“Who’s Clint?”
“A buddy.”
“Is he a mercenary like you?”
“I’m not a mercenary. I contract to the highest bidder just like any business would.”
“You carry a lot of muscle and weapons for a business.”
Jake’s phone rang. He pulled it from his pocket and answered. After a short conversation, he ended the call. “Marco’s awake,” he told her. “Fergus says if we want to talk to him, we need to hurry.”
“Then let’s go.” She jogged to her car. If it weren’t for Marco, she probably wouldn’t be alive. It wasn’t just gratitude, or guilt. She was fond of the old man, even though she couldn’t remember seeing him at the castle when she and Adam were kids. And she had questions for him. If there was a curse that had caused Adam and both their fathers to die, why hadn’t she died?
Jake didn’t knock on Nathan’s door. He went right in. Nathan and Fergus were standing in the atrium. From their dour expressions, they appeared to have been arguing. Since their return from Italy, Fergus seemed as distracted as Nathan. Not such a surprise, Kendall thought since Fergus had been out of his element in the past week. He was a butler, not a fighter, though he’d done a darned good job fighting off bad guys.
Nathan’s dark gaze followed Kendall, and she wondered if he was thinking about this morning in his bedroom. Her gaze went to the arm that sported a tattoo, now hidden by an expensive suit. Fergus stepped forward when he saw them. “Kendall, Jake. The nurse says Marco won’t be awake for long.”
“Has he spoken at all?” Kendall asked.
“We haven’t seen him yet. The doctor just left. This way, if you please.”
Fergus led them toward the bedrooms on the second floor. Nathan followed, his face dark. Kendall considered prying. She wouldn’t get anything from Nathan, verbal or intuitive, but she might pick up something from Fergus. No fair, Kendall.
Marco lay in bed, hooked up to tubes. He looked old and weak, not the spry man with bright eyes. He still had his beard. The doctor had wanted to cut it, but Fergus of all people had insisted he keep it.
“We need privacy,” Nathan said curtly.
“Don’t be long. He’s tired,” the nurse said. She gave Nathan a sour look and walked to the door. She left and they all approached the bed.
Marco’s eyes fluttered open. They weren’t bright now. He looked frightened. When he saw Kendall, his gnarled hand reached for hers. “You are alive?”
Kendall touched his hand, careful to avoid the IV. A myriad of pictures flashed through her head. The castle in Italy, the statues, the secret treasure room. Raphael. “Of course I’m alive, thanks to you.”
“The spear? Is it safe?” Marco asked, his voice weak.
“It’s safe,” Nathan said. “The intruders are gone.”
Marco let out a relieved sigh that lifted his scrawny chest. “He’ll try again. He won’t stop.”
“The Reaper?” Nathan asked.
Marco nodded.
“We found the treasure at the castle. I think it needs to be moved before someone else finds it.”
“Yes, it must be kept safe. Can’t let him get it. Raphael knows how to move it.”
“Marco, Raphael is dead, remember?” Kendall said gently.
Marco frowned.
Nathan rubbed his chin. He seemed ill at ease. “I’ll have Kendall do it. There’s no one I trust more than her.” He met her gaze and Kendall felt a glimmer of something, as if she’d experienced this moment before. Then the sensation passed, leaving her with guilt at the thought of the crosses in her bag. She would have to tell him she’d accidentally taken them home. Turning, she saw Jake watching her. He was frowning, and so was Fergus. Everyone was frowning.
“I think it’s time you tell us about the Reaper and these relics,” Jake said.
“Water,” Marco said, his voice raspy.
Kendall helped him take a drink from the cup the nurse had left. He shifted in bed, sighed again, and spoke. “There are things in this world that cannot be explained. There are relics so powerful that in the wrong hands the human race could be destroyed.”
“More comic book stuff,” Jake muttered, too low for Marco to hear.
“Our order was formed many centuries ago to protect those relics, to keep them out of evil hands. We were called the Protettori after we moved to Italy. Once there were many of us, but one of our own turned on us. We were slaughtered and scattered like sheep.”
