“Ms. Davenport, Ms. Black thought you might appreciate an aerial view of the area you’ll be investigating. If you take a look out the left side of the plane, you’ll see our destination.”
Breakfast forgotten, Julia pressed her nose to the window as the plane broke through the clouds. The Mediterranean stretched for miles in all directions, a never-ending blanket of cerulean blue. From this elevation, the sea appeared calm but white caps started to appear as they continued to descend.
No land in sight, Julia was afraid she’d missed it, but then the pilot banked right, and Avernus Island appeared.
Like the entrance to the underworld it was named for, it opened up beneath them. The land was rugged, the terrain mountainous and covered in thick forests that ended at sandy beaches.
“It’s beautiful,” Julia whispered.
Wild and wind-swept, it appeared deserted, and it suddenly struck Julia just how far from home she’d come.
Ellen’s face appeared, reflected in the window beside Julia’s.
“There’s the Big House,” Ellen said and pointed to a sprawling manor that sat on top the northern-most peak. “And those are some of the guest villas. You’ll find them all over the island.”
Julia noted that some of the “villas” were the size of small mansions.
“The guests don’t stay at the Big House?” Julia asked.
Melisandra had said she managed a resort, and Julian had expected to find the type of massive hotel that epitomized so many destinations these days. Instead, the buildings below were constructed to work with the land’s natural scape, adding to its beauty instead of dominating it.
“Some do,” Ellen said and went back to securing the plane for landing. “But many of them prefer the privacy of the villas.”
“Hmm,” was Julia’s noncommittal answer as she continued to stare out the window. She didn’t have time for celebrities and was happy to leave them in peace and quiet. She was after something much more interesting.
Searching the unfamiliar ground below, her brain struggled to process the changes in the landscape and vegetation. The island was a rich patchwork of colors and textures–greens, blues, and browns passed by with amazing speed as the plane hurtled toward what must be the landing strip.
Julia’s stomach did a little flip at the idea of trying to land a plane on that narrow piece of land. Thinking it might be better if she weren’t watching, she was about to turn away from the window when she saw it.
“There!” she said, to no one in particular. Her eyes scanned the beach, saw what others might think was nothing more than a pile of rocks, but what she recognized as toppled columns and crumbled walls. “There it is.”
The site was on the other side of the island and about as far away from the Big House as you could get without getting wet. Rich vegetation grew wild and untamed, this side of the island appearing untouched by man. The mountains created a natural barrier that would offer inhabitants of this area some protection from the tropical storms that blew through this area.
It was beautiful and remote and Julia could understand why Melisandra Black would consider expanding.
Too soon, the pilot was banking again, taking them around for their final approach. Julia was asked to buckle up and her breakfast cleared away. Disappointed at not getting to see more, she comforted herself with the knowledge that the next time she saw the ruins it would be up close and personal.
Julia’s feet touched down on Avernus, and a thrill shot up her spine. Her first look at the ruins confirmed that they were definitely worth investigating.
She hurried across the tarmac as heat from the afternoon sun bounced off the black surface and hit her square in the chest. Coming from the pacific northwest, she wasn’t used to this kind of heat, but the warm air felt good and heated the chill that had been in her bones since October.
A tropical breeze tasting of salt came up from the sea and the temperature dropped to a more comfortable place on the thermometer.
Her hair danced around her face, the curls forever untamed, as she reached the waiting jeep. Her bags were already in the back. A handsome young man, his skin tanned to a Mediterranean gold, smiled at her as she climbed in.
“Welcome to Avernus.”
Julia flashed him a smile and held on as they pulled away from the plane. The airstrip quickly disappeared behind them; the runway swallowed up by trees and brightly colored flowers.
The ride to the Big House was quick and quiet. Julia found she was having a hard time sitting still. To be this close! She could practically feel something waiting for her in the sand.
