aurelia’s, now Allegra’s bedroom. Allegra walked the narrow pathway and entered her room through the patio doors then studied the space again.

  And she found what she had suspected.

  There was a space a quarter of the size of Allegra’s study, hidden between the two rooms. Smiling, Allegra returned to the study and concentrated on the wall behind Aurelia’s desk again, certain now that something hid a secret doorway.

  And then Allegra grinned.

  Placing her palm flat on the wall, she began to press hard, tracking along the length of the wall around shoulder height. And, right beside a framed painting of a woman and her three daughters, the wall clicked, and a secret door opened toward Allegra.

  She sighed and stilled her racing heart, at the same time inhaling the smell of old paper and dried ink, as well as years of dust.

  She’d found the room, and her stomach twisted with nerves at what lay beyond the secret door. Then, taking another deep breath. Allegra entered the room and pulled the door shut behind her.

  Inside, the space was dark, although light filtered in through holes in the ceiling, as though channeled in from the rooftop. Dozens of candles were strewn around the room, likely used during Aurelia’s nighttime rendezvous within this inner sanctum.

  One narrow wall bore a floor-to-ceiling shelf, the opposite a large writing desk on which sat a parchment held open with four shards of crystals. Aurelia had evidently been in the process of writing something, and she’d died before completing the task, proving once and for all that Mara had known nothing about the secret room.

  Now Allegra leaned over the paper and studied Aurelia’s records.

  It had broken my heart to take the child from her mother’s arms. Jocasta will never know the pain I felt in separating a mother from her child. Too few know how deeply that act hurts, as only a mother can know what it feels like to be separated from her child.

  I feel for Jocasta as I fear she will never recover from the pain of this separation, and I am most afraid that her pain will influence her ability to survive her terrible disease.

  I am determined to find a way to tell Jocasta what she needs to know about her child. I was at a loss as to how to ensure she received these messages but I have at last devised a plan. I pray it works to give Jocasta the strength and hope that will help her pull through and survive because I wish beyond anything else that I can reunite mother and child at some point.

  Perhaps the idea is somewhat grandiose or fantastical, but I see no reason why I shouldn’t assure Jocasta that her decision had indeed been the correct one. How could she have known that I would have no living heirs nor have any knowledge of another surviving Pythia able to take over from me?

  A reason enough for me to help Jocasta remain at peace.

  Allegra straightened, her heart thrumming loudly as she considered the contents of the letter. This was Aurelia’s diary. Was this what Xales had meant? A book filled with the private accounts of all the P
ythias through history?

  Allegra turned to examine the bookshelf, pulling the first book from the topmost shelf. Turning it over, she stared stunned at the name written on the faded leather cover.

  Phemonoe.

  From what Allegra had read in her brief research of the Pythias, Sybil was the first Oracle, the oracle who was the progenitor of all the daughters of Delphi.

  And Allegra was looking at the writings of Phemonoe. She stood there in shock for a moment, unsure how to process the thought, to accept what she was looking at.

  Letting out a slow breath, Allegra carried the leather-bound book to the table, then carefully set aside Aurelia’s parchment before laying Phemonoe’s book down gently.

  Her hands shook, so afraid was she that she would damage the leather, or even the pages. Holding her breath, Allegra opened the cover carefully, and read the inscription on the first page.

  Written in ancient Greek, the words of the first oracle seemed to resonate from the pages. From the condition of the paper, Allegra guessed that this was not the true original writings of the Phemonoe who lived in a time when words were more often carved into stone tablets.

  Still, the sense of awe remained, probably because the recordings themselves must have been at least three thousand years old.

  Allegra was about to settle into the chair, her thoughts focused on the words of an ancient oracle, when the sound of Max’s voice echoed through into the room.

  “Allegra? We’ve found something,” Max said from her study.

  For the briefest moment, Allegra found herself hesitating, a flash of the question filtering through her mind, Should I show this to anyone, even Max?

  Was she really mistrusting Max?

  Chapter 20

  Allegra shook her head.

  She was only in this new life because of Max. Max’s connection to the New Germanic States, General Aulus and everyone else who wanted to control Allegra, was her only point of discomfort. But she also knew that Max was entirely loyal to her, and more importantly, to the Pythia—whoever she may be.

  She gave a short nod and headed to the secret door. She pushed it ajar and stepped into the room just as Max turned to leave.

  “Max?” Allegra called out.

  Max stopped in his tracks then spun on his heel, his gaze going immediately to the open patio doors. Frowning, he scanned the room, his expression a little surprised to see Allegra standing near the back wall behind her desk.

  “Where—” he began, but Allegra lifted a hand and beckoned him to her.

  Without a word, he crossed the study, and when he drew to her side, she pulled the secret door open and waved him inside.

  Max’s expression remained stunned as he entered the small space and studied the shelf and then the open book on the desk.

  “I had no idea this was here,” he murmured as he traced a finger along the spines of the dozens and dozens of books. He looked over his shoulder. “When did you find this place?” he asked, a dazed smile curving his lips.

  “About an hour ago, I think? Could be longer considering how fascinating this place is. I daresay I lost a bit of time just standing and staring at that shelf.”

  Max’s head bobbed, and then he took a step away. “You can’t tell anyone about this place,” he said, his voice hard and stern. “You should not have told me.”

  Allegra blinked at the rebuke and took a short step back. “Why? I trust you, Max. What reason would I have to keep this from you?”

  Max’s jaw tightened. “Because Aurelia never mentioned this place to me, and I’ve been with her for decades. To me, that means this repository is meant to be kept top secret, for its own safety, I imagine.”