“One of the Protettori did this?” Kendall asked.
“The Reaper. He wasn’t always the Reaper. He was one of our trusted brothers, but something happened to him. He changed. He became greedy for power. He wanted the relics for himself. Darkness took root inside him and grew. We didn’t realize what he was doing at first. When we did, we cast him out of the order and put up the sentinels to keep him out.”
“The statues?” Nathan said.
“Yes. Their duty is to keep him out.”
“Duty?” Jake frowned. “They’re stone.”
Marco nodded. “They are now.”
“What the hell is he talking about?” Jake whispered.
Kendall leaned closer. “What were the statues before they were stone?”
“Guardians of the Protettori.”
Kendall knew her expression must look as puzzled as the others. “Marco, are you saying the statues were alive?”
“Once upon a time, they were guardians and knights.”
“How did they go from being guardians and knights to stone sentinels?” Kendall asked.
“The vow to protect doesn’t stop with death. The guardians will always guard.”
“Is Raphael a guardian?” Nathan asked.
Marco nodded. “He was one of the first guardians.”
“Why isn’t he one of those statues?” Jake asked.
“He chose to stay. It’s complicated,” Marco said.
“Or crazy,” Jake muttered.
“Are you a guardian?” Kendall asked.
“No. I am a keeper. I keep the relics and the treasure. The guardians protect it. With force if need be.”
“Warriors?” Jake asked.
“Warriors. Soldiers. We each have a function. Different strengths. When the guardians die, they continue to protect as sentinels.”
“I think he’s had too many painkillers,” Jake whispered.
“How did Jake and I get past the statues—sentinels—when we found the castle?” Kendall asked.
“Someone had turned them off,” Marco said.
“Raphael?” Nathan asked.
“No. Raphael wouldn’t have done such a thing. But someone knew where to find the stone.”
“Stone? A stone controls them?” Jake asked.
“I’m not allowed to speak of it. It’s in the vow.”
“I bet it was Edward,” Kendall said. “He knew the spear was there and needed to get inside. His ancestor knew a lot about the castle.”
“Who is Edward?” Marco asked.
“He was working for the Reaper,” Kendall said. “Or working against him. The Reaper had hired him to find the Spear of Destiny. Edward was going to steal it and sell it.”
“This Edward is dead?” Marco asked.
“Yes.” Kendall didn’t tell Marco that a ghost killed Edward. She offered Marco another sip of water. His hands seemed shakier on the cup.
“The Reaper won’t stop,” Marco said. “Not until he gets the relics. If he does, I fear for the world.”
“If he’s that dangerous, why not just kill him?” Jake asked. “He obviously has well-trained men, and if he’s stealing all these priceless antiquities, then he has money to back up his scheme.”
“There weren’t many of us left who could kill him. He’s very powerful. He’s had hundreds of years to grow stronger and he knows our secrets.”
“Hundreds of years?” Jake frowned. “Exactly how old is the Reaper?”
“Very old. No one can remember his birth.”
“How
is that possible?” Jake glanced at Kendall, and she knew he was thinking of Raphael and the strange vision they had shared when she touched him. They had seen men fighting with swords.
“Was Raphael that old?” Kendall asked. Before he died?
“He’s very old as well,” Marco said.
“And you?” Nathan asked.
“We are all old.”
“But how is that possible?” Kendall asked.
“The water. We drink from it once a year. It keeps us strong and young.”
“What water?” Kendall asked, hardly daring to breathe.
“The water from the fountain,” Marco said. “The Fountain of Youth.”
CHAPTER TWO
THERE WAS SILENCE in the room as Nathan, Kendall, and Jake shared a stunned look. “It’s real?” Kendall whispered.
“We must keep him away from it,” Marco said.
“Where is it?” Nathan asked.
“Only Raphael knows.”
“Raphael is dead, remember?” Kendall said.
“Someone else must know.” Nathan looked tight enough to snap. He moved closer and knelt beside the old man.
Marco frowned. Was it her imagination or was Marco becoming less lucid whenever Nathan got near? Marco lifted a shaky hand to his beard. “Arthur. Find Arthur.”