Is this how it had been for her father? A fever in the blood, need rushing beneath the skin, the feeling forever driving him to seek out and find what was lost, buried under the sands of time and forgotten?
Julia had chosen museum work because she had seen what that kind of fervor had done to her father. The endless quests had taken him away from his daughter, and the disappointments had driven him to near depression until the next expedition came along.
Of course, all of that was at an end. Her father was no longer chased by the demons who had driven so much of his life. In that way, the Alzheimer’s was a gift and not just a curse.
Julia glanced over at her driver. A young man, he had the dark hair and dark skin of a local. His white shirt and khaki pants were perfect for the tropical weather, and brown eyes smiled at catching her staring.
She was here to work; Julia reminded herself, and to secure a future at the museum for her and her father. However, something about this place demanded she take a moment to close her eyes and turn her face up to the sun.
In that moment, she felt young and carefree. Thoughts of Ted and worries over her father’s quickly deteriorating condition slid into the background. They weren’t gone, but for now, there wasn’t anything she could do about them.
The jeep turned and started up a steep drive. An army of gardeners were working to keep the forest from reclaiming the land lost to the road. One or two of them turned to wave at her driver who waved back enthusiastically.
“Where is everyone?” Julia asked. So far, theirs was the only car she’d seen on the road. She’d spied guests walking on the beach from the plane, but the island seemed quiet for such a big place.
“Several of our guests left this morning,” her driver said. He kept his eyes on the road as he drove into a circular driveway and stopped in front of the main entrance. “You’re part of a new group that will be arriving today and tomorrow.”
“I’m not really a guest,” Julia corrected as she got out of the jeep. “I’m here to work.”
The driver smiled and hopped out, grabbing Julia’s bags from the back. “People come here for all kinds of reasons,” he said.
“That will be all, Brad.”
Julia turned as Melisandra Black stepped out onto the wrap around porch. She was joined a moment later by a pretty blond.
“Please see to Ms. Davenport’s bags.”
“Yes, Ms. Black.”
Brad tipped Julia a nod that was surprisingly formal for his sun-kissed face and disappeared inside.
“Welcome to Avernus, Ms. Davenport, I am pleased you decided to join us.”
“Please, call me Julia.” Julia went to join Melisandra and offered to shake her her hand. There was a brief pause, as if Melisandra was surprised by the gesture, and then Julia’s fingers were encased in a surprisingly strong grip.
That same prickling of awareness bloomed in the base of Julia’s spine where it tingled until her hand was released.
“Only if you call me Mel, and this is my assistant Suri. She will be responsible for making sure you have everything you need.”
Julia tried to hide her surprise. Short and sweet, that’s how she would describe Mel’s assistant. Suri’s big eyes, cheerleader smile, and tennis star skirt seemed completely at odds with Mel’s cold professional beauty and struck Julia as a strange odd choice.
“Hi.” Suri gave Julia a perky w
ave. Her fingernails were painted a startling orange, and the young assistant practically vibrated with energy, but her words all business. “I received your list; you’ll find all the equipment you requested waiting for you in your room.”
Julia decided Suri’s college girl-on-spring-break look was for show,or to please the male guests. “Great, thanks. I saw the site from the air.”
Mel indicated the way inside. “I have a car and a guide ready to take you to the site first thing in the morning.”
“I’d like to get started now,” Julia said. She could practically hear Theseus calling for Asterion. She’d brought the statue with her, packing him in her carry-on, in the event she found the second piece.
“I’m afraid that’s not possible,” Mel said. She had a schedule to keep, and things were not quite ready. “The soonest I can spare someone is tomorrow.”
“All I really need is a car and some basic directions,” Julia said, not yet ready to give up on the idea of seeing the ruins. “I don’t mind going by myself.”
In fact, she preferred it.
“Oh, but you’ll need a guide,” Suri said, her voice chipper. “The roads here are like a maze. You could get lost.”
Mel glared at Suri.