  A weary sigh escaped Allegra’s lips. “All this secrecy is very tiring. How am I supposed to live knowing I should not be trusting anyone, even those I love?” she asked, her voice quavering.

  Max blinked at the words, likely due to her mention of love, but he didn’t follow through. Instead, he came toward her, holding her arms. “No matter what, every single person around you, including you, can betray the position of the Pythia. We are all vulnerable.” He looked around the room. “I suppose that was the reason Aurelia would have kept this place a secret. I’m positive Mara has no idea it’s here either.”

  Allegra nodded. “She kept the study under lock and key until I demanded to see it. So…it’s possible she knew and was attempting to protect it?”

  Max let Allegra go and studied the room, its walls and ceiling and then the floor. “It could be possible. This room is a fire-safe.” When Allegra frowned at the word, Max continued, “It’s standard governmental issue for storing important documentation. All originals are kept in a room constructed out of fire-resistant materials, in this case, stone. And some metal.”

  “Metal?”

  “Yes, in the mortar. It helps prevent a fire from crystallizing the sand in the mortar mix. When sand crystallizes, the movement of air can dislodge the mortar and allow the flames to gain access to the room. Aurelia commissioned the best fire-safe money can buy.”

  Allegra folded her arms, lifting an eyebrow as she said, “Wouldn’t that mean the person who built it would know it’s here, and that it contained supremely important documents given that it was the Pythia who commissioned it?”

  Max grinned. “Well, that’s a mystery for another day, my lady. For now, I have news on our investigation,” Max said as he cracked open the safe door and entered the empty study.

  Allegra followed and quickly closed the door behind her, more aware now of the necessity to keep the room secret. She went to her desk and sat on Aurelia’s battered leather office chair, waiting as Max took a seat in a low-backed stone chair covered in brightly-patterned cushions.

  He looked uncomfortable as he wriggled on the soft seat, but Allegra held back her amusement as he took a breath and said, “We managed to track down Pedro. He’s currently filming a movie in Reykjavik and has booked a week in an exclusive resort in Bali in order to warm up after the frigid climes of Snæland.”

  Grinning, Allegra leaned forward, elbows on the desk. “How did you manage to obtain that information? I thought actors of Pedro’s status had strict rules about privacy.”

  Max quirked an eyebrow. “I may have mentioned that the Pythia was interested in arranging a meeting, and I may have dropped a date that fell in line with the one on the baker’s board,” he said with a mischievous smirk, “and I may have implied that the Pythia would consider meeting Pedro depending on if her itinerary intersects with his during that time period.”

  Allegra let out a giggle. “So sneaky. Is that what FAPA is all about? Subterfuge and white lies,” she asked, laughing softly.

  Max winked. “Means to an end, my lady.” After a moment of shared chuckles, Max leaned toward the desk. “We now have a confirmed date: seventeen Quintilis. That is only ten days from now.”

  Allegra got to her feet. “So, what about Pompeii? Do we have anything to go on?”

  “Nothing that I was able to find out with my investigative skills. But then again, I didn’t expect to. Earthquake and volcanic activity measurements are tricky…best left to the professionals.” Max rubbed his forehead, making it clear that the investigation had proven far more taxing than anything they’d encountered to date. He cleared his throat and straightened, dropping his hand as he said, “I’ve made contact with the geologists and warned them to be on the lookout for activity in those three areas. I’m just concerned about the fact that we have to split up the teams.”

  Allegra shook her head and sat back down. “Max, what is there to discuss?” she asked, preparing herself for a fight. “I can manage without you. I’m sure we can split the teams in a way that you can be comfortable with. Besides, you have met Xales. He’s entirely capable of protecting me in whatever form he chooses to manifest.”

  Max let out a long breath and fell against the backrest of his seat. “Now that I did not see coming,” he said, shaking his head.

  �
�You had no idea? Did you not see him around?”

  Max shrugged. “I did, mostly on the estate. But he never told me who he was. I mean, I met him in boar form, yes, but he never came up to me and said ‘Greetings, Max. I’m Xales, you know, the four-legged, familiar of the Pythia’.”

  Allegra chuckled. “Are you upset that you were not told?”

  “A little I think. I was with Aurelia for years, and she never mentioned his ability to take human form either.”

  “Perhaps another small detail that is best kept close to the Pythia’s chest?” suggested Allegra, tilting her head as she studied Max’s face. He didn’t seem convinced. “Very well then, what is the problem? What do you see is the issue here?”

  Max raised his eyebrows. “Nothing in particular. I just would have been happier knowing who he is. And he’s...rather large even in human form. He could be dangerous when sparring.”

  “Max, he’s not that much larger than you. And he’s been tasked with protecting the Pythias by Apollo himself. I hardly think he’s going to get careless and kill one of us. He’d be in pretty deep trouble if that had to happen.” Allegra paused, and her eyes narrowed. “Although I’m beginning to wonder if it’s not the fact that he can transform as it is what he transforms into. He’s pretty nice to look at, isn’t he?” asked Allegra, attempting and failing to hide her smile.

  Max’s jaw tightened. “I suppose he is.”

  Allegra burst out laughing, “Max, I do believe you are jealous,” she said, as she got to her feet and walked around the desk toward Max. She hovered over him, hands on either side of his, gripping the armrest. “You think that I may actually be impressed with Xales in human form. That I like the look of his bulging muscles glistening with perspiration,” Allegra raised her hands, cupping them as she said, “the taut shape of his—”

  She let out a low squeal as Max grabbed her by the waist and tugged her onto his lap.

  “Woman, I do not need to know about Xales’ taut shapes.”