“Who’s Arthur?” Nathan asked. “Is he a keeper?”
Marco’s eyes closed.
The nurse stepped inside. “He needs to rest. You can visit later.”
They all filed toward the door. They were in the hallway when Marco called for Kendall with a weak voice. He held out his hand.
“I’ll catch up with you,” she told Nathan and Jake. She approached the bed and touched Marco’s arm. “Do you need something?”
Marco looked blank for a moment; then he closed his eyes. “I can’t remember.”
“You must rest. Don’t worry about anything but getting better.” She straightened and stepped away from the bed.
“Look out for him,” Marco muttered.
“Him?”
“He needs you. You’ll have to save him. It must be you.”
Kendall frowned. Was he out of his head? “Save who, Marco?”
His voice dropped to a whisper. “Adam.”
Kendall’s heart leapt. She started back to the bed. Adam? “Marco, do you see Adam?”
The old man didn’t move or open his eyes. He was asleep.
Kendall turned and saw the nurse watching her. “When he woke up, did he mention someone named Adam?” Kendall asked.
The nurse went over to Marco. “I think he did mention the name once, or maybe it was Arthur. Something that started with an A.”
“What did he say?”
The nurse shrugged. “I don’t recall. He was muttering. Is it important?”
“It might be.”
“Should I let Mr. Larraby know if he mentions the name again?”
“Don’t bother him. He has a lot on his mind. You can let me know.”
“Mr. Larraby does seem troubled. He’s been stopping by every hour that you’re not sitting with Marco.”
Kendall caught up with Nathan and Jake in the hall. They were discussing the trip back to Italy.
“I need you both ready to leave first thing in the morning,” Nathan said. “I’m sorry to send you back so soon, but I don’t trust anyone else to pack up the treasure. I already have a team on the ground at the castle. The guards don’t know about the treasure room. I’ll tell them you two are studying some stonework, to keep everyone away so you can work undisturbed. After you get everything crated and out of view, I’ll have them load the items up for shipping.”
“You aren’t coming?” Jake asked, surprised.
“I’ll wait for Marco to wake up and try to find out where this fountain is.”
Kendall was surprised too that Nathan wouldn’t be there. The treasure was incredible. How could he trust anyone to load it properly? To load it without keeping a small souvenir? Especially Jake, as much as they seemed to mistrust each other at times.
“Take care of Kendall,” he said to Jake. “I trust you’ll follow orders.” He gave Jake a loaded look. “All of them.”
“Of course, Boss. I live to serve.” Jake gave Nathan a slight bow.
“Stop acting like I’m a piece of glass,” she said.
“I’ll do my best to take care of her,” Jake said as if Kendall hadn’t spoken. His eyebrows lifted in a smirk, and she knew he was getting ready to say something to piss Nathan off. “But she makes it hard.” His hand moved from his waist and hovered for a nanosecond over his groin. “To protect, I mean.”
Nathan scowled and walked off, leaving Jake and Kendall in the hall.
“You’re trying to make him angry,” she said.
“I’ve gotta do something to liven things up in this place. You’re avoiding me. Nathan’s no fun. That leaves Fergus, and he’s acting as strange as Marco.”
“We’ve all been through a lot this past week.” Kendall pulled her hair back and fastened it with a ponytail holder from her wrist. “Do you think he’s right about the Fountain of Youth?”
“Sounds crazy to me. And it sure hasn’t kept Marco youthful. I like your hair better down.”
She pulled it tighter. “The Protettori had the Spear of Destiny. Why not the Fountain of Youth?”
“The spear is real,” Jake said. “There’s history behind it. The fountain is a myth.”
“So we’ve been told.”
“Can’t you read Marco or something?” Jake asked.
“I don’t like reading people. It’s like stealing. And it usually doesn’t work anyway.” Not when she wanted it to. It worked just fine when she didn’t, when she was least expecting it. “But if we can’t get anything else from him, I may have to try.”
“Where are you off to?” Jake asked.