Suri flashed Mel a blinding smile and blew her a little kiss from behind Ms. Davenport’s back.
The imp! Mel thought and struggled not to laugh.
“I see,” Julia said, trying to hide her disappointment. There was no telling how long it might take her to find something, and she couldn’t afford to be away from home for long.
“Besides, there’s a reception tonight, a small gathering really, for our new guests,” Mel said. “I hope you will join us.”
Julia stepped into the Big House and entered another world. The place was beautiful with towering columns common to the region and bold colors.
“I’m not a guest,” Julia reiterated. This was not her world. Oh, she could pretend, sit back and enjoy the complimentary mimosas and private jet, but eventually she would be going back to her old house and comfortable life.
“Whatever gave you that idea?” Mel said and led the way up a wide, curving staircase. “Your stay here is part of your compensation. You should feel free to take advantage of all the guest services we have available.”
“We have a seaweed body wrap that will make your skin sparkle brighter than any vampire,” Suri said, ticking off activities. “And there’s a yoga class on the beach but be careful, Henry, the instructor, is a closet sadist.”
“Thank you,” Julia said. “But I doubt I’ll have time.”
“You should make time,” Mel said. “And plan to stay for a day or two after you finish looking over the ruins.”
“I’ll think about it,” Julia said but they both knew she lied.
“Good,” Mel said. In the end, it wouldn’t matter. Ms. Davenport would either find what she was looking for, or not. “Then you’ll join us for a drink?”
Julia didn’t mistake Mel’s question for an invitation.
“Of course,” Julia said, frantically searching her memory to see if she’d packed anything that would pass for a cocktail dress.
“This is your room,” Mel said and opened the door.
Julia stepped inside and decided she never wanted to leave. Not just a room, she’d been given a suite with a separate bedroom and bathroom as well as a private balcony overlooking the water. A fan circled lazily overhead, stirring the breeze, and outside the sound of the sea would be all that she heard when she finally laid her head down to sleep.
“If you’ll excuse me,” Mel said. “I have another guest to greet. I will see you downstairs at seven.”
Julia nodded, her attention on the view outside her room.
“Can I get you anything else?” Suri asked.
“Actually, is there a gift shop or a boutique?” Julia asked. “I’m afraid I don’t have anything to wear tonight.”
Suri looked Julia Davenport up and down. Mel hadn’t voiced her reasons for choosing the twenty-nine-year old, but then again, she never did. Julia was tall with generous hips she tried to hide behind sensible shorts, and Suri decided whatever Mel’s reasons they could stand to extent to the woman’s fashion sense.
“Avernus isn’t that kind of resort,” Suri said and Julia wondered what kind of resort it was. “But I’m sure I can find something for you to wear.”
“Thank you,” Julia said, relieved.
“I’ll send some appropriate pieces up for you to choose from,” Suri said. There were several dresses that would look good on Julia Davenport’s long legs. “Size nine?”
Julia nodded.
“Your pack and equipment are over there.”
Suri flicked her fingers toward the table, her nails red instead of orange.
Impossible, Julia thought and surreptitiously looked closer. Suri’s nails were definitely painted a deep, come-fuck-me red. She must have been mistaken earlier. Either that or the red appeared orange in the island sun.
Julia dismissed the unimportant issue and went to examine the equipment. The backpack and most of the gear appeared new and several pieces still had the tags on them.
“I left everything out,” Suri said. “I thought you might want to check to make sure I didn’t forget anything.”
Julia was surprised at the insightful gesture. Her father had drilled it into her head that you always pack your own gear. It would seem she had misjudged Suri. “Everything looks great, thanks.”
“No problem.” Suri headed for the door. “I’m going to see what I can find for you to wear tonight. Pound-nine will put you through to my cell,” she said, pointing to the phone. “Zero gets you the operator; she can book any of the services you want.”
Julia waited for Suri to leave before stepping out on the balcony. She couldn’t see the ruins from her room; they were too far away, and she was on the wrong side of the building, but she felt their pull, a draw to get started.
She just had to get through tonight and then the rest of the time on Avernus would be hers.
“You call this appropriate?” Julia asked. Eyeing herself in the mirror, she tried unsuccessfully to tug the dress’s hemline down another inch. Or three.
“The little black dress is the quintessential cocktail dress,” Suri said. She’d arrived fifteen minutes ago with one dress and one pair of sandals.
So much for choices, Julia thought.
“You got the little part right,” Julia muttered. The sexy red dress was light-years beyond her practical wardrobe and unlike anything she would have bought for herself. “Have I got the straps right? I feel like I’m strangling myself.”
Suri laughed and bounced up from the bed. Julia was starting to realize that Mel’s assistant didn’t walk anywhere. She hopped, skipped, shuffled, and occasionally did a little jig, but she never just walked.
“Turn around.”
Julia did as ordered. From over her shoulder, she watched Suri deftly adjust the straps, criss-crossing them across Julia’s back. She had to admit; the effect was stunning.
“There.” Suri stood back and admired her handy work. The spaghetti straps showed off Julia’s elegant shoulders, and the nipped waistline accented her hourglass figure. “Now the sandals.”
The shoes were one thing Julia didn’t need help with. She recognized the designer sandals as the same ones she’d drooled over earlier in the season. She slipped them on, adjusted the straps and gave herself a final look.
“You should leave your hair down,” Suri suggested. She tapped a purple fingernail against her teeth. “And no makeup.”
“Good, because I didn’t bring any.” Julia gave her hair a quick once over with her brush. The normally soft curls instantly tightened in the sultry sea air. “I hope Mel doesn’t mine dining with Medusa,” she said and gave up.
“Medusa was a bitch,” Suri said. “Come on or we’ll be late.”
Downstairs, Julia followed Suri outside and across the lawn. Tables had been set up and
there were tray-passed hors d’oeuvres, but most of the guests chose to take their drinks and wander down onto the beach.
Mel was there answering questions about the services available on the island. Julia recognized several famous faces in the crowd, but otherwise, it was your standard meet and greet.
“Here.” Suri handed Julia a cocktail glass filled with golden liquid and finished off with a pink umbrella. “That’s K.C. Lynch.”
Julia followed Suri’s gaze to where a handsome man stood nursing a diet coke. “He plays basketball?”
“Football,” Suri corrected. “And that’s Mavis Bell.”
Julia recognized the singer but not the man leading her away from the party. “Who is that with her?”
“Her manager.”
Surprised at the hostility in Suri’s voice, Julia turned to find Mel’s assistant glaring at the retreating couple. “You don’t like him.”
“The man’s a glorified criminal,” Suri said and finished off her drink.
“How does that make him any different from the rest of us?”
Julia turned toward the voice that sounded like warm honey. The face that went with it was model beautiful with sharp cheek bones and a square jaw. Dark, slashing brows hovered over gun-metal gray eyes that could never be mistaken for blue and his mouth was made for sin.
“Lincoln Steele,” Suri said, making the introductions. “This is Julia Davenport.”
“Ms. Davenport.”
Julia accepted the hand that was offered, aware that she was being sized up with cool efficiency.
“Mr. Steele is the founder of Steele Industries,” Suri added helpfully. “He’s a mega tycoon.”
Lincoln didn’t disagree with her. “What brings you to Avernus, Ms. Davenport?” he asked. On an island full of celebrities, Julia Davenport was the only face Lincoln didn’t recognize and that made her unique.
“I’m doing some work for Ms. Black.”
“Julia is about to set off on an adventure,” Suri said and grabbed another drink from a passing waiter. Julia marveled at the young woman’s ability to hold her alcohol. Julia was already enjoying a pleasant buzz, and she hadn’t finished her first.
The Ruins (An Avernus Island Tale) Page 3