“I have some things to do.” She was going to finish examining the crosses in private before she took them back. She didn’t mind prying into the past of an inanimate object. It wasn’t the same as rifling through a person’s head. “I’m going to do some research on the Fountain of Youth.”
She stopped by the library for some reference materials. Nathan’s collection of books was extensive. Using the sliding ladder, she climbed to the top shelf and found two books that explored the fabled fountain. She carried them to her bedroom and put them and the crosses on the bed. She made herself comfortable and studied the crosses first. She didn’t get any new impressions and after a few minutes, she gave up. Jake was right. Her gift was a pain in the ass sometimes.
Sighing with frustration, she put the necklaces in her purse and walked to the door. She needed to return the crosses. She was surprised to see Nathan leaving Jake’s room. They stood in the hallway, speaking in low voices. She didn’t want to explain her actions, so she eased her door shut. Later, after everyone was asleep, she would put them back.
Next, she opened her reference materials. The Fountain of Youth was like vampires. Everyone had their own myths and speculations as to the origins and purpose. After her eyes grew blurry, she put the books aside and went to grab dinner. It was informal, usually a buffet allowing each of them to dine at their convenience. Neither Jake nor Nathan was there, which wasn’t surprising. Since they had returned from Italy, Nathan usually ate in his room and God knew what Jake was up to. After dinner, Kendall pulled clothing from her restocked closet and packed her duffel bag for the trip. Then she took a long soak in the huge Jacuzzi before turning in early. The jet would leave before sunrise, and packing up the treasure quickly and yet carefully would be a tiring task.
She was glad Nathan was sending them back to the castle. After the treasure was safe, she planned to spend some time exploring the place, letting the sensations and history sink in. If she wasn’t chasing ghosts or running from bad guys, maybe she would find answers.
She lay down, anxious for morning. Sometime in the night, she heard the roar again. Her feet hit the floor and she open
ed her door, almost colliding with a sleep-tousled Jake on the other side. He was dressed in his camos and T-shirt. In fact, he looked as if he’d slept in them.
“Are you OK?” he asked, stepping inside her room.
“Yes.”
“Where’s Nathan?”
“How should I know? It’s the middle of the night.”
Jake looked at Kendall’s bed and rubbed his eyes. “Sounded like his roar.”
“You heard it too?” She’d thought it must be her sixth sense playing tricks.
“Yeah.” He gave her a wary look. “You projecting your mumbo jumbo again?”
Another roar sounded, louder than the first, angrier.
“Hell, that was real,” Jake said.
“I think Nathan’s in trouble.” Kendall ran into the hall. “It came from this direction.”
“Hold up!” Jake put his hands on her shoulders, stopping her. “I’ll go. You wait inside.”
“Are you kidding?” She bolted around him. She was quick, but so was Jake, and his stride was longer, so she had to sprint to stay with him. Shouting now accompanied the roars.
“It’s coming from the lower level,” Jake said.
“What could it be?” Kendall asked, alarmed.
“Maybe he has found Bigfoot. Hell, maybe he is Bigfoot.”
“If that’s Nathan roaring, we need to hurry. Aren’t you taking the elevator?” she asked as Jake moved past.
“No. The stairs will be faster.” He led her down the steps. She’d never been down here. It was off-limits to the staff, but Jake didn’t take well to orders. The lower level was in chaos. Armed guards ran past them, shouting instructions.
Nathan didn’t like weapons. Usually only a handful of guards carried guns. Kendall shook her head. “What’s going on down here?” She jumped back as a burly guard rushed past them. He stopped and turned around, planting himself in front of Kendall and Jake. It was Hank, one of Nathan’s top guards.
He eyed Jake nervously. “You’re not supposed to be down here.”
“What’s that noise?” Kendall asked.
The guard glanced over his shoulder as the roar sounded again. He looked frightened. Nathan’s guards never appeared scared. He always hired the best of the best. “An intruder. Now go, before Nathan finds you here.” He motioned with the gun.
Fountain of Secrets (The Relic Seekers) Page 3